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May 2

Favourite Travel Experiences of the Month #24

As we move into May the Northern hemisphere begins to focus on summer. This months Favourite Travel Experiences of the Month embraces the season of the sun as the Not Just A Holiday team look at a selection of summer themed articles featuring summer favourites ice-cream and swimming pools! This month also includes; Howard Marks, Reykjavik and New Zealand, before concluding with our Holiday of the Month; Sarajevo. 

As per usual we kick off with our top 10 travel articles from across the web:

Ice-creamphoto courtesy of ScRO

1. Summer is just weeks away, what better way to spend it than sampling the world’s most imaginative ice-cream, you don’t have to travel to the other side of the globe for all of them!

2. If globe-trotting in search of ice-cream doesn’t apeal, maybe swimming pools will. Unique and amazing pools illustrates some of the finest swimming pools to spend your summer in luxury.

3. Reykjavik as told by Sigtryggur Baldursson of Icelandic band Sugarcubes.  An inspiring take on the world’s most Northern capital city, giving an insight to local life. Worth a few minutes of your time regardless of whether you have been to Reykjavik or not.

4. Howard Marks returns to Taiwan, albeit for different reasons than his last visit in 1988! His account of both trips is insightful to say the least; from evading extradiction to the US, to making the most of the diverse nightlife, Marks’ trips were action packed throughout.

5. May is upon us and Hostelworld share their favourite events from across the world happening this month. From as far afield as the Australian Heritage Festival and The Houston Art Car Parade.

Houston Art Car Paradephoto courtesy of Isidro U.

6. Marseille: Europe’s Capital of Culture for 2013. What affect is this title having on the city? The Guardian examines Marseille’s cultural side through its outstanding art and impressive architecture projects.

7. National Geographic bring us their Best Guided Tours for 2013. Sometimes it’s better to let the experts guide you, find out where you should be going this year; anywhere from safari in Kenya to cycling in Tuscany, there is something for everyone!

8. Miami bound this year? Make sure you read Miami’s top blogs before you go for all the tops tips on food, arts, night-life and more, the local writers know it best.

9. With the release of The Hobbit on DVD last month, it is time to renew that dream of going to New Zealand. Discover how you can go about planning a trip with Lonely Planet’s guide on how to visit Middle Earth.

10. The ‘trekathon’ a new way of seeing a city, whilst keeping in shape. A 26 mile walk around the outskirts of a city is apparently becoming a popular trend, all in one day. Discover the routes around Paris, Amsterdam of Barcelona.

Holiday of the Month – Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina

Less than 20 years ago Sarajevo was making the headlines for all the wrong reasons and this unfortunately still lingers in some Western minds. The reality couldn’t be any different, this fascinating city is well and truly back on its feet and provides one of the best value destinations in Eastern Europe. Described as where the East meets West, the city is home to an incredible blend of culture with both its strong Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian influences. There simply is no other place in Europe where you can see Mosques, Synagogues, Orthodox and Catholic churches all in one eye line. Stumbling around the Turkish Quarter you could be forgiven for thinking you were in Istanbul but just a few minutes walk away you find yourself immersed in Viennese architecture.

There are of course remnants of the past horrors that inflicted the city in the mid 1990′s; bullet holes can still be found around the city. However talking to local Sarajevans you are given the impression that this is a city moving forward and there is much to be positive about.

Sarajevo - 'Pigeon Square'photo courtesy of Bryan Pocius

It was not just the Bosnian War which saw the attention of the world on Sarajevo, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 and also the 1984 Winter Olympic games also put the city in the spotlight, albeit for very different reasons! These three historic events are still evident across the city and shape the city’s tourist attractions, ensuring a trip to Sarajevo doubles up as an interactive history lesson. Free walking tours leave from Latin Bridge everyday at 4pm, an absolute must-do; a chance to see Sarajevo from the perspective of a local Sarajevan.

Sarajevo provides excellent value for money in every aspect, certainly one of the cheapest European capital cities. Bosnian food benefits from the diverse culture and consequently there is an excellent range to keep your palate excited. Personal recommendations are Ćevapi, a grilled mince meat dish and burek a traditional filled pastry snack rolled into a spiral, they both taste better than they sound and are extremely affordable!

