Reciprocal Clubs
London – Sloane Club
http://sloaneclub.co.uk52 Lower Sloane
London SW1W 8BS
Tel: 44-(20) 7730-9131
Fax: 44-(20) 7730-6145
Overnight Accommodations: Yes
Email
The Club
- Posted on October 9, 2017 at 12:57 am - "My wife and I spent a long weekend at the Club in late September. Our room was small but probably average size by European standards. It was quiet. Jackets required at dinner but no tie. The food was excellent and reasonably priced for London. An excellent Continental breakfast was included daily in the price of the room. We very much enjoyed afternoon tea. The Front Desk was always very helpful. Tipping optional and can be left on the bill at final checkout. Tips are split among employees. Great location in Chelsea. We used Uber to get around although this was a big news story while we were there since the City of London cancelled the Uber license and that was being appealed. The subway is only a block away but we avoided that for security reasons and used Uber instead. Overall, a pleasant experience and we would definitely stay there again." - Joe Pascuzzo
- We initially considered the Sloane Club because we wanted a nice location, and we knew the Chelsea area fit that description. After checking their website, we chose the Sloane Apartments because we were going to be in town for nine nights, and that seemed a bit long for a hotel stay. We were there in mid-July 2014. The Apartments are one block away from the Sloane Club. Both are in an area that reminded me of Georgetown, with well-maintained older buildings on leafy streets. It combines modern buildings with historical houses. On our first walk around, we saw signs that said "Bram Stoker lived here” and "Oscar Wilde lived here.” The Tube station is less than one block away, at Sloane Square. From there you can walk in most any direction and find nice pubs, commercial activity, and well-maintained parks. We were taken aback at the number of high-end cars in the area, best illustrated when we saw a Ferrari racing a Maserati on city streets. I kid you not. We appreciated being allowed to check-in an hour earlier than planned. The desk clerk then escorted us to our apartment, a short and pleasant block away. The Apartments are newly renovated rooms in older buildings, as shown on the web site. The quality of furnishings and appliances was high; most everything appeared to be quite new. From what little we saw of the Club itself, it was old in comparison. We guessed there were three or four other apartments in our building, but seldom saw the other guests. However, the building showed its age when we could clearly hear a child bouncing around in the room above us late at night. After two nights of this, a call to the front desk put a stop to that. We had a studio apartment that featured an "open plan bedroom/sitting area that leads to a split-level designer kitchen and bathroom arrangement.” For the most part, that was manageable for the two of us. The main room and bathroom were big enough, but the kitchen was tiny — maybe 30 square feet. That meant there was no room for a table, so after preparing a meal, we had to take it down a short flight of narrow stairs to a small table in the bedroom. This may be common in Europe, but for a first-time visitor to London, it was a bit of an adjustment. The front desk was quick to respond to other questions, similar to the service we’ve received at other reciprocal clubs. For example, when we had difficulty operating the combination washer/dryer, they sent someone right away to help us sort it out. That said, it would have helped to have printed instructions for that machine, in addition to the sketchy material provided on the room TV. We were pleased with the front desk’s quick response to most of our inquiries. But we were disappointed to discover that some of their policies differed from what we are accustomed to at the Marine Memorial Club. For example, there were fees for weekend housecleaning, late checkout/luggage storage, and the Club breakfast. After checking the fine print, it was apparent that had been stated up front, but that didn’t diminish our disappointment. Charging for the breakfast only made us go elsewhere, leading us to feel disconnected from the Club, which was odd, given our experience with the MMC. One final quibble. Before making a local phone call, I called the desk to ask if there would be any charges, and the response was “no." I made three calls over the next few days. At checkout, I learned I had been charged for those calls. I spoke to the manager, who explained there is a charge for outgoing calls but not for incoming calls. I asked for an adjustment, but she very politely declined. There wasn’t much money involved - about $5 - but since I was paying about $530/night for nine nights, I thought they could have relented when it was clear to me the error was theirs. We would stay at the Sloane Apartments again, primarily for its terrific location and the wonderful ambience of the neighborhood. But we won’t expect to be part of their Club, as we do when staying at the MMC.
