Regularly voted as one of the top cities to visit and we are not surprised.  It is stunning to look at and very welcoming.  There is something for everyone whether you want to relax or be excited!

The Scenery

Settled on seven hills, Edinburgh has all sorts of scenery from the cobbled streets to the imposing extinct volcano Arthurs Seat.  Of course how could I not mention the historical gem Edinburgh Castle?  You could get lost in Edinburgh and not care because there are so many things to see.  There are monuments galore and stunning Georgian architecture.  Bring your camera!

The Shops

Edinburgh’s shopping scene offers a mixture of high street stores along Princes Street, designer stores along George Street and Maltrees Walk and quirky finds in the independent stores of Cockburn Street and Victoria Street.  If you are partial to some vintage clothing, Armstrong’s is a treasure chest!

The Parks

Not many other cities can boast that the main shopping street sits directly opposite stunning gardens. There are also many other beautiful green spaces including The Meadows, Arthur’s Seat and the Botanical Gardens.

The Seaside

Not only is Edinburgh the capital city with a castle, it has it’s own seaside at Portobello.  The ideal place to walk along the promenade and watch all the happy faces and people walking their dogs, play in the old school games arcade and sample some fish and chips.

The Shore

Ok so Edinburgh has it’s own seaside but it also has a pretty cool dock area called the shore.  You can visit the Royal Yacht Britannia, walk the tranquil water of Leith to the city centre and sample some of Edinburgh’s best local food and drink.

The Pubs

From the bustling Grass Market pub scene to the cocktail drinking and club going of George Street, there is a great range of places to enjoy.  There are great bars along Rose Street and The Royal Mile area. If you fancy some traditional Scottish music, Sandy Bells on Forrest Road is a total must.

The Things to Do

There is a fantastic theatre and comedy scene and the city comes alive every August with the Fringe Festival.  The Stand Comedy Club has been the pivotal moment in many famous comedians’ careers and a must for comedy lovers.  The museums are great and mostly free.

As Edinburgh has always been a medically pioneering city, visit the Surgeons Hall for an insight into all things medical including lots of things in jars. Also why not see a good game of rugby at the impressive Murrayfield Stadium home to Edinburgh Gunners and Scotland Rugby. That is only scratching the surface – Edinburgh has a million things to do!

The Food

There is no shortage of gourmet treats from gastro pubs to Michelin starred restaurants.  Whatever cuisine you seek, there is a high likelihood it is catered for.  There are some great restaurants in the city centre, Stockbrige, Leith and Morningside.

The Markets

There are plenty of small quirky markets to stumble upon selling local artisan food, goods, flowers, crafts and gifts.  If you are in The Grassmarket or Shore areas on a Saturday, check out the fantastic local markets. For those of you visiting Stockbridge, the Sunday market is lovely. The Tron church on the Royal Mile has been converted to enclose a little market too.

The People

The people in Edinburgh are friendly and the sort of people who are happy to help you find what you are looking for.

What’s not to love? If you need accommodation in Edinburgh we will be happy to help.

Here are our favourite travel quotes to brighten your day and get your wanderlust flowing.

1. “If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness and fears.” – Cesare Pavese

2. “A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.” – John Steinbeck

3. “Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the universe.” –Anatole France

4. “Buy the ticket, take the ride.” – Hunter S. Thompson

5. I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read on the train.” –Oscar Wilde

6. “Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” Maya Angelou

7. “Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.” – Unknown

8. “If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home.” – James Michener

9. “Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta

10. “Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” – Scott Cameron

11. Once a year go someplace you haven’t been before – Dalai Lama

12. “To move, to breathe, to fly, to float; to gain all while you give; to roam the roads of lands remote; to travel is to live.” ― Hans Christian Andersen

13. “The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.” – Shirley MacLaine

14. “To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” – Bill Bryson

15. “I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” ― Mary Anne Radmacher

For travel accommodation needs contact us

Space

Serviced apartments are up to 30% bigger on average than a hotel room of the same standard.  There is much more in this space including additional facilities such as a kitchen, dining area and living space.  Having the extra space and facilities means added privacy as you do not have to venture far if with everything at your fingertips.

Freedom

The ample facilities of a serviced apartment give you the freedom to live as you wish.  The full kitchen means that you can decide when you want to eat.  Fancy a midnight snack? No problem. Been a long day and you would rather dine in? Done! You can have informal business meetings in your apartment and you have the ease of coming and going as you please.

Price

It is no secret that serviced apartments offer savings of up to 30%. The cooking amenities can save you a fortune on eating out costs, which for the first few days are fine but then suddenly costs can spiral.  Wireless internet is important to most of us and more serviced apartments have free wi-fi than hotels. More than 70% of serviced apartments have free internet.

