Touring the Burgundy wine region in France

BURGUNDY IS THE NEW GREY

For our holiday last October we turned to Burgundy, leaving from Scotland’s grey capital. It was so grey, it was dreich. Even the Forth bridges were barely visible as our captain carefully navigated his way out of Rosyth in a London pea-souper.

Anyone who can successfully navigate with Michelin maps is pretty smart, so Pat deserves a medal for her efforts. Michelin maps are to Ordnance Survey what Japanese is to Cockney and our best efforts got us to Cambrai, well north of our ultimate destination, for the first night. The grim, grey North Sea weather came with us into northern France, but this wasn’t a holiday about lying in the sun. The agenda had more to do with le shopping for booty, les fine dining experiences, un surprise connection in Chablis and plusiers d’architectural and engineering pilgrimages. It all got done, right down to the last not lying in the sun’. We were going back to Burgundy and this time not just passing through, but using it as a base. There was a looseness to the pre-holiday planning, in as much as we adopted the principle: let’s wing it (which is reasonably safe in October). Notwithstanding this, we did pre-book a nice hotel mid way between Dijon and Chablis, a sensible idea – to have at least one fixed point in an itinerary.

The Hotel de la Poste is steeped in history and is located in the centre of Avallon. Kennedy, Eisenhower and Napoleon all slept under that roof. Bryan Ferry probably too. There was lots of bowing and nodding at breakfast, as all the other guests were Japanese. We know, from having had a hotel ourselves, that they take eating very seriously and it was no surprise to find that all the boiled eggs had disappeared early. One man is still there, going back for more, eating for his country. Saturday was market day and we took full advantage by securing industrial quantities of ail rose de Lautrec before heading out for a drive in the Parc rgional du Morvan. A long way to come, from Morvern to Morvan, and something of a disappointment too, because for instance: when a sign says Auberge du Lac, 1 km’, you expect to come across an auberge, by a lake, in about 1 km. No auberge, no lake, just lots of brown signs la Gulliver’s World or Shakespeare Country and lots of trees. Also a bird and fish reserve centred on a small pond, but with no birds (except a fleeting glimpse of a jay) and no fish as far as I could see. We climbed a small hill to a tor called Roche des Fes and had a picnic

Hotel reviews: Hotel Plainbrucke, Salzburg, Austria – Part 1

This Hotel is situated in the Itzling West area of Plainbrucke which is a small district of Salzburg. We landed at the Airport and from there we decided to take a taxi trip to the hotel which took us approx 10 -15 mins I guess.

This cost us 15 euros which isn’t too bad, but later on we found out the bus journey would have been free!

Upon arrival, we went to the reception and received a warm welcome from the member of staff behind the desk. We were actually an hour early for check in and we explained this to the woman but this wasn’t a problem to them and we were told that we could go straight to our room as it was ready for us which I was really please about as we had to get up at 3am for out flight to Austria so I was more than tired at this point so it was nice to get in the room and freshen up.

The lady escorted us to our room which was on the first floor, and in the second building of the hotel (more about that later!). I would like to point out that we had to carry the cases to the room ourselves as there wasn’t a porter available but maybe there would have been if we asked.

On first impressions, the room was clean, tidy, smelt nice and seemed very homely. As we walked into the room, straight ahead of us was the bathroom which consisted of a walk in shower, basin and a toilet as standard. Above the basin, there was a large mirror and a shelf. There was a heated towel rail behind the door which came in very handy. On the towel rail were two bath towels and adjacent to the sink were two hand towels.

Just inside the door was a large coat hook with 6 coat hooks attached which was obviously very useful with the amount of coats we packed.

The bedroom itself was spacious and consisted of a 4 poster bed (which my girlfriend had specifically ordered), a wardrobe big enough to fit both our clothes in comfortably and a chest drawer on top of which was a TV. The TV only had one channel that was in English though, which was CNN. In front of the window were a table and two chairs. Beside the bed, on either side was a bedside cabinet with a lamp on each. Unfortunately there wasn’t an electric kettle so we were not able to make ourselves a nice brew when we arrived in the room, so I would recommend people to take a travel kettle if you like your tea and coffee.

