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Sleep in wooden bungalows, so buried in the orange trees and jasmine it is hard to spot them. The rooms are spotless and comfortable, the alarm clock is a cockerel. Breakfasts start early and continue until lunch time, everything comes fresh from the village. Stroll 100 metres down the path and you are on the beach. Walk to the left and find the Chimera burning constantly, walk right and explore the Lycian city of Olimpos or just grab a bed and a brolly and enjoy the view of the sea and the mountains. Dinners on the beach include the day's catch, but be prepared to wait whilst they go and pick the salad! So laid back all you will want to do is read a good book. (but they do also have wifi!) Room and breakfast for two is around 120 TL.
www.gunespansiyon.com/
Çıralı Köyü Ulupınar Kemer / Türkiye E-Posta: info@gunespansiyon.com Telefon-Faks: 0242 825 71 61
About 80km from Antalya, easily reachable by bus and then dolmus from the main road.
There can be few better experiences than sleeping in a (rather luxurious) cave hewn from Cappadocia's volcanic rock after a stomach-stretching meal prepared from local produce by an exceptionally talented chef. And all of this under the watchful eyes of a most attentive staff!
Make time to enjoy the hotel as well as rushing around the lunar landscapes and fairy chimneys of Cappadocia - a 7Km hiking trail starts right from the hotel's front door.
Gamirasu Hotel
Ayvali Koyu 50400 URGUP/ TURKEY
Tel : +90 384 354 5815
: +90 384 341 7485
Fax : +90 384 354 5864
Mobile : +90 530 468 2637
E-mail :info@gamirasu.com
Website :www.gamirasu.com
A truly wonderful Riad. From the spacious and beautiful room to the friendly and helpful staff everything about the riad was perfect. Whilst only a short stroll to Djemaa el Fina the Riad was a haven of peace and tranquility. Breakfast and lunch in the courtyard (or one of the other lovely dining areas) was delicious. The hamman and massage was blissful. Having travelled extensively and having stayed in some wonderful Hotels/B&B's/Guesthouses/Villa's etc, Hotel Riad Al Moussika is up there with the best.
At the edge of the Black Sea and about an hour's boat ride from Istanbul up the Bosphorus River, sits the little known hillside town of Kilyos. A 20euro ride from the port, the Kilyos Kale hotel was situated at the top of this quiet town and holiday residents were all Turkish, except for my boyfriend and myself.
The rooms were large, with stunning views of the Black Sea and surrounding beaches, cleaned to pristine standards every morning and complete with quiet air con and coffee table and seating areas.
Food was inexpensive in the hotel and tourist prices in the town were unheard of makming it the cheapest three nights of our trip and we enjoyed some of the town's freshest fish in local restaurants just a couple mins walk away.
The hotel boasts a quiet but pleasant outdoor pool complete with stunning backdrop views and is less than a five min walk to one of three potential beaches in the local area.
Would reccommend this hotel to anyone needing a break from the city style of Istanbul but wanting to avoid the tourist rife areas of Bodrum and Marmaris.
Phone: +90 (0) 21220 11251
www.kilyoskalehotel.com
Cale Kaddisi no.78
34450
This beautiful old hotel is traditionally decorated, serves a great Turkish breakfast and its staff will go out of there way to help you. It is situated only 20m away from the Akbiyik Mosque, established in 1453 and the street it's on is filled with 500-year-old wooden buildings making it feel as if time is standing still. It's owner Mehdi is a fountain of knowledge, speaking four languages fluently, making sure you make the most out of your visits to the wealth of attractions situated 5-15 minutes walk away. If you truly want to experience Istanbul's colourful history and culture then this is the perfect place to do it from.
www.ahmetefendievi.com
+90-212-518-8465
Very small hotel near to trains, long-distance coaches, park with cafes to sit in, decent places to eat, tombs and main sites. We looked at other hotels, but they were expensive and a bit tatty: probably thought pilgrims to the tombs would pay.
Run by a great "host" Ali, who attracts all nations, backpackers, individuals, friends, couples of all ages. Definitely our best selection of fellow guests ever, who congregate in the first floor sitting areas to share breakfast, experiences and travel tips.
Alaaddin Cd.[ behind PTT ].
ulusanhotel@hotmail.com
Email : ulusanhotel@mynet.com.
LA is a night and day town.
Watching the sun go down after a long day or before a long night is a great way to break up the pace of this city and see it at its most beautiful.
