Let me start off with the easy part. The boat. Wow. Absolutely amazing. The location is spectacular. Literally 2 minute walk to Tower Bridge and Tower of London. There's a tube station 4 minutes walk away which let us jump easily all over the city. Though most of the time we just walked everywhere as the boat was so central. The boat itself was so comfortable and you really have everything you need. Very well equipped. Aside from a slight cramped sink in the bathroom (which really was not a big deal and I only mention it so that you aren’t caught off guard) it is hard to believe you are on a boat. Even the shower is full size and super roomy which is unheard of on a boat. Great kitchen, super comfy living area, the bedrooms have amazingly comfortable and big beds (my 3 little ones shared the master bedroom bed). And a lovely outside eating area to relax on. The marina itself is lovely with lots of restaurants 30 seconds walk from your boat but never felt noisy or busy as you’re in a nice quieter corner of the marina. It was the perfect calm retreat and at night you can sit on the deck and just recover from a busy day of sight seeing. I know whenever I come to London this will be the place my children and I will always want to stay at.
Now the harder part, how to describe the two most amazing hosts I have ever experienced. Mercedes and James are beyond wonderful. On the simpler side, they are amazing communicators, are very attentive and were quick to drop off things at the boat that we needed the couple of times we did. One of those times I had just asked about a power adapter, not expecting them to actually get me one or anything like that but they picked one up when the stores opened and left it for me under the mat at the boat. Wow. They have been so kind to my kids leaving them treats, coloring pages and colored pencils, and James even was a ridiculously good sport about trying the various flavors of Harry Potter’s Bernie Botts every flavor beans that my kids offered him. Sadly he had pretty rotten luck with the flavors he got which amused my children to no end. If their kindness had ended there they would already have been the most amazing hosts I have ever experienced but even after we checked out, they have been beyond kind helping one of my little ones with shipping something home that turned out to be way more complex than originally expected. I feel so bad for all the effort that they have been going through getting that worked out and they have done it with such generosity and kindness that I continue to be overwhelmed by just how amazing human beings they are. Their kindness and caring have touched my whole family and we look forward to them visiting us in California one day so that we can show them the same.
Thank you both for everything. Much love from our whole family.