A grand metropolis and one of the world’s greatest cities, London is an exciting mix of different cultures and strong music, art and design scenes. Sometimes gritty, always historically proud with many pockets of true originality and quintessentially English eccentricity, the city doesn’t tend to disappoint it’s many visitors. We have chosen ten hotels (in no particular order) that reflect London’s taste for the original, the ultra cool, slightly extraordinary and the impeccably designed.

1. Hotel 41

Aptly located on Buckingham Palace Road Hotel 41 frequently tops prestigious hotel critic lists. Often cited as having a ‘private member’s club’ feel, this luxurious five star hotel mixes traditional English opulence and elegant nostalgia with cutting edge technology, yet still manages to retain an intriguing edge. All 41 rooms are individually designed but all feature rich fabrics, marble bathrooms and the hotel’s monochrome and mahogany signature design. Services include a 24 hour honesty pantry, a personal butler and a cellar of fine wine. Average price per night £342

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2. The Soho Hotel

Part of the exclusive Firmdale chain this frequently praised luxury hotel centred in the city’s entertainment and creative district has quickly become a London institution. Immaculately designed by celebrated interior designer Kit Kemp in her signature contemporary English style, the hotel attracts A-list celebrities and the cream of London’s glitterati. Each individually designed spacious room feature strong textiles, solid granite and oak bathrooms, flat screens TVs and DVD/CD players. The hotel also has two state-of-the-art private ’screening rooms,’ a gym, beauty treatment rooms and an honesty bar. Average price per night £370

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3. The Hoxton Hotel

The Hoxton Hotel epitomises the trendy urban cool of Hoxton itself but with surprisingly competitive prices. Innovatively designed with open fireplaces, classic leather furniture, exposed brickwork and the occasional faux moose head, the style is often likened to a modern urban country lodge. The guest rooms, although compact, are equally as stylish with Frette linen, flatscreen TVs, rain power showers and some cool artistic details. Other extras include a free Pret a Manger Breakfast (delivered to your door), fresh milk and water in the fridge and free WiFi. Also watch out for their extremely popular £1 a room sale. Normal Average price per night £114

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4. Church Street Hotel

Church Street Hotel located in a Zone 2 South London neighbourhood, prides itself on it’s unique and welcoming atmosphere, colourful Cuban/Mexican inspired room designs, attention to detail and it’s good value prices. The new owners transformed a run down bed and breakfast into positively received boutique hotel adorned with striking Mexican tiles, painted furniture and Spanish-American religious art. Personal touches include a cigar box containing Green and Black’s chocolate, a complimentary jar of hot sauce and lovingly made organic breakfasts. A slice of Havana heaven in Camberwell. Average price per night £106

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5. 40 Winks

With only two bedrooms 40 winks is likely to be one of the smallest boutique hotels you can find. In fact the hotel is actually the four storey Queen Anne townhouse home of acclaimed interior designer David Carter, and it’s eclectic and meticulously designed rooms are the antithesis of a bland large hotel environment. Decadent and eccentrically English but with a fashionably shabby chic twist (and details like a lion’s head tap in the bath and a music room complete with a Beatles drumkit) it’s no surprise the hotel is also one of London’s most successful celebrity and fashion shoot locations. It also attracts a host of artists and A-listers. Quirky events such as a vintage afternoon tea party and glamorous pyjama parties are a regular occurrence. Single Room £90 Double Room £130 Events from £25

For 40 Winks Bookings

6. Andaz

Housed in a red brick Victorian building in Liverpool Street, the Andaz is a sleek modern new hotel where design and faultless personal customer service are the priority. When you arrive the receptionist greets you at the door and checks you in with a laptop and services such as wifi, local phone calls and healthy organic mini bar are all included in the room price. The rooms are spacious and stylish with minimalist bold colours, flat screen TVs, iPod docks and a fast-fill deep eco-friendly bath. Average price per night £284

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7. Rough Luxe

Photo by Marcus Peel

Rough Luxe is definitely not your average boutique hotel. The design is the brainchild of architect and interior designer Rabih Hage and the result is a unique combination of urban shabby chic and classic English luxury. Peeling walls, bare floorboards and unfinished surfaces are contrasted with top quality furniture and an impressive collection of modern art. In some of the nine rooms you may have to share a bathroom, but all the rooms have expensive bed linen, designer comforts and an unconventional individual design. Staying here would be an experience in itself. Double Rooms from £150 per night

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8. The Zetter

Located in the heart of London’s trendy creative neighbourhood Clerkenwell, this small contemporary boutique hotel caters to a design loving crowd. Once a Victorian warehouse, now The Zetter houses 59 guest rooms individually designed in a bold retro-modern style with quirky and delicate artistic touches. Other unique details include a vending machine on every floor (deposing everything from champagne to disposable cameras) and complimentary spring water from the hotel’s very own 1,500ft bore hole. The Zetter has also been commended on its eco friendly ethos and dedication to providing state of the art technology in every room. Average price per night £198

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9. The Boundary

The Boundary is a new joint project between famous interior designer Sir Terence Conran and his wife Vicki and is already winning critical acclaim. Opened in trendy Shoreditch in 2009 the converted Victorian warehouse is now home to 12 individually designed guest rooms. Each room pays homage to a different legendary designer or design movement from Bauhaus to Josef Hoffmann. Conran’s signature style of simple clean lines with a quirky twist follow throughout the hotel and the designers have thought of every detail. These details include heated floors, large flat screen TVs, handmade super King sized Savoir beds and extensive acoustic sound-proofing. The Boundary experience also includes a popular rooftop terrace and several impressive bars and restaurants. Rooms start from £200 but special rates are offered at the weekend.