Apr 2

Favourite Travel Experiences of The Month #23

A happy Easter to you all! With the weather in Northern Europe being so unpredictable at this time of year, that can mean anything. This month the Not Just a Holiday team look at articles embracing spring as a time for travelling and new experiences, featuring trips both in the UK and further afield. Although the winter is still lingering in some areas we kick things off with a top tip for skiing in France. We have found some inspiring photos this month including National Geographic’s snap of the month for March and Murad Osmann who has developed a global photo collection in an interesting and unique manner.

Here our top 10 features of the last month:

Pyrenees Skiing

Courtesy of girolame.

1. Think of skiing in France? Think of the Alps? Think again! See why the Pyrenees is more affordable, more enjoyable and more… French.

2. Photo of the month from National Geographic is a stunning shot of a manatee off the coast of Florida. An absolute must-see!

3. Photographer’s girlfriend leads him around the world. A unique set of photos from across the globe taken by Murad Osmann.

4. From the Amazon to the Nile, the Mississippi to the Danube, almighty rivers tattoo the worlds surface and make for some awesome wet and wild adventures. Lonely Planet list their top waterways of the world, how many have you been on?

5. Ecuador’s spectacular trainline reopens this summer after 4 years of renovation! The pictures are quite remarkable, it certainly on our ‘must-visit’ list!

Train to Quito

Quito-bound train, Ecuador. Courtesy of jsbarrie.

6. Spring can often be the best time of year to travel, the sun starts to appear more often and the natural surroundings are astounding wherever you are. National Geographic give us their top spring trips from bourbon tours in Kentucky to Europes largest marshland in Romania!

7. Enjoy the finer things in life? Michelin- starred chef Heinz Beck gives his top 10 restaurants the world has to offer.

8. Winter is nearly over, celebrate with a wide range of Spring breaks. You could find yourself anywhere from a Welsh farm-stay to a gypsy caravan tour of Cumbria.

9. Similarly, you could learn to rock climb in the Peak District! This video is a crash course from pro climber Mina-Leslie Wujastyk.

10. Wherever you are on the globe, hangover food is always required at some point or another. Browse through the suggested world top 10, from as far afield as Korea and Israel. We can personally vouch for a few, Poutine in Canada being a personal favourite!

Holiday of the Month – Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

The largest and oldest national park in Croatia is also the most outstanding! Home to sixteen lakes and countless waterfalls, it is a natural paradise year-round. Perfect for hikes to suit all abilities, whether you are after a full day marching through the picture-perfect scenery or you just fancy a gentle stroll between two areas. There are road trains and boats to take you between the varying sectors if you prefer.

It is possible to see the highlights in a day but equally there is enough to keep you fascinated for a week long trip and there are plenty of options for accommodation ranging from camping to luxury hotels. We chose to drive down to the area for the day, it is about 2 to 3 hours from either Zagreb or Split. No trip to Croatia is complete without. That is a fact!

PlitviceCourtesy of sobrecrocia.com.

Mar 5

Favourite Travel Experiences of the Month #22

After a quiet February, we look forward to an exciting March where members of the Not Just a Holiday team are off on various European road-trips, everywhere from Luxembourg to Romania. In this months blog we look back at the key points of February in the world of travel and then anticipating the highlights March will have to offer. Our top 10 features of the month incorporate the world of festivals, strolling in Seoul and Europe’s best Waterparks, to name just a few.

Feast your eyes on the top 10 features of February.

Nyepi - Balinese New YearNyepi – Balinese New Year. Photo courtesy of mattspong.

1. March is upon us and there are plenty of exciting festivals across the world this month. You could find yourself booking a trip anywhere from Sydney to Nepal. If we had to pick one, we would be off to Bali for the New-Year celebrations!

2. The 2013 Oscars were last month. If like us you didn’t make it out to LA, here is 10 reasons why you should; The Guardian’s 10 Best Places to Visit in Los Angeles.

