Brilliant Blighty

Gordon Brown and David Cameron have got it right this summer in one department at least - they're both holidaying in the UK. David Cameron might want to watch out for old Mother Ivy and not do any digging... (click here... you couldn't make this stuff up!).

Now, being who I am and doing what I do, I don't discourage holidays abroad - they're great for expanding our horizons and seeing a different perspective on the world. But this summer just feels right to bring back the good old British summer holiday. Whether it's on the beaches (ooh, Churchill) or in the wonderful cities.

My friends who came down last week had an amazing time in London - I was doubly proud because of the fine weather. Nicolas from Paris even liked the food - he did go to a French restaurant though! They all loved the hotels I recommended of course!

So, at the risk of repeating myself - there is so much to do in London right now. Come and take advantage! Somerset House are putting on their usual outside film screenings - balmy summer nights and great films! London Zoo, the galleries, the museums, the palaces, the shopping...! I've also booked up to go and see Ripley's Believe It or Not museum, full of the weird and wonderful and it's open until midnight... believe it or not... Oh, I crack myself up!

So I've taken it upon myself to invite more friends this week, as there are more fabulous hotels in London that I want to share. And you, dear reader, can take advantage of my great advice too.

My first friend would've been a real challenge, a real pain in the derriere to most people, but I'm really rather good at what I do! Irish Steve is a fitness fanatic; he needed a gym and pool; he wanted to be near friends in North London, a bit away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre; a really good quality hotel for not too high a price.

No problem - the Crown Moran Hotel in North West London. Not only does it fit all those criteria, it's an Irish hotel, so he knows it'll feel like a home from home. I've stayed here many times and I love how cool this place is - the massive glass atrium/reception is a wonder!

Crown Moran Hotel London 4 star

from £54pppn

Next up was Carrie, a Gemini (who I met whilst in a Waitrose in Surrey buying nice olives), who is rather contradictory and loves the best of both worlds. She likes history, but then loves all things modern too. She wanted to see the sights, but also experience the nightlife of London. This was also a doddle - the London Bridge Hotel, right in the city centre, right near, yes, you guessed it, London Bridge.

From here she can go to the Tate Modern, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the Old Operating Theatre Museum the list goes on. And when she gets back from all this sightseeing, she can relax in this historic building with its cosy modern decor. Nearby are the riverside bars and restaurants that make London so special.

London Bridge Hotel London 4 star

from £49pppn

My final challenge was John, a rugby-loving Northern builder who's been a friend of the family ever since we had an extension put on the country house for my parent's extensive expedition equipment (try saying that 5 times really quickly - even funnier after a shandy). He's never been down to London and I've told him a million times how much he'd like it.

He's a real patriot, he knows all the words to Land of Hope and Glory, stands up for the national anthem and loves his British food. So Sanctuary House Hotel London, right in the heart of Westminster, is right up his street. First of all it's above the very smart Fuller's Pie & Ale House, so if he doesn't want to do nouvelle cuisine and wants a proper portion of great home-cooked food, he doesn't have to go far. It's near all the sights he'll want to see, and the bedrooms are very comfortable and traditional. I even got him a day out at the Twickenham Museum and Stadium Tour.

Sanctuary House Hotel London 3 star superior

from £50pppn

It's so satisfying knowing that I've made some great friends very happy. Check out our London hotels and all our other destinations here. And, of course, our special offers. After all, we all love a bargain!

sunshine, sausages and socialising

here comes summer, here comes summer...

yes, as the nation breathes a sigh of relief (and as I inevitably jinx the rest of July and August - sorry!) we finally have hot weather.

And do you know what that means?

In the words of Martine McBride (the country-pop music singer-songwriter... c'mon keep up) - I aint goin' nowhere.

Some people hate cities in hot weather, but not London! So many parks to sunbathe in, ponds to swim in, and gardens to charcoal some sausages in (on the outside only - remember, the inside is to remain raw).

I've invited some friends to come to London this weekend, so i've been doing some research as for the best places for them to stay. Normally I'd put them up at my place, but my great auntie and her clan that are decamping at Secret Agent headquarters this weekend... more tea crazy than tea cosy believe me.

So - my lovely Parisian friend Nicolas is going to come over via the Eurostar. He's your typical student... a bit short of cash, but very very long on the knowledge. So I've suggested he stay at the Arriva Hotel which is just near the Eurostar terminal. It's unbelievable good value, and is nice and clean and he'll love the fact that there is a mini fridge in every room, AND WIFI access. Then he can continue to Facebook and tell people his status every second of the day.

Coming down from Glasgow is Bobby. Bobby is THE man about town. He's already selected where he wants to stay. He told me "I want to be in the centre of the action, where i can FEEL London all around me". I suggested the Northern Line at 8am, but instead he's chosen to stay at the Strand Palace which IS on the Strand. Just as Nico loves his mini fridge, Bobby loves the fact that the Strand Palace hotel has 2 restaurants and three bars.

