Many wonderful things has already been said about London. It is a popular tourist destination, with lots of activities geared for family enjoyment, group tours and relaxation to the business and solo travelers. As one of the world’s leading destinations, with 17.4 million visitors in 2014, a big surge since the 2012 Olympics, finding London apartments and other accommodations can be a concern.

Hotels, guest houses, hostels, and B&B lodges could quickly fill up with guest bookings, and sometimes priced over your budget. And to truly imbibe on the pleasures and leisure this vibrant mega city has to offer, all you need is a cozy place that you could call home away from home in your country of origin. Renting a Short Term Apartment in London gives you exactly that feeling of being at home.

LONDON APARTMENTS HOSTING: City Relay

Last December, I had my first Christmas vacation in the United Kingdom. And to see the attractions of the capital city, I stayed in one of the cozy London apartments of FG Properties and was hosted by City Relay.

City Relay (@City_Relay) is the Reception Desk of FG Properties in London. It acts similarly to a hotel front desk where guests are received and a central meeting office to make sure their guests have smooth and worry-free experience during their stay in one of the properties.

The awesome team of City Relay meets and greets their guests, organize their key pick-up, check-in and check-outs and provide all the information they need for their booked property. The team is composed of professional, helpful and friendly men and women all ready to guide and host their guests for a relaxing stay in London.

The City Relay Team’s dedication to provide guests satisfaction deserves commendations for excellent guest & host management services in London.

Alighting from its Tube Station, as you make your way to City Relay along Kenway Road, you’ll find Earls Court a neighborhood peppered with shops, restaurants, pubs, and grocers stores. This district is a haven for entertainment venues and attractions such as museums, galleries, theatres and the Earls Court Exhibition Centre known as London’s venue for concerts and trade shows. Backpackers and tourists find more affordable accommodations here.

Earls Court is where you’ll find the City Relay office. With its light-blue house and key icon, you can’t miss it at the end of Kenway Road. Once the booking is verified, the guest relations officer of the day (in my case, sweet Ms Ana) will provide you with a welcome folder containing the address and printed map showing directions to your booked property, useful information about amenities of the flat and localities of nearby shops and attractions and important emergency numbers to call should the need arises.

You can either be given the key at the reception desk and follow the directions in the folder, or they can organize for a car to take you to your flat, or a representative will gladly meet you in the flat to welcome you personally. I opted for the last, and Ana was so gracious to be there in my apartment to check me in and show me the rooms, and even guided me with the wi-fi connection.

Even during the process of your booking, they follow through by constantly keeping in touch by email, providing details and answers to your queries for a worry-free and secure confirmation of your booking.

City Relay welcomes their guests at best. I had this warm welcome when I finally settled in FG Properties’ one-bedroom flat in Fulham:

A charming, spacious, one-bedroom flat located in West Kensington, this FG Properties apartment is perfect for a solo-traveler like me, although it can accommodate a small family as well.

It has a fully equipped kitchen, provided with a convection stove and oven, a refrigerator, microwave and all the cooking utensils like pots and pans if you plan of preparing a delicious meal during your stay. There are also a dishwasher and a washer/dryer to help you out with washing.

Toiletries are provided as well as fresh white towels. The bed linens are fresh and clean.

Located in a quiet neighborhood relatively far from the busier city center of London, it offers more relaxed space for leisure morning walks and fitness run through gardens, parks and walkways. Nearby is River Thames, Lillie Park and Fulham Palace ideal for children’s play activities. Also a short walk away is the famous Queens Club for tennis enthusiasts, as well as the Chelsea and Fulham football clubs.

It is close to the Barons Court tube station, as well as bus links for easy access to central London.

Aside from the modern interior, the organized, clean and comfortable living space this FG Properties apartment provided me, what I loved about the experience is the value of customer care City Relay put into their dealings with their guests. During my stay, I had a minor concern about the locking mechanism of one of the windows of my flat. I called Ana at the reception desk, and she had assured me about addressing my concern as someone would check on this later on the day, considering the London traffic and all. But I didn’t have to wait long because the utility man came under an hour after I called.

LONDON APARTMENTS RENTAL: FG PROPERTIES

One of the best in short-term, holiday apartment rentals are those offered by FG Properties.

FG Properties (@FGPropertyM) is a young and fast growing company that provides short-term, customized and fully-furnished flats and houses in and around Central London for holidays and business. They offer services of an hotel with the comfort & privacy of a home at very affordable prices starting at £65 per night.

You can choose from budget studio apartments, to one-, two-, three-, four-bedroom luxury flats and townhouses. The company lists 123 properties scattered all throughout London.

Some of these properties have roof terraces, gardens, patios, balconies and amazing views of the environs. Staying in one of these apartments is really like living in the comfort of your own home, secured well within quiet neighborhoods.

FG Properties London apartments are fully furnished with stylish to modern amenities, from living room to bedroom, complete with kitchens furnished with cupboards, refrigerator, dish washer, washer/dryer, microwave oven, electric water pot and bread toaster, among other things. And if you fancy cooking, there is stove/oven for each apartment, as well as pots, pans, plates, cutlery and other utensils. The bathrooms are also impeccable and provided with signature toiletries.

I commend FG Properties and City Relay for giving the best value for money and the best customer service they give to their guests and clients. Aside for managing London apartments, FG Properties also provide short-term rentals in Paris, Rome, Milan, and Barcelona.

Aside for the front desk services, City Relay also offers hotel-style cleaning and laundry services. All these for minimal charges. If you have any properties that you would like to rent out, City Relay can also host them for you, with easy management terms. All their personnel are 5-star hotel trained.

NOTE: This stay was sponsored by FG Properties and City Relay, but all opinions are my own.