Europe Hotel Tips by sourbugger Top 5 Page for this destination

St Katherine's Dock, London, UK: C is for the cheapest deal in London

The best deal in London?

There is a catch (now there's a surprise)...you have to bring your own boat.

If you are a sailor however, then you can stay right in the heart of London at St Katherines Dock next to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.

Berthing charges at Twenty-one pounds (up to 10M boats) may be relatively expensive compared to other moorings...but an absolute bargain for staying in the centre of London.

Address: St Katherine's dock, pool of London

Comparison: least expensive

Price: less than US$20

Theme: Other

Hotel du Vin chain...: R is for Red, Red Wine

This company has about seven hotel spread throughout England. Four star hotels with the theme, you've guessed it ,of wine.

They tend to take over old buildings and complete imaginative conversions implanting all the modern design status icons like LCD T.V's.

The old hospital in Birmingham, is one of my favourites with a bar and restaurant covered in old wine bottles.

The company regularly runs special events connected with wine, and as you would expect the wine cellar is enoromous.

Unique Qualities: Although I've not stayed there, the Henley-on-Thames hotel has regularly been garlanded with awards in the press. One of it's more unusual features are the balconies of teh suites that overhang the Thames - they have an open air cast Iron bath on them.
Don't use one if you are bit bashful, binoculars can be very powerfull these days.

Address: see website

Comparison: more expensive than average

Price: US$120-180

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.hotelduvin.com

various: V is for Very good website

Despite the myriad of websites for booking hotels across Europe, I have no hesitation in recommending the following website for it's ease of use, range of hotel avaialble and good prices.

www.laterooms.com

Unique Qualities: You can get some stunning deals at times, although they may well be 'business' hotels with tons of empty rooms at the weekend - and therefore may lack atmosphere.

Theme: Other

Terrass Hotel, Paris, France: N is for Necropolis view (much better name)

It's not often that Sourbugger is impressed with a Hotel in Paris, but I must admit this place turned out to be an excellent choice.

A four-star hotel, and quite traditional in it's look and furnishings. The family room we had was large by the Standards of Paris: a good bath, nice furnishing, a superb bed and very child-friendly environment(no sharp edges etc). Excellent view out over the local cemetry (if you like that sort of thing) and the Eiffel tower in the distance.

The public areas are a little small and lack a bit of atmosphere, attached reataurant good but pricey. Excellent breakfast.

Unique Qualities: The terrace on the top floor (hence the name of the hotel) affords a great view out over Paris, and breakfast is served up here in the Summer. I would be willing to stay here again just for that experience.

Address: 12 Rue Joseph De Maistre, 75018 Paris

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Monmartre, couple of block behind Moulin Rouge

Price: US$120-180

Theme: Hotel

White Hart Hotel, Boston, lincs, UK (Closed): X is for X-Files material

The Pyschic, Miriam Gifford (no, I've not heard of her either, but I don't believe any of this rubbish) claims that the White Hart hotel in the middle of Boston, Lincs UK is one of the most haunted locations in the UK. The place is apprantly alive with various things that go bump in the night. This includes the spirits of small children who persistently steal thing on the second floor - that must play buggery with housekeeping.

The hotel is currently shut for re-furbishment.

Perhaps they could play on this theme - wouldn't it be great to be greeted at reception by a Zombie and have east-european vampires cleaning the rooms (well no change there then !)

Unique Qualities: The following is an example from the website www,psycicfayres.co.uk :

WE SAT AT A PUB TABLE OAK, YOU KNOW THE TYPE VERY STURDY AND HARD TO MOVE. WELL THIS IS WHEN IT GETS INTERESTING I SHOWED EVERY BODY HOW TO DO SOME PSYCHIC SELF DEFENSE AND SAID A HAIL MARY CALLING ON THE MOTHER GODDESS.

IT STARTED TO TREMBLE WE PUT IT DOWN TO PRESSURE OF HANDS ON THE TABLE AND EVERY ONE BEING A LITTLE FIDGETY; BUT NOT SO IT STARTED TO MOVE ACROSS THE FLOOR SLOWLY AND THEN WITH SOME SPEED TO CUT A LONG STORY SHORT THE TABLE WAS MOVING ON ITS OWN AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS AND WE HAD 3-4 DIFFERENT ENERGIES COME AND GO.

THE CHEF WAS PRESENT BUT DID NOT WANT TO PARTICIPATE BUT WHEN HE SAW IT MOVING HE PUT HIS HAND ON TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. ALL OF THAT WAS FANTASTIC AND NOT EVEN A LITTLE BIT SCARY IT FELT GOOD.

Address: High st Boston

Theme: Other

: travel inn / formula 1 / travelodge / hi-exp: E is For East End provides a bargain in London

One way of keeping cost down is to is to look on the websites companies like Formula 1 ,Travel inn, Travelodge, Holiday Inn Express.

There are a number of these places in the east end around Barking and Docklands. As long as the transport links are reasonable and you don't want any local nightlife these places are good value.

The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) also provides a more pleasant way of entering London as most of it is above ground before diving underground to get to "Bank" station on weekdays.

Room only prices often come up at about 40-50 pounds a night.

For example, I recently stayed in the Travel inn at Excel (the exhibition centre). There are loads of new hotels springing up around here, including an ETAP and a Ramada.

When there is not a conference / exhibition on then many of the rooms are available and only cost between 40 and 60 pounds a night.

Transport links are limited - but the DLR is increasingly useful and reliable.

Another example is the Holiday Inn express at Canning Town (£60 a room with cont. Breakfast), Standard hotel, as you would expect from a train but right next to Canning Town Tube (jubilee line) which is only eight stops from the heart of the West End.