• For The Boundary Reservations

10. The Pavilion Rock and Roll Hotel

The Pavilion Fashion Rock ‘n’ Roll Hotel, located in Sussex Gardens is a small quirky hotel with an unconventional design. The brother and sister owners have strong links with the fashion community and their offbeat and photogenic hotel is popular with the fashion, media and musical set. Each room is themed and bursting with flamboyant kitsch and retro antiques, from a 70s style ‘Honky Tonk Afro Room’ to the Hollywood star inspired “Monochrome Marilyn.” Other room names include “Metallica” “Enter the Dragon” and “Better Red Than Dead”. Average price per night £85

• Check prices for The Pavilion Hotel

For Top Ten Cool and Unusual Hotels in Berlin

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The cosmopolitan city of Barcelona is one of Spain’s hottest tourist destinations. When visiting it’s hard to believe that Barcelona hasn’t always drawn the crowds, the city began it’s transformation in 1992 when it won the rights for the Olympics. Its make-over included an impressive man-made beach, palm tree lined avenues and a beautifully redeveloped port. Whether you are interested in art, culture, drinking, good food, music, shopping, sport or partying – this captivating city will not let you down!

Must-see highlights for culture vultures

For those impressed by culture architecture and art, it’s hard to know where to start. I think firstly I would have to recommend a trip to Picasso’s Museum even if you only have a slight interest in art. I would say it’s one of the best art galleries I have ever been to.

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Park Guell, an impressive garden complex with architecture on display is perfect for a relaxed afternoon stroll and also don’t miss the famous La Sagrada Familia the massive catholic church still under construction from 1882!

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The fabulous Batlló House (above) designed by Antoni Gaudi is an extraordinary sight, it seems like the designer wanted to avoid straight lines at all costs!

Must-see highlight for sporty types

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I would recommend a trip to the Camp Nou, Barcelona’s world famous stadium. There is an excellent tour where you get to visit the changing rooms, the area where press conferences take place and even go on the pitch (well the edge anyway!) as well as other areas of the stadium. The tour is not just for football fans, I’ve heard positive feedback from many others even those who dislike football!

Attractions for families

A lot of money was spent on Barcelona’s aquarium and I would definitely recommend a visit. Other family attractions include Tibidabo Amusement Park, the IMAX cinema and the charming Magic Fountain of Montjuic.

Must-do walks around the city

I would suggest starting at Plaça de Catalunya and walking down Las Ramblas to check out all the street performers but a good tip is to avoid grabbing a beer there (unless you are desperate) as it will cost you a small fortune. From Las Rambla head across to Gothic area, a wonderful part of the city where you can get a feel for what Barcelona used to be like pre-Olympics.

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At some stage be sure to jump on the yellow line (L4) and head to the old Olympic port (Ciutadella I Vila Olimpica) where you will find a mix of bars and restaurants as well as the very impressive casino and the beach.

Tips for eating and drinking

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There are lots of fantastic restaurants in Barcelona, one place that I would recommend as an excellent stop for lunch is Mesón Jesús (Carrer dels Cecs de la Boqueria 4) located just off Las Ramblas. When you look in from outside this place doesn’t look all that impressive, but it serves an excellent set lunch. What makes this place special is that even though you are in the middle of a tourist area you are unlikely to see any tourists in this restaurant. I would suggest avoiding eating on Las Ramblas itself but if you head off the main road you can stop in any bar and get Tapas for a decent price.

After dark

After all your sightseeing I am sure you will want to spend a night partying, a good place to start is L’Ovella Negra, a bar which is full of Spanish students, a great spot just off Las Ramblas serving cheap jugs of beer. Later on in the evening head to the bottom of Las Rambla and then over the bridge where you will find a new large building (Port Vell), in the day time it’s a shopping centre and then in the evening it becomes party central with various bars and nightclubs.

Another great spot at night is the Olympic Port, the bars that surround the area tend to get very busy at midnight onwards, there is a mix of music to suit everyone’s tastes. For something a little different I would recommend a trip to Jazzman , a very quaint jazz bar. You will need to get a taxi there and back but on a positive note you won’t bump into any other tourists and it will be a special night out.

Tips for the best places to stay

I would recommend trying to base yourself near Plaça de Catalunya or La Ramblas. From these locations it is easy to get everywhere.

The best time to go

Summer in Barcelona is very hot, so I would suggest visiting in May. This will allow you to go to the beach if you wish and still go sightseeing as it’s not yet too hot.

