GUIDEBOOK.SE

Q: What is it? A: A pretty new place for those who would like a hotel in a decent location that is not too expensive. Expect small rooms, though.

This is called a Paddington Room. I’d call it a very small bedroom at La Suite West. Not the many mirrors, nor my wide-angle lens can disguise the fact that it’s actually tiny.

Get your overdose of marble in your bathroom at La Suite West. Funny fact: The heated floor was indeed hot (almost too hot) with no visible option to turn the temperature down.

The kitchenette at La Suite West. About as tiny as it looks!

Room with a view of Inverness Terrace. In the bargain: Four magazines. Stationary. A remote control. Plus a miniature bag of chocolate!

The concept should be absolutely bombproof.
London is notorious for expensive hotel rooms. In this city expensive may at the same time mean bad. But apparently someone found the recipe for a successful hotel: Find yourself a somewhat overlooked London area that is close to communications but on a not so busy street. Acquire a property that is big enough for creating 80 bedrooms. Then let a well-known designer have her way with the interior (but don’t let her go to extremes – make it modern, but not overly modernist). Finally, put a reasonable price tag on it and wait for the first guests to arrive. It should work pretty well and in many aspects it does.

Anouska Hempel created the world’s first boutique hotel. And now this.
In 1978 the former Bond-girl* opened the doors to the very first boutique hotel in the world, the somewhat eccentric-looking Blakes in Kensington. La Suite West has borrowed more from her second hotel, The Hempel, which located a mere 8-minute walk from La Suite West. But the places are very different. At the Hempel I got the room where David Beckham used to stay. At La Suite West I got the room where the smurfs had been staying. No, it doesn’t look like a mushroom. It just seems designed for a person three apples tall. In other words: It’s tiny.

For the solo-traveller who wants a no-nonsense place to stay.
Staying here means that you will not end up in another Bayswater place with a mold infested bathroom where pubic hairs clogs the shower drain and the fitted carpet is inhabited by various life-forms. La Suite West is almost brand new (it opened in early fall 2012). It was created as ”a destination choice for the stylish, savvy traveller”. As far as I’m concerned it doesn’t fit that description completely. But if you’re not in the mood for spending a gazillion on a hotel room, then consider La Suite West. Check around on this site and you’ll find even more affordable hotels with more atmosphere, but those would normally be located at the back of beyond. The combo of decent standard/fair price/pretty good location is the raison d’être of this hotel. A good reason to be, if you ask me.

*Anouska Hempel plays one of the ”Angels of Death” in the 1969 classic Bond-movie ”On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”.

La Suite West
41-51 Inverness Terrace
London W2 3JN
United Kingdom

+44-207-313-8484

Click here to book La Suite West through TabletHotels.com!

Tags: Anoushka Hempel, Anouska Hempel, Bayswater, compact, Inverness Terrace, La Suite West, minimalist, modern, Paddington Station, small, tiny, value for money

Q: What is it? A: A hotel with a sensible price tag and very helpful staff. Not exactly located in central London but at the same time only six stops from Piccadilly Circus. Not bad at all.

A not-so-typical Rockwell bedroom with a floor-to-ceiling window with amazing views over Cromwell Road. Yes, that flight of stairs will take you to the 2nd level (pictured below).

Here’s what’s going on on the 2nd level. Most of the time there won’t me much action here. But those who doesn’t want to share the remote will appreciate the extra TV up here.

On top of the world meaning on the top of your bathroom. Looking down, Krakatoa is not erupting but you’ll see the bed… the TV… the flight of stairs… your kingdom…

Small bathroom underneath le deuxième étage. And that shower cabin sure is small as well. And there’s a lack of hooks for towels and anything else that would require a hook in the bathroom. You’ve been warned.

It’s quite obvious that this hotel wasn’t designed to become a social scene. The lobby is a place you pass on your way to your room. If it was possible to look left, you’ll see the front desk and its superb staff.

Not all cabbies know the hotel’s there. No neon signs will guide you (or them). So do memorize the Rockwell’s exterior so that you will be able to yell ”Stop right here!” at the right moment.

