THERE’S a difference between going to London on a one-week conference and staying in London to continue your master’s degree within an academic semester. When you’re here for a conference or en route to a road trip, you’ll obviously be staying in a three-star hotel or motel but if you’re here for about six months or so, then you’ll need to be staying in a flat.

There are two different kinds of flats – the furnished one and the unfurnished one. When you rent a fully-furnished flat, you need to know that all the kitchen appliances and couches inside are fully operational and nice to look at. Otherwise, you’ll just be conned at exorbitant rates with the owner of the property earning not what he or she deserves. The bedroom of a fully furnished apartment is complete with the bed, the beddings, the vanity mirror, the closet, ironing board, air conditioner, heater, among others. The living room is furnished with a cushioned couch, a television set (LCD in some cases but this entails higher monthly rent), a DVD player, high-speed Internet connection (satellite is obviously out of the question since it is too expensive so never ever rent a flat whose owner proclaims that he’s got satellite TV and Internet connection; a cable one is preferable), wireless access, a sound system with subwoofer and FM, AM and shortwave radio, 125 volt electricity sockets, desks, etc. Shortwave? Well, some VOA channels still transmit in that frequency. The kitchen must be complete with microwave ovens, an electric stove, a complete set of kitchen utensils; a dishwasher and elsewhere in the house, there must be a washing machine and a dryer. A fully furnished flat also has maid service which is usually available from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Any flat that is stripped of any furnishing is an unfurnished one.

Another kind of flat found in London is the aparthotel. Although it is not a two-star hotel or an inn, an aparthotel is one category higher than a fully-furnished flat because there is availability of room service in a 24-hour period. The aparthotel also has available masseurs and masseuses depending on your needs. But if a room massage service is not your want, then you can always go to the spa of the aparthotel which offers a variety of services like a Jacuzzi bathtub, a steam bath, body scrub, body wrap and a combination of the exotic Occidental and Oriental massages of Swedish and Japanese-based shiatsu.

Aparthotels are best if you return late at night and don’t want to disturb your neighbors and if you pay for the apartment rent only after checking in. For this reason, aparthotels in London are not usually filled at any time of the year and there is no need to prior booking. All you need to do is just walk in and declare your wish to stay as a guest. Another advantage in staying at this kind of flat is just an aparthotel can cancel your stay anytime you wish.