Tips for getting around

Barcelona is a large city, it’s most likely that you will need to use public transport, there is a very easy to use the metro system and it’s cheap. The best option is to buy a book of tickets – each journey costs €1. Be careful when you’re travelling on the Metro, you should watch out for pick pockets. If you need to get a taxi don’t worry about the cost, I’ve always found taxis in Barcelona to be priced fairly. The bus tours are also pretty good and cover most attractions.

If you do decide to try this great city be sure to try all types of Tapas and drink plenty of Sangria, enjoy!

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A trip to Paris is not complete without a visit to the Louvre or the popular Musee d’Orsay but the city is also home to so many other museums, big and small, which are also very interesting, historical, enlightening or just plain fun. Check out our guide to the less famous museums in Paris.

Musée National Du Moyen Age
(The National Museum of the Middle Ages)

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Located near the Sorbonne, the Museum of the Middle Ages is located at two important historical sites and is worth a visit just for these. The first is the beautiful Hotel de Cluny (from the late 15th century it was the town residence for the abbots of the Cluny Abbey). Also on this site are the remains of the ancient Gallo-Roman baths, dating from the 1st-3rd centuries. The frigidarium or cold room is actually incorporated into the museum itself.

Beautiful Tapestries
The museum collections include  sculpture, paintings, miniatures, gold and ivory work and textiles. The most famous of their tapestries is the spectacular “Lady and the Unicorn” series. You will probably have likely seen reproductions of these tapestries, as they show up  everywhere (I’ve even noticed them copied as the wallpaper in the common room in the “Harry Potter” movies). Still, it’s well worth seeing the originals. You can’t help but be in awe of the artistry of the women who created these very large masterpieces one little stitch at a time.

Historical Collections
The collections of simple everyday items from the Middle Ages are also fascinating. There are combs, games, boxes, toys and even real shoes. As we dispose of mostly all our old shoes in our own lifetime, I always wonder who these centuries-old shoes belonged to and how they could possibly have survived.

Musée National Du Moyen Age 6, place Paul-Painleve, 75005 Paris

Musée Carnavalet

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This is a great destination in the Marais district. The collections in this museum tell the story of the history of Paris. And again, speaking of location, the two mansions housing the museum are architectural beauties in their own right. One of the houses belonged to the famous Madame de Sevigne, whose preserved letters to her daughter have left us a detailed and personal  description of the aristocratic life in 17th century France.

Unique Collections Across the Centuries
The permanent  collection here includes paintings, sculpture, furniture, ancient artifacts, coins, period rooms, decorative arts, old shop signs and a large collection of  photographs, drawings and prints. On display are even some personal  items belonging to the ill-fated French Queen, Marie Antoinette. The Museum courtyard also has a beautiful and very decorative maze and an  added bonus here is that viewing the permanent collection is free.

Musée Carnavalet 23, rue de  Sevigne 75003 Paris

Musée de la Curiosité et de la Magie
(Museum of Curiosity and Magic)

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This quirky museum is located at the Academie de Magie, also in the Marais district. This is a great visit for adults and kids as well. The collection includes interactive exhibits and interesting magic memorabilia, even from the great Harry Houdini. Remember that like love, magic is a universal language and the frequent live shows can be enjoyed by anyone-even if you don’t speak a word of French! You can also purchase magic tricks to take home.

Musée de la Curiosité et de la Magie 11, Rue Saint-Paul 75004 Paris

Le Museé des Egouts de Paris
(The Museum of Sewage from Paris)

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Yes, it’s the Sewer Museum- definitely a place to talk about when you get back home! The museum entrance is located on the Left Bank side of the Pont de l’Alma. Crude sewer construction was begun in Paris in the 1300’s but when it was very much expanded and improved starting in 1850, it truly became an engineering triumph that eventually helped greatly with the control of disease. “Les egouts” are even written about extensively in the novel “Les Miserables” by Victor Hugo (whose house in the Place des Vosges is also a museum).

Interesting Tour
Now you can tour the operations of today as well as see some from the past. And there’s even a gift shop! When we visited, the smell wasn’t bad, though I’ve heard that this can depend on the weather, so decide for yourself whether you’re up for it or not. Still on view are giant wooden balls, from those earlier days, that men pushed by hand, rolling them slowly through the tunnels to clean them out. And this makes for an added bonus to visiting this interesting little alternative museum.

No matter how much you may get fed up with your own job on certain days, chances are that at least you don’t have to struggle and strain to push walls of sewage away with giant wooden balls!

Le Museé des Egouts de Paris Pont de l’Alma face au 93, quai d’Orsay 75007  Paris

Article by Sean McCarver please also check out Sean’s site Villa de Loon -Tales of a family, the mind-boggling strangers they allow in your  home

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Just two decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall, this vibrant and unique city’s troubled past is now a fading memory. It has also been crowned the new capital of cool, thanks to an influx of international designers, writers, architects and artists all drawn here by cheap rents and a culture of openess and experimentation. Hedonistic, trendy and edgy, many of the places to stay in Berlin reflect this new happening and cultural vibe and some of the most unusual and exciting city hotels can be found here. Here is our Top Ten (in no particular order):-