Longer stays

Serviced apartments are great for a short business trip such as a conference but those on a longer stay, fear not over accommodation costs.   This is because the longer you stay in a serviced apartment, the cheaper the rate gets. Plus after 28 nights the VAT drops from 20% to 4% for any UK based apartments. Serviced apartments are therefore ideal for temporary relocation’s, projects and interim housing.

Groups/families

As serviced apartments have multiple rooms, this is great for groups of colleagues who want the privacy of a bedroom but social aspect of an apartment.  Serviced apartments offer the benefit of bringing family along so offer a great work live balance.

Whether you are a business manager wanting to ensure staff feel comfortable when travelling on business or you are a corporate booker seeking to book the perfect accommodation, serviced apartments can deliver this. Contact us for information on our apartments.

Edinburgh

In 2014 Edinburgh was named as one of the world’s top ten cities by the readers of travel magazine Wanderlust and we are not surprised.  Edinburgh is stunning to the eye with traditional old buildings, winding streets and glorious parks.  Not to mention that 5 minutes from the city centre will take you to an extinct volcano. A 40 minute’s walk or 15 minutes bus from the city centre will take you to Edinburgh’s dock area called the shore, lined with Michelin starred restaurants, cosy cafes and wine bars.

If you are a fan of the beach, then you can grab an ice cream and walk along Edinburgh’s Portobello beach.  I haven’t even got to the city centre yet, boasting a castle, hoards of traditional pubs, restaurants and bars.  Edinburgh is home to one of the world’s oldest universities and a plethora of amazing free museums and galleries.  There is truly something for everyone!

Our serviced apartments in Edinburgh

Bristol

What’s not to like about a trendy city that’s within a 10 minutes drive to stunning rural landscape? You can visit the Clifton Suspension Bridge which spans the striking Avon Gorge and is the symbol of the city of Bristol. For around 150 years this Grade I listed structure has attracted visitors from far and wide.

The city has lots of businesses, independent stores and boutiques plua a vibrant nightlife. The dock area is perfect for lunch and a drink.

Our Bristol serviced apartments

London

London… well do I need to say much?  Voted one of Europe’s top destinations in 2014 by Tripadvisor and what’s not to like? Brimming with commerce and when the working day is done, the city is just coming alive.

London is great on different levels.  You can enjoy it how you wish, whether it is the traditional style and elegance of West London, the quirkiness or East London, the buzz of North London or the up and coming South London.

London serviced apartments

Coming to the UK or thinking about it?  Here are some lessons I have learnt from travelling along with some advice regarding my native land.

• Back up all your photographs using free online cloud based storage like Google Drive or Windows One Drive.  I learned this the hard way after loosing half of my pictures of South East Asia so I swear by it now.

• Back up all your important documents in online storage as this can help sort out lost documents much easier.

• Pack zip lock bags. When flying to the UK, you are required to put all your liquids into a clear sealable bag for security.

• Kindles are made for travel. Getting a flight, train journey or staying in London and suspect using the underground a lot? Then the Kindle becomes a good friend.

• Use Skyscanner for booking flights to the UK and within the UK – easily the best flight comparison website. Plus you can check prices by month or the whole year so know when the best time to travel is.

• If you are travelling to Britain on business, why not join business with pleasure and extend your stay to experience Britain with your family or partner?  See what Britain has to offer not only as a top business destination but also as a major holiday destination.

• Learn the lingo.  Word Lense App is great for translation and free to download onto any smart device.  If you want to brush up on your English then this app is great. It also has numerous other languages.

• Stay in a serviced apartment. OK so we are a serviced apartment agency so you may think we are trying to plug something.  But all I’m going to say is try them for yourself and make your own judgement.  Much cheaper than a hotel room if you are staying for a little longer than a couple of weeks and have the facilities of home meaning you can really feel like a local.  Great for groups and families too. See our serviced apartments here.

• Wake up early – avoid crowds. Unless you are a morning person it may be hard to get up early initially but places are always better early.

• Splurge now and again. If you can afford to splurge more then go for it. Whether it is a fancy meal or staying in luxury accommodation, everyone deserves a treat!

• Pack ear plugs. Just in case.

• Ask locals for recommendations. Locals always know where the best places are. You may also find gems that aren’t necessarily in the guides.

• Come to the UK prepared for the weather.  Don’t let the forecast fool you.  The further north you go the more layers you pack. Pack enough layers that you can remove them as required.