3. Visit somewhere closer to home this month and see what Wiltshire has to offer. Steeped in history and naturally asthetic it will make a perfect short break this spring.

4. Not all the best waterparks are in North America, a blogpost from A Luxury Travel Blog shows you why in 5 of  Europe’s best waterparks.

5. National Geographic’s Photo of the Month for February captures a truly picturesque scene in Kyoto’s Hirano Shrine, Japan. Definitely worth a minute of your time!

St Basil's Cathedral - Moscow

St Basil’s Cathedral – Moscow. Photo courtesy of verygreen.

6. Moscow is covered in beautiful architecture, take a browse through its 5 most stunnings buildings and Moscow will be added to your ‘to-visit’ list immediately.

7. Going for a stroll in Seoul – discovering South Korea’s capital on foot provides an insight to its natural side amongst the vast metropolis.

8. Be a responsible traveller and take a trip that is beneficial to the country you are visiting,  - 10 Great Adventure Trips That Give Back.

9. It’s not long until the Cannes Film Festival, but if you are looking for something a little alternative on the movie circuit, the Insect Fear Film Festival in Illinois might be the one for you. Sufferers of entomophobia steer clear!

10. 36 hours in Melbourne - the essential guide to Australia’s second city in a day and a half.

Holiday of the Month – Wanaka, New Zealand

As the Southern Hemisphere’s summer begins to draw to a close it reveals some stunning autumn destinations, including the angelic Wanaka on the South Island of New Zealand. Set on the shore of the vast Lake Wanaka with the intense scene of the Southern Alps to the north, Wanaka is a genuine beauty-spot.

It is the ideal base for an adventure holiday in any season; the region is home to multiple top ski-resorts in the winter, whilst the summer is perfect for a multitude of hikes or water activities out on the lake. Just an hours drive from the international airport in Queenstown, it is well connected and is a must visit for anyone travelling ‘down under’.

No excursion would be complete without a visit to the strangely unique Puzzling World, full of baffling puzzles, illusions and the ‘Leaning Tower of Wanaka’!

Wanaka - New ZealandPhoto courtesy of missbossy.

Feb 9

Favourite Travel Experiences of the Month #21

January is tradtionally a quiet month spent recovering from the expenditure of Christmas, but not for the Not Just a Holiday team! We spent a particularly cold month visiting some of Europe’s top winter destinations as well as branching further overseas to adventures in South America. As the year starts to progress and the temperatures begin to rise, Spring arrival allows us to explore destinations closer to home. The first half of this month’s post looks at European gems just a few hours away and then we move further afield, featuring adventures in New Zealand!

Take a look at our top 10 features of the last month.

springphoto courtesy of Alan1954

1. ‘No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.’ Yet many Brit’s have seen just a glimpse of the place we call home. The Guardian provides the ultimate travel guide to England. Perfect for discovering hundreds of things to see and do right on your doorstep.

2. Accommodation can often be a big chunk of any travelling trip, for those who like comfort at a small cost, check out the 10 best luxury hostels in Europe.

3. As the fresh spring air descends across Europe, there is no better time to crack out your bicycle or walking boots! Guardian readers give their top tips, featuring the 500 miles of footpaths on the Isle of Wight and the beautiful Lon Las Ogwen cycle path, in Gwynedd.

4. Skiing in England? Who would have thought this possible! There is no need to go abroad to experience the slopes this season, head to one of six ski centres in the north of England!

5. There are some things that perhaps are not so great about England, London has the worst average vote for its hotels! Top is Dresden, time to book the next flight to Germany!

NZ Bungee Jump

photo courtesy of cedartree_13

6. New Zealand is only nearly everyone’s ‘to visit’ list, and it’s not hard to understand why. Your trip is guaranteed adventure and National Geographic show you how!

7. It is not just NZ you can find some adventure, the new craze of zip-wires is seeing the longest zip-wire open in Wales, have a look at other epic rides across the globe.

8. Discover the underwater magic off the coast of Malaysia, just watch out for those monsoons!

9. First-time travellers are often put off by negative press regarding risks and scams. Be smart, read up on 10 common travel scams and how to avoid them and put your mind at ease.

