FAQ

All our apartments are centrally located in safe and mostly quiet areas, however it is always good to ask because in the more crowded areas some apartments may have more noise than others.

Most kitchens have a stove / burners, oven, grill, microwave, fridge/freezer, toaster, kettle, pots and pans cutlery and many have the additions of washing machine/ dryer, dishwasher. Please check the details for the apartment you are booking.

Each kitchen has a complete set of cooking utensils.

Each apartment has a complete set of cutlery and crockery.

Yes, bath towels and linens are provided in each apartment. Please note that with the very inexpensive economy apartments you cannot expect an abundance of towels. You may consider buying or bringing along additional towels to use when staying for longer periods in certain economy apartments.

Some apartments do have land lines, but please check.

Most of the apartments telephone calls are charged at the British Telecom rate. Telephone credit cards such as those provided by A.T & T can be used within most apartments.

Many of our apartments have the necessary connections to enable guests to use their computer their apartments, but please check for each apartment. Most of the time it is included in the price, but there may be an additional charge.

Most apartments do have elevators within the building for our guests use. Some of the economy apartments do not. Make sure you check the details on the apartments.

We can provide secretarial services upon request. If this is an important aspect of your stay you should advise us in advance so that we are aware of it and can arrange it.

Each apartment has the benefit of a heating system.

Most apartments do not, there is rarely the need for air conditioning in London! However , we do have apartments that do. Just ask us or make sure you include it by doing a advanced search on our web site.

Most apartments do not have parking available. There are local car parks all over the city which charge varying rates.

Very few of our apartments provide breakfast. Each apartment is let on a self catering basis. We are happy, if you forward us a list, to purchase items on your behalf ready for your arrival in the apartment.

Some apartments have gym facilities within the building. With other apartments there are gyms in the area which guests can visit paying the appropriate fees charged.

Yes. We can provide cars upon request. It is best to book the car as far in advance as possible. In most cases the driver will have the keys.

All apartments are provided with a color television. In addition many apartments offer Sky News, Sky Movies, Sky Sports and CNN .

Some of the apartment buildings do have a reception area which guests can use whilst waiting for their apartments when they check-in. Please check the details on each apartment. If this is an important requirement for you than we can suggest which apartments meet this criteria.

Yes. Additional nights are charged pro-rata as one seventh of the weekly rate.

For stays in excess of six weeks many apartments can be discounted by 10% on quoted prices.

You may also check out our corporate section where you will find substantial discounts on bookings of 30 days or more.

We have been in the short-term apartment rental business for nearly 20 years , helping travelers around the world with their accommodations needs. We maintain a collection of more than 3,000 short-term apartments.

We have an excellent reputation and have come highly recommended by various tourist boards such as the (BTA) British Tourist Authority, popular travel publications and numerous travel agencies around the world.

If you would like to book an apartment you may e mail us via this web site or by calling (310) 289-0220 or (800) 664-5663.

You may also fax us on (310) 289-0221 or Email us at: info@londonguestsuites.com

London Guest Suites’ new cutting edge web site can quickly provide a wealth of information to the prospective apartment guest and special interest travelers. Having its own search engine makes it one of the easiest sites to navigate when looking for just the right apartment . Unlike most web sites, our web site can be updated instantly. Any additions or deletions or last minute changes can be done instantaneously from our office.

We constantly receive many inquiries from others, eager to reach the millions of Internet users who surf the World Wide Web each day. These vendors have expressed an interest in participating with London Guest Suites and want to be represented on our site.

This opportunity is limited to owners and managers of short-term rentals around the world. Member properties must pass a personal inspection and maintain a high standard of accommodation.

Once accepted, member properties enjoy space on London Guest Suites web site as well as in our brochures. They receive sales support through our reservations desk, which assists callers who have heard about London Guest Suites through our international advertising, e-commerce marketing, trade shows, and mail outs. If you would like to add your property to our fine collection of short-term apartment rentals, please contact us for further details.

It’s an easy process, discussed in our Terms and Conditions page.

There are no hidden extras in our quoted prices. They are fully inclusive of everything. Only the deposits which cover the cost of the telephone and incidentals is not included in these prices which, of course, is charged according to use.

