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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
A rough and ready bar with good beer and good wholesome food where everyone REALLY likes a drink. The locals were very friendly with a great sense of humour. The smokers area outside has a sign that says "Lepers" on it. The main entrance to the bar has a life-size ceramic guide-dog for collecting coin contributions which is wearing dark glasses and a beret. The bar has a large sign behind it which says "Beer - helping ugly people have sex since ... " A guy with almost no teeth but a beaming smile (who could barely speak) was positioned in front of the sign by his mates as a prime example for us to take his picture. I wanted to attach it as I think you would enjoy it as it gives a good flavour of how much fun this bar is.
Finally, in the offsales/carry out shop we watched an old man buy two bottles of whiskey ("What's the strongest you've got?") one for him and one for his dog; and then empty one over his dog ("Get's rid of the ticks!") The whole experience was wonderful. On the second occasion that we visited the Cow Bay Hotel a cassowary walked through the car park - amazing.
Lot 458 / Baileys Creek Rd | Cow Bay, Cape Tribulation 4873, Australia
Google map: tinyurl.com/yk5fnep
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
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.
Wedged between the end of the scenic 4WD Bloomfield Track and Cooktown, sits the Lion's Den Hotel. An oasis to travellers in Australia seeking the path less travelled.
Wake up to the raucous, undisciplined laughter of Kookaburras and share the outback with an assortment of other Australian fauna.
The atmospheric bar serves excellent meals and good beer and is the ideal place to rejuvenate after crossing the Bloomfiend track. Exchange tips with other travellers before continuing your journey up into Cooktown and the untouched and unspoilt Cape York Peninsula.
Rooms are very basic but clean and comfortable. Showers and toilets are shared.
See the website for how to get there. www.lionsdenhotel.com.au
Tel. +61 (0) 7 4060 3911
Google map: tinyurl.com/yf5gvap
The Prairie Hotel is a fabulous outback pub. In fact it is an all singing all dancing outback event these days. Wikipedia says that Parachilna, where you will find the Prairie Hotel, 'was once a town' and the highlight of an evening there is watching the train roll through town. That gives you a flavour of the place.
I have not been there for a while but I have heard it has gone from strength to strength. I first came across it on a trip to Wilpena pound and before the hotel was doing any real advertising let alone had a website. We stumbled across it and after a few days of hiking and camping it was an oasis of hospitality and sexy bikers. I have very fond memories and I think even a photo or two of tearing off on the back of a Harley down a long straight stretch of outback road with my hair streaming in the wind. The days of my youth! I had the t-shirt for many years to bring me fond reminders as I was working out on the treadmill in city centre London.
Corner of High Street and West Terrace, Parachilna, South Australia 5730
Google map: tinyurl.com/y976jn6
Ph: (8) 86484844
www.prairiehotel.com.au/homepage.htm
There is a station in Parachilna whether the train stops there or not I dont know. I believe the famous Khan runs through.
Although you absolutely must stay in a cave hotel when in Cappadocia, there are far too many to choose from these days and seemingly not much to separate them. We can vouch for The Kelebek however. Our room was exceptionally cosy, even in deepest darkest November. Staff were magnificent, often going above and beyond the call of duty. On our final morning they presented us with freshly cooked borek and cans of juice at 5am - way before breakfast! It's within walking distance of the Goreme Open Air Museum, a must-see, and the sunny terraces afford breathtaking views of the famed landscape. If you're too broke/chicken to take a hot air balloon ride, do at least make the effort to get up at dawn and you will be rewarded with the most magical sight of 20 plus balloons in flight. Doubles from €45 per night, with breakfast.
www.kelebekhotel.com
Aydinli Mahallesi, Yavuz Sokak No:1
50180 Goreme, Nevsehir, TURKEY
+90 (384) 271 2531
I never wanted to leave Casa Colvale. A large house turned into a boutique hotel, you feel like you're staying at a fabulous friend's estate.
I cherished my riverside meals on the deck: the chef prepares dishes to order and the scene is unparalleled. Loved the live sitar players.
I never grew bored: the owner and staff were outgoing and the property offered multiple activities, including canoe rides, speedboat trips to nearby beaches, spa treatments, fishing, etc.
I especially enjoyed how conducive this property is to meeting other people.
Super-friendly owner and staff.
www.casacolvale.com/home.html
+91 9960605416/ +91 8322416737
Google map: tinyurl.com/yhu5aq2
The Missoni is the newest five-star hotel in Edinburgh and after spending a weekend there I have to say it is one of the most impressive.
You get a fantastic location for touring Edinburgh, it's in the middle of the Royal Mile a few minutes from the castle and about a 15 min walk from Princes Street.
The hotel is unlike other five-star propertys in that you get a lot of things free. These include unlimited movies, free wireless internet and a free minibar.
The staff were great, room was comfortable and all in all a great place to stay in Edinburgh.
www.hotelmissoni.com/
1 George IV Bridge, EH1 AD
+44 131 220 6666
Google map: tinyurl.com/yfzvvml
Dar Azawad has been our last hotel in Morocco and a good experience too.
We spent three days there before our flight back. At the border of the desert in a nice palm grove oasis, this hotel with the architectural style of a kasbah, offers quite good service and the nicest food in the area. (We tried two other Kasbahs’ restaurants in the area and the quality of the meal and service was very poor.)
Our room was in a bungalow in a beautiful garden full of birds and with a large swimming pool and, despite the lack of originality, spotless and with large beds: we slept very well. The French manager has done his best to provide English information about excursions, restaurants and directions.
