Making It in Mayfair
Published May 4, 2012 | 
Making it in Mayfair may mean that you need money, but for London’s most affluent area, overcoming that image of exclusivity has forced travellers to shy away from experiencing its delights. But should you miss out?
Mayfair has been, for the most part, one of the most iconic and fashionable parts of the UK, so why would you defer from wanting to visit. Especially as English residents, it’s important to take an active interest in our own country. Sure the weather might be typically English, but does the area exudes style, glamour and wealth more so than any other destination. And who would not want to experience that, at least for a long weekend.
The Making of a Mayfair Hotel
It’s certainly not for the lack of accommodation on offer. Though you have to pay for the privilege, Mayfair boasts some of the most luxurious hotels the world has to offer. If you’re looking for that romantic break with you partner in a Mayfair hotel, there’s plenty of options none of which will leave you with feelings of disappointment. The Chesterfield exemplifies this, providing the most stylish décor with the upmost service and class. Famed for its typically English afternoon tea, the Chesterfield presents what it is to be typically English with its traditional yet luxurious ambience. Situated on just off Berkley square, the Chesterfield allows you to experience the glittering shops of Bond Street, Regent Street and Piccadilly. If shopping doesn’t take to your tastes, venture across the Royal Parks towards Buckingham Palace to call in on one of the most iconic English landmarks.
The Park Mews Hotel located just off Park Lane is an equally exclusive area of Mayfair. But just a few strides away from Soho, the Mews brings about the more contemporary, stylish part of London. The nightlife in Soho oozes style and urbane, providing the perfect setting to relax and enjoy a sophisticated place to socialise. And if those forms of entertainment don’t take your fancy, Soho also offers great theatre as part of London’s vibrant Theatreland with plenty of shows to entertain a long weekend.
The London Hilton Park Hotel too scales to perpetual heights providing 360 views of London city. Similarly situated in the heart of the Mayfair, the Park Hotel has phenomenal chocolate afternoon tea in their famed POP bar. There is also a beautiful spa, which provides the perfect environment for relaxation after a hard days shopping. The hotel was also awarded the ‘UK’s best business hotel in the UK 2011’ for its high standards.
Mayfair is buzzing with activity and providing a classic blend of English culture and style. Enjoying the luxurious environment should be somewhere on your travelling agenda. Travelling isn’t all about backpacking and bedding down for the night amongst the wild bush, its about experiencing a variety of cultures and sampling the whole accommodation spectrum. An Mayfair tips the scales toward exclusivity, whilst emptying you wallet in the process.
Posted in European Destinations, London | 
london city breaks, Mayfair Hotel, mayfiar | 
Leave a commentWarming up to Find a Hotel in the Olympics
Published April 19, 2012 | 
As London warms up, stretching to prepare for what will be the mother of all school sports days, the plans made by England’s capital for the Olympics has certainly shown that these preparations are not child’s play.
For all of its stereotypes, London’s potential offerings for this year’s Olympic games promises to cast England’s capital in a new light. But it seems there is one stereotype you can’t stray away from.
Prices for hotels near O2 are set to escalate, with rooms expected to rise to four times what they would be in regular peak season. And that very boom seems to have extended its greasy fingers to the helms of the wales, as rates in Cardiff also and around the Millennium Stadium have hit epic levels.
Cardiff’s state of the art stadium is the first venue to host an Olympic event, the foremost being the a ladies international football game on the 25th July, just two days before the official opening ceremony. During this time hotel prices have already sored to upwards of 279%, with that price set to continue its upward trend as availability decreases.
London’s image as a lavish destination is one that the city has embraced for a long time. But that impression isn’t necessarily the prettiest picture to paint. Sometimes and certainly in a recession, offering value for money can make for the Mona Lisa in the gallery. So what of the Olympics?
We there are deals to be had over the course of the Olympics, though they remain inflated. Your best chance at grabbing a bargain is to book early and prepay the full amount, but for the majority that possess a ticket that time may have already passed.
So what now?
Well you best bet is to stay as far away from the city centre as you can. Track hotels that base themselves in the suburbs. The cost of getting you around London will far outweigh the cost of bedding down in the city centre. In fact, staying away from the city centre in its entirety is essential if your to save yourself a few quid.
