Reply to: Contracts in London

[SueEllen]

You people make me laugh. You'd rather sleep in a Travel-Lodge 40 minutes Tube journey out of town on a trading estate next to a dual-carriageway than in a clean and comfortable hostel just round the corner from St Paul's Cathedral. At half the price.

Why do you want these laugable people to book up all the hostel beds where they will meet sociable and interesting people?

Let them stay in their more expensive hotels on their own.

[bobsyouruncle]

You people make me laugh. You'd rather sleep in a Travel-Lodge 40 minutes Tube journey out of town on a trading estate next to a dual-carriageway than in a clean and comfortable hostel just round the corner from St Paul's Cathedral. At half the price.

WHS

I have always found hostels to be more comfortable, cheaper, and better located than most soulless business hotels

[dang65]

Originally Posted by dang65
I've mentioned on here before that I use Youth Hostels when working on short contracts in London. Usually less than 20 quid a night, usually including breakfast. Laundry facilities on site, internet connections, clean, friendly, amazing locations, big showers, big rooms (shared, obviously, but still spacious).

Urghhhh......what a tramp. Bet the place smells lovely in the morning.

You people make me laugh. You'd rather sleep in a Travel-Lodge 40 minutes Tube journey out of town on a trading estate next to a dual-carriageway than in a clean and comfortable hostel just round the corner from St Paul's Cathedral. At half the price.

Maybe you've read George Orwell and think of these places as homeless hostels or workhouses or something. A lot of them are far more modern and clean than any "reasonably priced" hotel I've ever stayed in.

As for the smell... well, I've always found that other guests are far more considerate about their cleanliness and tidyness than they are in hotels. When you know there are other people in the room then you keep the place, and yourself, nice and smart.

[Pickle2]

As to travel from the NW to London. You really need to understand the system here when doing Monday-Friday. You need to get yourself a Virgin Trains 'Traveller Club' card. You qualify by getting 16 Single or 8 Return 1st Class Tickets within a 3 month period. Once you qualify you'll then get FREE Weekend travel. But Virgin define the 'weekend' as All Day Friday/Saturday/Sunday and till Noon on Monday. Once you have this card you effectively get FREE travel for 1 Year plus other benefits such as FREE drinks in the Euston Lounge and priority parking spaces.

You'll spend around £1200 to get the Card, but you then get 12 months of FREE travel Monday mornings and Friday Evenings. The £1200 you spent getting the card then works out as £25 per week for a return 1st class journey at Peak times for a whole year!

P.S. The quickest way to get the qualifying tickets is to get multiple return tickets for one journey by using stopping stations. You'll qualify twice as fast for the same money.... You can get the 8 return tickets to qualify in just 4 weeks if you buy your tickets in a clever way....

Sir, I am forever in your debt. That tulip rocks.

http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/travel...ister_faq.aspx

[Sausage Surprise]

I've mentioned on here before that I use Youth Hostels when working on short contracts in London. Usually less than 20 quid a night, usually including breakfast. Laundry facilities on site, internet connections, clean, friendly, amazing locations, big showers, big rooms (shared, obviously, but still spacious).

Urghhhh......what a tramp. Bet the place smells lovely in the morning.

[aussielong]

I'm a little fortunate in that I often work 12 hour days when contracting in London. So it means only staying 1 weekday / 2 Weekend nights in week 1 and then 1 weekday night in Week 2. I often use Travelodge £26-£50) or Holiday Inn Express (£50-£80). Cheapest are locations in North Acton (On Central Line) and Wembley.

I often wondered if I needed to do 9-5 M-F how it would work. I investigated it once, and you can get short term 3-6 month rentals in private one bedroom flats in central locations for around £1000 a month. Even in a travelodge at £50 a night it still comes to £800 a month, plus the benefit of using the flat weekends and not having to live out of a suitcase? Plus you'll save money as it will be an expense, So really a £1000 rental is only costing £800 in real terms a month.

As to travel from the NW to London. You really need to understand the system here when doing Monday-Friday. You need to get yourself a Virgin Trains 'Traveller Club' card. You qualify by getting 16 Single or 8 Return 1st Class Tickets within a 3 month period. Once you qualify you'll then get FREE Weekend travel. But Virgin define the 'weekend' as All Day Friday/Saturday/Sunday and till Noon on Monday. Once you have this card you effectively get FREE travel for 1 Year plus other benefits such as FREE drinks in the Euston Lounge and priority parking spaces.

You'll spend around £1200 to get the Card, but you then get 12 months of FREE travel Monday mornings and Friday Evenings. The £1200 you spent getting the card then works out as £25 per week for a return 1st class journey at Peak times for a whole year!

P.S. The quickest way to get the qualifying tickets is to get multiple return tickets for one journey by using stopping stations. You'll qualify twice as fast for the same money.... You can get the 8 return tickets to qualify in just 4 weeks if you buy your tickets in a clever way....

Ha hahahaha

I love this!!!!

Someone who knows how to work the system!

Old skool!

[kismet110]

As the poster above writes try GumTree, www.intolondon.com or london.craigslist.co.uk to get yourself a room. Make sure it's close to where you'll be working otherwise it defeats the object.

I've been contracting the last 7/8 years in the City/Docklands for Investment Banks mostly, my commute is about 75 minutes door-to-door (at the end of a tube line).

At one time I was renting a lovely Docklands flat minutes from work, not cheap but fantastic to be able to walk to/from work, have more free time and less commuting stress. Now I've just got used to the grind so get on with it, work at home some days too to alleviate the tedium ...

[Badger]

DaveP, if it's not too late try http://www.gumtree.com/ for accom.

[Torran]

I've never put my address on my CV. Why would you?

aye I dont really understand why people do this.

[gadgetman]

I've never put my address on my CV. Why would you?

Is it acceptable to leave your address off your CV or is that going to get it at

[Jaws]

I went and got enrolled on a part time degree course in London later this year, so I'm going to need to get work there (and give up the current contract ).

Being based outside of London, is the "local jobs for local people" thing such an issue? Is it acceptable to leave your address off your CV or is that going to get it at the bottom of the pile even quicker (I have done a search on this, but CV doesn't get picked up)? Any tips on getting around it would be appreciated.

[scooterscot]

You get a HOUSE for that though. I'm guessing it's not a studio house.

It does has a balcony overlooking the harbour now that you mention it...

2 bed none of your studio business.. Times may change but standards must remain!

[backlight]

I don't rent it monthly, a colleague does - she pays £1300 per 4 weeks. I contribute £300 to her towards her rent. This is in Ontario Tower.

Most of the properties on that search (certainly the cheaper ones) are near Custom House - see above!

By the way, the distances quoted look like nonsense to me.

Ontario Tower is one of the most expensive buildings in Docklands...

I work in the city and live in Swiss Cottage - 10 min to Chalk Farm - 15 min to Moorgate on the Northern line - I pay £330/week for a nice one bedroom - newly refurbished and furnished.

You could not pay me enough to commute 3-4 hours total / day.

[Cheshire Cat]

I rent a hoose in Norway that cost me 13,000 Nok a month (£1300) to rent...

You londoners have it as cheap as chips.

You get a HOUSE for that though. I'm guessing it's not a studio house.

[scooterscot]

I rent a hoose in Norway that cost me 13,000 Nok a month (£1300) to rent...

You londoners have it as cheap as chips.