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This place was hard to find, at least later at night and in my state of mind, but it is a clean, stylish and a welcoming hostel with very reasonable rates. Since he seems to screen his guests a bit, it's also quiet and better for the more mature budget traveller which is exactly what I needed. I can't thank them enough for a real bed, comforter, and my two best nights of sleep in weeks.
We rented a beautiful apartment in the centre of Barcelona from this company, and were very impressed by the level of service. We would definitely recommend them to anyone planning on visiting Barcelona!
Really friendly hostel in Tirana, just minutes from Skenderbeg Square. Although there are shared and private rooms, even the dorms only have a few beds in them (no bunks!) making for a pleasantly peaceful atmosphere. Our room also had a TV and en-suite, plus air-con which is very handy in the steamy summer months.
Also Freddy (the owner) was very helpful!
www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/albania/tirana/25044/
75 Bardhok Biba, Tirana, Albania
Google map: tinyurl.com/lucv9x
Easy Hotels are my favorite way of staying in London - cheap but spotless. You can choose between a variety of rooms (small with no window, small with window, large with no window and large with a window), all of which have a private bathroom. Rooms start at 25 pounds per room per night and the hotels are centrally located, near underground stations.
Apple and Noi, two local women, run this extremely friendly guesthouse. The accommodation itself is quite basic, but even if you choose not to stay, make sure you go along for a meal - the food is the best we had in Thailand. Not only that, but Noi runs entertaining cookery courses (lasting the best part of the day, costing about £15) which will teach you how to make such dishes yourself.
While travelling from Cayo Santa Maria we stayed in a lovely little colonial house in Remedios. Remedios is beautiful little town with little or no street hustlers. It's the oldest town in Cuba and was the original town of settlement for the Spanish.
We stayed in Hostal Colonial Mery y Mario, an old colonial house a couple of blocks from the main square. Mario is recently deceased and poor Mery is still grieving for her husband but she still really knows how to look after you! She really was a sweet little lady. She was awarded an automobile for her contribution to the work effort in Soviet times. She even won trips to Moscow too... she really is a believer in the revolution. She was one of the many educators who volunteered to go out into the countryside and teach the illiterate peasantry reading and writing. Her story is truly amazing.
We would encourage anyone to just stay here and converse with Mery as she has a lot to tell. Her husband was sound engineer and he had recording spool of Che Guevara's last will and testament before his execution. She can play this for you... it is truly moving.
If you're in Remedios... Seek out Mery's.
Just off the main square, Remedios
Stay in this wonderful three-storey home of a Huguenot weaver in a quiet street between Brick Lane and Spitalfields market. Furnished in a comfortable, practical way the true character of the home is retained... wonkey staircase, oak panelling and solid ancient floors. The absence of a TV inspires sketches and great tips in best handwriting on the vellum pages of the green linen bound logbook. Learn about who lived there over the years and sit out under the raspberry pink camellia in the garden with a glass of wine and a plate of cheese from the nearby deli.
After a quiet night's rest in heavenly beds stroll through the Sunday market for a feast of food from stallholders across the world. Cross over to Spitalfields market for the up-and-coming designers or find a sweet vintage brooch or bag. Five minutes to the Caledonian flower market for an armful of fragrant blooms.
Brick Lane is great for a cheap curry... have a takeaway in the garden!
Come at Christmas and watch the neighbours peel back their shutters to outdo each other in Christmas decorations. Better than a hotel any day!
Princelet St Spitalfields
www.landmarktrust.co.uk
The community narrowboat called Angel II takes either community groups or private groups on tours of the canal. You can sleep up to twelve but it's nicer with less. It's based in Angel, near the tube. The skipper will take you either west through the Islington tunnel up to Camden and through London Zoo and Little Venice, or east to Broadway Market, Victoria Park, The Palm Tree pub in Bow and so on. You can turn up the Hertford Canal and go up to Hackney Marshes too.
There is a great wealth of history in terms of the industrial revolution and the various types of architecture but also the canal provides a welcome corridor of nature right through the centre of London. At 2mph it's an easy pace and you will learn how to do the locks and steer the boat. You can do an evening, a day or a week. It's self-catering.
Along the way is the London Canal Museum and various lovely old pubs. The Islington tunnel is 886 metres long - it's very impressive. Bring a nice bottle of wine and cruise through some of London's finest history. It's so peaceful.
www.acct.org.uk/
just off Graham Street N1, by the City Road Basin, it's just down from Angel Tube.
A budget hotel in the old quarter with a stunning roof terrace - look out over the city and Giralda tower with a cold beer or two. In August the rooms are 68 euros, air-conditioned with modern bathrooms, and of course you're perfectly placed for exploring. Friendly young receptionists with solid insider knowledge and happy to share it.