You may get the feeling that you’re almost leaving London…
It’s not just a feeling. There are only half a dozen blocks before Cromwell Road ends and the A4 takes over (the road that will eventually take you to Heathrow). But for being in this part of town, it’s quite convenient. Less traffic if you’re about to leave the city by cab or car. At the same time, Earl’s Court is a mere 5-minute walk away. From there, you have 12 tube stops before hitting the terminals at LHR. On the same blue tube line you’ll have six stops in the other direction before you’ve reached Piccadilly.

It’s your sleeping quarter. Not your stage.
Sometimes I want to stay in very busy hotels that will make me pretend that I’m something else (a jetsetting disco-dude who’s gonna rock’n’ roll all night, and party every day – aah). Sometimes I just want a proper bed and clean sheets. The Rockwell fits the latter description. Only 40 rooms. They call it ‘English Contemporary’ and for sure, it’s fairly modern. It’s been around since 2006 – and not much has been changed since it opened. Architect Michael Squire is the guy behind the design and in my opinion he had most success with the lobby; walnut floor, bookshelves and a fireplace. Rooms on the other hand are very 2006-y and look like they’ve been used and sometimes also abused.

Reasons for staying here:
So it’s not central and it doesn’t look too exciting. Why in the world should anybody consider staying at The Rockwell? For the same reason as I did. I was specifically looking for places that didn’t require me to sell my body to science in order to cope with hefty room rates.
If you’re paying the bill yourself, there are few more sensible places than The Rockwell. Also, which deserves to be emphasized; the staff is very helpful and will handle requests like late check-out the way they should be handled: With no fuss.
At the end of the day The Rockwell is another answer to the most common question I get from travelers: Can you recommend a good but reasonably priced London hotel? If you’ve read this far, you may get the picture. Yes, I can.

The Rockwell
181-183 Cromwell Road
London, Greater London SW5 0SF
United Kingdom

+44 20 7244 2000

Click here to book The Rockwell through TabletHotels.com!

not

Tags: boutique, Cromwell Road, Earl's Court, English contemporary, helpful, Michael Squire, service-minded, tranquil, value for money

Q: What is it? A: It’s a hotel. A bit traditional (read; old-fashioned) yet carefully renovated and not too expensive, in the southwest corner of London. And a fine hotel, I should add.

Please, don’t get misled by the proportions. The room is waaay bigger than it looks in the photo above. Look again – that’s a very queen-sized bed in the middle!

Plus: Large bathroom. Minus: Warm? Cold? Something in between? It took quite some experimenting, a few trials plus a few errors. The mixer is too complicated, if you ask me.

Every UK hotel should have this: A way for Scandinavians and everyone else isolated in continental Europe to avoid silly adapters – an easy-to-find socket with Euro-plugs.

Nice area. Nice lobby area where you’ll work, have yourself a cup of coffee or a light lunch. The Caesar salad may not be too memorable but the staff is attentive and nice.

A tiny bit of Kensington Hotel exterior for your viewing pleasure. Meticulously renovated. So is it Gregorian or Victorian style? Ho-hum, I will have to get back to you on that one…

This hotel may be the answer…
People ask me about hotels. That is all cool. That was actually the reason why Guidebook.se was started in the first place. But one question is being asked more often than others: ”Can you recommend a good hotel in London?” Though one, yes. Often with the follow-up: ”…a hotel that isn’t dirt expensive?” Honestly, I’ve not always been able to come up with a proper answer. That, however, may be about to change. Please, do read on.

Quite the combination:
I immediately liked the place. For doing so I had plenty of reasons: The doormen were of the chattier kind. Front desk was nothing but smiles. Check-in was swift and hassle free. I got myself an upgrade. The lobby was a pleasant place for hanging out. The entire place felt vibrant, although it wasn’t crowded. There are 149 rooms of which 22 are suites. Speaking of rooms; mine was nice. Not overly glitzy or modern. Just nice. It was also clean as a whistle although it came with a few visible dents. Look at the photo above! When you get to grips with the image’s proportions, you will realize why I gladly call it spacious.

