1.   What is your current availability? 

Current availability details for each room are usually shown on the home page - or on my Google Business Profile Updates - but, for those about to travel, try messaging me to check for any late cancellations... 🤞🏼

2.   How many rooms do you offer? Are there terms/exclusions? 

I offer a maximum of three bedrooms in my home to male international medical graduates (IMGs) arriving for a local PLAB preparation course at a nearby academy or those just wishing to study comfortably in South Manchester before their exam:

• Each room is for single occupancy.

• The standard minimum booking is seven nights.

• Check-in time is usually after 8 am and before 10:30 pm. If you need a very early check-in, please ask when making your booking arrangements. 

• When it IS available, my ground floor room is usually only offered for stays of 7 to 12 nights. It is currently closed for redecoration until further notice.

(PLEASE NOTE: some city centre hotels may be ideal for short stays of 1-6 nights e.g. EasyHotel; Travelodge; Holiday Inn Express. Check Booking.com/similar sites for current offers. Or try AirBnb etc).

3.   What are your 2025 rates? 

• Second floor/attic £23/night

• First floor £24/night

•  ̶G̶r̶o̶u̶n̶d̶ ̶f̶l̶o̶o̶r̶ ̶£̶2̶1̶/̶n̶i̶g̶h̶t̶

These are my standard prices for stays covering 2024 up to 31 January 2025. Please check my prices page for a tabular version of my pricing policy. Photographs should be visible on the Room Pictures page

4.   Are discounts available? 

• The standard rates of £21-£24/night apply for stays of seven to 21 nights for all new booking up to 31 January 2025.

• For stays of 22 nights or more up until the end of September 2024, time-related discounts for my second and first floor rooms can be offered to those booking in advance and paying a non-refundable deposit. Any deposit paid will be set against the balance of your invoice due following your arrival.

• A further small discount may be offered for longer bookings involving two doctors arriving to study together and taking my first and second floor rooms. Please refer to the pricing section on this site for tabulated tariff details and further explanations. 

• My discounting is reduced for bookings covering nights between October 1, 2024, and January 31, 2025.

5.     How do I ask about booking a room with you? (Can I get a visa letter?)

(I can provide a visa letters for confirmed bookings & for returning guests. Please ask about this when you are confirming your booking).

When contacting me via email or WhatsApp, please provide the following details:

- If you are traveling with fellow male doctors and therefore require more than one room

- Visa status and flight/travel booking information

- Expected arrival and departure dates and times

- PLAB exam date

Additionally, please confirm that you have read and understood the information given in this FAQ and elsewhere on the website.

📧 I try to respond to emails within 24 hours but, if you need a quicker reply, I may see a WhatsApp message sooner.

6.    Are there any special deals for returning doctors?

Subject to room availability, returning guests qualify for a preferential rate for stays of seven or more nights &/or the option of shorter stays at a flat rate. For the avoidance of doubt, the tariff for discretionary short stays of 3-6 nights for returning guests is £24/night regardless of room. And seven nights remains my minimum booking for first time guests.

7.  What facilities do you provide in addition to a room to sleep in? 

• on arrival, freshly made beds with covered duvet, fitted sheet, and covered pillows

• access to shared kitchen and bathroom

• iron/ironing board available

• occasional use of washing machine (if not available, I can show you several nearby launderette shops)

• garden available for outdoor study

Please note that there is a small library in nearby Arcadia Leisure Centre and a larger one in Longsight which is one mile away. There are also many nearby parks where it can be very pleasant to study out of doors during times of good weather.

8.  What about broadband/wi-fi in your house? 

Wi-Fi is currently provided at this time AND there are libraries and other establishments very nearby offering free Wi-Fi. Guests are encouraged to explore the various UK mobile network options for their own specific needs. 

• you may prefer to talk with friends/colleagues who have recently stayed locally re mobile phone networks/companies/deals etc. 

• a popular option is the 30-day Unlimited Data SIM plan from Vodafone. However, please note:

• there are other phone companies that use the Vodafone network and offer better value call & data plans e.g. Lebara & Voxi.

• some doctors report a good 5G experience with Three and Lyca.

• Smarty also often offer competitive deals.

If you have researched and decided on your network provider, I can probably obtain a SIM (and maybe assist with its set-up, on arrival) for you if you ask in advance. Waiting until you arrive is fine (many do it) but you may find that the best value options require pre-planning.

9.    Are there any “house rules”? 

- Bedrooms are for single occupancy only (the rooms include seating for guests to study with a colleague during the daytime)

- Study partners/friends should leave the house before 11 pm

- Kitchen and bathroom should be left clean and tidy after use

- This is a non-smoking household. ALL smoking/vaping must be completely outside of the house, with the front door closed.

- Although guests are welcome to use/charge your phones, laptops, shavers and toothbrushes, I ask you not to use additional "power-hungry" &/or incompatible devices.

- Please be considerate of noise levels. When using your phone/playing music, please consider using headphones to minimise disturbance to others, especially at night time.

I wish to provide a friendly/pleasant learning and resting environment at a reasonable price. The above rules help me to achieve this aim.

10. I like the offer. How do I make a formal booking? 

Full details can be viewed on my Prices & Booking page.

A deposit is essential for first time guests. A £20 to £60 non-refundable deposit  will reserve your room. Your deposit will be credited against your total tariff on arrival. Transfers from UK banks are cheapest for the payer. If transfer from a home-country bank is costly, there may be alternatives:

1. Wise (my affiliate/sign-up link if you are not already a Wise customer) 

2. Amazon £ e-vouchers accepted

If you wish to change your schedule, because I must first consider the existing bookings of other doctors, you DO need to provide plenty of notice. Early communication is vital.

🏧 How do I get a bank account? 

Always research options yourself to find what best suits your needs. Although I cannot make any personal recommendations, possible starting points for your own research include:

• Starling or Monzo - online e/banking services

• Pre-paid cards. These work like bank accounts but may require ID check

• TSB Bank, Longsight may help. But proof of ID/local address will be needed to start an account.