All together a nice souvenir, but it’s a pity that the local authorities do not care about the rubbish on the public areas.
www.darazawad.com/
Douar Ouled Driss BP16
M'hamid, Zagora, Maroc
Tél.: 00212 (0)5 24 84 87 30
Hotel right in middle of Manhatten, just a stone's throw from Grand Central Station.
Would class it as a three/three-star plus hotel and maybe a little tired around edges. However at £70 a night, this was great value for NY.
Look around at the various accommodation websites and you'll see a big difference in price for this hotel from £140 to £70 per night.
We used Expedia as it was the cheapest.
45 East 45th St. At Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.theroosevelthotel.com/
The Bell is a recently-renovated historic hotel on the banks of the River Stour in the beautiful medieval town of Sandwich.
The rooms are comfortable, the service is excellent and the food is outstanding with lots of local fish and seafood and Kent wine.
The renovation has been done sensitively. Although there are lots of modern touches, many original features have been revealed including high ceilings, stained glass and parquet floors.
It's less than two hours drive from London and great value for money.
www.101shortbreaks.co.uk/bell-hotel-sandwich/
www.bellhotelsandwich.co.uk/
The Quay, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9EF
Tel: +44(0) 1304 613 388
Google map: tinyurl.com/yhhp3bj
Part of a small chain of genuinely eco-friendly boutique hotels, this doesn't stint on quality, from the toiletries to the bed linen and the sumptuous, cheese-tastic organic breakfasts.
hotelguldsmeden.com/axel/english/
Axel is one of three Guldsmeden hotels in Vestrobro, a 10-min walk west of Copenhagen's central station.
Helgolandsgade 11
DK-1653 København V
Phone: +45 33 31 32 66
Google map: tinyurl.com/yhc8eho
Beautifully designed hotel in the city centre. Stayed there earlier this year - it's designed along the lines of a monastery and is a peaceful and stylish hotel to be in. Great pool, interesting library, lovely rooms and lots of open spaces for sitting around, lounging. It's quite small, about 20 rooms or something so is very quiet and calm.
www.rachamankha.com
6 Rachamankha 9, Phra Singh, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand.
Tel: 66-0-5390-4111
Google map: tinyurl.com/yadq5wm
A charming four-star hotel on the R44 in the Stellenbosch Winelands. We were impressed with the quaint Oregon style. The swimming pool has a magnificent view on the Stellenbosch Mountains. The service was good old fashioned hospitality and the food was great home cooking. Definately a home from Home experience.
25 Canterbury Lane, Blaauwklippen Village, Stellenbosch.
www.stblodge.co.za
+2721 8880100
Google map: tinyurl.com/y9yrlzw
This upmarket Cape Town Hotel, spa and restaurant offers uninterrupted sea views of the Atlantic Ocean and is positioned beneath the slopes of the Twelve Apostles mountain range on the Cape peninsula amidst a backdrop of unspoilt fynbos vegetation. The Twelve Apostles Hotel has no immediate neighbours yet is less than a 30 minute drive from the heart of bustling Cape Town along one of this coast's most scenic roads.
The location caters for those seeking tranquillity and offers every comfort including five star facilities and a private cinema for after dinner screenings. Besides the Leopard Room bar, popular for sunset cocktails and an envious collection of vodka and port, a café offering light meals, or the option of afternoon tea, the main draw card is the Azure Restaurant which promotes cape-fusion cuisine utilising indigenous plants known as fynbos, herbs, seasonal ingredients and local seafood. It also offers visitors the opportunity to sample pickled fish, incorporating Cape Malay style cooking, a favourite of the BoKaap. It has won acclaim as one of the best places to stay in the world and is on the Conde Nast Traveller Gold list for 2010.
The view of the ocean, Lion's Head and the craggy Twelve Apostles to the rear in wild surroundings makes this luxurious establishment well worth a visit.
www.12apostleshotel.com
+27 (0) 21 437 9000
Victoria Road, Camps Bay, Cape Town, South Africa
Steeped in history dating to Simon van der Stel's era, this working wine estate is set in the fertile Constantia valley. Once the bread-basket supplying the former emerging settlement now it is only a twenty minute drive from the urban centre of Cape Town. Still holding its rural charm it offers the choice of three restaurants, hotel accommodation, spa facilities and a cricket oval as well as wine tastings seven days a week. History buffs and green-fingered enthusiasts can opt for tours of this restored and popular homestead and gardens. There is a selection of brandies and olive oils for sale in the wine shop as well as advice on food and wine pairing.
The recently revamped River Café offers a menu of affordable seasonal produce from Uitsig's own organic garden which is accompanied with specially sourced home-made breads, meats and cheeses. Understated and relaxed this bistro is open for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea throughout the year bar New Year's day.
La Colombe is the winner of numerous awards for both its service and predominately French cuisine but also offers diners a selection of Asian- inspired dishes. The estate's selection of prestigious wines only heighten the experience of fine dining.
Situated in the original manor house on the estate, The Constantia Uitsig restaurant focuses mainly on rustic Italian favourites for lunch and dinner. The best quality ingredients are used and this heartfelt approach adds to the convivial ambience.
With the option of three restaurants, fine wine, stunning scenery and a slice of Cape history this dining experience fails to disappoint.
www.constantia-uitsig.com
rivercafe@uitsig.co.za
+ 27 (0) 21 794 6500
Constantia Uitsig, Spaanschemat River Road, Constantia, Cape Town, South Africa
Google map: tinyurl.com/yeqldvb
New boutique hotel in Bath. Stayed here on their opening weekend for Valentines weekend and in the main was thoroughly impressed. Great central location.
The Halcyon, 2/3 South Parade, Bath BA2 4AA
T +44 (0) 1225 444 100
www.thehalcyon.com
Google map: tinyurl.com/yby26r5
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