The bed was two separate mattresses within a king-sized four poster but the tiny gap between the mattresses didn’t really cause any problems although I do think it would have been better if

Finding Hotels in New Orleans That Suits Your Budget

The most unique city in America, New Orleans is a port city of United State of America and the largest city in Louisiana State. The city is located at the west banks of the Mississippi River. The city is named after Philippe II, Duc d’Orleans, Regent of France and it is one of the oldest cities of the United State. The city is famous for its multicultural heritage as well as its cuisine and the city is also considered as the birthplace of Jazz.

The city is also world popular tourist destination and has attractions like heritage architecture, music, celebrations and festivals. The city has very attractive tourist attractions which attracts the tourist from the entire world throughout the year. Aquarium of Americas, Audubon Zoo, Natchez Steamboat, Cabildo, Magic Walking tour, St. Louis Cathedral, Entergy IMAX Theater and Longue Vue and House of Garden are some very popular tourist attractions of the New Orleans.

Due to the over arrival of tourist from different parts of the world city also offers world class accommodations in every possible category from cheap hotels to Five Star hotels in New Orleans.

The every part of the city has some very popular budget hotels and these hotels provide all quality services to their guests. A Queen and Crescent, Best Western Airport All Suite, Best Western Patio Downtown Motel, Garden District Ramada Plaza, Maison St. Charles Quality Inn & Suites Saint Ann Marie Antoinette, Super 8 Motel Slidell and Sleep Inn are a few notable budget hotels in New Orleans.

City also houses some much known luxury hotels those are famous for their grandeur and lavish facilities and services. Inter-Continental New Orleans – New Orleans Louisiana, Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, Hotel Monteleone, Lexington Hotel O & Suites, Crowne Plaza Hotel Astor New Orleans and are a few world class Five Star hotels in New Orleans.

Budget Hotels Amsterdam, Perfect Lodgings

You are in Amsterdam, first than nothing; you must change your money to Euros. The official Netherlands currency is the Euro, don’t forget that. You can also exchange currency at the airport. Then, you will need a good hotel and there is not anything better than Budget Hotels Amsterdam, book a room in one of them. If you do these basic steps, it is time to explore the city.





Anne Frank house is a historic place in Amsterdam. Here, the popular Anne Frank wrote her renowned dairy during the World War II. She and her family lived hard months during the German occupation in Netherlands. If you have the chance to buy her book, buy it and you will appreciate this house much more. The house is located in the downtown, in the same place of the Budget Hotels Amsterdam.





Summer is the best season for visiting Amsterdam. Thousands of visitors explore the city with their bikes. Remember that Dutch people use this kind of vehicle even more than cars or another kind of transport. Usually, tourists also hire bicycles when they arrive to the town. It is a healthy habit that other cities and countries should imitate. If you ride bike during one hour you will have a good physical condition.





Walking in Amsterdam is another pleasant activity to discover the city. But, you will need a map; you can get one in any Budget Hotels Amsterdam. Bloemenmarkt Flower Market is the unique floating market in Netherlands where you can find a diversity of flowers and plants. The specialty is no doubt, the tulip. It is the national flower, recognized in the entire world.





Dutch have many habits that identified them. Visit Amsterdam and share experience with local people. Welcome to the Netherlands.

Switzerland – Much More Than the Euro 2008

Berne is perhaps the most popular city in the country and also its capital. Its Old Town is a protected heritage site by UNESCO and both its parts (western and eastern) are very beautiful. One can visit the Cathedral of St. Vincent (The Münster) from the 15th century. There you can see an outstanding tympanum over the main door, which depicts the Last Judgment and has more than 200 figures. Also interesting is the Bundeshaus – the Federal Palace in Renaissance style. A landmark of the town is Zytgloggeturm (Clock Tower), dating back to the 12th century. Four minutes before every hour, lost of mechanical puppets make a great show for the crowd around the clock. Other places worth visiting are Kunstmuseum (Fine Arts Museum), Botanischer Garten (Botanical Garden), Nydegg Castle, Kindlifresserbrunnen (Ogre Fountain) and more.