The only time you should look toward the city centre is when you’re keeping your finger to the pulse on any newly built developments and jump on their discounted opening offers.
For the most daring of those wanting a room over London’s Olympic period, the best more audacious strategy is to wait until the last minute. For London though, this might not be the best idea given how tight availability in England’s capital will be.
The more savvy travellers who are able to think outside the box, you don’t have to stay in a hotel. There will be a large number of Londoners who will want to escape the hustle of the Olympics – at least at some point. House swaps are a perfect way to share that experience, offering enthused Olympic fans a bed and over indulged Londoners a way out.
All in all, my tip is just that. Think outside the box and grab your gold medal for a great stay over the Olympic period.
Cultural Berlin
Published March 21, 2012 | 
Culture courses through Europe’s veins in many ways, to many of the great cities within. Berlin is one of those cities with enough cultural quality and diversity to be graced with the title of European Capital of Culture in 1989 and since then has not looked back. It is very easy when talking about Berlin and Germany in general to always refer to world wars and dictators but I prefer to look at the beauty and visual splendour of a great city.
Of course culture has many avenues and varieties, from opera and ballet to art and sculpture. Berlin has three major opera houses, seven symphony orchestras as well as numerous museums, art galleries and music venues. Berlin makes great use of all of these with a variety of art and music festivals, as well as indulging in the more contemporary aspects such as rock music and cinema.
It is a fabulous, historic city to visit with many evocative sights and more than 150 museums to indulge the senses. The most famous of these are on Museum Island, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, housing five incredible buildings with some great collections. I’ve not spent as much time looking around museums as I did wandering this small part of Germany.
10 million people stay in Berlin every year, to indulge in the history and stay in one of the great hotel Berlin has to offer meeting every budget and personal taste. I don’t think there is any excuse not to spend at least a couple of days here taking in as much as you can. The transport system is one of the best in Europe, with trains coming in from all over Europe, extensive public bus and trams routes across the city as well as the autobahn spreading across the country.
As well as all the cultural and arts that I love to see when in Berlin, there are plenty of grand buildings and pieces of architecture to visit. Standing beneath The Brandenburg Gate in central Berlin, you get a sense of the tension that was held here for more than half a century when East and West Germany were created after the end of the Second World War. The beautiful gate, which surely must be visited by everybody who comes to Berlin, has been standing for almost 300 years, surviving world wars, the Napoleonic wars and a country split in two. Yet still it is a wonder to behold and is simply breath-taking.
Any traveller who has a taste for the cultural and historic would be foolish to not add Berlin to their list of tried and tested cities. I have and will be going back again and again. To coin an oft-used incorrectly spoken phrase, ”Ich bin ein Berliner”
Welcome to Benidorm
Published January 19, 2012 | 
It’s become a plastic destination in the eyes of many having had its indigenous culture washed out of it, like the blue rinses of the elderly British contingent that migrated over there sometime the late 90s. But the truth is, Benidorm’s heaving popularity isn’t just down to good mobility access.
On many levels, Benidorm’s typecast isn’t strictly untrue either. Sure, it’s overdeveloped and it has been suffocated by English holiday makers so much so that its once colourful culture has faded away. But there are still many reasons to go on Benidorm holidays.
There’s no doubt that these stereotypical images have snowballed and brought about the rise of a hit television programme. Except ITV’s hit show takes that image and stretches it to make an exaggerated, comical production.
Benidorm Holidays
Much like Ronseal, Benidorm does exactly what it says on the tin. While it offers all of the amenities that make up an enjoyable holiday destination, it also varnishes you with a healthy brown glow for your return flight home. The city has become Europe’s hospitality epicentre, boasting 35,000 beds across hundreds of hotels and 200,000 apartments available for stays. In that very sense, Benidorm is the easy option when booking a holiday, with plenty of options, availability and prevalent British community.
But a familiar pseudo English surrounding comes at a cost. If you’re looking for Hispanic culture, then look elsewhere. Saturated with British communities, the city has become….well…British. But be rest assured, Benidorm has a great climate, beautiful sandy beaches and great night life.
Costa del Sol’s most popular city has two beaches. The Playa de Poniente and the Playa de Levante are a massive 5km long. Though Playa de Poniente is situated along the city’s busy limits and backs onto a busy road.
