Luxury Town Center Flat: 55 Smart TV + Netflix! (UK)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups. Let's dive headfirst into this "Luxury Town Center Flat: 55 Smart TV + Netflix!" (UK) – because frankly, I need a break from… well, life, and a nice, comfy flat sounds divine. Here's the truth bomb, wrapped in a slightly chaotic, but hopefully helpful, review.
A Note Before We Begin: This is NOT a sterile hotel review. I'm aiming for real… like, "I'm still in my pajamas" real. And I may get a little rambly. You've been warned.
Accessibility: Let's be Real.
Right, so the accessibility info. This is critical, and I'm going to be brutally honest. The listing implies it's accessible, but doesn't explicitly state it. This is a red flag. "Facilities for disabled guests" is listed, but that's vague. "Elevator" gets you points, but you need specifics. Is the elevator wide enough for a wheelchair? Are there grab bars? Are the hallways wide? The devil’s in the details, and I haven't got them. Before booking, contact the flat directly. Ask specific questions like, "What are the doorway widths?" or "How easy is it to move around the flat in a wheelchair?"
On-site accessible restaurants / lounges: (Silence) I strongly doubt any are explicitly guaranteed accessible, considering the general vagueness. Assume nothing, confirm everything. Again, call and find out. And be prepared for a possible disappointing answer.
Wheelchair accessible: See above. Call, call, call. Don't assume.
The Tech Stuff: My Happy Place (mostly).
- Internet access, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!, Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet services, Wi-Fi in public areas, Wi-Fi for special events: Okay, this is promising. Free Wi-Fi is a Godsend these days. Having LAN access might be vintage but nice. I'd assume decent speeds and coverage based on these, but it's always a gamble. Test the connection the second you get there. Nothing worse than a buffering binge-watching session.
- 55 Smart TV + Netflix: SCORE! This is a major selling point. 55 inches? That’s ample screen real estate for some serious couch potato-ing. Netflix? Essentials. Perfect for those down-time nights and lazy mornings.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax: Ooh, Spa Day Dreams!
Now, this is where things get a little… thin. Based on the listing, the flat doesn't actually have any of the spa-like features. The listing, however, implies all the potential within the vicinity – but doesn’t even confirm if there's a decent park nearby, or a cute cafe.
- Body scrub, Body wrap, Fitness center, Foot bath, Gym/fitness, Massage, Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]: Again, nothing confirmed on-site. This is a flat, not a resort. You will need to go looking. Do your research! Google "spas near [flat location]" NOW.
- This is a flat, so the "Thing to do" would be just to use its amenities which will probably be a few of the things listed above.
Cleanliness and Safety: The New Normal (and I’m kind of obsessed).
- Anti-viral cleaning products, Breakfast in room, Breakfast takeaway service, Cashless payment service, Daily disinfection in common areas, Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit, Hand sanitizer, Hot water linen and laundry washing, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Shared stationery removed, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment: This is fantastic, and the flat seems to have all the bases covered. I'm a bit of germaphobe, so this gets a huge thumbs up. The opt-out for room sanitization is a nice touch too – you can choose your level of clean.
- That Doctor/nurse on call situation is a must!
- Breakfast in room, or takeaway? Yes, please! That’s my ideal morning situation.
- Cashless payments? Also a HUGE plus.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: (Where the Listing Gets Interesting).
- A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Bar, Bottle of water, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant: HOLD. THE. PHONE. The flat itself doesn't have these things, but the listing includes these as features that exist nearby. So, you're on your own for dining. Check Google Maps for restaurants and see if these are nearby.
- 24-hour room service? If you can access it, that's a huge win. Gotta love a midnight snack.
- On-site dining is an important factor that's missing in these listings.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Luxuries That Matter.
- Air conditioning in public area, Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Essential condiments, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center: This is a mixed bag. Some things are GREAT (contactless check-in, daily housekeeping), some are less so (the business centre stuff is a bit oddly placed in a flat review).
- Concierge? Always helpful. Ask them all your questions. The “essential condiments” part is nice, but what are the condiments? Details!
- The Terrace. Love a terrace.
- Food delivery? Yes, please. GrubHub or whatever they use in the UK is a lifesaver.
- The elevator is a good thing, but again, check for accessibility!
For the Kids: Family-Friendly? Maybe.
- Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal: The listing implies some kid-friendly aspects, but the flat itself is probably basic apartment. If you're travelling with children, clarify. Can they easily get around the flat? Is it safe for children?
- Are there parks nearby?
- Kids Meal? In the area? Cool for the kids.
Access: Safety and Security.
- CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private], Couple's room, Exterior corridor, Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour], Hotel chain, Non-smoking rooms, Pets allowed unavailablePets allowed, Proposal spot, Room decorations, Safety/security feature, Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms, Soundproof rooms: This is solid. 24-hour security, smoke alarms? All good stuff.
- Non-smoking rooms? Yay! Also, the private check in/out is a bonus.
Getting Around: Location, Location, Location.
- Airport transfer, Bicycle parking, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Taxi service, Valet parking: This is all very dependent on the location of the flat. Airport Transfer? That's a big plus. Free parking would be amazing.
Available in All Rooms: What to Expect Inside.
- Additional toilet, Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens: This is the meat of the matter! Okay, so the flat should/will have most of these things.
My "Absolutely Not Perfect" UK Adventure: Beautiful Flat, Town Center, Netflix & ALL the Feels
Alright, buckle up Buttercups, because this isn't your average, pristine, perfectly-planned travel itinerary. This is… well, this is me trying to navigate the UK, survive a "Beautiful Flat," and hopefully emerge with some semblance of my sanity intact. (Spoiler alert: I'm betting against that last one.)
Prologue: The Great British Flat Hunt (and the Netflix Promise!)
Before we even get to the "schedule," let's be honest… I'm living in an AirBnB. The "Beautiful Flat, Town Center, 55 Smart TV + Netflix" bit? That was the bait. The sleek photos, the promise of endless telly binges after a long day of… well, whatever I planned to do. I’m already slightly suspicious. Beautiful usually means "expensive," and the allure of endless comfort is definitely playing into my need for a vacation. I’ve already lost a mental battle with a rogue sock, so the bar isn't exactly high.
Day 1: Arrival and the "Perfectly British" Letdown.
- Morning (Late): Arrive at Heathrow (after a truly agonizing flight - turbulence! crying babies! the works). Managed to, miraculously, navigate customs without bursting into tears. My luggage, however, is probably off vacationing in Bermuda. Sigh.
- Afternoon: Found the flat. Okay, it's… not quite as "beautiful" as the photos. More like… pleasantly adequate. The "town center" is, indeed, a center, but more of a "small shops, Greggs, and pigeons that look like they've seen some things" kind of center. The TV? Yes, it's massive. Netflix? YES. Victory.
- Evening: Attempted to buy groceries. Got utterly lost in a Tesco. Almost wept at the overwhelming variety of crisps (chips). Settled for a sad bag of "ready salted" and a pre-made salad that looked… questionable. Ate the salad (it was fine. Don't judge.) and spent the evening glued to Netflix, already feeling a potent mix of jet lag and existential dread. Must. Watch. All. The. British. Dramas.
Day 2: London (The Good, The Bad, and the Tourist-y Ugly)
- Morning: Took the Tube. Survived. Managed to almost understand the announcements. The sheer density of people is… intense. Found myself accidentally shoving a particularly grumpy-looking gentleman. Apologized profusely (in my best faux-British accent, of course).
- Afternoon: Tackled the Tower of London. Wow. History. Murder. Jewels. The ravens are, apparently, vital to the survival of the kingdom? Who knew? I felt like I was missing so much. Like I should've studied more before coming. Walked across the Tower Bridge (it's magnificent!). Took a million photos. Felt slightly overwhelmed and VERY hungry.
- Evening: Tried a pub. Ordered fish and chips. The fish was… fine? The chips were… well, they were chips. The beer, however, was glorious. Sat outside, people-watching. Saw a couple of ridiculously fashionable people, and a man with a dog that wore glasses. London, you are weird, wonderful, and exhausting. (Also, the pub quiz started, and I had NO idea what anyone was asking. Mortifying.)
Day 3: Oxford and a Run-In With the Academia Elite
- Morning: Train to Oxford. This is where I'm hoping to go full-on intellectual.
- Afternoon: Oxford!!! It's like a movie set, but real. Went to Christ Church, gawked at the dining hall. Then went to the Bodleian Library, got told off by a very old, very stern librarian for… breathing too loudly? Okay. Fair. Tried to blend in with the students. Failed miserably (I was wearing a graphic tee and carrying a coffee the size of my head).