- While I was stationed in the UK, I used this club for setting up a women's association series of meetings abut 3 times a year. In addition, I used it for holiday trips to London and it is wonderful. The place is full of chintz so has a more feminine feel to it than what many military men might expect. The big exception to that is the wonderful wood paneled bar. They were very accommodating for the meetings and food and planning that needed to go happen. Pricing for meetings was excellent. Service for the hotel side of things was good but not excellent. It is a nice place to base yourself near Sloane Square.
Request Letter
of Introduction
London – St. James Club
http://www.stjameshotelandclub.com7-8 Park Place
St. James’s
London SW1A 1LP
Tel: 44 (0)20 7629 7688
Fax: 44 (0)20 7491 0987
Overnight Accommodations: Yes
Email
The Club
- Spent 7 nights at this very chic, quiet location. Green Park is the nearest tube station, loads of shops & restaurants, keeping in mind London is very very expensive! Rooms are well appointed, on the small size but in keeping with European sizes. It is fully air conditioned, a big plus if you happen to have hot muggy days! Service was top notch, couple of glitches handled well... Bit disappointed with the food...breakfast buffet ok, did not vary for 7 mornings..bistro food was only just so so...tho service excellent, location can' t be beat....we will say again!
- We stayed two nights last year. It is pricy but first class. Rooms are small but very well appointed . OK if you do not have to much luggage. Great location. Near The Blue Post pup one of London's best.
- My wife and I just spent four nights at the St. James Club in London. I cannot recommend them high enough. The rooms were small but in excellent condition with great beds. The amenities in the room were also very good. The food in the dinning area, both breakfast and dinner, were of a very high quality. We even indulged in breakfast in bed one morning and it arrived on time, hot and tasty .The staff is friendly and very accommodating. We will certainly return to the St James Club the next time we are in London.
Request Letter
of Introduction
London – Union Jack Club
http://ujclub.co.ukSandell Street, Waterloo
London SE1 8UJ
Tel: (44) 207-928-4814
Fax: (44) 207-620-0565
Overnight Accommodations: Yes
Email
The Club
- Posted 3/22/24-- Our family stayed at the Union Jack Club earlier this month, and found it to be both a good value and an excellent location for touring London. It is literally right across the street from Waterloo Station, from which you can access three separate tube lines to various sites in the city. (From Heathrow, we jumped on the Elizabeth Line to the Bond Street Station, transferred to the Jubilee Line to Waterloo Station, and walked outside and across the street. Couldn't be easier.) Additionally, from the same station, you can catch a very comfortable South Western Railway train that goes directly to Windsor/Eton in about 50 minutes to tour Windsor Palace. The location can't be beat. We stayed in a family room, which has 2 rooms with a closing door between. It was a great setup for 2 adults and 2 kids. The rooms are pretty basic and none too large (the kids' room with the bunk bed was literally like a walk-in closet) but housekeeping kept them spotless, and we all slept surprisingly well. I will note there's no A/C, but that wasn't an issue in March. We enjoyed having windows that opened. We ate both lunch and dinner in the dining room, and found it to be a quite decent and enjoyable option, though nothing extraordinary. The prices were very fair for the quality. We picked up breakfast items when out and about (there are a couple mini-grocery stores inside Waterloo Station that were convenient for grabbing essentials) so we didn't try out the breakfast buffet, which also looked pretty good. We found the club staff friendly and helpful, and enjoyed our interactions with fellow guests, all of whom were serving or retired enlisted British military folks. As others have commented, the atmosphere is friendly and decidedly non-pretentious. For value received and for great location, we felt the Union Jack was hard to beat. We would definitely recommend, and would be happy to stay here again (with the possible exception of the hot summer months where lack of A/C might be an issue).
- My wife and I stayed at the Union Jack Club in September 2023. We found the experience very travel friendly and accommodating. I would say the service and amenities are on the same level as Marines Memorial. The club members are serving members of the UK military or veterans of the same. Food was excellent, rooms fine. The UJC is located just south of the Thames River on a bend that allows easy access to London-across-the-river especially the theater district. It is immediately next to the Waterloo train station and Tube connections making easy access to greater London. On our scale it was 4 out of 5 stars.
