I should start with what you don't get at The Main House: There is no humorless hotel lounge, or a restaurant that serves rubber food, or staff that have painfully hip expressions on their faces.

What you do get: clean (albeit well-loved) rooms decorated with tidbits from the proprietor's world travels, incredibly romantic bathrooms with large freestanding bathtubs (in two out of three of the rooms), wireless, your own local mobile phone, and almost any other amenity you could want, so long as you ask. And if they don't have it, they know the coolest place to go to get it.

Sure, there're no fluffy bathrobes, or mini bars, or tiny beauty products, and they only have coffee or tea for breakfast. But you quickly get over that. Notting Hill is a fantastic neighborhood and staying at The Main House, nonchalantly unlocking the front door with an old-fashioned brass key, you feel like a very lucky local.

And did I mention it's a steal? For London anyway.

Date of stay: March 2007
Purpose of stay: Leisure