It’s best to book as far in advance as possible to ensure that your first choice of accommodation is available. If you are booking more than six months in advance, we might not have the next season’s rates, however we can make the reservation and then inform you of any price increases for that time period when we know. Please note that we also accept last minute reservations. You may find many of these are listed on our specials page of the web site.

London Guest Suites have many apartments which permit stays as short as 3 nights. Some apartments require stays of one week or two weeks, and many of our corporate apartments require 30 days minimum stay. Apartments with one-week minimum stays are often such good deals that you may want to book it and use the first night as an early check in or the last night as a late check out.

No, all our apartments are available based on availability and allow arrival and departure on the dates of the guests’ choice.

Check-in for most apartments is 2.00 p.m. although if the previous guest leaves early apartments are sometimes available earlier. If you wish to be certain of gaining access to the apartment before 2.00 p.m. it will be necessary to book it from the previous day. Apartments with receptions may look after luggage while you go out and have a bite to eat and have a chance to explore the area while the apartment is being made ready.

The check-out time for most apartments is 10.00 a.m.. Please make sure you have your luggage out of the apartment by this time.

On making a booking you will need to pay a deposit (which is part of the total rent) to secure the apartment. The balance is payable anywhere from 6 – 12 weeks ( averages about 10 weeks) before arrival. Please read the policies of each apartment as they do vary. There may also be an additional fully refundable security deposit required.

It depends on the property. Some apartments will take a credit card imprint or a deposit for $150-$1,500, depending on the property, to protect themselves against unforeseen damage to the property, and to cover telephone charges. This is no different than the credit card imprint taken by hotels at check-in. These funds are either never charged through (if no damage is done and no incidentals are purchased) or refunded less the cost of damage/incidentals at the end of the guests’ stay. Please refer to the policies section of each property.

Travel insurance is available and recommended to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For more information please go to our Travel Insurance page.

Most apartment rentals include all charges, including maid service, linens, towels, electricity, taxes and service charges. Additional costs would include items such as a security/damage/telephone deposit-taken as a credit card imprint at the beginning of the stay, as it would be at a hotel.

In order to best meet your requirements we would need the following information:

What dates do you wish to travel?

London Guest Suites needs the exact dates in order to check availability or to make a reservation. If you are flexible, great , please also provide us with your alternative dates.

What is the reason for your trip?

Vacation or business? Theatre-going? Sight-seeing? If we know the reason you are traveling, we will be better able to place you in the most convenient location. Do you have special requirements?

How many persons will be traveling? What kind of bedding do you need (doubles, twins, sofa beds, cots)? Are you flexible? Can two persons sleep in the living room on a sofa bed or a cot to save money? Can everyone in your party climb stairs, or is an elevator a necessity? Do you plan to cook extensively or just use the kitchen to for breakfast? Are you an independent traveler or do you need a concierge? Do you require business services or a health club? Do you prefer an apartment with a dishwasher, washer-dryer or a microwave, balcony, garden,? How often will you require maid service if at all?

Apartments are the growing alternative to hotels in London. They provide more space, cheaper rates and a wide range of alternatives. Travelers will find many advantages to renting apartments instead of staying in large, impersonal hotels. One of the main attractions is the degree of personal freedom which is enjoyed. While every itinerant traveler enjoys the cosseting attentions of a good hotel, most acknowledge the existence of a “satisfaction barrier” which is breached after a few days.. Apartment dwellers, by way of contrast, are free agents. Not only are they spared the sometimes inhibiting formality of dining room dress rules, they are also able to utilize the kitchen facility to cook inexpensively for themselves. Apartment rentals offer unparalleled privacy, larger quarters, a greater selection of locations and more flexibility in planning. The cost of a week’s stay in a one-bed roomed London apartment will generally average out to be 30% cheaper than hotel accommodation in a standard double room. Women, actors and business people can stay in peace and quiet rather than fight through a hotel lobby. With their own kitchen facilities they need not go out to eat or go down to breakfast. Short-term rentals are usually located in the most convenient areas of town, right near public transportation.

Apartments restrictions may vary. Please see our Term & Conditions page for more details about London Guest Suites policies.

This is a very legitimate concern for many travelers. We recommend you begin with the tourist board of the country in question. The British Tourist Authority is the authority on London and is a great place to get advice and recommendations. You can easily find their address and phone number along with other organizations through search engines on the World Wide Web . It is also a good idea to ask for letters of recommendation from past clients.