Is there a catch?
Yes, there is one. This corner of Kensington is not Piccadilly Circus. In other words; if ‘central’ is a must, stay elsewhere. But keep in mind that good/clean in combination with low price and central location is not a combo that you will find just like that. If I had to give one of those up, I’d ditch the ‘central location’ criteria any day. Plus; what’s central London anyway? By now, I’ve been in the city many times (well over 30) and I may have passed the place with the many illuminated signs maybe three times. Mind you, that the Kensington Hotel is located some 321.87 meters from the South Kensington tube station,

Did you hear that? You’re not exactly in the burbs. In fact, you’re only 4 tube stops away from the little statue of Anteros (I was about to joke about this little Greek god with ”long hair and plumed butterfly wings” but the stuff I read on Wikipedia was so twisted that I decided not to).

The Kensington Hotel
109-113 Queen’s Gate
London SW75LR
United Kingdom

+44-207-589-6300

Click here to book The Kensington Hotel through TabletHotels.com!

Closest tube station: South Kensington – walking distance 321 meters (0.2 miles).

Tags: classic, Doyle Collection, Georgian, good service, Kensington, Nice, Old Brompton Road, Queen's Gate, recommended, renovated, South Kensington, spacious, stylish, townhouse, value for money, Victorian

Q: What is it? A: A funky, flawless and very fine hotel at the corner of Mercer and Prince.

Large room designed by Christian Liaigre. Large bed designed by Christian Liaigre. Yep. Living large at the Mercer in one of the hotel’s 75 roomy rooms.

My Mercer hotel room shot from another angle. Everything is easy to find. The door is in the corner. The door to the bathroom is in the middle.

Impressive! I’ve stayed in rooms smaller than this bathroom! And just look at them not-so-small bottles from Face Stockholm. So nice to notice for this Swedish reviewer!

Street view: Mercer and Prince. Across the window: A store featuring the world’s most expensive skateboard ramp, designed by Rem Koolhaas and coming with a 40 million USD-pricetag.

The exterior. Romanesque revival features like the semi-circular arches aren’t visible. Also not visible, but only feet away from where I’m standing: One of SoHo’s original joints. It’s been named Fanelli’s since 1922. Come here for the burgers and the grumpy staff.

Here we can all enjoy our 1.5 seconds of fame.
You enter the Mercer lobby and every single person on the premises will discreetly look your way. Quick scan while trying to determine whether this schmuck is someone or a nobody? You’ll soon see a pattern. Women in shades get the longest looks. Didn’t she look just like Scarlett? Wasn’t that the girl, you know… who played the schoolmistress in that movie made by the guy… or maybe the other guy… you know? Nondescript guys in their 40s (like myself) come in second, as we might very well be the aforementioned other guy or that European guy recently featured in Variety. A-listers won’t receive as much of the staring time as I do, as everybody will pretend to not look at a Clooney or a Crowe. So that’s that. With the Ulmer Scale out of the way, let’s now focus on the hotel.

The reason for staying here: Service!
Early check-in – no problem. Late check-out – no problem. No requests were handled as problems. They were handled with a smile. But on the other hand, I didn’t request them to send a pink grand piano to my room or that all the corridors would be repainted in pistage green. In all seriousness, the doormen and the staff at the front desk are better than great. And yes, you do pay a premium at the Mercer but not only will you get more and better service than elsewhere; you will also get more room. The hotel claims to be ”The first hotel to offer an authentic taste of loft living…” and I sort of agree. Take your regular-sized Manhattan hotel room and enlarge it 1.75 times and you’ll get the idea. Rooms are roomy.

”Open soonish” became an industry joke.
French designer Christian Liaigre made his reputation as an interiors minimalist with the wenge-wood-heavy decor for this hotel. Even though Liaigre has now updated some of the designs, pretty much of it remains unchanged. Hotelier André Balazs bought the property in 1989 and expected it to open in 1992, but due to engineering problems, the murder of a construction manager and some Japanese investors changing their minds, it took five extra years before the first guests were checking in.
But it’s the location and service that you will write home about. Not the design. Efforts have been made to create a subtle and functional design but it’s not glitzy, overly modern or funky. It just works. Also, the place is impeccably maintained. Dents and scratches are nowhere to be found, (Hey, 60 Thompson-management! Make a note of that!). If I can afford it, I’ll stay here often. That’s how good (and expensive) it is.

