As you all are aware, THE LONDON CONNECTION is a family business that has been providing London flats for visitors to this fabulous city for twenty-five years. We have had a fabulous team in London for years. First, Fay Williams lead the team until she retired three years ago. Since that time, a young energetic CRISTINA TEIXERA has lead the London operation. Her hard work and attention to detail is amazing. She loves her work, and she enjoys her contact and friendships with many clients who come back and back again to our flats. Thomas Jr. and I love our team: the housekeepers, the airport pick-up people, the let-in ladies, and Becky in our US office. It is a lot of hard work, but it has been a wonderful journey.
The rewarding moments are when I receive an email like the one I received this week. I wanted to share it with my readers because you are the people who write these letters of appreciation. Besides, this letter has some good suggestions to assist you with your trip. Our team appreciate these emails.
Thanks for reading this returning client’s email.
We certainly do our best.
From: Don SeftonSent: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 22:31To: TMoore@londonconnections.comSubject: A thankful customer …
We’ve used the services of London Connections for years and I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for the wonderful service.
I think I first found you folks through an advertisement in an in-flight magazine on Aer Lingus. ˇWe were travelling between Dublin and Bristol and, if memory serves, you had an advertisement in the in-flight magazine. ˇIn any event, I’ve found a competitor of sorts of yours for Italy (I guess they aren’t really a competitor, but rather have a similar concept with a different venue). ˇTheir name is The Parker Company (www.theparkercompany.com<http://www.theparkercompany.com>). ˇWe’ve stayed in their villas in North Umbria, Venice, Liguria, Firenze, Castiglion Fiorentino among others.
I can’t remember exactly every place we’ve stayed with London Connections, but to the best of my recollection we’ve stayed:
ˇ* ˇˇNear Gloucester Road not far from the Earl’s Court Station — great location and it was perfect for a group of people — my mother-in-law, two daughters, girlfriend of one of my daughters, my wife and I. ˇIt was convenient to the Museums (Natural History, V&A, etc.) and to Kensington Gardens.ˇ* ˇˇNear Knightsbridge (about 2 or 3 blocks south of Harrod’s this was a penthouse that was on the top floor of a 4 or 5 story building). ˇThe penthouse had at least four bedrooms and had some levels in it … not a true split level, but you went up a set of two or three stairs for one of the living rooms. ˇWe had my mother-in-law, two daughters, my wife and I and a couple joined us from Germany with their daughter — we’d met the German’s on a previous tour down the Rhine with KD.ˇ* ˇˇNear Covent Garden (may have been Henrietta Street). ˇI think we stayed in this one twice and it’s proximity to Covent Garden, the Theatre District, etc. was excellent. ˇIt was a huge place and also well divided so it was nice and quiet even with our teenaged daughters.ˇ* ˇˇTwice on Piccadilly just west of Green Park Tube Station. ˇThis was a great 2 bedroom apartment in the Mayfair area.ˇ* ˇˇOnce around the corner from the place on Piccadilly (Curzon may have been the name)ˇ* ˇˇOnce very near Shaftesbury and Seven Dials — I think we are staying in the same building again this January.ˇ* ˇˇThree locations in Paris, two in the Second Arrondissement and one across the river that was either in the 7th or the 15th Arrondissement).
Anyway, we’ve been happy with the accomodations, in particular the variety and the locations which have allowed us to travel in groups as small as 2 and as large as 8 and always able to find the perfect place. ˇI’ve stayed in hotels on numerous occasions in London, everything from a small place in Pimlico to the Savoy on the Strand. ˇI rarely stay in a hotel anymore in London because of the better value of your accomodations. ˇI think on one occasion in 2004 I stayed for a day or two at the Mountbatten Hotel by 7 Dials but only because I was there for two days and couldn’t find a place on the London Connections web site for that short term at that time of year. ˇOtherwise, we opt for a flat with London Connections. ˇI’ve priced it out and not only is it larger and more comfortable, but also generally cheaper. ˇIf you throw in the opportunity to make your own breakfast and do laundry it is DEFINITELY cheaper to rent a flat than stay in a hotel.
