When traveling internationally, I generally prefer to stay in an apartment if there for 5 days or more. I find it more comfortable to have a kitchen, laundry and a living space to spread out. It can also be more economical, as you can make your own meals and eat at your leisure. I have done this in New Zealand and Australia to great satisfaction.

I booked at the Place Apartment Hotel, or The Place Hotel, after doing extensive research. This is a review to help you out if you considering a stay in Manchester and of-course there is a video tour attached at the bottom.

The Place Hotel
Ducie Street
Manchester
M1 2TP

My criteria
- Safe area
- Easy to get from the airport
- Manchester City Centre
- 2 bedrooms
Note: I was traveling with a friend. Providing you enjoy your company (If you don’t why are traveling with them?) it is much easier to share a suite, condo, or apartment with them. Otherwise you are constantly phoning each other’s hotel rooms to coordinate meeting times, ask questions, and marching back and forth.
– Affordable but nice
After the age of 30, I think one needs to abandon the hostel culture unless going on a world tour, or extremely budget sensitive. In general, I no longer am willing to share a bed with someone I am not shagging. I am not a frat boy and don’t want a roommate.
– Internet access/ Free wifi (I am always on my computer. I am writing, blogging, working, checking email and it is simply a must have.)

The Place Hotel Apartment fit my needs. I will qualify that unlike most serviced apartments this operation also serves as a hotel. There is a 24 hour front desk.

Ease of arrival:
The hotel was easy to find from the airport. The train was fast and efficient. No need to transfer. It is literally around the corner from Piccadilly station and can be arrived at in 7 minutes walking slow.

Front Desk:
In all my years of travel, I have NEVER encountered a hotel unwilling to help a guest retrieve his luggage from an airline.

Upon arrival in MAN, my airline KLM/ Delta lost my luggage. My friend, Julie, and I arrived at the The Place very early and the room wasn’t ready which was understandable. I explained my plight and asked if they could call the baggage handler and give them hotel phone number. I was handed the desk phone, a business card and told I could do it myself. This was, unknowingly, just the beginning of the less than courteous customer service. My future experiences always varied based on who I was dealing with. If I spoke with a supervisor the service was 10X worse.

Allegedly, the hotel has an official policy of not getting involved in these matters. However, they had to be involved since I needed to coordinate delivery. My luggage hadn’t arrived in three days and there was conflicting information on the internet about whether it had been received by the hotel. If it had been received, I needed to know who accepted it. All I had was the clothes on my back. I wasn’t asking them to assume responsibility but to place a phone call and follow-up internally on my behalf.

Over time, the front desk staffs curt treatment wore on me, I had begun to search the internet for alternative accommodations. I told Julie to be ready to move out in 30 minutes if I am given more trouble. Finally, a great young woman working the morning shift came through. She never blinked and took charge. I had my bag at the end of the day. I bought her flowers.

By the way, I am serious. I would have checked out, paid for two rooms, eaten the cost and had the concierge at The Lowry Hotel assist me. The Lowry Hotel undersands the value of a customer.

Apartment:
The apartment was huge. I requested a top floor . We had lovely views, skylights and 30 foot high ceiling. It was overall impressive with a few flaws. The rooms were spacious but not well thought out.

- My bedroom had a closet and an armoire. The armoire blocked the heater behind it.
- Despite having all this space, there was no desk or place to do business. You couldn’t work on the dining table because there was no electrical outlet to plug into. I used to work on the kitchen counter and sit on the back of the sofa.

Housekeeping:
We would stay out and stay up late. Every morning I was awaken at 10am by the doorbell and I would ask them to come back.

There was no Do Not Disturb sign available for the door, only door menus for breakfast service.

The staff were very nice and did a very good job every day tidying up. They did the dishes and cleaned the kitchen. There were only two of us so how much of a mess could we really make. I will say the last day of the stay, the service was a little sloppy. For example, they replace the body wash in the bathroom so I had to find my travel case and use my own.

I recommended that they vacuum the inside of the sofa and remove the cushions. Also, there cobwebs on the ceiling beams that should be dusted off. The kitchen lighting fixture also needed a heavy duty wipe down.

Nighttime Security:
There always seemed to be an event booked in the meeting room downstairs so it was always very lively at night. Neither Julie nor I were bothered by that. There is also a security guard standing by the door with a clipboard on the weekends to make sure you are a guest as you enter.

Amenities
- Standard bathroom toiletries: bar soap, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, shower cap, mothwash, body lotion
- Kitchen: one small pot, one pan, cutlery, one carving knife, coffee, tea, electric tea kettle, cups, glassware, wine opener
- Refrigerator: pint of milk provided
- No condiments nor cooking oil/ butter
- Deluxe Apartment: 2 think terry cloth robes each bedroom and slippers
- One bedroom has a private bath
- Laundry detergent and dish soap provided
- Dishwasher
- Parking for guests: We had friend drive in and they were charged 5 pounds for the entire day.
- Close to local supermarkets
- Bar and gym on the ground floor but we never used it
- Free wifi

Final Thoughts
Overall, the experience was positive. We were comfortable here. The Place Apartment Hotel was clean, safe, spacious and affordable. There were minor inconveniences. The staff when not asked to do too much were kind and helpful. I am uncertain whether I would stay there again. It would depend on the nature of my visit. I may want to have another experience. This would not deter me from making a recommendation to a friend.