Bonus service: For a fee the hotel will take your dog for a walk.

The Mercer
147 Mercer Street
New York, NY 10012
United States

+1-212-966-6060

Click here to book the Mercer Hotel through TabletHotels.com!

And while we’re at it: The restaurant in the basement, the Mercer Kitchen is still a busy place. I haven’t eaten there since 2000 but it remains under Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s wings. Even today, thirteen years later, I remember the crazy ravioli I had. If you’re lucky, it’s still on the menu.

Tags: André Balazs, boutique hotel, celebrities, Christian Liaigre, expensive, flawless, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, lobby, loft, loft-living, luxury, Manhattan, Mercer Kitchen, Mercer Street, Open soonish, Prince Street, Romanesque revival, SoHo, superb service, top notch

Q: What is it? A: A slightly jaded boutique hotel in the very heart of SoHo. It’s a time-capsule. Looked just like when I stayed there in 2003. Undergoing renovations as this is written.

Thomas O’Brien’s interior design of 60 Thompson. It will be interesting to see what the renovations will do to the rooms. In all fairness; they do need an overhaul.

Numerous celebrities have stayed at the 60 Thompson. One website lists Jessica Simpson and Christina Aguilera. Maybe they shat here. Or maybe they shat in the Thompson suite.

There’s a vintage phone from Sweden in the lobby: The Cobra, designed by Ralph Lysell and Gösta Thames. Launched in 1956. Over 2 millions of these reptiles were sold.

The exterior of the 60 Thompson Hotel. It should be noted that those graffiti letters weren’t part of the original design.

Can’t say I was excited…
The 60 Thompson was never a very spectacular hotel. It didn’t have the grand façade of the Soho Grand and it didn’t have the spectacular lobby of the Hudson. Still, after its opening on September 11 in 2001, it quickly established itself as a very busy after-work scene. I was highly surprised when I stayed here for the first time in a year after its opening and I’ve been just as surprised on later occasions. On check-in almost exactly eleven years later, I’m stepping out of a time machine… it really feels like the clocks stopped in the early 00s.

Because first impressions last.
Entering one of the 100 rooms does nothing to change that first impression. It’s certainly not unpleasant but it certainly feels like yesterday. OK, I’ll be fair; the TV is flat and there’s an iPod dock on the sideboard (haven’t touched my iPod after 2006). Taking a second look. There’s a shower curtain in the bathroom. How 96-ish! Also, some of the furniture looks like it has survived a few in-room parties. It’s clean but jaded. Thomas O’Brien did a decent job on the interior but this place needs a facelift. Renovations have just started (April 2013).

What draws people to this place?
I don’t have scientific proof to back this up, but what keeps the 60 Thompson running is its staff. Doormen are friendly. Front desk will deliver smiles even though they are busy. The bartenders at Thom know their stuff. That could be the reason why it maintains its position as a after-work spot and then gradually transforms into a party spot. Returning to the hotel after a dinner makes you wonder if you’re in the right place. It’s surprisingly lively. Therefore, avoid the lower floors but don’t miss out on the chance to enjoy a little bit of the The rooftop is occupied by A60, a members-only bar (hotel guests gain access to it by their key card).

“If you call us a boutique hotel chain, I’m going to scream…”
Those are the words of Michael Pomeranc, the eldest of the brothers who run the 60 Thompson hotel. But a boutique hotel is just what the 60 Thompson is. The brothers would prefer to label their company ”a small luxury hotel group”. But this place is not about luxury. It’s a slightly jaded but well-managed. Rates mean you need to flex that plastic (yes, a tad expensive for what you get) and I would certainly wait until renovations are finished in August 2013 before booking myself in for another stay. Perhaps it will shine once again, or maybe it will just remain that competent, understated place with two Swedish cobra telephones in the lobby…

Renovations? Yes, during 2013, the 60 Thompson hotel will be undergoing a facelift (ground floor, lobby, and rooms) from April 23rd-August 1st. The hotel is working to ”ensure minimal disturbances to guest’s stays during this time”. Or so they say.

60 Thompson
60 Thompson St.
New York, NY 10012
United States

+1-212-431-0400

Click here to book the 60 Thompson hotel through TabletHotels.com!