- Evening: Dinner at a pub in Oxford. It was supposed to be a great experience. Got stuck next to a table of pretentious academics. They were talking about things like, I don't know, the "semiotics of post-structuralist discourse in the context of… blah blah blah." I understand like, 2 concepts here. I ate my pie and felt very, very stupid. I wanted to throw a pint of beer into their conversations. I didn't. But believe me, I wanted to. Made a hasty exit to the train platform where I then spent the journey back to the flat in my feelings.
Day 4: The Stonehenge Debacle (or, My Spiritual Awakening… of Boredom?)
- Morning: Day trip to Stonehenge. Booked a tour because I knew I'd get lost otherwise.
- Afternoon: Stonehenge. The rocks are big. They’re old. It’s… well, it’s Stonehenge. I appreciate the history. I truly do. But after about 15 minutes, I started to feel a little… let's say… underwhelmed. Everyone else seemed to be having profound spiritual experiences. I mainly felt the need to pee. The audio guide drone on about the history (again) and the sun beating down. The Gift Shop was, however, very impressive. I purchased a Stonehenge-shaped shortbread biscuit. That was the highlight.
- Evening: Back in the flat. Ate the shortbread biscuit. It was dry. Watched Bridgeton. Found myself desperately searching for a connection to the universe. Realized I needed another bag of crisps.
Day 5: The "Beautiful Flat" Conundrum and a Desperate Plea for Coffee
- Morning: Woke up to a leaky faucet. The "beautiful" is definitely starting to wear off. Spent an hour trying to fix it (failed miserably). Felt increasingly like a grumpy grandma.
- Afternoon: Attempted a "walk in nature" to combat the leaky tap and the impending sense of doom. Found a lovely park! Got attacked by a swan. Swore loudly. Ran away. Coffee. I need coffee. Like, now.
- Evening: Found a decent coffee shop. Had actual, proper espresso. Felt like a new human. Spent the rest of the day in a caffeine-fueled state of blissful productivity, plotting world domination (or at least figuring out the local bus routes). Realized my "Beautiful Flat," is honestly… fine. I've kinda bonded with it. It now feels less "bait and switch" and more… a cozy little hideaway where I can eat crisps and watch bad reality TV. And for now? That works.
Day 6: Edinburgh and the Unexpected.
- Morning: Took a train to Edinburgh. The city is beautiful! The architecture, the hills, the air!
- Afternoon: Went to the castle and it felt like a movie. Saw the Crown Jewels and the Stone of Scone. The historical information was a lot to take in, but the view was great.
- Evening: Went on a ghost tour. I'm more into history, but I was convinced by a friend to go. It was cheesy, but fun. Then ate haggis, which was a little bit too much for me, but I'm glad I tried it.
Day 7: Departure (and the Unanswered Questions)
- Morning: Packing (attempted, failed). Still missing socks. Found more crisps.
- Afternoon: Headed to the airport. The same flight as the way there. Hope the plane isn't as chaotic.
- Evening: Back home - jet-lagged, slightly confused, and absolutely buzzing with a mix of happy memories and awkward encounters.
Postscript: The Verdict?
The UK? It's a rollercoaster of emotions. The flat was… well, it was a flat. The coffee was divine. The weather was… unpredictable. The people? A mixed bag of charming, grumpy, and utterly bonkers, just like the whole adventure.
Would I do it again? In a heartbeat, with zero hesitation. Because sometimes, the imperfections, the mishaps, and the sheer, beautiful chaos of a trip are what make it unforgettable. Now, where's that Netflix remote…?
Escape to Paradise: Hotel Portonovo, Spain - Your Dream Vacation Awaits!
Alright, spill the tea: Is this 'Luxury Town Center Flat: 55 Smart TV + Netflix!' worth the hype (and the inevitable price tag)?
Okay, so "luxury"... let's unpack that, shall we? I went in expecting, you know, a spa-like bathroom (I'm a sucker for a good tub), sweeping views, and a butler named Jeeves. Did I get all that? Nope. But… hold on to your hats, because the 55" Smart TV *with* Netflix? That's where the magic, or at least a significant chunk of it, lies. I spent a solid evening just completely *losing* myself in a true crime documentary. Pure bliss. Actually, I almost didn't unpack my suitcase because I was so engrossed. (Don't judge me. We've all been there after a long journey, right? Right?)