Zurich is also a very popular place in Switzerland – the largest city and the capital of the Zurich canton. Its Old Town is very beautiful, located on the banks of the Limmat River with lots of medieval buildings and narrow streets. If you like nature you can go to the Zoologischer Garten (Zoological Garden) and the Botanischer Garten (Zurich Botanic Garden). The Botanical Garden contains more than 15 000 living plants and its herbarium has the amazing 3 million plants. One should not miss the beautiful Grossmünster Cathedral – some parts of it dating from the 11th century. Its 3 storey towers also offer some gorgeous views of the city. Schloss Kyburg is also a recommended place – the biggest castle in the eastern part of the country. It now houses a museum with art and armor from the Middle Ages. You can also visit the Urania Observatory, Landesmuseum (Swiss National Museum), Uetliberg and many more.

Geneve yet another important centre in Switzerland, located in its south-western part. The city is near Lake Geneva, between the Alps and the Jura Mountains. Palais des Nations houses the headquarters of the United Nations and is the second largest building in Europe. It is open for visit and there are guided tours available. Just across the entrance you will find another interesting place – the Musée International de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge (International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum). There you will experience the history of the Red Cross from its founding in 1863 till present times. Maison Tavel is the oldest house in Geneva (14th century) and is now open as a museum. From Mont Salève and Mont Blanc one can enjoy some amazing views of Geneve and its surroundings.

Last but not least, Basle is another city from the Euro 2008. The settlement is very old and is still the most important cultural centre of Switzerland. It is located on the Rhine River, surrounded by the Jura Mountains. In Basel there are numerous galleries and museums, but you can go to Kunstmuseum (Fine Arts Museum), Museum für Gegenwartskunst (Museum for Contemporary Art), Foundation Beyeler (a gallery of modern art), Historisches Museum Barfüsserplatz and Kunsthalle (also a gallery). Spalentor (Spalen Gate) is a gate from the 15th century which marks the end of the medieval part of the city. Münster (Basel Cathedral) is also very popular, built in the 11th century. It offers some beautiful views of the Rhine River, Germany and Pfalz (the palace).

This is where my list of nice places to visit in Switzerland ends. Of course, there are numerous other interesting sites in the country – one could say that every corner of Switzerland is beautiful. I do hope I was helpful to those who would like to see more than the football games.

Hotel reviews: Mercure Sete Balaruc Bains, South of France

We stayed at this hotel by default but we weren’t disappointed.

We were at the end of a long drive along the coast in the South of France on a scorching day and got lost in the town of Sete. We were looking for an Ibis hotel that our guide book said was in Sete but it was actually in Balaruc les Bains, a separate town on the other side of a salt water lake from Sete.

Eventually we found the Ibis hotel only to discover they had no rooms but they found us a room at their sister hotel, The Mercure, booked it for us, and got us a reduced rate as the Mercure is a bit pricier than the Ibis.

Balurac les Bains is a pretty little spa resort with modern hotels set in spacious parklands around the old village. The town sits on a peninsula in a salt lake with walks along the coast. One side was sheltered with beaches, piers and a promenade lined with predominantly seafood restaurants. The other is more open and wild with a strong wind cutting across the lake. It was very busy with windsurfers and I imagine it is quite popular for sailing and fishing.

Check in was nice and easy and the staff were very friendly and spoke excellent English, my French is very limited. The reception area was kitted out with leather sofas and a pleasant area to sit and have a coffee although the bar/cafe was directly next door.

To get to our room we took the elevator to the 3rd floor and walked along an outside walkway and into a separate building, along to the end of the corridor and there we were, eventually. It did seem a long way but then it had been a long day.

Our room was very pleasantly and recently decorated in a blue floral design and was very cool, which was welcomed.

We had 2 twin beds, which were firm and comfortable, and cabinets with clock radio, a dresser and desk with drawer space and a mini-bar, cable TV with pay for view movies, coffee-maker and ample lamps.The air conditioning was efficient and kept the room on the point of downright chilly. We also had a small balcony with a couple of chairs and we overlooked mostly open ground and could just see the Med off in the far distance.

The bathroom was sparkling with lots of mirrors and spotlights and was well equipped with quality toiletries and soft towels. There was a full size bath and a very welcoming power shower.

