Posts Tagged ‘serviced apartment’
Serviced apartments - delivering real boys’ toys
Monday, August 17th, 2009It takes a lot to keep my brother entertained. He’s 25 and still requires constant stimulation from electronic gadgets, games consoles and music stations. And it seems unlikely he’ll ever grow out of it . . . sigh.
While this seems typical of many men (and I’m sure some women), withdrawal symptoms can set in when on holiday and the Play Station, PC and Nintendo Wi are left behind. But, blissfully, there is a solution . . .
Serviced apartments have cottoned on to the fact that men need entertaining – 24/7. With this in mind, serviced apartments frequently offer an impressive array of ‘techy toys’ to keep boys/teenagers and men glued to their seats and out of mischief.
On a recent family get-together in Newcastle, we booked into a serviced apartment which had some impressive electronics, which even managed to entice me. They included:
With this run-down of stupendous entertainment systems, my brother and my Dad were, needless to say, in their element. And, admittedly, I was pretty content at watching Coronation Street in the bath. So for anyone dreading a family holiday with fidgety teenagers, brothers or husbands, serviced apartments can at least meet the needs of pretty much every male out there. Which means a more relaxing holiday all round.
‘All singing, all dancing’ serviced apartments
Friday, August 14th, 2009If you’re ever concerned about spending a night in an unfamiliar city, away from your own bed and home comforts, there’s one way to calm frazzled nerves . . . serviced apartments.
Major developers have snapped up a niche marketplace in many major city centres, from London and Manchester to Leeds and Newcastle, offering the ultimate ‘all-singing, all-dancing’ serviced apartments.
By this I mean, serviced apartment providers have thought of everything. And that’s no exaggeration. Recession, or no recession, it seems a large proportion of individuals and families are intent luxurious living. Quality of sleep and home comforts, seemingly, aren’t something Brits are prepared to sacrifice.
To illustrate the point, I did a spot of research. Here’s a quick snapshot of the facilities you may experience when staying in a four or five star serviced apartment . . .
- Two kinds of pillow per guest
- Fluffy robes
- Organic/free range locally procured breakfasts
- Hand-blended aromatherapy spa products
- Pocket sprung mattress with memory foam
- Oranges for the juicer
- Restaurant delivery service
- Apple Mac entertainment system with i-Tunes
As you can see, serviced apartments have really nailed the luxury living concept. Even though two kinds of pillow per guest may seem a little too princess-like to be true, it seems that’s exactly what the marketplace demands. Hotels are becoming rather passé, with lack of space and regimental dining times, and guests are looking for more freedom and privacy. And as serviced apartments currently stand around 30% cheaper than hotels, for an increasing number of people all this pampering makes perfect sense.
Serviced apartments and the suburbs
Wednesday, August 12th, 2009If you’re using serviced apartments for business purposes, you have to think practically. This generally entails choosing a serviced apartment which is slap bang in the central business district of a city, such as London, Leeds or Manchester.
This offers you access to all the major transport links, posh restaurants for entertaining clients, and allows you to remain in the business epicentre.
From the cityscape to pretty meadows
However, if you need a holiday and a good dose of peace and quiet, there’s always the possibility of choosing a serviced apartment in the leafy suburbs.
Admittedly, apartments in such locations aren’t as readily available, but there is certainly a smattering of this type of accommodation if you look hard enough.
And when you do find one through an internet search they tend to be fabulous. Design wise they may be situated in barn conversions or grand residences with acres of surrounding grassland. Many serviced apartments in the suburbs also offer relaxing spa facilities. Advantages of choosing serviced apartments with a more suburban feel include:-
- Added tranquillity
- A sense of escapism
- Freedom to enjoy country walks and rivers
- Access to hobbies or new interests such as bird watching or hiking
As with all successful holidays, it comes down to smart research. Rather than opting for a hotel, or the first bed and breakfast you can find, have a good look around the web for a quality serviced apartment in the suburbs. While cities can be exciting and vibrant places, singing birds and green meadows can certainly instil peace and relaxation.
Serviced apartments and architectural diversity
Saturday, July 25th, 2009As the UK’s second city, Manchester is compelling to tourists and business people. With that in mind, property tycoons and developers have been quick to seize the market for serviced apartments.
Lofty living spaces
Architecturally, serviced apartments take many forms. Old, silent warehouses – a mere shadow of the city’s industrial past - have proved ideal for this type of accommodation, and developers have successfully transformed such derelict buildings into lofty living spaces. These often boast large, open-plan kitchens and roof-space bedrooms with elegant 18th century beamed ceilings.
Five-star finesse with serviced apartments
In contrast, smart new-builds with warm terracotta finishes have also been constructed solely for the purpose of serviced apartments. These can be found across the city. As 21st century buildings these are generally luxurious and cater exceptionally well for the temporary business traveller or tourist who desires five-star finesse away from home.
Church restoration and serviced apartments
In more unique cases, beautiful churches which lay abandoned in the city have been sandblasted and lifted back to their former glory. These apartments, naturally, are highly sought after.
Within these various architectural moulds in Manchester, there are many outstanding serviced apartments which have formed clear, successful models for neighbouring cities such as Leeds, Liverpool and Newcastle to emulate. Areas of Manchester where serviced apartments have been particularly successful include:-
- Castlefield
- The Northern Quarter
- Salford Quays
- Deansgate
If you’re planning to visit Manchester for a temporary break, or a business rendezvous, serviced apartments provide the perfect opportunity to enjoy a comfortable stay whilst being at one with the city’s impressive architecture.