London Guest Suites and our overseas associates are always available to handle any problems or complaints. Your final confirmation will always provide you with a local contact number as well as the London Guest Suites number.

We do everything possible to make sure you are choosing the property which is right for you. Make sure you give us as many details about your requirements as possible before you book.

Clients who book an economy apartment cannot realistically expect deluxe apartment services.

However, if you arrive at your accommodations and find that the apartment is not as it was represented (for example, it is a One bedroom and not the Two-Bedroom you reserved, or it lacks heat or any other promised service, call the local contact number and they will do all possible to get you moved to another apartment or have the problem remedied immediately. If this does not yield satisfactory results, call London Guest Suites directly. Please remember that we cannot do anything unless we know about the problem. Clients who complete a stay at an apartment that lacked necessary services without notifying management cannot expect a refund after the fact-especially since we most likely could have fixed the problem early in the clients’ stay.

Call your travel agent or London Guest Suites as soon as you know you need to cancel your stay. Also see our terms & conditions.

London Guest Suites uses the services of a competent private car hire firm and is able to provide collection from any airport at a very competitive rate.

AIRPORT INFORMATION

THERE ARE TWO AIRPORTS FOR LONDON ARRIVALS.

A HEATHROW AIRPORT: (LHR)

THIS IS THE MOST CONVENIENT AND THE CLOSEST TO LONDON. THERE ARE 4 WAYS TO GET INTO CENTRAL LONDON FROM HEATHROW.

1 THE LONDON UNDERGROUND:

IT THE MOST TIME CONSUMING BECAUSE IT STOPS AT EVERY STATION. IT’S THE PICCADILLY LINE. IT TAKES ABOUT 45 MINUTES TO AN HOUR DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU GO IN CENTRAL LONDON.

2 THE HEATHROW EXPRESS:

TRAIN WHICH IS A NEW HIGH SPEED TRAIN SERVICE THAT GOES NON STOP FROM HEATHROW TO PADDINGTON STATION IN 15 MINUTES. YOU CAN THEN EASILY TAKE A TAXI FROM PADDINGTON STATION, WHICH IS A SHORT RIDE TO ANY PLACE IN LONDON.

3 TAXI SERVICE:

THERE ARE BLACK CABS AVAILABLE AT THE AIRPORT. LONDON BLACK CABS ARE FAMOUS WORLDWIDE FOR THEIR PROFESSIONALISM AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE CITY.

4 LONDON GUEST SUITES CAR PICKUP:

LONDON GUEST SUITES COULD ARRANGE A CAR FOR YOU. THIS IS GENERALLY THE SAME COST AS A TAXI, HOWEVER THE DRIVER WILL HAVE THE KEYS TO THE APARTMENT AND WILL TAKE YOU DIRECTLY TO THE APARTMENT FROM THE AIRPORT. IN THIS CASE THE DRIVER WILL MEET YOU OUTSIDE CUSTOMS HOLDING A SIGN WITH YOUR NAME ON IT. YOU WOULD THEN PAY THE DRIVER DIRECTLY. TEN PERCENT TIP ADVISED.

A GATWICK AIRPORT; (LGW)

THIS IS THE AIRPORT, WHICH IS FURTHEST FROM LONDON. MOST PEOPLE TAKE THE GATWICK EXPRESS TRAIN INTO CENTRAL LONDON AND THEN TAXI FROM THERE. THIS IS THE HIGH SPEED TRAIN, WHICH GOES DIRECTLY INTO VICTORIA STATION. OTHERWISE YOU COULD TAKE A TAXI OR HAVE A CAR PICK YOU UP.

The driver will meet you as you exit from Customs. He will be holding a placard with your name on it . You may either pay the driver direct or arrange payment through us.

Most apartments are very happy to have children and babies. Some apartments do however have an age limit because of the nature of the furnishings.

Yes. We will be happy to extend any bookings subject to availability at the time the extension is requested.

No. Our minimum booking is now 3 nights. We now take bookings of three, four, five or six nights subject to availability. Please check the details and policies for the apartment you are interested and be sure to ask us to make a suggestion.

Most apartments do have Maid service which is included in the price quoted. You may also pay for extra maid service. Some of our blocks of apartments have maid service 5 or 6 days per week and our privately owned apartments usually have service once a week.