10. Whereever you are in the world, it is always good to party. Learn about how different cultures tackle hangovers, you might pick up some tips!

Holiday of the Month – Den Haag, The Netherlands.

This month we were looking for an overseas trip on a tight budget, we were recommended Den Haag in the Netherlands. Just an hour from Amsterdam it is a well connected city with a lot to offer if you scratch below the surface. Known better in England as The Hague, the common initial perception is a city with a strong political presence, home to multiple international instituations. Whilst this is true, there is a lot more on offer here. It is a facinating city for history buffs with countless museums and galeries depicting Holland’s eventful past, it is home to the Dutch royal family who inhabit Huis ten Bosch in one of the cities many large parks, begging to be explored. A trip to the seaside town of Scheveningen, at first feels like going to a poor imitation of Blackpool but when the sun brings the dutch beach-goers out, it comes alive as a bustling tradtional seaside resort.

Reflections of Binnenhof and Grote Kerk in the Hofvijver pond

Reflections of Binnenhof and Grote Kerk in the Hofvijver pond. Courtesy of Digi-Jo

Jan 15

Favourite Travel Experiences of the Month #20 – January 2013

Firstly, a very happy New Year from the team at Not Just a Holiday, we hope you enjoyed 2012 as much as us, we are super excited for a 2013 packed full of adventure and exploration.

This month we will be looking back at some of the highlights of the year gone by as well as looking forward to a prosperous 2013 in the world of travel.

Here are our favourite articles from the last month.

Sri Lanka

photo courtesy of Yim Hafiz

1. The Guardian summarise 2012′s travel hits before revealing their 2013 Hotlist, featuring Sri Lanka, Brazil and Papua New Guinea amongst others.

2.  2012 was another busy year for Matt Harding, if you have not seen any of his Where The Hell is Matt? videos, then be sure to check out his 2012 effort, dancing in 55 countries!

3.  British traveller Craig Easton was awarded the 2012  Travel Photographer of the Year Award. Amongst his work he features a project depicting the ‘dreich’ weather in Scotland, dark but with a strange sense of natural beauty.

4. 2012 in the UK was dominated by the Olympic Games. All that excitement has seen many people vowing to travel to Rio for 2016, find out why you should be joining them too!

5. The Guardian give their Reader’s Best Discoveries of 2012, ranging from a take-away in Hong Kong to a railway station in India.

Tim Ho Wan - Hong Kong

photo courtesy of Chika

6. A new year brings new resolutions, read Lonely Planet’s resolutions for 2013. They are certainly a fair few which the Not Just a Holiday team will be trying our best to find time for this year.

7. Orlando has a lot more to offer than just Disney, find out why here and make 2013 the year to go.

8. Discover Eastern Turkey’s historical wonders with the ancient Gobekli Tepe, over 11,000 years old!

9. January can often be a quiet month for travellers so close to Christmas, but if there is one way to kick off 2013 as you mean to go on, it is the Nozawa Fire Festival in Japan.

10. Manhattan clearly has a lot to offer, it doesn’t need anyone to sell its appeal, however some of its gems are always that easy to find. The New York Times gives an insightful guide to the literary of NYC.

Holiday Experience of the Month

Reykjavik, Iceland.

Since the global financial crisis of 2007, travel to Iceland has once more become affordable for the average traveller. A trip to Reykjavik provides a perfect base to explore what the land of ice and fire has to offer. During the winter, the days become extremely short, just 4 hours of sunlight, but by no means does the country goes to sleep! Reykjavik comes to life at the weekends with the locals partying through to the small hours in their quaint coffee shops that turn into bars as the evening progresses.

No trip to Iceland would be complete without taking in the big three, known as The Golden Circle; Gullfoss waterfall, Geysir and Pingvellir. Their natural beauty, set in the winter’s ice and frost, epitomises Iceland’s charm and leaves you adamant on returning as soon as viably possible!

