Recently we welcomed Matt and Sally who travelled about 10,500 miles to our lovely corner of Nottinghamshire all the way from Melbourne. Sally and Matt are both doctors and Matt was here to undertake a 5-month Fellowship to train at the world renowned QMC, and obviously not wanting to miss out on everything that West Bridgford has to offer, his wife and small baby came along for the ride.
They loved the apartment we put them in with its little garden, and Sally and the baby quickly met other mums and tots in the area and became part of the community very quickly, which made the move much easier. Despite what is said about the British (often by the Australians!) we're actually a pretty friendly bunch, definitely in West Bridgford where despite being on the edge of a major city, we have a friendly, welcoming community.
When two other doctors from Melbourne turned up to work in England with their teenage daughter who had won a scholarship to Nottingham Tennis Academy from Australia, I mentioned the families to each other and of course they all knew each other from back home! So when the other family arrived they had a readymade network to join through Matt and Sally.
More than just somewhere to stay
Unlike a soulless hotel, we pride ourselves on providing more than just somewhere for people to stay. Having done a lot of business travel myself over the years I know that it can be lonely and isolating so I've shaped what I offer by thinking back to those trips and what would have made a difference to me when I was away from home.
"Katie was a fantastic hostess"
Our apartments are really well equipped so that our guests can settle in, be comfortable straightaway and make it feel like home for a few weeks or months.
But more than that we like to help people settle into the area so we provide Relocation Services (which are free) to help guests find everything they'll need while they're here, including schools, places to go out, a guide to the local sights, and if we think they'll get on (and are happy for us to) we introduce them to other guests so they've got a social life and support as soon as they arrive.
When they got back to Oz Matt and Sally wrote to say how much they'd enjoyed their time in West Bridgford and how it was the small things, like introducing them to other people, that had made all the difference to their stay (and they said that wherever they go with their careers they'll also stay in short-term lets rather than hotels after their experience over here).
What are the little touches you love when you're away from home?
If you've got any questions about our properties or you'd like to make an enquiry please get in touch.