Design Hotels

Lux 11

Lux 11 caters to a hip, individualist crowd. This hotel has been successful in creating a calming modern, cosmopolitan and futuristic ambiance for people to escape the city hassles. This former stately home turned stylish boutique hotel is located in the Mitte district, one of Berlin’s hottest and trendiest neighbourhoods. The white geometric and impeccably designed rooms are more like apartments than hotel rooms and come complete with plasma TVs, WiFi and kitchenettes. Average nightly price $200

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Hotel Casa Camper

You may be aware of the trendy trainer brand Camper, well now you can stay in a Camper Hotel. Following the same ethos of their poplar footwear brand, Berlin’s Hotel Casa Camper is a contemporary design hotel with a focus on relaxation, comfort and an strictly ecological approach- all the products used are environmentally friendly in their materials and their production. The decor is sleek and modern but with an emphasis on a ‘homely feel.’ The hotel is also often commended on their attention to detail-you can make more out of your stay with a Camper bike or a romance kit! Average nightly price $260

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Hotel Q

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Achingly cool and edgier than most, this sleek and minimalistic design hotel has a striking red and white interior courtesy of the Graft Group (Brad Pitt‘s favourite architects) The hotel pays attention to the smallest of details-the lobby is filled with hip and atmospheric music, the clinical white corridors are lined with red shag pile carpets and the young and good-looking staff are all dressed in black. All the rooms are innovatively designed with sloping beds built into the walls and a spacious modern bathroom. Attracts a hip, young and glamorous crowd. Average nightly price $204

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Arcotel John F

Like Berlin itself, Arcotel John F is a vibrant, cosmopolitan and international hotel. The elegant, glossy and glamorous decor bear the hallmark of the Viennese industrial designer, artist and architect Prof. Harald Schreiber and all the rooms combine modern design with attention to detail. A very popular four star luxury hotel in the trendy Mitte district at a competitive price. Average nightly price: $166

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Hotel Art Nouveau

Recently renovated, this unique, small and charming hotel pays homage to the Art Nouveau tradition. The welcoming ambiance and elegantly themed rooms are completed with high ceilings, hand-picked antiques, polished hardwood floors, Conran-esque details and contemporary art. The antique wooden birdcage lift and the friendly and attentive English speaking staff add to the quirky but homely feel. Average nightly price $175

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Ku Damm 101

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A smart, competitively-priced design hotel with a colourful and striking futuristic lobby and industrial design inspired minimalist rooms. Each room has designer furniture, free wifi and a funky white-tiled bathroom. The hotel also has a convenient central location, a popular bar with terrace and a sunny breakfast room located above Berlin’s rooftops. Average nightly price $140

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Budget-Friendly Design Hotel

Motel One – Berlin Mitte

Ideal city accommodation for the more budget conscious, the popular Motel One offers trendy, comfortable and modern rooms for two star prices. All the rooms have a cool retro turquoise, grey and white signature colour scheme and the lobby’s stylish decor comprises of dark wood floors, leather cube stools, shag pile rugs and turquoise swivel chairs. Guests also benefit from flat-screen tvs, bathrooms with classy granite decor and free Wi-Fi in the lounge. Average nightly price $104

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The Really Unusual

Ostel

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Ostel perfectly captures the nostalgia for the former Communist East Germany days and neatly repackages it into a fun and trendy budget guesthouse/hostel. Mixing modern kitsch with days-gone-by this comfortable hotel offers a variety of different sized rooms all lovingly decked out in lurid 70s wallpaper, plastic flowers, chintzy lamps and chunky transistor radios as well as original GDR furniture. Average nightly price $104

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MichelBerger

MichelBerger is definitely one of a kind. This popular hotel was formed by a group of friends who aimed to create comfortable budget accommodation that feels more like you’re staying in the guest room of your cool mate’s house. The result is a high-design, uber-trendy but laid back hotel which perfectly captures the arty, edgy rebellious spirit of Berlin. Located in a old factory building the rooms feature high ceilings and larger than average windows decked out with kitschy wallpaper, flea-market finds, flat-screen TVs built into reclaimed industrial boxes and a vast collection of books! Average nightly price $98

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Propeller Island City Lodge Hotel

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Propeller Island Hotel is probably the nearest thing you can get to staying overnight at an art gallery. Extraordinary, surreal but never seeming to take itself too seriously, Propeller Island is often cited as being one of the world’s most unusual hotels. All the rooms have a one-off theme created by the German artist Lars Stroschen (although be warned-some rooms are more user-friendly than others!) and among many other room designs you can choose to sleep in a coffin in a crypt, a green-padded cell, an elevated cage or boxes beneath the floor of a room. Probably not a hotel for the closed-minded… Average nightly price $127

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Christmas always seems to be a big problem when you have a partner. Normally two months before Christmas the inevitable question is asked, “Where are we going for Christmas, yours or mine?” It’s always a hard call, my now wife and I often find ourselves in a tricky situation as I’m English and she’s Irish so we can’t please everyone. We have now decided to spend one year in Ireland, then England and for the third year we please ourselves. On this occasion we booked a trip to Paris…

Arrival a few days before Christmas

We chose a hotel located in Rue Mouffetard – a lively area with a wide range of bars, restaurants and my partner’s favourite, shops! On our first day we had a good walk around, we didn’t have any set plan we just pleased ourselves. We visited a mix of churches, museums, parks and more shops. As we’d both been to Paris before we didn’t feel the need to visit the main tourist sights although we did decide to spend half a day in the Louvre. This was a good choice, especially because my wife studied the history of art and is now an expert.

