Hotel price comparison and special offers
Hotel News
New hotel openings, renovations, new services etc.
Xcapewithus Go Bust
Apr 30th
When checking why sales were not converting through Xcapewithus this afternoon, I was met with the following announcement on their site:
We regret to inform you that XcapeWithUs.com has ceased trading as of 30 April 2009.
If you have a confirmed booking and we have your email address you will receive an email shortly explaining what steps you can take.
If your arrival date is 30 April 2009 or 1 May 2009 please email: customersupport@xcapewithus.com with full contact details including your reference number.
I was shocked and appalled. Let me explain why… Xcapewithus owes sletoh.com money in commission payments. Worse still, on behalf of diytravel.co.uk I paid More >
Cameron House Makeover
May 29th
The Cameron House just got a new lease on life. The stunning 15th century chateau, located along Scotland’s Loch Lomond, was recently bought by AHG (the same company that brings us the city wide boutique hotels Malmaison and Hotel du Vin) as part of their De Vere group.
The 96 room house just got one hell of a makeover that includes the opening of a brand new wing called the Colquhoun House. Colquhoun just recently opened, on May 1 to be exact, with six suites and 30 more bedrooms. They’ve also made the leap into today’s technology by adding flat screen televisions, More >
B&B Awards 2008 Finalist
May 29th
The B&B Awards pay homage to those who covet a creative spirit and innovative approach while providing unswerving service and some of the best lodging in London.
To celebrate AA’s 100th year of service, the B&B Awards will be all ‘champagne wishes and caviar dreams’ so to speak in the new Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, a hotel that is sure to see an award in its near future.
This year, top honors go to the following three establishments, who are also the shortlist for B&B of the Year:
The New Linden in Notting Hill San Domenico House in Chelsea The St. George in Langham Place
Favorite category, More >
German Renovation Frenzy
May 24th
If you travel to Germany in the next few years, you may be hardpressed to find a hotel room. This isn’t for a bad reason. It’s simply because two out of every ten hotels in Germany plan on refurbishing to the highest, most modernized standards that they can muster. So that’s a good thing.
Where did this renovation whirlwind stem from? For starters, hotels have been paying close attention to guests’ wishes, which included clean and well designed rooms. Not to mention, that decline since the smoking ban in restaurants.
In response, many German hotels are upping their ante by providing their More >
Times are a Changin’ for Southport
May 24th
Once considered a dumpy, schlumpy kind of a place, Southport is sensing the winds of change and keeping its fingers crossed that with these winds will come flocks of tourists.
Nearly £220m has been spent on the place in the last decade. The fruits of labor have recently been blossoming. Another addition golf course, the Royal Birkdale set to open this year, brings the “Golf Coast” total to seven. Sea lovers will be delighted at the new water sports building and twin totems. Kiddies will be screaming their joys atop thrill rides at the £45m Eden Project, an indoor-outdoor theme park. More >
Trade Your Hotel for a Yotel
Apr 22nd
The last thing most of us want to do, especially if we plan on hopping a red eye, is to figure in travel time from the hotel to the airport before our flight. Now if you are in London, you don’t have to.
Yo! Company brand has recently introduced two hotels in both Heathrow and Gatwick airports that were inspired by Japanese capsule hotels. These mini rooms have all that you need including a bed, Wifi connection and flat screen televisions at a low cost of £25 per hour.
These are also an excellent resource if you are the victim of a More >
Art History Comes Alive
Apr 16th
If you have ever wanted to A) study art history or B) visit London, we have got the perfect combination for you!
London’s prestigious Courtauld Institute of Art is currently celebrating its 75th year. Located in the Somerset House, the gallery is one of the richest in the city, holding some odd 600 years of art history within its walls.
Courtauld is offering a one of a kind experience that most art history students would only dream of. From July 14 through August 8, 2008, they are hosting one week short courses that cover medieval through contemporary art. The best part is More >
A New Way to Hit the Hay
Apr 7th
Most travelers know that Switzerland is a pricy playground. But they also know that there are bargains at every corner in town, including the barns. By now you are probably wondering what I’m getting at here, mentioning barns and travel in the same paragraph. Well what I’m getting at is just that; staying in a barn during your travels!
Swiss farmers have seemingly become privy to the fact that their country is known for lofty prices so they have begun offering their unused barns as a cozy alternative in the phenom known as “Sleep in Straw” (Schlaf im Stroh) program. The More >
Stockholm’s Strange Spirit
Apr 1st
Businessman Oscar Dios has decided to stick with Stockholm’s rather odd and unconventional hotel traditions by opening a hostel. The actual hostel is not what is in question here but its location is quite unusual by traditional standards.
Set to open in May 2008, the hostel will be located inside of a converted Boeing 747. It will be nestled close by the Arlanda Airport in Uppsala along 273. Dios has been given the go ahead by airport owner LFV and the Swedish National Roads Administration to operate the hostel in this unique setting for as long as he wishes.
The Boeing 747 hostel More >
Russia Goes “Boom”
Apr 1st
InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) is taking advantage of their strong hold in the Russian market place by planning on opening nearly 2,000 more rooms by 2010 in Moscow alone. IHG plans on opening more than a dozen more hotels in at least six of Russia’s thirteen large metros within the next decade.
Six hotels have already been opened including: Crowne Plaza Moscow World Trade Centre, Holiday Inn Moscow Lesnaya, Holiday Inn Moscow Sokolniki, Holiday Inn Moscow Suschevsky, Holiday Inn Moscow Vinogradovo and Holiday Inn Samara.
Next up: The brand new Holiday Inn Moscow Ryazanskiy is expected to open its doors in mid More >
