by Roy -

Ireland’s colourful history has led to a rich tapestry of architectural styles, with Norman castles and neo-classical mansions sitting side by side with cosy farmhouses and contemporary wonders. All around the island, these interesting, charming accommodations are packed with character — and characters! So in the spirit of turning your Ireland trip into a real journey, here are some of the most memorable places to stay along the way.

Cullintra House, Inistiogue, County Kilkenny


The Cullintra House, a cosy, 19th-century home in the Kilkenny heritage village of Inistiogue, offers a warm welcome – but you will soon discover you are not the house’s most important guest. Here cats are king, and the owner’s feline friends quite literally have the run of the place. You will find cat memorabilia galore and little furries in the bedrooms, in the dining room where guests eat communally and rambling the gorgeous grounds, like they – quite rightly – own the place.

Grouse Lodge, Roesmount, County Westmeath


Grouse Lodge, the rambling stone farmhouse and beautiful outbuildings that act as a residential recording studio for Irish and visiting bands, became Michael Jackson’s secret hideout for six weeks in 2006. REM, Shirley Bassey, Manic Street Preachers and Sinead O’Connor have all recorded in this reasonably-priced midlands village property, complete with an indoor heated pool, jacuzzi, nine double bedrooms and an on-site organic chef. Come for the rock ‘n’ roll stories, retold in the small hours at the on-site pub.

Average Rating: 4.6 out of 5 based on 244 user reviews.

[ | | | | ]

by Roy -

With a seemingly endless array of hotels and new ones springing up all the time, it can be hard work searching for a decent room in Shanghai. Below is a guide to the city’s most fabulous accommodations, from five-star stunners housed in towering skyscrapers to beautifully renovated pre-war villas.

Hotels seeped in history

The Mansion Hotel combines historic charm and modern luxury like no other hotel in the city. The beautiful 1930s building was originally the residence of Sun Tingsun, a business partner of Huang Jinrong and Du Yueshang, two of Shanghai’s most powerful gangsters. It was used as offices for the trio’s business dealings and was a venue for some of Shanghai’s most extravagant parties.

Stepping through the front door is like stepping back in time to the city’s glorious, notorious past. The lobby, the corridors and the rooms are filled with antiques – a box camera here, a gramophone there, an old pistol in one cabinet, original company documents in another. But it is more than a museum. There is exquisite luxury too. Your feet sink into the carpet as you enter the rooms, which are all huge and come with beautifully-upholstered wood furniture, big-screen satellite TVs, wi-fi, a double-sized shower and, best of all, a private jacuzzi.

The Astor House Hotel, Shanghai

The Astor House, a distinguished elderly gentleman, was Shanghai’s very first hotel, originally built as the Richards Hotel in the latter part of the Qing dynasty in 1846. More than 160 years on, there remains a distinct air of elegance, with the hotel’s original wooden flooring still covering some of the halls and corridors. Rooms are by no means luxurious when compared with some of Shanghai’s five-star offerings, but unlike its flashier competitors Astor House offers guests the opportunity to stay in rooms once occupied by the likes of Albert Einstein, Bertrand Russell and Charlie Chaplin.

Average Rating: 5 out of 5 based on 292 user reviews.

[ | | | | ]

by Roy -

The end of the summer season has brought considerably lower hotel prices across Europe, statistics released by Trivago October 14 have shown.

The average price for a standard double in Europe this month is €127, Trivago said, a fall of seven percent on September and a widespread trend seen across 35 of the 50 top European cities tracked.

Significant falls of 18 percent were seen in Barcelona (€147) and Milan (€161), Trivago said, with 15 percent drops in Copenhagen (€142), Geneva (€253) and Amsterdam (€161).

Brussels and Dublin fell by 11 percent to €135 and €96 respectively, while Budapest and Lisbon fell by nine percent to €78 and €118 respectively.

Customers planning a late-autumn trip to popular destinations such as the south of France, the Balearics, Portugal or the Greek islands could also save money, calculated TripAdvisor, with a night in Cannes 22 percent cheaper than last month at €123 and a night in Nice 19 percent cheaper at €108.

For the first time in months, Geneva lost the title of Europe’s most expensive city, to Venice, while the cheapest destination indexed by Trivago was Sofia, a steal at just €72 a night.

Mardan Palace – Europe’s most expensive hotel, Antalya, Turkey

Europe’s Most Expensive Destinations (October 2011)

Data from Trivago
1. Venice €259
2. Geneva €253
3. London €198
4. Paris €186
5. Stockholm €177

15 Oct 2011

http://travel.hindustantimes.com/travel-stories/hotel-prices-fall-in-europe.php

Average Rating: 4.7 out of 5 based on 275 user reviews.

[ | | | | ]

by Roy -

The Jane hotel in New York City started renting its cabin-like rooms to sailors as early as 1908.

“Live large but sleep small” might as well be the motto of travellers choosing to stay in the latest crop of super-shrunk hotel rooms popping up across the world.

Rather than spend a lot of money on a sprawling temporary living space, travellers are bunking down in rooms that measure from just two to 10sqm.

Popularized in Japan, capsule hotels were first built in 1979 to accommodate Japanese businessmen who needed to stay close to the city centre for a few days or who could not catch the last train to their suburban homes. Some would even stay the entire workweek to avoid the long commute.  Barely big enough to lie down, the two-metre long space included sparse amenities like a television and a radio, along with a common restroom and socializing areas.

While you can still catch a nap in one of Japan’s nearly 300 capsule hotels, many of today’s micro-hotel options are a little roomier, offer as much character as their larger counterparts, and some even include private attached bathrooms.  Here are a few hotels that deliver small in style.

For couples who want to be closer
Eh’häusl; Amberg, Germany; average room size 53sqm
The “smallest hotel in the world”, according to its owners, is spread out over seven storeys and measures just two-and-a-half metres across — the entire building (which includes a private bathroom, bedroom and a sitting room) can only be rented by two people. Eh’häusel , which means wedding house, was constructed in 1728 in response to a local law that required couples to own property together before they were married. One clever man put up a roof between two existing houses to satisfy the law, then immediately sold it to another couple who repeated the process. Even after the tradition ceased, the building stood strong and was renovated in 2008 as a romantic retreat. Locals still claim couples who stay overnight will have lifelong happiness.

Titanic history in a tiny package
The Jane; New York City; average room size 50sqft
While Japan often gets credit for creating this small-space trend, The Jane in New York City started renting its ship cabin-like rooms to sailors as early as 1908. In 1912, survivors of the Titanic disaster stayed in the hotel, and a memorial service was held for the victims a few days later. The Jane was renovated in 2008 but maintains its turn-of-the-century charm. Suited for young solo travellers who want to stay in New York City on the cheap, the standard cabin sleeps one and shares a communal hall bathroom. Friends can pair up in the equally cosy bunk bed rooms, but couples might want to consider the Captain’s cabin, which is a roomier 250sqft and includes a private bathroom.

Easy airport accommodation
Yotel; London Heathrow, London Gatwick and Amsterdam Schiphol airports; average room size seven square metres
Started by the same team that turned YO! Sushi into an international brand, Yotel packs a lot of perks in its tight quarters. Even the standard-size rooms include a toilet, shower, desk  and free wi-fi.  For those who prefer sleep to sightseeing during an extended layover, weary airline travellers can book by the hour (with a minimum four-hour stay).

Lindsey Galloway

8 Nov 2011

http://www.bbc.com/travel/blog/20111107-worldwide-weird-tuck-in-at-tiny-hotels

Average Rating: 5 out of 5 based on 205 user reviews.

[ | | | | ]