It's all about the service...

We like top ten lists here at HotelConnect. Top ten feel good films, top ten ideal dinner guests, top ten sugary snacks... serious hunger here at HotelConnect Towers - must be the onset of Winter, but we're not preparing to hibernate just yet! There's far too much to tell you each week. But I digress... Anyway, top ten lists...

High on my personal Top Ten List of Top Ten Lists would be the HotelConnect Best Service Hotels. When people come back from staying in one of our hotels we ask them to fill in a little questionnaire. It's a very easy one. There aren't many questions, and they're multiple choice, and as its your own opinion, you can't get a question wrong. Why can't all tests be like that?

So, without further ado, and with much applause, drum rolling and general over-excitement, here are the Top Ten Hotels for Service, as voted for by HotelConnect customers:


1 venice - A La Commedia 5/5

2 paris - Sofitel Arc de Triomphe 5/5

3 hong kong - Langham Place (Kowloon) 5/5

4 venice - Colombina 5/5

5 munich - Kings Hotel First Class 5/5

6 cork - Maryborough 5/5

7 algarve - Globo (Portimao) 5/5

8 paris - K&K Cayre 5/5

9 berlin - Ku'Damm 101 5/5

10 budapest - Orion 5/5

Click here, or or any of the hotels above to learn more about them.

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Right, where was I? Well, as you know I've been jetting off around the world recently, planning and researching. And do you know what I did at the weekend? Well, I'll tell you! I had a little break of my own. How could I resist when the lovely Accademia Hotel Verona had a 5 nights for the price of 4 offer?!

And yes, I did take along a special person. And no, I'm not going to tell you who. Suffice to say she's someone who loves travel as much as I do. We dined at the hotel restaurant, Ristorante Accademia, which was as sparkling and elegant as my guest - pumpkin risotto... mmmmm! The traditional, cosy and spacious rooms were lovely to come back to after wandering the pretty streets and lanes. The museum at the castle is packed full of old masters - Tintoretto, Pisanello and Veronese.

Planning a romantic getaway? Head to the city of the greatest lovers ever (that would be Romeo and Juliet) and enjoy the atmosphere... No need to let on to your loved one how much of a bargain it was!

Accademia Hotel Verona 4 star from £204pp for 5 nights.

Want a free night in a hotel?

We prove that there's no better way to get a free night in a hotel....




To celebrate the launch of HotelConnect's fabulous Summer of Free Nights I went along to the Ambassadors Bloomsbury hotel to see if it was possible to sneak into a hotel to get a free night's stay. I took along my friend Michelle from our sales department, and Natalie and Sarah - our mates from Flight Centre - to see if they were able to spot me.

First of all I tried hiding in a laundry basket. I have to confess it's not the first time I've tried this, but that's a different story that's best told over a drink or three. However, our intrepid seekers, Natalie and Sarah were holding no prisoners, and soon sniffed me out - might have been my socks, which, on reflection, should have stayed in that laundry basket.

Next was the failsafe-behind-the-bed-looking-sheepish technique, which again, failed miserably as Natalie, Sarah and Michelle all found me within minutes. It was quite cosy sandwiched between 3 lovely ladies, but I digress....

By that point I was exhausted, but had scientifically* proven that the best way of getting a free night in a great hotel in top destinations is to visit HotelConnect's ...

There are great free night offers in destinations such as Barcelona, Amsterdam, Milan, Dublin, Berlin, Bruges, Paris, Prague, Rome, Venice... There are bargain breaks and city breaks. Oodles of bargains to be snapped up. You can stay in a gorgeous 4* hotel in the beautiful city of Ghent for 3 nights just £96pp!

click here for more





Many thanks to Carolin and the great staff at the Ambassadors Bloomsbury hotel for letting us run amok in their gorgeous establishment. We had a look around the rooms, which are lovely, and the triple glazing is like some magical sound-stopper - the busy street below is completely blocked out. I for one was very impressed. I like gadgets. But please, no more kitchen gadgets for Christmas - that avocado slicer almost took my fingers off!

And for all my loyal fans out there, here's a quick peek at me in the shower at the Ambassadors Bloomsbury! Naughty!







*ish!

a bit of Hoff hankering going on

It's all going a bit crazy in the office here at the moment.

Everyone has suddenly caught on to the fact that Easter is REALLY early this year. Good Friday is March 21st, so there's a bit of a scrabble on to book some holidays.

It's not that we don't like London. We love London. We love its fast pace, its hip lifestyle and amazing shopping. In fact, we love it so much we've just been talking to lots of people about the best places to stay in London. Let's face it - no-one does luxury like this city

Of all the hotels we do,
the Sanderson is the one I lust after. Not just for its beautiful rooms and incredible Long Bar. It's the clientele that I could rub shoulders with if I stay there.

Who, you might ask? Nope, it's not the fact that Amy Winehouse has stayed here (no, no, no), or that Jessica Alba has graced the sheets of this hotel... uh-uh!

It's the one and only, the Hoff! It's one of my dreams to meet this man, have a chat, listen to him sing and really try and get some good tips about dress sense.

Check him out - hooga hooga ooga chakka indeed!!

I try and watch this each morning, it really puts me in a good mood! My colleagues think that I'm really funny, they really laugh with me when I'm singing along to this, trying to get some of those fabulous Hoff moves down pat. Now who's Strictly Come Dancing, huh?

I've got to say, after careful deliberation, that Venice for under £100 for 3 nights is really pushing my buttons.


I've got to admit though, if I did happen to get to Venice, and if I did manage to go large with my Hoff repertoire, the Jessica Alba's of Venice in Easter might be some lucky, lucky ladies.

(i think i can hear laughing again)



laters

Secret Agent