It’s been 3 years that I moved to London from Greece and I am still very ashamed every time I have to answer the question ” Where in the UK have you been? “…. To be honest, not many places. I can actually count all the cities in my one hand, which is very unlikely of me considering I love traveling. It’s just that there are so many things to do in London that it’s impossible to get bored of it. But even so, lately I have been very intrigued to explore more of what the UK has to offer and I am going to take you along the way. First stop, Birmingham!
Now.. I couldn’t be happier with my choice of stay in the city! I am the type of guy who will choose a hotel over an Airbnb as i appreciate that extra pampering but for this trip, I decided to try an Aparthotel. For those who may not be familiar with the term, an Aparthotel is a serviced apartment complex that uses a hotel booking system and amenities.. so you get the best of both worlds! The Staying Cool Apartments are right in the center of the city, in the iconic Rotunda.. next to the Bullring, and they offer amazing views of Birmingham ( and when I say amazing.. I do mean it!). They currently only service Birmingham but they recently announced plans for a new Aparthotel in Manchester that is set to open next year.
Rooms
There are 45 rooms located in the 19th and 20th floor of the 81-meter tall building which means that you get the best views of the city right from your bed! I stayed in the Clubman room which is a 1-bedroom apartment but studios and 2-bedroom apartments are also available depending on your needs. The apartment was very spacious and included a living room, a dining area, a kitchen, a bathroom and the bedroom. The kitchen was fully equipped with everything you need for cooking ( eg. cooking pans, microwave, oven) and even a juicer and a coffee machine ( fresh oranges and milk are also provided during your stay!). The overall style of the apartment is modern, keeping gray tones as the base while adding small touches of colors to brighten it up.
Area
You can’t go more central than Staying Cool Apartments. Literally next to the Bullring shopping center and Selfridges, the location is perfect for a shopping getaway or as a starting point for exploring the city. I actually didn’t use any transportation in the 2 days that I spent in Birmingham as everything was within walking distance! However, both Birmingham New Street and Moor Street Stations are easily accessible, less than 5 minutes walk from the Rotunda.
Final Thoughts
Aparthotels may be my new favorite thing! My Staying Cool Apartment made me feel like home ( but more like i “I won the lottery” home scenario) and I couldn’t have felt cozier. The views from the apartment are phenomenal and will leave you in awe while the location promises the whole town right in your doorstep. I wholeheartedly recommend it for a unique stay experience and I can’t wait to visit it again!
Make sure you check their website here.
nice photos & hotelroom elefv! thanks for your travelinfos, i’m adding it to my travel-list! haha
– amanda
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