The area around Earls Court tube in London is cluttered with “affordable” hotels as travel accommodations. A handful is of the boutique variety; the rest are for those who subscribe to the theory that in a town like London, they won’t be in the room long enough to care. But with the rise of Air BnB, and living like a local, apartments are on trend, but that doesn’t mean you have to stay in someone else’s.
Presidential Apartments are a new kid on the block, just around the corner from the tube, making it handily situated for Heathrow access. A Marks & Spencer Simply Food, a haven for scrumptious ready meals, salads, and other goodies, is three minutes down the road.
Interiors are stream-lined and utilize space well, without going overboard. Black and white photographs decorating the walls was a welcome change from “canned” art purchased by the truckload. From the fourth floor, there were lovely views of leafy back gardens below, and rooftops in the distance. Both the height and double-glazed windows kept the flat quiet.
Lots of extra toiletries (like toothbrushes) were nice, but I’d replace the dental kits with bottles of water and a notepad and pen. I entered at 11 pm, dehydrated from a flight, but with no will to search for an open shop. The kitchen is well-equipped (bar the water), with appliances hidden away. It’s worthwhile going through all the cupboards to see what’s there.
The best bits? The bed — comfy and adorned in good linens, the robes, and the TV, with tons of channels and a DVD library. I could have whiled away at least a few hours, and whiling is one of the best parts of travel.