• The myth that British food is bland and boring just isn’t  true and modern British cuisine is taking centre stage these days in the UK. From local ciders of Bristol, Haggis of Edinburgh, potato bread from Belfast, Cheddar cheese to Lancashire Hot Pot there are plenty of traditionally British foods and dishes that will tickle your taste buds.

• This may be an obvious one but book in advance.

• Travel more. If you have the urge, do not ignore it.

Fancy an Edinburgh city break? Here are some tips for the perfect destination from the viewpoint of an adopted local.

The Attractions

Go to camera Obscura: It is full of optical allusions with great views of the city. Fun for kids and adults.

Take a bus tour: If you don’t like walking, book a hop on hop off bus tour covering the main points.  MacTours Vintage bus tours are the best and trust me – I have been on them all.

Visit the Writers’ Museum: Learn about three of Scotland’s most famous writers very much respected to this day; Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.

Go on a ghost tour: If you like history teamed with being scared then take a night-time walking tour which tells you all about Edinburgh’s darker past.

Visit the Edinburgh Dungeons: Brilliant fun with family or friends.

Have a whiskey cocktail: At Whiski on the Royal Mile or learn more about whiskey at the Whisky Rooms.

Visit Greyfriars Bobby: The monument of Edinburgh’s most loyal dog who sat by his owner’s grave for many long years. Bobby has become a local hero. Remember to touch his nose for luck.

See Edinburgh Castle: Save a good few hours for visiting the castle and be there for 1pm to see the 1 o’clock gun go off.

Climb Calton Hill: Stunning views of Edinburgh and right in the city centre so easy to access.

Go Somewhere Less Obvious: Visit Edinburgh’s seaside at Portobello, or how about the quaint boutique shops of Stockbridge. You could also visit the shore which has some fantastic restaurants lining the water of Leith.

Walk Princes Street Gardens: A beautiful green space opposite Edinburgh’s chief high street.  Amazing that one minute you can be in the hustle and bustle and the next relaxing.  In winter it has a stunning Christmas Market and amusements and in summer it is great for a picnic.  The gardens are also near the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery which are free to enter.

Visit a Museum: Most of Edinburgh’s museums are free so are a must!  Edinburgh has a major medical past and present so visit the Surgeons Hall, it is informative and entertaining.

The secrets

Locals Love:

Value treat – Bar Napoli – Hanover Street

Luxury treat – The Witchery – The Royal Mile

Afternoon tea – The Dome – George Street

The Accommodation

Edinburgh is the perfect place to stay and there are great city break serviced apartments in Edinburgh.

There are plenty of places to stay in Edinburgh for a city break, but like London, Edinburgh can be expensive.  Hotels and B&B’s are great for a nights stay but for longer, options like city break serviced apartments in Edinburgh offer great value for money whatever your budget.

You can inquire about our serviced apartments in Edinburgh here.

Reading is an important commercial centre in Southern England and home to companies large, medium and small so it is no surprise that there is plenty of things to do and more than enough shops, bars, cafes and restaurants to choose from.  Below are some top picks.

Reading our tops restaurant picks:

• Carluccio’s – May be a chain but the platters are delicious to share. Forbury Square, Reading RG1 3EY
• Pepe Sale – Great reputation – delicious food – wonderful service. 3 Queens Walk, Reading, RG1 7QF
• Pappadams – Tasty authentic Indian food – Great value. 74, King’s Road, Reading RG1 3BJ

We understand the need for quality accommodation that provides cost effectiveness. We have two fabulous new apartment blocks on offer.

 100 Kings Road

100 Kings Road Reading serviced apartments recently opened in 2014 and offering executive studio, one, two and three bedroom apartments making them perfect for both the individual traveller, groups and families. Located in RG1 meaning access to restaurants, cafes, bars and shops is super easy. The shopping centres, Marina and train station are nearby too.

Stanshawe Court

Modern one and two bedroom apartments only 200 metres from the train station. A ideal executive apartment choice for those travelling on business but equally good for those travelling for leisure.  Plenty of space to relax after a long day.

We are happy to answer questions or you can inquire about our apartments here.

Cost-effective

Up to 30% cheaper than a comparable hotel – you get much more for your hard earned money!

Eat what you want, when you want, how you want.

Whether you fancy a midnight snack in your pyjama’s, want to invite a new friend over for dinner or simply want to eat in, you can do so – this saves so much money and gives you the freedom and flexibility of when you want to dine in and out.

No more being kept to standard breakfast times which we all know that at times, are just annoying. How can this be done? Serviced apartments come with a fully functional kitchen just like you would expect in a nice house.  No more crouching on top of your bed eating dinner… unless you want to.

