The Luna Simone Hotel

Walking into the Luna Simone Hotel for the first time is like walking into your own home away from home. Call that trite and simplistic, but nestled into the residential area in between Victoria and Pimlico tube stations, Luna Simone is - in my eyes - the perfect place to stay on a trip to Londontown.

A twin room en-suite. (lunasimonehotel.com)

A bed and breakfast without the pomp and circumstance, spending one night or several nights at this almost apartment-style venue is like visiting a friend in their pristine and inviting London flat. Luna Simone is, at its core, a family business and it's something guests become acquainted with straight away. The two owners, a pair of twin brothers, are so present that you begin to feel you've known them for years. They serve you tea in the morning, wish you a pleasant evening when you're heading out for the night and come prepared with knowledge of the city and excellent senses of humor to match.

The rooms themselves are cozy, clean and modern. Bedrooms come complete with a flat screen television, desk with coffee maker, telephone, and there's free in-room wi-fi (an unusual luxury to come by in European cities). The bathrooms have stand-up showers with glass enclosures, and all the other necessary accouterments. Depending on the size of your party, you can stay in anything from a single en-suite (for Americans who are uninformed as I was on my first visit to Luna Simone, this means with a private toilet) to a quadruple en-suite.

Breakfast dining room. (lunasimonehotel.com)

Every morning, Luna Simone also offers a full breakfast in its downstairs dining room. Meal options
include the signature Egg, Bacon & Beans (or Egg & Beans for vegetarians like myself), Hard-boiled eggs, or Ham and Tomato. In addition, you are served a selection of toast and jam, a variety of starters including muesli, cereal and yogurt, and of course the stalwart tea or coffee (decaf options available!).

Not to oversell, but with the price of a single room ranging from 100 to 140 pounds per night for dual occupancy plus a provided breakfast each morning, this is a steal. London itself is not a cheap city, but that doesn't mean the accommodation you find has to be astronomically priced as well.

What will keep you coming back though, is not just the price or the people involved, but the feeling you'll get in staying at the Luna Simone.

In my prior five stays at the hotel (yes, you read that right), I have not once wished I'd stayed somewhere else. Luna Simone is just a short jaunt away from a relatively enormous Sainsbury's on Wilton Road - where you can stock up on British sweets to hoard in your hotel room or pack away for a quick nosh. It also resides next to the little back alley Denbigh Street, which takes you on a direct path to Victoria Station via Wilton Road, past little shops and restaurants that are great for a quick lunch stop or for evening take-away.

Belgrave Road & Luna Simone. (TripAdvisor)

After wandering down the side streets to Victoria Station, you will find yourself at an incredibly bustling hub where National Rail and London Underground trains converge. With easy access to the Victoria, District and Circle Lines, you're just a couple stops and perhaps a single line switch away from most central London destinations. And even closer by is Pimlico Tube, a smaller station where you can catch the Victoria line whilst beating out the crowds.

Ultimately, staying at Luna Simone is like reuniting with an old friend. Even on a first visit, you will come to recognize Belgrave Road (where the hotel resides) as your own personal backyard, and a beautiful one at that.

The Luna Simone Hotel is located at 47/49 Belgrave Road SW1V 2BB. Find more information at http://www.lunasimonehotel.com/.