- Stayed at the Union Jack Club in October, 2023. I give it 5/5 across all categories: location, facilities, food, accommodations, staff, prices, value. I was traveling alone so I took a single room ensuite (with bathroom) for £82 per night. The full English breakfast was another £12. That totaled £94 per night - all taxes and fees included. The location is very good. It is directly across the street from Waterloo Underground and Train Station. The Union Jack Club is an enlisted club for active and retired British military forces. If you are expecting to see the retired British First Sea Lord in the reading room behind a copy of the London Times, you will be disappointed. This is not a Mayfair Club, and the only officers will be those from the EU or USA using reciprocal benefits. I enjoyed my stay and would return. I ate breakfast daily and had dinner one night. The evening meal and bar prices were excellent and the food was decent. Overall, a great place to stay.
- Our stay at the Union Jack Club in London was a most pleasant experience. We found the facilities and staff to be on par with a 3 or 4 Star Hotel. The club is a warm and accepting facility; it is lacking in any degree of pretentiousness, and we felt comfortable interacting with staff and other occupants. The club's location is adjacent to Waterloo Station, making travel to and from Heathrow Airport very easy and inexpensive. All major tourist sites were accessible by subway, bus, or for the hardy on foot. We weren't aware that air conditioning isn't common in UK hotels, so the use of the provided fan was a must with open windows in July. I would have booked a larger room had I realized they were an option, but our double with an ensuite met our needs. The dining room served a good breakfast buffet, the lunch and dinner selections were excellent. Don't forget to bring extra USB chargers, preferably with multiple ports and UK electrical outlet adapters. I look forward to future stays at this club and heartily recommend it to others.
- We stayed at the Union Jack Club last year and it was fantastic. The proximity to the Waterloo Station alone makes it the place to stay in London. We had a large suite on the top floor and the suite was large, well-appointed, and well-maintained. The staff was friendly and it was a lot of fun meeting and conversing with military personnel from the United Kingdom.
- Myself and five of my family stayed at the Union Jack Club in London, England. We stayed in a suite on the 6th or 7th floors in early February 2016. The suite had three smallish bedrooms that each slept two, with a nicely equipped kitchen and a living room and one bath. The rooms were clean and tended to daily. The price for downtown London was very reasonable. As described in previous comments, the Union Jack Club is 100 yards from Waterloo combined train and underground station, which makes arriving from Heathrow Airport a piece of cake. There is also a nice restaurant and bar, again, with very reasonable prices especially for London. While it is not a 'five star hotel' ,but for its value it will be hard to beat. We look forward to staying there again.
- The Union Jack Club (www.ujclub.co.uk, email: abo@ujclub.co.uk) is located in Sandell Street, opposite Waterloo Station, on the south side of the River Thames. It’s about a 15-minute walk to the London Eye and the tour boat dock, and about the same distance in the downriver direction to the Tate Modern art museum. It’s a longer walk or a short cab ride to the Westminster area, or to Shakespeare’s Globe Theater. Across Sandell Street is a good pub, The Wellington, and a block farther along Waterloo Road is an excellent Italian restaurant. In the opposite direction on Waterloo is a Sainsbury’s grocery store. Around the corner, on Cornwall Road, is an excellent bakery. The club is a block from the Old Vic Theatre. The square across from the Old Vic has a number of restaurants to choose from, as do other streets opening off the square. This was our first stay at the UJC (1-7 Sept 2014, and again on 16 Sept 2014), and we learned that it has two towers, an old one overlooking Waterloo Station, and a new one overlooking a bus yard. The club has double and single rooms, but the single rooms are very small, with just enough room for a single bed – very much like a military barracks room – but OK for a child, since there’s a connecting door to the double room. The hotel is renovating the rooms, and although none are air conditioned, the windows open to catch a breeze. We first were assigned a double room in the old section, but after a couple of nights of constant noise from the trains, we requested a change. The front desk was nice enough to give us a room in the new tower. This room, despite the bus yard, was quieter – except for the occasional police sirens in the night. The room was a good size, and the bed was OK. The bathroom in the double room has a combination English (high off the floor, narrow and deep) bathtub/shower. The single room given our son had a shower. Recommendation: ask for a renovated room in the new