We also have begun to avail ourselves of the pick up service on the last four or so trips. ˇIt is very convenient to be picked up at the airport by a driver holding a sign with your name on it. ˇWe are frequent travellers, have been to London at least 20 times over the past 30 years and have literally made the trek from Heathrow and Gatwick in every conveyance imaginable. ˇWe’ve used the tube from Heathrow, the train from Gatwick, an Airporter style bus, taxi’s, gypsy taxi’s and your pick up service. ˇOf all of them, the pick up service has been the best. ˇIt is only marginally more expensive than a cab, and the virtues of having someone actually meet you at the airport and coordinate with the let in service CAN NOT be underestimated. ˇIt’s wonderful for experienced traveller’s, I can only imagine it as a godsend for first time travellers. ˇWe’ve also availed ourselves of the same drivers on a number of occasions to return us to the airport at the end of our stay. ˇIt is just too convenient and reasonable to do otherwise.
I have some suggestions you might consider passing on to your clients.
First and foremost is David Stubbs at London Country Tours (www.londoncountrytours.co.uk<http://www.londoncountrytours.co.uk>). ˇDavid runs the business but is also a driver in it. ˇHe has several other drivers and a range of vehicles from a smaller car suitable for a driver and a couple up to vans that could carry 8. ˇWe’ve used him on three occasions and one of those entailed one of his drivers (James Obara I believe) and the other two were with David himself. ˇWe’ve taken tours in the Cotswolds, to Salisbury Cathedral, Stonehenge, Stratford-upon-Avon, Windsor (Eton), etc. ˇWe probably won’t take a tour this January only because of our limited time, however, David suggested a tour down to Cornwall on the last visit and I think we’ll try that the next time our schedule permits. ˇDavid and his drivers are helpful, informative but not intrusive. ˇThe prices aren’t cheap (they are listed on the web site), but I felt like they were well worth it, particular when you, mid trip, pull up to a gas pump and watch the driver shell out the equivalent of $8 a U.S. gallon for re-fueling.
I always enjoy the Imperial War Museum on the South Side of the Thames near Elephant and Castle subway station. ˇWe’ve enjoyed visiting the Silver Vaults up on Chancery Lane on more than one occasion and the Antique Market by Camden Passage is always fun. ˇJewelry shopping in Hatton Garden is also a good value if a bit overwhelming (like walking the Ponte Vecchio in Florence — overwhelming). We also like Portobello Road and a walk down the Berwick Street Market from Oxford Street into Piccadilly and the West End is fun.
A favorite restaurant is a neighborhood Indian Restaurant in the Pimlico District (Pimlico Tandoori). ˇWe also like the Greek restaurant just south of the British Museum on Coptic street (can’t remember the name but it is the only Greek restaurant on the street, is just south of the BM and on the west side of Coptic).
Thanks again for your help and we look forward to staying at your properties again, and again …
Thomas Moore email: TMooreSr@me.com Telephone: 801.791.9918
http://www.londonconnection.com
A successful trip to London has a lot to do with location, location. Well, our new flat certainly fills the bill. Rarely does a visitor to London have the opportunity to walk out his front door to find Westminster Abbey and St. Margaret’s Church just across the street–right next door. Just past the Abbey are the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Hall. St. James’s Park and Buckingham Palace are to the left , and Whitehall leading to Trafalgar Square is just up the street. Westminster Bridge and London Eye are just in front. How is that for location? Amazing. The apartment is in a fantastic period building, positioned in the heart of Westminster. It is a sleek, bright, and very comfortable one bedroom accommodation on the second floor– with lift. It has just been entirely refurbished with the most up-to-date equipment. The lounge is bright, comfortable with TV, sofas, and chairs. The sofa in the lounge is a pull-out and can accommodate a third guest if needed. The kitchen is all new with washer/dryer, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, hob/oven, and microwave. The dining area has a glass dining table and four chairs and is open to the kitchen. The bedroom has a queen size bed and good storage. The bathroom has a shower stall, wash hand basin, and loo–all excellent quality. Westminster Tube Station is five minutes away, and St. James’s Park Station is just around the corner. This is an ideal flat for 2 persons. When considering the budget, the location, and the quality, this is a superb accommodation. HIGH-SPEED INTERNET with wireless router (802.llb/g) has been installed for those traveling with computers.