Sunset Blvd is the vein that flows from Hollywood down through Beverly Hills onto the Pacific Coast Highway. Driving down here anytime of day is fun.
Take a trip north up PCH 1 to Malibu for sunset on Zuma Beach. Tackle point Dume, Dolphins and Pelicans may turn up and it is a stunning beach.
Before the beach off PCH 1 Topanga, or Malibu Creek State Parks are both wonderful spots to watch the sun go down. Get up high to see the city, canyons, sea, simply amazing. Get down fast'ish as it gets dark out there!
Anywhere on the beach can be great for sunsets.
The chic suburb of Manhattan Beach has a romantic pier nicely lit with a small aquarium, stroll on the beach, or head on down the stylish beach side broad-walk to Hermosa for the most laid back beach scene in LA.
Santa Monica pier to Venice Beach. Walk, (hire) blades or bikes. Soak it all up. Get back into the canals of Venice and the Albert Kenny Blvd area for an a different perspective of Venice.
Away from the beach the Yamashiro in the Hollywood Hills is a super cool Japanese restaurant with an amazing view especially for sunset and night views.
No need to damage the budget either, hit the bar room for refreshments. Drink up the views and their delicious cocktails. Mia Tia and the Zombie, I can taste them now ... Zombie = don't drive.
Saunter down into Hollywood after and hit a dive bar and hustle some pool. Or go into West Hollywood and watch the people go by (in Lamborghini's) from the numerous establishments on Sunset Blvd.
The vibrancy of this city and variety of places and things to do is too immense a task for quick tip.
LA is well worth a long flight and pricy hotels.
So many hotels good and otherwise I can't scrape the surface.
Hostels are also hit and miss but some are no good altogether.
Try
USA Hostels in Hollywood - clean, friendly
YHA in Santa Monica.
Clean, central
Surf City in Hermosa. Fun, friendly on the beach.
Camping is available at Malibu Creek SP and is one of the coolest ways to get cheap accommodation in the LA vicinity.
An unspoiled region on the Bodrum Peninsula in Turkey, Lake Tuzla is home to hundreds of flamingos in winter and is famous for its wild life.
The Aegean sea meets the fresh water Tuzla Lake all surrounded by mountains. There are authentic Turkish villages dotted in the mountains. The sunsets over the sea are spectacular and the sunrises reflected in the lake are unmissable.
Fresh sea food restaurants are found in nearby Bogazici or Gullick, your choosen sea food is cooked over charcoal and served with a fresh bowl of salad and crusty bread.
Bodrum itself is a well known holiday destination steeped in history with an international marina surrounded by bars and restaurants. Everything from the magnificent indoor market selling the freshest of fruit, vegetables, spices, leather and textiles goods through to designer shops.
Bodrum is only 2.5 miles from Ehesus and Pamukale and coach trips are laid on with extras.
Take a trip to Dalyan by boat. Cruise down the Koycegiz lake before entering the mud baths. You will see the famous tombs of Caunos as you approach the Iztuzu coast which is the breeding place for the Caretta (sea tortoises) in the region where you will have a short rest on the golden sands before heading for the thermal spar which is believed to help skin disorders and rheumatism.
All in all an excellent place to spend some time and explore Turkey, something for everyone.
Only 20 mins from Bodrum airport, sitting on top of mountains, Flamingo Country Club caters for the discerning traveller.
www.flamingo-country-club.com/
Hotel Poem is a lovely, economical boutique hotel in the heart of Sultanahmet.
I think it's ideal for people travelling on a middling budget who would like comfort, cleanliness, character, charm and location without breaking the bank. People who prefer five-star luxury and facilities should expect to pay accordingly and would do better at the nearby Four Seasons (the ab fab refurbished prison in which Midnight Express was set).
The Hotel Poem however is set in a refurbished traditional 19th century Ottoman house. It's located in a quiet side street just off a characterful road lined with many shops, restaurants, cafes and bars. A few doors down from the hotel there is a wonderful traditional bakery - the smell of fresh bread is gorgeous and the taste even better.
It's a very short walk away from all the main sites (Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar etc) & handy for the city hop-on-off tour bus stop. The Poem is just around the corner from the Fez bus office (if you happen to be hopping on and off buses all around Turkey).
The Poem is a quiet oasis from the bustling city. It has a shady little garden terrace where you can eat a decent buffet breakfast or sit with a drink. There's also a lovely roof terrace that looks out to the nearby sea - great for catching the breeze with a cold drink on a hot summer evening.