Tags: after-work scene, Big Apple, boutique hotel, jaded, Jason Pomeranc, Kittichai, lively, Manhattan, New York, NY, renovation, rooftop bar, SoHo, Thomas O'Brien, Thompson Hotel Group, United States, USA

Q: What is it? A: A wooden house with a wooden deck overlooking Bangkok’s Chao Phraya river. Inside the wooden house there are seven rooms and an amazingly helpful staff; quite the opposite of the Mandarin Oriental, and in many respects quite the same.

First walk through the temple, then look for the little green sign. OK? Then proceed into the alley, yes? See the other sign? Good. You’re there.

Dear guests, welcome to Loy La Long. Not your ordinary hotel and not your ordinary front desk/reception area.

The blue room, sometimes referred to as room #5. Comes with your own, private balcony. Recommended.

Wanna stay on the 1st floor in a corner room with a river view? Boy, have we got the room for you! This is the black room, also known as room # 2.

Fancy that! Shower gel and hot weather talc in the orange room’s bathroom. And honestly, how can you not be fascinated by the little tin jar with the Snake Brand-logo?

A rocking chair. A deck. A tiny table. A flower-pot. A river view of the Chao Phraya. Why complicate things? What more do you need? I mean, honestly?

See the two hammocks? That’s the most unique feature of Loy La Long.

Saravuth, the owner is on duty. And he’s one friendly dude who left the advertising industry to open Loy La Long. I’ve been in the advertising business for two decades now and, Saravuth, I’m jealous.

Look over there! An old teak house! Looks like it’s 100 years old! It’s only about 30, though!

Much better than advertising.
Honestly, no advertising will do it justice. Which in this case should not be taken as an insult. Saravuth, one of the owners of Loy La Long, used to be in advertising. He left the business to turn a concept into reality and a dream concept it is: A teak house, located in the Patumkongka Rachaworawiharn temple area, so close to the river that you may have to swim if you exit one of the hammocks on the wrong side. Staying here means that you will always note what’s happening on the Chao Phraya; long-tail boats, express commuter boats, barges being towed upstream and an occasional monitor lizard swimming by…

A hotel that almost floats on the river.
It’s not a huge place. Seven rooms on two floors. Both floors have their own deck. The upper comes with a rocking chair outside. The lower has two hammocks suspended where the wood meets the water. I’m not sure which department Saravuth worked in at Ogilvy & Mather in Bangkok, but everything looks like an Art Director’s dream; as there have been several stylists at work. Little funky interior twists are everywhere – like the jar of hot weather talc in the bathroom, bearing the Snake Brand logo.

Ask for green, black, orange or blue.
Those are the colors of the rooms that comes with a river view. Green is a suite. Blue comes with its own private balcony. I realize that I’ve already used the word river more than half a dozen times in this review, but Loy La Long and the river are like Amos and Andy, Chip and Dale, or Dupond and Dupont… It’s actually so affected by the river that you can’t put your shoes just anywhere. Parts of the building may be flooded at times. Only weeks before the hotel was about to open its doors, the Chao Phraya river decided to remind the owners just where they were at. The hotel appeared in news segments, reporters wading in water.

I’d call it a hotel.
I’m not sure it should be called a hotel. It has no business center, the front desk doubles as bar and kitchen and you can’t tell your limo driver to stop outside. Some say it’s a guesthouse. Others call it a B&B. I’d just say it’s a quite unique hotel experience. The staff and the location is why you should come here and, oh… while we’re at it: The place won’t break your bank. Any drawbacks? Not really. Bathrooms aren’t dreams of marble. The place gets fully booked rather quickly. And before having a few drinks, make sure to write down the name Patumkongka Rachaworawiharn. The name of that gosh darn temple is hard enough to pronounce, even when you’re 100 percent sober…

Loy La Long Hotel
1620/2 Song Wat Road
(inside Patumkongka Rachaworawiharn Temple)
Sampanthawong, Bangkok, 10100
Thailand

+662-639-1390
+6689-133-1131 (Mobile)
+6689-454-1414 (Mobile)

Tags: "Chao Phraya", B&B, Bangkok, charming, guesthouse, personal, riverside, small, Thailand