C/Doncellas 15
Tel: (34) 954 53 94 13
www.patiosantacruz.com
This is a great hostel that I stayed in in Chamonix. Super cheap beds, really friendly staff and a buzzing bar - awesome!
Charming little one bedroom attic flat in centre of Lisbon. Located in the historic Lapa neighborhood within walking distance of all main tourist sights. Good selection of local cafes and restaurants in the area. I spent four nights here this summer and it was much nicer and better value than a hotel. A great base for spending some time exploring this beautiful city.
We've just returned from four nights at this apartment in Castellammare del Golfo, and had a wonderful time. The owners are incredibly helpful, the view from the terrace is spectacular, and the town is perfectly positioned for exploring the beautiful north-west of the island. It's also very reasonably priced, and our favourite feature was the outdoor kitchen on the terrace. A great find.
Castellammare del Golfo
www.leomar-sicily.co.uk/
This fantastic B&B is in the beautiful fishing village of Mevagissey on the south coast of Cornwall, perched on a hill overlooking the harbour.
We recently spent my 50th birthday there and believe it must be the best B&B in Cornwall!
The rooms are immaculate and beautifully furnished, oozing with quality and good taste. Breakfast was delicious and a very happy friendly affair. We sat on the most incredible patio sipping champagne with an awesome sea view stretching over 40 miles. There are car parking spaces too (do not stay anywhere without a car park in Mevagissey)!
Without question the best place I have ever visited.
The place was good and the people at the front desk were really helpful. It was in a great location and its definitely somewhere I'd recommend to anyone visiting Prague.
Prague Square Hostel, Melantrichova 10, Prague 1, www.praguesquarehostel.com
Where else can you stay in a tower? Ve Vezi is a great little pension at great prices; full of character and charm. The accommodation is fairly basic, though the room had a TV and fridge - for the price Ve Vezi is a bargain.
The pension is situated by the river right next to the Eggenberg brewery, which has its own pub and restaurant serving up their lovely beer and Czech staples. Within a couple of hundred yards you're in the thick of Cesky Krumlov's cobbled streets.
Marta the owner is fantastic and very helpful.
I would have no hesitation in recommending Ve Vezi.
www.pensionvevezi.cz
Pivovarská 28, 381 01 Český Krumlov, Czech Republic
+420/ 721 523 030
Google map: bit.ly/XIco32
An amazing house (dar) in the medina. It's been beautifully restored by the very friendly owner Maria. During our stay in the house we were looked after by an amazing and friendly housekeeper Attaib. This place really has that wow factor and was a real 'home' to return to after a day in the bustle of the medina.
Meals can be prepared for you by a neighbour and it really is worth taking up this offer as her food was some of the best we had at some of the best prices!
www.discoverfez.com/
Near Bab Rcif
Derb al aqiba 1 bis- zqaq lbghal, qettanine, Medina Fez. Morocco
Pure Mountains provide first-rate guided mountain bike holidays in the Sierra Nevada district of Spain. The Pure Mountains team made us feel very welcome and treated us to some awesome bike rides, excellent views and fabulous food and support.
See www.puremountains.com or email Jenny Mayhew at jenny@puremountains.com.
This unassumingly boutique Hotel on Sw Agnieszki in Kazimierz (two minutes from Wawel Castle), is an expression of the Polish Romance. It used to be an old schoolhouse, and if you look hard the signs are still there to see.
I must start with the breakfast room, with its walls full of tableaux, tasteful bric-a-bric, with the whiff of a bohemian salon has more character and imagination than a thousand chain or 'specialty' hotels. They lay the table with lace cloths specially for you - none of this pile 'em high buffet nonsense - and bring fresh juice and coffee and the meats and cheeses are delectable.
If there was a failing, it was that my single room was too cramped (perhaps the old detention chambers) and the noises of early breakfast begin to echo around the building around 7am. At €61-79 per night, a jewel worth a higher price.
"Alef" Hotel,Świętej Agnieszki 5 Street, 31-071 Kraków
www.alef.pl/index_e.php
This Tokyo hostel is really great – clean, affordable and with heaps of Japanese style including Tatami mat floors.
There’s also self-catering facilities, a comfortable lounge and no curfew for backpackers who like to party hard.
Situated in Asakusa, it’s a pleasantly peaceful base after a long day of sightseeing but close enough to all the major sights, shopping and nightlife to still be really convenient. Overall, a big thumbs up!
www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/japan/tokyo/18560/
2-16-12 Nishiasakusa, Tokyo, Taito-ku, 111-0035, Japan
A superb hotel, recently completely renovated, 15 minutes' walk from the centre of this lovely town in Südtirol. Around 70 GBP per person per night for B&B in a junior suite which was truly luxurious, great food, great staff and a setting to die for.
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