tower. Double rooms rented to reciprocating club members go for £126 per night, a real bargain in London, while single rooms rent for £72 per night. The club also has flats, suites, etc. for higher rates. We found all the staff to be very accommodating and pleasant to deal with. The club is very proud of its breakfast menu, offering two options – a full English breakfast or a “Continental” breakfast, although there’s hardly any difference between the two. The English breakfast menu includes a selection of hot items (eggs, meats, etc.), while the “Continental” has cold items such as cereals, meats, cheeses, yogurt, fruit, breads, etc. You can pay for the breakfast in advance and receive chits for each day, or you can pay by the meal, about £12.50 each. The club’s lunch and dinner selections are quite good, and the quality is very good. You pay by the meal. The club also has an excellent bar just off the lobby. Because a major rail station is across the street, it’s easy to flag down a taxi. In the lobby of the club, there’s a white phone directly connected to a car service. You can order a car for the next day, or they can provide one within 15-20 minutes. We used this service to take two people and three bags to Heathrow and, at £45 for the ride, found it to be cheaper than a taxi. It’s about an hour’s ride to Heathrow, depending on time of day and traffic. The Union Jack Club is a century old and prides itself on its heritage – as depicted in the many portraits of Victoria Cross winners, service plaques, and battle scenes on the walls. Compared to some more pricey and upscale military clubs elsewhere in London, it’s has a casual atmosphere – reflecting its origins as a club for enlisted service members. It’s a pleasant place to stay, and we wouldn’t hesitate to stay there again when we visit London.
- My wife and I stayed here 22 - 25 June 2014; Checking in and while staying the staff was helpful and cheerful this is not the first time I've stayed here. One of the best deals in London for a hotel although not ultra fancy or modern the 2 person ensuite rooms are good for the price. The only issue was at check-out, we checked out around 6:00 AM and the desk clerk on duty acted as if we were imposing on her to do her job. She was very surely when we said we needed a taxi. She did not explain where the direct line phone was just said over there and walked away. May not stay here again because of the attitude of this clerk.
- We stayed at the Union Jack Hotel in early October 2013. The best thing about the hotel was the location. Close to so many wonderful places. The stay at the hotel was not very good. We travel a lot and have stayed at many small European hotels that are very old. The room that we were given needed a face lift. They do not have air condition and no way to regulate the temperature in the room. We had wonderful weather and I realized that we would need a fan during the night. They only have a few fans but we were told if we went to the luggage room we could leave a deposit and then they would be happy to let us use their fan. When I asked about the deposit they told me that they have many drunk military that stay there so they have to make sure we give the fan back. We had a door alarm right below our window that would go off at least once and hour or more all night long. When I complained they treated us as if we were just imagining it. Very condescending. The front desk was not helpful with directions or any other tourist information as they made it clear that really wasn't their job. In other words "look it up yourself on the computer". I talked to manager as we left and she was an outstanding manager trying to help us understand the difficulty of having all of these military people that stay there. I told her she should come and see the Marine Memorial to see how wonderful it was run. I told her maybe she could get a free trip to San Francisco. We had a good laugh as we left. I would never stay there again. Our rate was not that good either..
- Very good club overall. The price is GREAT for London. The service is outstanding. The food is very good and the Pub is friendly. The club is across the street from the Waterloo train/tube station, one of the main stations in London, this provides easy access to all transportation. Trains, underground, surface trams, bus lines, cabs and mini cabs are all there. The rooms are a bit on the small size, we had double (en suite bathroom), but as we were gone all day all we did was come in to sleep then out again in the morning. The beds need help, old wire spring type. Our stay was for six days and we did enjoy it and would (will) use the Union Jack Club again. Overall I would rate the club to be very good to excellent all factors taken into consideration.
Request Letter
of Introduction
London – Victory Services Club
http://www.vsc.co.uk63/79 Seymour Street
London W2 2HF
Tel: (44) 020-7723-4474
Fax: (44) 020-7724-1134
Overnight Accommodations: Yes
Email
The Club
- This is our 5th stay and we don’t consider other hotels or Clubs! Great staff, cuisine , drinks and location!
