Arrivals/Departures: How the other half goes self-catering

Trend-spotters and high-rollers will have noticed that several hotel firms are now offering exclusive apartments as well as rooms and are charging four-figure sums for them.

How to ... spend £1,000 on a room for the night

Trend-spotters and high-rollers will have noticed that several hotel firms are now offering exclusive apartments as well as rooms and are charging four-figure sums for them. The most recent addition in London is myplace, a two-bedroom apartment on the fifth floor of Bloomsbury's hotel The rate is £1,000 per night (excluding VAT), and includes a compact kitchen and a balcony. Billed as James Bond meets the Dalai Lama, the apartment has DVD players, PlayStations and computers, as well as a butler, chef and beauty therapist on call. And the ideal guest? "We're expecting guests from the music, film and media industries," said a spokesperson. Eminem has been a guest at the hotel and would be particularly welcome.