We had never been to London, so choosing a place to stay in this big, magnificent city was trial and error. Kensington is certainly a lovely neighborhood, and we enjoyed being walking distance from the Victoria and Albert Museum. The apartment was a short walk from the Tube station, and even as UK novices, navigating by Tube was a snap. The Tube line, however, actually runs right outside the apartment building and at six floors up, we could definitely hear it. Because of the season, we were able to keep the window closed, but it would be a real noise issue in warmer months when one might want fresh air and sleep at night. The building has 24-hour staffing, so it felt safe, and we had no trouble picking up the keys from the friendly desk staff. While overall the apartment was as pictured, there were issues: It was annoying that while the hosts left detailed written instructions on what they needed from us (take out the garbage, turn in the keys, you break-you pay, etc), there were no instructions on what we needed to know: How to operate the washing machine, the dishwasher, or even the fact that one had to turn on a switch on the wall before appliances would function. The bed was okay, but the pillows were shameful - old, nasty and lumpy and really in need of replacement ASAP - an inexpensive fix. There were runners laid down to protect the carpeting, and while that is understandable, the turned-up edges on them were a tripping hazard. Decent tableware and utensils, but the cookware could also use an upgrade. The excellent Sainsbury's grocery store was very close-by, and overall, it was easy to eat at home if we wished. Good pub grub was nearby and a pleasant walk to Kensington High Street led to fine and fun shopping, Kensington Palace, and the Royal Albert Hall. We would not, however, recommend or choose this property again. The primary reason? The non-cancel policy, which is a deal-breaker. Having spent 20 years as a hotel executive, I consider a situation with absolutely no refund after booking to be unacceptable. Percentage refunds tied to timeframes are just and understandable, but unexpected things happen when people make travel plans. On principle, I would never have booked a property with such a restriction. Not paying enough attention was my failure, but It was a valuable lesson. While the reservation was booked with assistance from our travel agent and is tied to her email, all opinions are our own. J and E from Santa Fe, NM, USA
