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I'd recommend the Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset West, Cape Town any day.
I was blown away by the beautiful setting. The hotel has large garden with exotic plants in front of the mountain and it's very close to vineyards and the sea. The local people came for a stroll on the beach on Sunday afternoon without any shoes on! It was fantastic to do the same too. Nobody seemed to care.
The food was great and the most of them all, biscuits and cakes were wonderful. They looked the same as ours but tasted so different. I had to buy the SA cookery book on baking!
I'm dreaming of visiting there again...
www.nh-hotels.co.za/lordcharles/index.php
Corner Faure & Stellenbosch Roads
Somerset West, 7130, Cape Town, South Africa
Tel No: (021) 855 1040
Friends from London were visiting and wanted to get away from it all so we all booked in at Two Bridges Hotel right smack bang in the middle of The National Park Dartmoor. It is an old coaching inn recently refurbished and stunning! All the old world charm you want but up-to-date facilities that we all want these days. Food better than any three-star place I have been to, obviously keen on local produce and using Dartmoor Farmers Beef. We upgraded to a room with four poster bed and spa bath which was great after a days walking. The log fires and own brewed Jail Ale was a great way to relax with friends. The friendly receptionist did offer us a tour of their brewery but we did not have the time perhaps another day. We will certainly be back.
www.twobridges.co.uk
Two Bridges, Dartmoor, Devon, PL20 6SW
01822 890581
Train Station Plymouth or Exeter so easy trip from London.
Google map: tinyurl.com/yg7anul
Hotel Chain Toyoko Inns provides over 200 budget hotels throughout Japan. They're cleaned daily, include en-suite, breakfast, cost around £50.00 for a twin/double room per night.
An absolute pleasure! If you are looking for affordable/mid-range accomodation in Paris, Le Manufacture certainly is that. After sitting on the internet for ages trying to find suitable accomodation in Paris, I found La Manufacture - it looked greated and I couldnt believe the price (80 euro for a double room). It was also just outside of the main tourist hub, so it was quieter and cheaper. Friendly and helpful staff, immaculate room, fantastically located. Don't bother staying anywhere else!
8 Rue Philippe de Champagne 75013
+33 (0) 1 45 35 45 25
www.hotel-la-manufacture.com/
Google map: bit.ly/l0SxKy
It is a great accommodation, a warm, cosy and little hotel, with chairs and tables on the patio in summer. It is situated in the center of the city with easy acces by bus from the station, or walking even, to many places, like the cathedral, Raathuse and old city, or museums. The breakfast is fantastic and the room was classic but charmy.
It is worthwhile paying the price.
www.hotelguldsmeden.com/home/
Google map: tinyurl.com/y9rcqdc
The Omena Hotel chain has done away with human staff. You just turn up, punch your reservation into the computer terminal at the door and are given a room number and access code.
You can even reserve a room on the computer if you haven't done so beforehand. For about 60 - 70 euros you get a modern room with widescreen TV, microwave, fridge and free wifi.
There are two in Tampere - the nearest one to the train station is Tampere II.
www.omenahotels.com/
Google map: tinyurl.com/yclmftw
We had a great time in San Gimignano at L'Antico Pozzo, a truly beautiful place with wonderful Italian hospitality which exceeded our expectations. We found a serene atmosphere with relaxing and welcoming people, just the peaceful break we were looking for in our trip. We also had really pleasant conversation with Ema which gave us an authentic point of view of Tuscan culture and way of life, including special tips on how to find non touristy places and restaurants.
The buffet in the morning was delicious and it was always very hard to leave the cozy terrace while listening to someone practising harp somewhere nearby. We could have stayed there forever.
Our room was perfect - air conditioning and wi-fi worked like a charm.
A lovely hotel that really captures the charm and magic of this timeless village.
We love it!
Via S.Matteo 87, San Gimignano
www.anticopozzo.com
+390577942014
Google map: tinyurl.com/yl3bnre
It's a really nice place in Trastevere, and that's one of the best places to crash anyway. I've always liked it because it's where the locals chill and it's cool to get away from the usual tourist traps. The food in this area is really good and I know lots of Italians eat here too. Plus it's pretty and super easy to walk all over from here and not hassle with buses. Since the neighbourhood is so nice the roofdeck was super sweet to hang out on and bust out the local wine on. We can't get that quality back home and it was a great atmosphere to sample and enjoy that in without paying for a restaurant or bar. Plus the staff were made up of some of the most fantastic people and they were helpful explaining the general area and letting us know where to eat This was definitely a find, and a perfect compliment to a perfect trip.
Via Iacopa de' Settesoli 7 in Trastevere.
www.hotelsanfrancesco.net/
Great little hotel in the middle of the Old City. Not at all fancy, but clean, comfortable, and friendly. Rate was US$125.00 per night - outstanding for Switzerland. Has a small bar, but no restaurant. It does offer a breakfast buffet, but at US$18 per person a little expensive. We went to a little bakery just three doors down, where we had great coffee and pastries.
www.baslertor.ch
info@baslertor.ch
Pfistergasse 17, CH-6003 Lucerne
5 minute walk from Luzer railway station.