- September 25, 2018 at 6:20pm - We stayed at the Victory Services Club a total of eight nights during September, 2018 at the beginning and end of our trip to England. We found the VSC to be a wonderful base to enjoy London. It is well located just a block from Hyde Park and close to the Marble Arch tube station. Our rooms were clean and well appointed. The breakfasts were excellent. The staff is friendly and helpful. Dinner is available in the restaurant and there is a bar. Good restaurants and pubs are very close by. The Victory Services Club has an ambience similar to the MMC; correct but not stuffy. A similar feel to our club. A great pub with excellent meals a few blocks away is the Victoria at 10A Strathearn Place. The Grazing Goat is a very short walk about two blocks away in the other direction and is a pub with an outstanding restaurant. For close by Italian try Spaghetti House on a side street just across Edgeware Road (super close). - Ken Fischer
- Posted on June 18, 2018 - This is the second time we've stayed there. Both times were memorable and pleasant. There are rooms with showers if so inclined. The staff is par excellence. Breakfast is a full English one and very good. I love the lounge for relaxing with a libation. WiFi present throughout which is a great FREE bonus. One block from Marble Arch Tube, Hyde Park and from PM Blairs house around the corner!!! Staying there again in June 2019. Email with any questions. - LT HANK MILLER
- Posted on September 22, 2017 at 9:45pm - "We stayed there last week and cannot sing enough praise about the staff from the Porters to the front desk and hospitality. The feeling here is more like YOUR CLUB and not a hotel. Excellent full English breakfast buffet, sterling snacks and drinks in the Lounge and nice selections in the Grill. We changed rooms three times and finally settled on floor 4 due to poor water pressure on floor 8 since we requested a larger room initially. The staff fully accommodated our requests. Excellent location and easy access to Marble Arch Tube and into Hyde Park. This Club cannot be beat for the prices charged. Modern and clean rooms we might add. We would not consider other accommodations in London!" - Hank Miller
- I have stayed at the Victory Services Club during the month of August for several years. It is very welcoming, great location, nice rooms with A/C, internet, cable TV, and the restaurant and bar are very enjoyable. Huge improvements have been made in the restaurant and more are currently underway. The bar is a great place to eat if you aren't up to a meal. They can arrange a very convenient shuttle to Heathrow for you. Will stay again this year and am looking forward to it. Joining is a great idea as it is so reasonable and helps the VSC.
- We stayed at the VSC for seven nights in July. It is an exceptional value for London. We found it to be clean and welcoming with a location that is very close to transit and Hyde Park (and virtually around the corner from Tony Blair's home). The staff is very pleasant and bar prices are most reasonable for a major city. We would stay there again in a heartbeat. Our tips: 1) opt for a better class of room, and 2) If you are planning to stay more than a couple of days, look into joining as a member or former member of a NATO armed service. It costs about $30 for a year and the member discount for your stay may be a lot more than that.
- We stayed at the Victory Services Club (VSC) on two occasions in September 2014 and were very pleased with the accommodations, the customer service, the food and the location. Tony Travis, head porter, was a great help- arranging a bus tour for us and providing lots of useful information. He even offered to store any extra suitcases while we went to Germany, in between our stays at VSC. All the porters, desk staff and bar staff were very helpful and pleasant. We did not eat in the dining room but made good use of the bar for dinner after long days of sightseeing. There is a good variety of reasonably priced food choices served in the bar and the seating is very comfortable. We opted for the Bed and Breakfast room rate and breakfast was good. We plan to stay at the VSC on our future trips to London.
- I stayed here for 6 nights in April 2014. I was traveling with my grandson and two others. The VSC is a great find for your travel to London. The location is convenient to the Marbe Arch station and Hyde Park. The staff could not have been more accommodating. From the concierge with helpful maps and advice to the breakfast room staff, everyone was pleasant and professional. Breakfast was buffet style with hot and cold entrees; the Lounge hosted both a full bar and Afternoon Tea. We had dinner one evening in the restaurant and we were not disappointed. I would definitely recommend the VSC and I look forward to staying there again on our next visit to London.
