Hopping the Pond

22 December, 2015

We began our segment of an extended family vacation "today."  My Mom and younger sister departed for London a few days prior, now my family is going to join her and my older sister and her extended family will be arriving December 27. By a stroke of luck (and perhaps an anomaly created by the USAir-American Airlines merger) our overseas flight was PHL-LHR with a 10am departure and a 10pm arrival. Unfortunately it appears that this flight no longer exists on the schedule (or perhaps it's only offered on a seasonal basis.) In any case, arriving in the evening after a day of travel is much more enjoyable than arriving in the morning without being able to figure out which way is up. After clearing immigration and customs we stopped in at the M&S Simply Food to grab sandwiches instead of leaving to chance what we might be able to locate between the airport and the flat. Our ever-reliable and efficient driver, Eddie Manning, was waiting for us in the arrivals area and in short order had everything loaded in his van and we were on our way.

There are a few situations that I strongly recommend that you consider a car service for your airport transfer, assuming you're staying in London proper.

• You have a group larger than three. (A single van is more affordable than two taxis.)
• Your accommodations in London are not within a short walk of Paddington Station. (Heathrow Express is fairly convenient, but if you need a taxi on the other end the savings will likely evaporate.)
• Your luggage amounts to more than a single suitcase and personal item for each person. (Taxis have limited space and wrestling things aboard the train can be a challenge.)

These are just some of the most obvious situations. In our case we would have needed at least two taxis at approximately £60 each. Even with a modest fee for an additional errand before meeting us at the airport our quoted rate for a luxury van reflected a savings for a significantly higher level of service. When you consider that you also get to enjoy the company of an informed and knowledgable local during the drive you simply can't go wrong. Eddie delivered us to the flat, helped unload and placed all the luggage in the lobby of the flat.

Oh, the flat. What a stunning property in an absolutely phenomenal location! It took a good bit of searching to find, and a fair amount of effort to book, but it was definitely worth it in the long run. 9 Hertford Street is in the middle of Shepherd's Market, just a few minutes walk from the Green Park underground station one way and they Hyde Park station the other. Hard Rock Cafe London is just around the corner and there are several pubs and restaurants within just a couple of blocks of the front door. A convenience store is nearby for beverages and light snacks with Tesco Express and M&S Food just a little further. There's even a Sainsbury about seven blocks away where you can buy nearly anything you might need. It is just across Green Park from Buckingham Palace and a reasonable walk from other sites such as Westminster Abbey, the Banqueting House, and the Churchill War Rooms. Shopping is, at most, a short cab or tube ride away. Regent and Oxford Streets in one direction, Harrods in the other. They offer several single bedroom units and a single three bedroom unit. The three bedroom unit is an excellent value, assuming you will fill the bed space. We found it to be less expensive than a luxury hotel and only slightly more expensive than moderately priced hotels. When the savings are factored in for being able to prepare breakfasts and having snacks at hand I calculate, at worst, a break-even proposition when compared to moderate hotels. The amount of space is staggering, especially by London standards. Satellite television, WiFi and central HVAC are icing on the cake. The property management staff are as good as you'll ever find and provide exceptional service in every aspect imaginable. If you're in the market for luxury accommodation I give this property my highest endorsement. When you visit their website and look at the photographs rest assured that there isn't any trickery involved, they are a true representation of the property. It is truly magnificent.