The "luxury" part? Well, it's nice. The furniture was stylish enough (I have no idea about styles), the kitchen seemed adequately equipped for someone who knows how to boil an egg – which, let's be honest, is about my culinary peak. But honestly, give me a comfy couch and a good screen, and I'm basically in paradise. The added bonus? No fighting for the remote. Score!
About the Smart TV. Is the Netflix actually *good*? Like, is it always streaming?
Okay, pivotal question, yes? Because a decent smart TV is only as good as the content it can serve. And the Netflix situation? Pretty darn stellar. The provided Wi-Fi was surprisingly robust (bless their hearts). I spent a solid afternoon trying to break it, cycling through shows and movies. The dreaded buffering screen? Almost a non-issue. There was one hiccup, granted, during a particularly climactic scene of a period drama (the suspense was KILLING me!), but it recovered quickly. And honestly, even that moment of interruption gave me a chance to refill my wine glass. So, a mixed blessing, perhaps?
The library of content itself was what you would expect: a good selection, but not everything. I got access to my own account, so I could keep watching the shows I usually watch. It's a huge plus and makes travelling so much more pleasurable.
Town Centre, you say? How *noisy* is it? (I am, let's say, a sensitive sleeper...)
Right, okay, noise levels... potentially tricky. "Town Centre" usually translates to "potential for drunk people at 3 AM" in my experience. However, the flat was better than I expected. It wasn't deathly silent, but it wasn't a rave either. I'm a light sleeper. Seriously. A feather falling on a silent night is enough to jar me awake. But with the windows closed (and admittedly, with a bit of white noise from the TV), I managed to sleep. That's practically a miracle.
The main issue was the occasional delivery van in the morning. But it was nothing that earplugs couldn't solve. Bring earplugs. Seriously. Pack them. Even if you're not a light sleeper. Because you just never know.
Parking? A dealbreaker for some of us...
Parking… oh, parking. Let me just say that the provided information was a bit... optimistic. There was supposed to be "nearby parking." What equates to "nearby" in their minds could be a twenty-minute walk away with luggage (and, let's be honest, a suitcase full of shoes I probably won’t wear). I ended up doing a few laps around the town centre like a lost puppy, before I finally found a spot a few blocks away.
My advice? Check the parking situation *before* you arrive. Seriously. Call them. Get a concrete answer. Or, if you're smart, ditch the car altogether and cab it. Much less stressful for everyone involved – including your sanity.
What about the kitchen? Can I cook? Or is it just for show?
The kitchen! Well equipped-ish. It had the basics, like a kettle (essential), a toaster (also essential), and a microwave (I'm still not entirely sure what they do). There were even some pots and pans, which is more than I expected. So, yes, you *can* cook. But let's be realistic here. Are you *going* to cook? Especially when there are takeaway options practically on the doorstep?
I did manage to heat up some leftovers. That's about as ambitious as I get. But if you are the type that likes to whip up a gourmet meal while travelling, it's not exactly the Ritz-Carlton kitchen. But it does the job, I can't complain.
Would you stay there again? Be brutally honest!
Honestly? Yes. Despite the slightly dodgy parking situation, and the fact that "luxury" might be a slight overstatement, the good outweighed the bad. The TV... oh, the TV! And the location? Perfect for exploring the town centre. Granted, I didn't explore, I mostly stayed in and watched TV... But the *option* was there! Plus, it was a relatively comfortable stay and I did not expect a luxury experience.
I mean, would I book it for a romantic getaway? Maybe not. But for a solo trip, or even a trip with a friend who also appreciates the finer things in life… like binge-watching Netflix in a comfy space? Absolutely. Just don't expect Jeeves. And pack those earplugs.
Any other random pros or cons? Gimme the dirt!
Okay, the nitty-gritty... The bathroom was clean (phew!). The shower pressure was decent (another essential). The bed was comfortable enough, although the pillows could have been a little plumper (a pillow snob, me?). The overall level of cleanliness was pretty spot-on, with no signs of a previous occupant's existence (always a good sign!).
Oh! And there was some *slightly* dodgy Wi-Fi in the kitchen. But who uses the kitchen anyway? The Netflix worked perfectly, so I just sat there. I was also pleased with the ease of check-in and check-out. Everything was managed efficiently, and after all, the most important thing is the location, the Smart TV and the Netflix. I can't say bad about the location either. I would recommend it as a great choice.