- My wife and I stayed here one night on July 17, 2013. We had a room in the Centenary Wing. While the room was small by American standards, it was nonetheless clean well equipped and comfortable. Yes; it is more hotel like, but the staff without exception, make it feel more club like. We had an evening meal in the dining room with guests who were welcomed and treated like hotel guests and the service and food were both delightful. We had the club breakfast the next morning again with another guest who was welcomed and treated like a guest. The breakfast is served in a lower floor, windowless room, but was more than adequate. However, as said earlier, the staff, without exception, were exceptional in their professionalism and pleasant manner. For example, my flight back to the States was cancelled the next day and the staff tried very hard to find me an accommodation, but since it was Wimbledon week, they had no success. Then, later, we found we had left a lady's raincoat behind. We called the hotel from the States and explained the problem. A staff member, Maren Fun, arranged to send it to my wife's Mother's home in the UK but when the delivery was unsuccessful to that address (may have had something to do with my wife's 99 year old Mother) they resent it to us in the States. A very nice facility, in an excellent location for London touring and we would certainly use it again.
- My wife and I spent a week here from July 13 to July 20, 2011. The club was an excellent overall value and we would stay here again. I would argue that it is not a 4 star facility by US standards, but more a 2 1/2 to 3 star. We spent one night in a twin en suite room in the Memorial Wing before switching to the same type of room in the Centenary Wing. The Centenary Wing is where most US guests will be comfortable as the rooms are larger and have air conditioning. Tony, one of the Porters, was a BIG help. Gabby and Rita in the Lounge/Bar were very good. Service in the dining room was inconsistent, but leaned toward the poor. Food was excellent quality, however. Bus service and a tube station are quite handy. If the escalator in the tube station (Marble Arch) is not working there are about 125 steps each way to and from the trains from ground level. The overall feeling here was more hotel than private club, and that's too bad.
Request Letter
of Introduction
Madrid, Spain Reciprocal Club – Casino De Madrid
http://www.casinodemadrid.esCasino De Madrid
Calle de Alcala, 15
28014
Madrid
Tel: (34) 91 521 17 35
Fax: (34) 91 523 02 72
Overnight Accommodations: No
Email
The Club
- A special place in Madrid. September 2024 we stopped in for drinks. Wonderful service in a historic building. Jacket is required in the club. Will definitely visit again when I'm in Madrid.
- My wife and I had a very entertaining and delightful lunch at the Casino de Madrid May 9th 2013. We chose the public restaurant which is on the top floor (5th) instead of the members restaurant which was described as traditional fare while the public one was featuring more progressive dining. The contact at the club had left a letter of introduction for us. When we inquired about the letter at the front desk they showed us to the elevator for the public restaurant instead. When we were leaving, I asked the front desk for the contact person who we had corresponded with and only then did the front desk ask the doorman about the letter. Unfortunately we did not received the reciprocal club membership 20% discount on the lunch but we had a wonderful time just the same. I would highly recommend it and don't forget your jacket (tie is not necessary). The food was very interesting/entertaining presentation and the flavors were excellent. The wine was reasonable and delicious. We walked around the club afterwards and it is quite an interesting building. Would highly recommend dining there. Likely one of the best in Madrid.
- Had a large Spanish lunch at the Casino de Madrid at the end of October. The club resturant and rooms are very luxurious. The food and service was of Michelin 3 star rating. There were 4 waiters at our table at all times during the 2 hour meal. My wife's guest was a local dentist who had only been to the club on a tour and did not know the dress code. He showed up in his lab coat but not to worry; he was provided a nice jacket. The price matched the Michelin quality at E100 per person, however, reciporcal club membership rated a 20% discount. Will definitely have dinner here on our next Madrid visit.
Request Letter
of Introduction
Maharashtra, India Reciprocal Club- PYC Hindu Gymkhana
http://www.pycgymkhana.comCTS No. 766, F.P. No. 244 Bhandarkar Road
Pune-411004, Maharashtra, India
Tel: (91+202) 566 3006
Fax: N/A
Overnight accommodations: Yes