Gullfoss, Iceland

Dec 5

Favourite Travel Experiences of the Month #19

December is here, which means great things (snow, Christmas markets, Santa Claus) and bad things (freezing mornings, lack of sunlight for three months and, worst of all, Christmas jumpers). Therefore, the  Not Just A Holiday team have decided to help you through the start of winter with some great features, showcasing skiing trips, learning a new language and German Christmas markets, to name just a few.

Feast your eyes on the following!Ski!

photo courtesy of Skistar Trysil’s

1. The winter is certainly upon on us, which means only one thing, ski season! MSN Travel gives you their guide to the cheapest places to ski this winter.

2. For the cheapest way of getting to the slopes this season as well as general travel bargains, we recommend looking at HolidayPirates.

3. Everyone likes to save a few pounds if they can whilst travelling but can you take it too far? Check out the argument against ‘Pound-Foolish travel‘.

4. Want to learn a new language? Get the 1,000 most popular words down first and you could master it in 22 hours!

5. If you have never been to Hong Kong, it will be high on your list after watching Gregory Kane’s fascinating highlights in So Long, Hong Kong.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kabacchi/

photo courtesy of kabacchi

6. For those of you have not yet seen Gunther Holtorf’s 23 year road trip, it is a must watch. Taking his beloved Mercedes, ‘Otto’ to places as far apart as Brazil and North Korea, a truly inspirational traveller.

7.  North Italy’s hidden gem – Vicenza. More than a Palladian masterpiece say our friends at The Guardian.

8. Off to Paris any time soon? Don’t go before a quick browse of these top 8 tips for Paris travellers.

9. Global art project Before I Die utilises public spaces to bring together peoples thoughts. Well worth a moment of your time.

10. With new hotels springing up every day across Asia, A Luxury Travel Blog summarises the best of the bunch.

Holiday of the Month

As it will soon be Christmas we thought we would share with you our favourite budget Christmas trip, Germany’s 4th largest city; Cologne. Its easy to see why Cologne is a top destination this time of year; it is home to seven bustling Christmas markets to put you in a festive frame of  mind. With so many markets to choose from if you are short on time be sure to prioritise Neumarkt, Cologne’s oldest market for a good mix that summarises the German Christmas market experience perfectly.

If the masses of gifts and decorations don’t take to your fancy then the markets should not be overlooked for their high quality range of German food from the traditional sausages to the seasonal gingerbread the markets are the number one place for a cheap eat.

Cologne Christmas Marketphoto courtesy of rachel_titiriga

Nov 16

Favourite Travel Experiences of the Month #18

With the British winter setting in, you are forced to either embrace or escape the weather when it comes to a holiday. Over the past month the team have been on researching a huge variety of trips which reflect the above; enjoying autumn in Germany and Norway and soaking up the last of the northern hemisphere sun in Morocco. As well as that, while back in NJaH HQ we have been scouring planet web for the best travel ideas and stories out there.

We have narrowed them all down to present our 10 favourite travel stories and features for you to enjoy.

photo courtesy of uggboy

1) Ever fancied living the life of a secret agent? To coincide with the release of Skyfall, Trivago compiled a list of the top 10 hotels featured in Bond films.

2) You don’t have to look that far for a sense of adventure, have a look at 10 alternative ways to explore London.

3) A ‘rarely fulfilled dream’ say The Guardian. East Tirol, Austria - a ski resort with empty slopes, cheap food and drink and incredible panoramic views.

4) Fancy skiing  a little closer to home? Check out Sawday’s Top 10 chalets in France

5) The 25 most photographed places on earth, how many have you snapped?

Photo courtesy of alfieianni

6) The Caribbean or the Indian Ocean? Escape to the sun on a budget this winter with The Telegraph’s guide to cheap winter holidays.

7) The best roof-top hotel views ever? Apparently so.

8) Austrian Felix Baumgartner sky dives from the edge of space, breaking a 52 year old record. Have a look at these shots of Joseph Kittinger’s jump in 1960.

9) Photography has never been so accessible, make the most of your camera phone with Mashable’s  top Instagram tips.

10) How to make the most of a business trip! Lonely Planet give a guide to the essentials to maximising your spare time.