Some serviced apartments can provide breakfast too. Even better, groceries can be purchased for you on request. Or how about surprising that someone with a welcome hamper on arrival.

More Space

OK so you are going to be on holiday or a temporary relocation and do not want to feel like you are in a hamster cage.  Serviced apartments solve this because ‘ta da’ you have multiple rooms!   Even studio flats have far more space than a comparable hotel room.

This is fantastic if you are travelling with friends, family or colleagues because you will have the benefit of separate bedrooms and communal living areas.  This will also work out much cheaper than booking individual hotel rooms for each guest.  Even if you are only visiting for a short stay, we all like more space!

Below is an example of a 3 bedroom apartment – much more space than 3 hotel rooms.

Services

The final point is about the services included. Ok so you have a fully functional home for your stay, now what services do you get?

In all serviced apartments there will be maid service and concierge, just like you would get in a hotel. Fast speed Wi-Fi is provided free of charge in 98% of the serviced apartments we list along with many providing digital TV channels.

Serviced apartments provide laundry facilities but many offer laundry services too. This is ideal for those staying for a couple of weeks plus because of course everybody likes fresh clothes.

For those travelling on business or those who need to access business facilities – business facilities such as fax, printing, desks and conference/meeting rooms can be found in plenty of serviced apartment buildings.

Many serviced apartments – especially if you have a slightly higher budget offer many extra amenities and services.  Such as fully equipped gyms, swimming pools, Jacuzzis, Saunas & Steam Rooms.

Whatever your specific needs, whether it be a business trip on a budget or luxury holiday – serviced apartments can give you what you are looking for. Call or email us today and we will be happy to help!

Schedule plenty of down time:

We all know how tempting it can be when we visit somewhere new to want to see it all.  But by scheduling in down time, we can avoid being completely exhausted at the end of our trip and have maximum energy to put into the things that we do.  No one wants to be nodding off at a game because they are too tired to enjoy it.

Keep packing list with:

For those doing a multi-destination trip or holiday, bring a list of items to check off each time you move, so that there is no ‘oh no I forgot that’ feeling on arrival at the next place.

Pack things to keep stress at bay:

Bring items such as a pillow for long distance travelling and earphones. Practical items make for a happier trip. No one wants to be tired and grumpy because they have been kept up all night.

Avoid crowds:

Sometimes this can’t be avoided if we want to see the top holiday attractions. Unless we get up early and before everyone else arrives. So for top attractions arrive before the crowds do or even better… go to the places that are off the beaten track or where the locals go.  Not only will there be the opportunity to see the destination in its authentic glory, we get to avoid all the queuing and pressure of a packed atmosphere.

Don’t go straight for the big chain hotel option:

They may be recognisable and are great for one night. Anything from a couple of days opens up the possibilities. B&B’s, guest houses and serviced apartments are other great options.  Serviced apartments offer home like accommodation with the services of a hotel at competitively better prices so give the best of both worlds. Give them a go if you haven’t already.

Keep what we enjoy in mind.

Ok so Trip advisor says that a particular museum is the top thing to do but we would rather find a nice bistro or bar, the do so.  Top attractions are only a guide.

1. Are they expensive?

You get more for your money compared to a hotel room so serviced apartments work out cheaper! Utilities, Wi-Fi, TV licences etc. are included along with a completely equipped kitchens and much more space than a hotel room could ever offer.

2. What is included?

The vast majority of serviced apartments include maid service, concierge, a fully equipped kitchen, Wi-Fi, TV, Utilities, amenities such as a washer/dryer and ample living space as a minimum. Others have additional services such as meeting/ conference rooms, gym and restaurant facilities available. This makes them perfect as temporary accommodation when relocating staff or for business trip.

3. What is the difference between a hotel room and a serviced apartment?

Hotels sell rooms and that is what you get. Serviced apartments offer additional rooms including lounge and kitchens so serviced apartments are always a winner for long stays as opposed to hotels. In fact anything over a few days and sack the hotel idea! Also money is saved and people are happy when they can relax and feel at home.

4. Why use an agent?

Agencies (or booking websites) have worked hard to source all the best accommodation and at the best rate. You probably have a million and one things to do so save the hassle scouring through multiple websites when the experts can do the hard work for you for free. Also as agencies list so many different properties, they are unbiased so can offer what really suits your needs.

5. What’s the best way to book?

For short term bookings of a few nights, it is easiest to simply book online.  For longer stays you can either enquire about a particular apartment or book online and for those of you who want the easiest option – simply give an agent your date, budget, location and number of guests and they will find the best options for you to choose from.  So they do all the hard work and you get what you want!