hotel.info- Check and Book Travel Blog

The Ultimate Hotel Guide to Cooking in Your Hotel Room

Daniel Peaslee — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:10:32 +0000

Plug in the iron and break out the complimentary shower cap

We teamed up with chef Nicola Whistle, of the Secret Restaurant, to hack hotel room food and cook up some delicious dishes in our room. Simply stock up on supplies at the market and take advantage of unconventional cooking tools found in your hotel room.

Check out our recipe hacks for down home hotel room cooking!

Be sure to tweet your hotel room cooking tips using the #ultimatehotelguide hashtag from @hotelinfo_EN on Twitter or leave us a comment below.

Breakfast in your hotel room

Make sure the shower cap is not in the shower when preparing this delicious and healthy smart start breakfast. Poaching the eggs in the kettle for about 3-5 minutes results in perfectly poached egg. Add a bit of olive oil into the shower cap or cling film before breaking the egg in for an easy transfer to your plate.

Hats off to Suzanne of The Travel Bunny how poached the most perfect egg of the day.

Lunch in your hotel room

Who doesn’t love a cheese toasty? This one is a real crowd pleaser and it’s so simple to make. Let your cheese toasty imagination take over and include anything and everything left over from the breakfast buffet; including but not limited to jams, hams and clams. Have fun!

Dinner in your hotel room

Turn up the romantic charm factor by cooking dinner in the room and dining by candlelight. Your hotels’ TV can provide romantic background music, which is sure to melt hearts just as this steak dinner will melt in your mouth.

Take your steak to the next level and adding a ginger soy mixture to the irons’ steamer to infuse your steak with flavor.
Many thanks to Ashley of Amsterdam Blog for stepping in and cooking some tasty steaks!

Dessert in your hotel room

This dish is so easy you’ll want to take it home after check-out. Spoil your sweet tooth by adding in any one of the liqueurs offered in the mini-bar and topping with lots of pillow chocolates.

**Please note; we advise checking with any hotel safety regulations before using appliances to cook in the room**

David Tennant Chosen as Top Bed-Buddy by Doctor Who Fans

Rodney Perez — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 08:00:07 +0000

You blinked, we deliver!

Easter Saturday will see the return of the Doctor and his brand-new companion, soufflé-loving and former Dalek , Clara, to British tellies. To celebrate this, we went on to find out which of the doctor’s incarnations (and their companions) our customers would most like to wake up next to.
Here the results:

Top Five Bed-Buddy Doctors:

1. David Tennant (10th Doctor)
2. Matt Smith (11th Doctor)
3. Christopher Eccleston (9th Doctor)
4. Tom Baker (4th Doctor)
5. Paul McGann (8th Doctor)

Captain Jack Harkness (played by John Barrowman) took the top spot as the favorite hotel room companion with 17% saying they would like to wake up next to the flirtatious 51st century time traveller. Red-headed bombshell Amy Pond (played by Karen Gillen) followed Captain Harkness in a list which also features K-9, a robotic dog that one in twenty of us would welcome waking up next to and the “impossible girl”, Clara, who made the top five after having appeared in just two episodes since being introduced.

Top Five Hotel Room Companions:

1. Jack Harkness (John Barrowman)
2. Amy Pond (Karen Gillan)
3. River Song (Alex Kingston)
4. Rose Tyler (Billie Piper)
5. Clara Oswin Oswald (Jenna-Louise Coleman)

And bringing the Scottish dominance to an end* – both Tennant and Gillian are Scots while Barrowman is half-Scottish – are the famous but spooky Weeping Angels who beat the popular Daleks to claim top honours as the least wanted room service clerks.

Five Room Service Villains Least Welcome:

1. The Weeping Angels
2. Daleks
3. The Silence
4. Cybermen
5. The Master

The winners of the contest have been contacted and will soon be enjoying the following prizes:

Family ticket to the Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff

Family Ticket to the Cardiff Doctor Who Walking Tour

A two-night stay at the Cardiff Max Serviced Apartments for two adults and a child

* It is still unclear where the Weeping Angels come from but it is presumed they are not Scottish.

Hotel Staff Friendliness and Service in the UK

Daniel Peaslee — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:31:41 +0000

What were you expecting to see in a Torquay Hotel?

A friendly and professional service team can greatly influence a guests’ opinion of their stay and ultimately their review. Guests are usually willing to overlook minor shortcomings if the service staff are willing to go above and beyond the call of duty.