There are indoor and outdoor swimming pools and I had a very enjoyable splash around in the outdoor one which was surrounded by landscaped gardens.

They have a cafe and a restaurant which we didn’t try but it looked lovely and it was very busy.There was also a lounge bar and night club which must be well soundproofed as we didn’t hear a thing and my wife is an extremely light sleeper.

We were only looking for a stopover but this would have been a pleasant hotel to spend a few days in.

Hotel reviews: Hotel Icaria, Barcelona

Our family travels quite often and as such are members of several major hotel chains. It comes in handy to rack up these points and obtain a free room for a night. This works out well in many cities throughout the world.

However, there are no major chains in the center of our favorite city, Barcelona. This city offers a temperate climate and great museums. No matter where we visit in Europe, we make it a point to stay in this delightful city a few days.

We discovered a lovely hotel named the Icaria BCN. It stands out as a small 4 star that is located two blocks from the Mediterranean; somewhat away from tourists in a lovely residential area that offers a 16 multi-plex that plays films in the original language. The area is known as the Olympic Village where by taking # 14 bus right in front of the hotel you can head to Port Vell, Las Ramblas and Plaza de Catalunya. It is a bargain at costing only 1.25 euros. The hotel is walking distance to Olympic port with numerous seafood restaurants. If you are an avid walker, the promenade will allow you to stroll along the waterfront. If you booked a cruise departing out of Barcelona, this is a great choice as it is a short cab ride to the port which will run 10 euros.

The Icaria is very modern and chic without feeling pretentious. The standard room was quite large for European standards, sound proof, comfortable bedding and bed with quality amenities in the bath. The suite is large with a separate office area and includes a computer, so there is no need to drag a laptop. In the lobby, there are 3 computers gratis for all guests use also.

The dining was excellent. Breakfast was a buffet with assorted breads, muffins, fresh fruit and smoked salmon. Dining at dinner had interesting choices not normally found in hotel dining and is prepared to order so anticipate a wait. But it is worth it and the pricing is very good. One night we ordered room service in which pricing is better than any hotel I have seen in the past. Some items are available 24 hours.

The staff we came in contact with were professional and informative. The hotel has two outstanding members, Marta and Melchor at the front desk. They are pleasant, knowledgeable and very efficient. It is a difficult task when dealing with the public but they do so with ease and a smile, which is important. as it makes an excellent impression.

For our future visits to Barcelona, we have given up on the Hilton and the Icaria BCN is where we choose to stay. The Icaria BCN hotel is outstanding in price, comfort and location.

Budget Hotels Amsterdam The Sky At Your Feet

You dont need to walk too much to find a traditional place in Amsterdam. The Anne Frank House is located in the downtown. Here, she wrote her famous dairy during the World War II. She was hidden for more than two years in her house. If you read her book, the place looks you familiar.

Fortunately, Budget Hotels Amsterdam are around the downtown so you will save money in transport. Please dont forget to change your money to euros, it is the most common currency in Holland.

Visiting museums in Amsterdam is a common activity. Famous paintings and artworks are exposed to the local and foreign visitors. It is advisable to attend museums in the morning because these places are not too much crowded. Dont miss the opportunity to visit Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum and Van Gogh Museum.

Amsterdam is not a city only for adults; children can also have fun in Amsterdam and the right place is the Artis Zoo. Animals from all over the world can appreciate in this zoo, carry your camera and not harass animals.

If you pretend to hire a bicycle, buy a chain or lock because it is not permitted to keep bikes in Budget Hotels Amsterdam. Windmills are part of the Holland culture. Many tourists visit them and they can see the windmills function. Today, just few are in activity and the other are in restructuration or are closed.

Sports are very popular in Amsterdam; obviously soccer is the favorite for Dutch people because the national team always participates in international competitions. Despite having a very competitive team, they were never able to win a final. In the last Euro cup Holland lost with Russia in quarterfinals.

All Budget Hotels Amsterdam have programs with activities and events that you can do. Ask for one and enjoy your trip.

