HotelChatter

But don't write it off — especially because, contrary to what we assumed, the Apollo Hotel in Bayswater, where you’d be staying, doesn’t seem as grim as you’d expect it to be for a deal like this. It’s a two star hotel and although it looks basic, and certainly won’t be winning any prizes for style any time soon, it doesn’t look too bad. Reviews on Tripadvisor are mixed — some say the rooms are clean if tired, others that it’s too cold and there are bad smells. Recent reviews are better than older ones, so it could be that things are looking up. Yes the rooms are small, but you can’t expect space in central London at a budget price. And they’re cleaned every day, even if they are tired.

The location is decent too; Bayswater is residential, but it’s a very posh area, and you’re directly opposite the lovely Hyde Park and halfway between even posher Notting Hill, and the less classy delights of Oxford Street, Soho and so on.

Basically, if you’re up for a budget trip then you should be fine — return flights to London (including taxes) seem to be hovering round the $450 mark for April so that room is looking supercheap. For $15 a night, you can put up with a bit of mildew, right?

[Photo: Wildrose71 on TA]