The 17 rooms are named after traditional Turkish poems rather than numbered. I was travelling with two others and noted the rooms varied in size from large with balcony to a bit small and cramped - our bathroom was very small but everything was clean and worked fine.
Overall the Hotel Poem had everything we needed. It was charming, comfortable and clean, the staff were hospitable and the location fantastic. I would stay there again and recommend it as a great base from which to visit the exciting city of Istanbul.
www.hotelpoem.com
By Post: Akbıyık Caddesi, Terbıyık Sokak No:12, Sultanahmet 34400 İstanbul, Turkey
By Telephone
+90.212.638 97 44
+90.212.638 95 53
+90.212.458 17 92
info@hotelpoem.com, hotelpoem@superonline.com
The hotel's website says: The distance between Poem Hotel and the Ataturk International Airport is 18 kilometres (a 20 minute drive).
When you exit the customs area you may easily find a taxi since drivers are waiting outside of the arrival floor. If you ordered a pick-up service you will meet us at the exit of the customs area. If you experience any problem please dial 24 hours 0090 (212) 638 97 44 to contact our reception.
Great accomodation in central Tehran and superb food.
The Grand Onder is just minutes from the centre of Kusadasi-it's not modern but clean, with polite friendly staff & the sea views are amazing. Everyone went out of their way to make sure I enjoyed my stay.
Ataturk Bul. 4.Sokak No:10 Yatlimani Karsisi
Kusadasi - Aydin - Turkey
90 256 6181690
www.onderotel.com
The Palace Hotel is in outback New South Wales. It's a truly unique pitstop for a number of reasons.
Film buffs will enjoy the fact that it was a location for 'Priscilla Queen of the Desert'.
Architecture fans will love the iconic 19th century heritage hotel with original retro interiors and murals.
Photography junkies will find plenty to shoot here.
Oh, and above all else it has a great bar and verandah for enjoying a cool beer after a hot days traveling.
www.thepalacehotelbrokenhill.com.au
227 Argent St, Broken Hill, NSW, 2880
+61 08 8088 1699
Google map: tinyurl.com/ye56yko
If hostels or huge faceless hotels aren't for you, chances are Hotel Poem will be. I stayed here last summer and the staff were so lovely to me - not only did they upgrade me to a three-bed room with views overlooking the Bosphorus, they also helped me out with my onward travels down to Selcuk. It was my first time travelling alone and they really made me feel welcome - in fact when I arrived at around 6pm on my first day, the hotelier said 'Ah, you must be Amy. We were wondering where you'd got to.' After the madness of navigating my way through the centre of Istanbul, it was a great relief to step into this homely hidden-away hotel and be welcomed like an old friend.
Smiles go a long way, but so does a good breakfast - especially when you're travelling on a budget. At Hotel Poem, you start your day with a help-yourself affair on a terrace hidden in the trees. Food was traditionally Turkish - and plates were piled high with tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, eggs, bread and cake.
Lastly, there was the free-to-use computer in the lobby. Here, with the help of the reception staff, I mastered the Turkish keyboard, booked a bus to Izmir, and made contact with the Istanbul couchsurfing group - a really great bunch of people who meet every week.
For all this - and a gorgeous roof terrace too - it's pretty damn good considering rates start at 45 Euros.
Hotel Poem,
Akbıyık Caddesi, Terbıyık Sokak No:12
Sultanahmet 34400 İstanbul / TURKEY
www.hotelpoem.com
Tel -
+90.212.638 97 44
+90.212.638 95 53
+90.212.458 17 92
Nearest station - Sultanahmet
Goggle map: tinyurl.com/ybab2u6
If you think Goa’s all about soulless package hotels and overcrowed beaches then think again. Reaching Agonda in the far south of Goa is like finding the holy grail – an almost deserted but absolutely beautiful beach. We stayed at Agonda White Sand in a simple but stylish en-suite wooden cottage set in a coconut grove with lots of space to chill out. And the beach was bang on our doorstep for swimming, dolphin spotting and the most amazing sunsets.