Hotel reviews: Hotel Barut Arum, Side, Turkey

The airport for the south coast of Turkey is Antalya, the Hotel Barut Arum is in Side, a small town 60 km to the east. As the transfer was not included in our arrangement, we had to take a taxi, at the taxi station there’s a long list with destinations in the vicinity with fixed prices in Euro, our fare was 65 Euro. (1 Euro ~ 1,25 $)

The Euro is the second currency in Turkey, so you have to change your money into Turkish Lira as well as Euro, you can do that in the airport while you’re waiting for your luggage. You can also get your visa there.

The Hotel Arum is a five star hotel belonging to the Barut group, it’s situated 3,5 km west of Side built on a slight mound. The entrance hall is pompous, big and rather cold in appearance, from there a flight of stairs leads down to the dining-room, another to the pool area, more about that later. The receptionist was friendly and efficient and it didn’t take long until we were in our room. The man in our travel agency at home had told us that all rooms had twin beds, but ours hadn’t, there was only one big double bed, shock, horror, a sleepless night was waiting for us! Back to the receptionist who told us that the hotel was full and that only the following day there was a chance for us to get a room with twin beds.

The new room was quite spacious with ~ 18 m, with a double bed and a normal one, a comfy armchair and enough light to read a book by (a rare thing in a hotel), a small balcony overlooking the pool area and with a view of the sea, unfortunately slightly obstructed by a tall date palm tree. The bathroom contained the usual amenities and toiletries including terry cloth slippers. The TV set worked well (CNN, BBC, National Geographic), all as it should be in a hotel of this category.

The dining room on the lower ground floor is an enormous hall, some low walls dividing it into sections try to give the guests the feeling not to sit in the waiting area of an airport. A piano player also strives to make the atmosphere a bit intimate. It opens onto a terrace where the guests can also sit and have their meals.

What I enjoyed was that it was possible to eat conventionally, i.e., the international food you get everywhere (some people like this) but also Turkish food which is very tasty (we know this from our Turkish neighbour who once a week sends us something to eat in exchange for helping her daughters with their homework). There’s a great choice for veggies. Every night a different sweet was prepared in the

Top 10 reasons to stay at a vacation rental instead of a hotel

Absorb life as a neighbor, not a visitor

If you really want to experience the life of your destination city, this first reason easily rates 1 through 5 of the top ten. Come. Join us for a little journey through our two weeks at “My Little Home in Paris”.

Step out of your cab just off Place Contrescarpe near the top of the Latin Quarter’s fabulous rue Mouffetard. Just a few steps down your private pedestrian street, rue Rollin, the sounds of children at play fill the air with soft, joyous exchanges. The bright September day matches the smile of our host, Sandy, as she welcomes us to our home. Step through the open, cobbled courtyard to the back building, up a flight of stairs and voila! You enter a charming and exceptionally stylish, 18th century apartment, one completely renovated with great respect and consideration for comfort.

If you’ve ever stayed in two- or three-star hotels in Paris, you’ll understand that space and convenience are not currencies of the day! We’ll rush through the amenities to get to the overall experience. Begin in the petite, bright kitchen with every thoughtful utensil and appliance to satisfy each desire from the simple glass of wine and appetizer to the preparation of a complete meal. Also off the living room is a wonderfully complete, spacious bathroom with tub, no less, and, unlike most French hotels, at no extra charge.

Your living/bedroom is equipped with the most comfortable sofa bed we’ve ever experienced, tasteful art objects, local magazines, maps and menus, flat-screen television and drop-leaf dining table in front of a sun-drenched window overlooking the courtyard. Just through the doorway to the right is another windowed, small room with the piece de resistance. We discover our own, free internet-accessed computer and, again free, international phone AND cell phone. Are you KIDDING? No. From your apartment, call anywhere free. Get your phone card, and you’ve a cell to use in Paris.

Before she presents our keys and invitation to call for anything, Sandy tells us, “Oh. There’s a chilled bottle of champagne in the refrigerator for you to celebrate your arrival!”

Now to the “experience”, but let’s review several of the top ten reasons to choose a vacation rental. Space, Style and Comfort, Privacy, Kitchen and Bath Conveniences, Extraordinary Hospitality and Personal Assistance, Free Internet and Telephones. Oh, and at the top of the list for many, the price at 80 Euros per night or 500 Euros

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