base2Stay, London

You know how some occasions call for a five-course meal with caviar, truffles and champagne, and other times you just want a really good, homemade macaroni and cheese for dinner? I see base2Stay’s budget-boutique style as the comforting mac ‘n’ cheese of the hotel world – not the fanciest thing around, perhaps, but it sure does the job, maybe even better than its upscale counterpart.

It was a cold, pouring-rain November evening the night I stayed at the “aparthotel” in London, so I may have been biased, but the comfy-factor seemed high from the moment I arrived.

Swift and friendly went the check-in in the quiet, taupe-toned reception room, then it was off up a carpeted staircase to my room. Tucked into a small square just a few minutes walk from the Earl’s Court tube station, the hotel was deliciously quiet. I could have easily popped on a pair of fuzzy slippers, had a cup of hot cocoa and been happily tucked into bed. Alas, it was only 5pm.

I would have explored the hotel, except there wasn’t much to see. No gym, bar or spa here, but rather than being a downside, the things missing at base2Stay are actually the key to its concept.

“It does exactly what it says on the tin,” explained base2Stay CEO, Robert Nadler, who, as an avid traveler himself, hated paying top dollar for average hotels that nickel-and-dimed him at check-out to boot. He designed his hotel in 2006 to fill a niche for the holy grail of accommodations in central London – something both stylish and affordable.

In converting the classic white stucco townhome that contains it, base2Stay’s architects edited out some luxuries that have become standard in London hotels, but which some guests rarely use. Bye bye restaurant kitchen and see ya later guest lounges. What Nadler wanted was to provide travelers with everything they needed but nothing they didn’t; what he got was a winning formula for the credit-crunch era.

Despite its no-frills attitude, you’re certainly not left wanting at base2Stay. Though on the small side, each of the hotel’s 67 stylish rooms and suites still offer the stuff we really pine away for on holiday – like luxe white bedding, big modern bathrooms, a flat screen TV and Internet connectivity. Seven different styles, some even with bunk beds, make the hotel broadly appealing to a variety of travelers. Even the chic, minimalist design is cozy and crowd-pleasing, with pleasant brown and beige accents and black and white photography decking the walls.

Best of all? All of the rooms include a mini-kitchen, complete with microwave, fridge, sink, crockery and cutlery, perfect if you’d rather skip the pricey restaurant and get some Indian take-out or stock up at the local Sainsbury’s (more cost savings there!). There’s a 24-hour concierge on call for concerns and questions, but no room service. Instead, a very detailed guidebook also gives you all the info you could need about local restaurants, including which ones will deliver straight to the hotel.

If you want to go blow some of the quid you saved by resting your head at base2Stay, you’re in luck, because fanning out from hotel both north and east are some of London’s best shopping districts. Take the Earl’s Court tube to nearby Knightsbridge to visit Harrods, then walk southwest on Brompton Road for a mix of funky and upscale boutiques tucked along roads branching off.

The rest of London is so easily accessed that base2Stay should cost about double what it actually does. I believe it when Nadler tells me they not only get a lot of repeat business, but people who settle in and stay long-term. So where do I sign the lease?

Rates start at ?91 per night, including VAT; check the hotel's website for special promotions.

base2Stay
25 Courtfield Gardens
Kensington
London SW5 0PG