Christmas experience at the Mosque?

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We went exploring the local area and stumbled across the Paris Mosque. The Mosque was beautiful and very welcoming, we both sat in the peaceful courtyard for an hour and enjoyed Arabian teas, sweets and a hookah. Lots of visiting pretty yellow and green finches befriended us and it wasn’t long before my animal loving wife was off buying food with the sole purpose of feeding the birds. It was an unusual but enjoyable experience to find ourselves sitting in the courtyard of a mosque at Christmas.

Food & evening entertainment

In the evenings we would head to Rue Mouffetard for dinner before going to one of the North African bars for tea and to smoke Hookahs (by now I was getting a real taste for them). The bars were very different to what I was used to, they are dark and the air filled with fruit flavoured smoke. The customer base was mostly made up of Moroccans, Tunisians, a few French people and us. Looking in through the window we were a little apprehensive, we weren’t sure if we would be welcome but once inside everyone was very friendly and chatty, so much so that we returned most evenings.

Christmas Eve

Photo credit

We spent the day walking around Paris, thankfully most restaurants were open and we chose to eat in the Restaurant Le Jardin D’Ivy an excellent restaurant where I enjoyed 12 snails bathed in garlic and a perfect ‘blue’ peppered steak. On our way back to the hotel at midnight the local church’s bells started ringing and we made a decision to join the congregation at midnight mass. We glad we did we did, it was very atmospheric and there was a real mixture of people.

Sushi on Christmas Day..?

On Christmas Day as we feared there wasn’t much open, although we did eventually manage to find a bakery open where we bought croissants for breakfast. The rest of the day was spent walking around parks, stopping off at cafes and doing a bit of window shopping.

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It was easy enough to get lunch but as the day went on, more and more restaurants closed. We had popped to supermarket the previous day for supplies just in case we had to have a picnic in our hotel room! Just as we were thinking about cracking open the emergency supplies we spotted a Japanese restaurant called Edogawa. It had already been a very different Christmas so why not have Japanese as our Christmas dinner? We filled up on miso soup and huge amounts of sushi – it was Christmas so we ordered everything! The meal was perfect and only cost €24 for the two of us.

Spending our Christmas in Paris was an unique and pretty random experience but also very enjoyable!

Paris: the lowdown and visitor tips

Paris is a beautiful and romantic city and definitely worth visiting. Tourists flock here to see the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre among many other sites. To help you once there I would recommend a fantastic guide book – Cartoville, the one issue is that it isn’t published in English as it really does take you off the main tourist track.

Paris has an excellent metro system which makes everything very accessible and I recommend going without an itinerary and just enjoy discovering the city for yourself. Food and drink is fairly reasonably priced in Paris, as long as you avoid eating anywhere near the Champs-Élysées.

Getting there

We booked our outgoing flight from Dublin to Paris with Aer Lingus. We landed in Charles de Gaulle and jumped straight on a bus into the centre of Paris. Another good airline to try is Easyjet.

Where to stay

We nearly always stay near the Champs-Élysées, but this this time we booked into Les Grand Hotel Des Gobelins which was a small and friendly hotel in the Latin Quarter. The Latin Quarter is a very authentic Parisian area with a mix of families and students and not many tourists.

Other popular and good value hotels in Paris:

• Grand Hotel Francais Paris
• Hotel Gramont Opera Paris
• Lenox Montparnasse Hotel
• Or search all hotels in Paris…

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Take a trip to Val d’Isère at high season for £300 less than the tour operators cheapest deals.

Skiing is a passion of mine and I particularly enjoy skiing in Val d’Isère. It is well known that a ski holiday is not always the best value for money – a couple of years ago I stayed in the cheapest apartment I could find in Val d’Isère and the experience wasn’t pleasant. Even a cheap apartment cost upwards of £600 at the end of the season.

Another problem is that my partner is a teacher and can only ski during the rip-off package hell that is half-term week. Last year I went with her sister during term time, as you can imagine this didn’t go down too well! There are plenty of cheaper places to ski other than the French Alps, but very few of them offer the massive ski areas & après ski that France is famous for.

This year, after looking at the package ‘deals’ and getting more depressed by the minute I decided to investigate the art of the DIY ski holiday. There are numerous websites out there that will help you with organising this, I am only listing those I found most useful to me.

Accommodation

I started by looking for self-catering Ski chalets during the half-term week – big mistake. All the big tour operators have Google tied up with adverts & paid rankings. I found the same overpriced apartments from the same operators again and again. So I applied a little bit of sideways logic.

holiday-rentals.co.uk is a site that lists independently-owned accommodation in Europe and many parts of the world. I figured I might find a holiday cottage that was available in half term that just happened to be in a ski resort – and I found just that.

The owners of these types of places generally stay there themselves during their own holidays, so you’re practically guaranteed a decent quality of accommodation – unlike the other budget fleapits I’ve stayed in over the years. We chose one of Chris Rotsey’s apartments in the end – great looking apartment, only 100m away from a ski lift!

