6 Questions a family should ask when finding vacation accommodation

Hyde Park Gate interiors

So, families, how was your Summer? What will you change for your next break? The kids may only just be back at school but now is the perfect time to start thinking about how to improve the time that you spend away from home as a family. After all, the October half-term will be upon us in a flash, soon followed by the Christmas break. 

City breaks may appear at first glance to be the realm of the young and carefree. However, more and more families are coming to understand the appeal of enjoying the vibrancy of London with the kids. Whether your break is purely leisure or partially business (for the grown ups anyway!) luxury serviced apartments are the best way to ensure that a successful family break is had by all.

What about hotels?

Perhaps you have previously stayed in a hotel family room or suite. It is true that hotel service and catering means that everyone gets a break. As the kids get bigger, though, space will feel tighter and tighter. With around 30% more space on average than a similar level of hotel suite, a serviced apartment will give your family the space to avoid treading on each others’ toes. Also, let’s face it, kids are noisy. We doubt that your ideal break involves policing your kids’ noise levels because the adjacent rooms can hear every squabble. With a luxury serviced apartment, your space is your own and you can simply let the noise wash over you – much as you do at home!

What about vacation rentals?

So if it’s privacy and the freedom to make a racket that you want, perhaps you’ve previously gone for vacation rental properties? As far as privacy goes, these are great. They really are a home-from-home. Except that they tend to come with all of the chores from home too. The superb service that is intrinsic within a luxury serviced apartment means that everything from cleaning to laundry to catering and even activity organisation can be taken off your hands. So holiday means holiday.

What about Airbnb?

The Airbnb bubble has meant that whatever city you are visiting, you can probably find accommodation. This is great for flying visits or unusual destinations. However, the rapid growth of this side of the accommodation industry has resulted in a vast number of properties with no assessment or standard. There can be low reliability, with frequent reports of cancellations and a lack of ongoing customer service from the point of booking. When you’re travelling as a family, it is vital to be confident in the security of your booking. This high level of customer service is always found for a 5* serviced apartment.

Why is routine important?

Whether your family is young, teenage or adult, holiday life in a family unit relies and indeed thrives on routine. When all of your family members have both their own private space and communal or recreational space, personal routines that make life work at home can be continued on holiday. This could be wind-down routines or morning exercise or breakfasting routines. Both keep you relaxed and set you up for enjoying some great and memorable days out.

Why not stay at home?

So if routine is so important, why not just stay at home? Yes, staycations enjoy a fairly regular resurgence, but nothing beats a holiday away. The best of both worlds really is a space where all of the great bits of home can be combined with impeccable service and some fabulous experiences.

Why London?

Experience is what makes London one of the best cities in the world to visit as a family. From a luxury serviced apartment in central London, you have some amazing destinations on your doorstep. Royal Parks, The Science Museum, V&A and Natural History museum are all free of charge to visit. They will keep kids and adults alike enthralled across multiple visits. A short journey will take you to Chinatown, Theatreland, the Southbank or even the City. There are whole worlds to discover, and it can feel daunting to organise. When you book with a luxury serviced apartment, then, let the concierge service take all of this stress out of your hands and do the organising for you!