August bank holiday - rome hotels

Dare I say it but is summer here finally??? I mean it's about time isn't it??! I am seriously loving the sun and am just keeping everything crossed that it's going to stay like this in the UK.

This warmer climate has brought me to thinking of my August bank holiday and deciding where and what I'm going to do with it.

I am considering taking off to visit my aunt - Mama Isabella in Rome. I'm tempted by the warm sunshine, the multitude of parks to relax in, and of course a visit to the Colosseum which has been on my must-see list for quite a while. Without detracting from all those things one of the main draws for me is Mama Isabella's cooking. It's pasta, pizza, rich, cheesy, gooey, olive oily, mediterranean vegetable -licious. Why does everything out there taste so good. I've been on a diet you see - over the past few weeks I noticed my suit was a little too snug and that I'd perhaps been overdoing it so I've been on a strictly lettuce, soup and special K diet. It's been a bit dull to tell you the truth and I'm not that great at sticking to it although I have been trying out the new gym round the corner from my house. I say new it's been there for approximately 9 and a half years but I've been meaning to join since it opened. I've actually lost a few pounds so I am thinking I will reward myself with a trip to visit Isabella and a few Italian treats.

I'm planning on staying at the Villa Patrizi in Rome. This is a beautiful 4 star - relatively new with 25 rooms. It is a boutique hotel - once a family home and is very centrally located - Via Veneto is only a 15 min walk away. From £36pp this is a great price for such a lovely hotel.

There's also a fantastic deal on at Roma Park, 4 star with a special offer of 3 nights for the price of 2 if stay includes sun, mon & tues - from £80pp! What a deal!

Best get booking - it's not long now til the August bank holiday! Just a quick tip - there are some fantastic bank holiday deals in the UK too here if you're looking for something closer to home - now the sun's out - take advantage! Check out our UK bank holiday deals here>

tennis tastic and summer freebies!

I'm going tennis-tastic this week - with Murray reaching the semi-finals I am just on the edge of my seat every time he plays. Plus I am quite enjoying celebrity spotting - they're all there in the crowds - Ewan McGregor, Kate Winslet - all loving a bit of Andy, willing him on. I'm thinking I might head over to Wimbledon tomorrow night to watch it on the big screen on Murray mount I think they're calling it now. With the brand new roof on centre court we could be in for a long night again.... On Monday night I had to go for a drink in the bar at the City Inn Westminster as I just couldn't watch it any more - it was so tense. The bar there is actually pretty cool - I tried a couple of their cocktails and then had a whisky and then felt a whole lot better and relieved when I discovered Murray had won.

The City Inn Westminster is a modern, stylish hotel, by the river and next to Tate Britain. The hotel has a cool spiral staircase which leads to the bar - and there's a great restaurant - the City Cafe where you can dine alfresco on the terrace. Every room has an iMac entertainment system! This hotel also has a great rating from our customers who have stayed there with 4.18 out of 5.

HotelConnect (my employers) also still have some brilliant free stuff they're giving away with hotel stays - there's free bike hire in barcelona , free wine and fruit in prague and loads of free room upgrades - in venice , paris and nice to name a few.
There are some fab deals to be had - you've got to be quick to grab them!

summer of free stuff!

It is hot hot hot here in North London! We are loving the summer feeling and in celebration my employers seem to be going summer-tastic and are giving away loads of free stuff!!!

There are hundreds of free nights on offer - my favourite being 2 nights for the price of 1 in Athens for just £38! The Four Seasons has a sandy beach just opposite, and is just a short walk to designer shops!! I feel a bit of a spending spree coming along! The area it is in, Glyfada, is a great place to relax and unwind but is close enough to Athens city centre to catch the metro for a night out! I am definitely going to be heading over there!

There are also free night offers in loads of other destinations - Amsterdam, Paris, London, Barcelona, Nice, Prague and even the Caribbean! Some hotels are also giving away free upgrades and free entry to their spa for example - there's some great free stuff coming your way!

As well as these free night offers, each week they're giving away something FREE with every booking! This week it's a Conde Nast Traveller subscription....ah I love browsing through this magazine - always gets me in the mood to get away somewhere!