Transport

Take a 5am flight from Gatwick to Geneva followed by a 5 hour coach journey to the resort? I don’t think so. I’ll take the train thanks. More environmentally sensible, quicker & more comfortable by far.

Eurostar Ski Train

This is brilliant.  You book a ticket, you get on the train at St Pancras on a Friday night or Saturday morning and arrive in Bourg St Maurice (gateway to Val d’Isère, Les Arcs, La Rosière, Val Thorens & other resorts) 10 hours later, refreshed or seriously hungover (your choice!).

The only problem with the Ski Train is that tickets can sell out 18 months in advance, especially if you are trying to go at half-term as I discovered.

The alternative to Eurostar

You can get the Eurostar to Paris Gare de Nord, catch the Metro to Gare de Lyon and finally travel on a TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) all the way to Bourg St Maurice. From there you can either hop on one of the scheduled coaches to the resort of your choice, or hire a taxi – if there are 5 or more of you, it often works out cheaper to book a taxi.

Booking tips

• Eurostar releases tickets ‘around’ 120 days before departure & TGV tickets are available around 90 days before departure – ‘around’ means anywhere up to 10 days either side from my experience.
• All the train companies operate an Easyjet-style pricing policy, the prices go up as the availability goes down, so you have to get in there quick – and you may have to gamble.
• When booking the train leave at least an hour to cross Paris (2 hours if you want a croissant en route!)
• To save money, travel during the least sociable hours you can bear – taking into consideration what time you can get in & what time you have to leave your apartment.
• It can be cheaper (it was for us) to stay in a hotel in St Pancras the night before & get a very early Eurostar to Paris the next morning than it is to get a later departure (we got family rooms in the Kings Cross Travelodge for £50 each, sleeping 3 or 4 people per room)

Ski hire & lift passes

You’ll be spoilt for choice for ski hire shops in Val d’Isère; shop around & book your equipment online before you go for some decent discounts. I recommend Snowberry Val d’Isère, who were voted Best ski shop in Europe 2009. They also gave me a cup of tea after I scared myself silly on an ill-advised last run of the day! You can avoid the crushing queues buy booking your lift passes online.

Photo credit

I hope you have a wonderful holiday, wherever you go. I saved nearly £300 each for my group – I suspect most of that will get spent in the outrageously priced bars – no advice there I’m afraid!

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Cosy farmhouse along the river Kromme Rijn, outside of Utrecht, Netherlands.

The city of Utrecht is the fourth largest of The Netherlands, and has a long history dating back to the Stone Age. It is home to myriad museums, and its most famous export is the illustrated childrens character Miffy, as drawn by artist Dick Bruna, who was a long time resident.

Where to stay in Utrecht

• Park Plaza Hotel Utrecht
• Grand Hotel Karel V Utrecht
• Apollo Hotel City Centre Utrecht

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The northern lights or aurora borealis have fascinated many for thousands of years. A naturally occurring phenomenon, the lights appear as solar wind particles collide with air molecules in the Earth’s atmosphere, and emit excess energy as light.

The winter months provide the best conditions to see them in the northern regions of Iceland, Canada, Finland, Sweden and Norway. You’re not always guaranteed to see them, but on a clear evening, far away from natural lights, and as far north as possible, you could witness this incredible display of nature.

Photo credit

Photo credit

Photo credit

Photo credit

Where to stay

• Sweden: Icehotel – Built entirely from snow and ice, a stylish hotel north of the Arctic Circle in Lapland
• Iceland: Hotel Rangá – A member of the Special Hotels Of The World, a luxury resort 1hr from Reykjavik
• Finland: Holiday Club Hotel Saariselka – The northernmost spa hotel in Europe
• Canada: Explorer Hotel – In northwest Canada, 500km from the Arctic Circle

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Rome is a wonderful place. It’s a truly beautiful and sometimes mysterious city. Rome was my home for over two years and these were some of the best years of my life so far. During my time there I learned a lot, although it’s an incredible place it also be a hard place to visit. I hope this guide will help you enjoy this famous and ancient city even more.

Getting around

My first recommendation is to avoid taxis! Personally I am not a big fan taxi drivers anyway but in Rome 90% of the time you feel you have been ripped off. Rome is a fairly small place and easy to navigate around. You can get around most of the city using the bus or my favourite option, walking. Avoid the bus tours everyone tries to sell you and buy either a one day travel pass (€4) or a three day pass (€11). This will entitle you to unlimited travel around the whole of Rome.

Where to stay

When you visit Rome like with so many cities, it’s important to chose the right location when you’re looking for somewhere to stay. I have a few suggestions, Piazza Venezia or Piazza Barberini would be a good choice because of their central location. St Peters and The Vatican is a nice area to stay but it can be a little harder to get to other places from. My personal preference would be to stay in Trastevere; this would give you a real Roman experience although there are only a handful of hotels located there.

Termini seems to be a popular tourist location because it has plenty of cheap hotels and is accessible to all the main sights in Rome. Personally I would avoid Termini, the restaurants are appalling and the crime rate here is above average.