And then, making up the rest of the crowd is Julian from Leeds. Or J-woah as we like to call him. He has some-what of the Keanu Reeves about him. J-woah is too cool. He's almost too cool for himself, stating that he likes something in one sentence then following it with a statement about how he's so over it already. It's the Crowne Plaza Shoreditch for him. The area is just perfect - loads of uber hip bars and venues, and then ultimately Brick Lane for the end of the evening when he's realised that he really is still Jules who loves a pint and a really hot curry.

So a weekend of sunbathing, shopping and bar hopping. As long as I haven't jinxed the weather... I can feel those clouds coming over now...

Laters

Secret Agent

In need of sunshine? Me too!

So....this weekend I'm off to Barcelona and I cannot wait! I'm feeling in the festival spirit and am trying to get myself up to date with all these bands - oooooh la.....ruby ruby ruby ruuuuuuuuuuuby. ahem. (everyone in the office is looking at me). yes. back to work. So I'm off to stay in the H10 Montcada Hotel Barcelona as I said on my last entry. Very much looking forward to chilling in the rooftop jacuzzi, and maybe even heading to the gym & sauna, to get myself in shape to jump around at the festival like the young secret agent I try to be.

Because I'm there for a long weekend I'm not planning on being at the festival the entire time (I quite like my beauty sleep these days too), so I've just been researching a bit more about Barcelona and discovered there are no less than 7 beaches! Sant Sebastia and Barceloneta are the largest & most popular apparently - think I will head out there for a bit of sun during my stay. Also if for some reason you can't stay at the H10 Montcada Hotel Barcelona, then don't forget there's another H10 hotel there - the H10 Universitat Barcelona. Set in a restored 19th century building, it's also very centrally located close to Plaza Catalunya and the Ramblas. And on arrival there's a complimentary glass of cava! wooohoooooooo!

If by any chance, you're wondering where to go for a good sunshine break, then I came across a wonderful hotel in Nice the other day - the Splendid Hotel Nice only 5 mins walk from the promendade des Anglais (very central), has an open air swimming pool & a jacuzzi. Nice. In Nice. (get it?)

Alternatively the reception area in the Park Hotel Nice is exceptional - a great welcome to the beautiful hotel - lots of marble & a huge staircase.

Plus the hotel has a shared private beach! Think I know where I'm going to be going next, don't know about you.

Must get on....and go & pack. Now where did I put those speedos?

In Search of a Summer...

Is anyone else fed up with the four-seasons-per-day weather we seem to be having recently? I take pride in my suave appearance, and it can be difficult to maintain when a walk to the shop results in Albert-Einstein style hair thanks to an unexpected torrential downpour!

So I'm thinking I might escape for a long weekend. I just can't make up my mind at the moment. It's got to be somewhere really hot - hot weather, sizzling hotel and something scorchingly fab to do on those balmy evenings.

Lisbon's caught my eye... The Delta-Tejo Music Festival is on, and promises to be masses of fun, for a start. The weather is getting warmer by the day. And there's a great little boutique hotel that I've not yet been to (yes, I know, a hotel I haven't checked out yet, don't fall off your chair!). I have it on good authority from 'Super' (Andrew, I've mentioned him a few times before, we're good pals), that this little place is a gem.

A short, inexpensive taxi ride from the airport (not that I need it with my NASA-designed teleporter - thanks Jeff!) the Lisboa Tejo Hotel Lisbon (3 star superior from £44pppn) is slap bang in the heart of the Baixa district. Andrew told me it oozed old world poetry mixed with modern fizz. I looked at him strangely. He shut up. But showed me the pictures of the stunning lobby and the spacious, modern rooms and I have to say I was pretty much sold...

Until Sarah (our resident expert on all things Spanish) piped up with another suggestion... "Why not Barcelona?". The H10 Montcada Hotel Barcelona (4 star from £57pppn). Also fantastically located, by the Cathedral in the Gothic Quarter, near Las Ramblas - famed for its street performers which vary from the sublime to the ridiculous. Also on next weekend is the Summercase festival featuring Maximo Park, The Verve, The Kooks and the Kings of Leon.

It's a blissful 25 degrees (80 degrees in old money!) as I write this too. Anyway, back to the hotel... rooms are great - elegant and relaxing, the public areas are all modern and fresh. There is a treatment room for massages - to iron out those knots! But all this is window-dressing to me when I heard about...

... the rooftop jacuzzi. That swung it for me.

I'm booked up for next weekend!

click here for all special offers in Lisbon

or

click here for all special offers in Barcelona

or just

click here for all special offers

... then you can make your own mind up - I can't do everything, I'm very busy and important, you know!