Holiday of the Month

Montreal is a genuine an all-year-round destination, but autumn provides its true beauty. A city known for its abundance of open spaces, its parks transform into a collage of red and brown. As the summer comes to an end, the prices fall so it is also a cheap time to visit before the Canadian ski season kicks in. Montreal is known for its culture and the French blend makes it a truly unique city, well worth a visit.

photo courtesy of abdullahh

Sep 2

1 Comment

3 Great Alternative Autumn City Breaks in Europe

Strasbourg, France

Cosmopolitan and cultured, Strasbourg packs a lot in and provides the perfect alternative French city break.  Crammed with some of the best musuems in France (the Musée de l’Œuvre Notre-Dame and the Musée Historique to name just two) your days are best spent combining visiting a musuem and hanging out in one of the student filled bars in the pretty old town.

Strasbourg is cycle friendly so if you get lucky and have fine weather, take advantage of the vast cycle network and pedal around the city on the local cycle hire scheme.  One of the most-sees in the city is the famous Petite France, a quaint and historic area which contains riverside parks and narrow lanes, providing the perfect setting to soak up the atmosphere of the city.  Our favourite activity was rowing boats within the beautifully kept lake in the Parc de l’Orangerie – just be careful to stay away from the swans!   Strasbourg has some great places to eat – we recommend S’kaechele (the little kitchen), a cute, bustling restaurant that serves some great local food at reasonable prices.

More Info:

Strasbourg

Photo by Geoterranaute.

Hamburg, Germany

A city synomonous with the early days of the Beatles legend, Hamburg has got a lot more to offer than 1960′s music nostalgia. A port city in spirit and style, it offers the visitor a hedonistic night scene with the famous Reeperbahn mixing an edgy red light district and bouisterous bars and clubs.  With a real mixture of immigrants living in the city, a wide variety of international food including German, Asian and Portuguese offer a wide range of delicious restaurants.  Also, if you are lucky enough to visit on a warm Autumn day, the artificial river beaches are great fun to sit back and enjoy a beer with the locals.

Wherever you are in the city it seems you are surrounded by water (The city’s 2302 bridges are more than Venice, Amsterdam and London combined) and some of the best restaurants and bars are located next to picturuesqe waterside spots. However, our best meal was at the aptly named Meatery, located close to the Botanical Garden and serving some great steak and wine – make sure you book before as its very busy.  If you are looking to try some fresh fish, we also loved Fischereihafen, located closer to the water and serving popular dishes to a local   and international crowd.  If you want to visit the bar where the Beatles played their famous night long sets head to the Indra Club, and kick back and enjoy the unique slice of British Rock history in a fascinating, undervalued city.

More info:

Hamburg

Photo courtesy of Luxtonnerre

Budapest, Hungary

Probably the most ‘unalternative’ of our featured ciites, Budapest still doesn’t quite have the number of tourists it deserves.  All the better for the visitors who do make it to this breathtaking and character filled historical city.  If Budapest is not near the top of your list of next cities to visit, shift it there now.  Situated on the Danube River and with the backdrop of the Buda Hills, Budapest offers a strikingly beautiful architecture and a real sense of the unknown.  It boasts fantastic food, stunning baroque and neoclassical history, mixed with a varied and high quality restaurant scene and nightlife.

We spent our days wandering the streets and taking in the sights and distinct character of the city.  Budapest offers low prices and you can therefore wine and dine with a sense of freedom.  We enjoyed a few (too many) cocktails in the famous Gresham Palace, an oppulant Art Nouveau masterpiece how renovated into a Four Season hotel.  We loved the island oasis of Margit-sziget, the perfect destination to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city – the island contains two public baths fed by thermal springs and an outdoor theatre.  Our favourite restaurant was easily the Pozsonyi Kisvendéglő -  it was the ultimate local Budapest experience and it did not dissappoint with huge portions of the classic beef goulash.  You also have to check out the upmarket Gerbeaud Cukrászda, which serves delicious cakes and pastries to Budapests young and affluent inhabitants.

More Info:

Budapest

Photo courtesy of R. Melero

Aug 9

Cote D’Azur – A day in photos

A photo diary of a Summer day travelling by boat around the Cote D’Azur, starting at Nice and taking in Antibes, Cannes and St Tropez.