Places to see

No matter how many days you plan to spend in Rome it will never be enough. When people come to Rome they often only stay for two or three days so here is a suggested itinerary for two days:

Recommended Itinerary – Day 1

1. Early Morning: Take a trip to St Peters. If possible try to visit before 9am as you will beat the crowds and get a completely different experience to one when it is full of hundreds of people all taking photos and driving you crazy.
2. When you have finished at St.Peters follow the surrounding wall around to the Vatican museum (on your way you will see a little ice cream shop on your right, my personal favourite in all of Rome). Again it is best to get to the museum as early as possible as the queues can get ridiculous. Ignore the people trying to sell you tours and head in on your own, you can always hire an audio guide once inside. Allow a couple of hours in the museum.
3. Once you have finished in the museum jump on the metro and head in the direction of Termini for three stops. Once at Flaminio jump off and head to Piazza del Popolo. I would imagine that you are now feeling a little hungry and in need of a beer. A great stop for excellent pizzas is Pizza Re (Pizza King) on Via di Ripetta.
4. Next head along Via del Corso and check out the shops. Some shops you might like and some you might wonder who the hell buys the stuff in them. Romans tend to have a unique sense of fashion (as you will see from those around you!).
5. Follow the signs or your map to the Trevi Fountain, once there beware of beggars and people trying to sell you useless rubbish.
6. Round the corner from the Trevi Fountain you will find the famous Spanish Steps. Walk and up feel free to count them (if you’re feeling masochistic!). Now with your back to the steps, head right and make your way to Barberini (along Via Sistina).
7. Once at Barberini you will see one of Bernini’s famous fountains, an impressive sight before the final part of the journey. Walk along Via Barberini until you come to Piazza della Repubblica. If you feel like you’ve earned a special treat, I would suggest sitting outside the Boscolo Hotel and enjoy an expensive but well deserved Mojito.
8. After a pretty hectic day you might fancy a quiet meal. I would recommend “Perdincibacco” next to St.Peters on Via delle Fornaci. The food here is good and you’ll get a very good litre of house red for just €6.

Recommended Itinerary – Day 2

1. The first stop is to visit the Colosseum, if possible I would suggest trying to get a ticket in advance, there is a good chance you can get it from your hotel or they will point you in the right direction. Again avoid the offers of tour guides or having your photo taken people dressed up as gladiators. It may look fun but they will charge you over €10 for the privilege!
2. After you’ve exhausted the Colosseum head to the Forum , here you can walk around ancient ruins for free.
3. You will end up in Piazza Venezia, from here it would be a good spot to stop for a coffee. In cafes you will rarely see Italians sitting down having a coffee, this is because they know the coffee prices are ridiculous in tourist spots (two or three times the normal price!)
4. After you’ve enjoyed your probably very expensive coffee, make your way down Via del Corso until you see signs on your left for the Pantheon. The Pantheon is a very busy spot, but a good mix of locals and tourists. Once past the crowds head inside and have a good look around, it’s an incredible monument and my personal favourite.
5. For lunch you can do as Romans do and stop off for Pizza al Taglio. You will probably have seen various places selling large slabs of pizza. A slice of pizza will be cut off for you depending how hungry you are! They will then weigh it and tell you how much you owe. The pizza in Rome is incredible and very different to what you have probably eaten in the rest of the world!
6. After the Pantheon and lunch make your way to Piazza Navona and Campo di Fiori (field of flowers, not that you will see any there!), both places are fantastic spots to stop for a coffee (this time it’s worth paying the extra and having a seat). Kick back, take a rest and do some quality people watching. Caffe della Pace behind Piazza Navona it isn’t a cheap stop at €5 for a freshly squeezed orange juice, but it’s well worth it.
7. Once the sun has gone down, I would highly recommend heading back to the Colosseum to get some photos, an incredible sight with the lights inside turned on.
8. Then head to Trastevere and take a stroll around the cobbled streets before choosing one of the many excellent local restaurants. I would recommend “Da Agusto” or a lovely trattoria “Da Lucia.” A good tip when choosing a restaurant is that if you see a group of Italians waiting outside it’s a pretty safe bet.
9. After dinner and maybe an ice cream (you can’t come to Rome and not try their ice cream!) you may fancy a bar or club. Most tourists would head to Campo di Fiori but some of the city’s best night clubs are in Testaccio. Rome’s nightclubs are a pretty unusual experience but definitely worth a visit.

Rome is a wonderful place with so much to offer. If you enjoy it half as much as I did you I’m sure you’ll have a great time!

Rome: the Lowdown

Rome is the capital of Italy and is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber river. Rome is a very historic city and is over two and a half thousand years old and was one of the founding and most powerful cities in Western Civilization. It is often cited as one of the best cities to visit in the world. Rome has hot dry summers, wet and cold winters and pleasant temperatures in spring and autumn. It is not uncommon to have fine beach weather from the start of May until the middle of October.

Good value popular hotels in Rome

• WRH Trastevere (One of only a few hotels in Trastevere)
• Apollo Hotel (near the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain)
• Hotel Artorius (quiet but very central location)
• Caesar House Residenze Romane (close to the Colosseum with views over the Roman Forum)
• Or search over 30 major travel sites at once to find the best price for all hotels in Rome.