www.agondawhitesand.com/
Agonda Beach, near Palolem, South Goa
Google map: tinyurl.com/y9ekh9y
90 minutes drive from Goa airport, 20 minutes drive from Canacona train station
- Stay at the ITC Grand Central (although it's kind of removed) in the Towers. You can use Starwood points
- Check out the Ellora Caves on Elephanta Island
- Buy a Thailand Tatler
- Stop by Dhobi Ghat. Be prepared for some interactions
- See Haji Ali Dargah
- Go next door to the Mahalaxmi Temple (and bring socks)
- Shop at Bombay Electric if you want fashionable clothing and price is no object
- Lunch at Not Just Jazz by the Bay
- Enjoy evening cocktails on the deck of The Intercontinental
- Visit the Jain temple near Malabar Hill
Thailand Tatler:
www.thailandtatler.com/2010/03/index.html
ITC Grand Central:
www.starwoodhotels.com/luxury/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1540
Bombay Electric:
www.bombayelectric.in/
Not Just Jazz by the Bay:
www.mars-world.com/restaurants/jbb.html
Intercontinental Hotel
www.ichotelsgroup.com/
Information on many of the tourist spots is available on Wikipedia:
www.wikipedia.org
Its an eight-bedroomed boutique hotel in a quiet residential road just a minute's walk from the lovely seafront, and a brisk walk to Gunwharf Quays for shopping. I've stayed at The Clarence on two occassisons and it just gets better and better. The first time I stayed in the Luella Cherry Room with massive whirlpool bath complete with a TV in the bathroom. Stayed again last week in the Wild at Heart Room which has a bath in the room so Hubby and I can chat even when I'm lounging in the bath! The service is top notch with room service 24 hours a day and a breakfast menu that is the best I've ever seen - so much choice. And the best thing? No children allowed so it's an adult's haven from other people's 'little darlings'
Clarence Road, Southsea, Portsmouth, PO5 2LQ www.theclarencehotel.co.uk
Google map: tinyurl.com/ye8cjrm
It's a cosy holiday cottage for two converted from a former hayloft. It's next to the owners' home and is full of character. The cottage has extras like home made muffins, and a bottle of wine. As well as nice big towels you also have cosy dressing gowns to relax in, and a selection of films to watch, or books to read after your day out walking, at the beach or sight seeing. A great place to visit whether you come by car or public transport.
www.windchimeshayloft.com
Croft Lodge Lower Warberry Rd Torquay South Devon TQ1 1QP
+44 (0)1803 297695
Google map: tinyurl.com/ydrwc6c
A lovingly restored inn run by the owner. We slept in a dug out cave which allows the room to be cool in summer and warm in winter (with a reverse cycle air conditioner to help after a long day's adventure - just in case.) The room itself and bathroom were more than comfortable, while being unique, with shelves dug into the rock. The local knowledge and recommendations on what to do and see around Cappadocia were easily discussed and organised in advance and on the spare moment. If you arrive later in the evening a tasty dinner is served by friendly locals at Ziggy's Shoppe and Cafe, a ten minute walk from the hotel.
Organised tours from the hotel can be arranged, from being collected at 6am in the morning to go hot air ballooning over the spectacular landscape, or being driven around in a yellow taxi all day visiting underground cities and walking down Ihlara Valley with cliffs steeped in history and the churches to prove it (thankfully our driver met us at the end where he allowed me to indulge in a refreshing Efes and seafood lunch). Otherwise brave the local bus service to take you to Pigeon valley (they will all smile with you on local transport) and visit the pigeon houses or walk on an old Troglodyte track (be wary of some cliff faces - don't try and be brave - find another path). Of course do some shopping in the town centre of Urgup (buy a Turkish carpet), visit Goreme and make sure you see the outdoor museum after walking a few miles down one of the many valley's!
If you are attracted to Cappadocia, check out Esbelli Evi as I remember very fondly the staff, the brilliantly restored old cave and the friends I made with fellow tourists. I can't recommend it highly enough for families, couples, singles, groups of friends and adventurers alike! ENJOY!
www.esbelli.com
Esbelli Sokak, 8 (P.K. 2) 50400
Ürgüp, Cappadocia, Turkey
Phone: +90 (384) 341-3395
Fly Turkish airways from Istanbul - A taxi will pick you up from the airport.
If you are looking for a hotel in Birmingham, try these folk. Credit where its due these chaps know what they are doing. It's not often I'm driven to write a complimentary review but this case deserves it. The website is so simple to use and the telephone service was great, I'm happy book with them again and have already recommended them to friends.
www.birminghamhotels.uk.com
Tel: 0845 644 2283
A hostel where you can sleep in a treehouse. What further recommendation does it need? (Although despite our initial treehouse enthusiasm, we opted for the far more luxurious looking chalets.) Breakfast and dinner are included, and the bar is great (candles, cushions, cat, G&T sundowner).
The beach is a short walk away through wooded ancient ruins, and it's just the perfect place to relax. Enjoy!
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