Unique Qualities: None - we are talking chains here, but at least you won't get dodgy decor, unexplained stains on the sheets, or a greasy heart-attack breakfast in the morning. There is also zero chance of the place doubling as the local knocking shop. Unlike most hotel in central London, if you arrive by car, it can be parked for free at most hotels in the Docklands area.

Address: East End of London and Dockland

Comparison: less expensive than average

Price: US$20-40

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.hiexpress.co.uk

Travelodge: S is for Supersavers in the UK

The Travelodge chain has a good range of sites rught throughout the UK.

Many are the 'one size fits all' design, dumped by the side of major motorways and roads, like a McDonalds with romms, but some are re-furbished buildings within cities.

They very therefore quite widely, but all will offer clean, if a little spartan acommodation at a reasonable price.

Unique Qualities: The company has initiated a good range of deals based on the 'low-cost' model for booking spaces pioneered by the airlines.

These deals, basically consist of 26 pound rooms for some dates, not subject to change, and 10 pound rooms which have to be booked well in advance.

This is a great bargain, as long as you know your dates and they "ain't gonna change".

As all rooms are basically the same (there are a few larger family rooms) and at the same price, you won't be fobbed off with a crummy room either.

Several VT members have posted this great deal on the deals section of the VT website.

Address: all over the uk

Comparison: less expensive than average

Price: US$20-40

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.travelodge.co.uk

Thistle Tower Hotel London: Y is for Years back in time

The hotel no longer sports the 'Thistle' logo as it has now been put into a new division of the company called 'Guomen'. It still has a way to go before it is seen as an exclusive brand.

I found a good deal for 79 pounds, posted it on the VT deal section and stayed there ready for the VT january meeting.

Unfortunately, if you book a cheap room you end up on an un-refurbished floor. It was probably the height of fashion in 1973, but the chocolate covered room (furnishings rather than food you understand) has had nothing done to it since. This type of room would be an embarrasment to a one-star hotel, yet alone a place that claims 4 stars.

I explained this at great length to the duty manager. To give him his due, he arranged a free upgrade. The new room was much more what one would expect. Only the horribe window fittings remained from the 1970's and they were probably protected as an design feature.

Therefore, if you do book this hotel, ensure you get one of the modern rooms.

Breakfast too is not up to scratch. The buffet was acceptable, but a 'full english' in a four-star should be individually cooked. Mine was lukewarm at best. I also asked for fresh coffee - and recieved a pot of stewed tea. To make matters worse the rooms was decorated with some cod medieval rubbish pertaining to the tower of London, and I could see people drinking proper coffee in a starbucks in the Dock are through the picture window.

MY wife commented that I had booked 'The tower', but the real 'Tower of London' would probably have been more comfortable. Well at least you get to wake up in the morning.

Unique Qualities: Superb views of St Katherine's dock, the Tower of London or Tower Bridge.

Superb location then also - although it is a good 5 minute walk or more to the nearest tube.

Address: St Katherines Way, , London E1W 1CD

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: ugly duckling building next to tower bridge

Price: US$80-120

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.guomen.com

One Aldwych Hotel, London, UK: Z is for Zedding away on a great night's sleep

If there is one thing I can't stand about five star hotels is obsequious service. Thankfully at this place it is courteous and swift, and no more. I just hate some waiter worrying about the exact placing of a fork - as if it really matters in life.

This hotel has one numerous awards, partly for the service standards already mentioned and partly for the modern, minimalist design of the hotel.

I especially like the lobby and bar area, which occupies an imposing triangular site in the heart of theatreland.

The flat-iron, triangular shaped building was the former offices of a newspaper years ago, and is rumoured to be favoured by Madonna (the singer rather than the mother of Jesus), although she probably didn't have a standard room.

Unique Qualities: Several virtues to mention here :

The beds had some of the most comfortable bed lined I have ever come across - I found it difficult to get up in the morning.

The underground pool, whilst not very large is perfectly servicable, and a good place to chill out after a hard day's sightseeing.

The Location was excellent - saves loads on taxi fares to theatres and restaurants.

There are over 300 original works of art dotted around the hotel, including at least one in every guestroom.

In conclusion, an excellent hotel, although I was glad it wasn't me who was paying the bill.

Address: 1 Aldwych, London, England WC2B

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: The name of the hotel = the adresss.

Just off Strand opp. the Savoy.

Price: US$120-180

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.onealdwych.co.uk

The Bell Inn, Horndon -on - the hill, Essex, UK: U is for unique eccentic qualities

Basildon in Essex, UK, itself is home to several of the main chain hotels - and you get precisely what you pay for : chain design, uniform and uninteresting.

Horndon-on-the Hill boasts a small (11 bedrooms 5 suites) hotel that is absolutely bursting with character.

The Bell inn has been a coaching inn for hundreds of years, and the sense of history seems to palpable as you sup in the main bar.

You can get very good bar beals, whilst the restaurant has a very good reputation locally.

In the summer you might be lucky enough to hit one of their bar-b-que nights, or even (as I sometimes did) visit the day after a wedding when they bring out some of the leftovers for free to the bar.

Unique Qualities: The village the bar sits in is now not much more than a suburb of Basildon, but the locals don't see it like that. They are very proud of their little historic village, and the Bell Inn is at the centre of local life.

The bar also has another unusual feature : there is a collection of very stale 'hot cross buns' handing on strings from the ceiling. A new one is put up each year with a name somehow embedded into it. I don't know what they leave out to ensure the things don't go mouldy - but I'm no baker.

Address: High Road, Horndon-on-the hill

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Just follow the signs off the A13 or A127, or from Basildon town centre.

Price: US$40-80

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.bell-inn.co.uk