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Best for Atmosphere

Cologne Christmas market is actually six markets in one town, the four largest and the most impressive are located right outside the town’s beautiful Gothic cathedral. The markets are a huge event and every year they regularly attract 2 million visitors. The half-timber stalls, the temporary ice-rink, the floating market and the Medieval Christmas market outside the Chocolate museum are particularly attractive to visitors and are just a few of the reasons why this market has charmed so many to keep returning in huge numbers year after year. In fact nobody does a Christmas market quite like Germany and Nuremberg, Dresden and Munich are also considered some of the most beautiful and atmospheric.

Cologne Christmas market: 27th November – 23rd December 2009
Nuremberg Christmas market: 27th November – 24th December 2009
Dresden Christmas market: 26th November–24th December 2009
Munich Christmas market: 27th November – 24th December 2009

Good value and popular hotels in Cologne:

• Azimut Hotel City Center
• Hotel Lyskirchen
• Hotel Domstern
• Or search all hotels in Cologne

Search all hotels in Nuremburg, Dresden or Munich

Best for Children

There is a strong emphasis on fairy tales and folk-lore at the the Prague Christmas markets and the organisers really go that extra mile in creating a true “Winter Wonderland” setting. There is even a nativity style petting zoo, a very large (and extremely well lit!) Christmas tree, dance and singing concerts and horse carriage rides as well as traditional seasonal foods and decoration/gifts.

Prague Christmas Market: 28th November 2009 – 1st January 2010

Good value and popular hotels in Prague:

• Arcadia Residence
• Park Inn Hotel
• Hotel Julian
• Or search all hotels in Prague

Best for Budget

It might not be the most famous market but this traditional but less commercial Christmas market in Bratislava, Slovakia might be the perfect choice for a more budget-conscious traveller. Popular with tourists and locals alike this market offers everything from locally crafted gifts, winter clothing and ceramics as well as everything in between. Watch live entertainment as you scoff bread with dripping and onion and potato pancakes filled with goose liver (or just fruit-filled pancakes and apple pies..)

Bratislava Christmas Market: 1st November 2009 – 1st January 2010

Good value and popular hotels in Bratislava:

• Hotel Arcus
• Hotel Antares
• Ibis Bratislava Centrum
• Or search all hotels in Bratislava

Most Unique Shopping Experience

If you’re after something a little bit different then perhaps the Christmas market in Valkenburg, Holland would appeal, the whole market takes place in a cave underneath the city. Trawl the candle-lit labyrinth of passageways and caverns for gifts and decorations and marvel at the impressive mural carvings and sculptures also located there.

Valkenburg Christmas Market: 28th November – 14th December 2009

Good value and popular hotels in Valkenburg:

• Hotel LeTo
• Hotel Atlanta
• Schaepkens van St Fijt Hotel
• Or search all hotels in Valkenburg

Best for Chocolate Lovers

If you or your family had a particular addiction to all things chocolate then the popular Christmas fair in Brussels, Belgium should be right up your street. The “Winter Wonderland” takes place on the Place Sainte Catherine and as well as culinary delights such as steamed snails, oysters, gingerbread and forest mushrooms on toast, as expected there is also a vast range of Belgian chocolate treats.

Brussels Christmas Market: 27th November 2009 – 3rd January 2010

Good value and popular hotels in Brussels:

• NH Stephanie
• Hotel a la Grande Cloche
• Four Points by Sheraton
• Or search all hotels in Brussels

Coolest Christmas Market

Barcelona is often considered one of the coolest European cities and Christmas in Barcelona is no exception. The weather is still warm enough to walk comfortably around the city at night and the lively street artists in Las Ramblas make for a very good atmosphere. The Santa Lucia market is located near the cathedral in the Gothic quarter in Barcelona, here you can buy local crafts, unusual gifts (including Caganer, a Catalan “pooping” statue!) and the traditional Spanish Christmas sweet turron. If you plan your stay around the 28th December, you’ll be treated to the Spanish version of April Fool’s Day when the streets will be filled with even more lively entertainment, artists and music.

Santa Lucia Christmas Market: 1st – 24th December or 28th December 2009 for “Holy Innocents’ Day” (the Spanish version of April Fools Day).

Good value and popular hotels in Barcelona:

• Condado Hotel
• Hotel Praktik Rambla
• Catalonia Port
• Or search all hotels in Barcelona

Best all rounder

The “Christkindlmärkte” in Vienna, Austria is another very popular (and seven hundred year old!) Christmas market. It’s a very traditional market with an emphasis on nostalgia, fun and romance. As well as the usual concerts and nativity displays there is also a well-loved live advent calendar display and a Children’s Christmas Workshop in the City Hall. The atmospheric streets, town square and the surrounding park are all filled with the aromas of candied fruits, cotton candy, Christmas punch and roasted chestnuts, surely the perfect way to get you in the Christmas mood?

Vienna Christmas Market: 14th November – 24th December 2009

Good value and popular hotels in Vienna:

• Hotel Rathaus Wein & Design Wien
• Bella Vienna City Hotel
• Starlight Suiten Am Salzgries
• Or search all hotels in Vienna

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