An analysis of hotel.info user guest ratings provides an insight into the level of satisfaction our guests experience when visiting hotels in the United Kingdom, as well as showcasing the destinations in which the highest service standards can be found throughout the nation.

• Sheffield tops the list for UK hotel service

• Torquay makes top 5 list for the first time

The survey analysed the post-stay reviews of over 25,000 hotel guests to reveal the best and worst service levels across the UK based on friendliness and staff competence.

CITY	SCORE
Sheffield	8.46
Norwich	8.39
Leeds	8.29
York	8.24
Torquay	8.21
Belfast	8.17
Edinburgh	8
Newcastle	7.9
Bath	7.9
Cardiff	7.89
Glasgow	7.89
Liverpool	7.87
Aberdeen	7.82
Cambridge	7.75
Oxford	7.74
Manchester	7.69
Southampton	7.63
Nottingham	7.53
Portsmouth	7.5
Brighton	7.42
Birmingham	7.41
Plymouth	7.36
London	7.36
Leicester	7.29
Bristol	7.09

Not so Fawlty Torquay Hotels

Nearly 40 years have come and gone since the English Riviera was last in the hotel limelight. Our latest Service Quality Survey has revealed that the British seaside favourite of Torquay makes it into fifth position for service quality levels nationally. Fawlty Towers gave Torquay a less-than-positive image of service quality with cream being poured over a guest’s head and rats in the restaurant.

We spoke with Adam Millward, propiertor of The Somerville Hotel in Torquay to see how far his hotel has come in wiping the slate clean of Basil’s blunders.

Tell us a little about the history of the Somerville.

The Somerville has probably been trading continuously since the 1920’s. By the time we bought it in 2004 it was very near the end of the road. Chronic lack of investment meant that the fabric of the building was extremely poor and the business had dwindled to contractors, sporting groups and stag and hen parties. A relentless policy of improvement and investment has seen our business claw its way up through the grading structure from being ungraded to now being Five Star with an additional Gold award. The result is a very unique small vibrant hotel with excellent levels of business. We have now been graded at our current level for quite a few years and have won awards such as Devon B&B of the Year 2010/12/13 as well as B&B of the Year for the whole of The South West in 2011 and more recently Silver in 2013.

What’s the nicest thing a customer has ever said about your hotel?

Our reviews are an indication of the comments we receive about our business. Each one spurs us on to be even better and to deliver something new each time a guest returns to us. We actively solicit comments from guests to help us shape future developments and ensure that we are continuing to meet the needs of all of our visitors. Essentially, the best comment we get from our guests is “We’ll be back…”

What’s the strangest request you have ever had?

“Please cover all the mirrors in the room and ensuite” is probably the strangest. There was a very genuine reason for it and we were happy to do it. You need to be adaptable to meet the needs of the guests who come through your door.

Why should potential customers choose The Somerville?

• We offer unique and individual luxury accommodation with friendly, unfussy but attentive service.

• We see it as part of our responsibility to help guest plan all aspects of their visit and have comprehensive information on the local area as well as our very own eating out guide.

• We are located in one of the most beautiful parts of the country.

• Our rates are extremely competitive. And we always have special offers and late deals.

• We strive to run an ethical, sustainable tourism business which makes the very most of local suppliers.

When is it best to visit your hotel?

Because the seasons in Britain vary so much, there is a reason to visit The Somerville and Torquay at all times of the year. In the spring months, the days have drawn out and the weather can be remarkably mild and yet the area is comparatively un-crowded. In the summer months, hot sunny days, beautiful beaches and big blue skies can make your spirits sore. Autumn days can be wonderfully warm when other parts of the country have long since let go of summer. (Mid September is also when the award winning Agatha Christie festival takes place). In the winter, still sparkling days make walks along the seafront or cliff paths a pure joy.

For more information on the Somerville and to book click here.

Let’s do the Harlem Shake! – Win Hotel Stays in Rome, Paris, Barcelona and more!

Rodney Perez — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:00:18 +0000

We’ve all been looking for an excuse to do a Harlem Shake video. How about a trip to Rome, Rio de Janeiro or Barcelona as motivation?

Hotel.info is giving away hotel stays in these amazing cities and more. All you have to do is “do the Harlem Shake” in your hotel room or bedroom and share it with the hotel.info community.