Hotel:

Eating:

May 7

Which is the best hotel you have ever stayed in?

Simple question – we asked a few of the Not Just a Holiday team the following:

Which is the best hotel you have ever stayed in?

This question is actually quite tricky and brings up all sorts of permutations – do you choose the hotel purely on it’s quality or does the setting or destination matter more.  Or does a favourite hotel come down to the experience you had in that moment or period of time. After a lot of ’umming’ and ‘ahhing’ and one last-minute change, we eventually decided on their favourites.  Some were very exclusive, some were more quirky – we  present the choices below.

Sara B’s choice
The Four Seasons, Hong Kong
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t get to stay in anything nearly as nice as the Four Seasons normally – I just got lucky as I were staying there for two days and my ex-boyfriend who’s company were paying for it.  God, it was good.  I now almost wish I hadn’t gone as I now subconsciously judge every hotel trip against those 2 days of what felt like pure, unobtainable luxury.  Everything was perfect – firstly the location in Hong Kong allowed you to step out of the hotel and stroll straight onto Victoria Harbour.  The room we had wasn’t one of the pricier ones but it was great and felt very well looked after. I spent 3 hours in their spa and came out feeling like a new women after one of the massages.  The bar, restaurant and lobby were all exquisite.  Even if you can’t stay in the Four Seasons, I recommend you visit the lobby bar which always had a great musician playing – the whole experience was fabulous.

Four Seasons Hong Kong

Photo courtesy of hotel

Francisco R’s choice
Hard Days Night, Liverpool England
As everyone who knows me will confirm my choice had to be music related.  I stayed at the Hard Days Night Hotel in Liverpool for business, and I really liked the idea behind it.  Although the rooms weren’t super exclusive or anything, I just really enjoyed staying in a hotel that celebrated everything about the Beatles and the nice little touches they used everywhere.  It’s also very cool that it is opposite the Cavern Club where they first started out.

A Hard Days Night hotel

Photo courtesy of hotel

Ben MB’ choice
La Tosca, Capri Italy
I have always been very mean when it comes to forking out on hotels.  Although I have almost hit the buy button and splurged on something really expensive on one or two occasions, I nearly always eventually decide to go for the cheaper option, and spend my holiday cash on things like restaurants or something I can do.  So when I say this is the best hotel I have ever stayed in, please don’t hold it up as a super luxury location that you bigger hitters are used to.  But I still thought it was very, very nice.  It’s got the ideal location just outside the main central town (if you can call it that), a generous sun terrace with cosy breakfasts and friendly staff.  It’s also got one of the few hotels in Capri that offer reasonable prices for a quality experience.

Hotel la Tosca

Photo courtesy of Capri.com

Philip L’s choice
Vencia Hotel, Mykonos Town Greece
You have got to go to this hotel even if it is quite pricey. It’s all about the moment – it comes near sundown every night of your visit.  You are out by the pool, sipping your drink of choice and you look out in front of you and soak up the view before your eyes.  The infinity pool in front of you, followed by pure, clear blue sea, followed by nothing but a sun filled horizon into the distance.  It made me laugh out loud with happiness every day I stayed there. Sensational.

Myknos Inifinity Pool

Photo courtesy of trivago

Camilla D’s choice
Casa Pestagua, Cartagena Colombia
Not just because it’s from my home country, but also because this hotel has a special atmosphere. In fact, I would love to create a similar hotel one day, if maybe a little bit smaller! So, the hotel – it’s in the historic city of Cartagena – a dramatic and well preserved location on the coast of Colombia.  There are so many great restaurants and bars, which are set in pretty, well-presented streets. The hotel is relatively small with only eleven spacious rooms.  It’s a gorgous place to stay and just relax in the grounds – it also has a spa (although I never used it) and the verandah at the top of the hotel gives you a great view over the city and the beautiful Caribbean Sea.

Cartagena Hotel Boutique

Photo courtesy of Hotel

What’s the best hotel you have ever stayed in? Let us know in the comments below!

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