Google map: tinyurl.com/yl432cd
Ormelune hotel is the former Mercure in Val d'Isere. It has been entirely renovated. It's a totally different hotel now, proposing 46 rooms reflecting modernity and coolness. The slogan could be: don't take life too seriously.
Four artists including JonOne have created four cows: the cow parade as they call it, to remember we are in the mountains.
There is also a game to win a free upgrade on the website.
Hotel Ormelune
rue Noël Machet
73150 Val d’isère
France
Tel. +33 (0)4 79 06 12 93
Fax. +33 (0)4 79 41 11 12
info@ormelune.com
ormelune.com/
Continuing on my recent trip, after Forte Dei Marmi I went to grand old Florence itself and enjoyed a stellar stay at Palazzo Vecchieti. Old time deluxe service with a butler no less was perfectly coupled with modern comforts and attention to style and design. Decor may not be the selling point in many accommodations, but here it really pops out and grabs you. The cool chic modern vibe is in perfect contrast to the area itself and really enticing to those with an eye for design. Enough about aesthetics, the idea of having butler service is just so unique that it's almost worth experiencing for its own sake. Aside from that the location in the Signoria Square is absolutely ideal and is perfect for anyone making their way about on foot... or anyone who wants to save time on buses and money on taxis. Definitely a great find.
www.italiancollection.com/en/palazzo-vecchietti.html
A link with pics and the address, booked through the same trustworthy company that got me great digs at Forte dei Marmi.
Il Negresco is a lovely hotel boasting sea views and much more, as well as cuisine samples. It proved to be true and we ate very well. The view is just magic, and Forte Dei Marmi is sort of the new destination. Where more locals go, learn it, live it, love it!
Lungomare Italico, 82 - 55042 Forte dei Marmi (LU)
www.italiancollection.com/en/hotel-il-negresco-forte-dei-marmi.html
This boutique hotel will make you feel at the paradise doorstep. Amid the Atlantic rain forest and the ocean, it is the ideal place to relax while getting to see some of the Brazil's best landscapes: the Sao Paulo north coast.
There is a lot of to do nearby in terms of eco tourism and it's close to breath taking deserter beaches.
The hotel also have a superb restaurant. Ideal for couple and those arriving or leaving the country as it is only a couple of hours from the Sao Paulo international airport.
Days Inn Key West is a fairly priced and well kept property, a positive surprise when you are traveling on a budget to find a nice place to stay. Not a luxury accommodation, but cheap rates compared to most accommodations in Key West and value for the money.
discount.deskbell.com/hotel/10022611-10000399O.html
3852 Roosevelt Boulevard
Classic elegant old building in good location. Traditional style décor with dark wood paneling. Comfortable rooms with old-fashioned furniture. Atrium style banquet hall. Wood-paneled, atmospheric brasserie offering traditional Danish cooking.
Vester Voldgade 25,www.hotelsresidences.com/denmark-danimarca-danmark-copenhagen-c-17_18.html
What could be more romantic than whisking your loved one off to romp in the same lavish four poster bed used by Hugh Grant and Andie McDowell in Four Weddings and a Funeral? With timber beams and open log fires, the Crown Hotel in Amersham is a perfect retreat for a romantic weekend.
The hotel's Queen Elizabeth Suite, complete with four poster bed, was used for the filming of the duo's love scenes at the fictious "The Boatman Inn", while exterior shots were filmed at the Kings Arms just down the road.
The room is actually an individual suite separate from the main hotel block, crammed with gorgeous antiques and lovely touches which would amuse any film buff (was the copy of "Horse and Hounds" put there deliberately?).
The restaurant was charming, serving delicious food, and you could see where all the action was filmed in the bar. When you tire of Hugh Grant, the Chiltern Hills are just a short distance away for a romantic, bracing walk.
The Crown Inn, 16 High Street, Amersham, Bucks HP7 0DH
t +44 (0) 1494 721 541
f +44 (0) 1494 431 283
The only boutique hotel in Sacramento.
Totally remodeled in 2008 and design by Dan Friedlander (limn.com), this 50's era motel has been tranformed into a unique lodging with European furnishings, private pool, internet and personal service.
Great value: rooms start at $100.
1700 del paso blvd. Sacramento 95815
A comfortable hotel with modern rooms in an old building. The buffet breakfast was good with a large selection and the reception staff was friendly and spoke good English. Good location for sightseeing and there are also lots of restaurants in the streets behind the hotel where we had an evening meal. I think rooms are just under €100 for a double.
c/ Preciados 37
Madrid
It's a bit out of the way, being down by Grant's Park but the Blackstone is a lovely boutique hotel - it steps you back in time (founded in 1910) but has a really modern interior. Bright stripy carpets and massive chandeliers. Our room had a great view over the lake and the gym was a welcome air-con relief from jogging in the overpowering humidity.
Downstairs there was a gorgeous tapas restaurant which served an amazing fig and prosciutto salad - perfect after all those deep pan Chicago pizzas.
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