Might take a copy to the park and make the most of this British sunshine! See you later!

blackpool hotels!

So I've just watched this fantastic you tube video on Blackpool and although it did make me chuckle quite a lot (my friend Barry lives in Blackpool and many a time we've sat in cafes and I don't remember le 'otpot being on offer) it's brought back memories and made me want to go and visit him again.

We've been told it's going to be a hot summer this year, so I'm taking my bucket and spade and heading up there - Pleasure Beach here I come - it has the longest indoor rollercoaster waterslide in the world - wwwwwwwaaaaaaaahoooooo (I do seem to scream rather loudly on rollercoasters - I must start acting my age).

I'm off to stay in the Barcelo Imperial Hotel - a 4 star from £67pppn. It's located right on the north promenade and the rooms have views over the sea!

In case our weather men get it wrong there's a health and leisure club within the hotel with this great looking pool! Excellent for getting me in shape for the summer - I may still be carrying a little holiday weight from Easter... so speedos at the ready!

I'm wondering if there will be a lot of french people there after this video. Must get out those french tapes and practice so I can communicate correctly....a bientot a Blackpool!

http://www.blackpoolcitizen.co.uk/news/4369169.Ooh_la_la__Blackpool_woos_tourists_with_French_video/?ref=mr

£10 hotels on sale 10am thurs 7 may

Hot off the press - my employers HotelConnect have hotel rooms going on sale at 10am thursday morning (7th may) for just £10 per room!

These will be in the Santa Catarina in the algarve, Crown Hotel and Windsor Hotel in malta, Am Haus Zoo in dusseldorf, Inn & Art Gallery in madeira, Greenville in sofia, Athens Centre Square in athens and Bologna in pisa.

Check out the page giving all the dates here.

There are over 2,000 hotel rooms going on sale - you'll have to be quick to grab one!

GOOD LUCK!!!

spring? more like summer!!

If like me you've spent the past few days out in the park, white skin bared to the public, you'll also be feeling like summer has hit. Summer and a good dose of UV Rays. Ouch!!

I apologise to those people who i may have blinded with my super pale skin, and have promised my sniggering colleagues that I will

a) use sunscreen

b) not bare SO much in public

c) not use a piece of turf as an excuse for a 'mobile park' and sunbathe a little further away from the office next time

d) not distribute any more images of animals sunbathing (okay, after this cat picture)

One bank holiday down, 3 more to go!

Bristol was wonderful. Friendly people, an awesome hotel - the City Inn was beautiful and perfect for my stay.

Next up - May bank holiday!

I've been checking out the bargain bank holiday breaks here... It's now whether I go for the seaside - I've been thinking about Bournemouth - you can stay at the 3 star Britannia Bournemouth for £45pppn.

Or I might head up north to Chester - beautiful city, great restaurants, and I love the Chester Zoo!!

There's a lush looking 4 star called the Crabwall Manor - a bit of a splurge after my last holiday but for this gorgeous hotel it's just £60pppn. They have a swimming pool, spa and gorgeous restaurant.

Decisions, decisions!

Right, off to find a shady patch of grass to relax in (fully clothed, no fear).

Laters

Secret Agent

£300 giveaway!

I'm all set and packed for my trip to Bristol - hoping the weather will improve a little - although I am quite pleased with my choice of hotel with the CD and DVD player in each room! I may be staying in the hotel a bit more than expected! Am sure I shall brave the West Country weather and head out for a walk and a look at the suspension bridge.

I was also hoping to hop in a hot air balloon to get an incredible view of Bristol - fingers crossed the sun comes out for that! If not, the fact I have given up chocolate for 40 days means that I will be quite content as long as I have my easter eggs with me.

There is also a bit of news from my employers at HotelConnect - rumour had it that they were giving away £300 EVERY WEEK for 3 weeks. And sure enough, the rumour turned out to be true although I couldn't quite believe it myself. Check it out here..... www.hotelconnect.co.uk. All you need to do is make a booking to be entered - and you could get £300 cash! 2 weeks left to go..... seems like a good idea to me. Perhaps for the next bank holiday I shall be going somewhere a little further afield than Bristol....

HAPPY EASTER everyone!