We are offering three spectacular prizes to the best three videos:

First prize:

3 vouchers for two nights, two adults and breakfast included at each of these wonderful hotels:

a. Paris – Hi Matic Hotel
b. Hamburg – Relexa Hotel Bellevue
c. Barcelona – Ayre Hotel Caspe

Second Prize:

2 vouchers for two nights, two adults and breakfast included at these great European locations:

a. Valencia – Ayre Hotel Astoria Palace
b. Hamburg – Relexa Hotel Bellevue Hamburg

Third Prize:

One voucher for two nights, two adults and breakfast included in one of these two world metropolis:

a. Rome – Duke Hotel
b. Rio de Janeiro – Copacabana Rio Hotel

What you have to do?

1. Film your Harlem Shake video in a hotel room or in your own bedroom. The funnier the better (Please, keep your clothes on. There might be children watching!)

2. Upload it to your favorite video sharing site, such as youtube or dailymotion, or directly to our facebook page.

3. Share the video with the hotel.info community. Embed it onto our hotel.info facebook wall and let the voting begin! The three videos with the most likes win!

Need some inspiration? Here are some of the best Harlem Shake videos so far:

For terms and conditions, click here.

Win Tickets to the Dr Who Experience, a 2-night Stay at the Max Serviced Apartments in Cardiff and More!

Rodney Perez — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 08:58:00 +0000

Don’t Blink!

… or else you’ll miss the amazing surprise hotel.info has prepared for you Whovians! (more “normal” folk are also invited)

What if you woke up while on vacation and as soon as you opened your eyes you saw the doctor staring at you? Or one of his companions? Or what if someone knocked on your door to bring room service and it was a weeping angel?

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the acclaimed British Science Fiction series we are offering a wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey Doctor Who Package. All you have to do is answer the questions below.

Take the survey and participate to win a Doctor Who Package consisting of:

Family ticket to the Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff

Family Ticket to the Cardiff Doctor Who Walking Tour

A two-night stay at the Cardiff Max Serviced Apartments for two adults and a child

The competition has come to an end. Click here to see the the results of our Doctor Who survey!

image credits: Rodney Perez

Top Hotels From the Movies

Daniel Peaslee — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 11:44:28 +0000

hotel.info Goes to Hollywood with these Hotel Stars

Hollywood is buzzing with Oscar fever and hotel suites are filling up with celebrities eager for their turn in the spotlight. If you want a taste of the silver screen during your next hotel stay, we have compiled a list of hotel.info hotels all playing starring roles in Hollywood blockbusters. See if you can recognise some of these hotels from the ‘silver screen’ and book a night to sleep where Matt Damon, Penelope Cruz, Daniel Craig, Scarlett Johansson or Al Pacino filmed their famous scenes.

Hotel De Paris- Monte Carlo, Monaco

Iron Man 2

You may recognise the Hotel de Paris from scenes in “Iron Man 2″ starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwenyth Paltrow and Mickey Rourke. The hotel played a prominent role in the opening of the film as race cars sped along the famous route of the Monaco Grand Prix. Located on the legendary Place du Casino, directly across the famous Casino de Monte Carlo The Hotel de Paris is the epitome of Luxury and elegance. With its two Michelin starred restaurants, the world famous Louis XV Alain Ducasse and the Grill set on the eighth floor of the hotel with magical views of the stars at night, this hotel is definitely for the connoisseurs of the finest things in life. Book the Hotel de Paris

Marriott Budapest Hotel- Budapest, Hungary

Munich

The Marriott Hotel played an important role in Spielberg’s “Munich”, where it was portrayed as a fictional hotel in London. The hotel is in fact located in the city center of Budapest near the Budapest Parliament, Buda Castle and other popular attractions. Have a drink in the hotel’s bar or wait in the lobby as Eric Bana and Daniel Craig did in the spy thriller hit. Book the Marriott Budapest Hotel

Hotel Regina- Paris, France

The Bourne Identity

Just a stone’s throw from the Louvre, the Hotel Regina played a key role in the spy thriller “The Bourne Identity”. The film is a favourite filming location for the action- thriller genre as it also appeared in Jet Li’s Kiss of the Dragon. The Hotel Regina caters to a discerning clientele, included among its guests have been many film start throughout the years. Book the Hotel Regina in Paris

New York Waldorf Astoria- New York, USA

Godfather Part III, the Royal Tenenbaums, Coming to America, Scent of a Woman, A Manhattan Love Story

The Waldorf Astoria is the granddaddy of New York filming locations. With over 30 movies filmed at the prestigious landmark hotel. Not many hotels can claim the Hollywood pedigree of the Waldorf with such films as Godfather Part III, the Royal Tenenbaums, Coming to America, Scent of a Woman A Manhattan Love Story. The renowned New York luxury hotel in midtown Manhattan offers elegant accommodations and amenities including boutiques restaurants and banquet facilities, none of which were available to Jack Lemmon in a famous scene from The Out of Towners, due to the fact his room was over-booked. As an official New York City landmark since 1993, there is little doubt why this legendary Art Deco treasure is a must location when filming in New York.