From fresh flowers to massage - serviced apartments up the ante
Sunday, July 19th, 2009As hotel and serviced apartments up the ante in a bid to encourage guests to book, I thought I’d do a little bit of my own research. And it would seem nothing is too much trouble for many serviced apartments these days – particularly in major cities such as Leeds and Nottingham.
In particular, there seems to be a real push to welcome business people and families with lots of perks and ‘little extras’. In one particular serviced apartment block, not too far from the pretty suburb of Headingly in Leeds, it took an entire page to list the amenities. Here’s a snapshot of the high-end facilities the serviced apartments were offering:-
- Massage and spa facilities
- Supervised childcare and babysitting service
- Fresh flower service
- 24-hour guest service
- Free landline phone calls
- In-room DVD and games console
- Newspaper delivery
- Laundry/ dry cleaning pick-up and delivery
- Private storage facilities
From toddlers to teenagers – everyone’s included with serviced apartments
As you can appreciate, the serviced apartments have managed to appeal to a wide range of people, from a Mum with troublesome toddlers to a businessman with a high-powered lifestyle. There’s even enough entertainment to keep a teenager quiet. It’s this all-encompassing approach to temporary accommodation which is helping serviced apartments to stay ahead of the game in the current climate. And with prices from £60 a night for an apartment similar to the one described above it’s no wonder serviced apartments are a genuine rival to hotels.
Serviced apartments - every excuse to stay in
Saturday, July 4th, 2009Like many individuals struggling with the recession, my friends are not exactly flushed with money. In fact, our Saturday night’s out in Manchester have slowly tapered off into evenings at home with a bottle of Rose and a bowl of nachos. And our current financial situation makes trying to book a summer holiday even more difficult.
However, we’ve come to a financially-shrewd decision this year that serviced apartments in a different city such as Newcastle or Leeds are the solution to keep us all comfortably out of the red – and allow us a change of scenery. All four of us have experienced this type of accommodation before and loved it. We also know that if we pick our serviced apartments carefully, we’ll want to spend time in the apartment and savour the luxury, rather than splashing out on expensive cocktails in the city.
Some of the facilities we’re expecting from our serviced apartments include:
- An Apple computer
- Flat screen TV with Sky
- iPod dock
- Free Wi-Fi
- DVD player
- King-size beds
- Fully-equipped kitchen
- Fluffy robes and aromatherapy products
We’re also keen to ensure our serviced apartments look out over the city-scape so we can enjoy night-time views. With all these lovely luxurious facilities to enjoy in our serviced apartments we’re confident we can create our own fun this summer without the help of extortionate bars and over-priced restaurants.
Your summer shopping spree with serviced apartments
Sunday, June 28th, 2009Whilst I’m writing this blog black clouds overshadow the June sky. But, ever hopeful that the sun will eventually put his hat on and keep it there, I’ve noted a distinct absence of summery clothes in my wardrobe. And with bikinis, floaty skirts and sunglasses bringing hot pinks and patterns into the high street stores, temptation is only a shopping spree away . . .
Stay relaxed with shopping and serviced apartments
If you also fancy an opportunistic shopping trip in the city with a group of friends in anticipation of some decent weather, serviced apartments are an excellent way to achieve this. By reserving serviced apartments in a city centre such as Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle or Liverpool where there are a plethora of high-street shops and exclusive department stores, you can focus your energies into a day or weekend of retail therapy – without having to worry about transport home. If it’s a girly shopping spree, staying the night in serviced apartments also creates the opportunity to enjoy an evening meal in a fine restaurant or a few drinks on the town.
Avoid bus-hopping stress with serviced apartments
As most ladies will appreciate, shopping trips require a certain amount of energy – dealing with changing rooms and clothing removal throughout the day can be quite exhausting. With that in mind, aim to choose serviced apartments which are in the hub of the city centre rather than out-of-town. Being within five or ten minutes walking distance of the main city shopping strips removes the stress of bus hopping and bag carting.
Adding lustre to the Liverpool experience
Thursday, June 25th, 2009As many readers of my blog may be aware, Liverpool received the accolade of European Capital of Culture in 2008. This title has put Liverpool on the map as a worthy and cosmopolitan city to visit, and consequently a sharp rise in tourism has taken place. To accommodate visitors, eager to experience cultural delights such as Penny Lane, the Three Graces at Pier Head and the Echo Arena, there has been a considerable push to increase the number of serviced apartments in the city.
Serviced apartments – a sign of Liverpool’s more prosperous times
The increase in plush serviced apartments highlights Liverpool’s transformation from a region of relative deprivation in the 1960s, into a vibrant and premier European destination in 2009.
On my latest business-related stopover in Liverpool, for which I took advantage of a serviced apartment close to the waterfront, I was fortunate enough to savour some of the city’s attractions which contributed to it being named European Capital of Culture 2008. The city’s many art galleries were of particular interest to me. A few which I took time to enjoy include:
- Grade-I listed Bluecoat Arts Centre
- The Maritime Museum
- The Tate Liverpool
- Walker Art Gallery
Serviced apartments – in keeping with Liverpool’s artistry
Fittingly, many of the serviced apartments in Liverpool have been designed with artistry in mind. This appreciation of colour, aesthetic lines and merging of old with new was evident in the most recent block of serviced apartments I stayed in. The building itself was, in fact, an old warehouse which had been converted into modern serviced apartments incorporating brick walls, with clean, white decor. The blend was fresh and stylish, with a subtle nod to the city’s industrial past.
Warehouse-style serviced apartments in the North of England
Many serviced apartments across other northern UK cities such as Manchester, Leeds and Nottingham are also designed within old warehouses and display similar characteristics which particularly appeal to young, upwardly-mobile professionals.