Playa de Levante though offers far more quiet surroundings, ideal if you’re in search of the relaxing Benidorm sun and a few quiet moments away from the hustle of the city.
On the other hand, if you’re looking at smashing those relaxed feelings up with a five iron, then take to the fairways at one of Benidorm’s Golf courses. Real De Faula designed by Jack Nicklaus offers a stern test of golf and a great way to enjoy the Spanish sun.
For something a little more intense, Aqualandia water park will splash you and the family with excitement. Situated deep in the city centre, the Park is easily accessible and offers cafes and restaurants for you dine in. There are shaded areas and even relaxation spots in case the excitement and sun gets a little too much for you.
When it comes to Benidorm, its somewhat a blank canvas with all the components to make a great holiday experience. You wont find culture here, but you’ll discover how to have fun in a bustling city, with idealic sandy beaches and a vibrant night life.
Ibiza Club Scene
Published January 17, 2012 | 
To layback and think of England is usually the most patriotic way for any English person to escape from whatever unpleasantries they may be faced with at the time. It’s an ironic statement really, given that England conjures images of profound boredom that in itself are worthy of distraction. But there’s a mass of people who find better ways of burying their heads in the sands of playa d’en bossa. May sound unpleasant, but with shutting their eyes completely out of the question, lying back and thinking of anything impossible. Especially since the bright neon lights have etched their fuzzy glow onto the retinas of those who gazed upon them.
In fact it’s fair to say that once you’ve sampled Ibiza holidays completing even the most simple tasks becomes hard practise. All of your senses leave you as the ears you once used to hear with are replaced with a temporary ringing and your eyes remain blurred from the unquantifiable number of hours you’ve spent awake, dancing the nights away.
Of course there are remedies readily available to sort any Ibiza hangovers you may endure once you return home, such as sleep, Alka Selzer and a week in a hotel spa – if you can afford one.
But who would want to medicate such feelings? Breaking out of conformity was the mission you set out to achieve and these feelings are merely the battle scars of victory. Don’t lie in bed leaving the buzz to simmer out. Get out and shout about your Ibiza experiences you have faced and live the holiday to its full purpose – an unforgettable event.
Dubbed as the party capital of the world, Ibiza has more than its fair share of venues to facilitate its renowned title. For the most part, the clubs that bestow the best experience are Eden, Privilege, Amnesia and Pacha. In reality though all the venues do is house the fun that is to be had and like any club enthusiast will tell you, it’s the night that needs your full attention.
Ibiza Clubs – The best nights…
So, given that this is the case here are the best nights to be had on this great Spanish island;
- To start with what many would consider to be the best, and oddly enough the most expensive night throughout the year, Manumission at Privilege returns on Monday night for another season, bouncing off the success it had during 2011. Residents hosting the night are smoking Joe and Griff and Jay. Manumission also carries on its debauched antics at an additional venue too. Hosted at Space you can head down for more of the same to see in Tuesday morning under the blazing sun.
- Gods Kitchen at Ammesia remains one of the hottest nights in the Ibiza club scene calendar. With Fergie, Mauro Picotto and Tall Paul as residents, this will be certainly one of the nights out that’ll keep you talking for a lifetime. As one of the few venues really worth talking about, amnesia remains one of the most popular clubs in Europe and a sure fire bet to blow your mind as you dance amongst thousands of people.
- For a night of unsolicited trance, Oakfield returns for another season for Perfecto at Pacha. Widely hailed as one of the greatest residents of that genre and Soulsonic take up residency in the back room.
- Last year they had Kylie on stage in ‘the shorts’, providing the visual element that was supplemented only by the sounds of Carl Cox & Dave Seaman and Sander Kleinenberg. As well as this, there are sets for a more funkier taste in the adjoining rooms.
- The big one though comes on Thursdays in Cream at Amnesia. Resident Yousef gets to work with debutant Hernan Cattaneo along with Futureshock, Oliver Lieb, Smokin’ Jo, Guy Ornadel, Junior Sanchez and Jimmy Van M are to name but a few. There are also expected to be showcases from more upcoming residents.
The rest really is up to you. Of course, all nights are open to interpretation but whether this is your first time to Ibiza or a return trip, you’ll be hard placed to find nights that appeal to the masses like these do.
Happy Clubbing
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