Book The Waldorf Astoria

Fontainebleau Resort- Miami Beach, USA

Scarface, Goldfinger, Dreamgirls

Say hello to our little friend the The Fountainbleau, which was used for the famous pool scene in Al Pacnio’s smash hit Scarface. The hotel has also been feature in Goldfinger, Dreamgirls, as well as an honorable mention to its use in Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach. The hotel recently underwent a 1 billion dollar renovation project preserving its status as a spectacular hotel from Miamis “Golden Era”. Book the Fountainbleau

Grand Hotel Rimini

Amarcord

The historic five-star Grand Hotel Rimini has been featured by Federico Fellini in many of his films. Fellini’s semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story Amarcord, revolves around life at the hotel in Fascist 1930′s Rimini. As a boy Fellini would dream of “la dolce vita” as he peered through the hotel gates and into the rooms of guests. The famed Italian director spent most of his life at the hotel, in recognition the hotel named his suite the Fellini suites. Book the Grand Hotel Rimini .

Melia Hotel de La Reconquista- Oviedo, Spain

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

The Hotel de la Reconquista which is classified as a National Monument played a special role in history as the ancient Hospice and Hospital of the Principality of Asturias. In cinematic history the hotel, located within a stunning 18th century building, played host to Woody Allen, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz and Scarlett Johansson for the film Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Book the Melia Hotel de La Reconquista.

The Westin Grand Berlin- Berlin, Germany

The Bourne Supremacy

Matt Damon was a guest of the Westin Grand in the role of Jason Bourne in the film The Bourne Supremacy. Not only did he check out of the hotel, this was the last of the Bourne films in which Damon appeared in the title role. The Westin Grand Berlin enjoys a prominent location directly the centre of Berlin. Newly decorated rooms face the historical Unter den Linden boulevard, which was represented in scenes of the German film Goodbye Lenin!. Book the Westin Grand Berlin.

Do you know of any other great filming locations in hotels?

Romantic Downton Abbey Hotels

Daniel Peaslee — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 16:56:34 +0000

How to live a weekend like the Crawleys of Downton Abbey

Walking down a high street shortly before Valentines day jewelry shops are filled with husbands, and boyfriends seeking that perfect last minute gift. Save the stress of last minute shopping and disappointed hearts by booking a romantic weekend getaway.

Downton Abbey, the period piece drama which follows the lives of the upstairs aristocratic Crawley family and their downstairs servants, has been one of the highest rated programmes on television, particularly with women. In the US and UK Downton Abbey mania is in full swing. Searches for the fictional manor house have increased over 100% when a new series premieres in the respective countries. Particularly in the US hotel.info has seen a spike in January of 2012 and 2013 for castle hotels and English manor house hotels to coincide with the PBS premieres of the series.

Here’s a hint gift givers; this Valentine’s Day put down that bouquet of flowers from the neighborhood petrol station and book a romantic getaway weekend to the countryside and live it up like Downton Abbey, its what your partner wants.

Whether canopy beds showered in rose petals or a luxury hot tub complete with champagne cooling bedside, certain country manor homes have the romance “know how” when it comes pleasing their guests.

Tylney Hall County House

Located in the heart of the Hampshire countryside, the Victorian hotel offers excellent dining, a health spa and historic gardens. Four-poster beds, spa baths and stunning views of the await you at Tylney Hall.

Stoke Rochford Hall

The helpful staff at The Stoke Rochford Hall rival that of Downton, ready to assist you around the clock. Relax in the hotels’ sauna and solarium, after all the both of you deserve it.

Hotel Longueville Manor

Hotel Longueville Manor is a 14th century Norman manor house which has been into transformed into one of Europe’s most celebrated hotels. Elegantly and stylishly decorated with rich, warm colours, fine antiques and fresh flowers picked daily from the Victorian kitchen and flower garden, there is a peaceful ambience which will immediately make you feel at ease.

Cotswolds House

Costwolds House Hotel is an exclusive establishment ideal to discover the natural landscapes England’s. This small establishment is perfect for romantic short trips in an exclusive and intimate atmosphere.

Stafford London by Kempinksi

Located in the heart of St James’s, The Stafford London, by Kempinski has an air of timelessness, where elegance and tradition create a haven of calm away from London’s busy streets.

More Downton Abbey hotels

This Valentine’s Day, spark the flames of romance just as Lady Mary and Matthew Crawley by booking the perfect romantic getaway.

Additional hotels can be found on hotel.info or by clicking below.

Feel free to share this post with the ones you love in the hopes of securing that well deserved romantic getaway.

[Main image via: JB + UK_Planet]

Welcome, 2013! Share your Dreams and Win the Trip of a Lifetime with idream itravel!

Rodney Perez — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 10:00:32 +0000

In 2013 our new year resolution is to help you make your dreams come true. We teamed up with the idream itravel team to find out what countries and places people dreamed of visiting and what it meant to them to make those dreams come true. The result? A 3-minute roller coaster of emotions which makes it clear that travel means being alive. Visit idream itravel and enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win the trip of a lifetime.

What you can win:

€2013 to help you kick-start your round the world trip in 2013 and 10 nights in 5 hotels in 5 of the most exciting European cities.And if you run a blog or a website, you will also have the chance to win 12 additional nights in 6 other cities. Bloggers click here to take part.

Just head over to the idream itravel to learn more.

Visiting Manchester for Football Season

Daniel Peaslee — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 14:07:40 +0000

With the start of the football season what better place to catch some Premier League action then Manchester. In Manchester, football is so popular that it is a way of life. The city boasts over 900 teams and 74 leagues, ensuring a high percentage of football fanatics. The city has two of the top teams in the country to go along with a rich football history. The Manchester United Football Club (MUFC) is based out of the Old Trafford Stadium while their rivals the Manchester City Football Club (MCFC) is based out of the Etihad Stadium. Being a major part of the city’s culture it is hard not to visit a football attraction, such as the newly opened National Football Museum when traveling to Manchester. Also worth a visit is the Etihad Stadium home of the MCFC team, which requires a small entry fee for a guided tour. While visiting the National Football Museum, you will encounter a vibrant history of the sport and will be able to see memorabilia from the 19th century on until today. Manchester played host to the Olympic Football Tournament. If you are planning to visit the city for a game there are plenty of hotels to be found in the city centre as well as within close distance to Old Trafford Stadium with public transport options to the stadium within easy walking distance. Have any tips for Manchester? share them with us in the comments section. Image via Paolo Camera

London Insider Tips

Daniel Peaslee — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 15:40:25 +0000

London is of course known for its culture, nightlife and shopping. With the city playing host to this years’ Olympic Games visitors are flocking to famous attractions such as Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Hyde Park. Here at the hotel.info blog, we have put together some London insider tips for London connoisseurs, explorers and travelers who wish to experience London off the beaten path.

New art and impressive architecture

Directly at the Olympic Park, with the stadium in sight, is the Stour Space art center. This exhibition space for emerging artists and designers regularly hosts innovative art and is home to what some say is London’s best kept secret, the award-winning restaurant, Counter Cafe. The Barbican Estate and its surrounding environment offer a variety of attractions such as the Barbican Arts Centre, the Museum of London and the Barbican Conservatory with over 2000 tropical plants. Take in the arts, architecture and nature all in one fell swoop.

Shop till you drop

If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the famous Brick Lane, the locals recommend the East End Thrift Store, located just a few minutes east of White Chapel, which provides second-hand clothes in retro style. Our London loving hotel.info users also advise stopping by the Greenwich Market on the lower side of the River Thames, Greenwich Park, or the Stables Market above the Regent’s Park for London shopping bonanza.

Pure nature

As the green lungs of any metropolis, London’s many parks breathe life into what at times is a cold and colorless city. Without a doubt the famous Hyde Park is the diamond in the crown of London parks. Escape the crowds by travelling down Kensington High St. to nearby Holland Park. The park is home to the Kyoto Garden, a far-eastern gem offering the peace and serenity of a Japanese garden and a respite from the congested city.

Do you have London tips you would be willing to share? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to check fantastic London hotels at hotel.info.

Photo Credits: [1][2][3][4][5]