Europe Explore Europe Like Never Before!

Choosing a hotel is an incredibly important part of any journey. Even if you’re the kind of holiday maker who doesn’t intend to spend too much time in the hotel you will still find that feeling safe and warm in the room makes a big difference to how much you enjoy your stay. However many people still take the process for granted and incorrectly assume that European hotels are much of a muchness.

There are certainly things to look out for to make sure you make the most of your European travel. Here we will look at a few things to look out for with European hotels to help you choose one correctly.

 

Price: The price is of course an important selling point. You will likely have a budget and be restricted by this to an extent. At the same time though the price can sometimes reflect the quality of the hotel (you get what you pay for in other words) – so make sure that you look at the star rating of the hotel too and the other facilities on offer and then choose the cheapest of the hotels you like.

 

Location: Obviously this is very important for any hotel. It is not enough to just look for European hotels in the city you are visiting, but also hotels with good transport links, good amenities and facilities nearby and in short distance from the sites you wish to visit. You also want to make sure the area is pleasant, safe and clean. Look on Google Maps to get a good idea of the area and use route planners online to find the distance between your location and the sites you want to see. Read reviews and lookout for indicators of the area too. If you are staying in a big city, then European hotels near metro stations and underground stations will generally be very useful as these usually provide links to all the major sites.

 

Parking: Many people will travel around Europe with a car and this will mean then that they require somewhere to keep it. Look into then whether or not there is parking in your hotel – and choose one that offers somewhere free to keep your vehicle off road. If you’re parking in the street or paying for parking then other European hotels might be more convenient and cost effective.

 

Sharing: If you are staying hostels rather than European hotels, then you risk having to share with other travelers. For some people this will be off-putting as they will want to keep themselves to themselves and as they will worry about thieves. For other travelers it will be a bonus to get to socialize and meet other people. When booking your European hotels make sure to look at whether or not you’ll be sharing with other people.

 

Opening Hours: if you plan to be out all night partying then yo don’t want to stay somewhere where the last check in is 11pm. Likewise it is important to know the closing times of European hotels when you are arriving – particularly if you are running late.

Posted under Europe, Travel

           

Going traveling is great fun, and especially when you are traveling from country to country and following only a very loose plan. You never know where you’re going to end up, what you’re going to see or who you’re going to meet and that makes for a fantastic adventure.

However on the other hand it can also be somewhat stressful if you don’t have a hotel reservation waiting for you and especially if you don’t know what you’re looking for. This is where budget European hotel chains come in and where they can be such a Godsend. The idea of budget European hotel chains is that you have somewhere you can stay that is recognized and safe and that will provide all the standard amenities you can expect so you won’t be left in a room full of tramps with a shared toilet and no sink. At the same time though it also means you will be getting just the basics and won’t be paying through the nose for a spa membership you don’t want. Budget European hotel chains offer exactly what most people want on a whim which is somewhere cheap but comfy to spend the night.

At the same time because they’re chains that means you know what to expect. Budget European hotel chains are standardized across the board and you can be sure that they’ll offer roughly the same things at roughly the same prices. No negotiations late at night and no nasty surprises.

To use them though you need to know the names of those budget European hotel chains. Following are some of the most popular chains across Europe along with a few basic details about what you can expect. If you see any of the following budget European hotel chains then you can breath a sigh of relief – and you can expect to pay between $20-$150 for any of them.

 

Name: Travelodge

Countries: UK, IRL, ES

En-Suite: Yes

Wifi: Charged

 

Name: ETAP

Countries: F, B, D, A, ES, GB, CH, NL, L, PL

En-Suite: Yes

Wifi: Free/Charged

 

Name: Formule 1

Countries: F, B, D, GB, ES, CH, NL

En-Suite: No

Wifi: Charged

 

Name: B&B

Countries: F, D

En-Suite: Yes

Wifi: Free

 

Name: Premiere Classe

Countries: F, B, N, PL

En-Suite: Yes

Wifi: Free

 

Name: Balladins

Countries: UK, IRL, ES

En-Suite: Yes

Wifi: Charged

Posted under Europe, Travel

If you’re going traveling across Europe then you may, like many people, be intending to ‘rough it’. This style of traveling, often called ‘backpacking’, has the advantages of being more of an ‘adventure’ as you have fewer of the luxuries you are used to (which also makes it very character building) and also saving a lot of money as you aren’t staying in plush hotels. Normally this will mean staying in Europe hostels and these offer the same advantages – being in many ways more exciting and more of an experience while also offering you accommodation at very affordable prices. Here we will look at the experience of staying in Europe hostels, whether it’s advisable, and some take-home tips to help you make the most of the experience.

For those not in the know, hotels – whether they are Europe hostels or any others – cut prices by foregoing lots of individual rooms in the favour of one larger communal room. This will then mean that you are staying in a large ‘dorm’ with several other people and you have no pre-warning about who those people are going to be. Of course this being such a cheap way to sleep there’s always the danger that you will be sharing with some unsavoury characters, but for the most part you will be staying with other travellers who are doing the exact same thing as you.

This then means that staying in Europe hostels allows you to chat with lots of other people and meat individuals from all kinds of cultures – which is likely part of the purpose of your trip abroad. Make sure then that you make an effort to talk to people and you’ll have far more fun (and there’s strength in numbers).

For storage in Europe hostels you should have access to a locker or a safety deposit box. This might cost you a little extra but it’s well worth doing to avoid anything going missing in the night – especially as you’re saving so much on the cost of the accommodation itself.

The other way to ensure optimum safety and value is to make sure that you know the names of some good Europe hostels before you go abroad by looking online. This can help you to avoid the ones that have the bad ratings or that are more expensive and gives you some piece of mind. Of course part of the appeal of Europe hostels is the spontaneity of being able to just turn up, but even while you’re abroad you should be able to check hostels as you go – in cyber cafés and even in other hostels (most have computers you can use).

Posted under Europe, Travel

Undoubtedly, Europe remains one of the most visited places on earth as more and more people plan to spend their vacations and holidays in European countries. European countries make sure they earn a good amount of national income through tourism and for that they need to make sure that the guest or tourist from other countries get world class services and hotels to stay in. Of course, finding a good hotel in Europe is not a big deal, but there are some really nice European hotels that are not much into limelight so let’s explore such hotels now.

The number one spot in the list of European hotels goes to Auberge De La Quatr’heurie which is situated in Beze, France. If you are looking for some classic village auberge that reminds you of Romeo & Juliet type of ambience with double bed, bath and some really innovative double toilet. The meat that you order comes from roasting spit and it transforms your heart and soul completely. The second best hotel in the list of European hotels goes to Chateau De La Barre in Conflans-sur-Anille, France. It gives you a feeling of staying in a 15th century chateau. This hotel has been given shades of yellow, blue and red and that gives out a unique Anglo-American look to it.  The place is decorated with antiques and probably the best food service in France.

Les Tourelles in Le Crotoy, France is one of the best European hotels and number three on our list.  The Les Tourelles tower is seriously big and can put a theme park to shame with the amount of space, plants and seaside around. The bar counter is huge and it has enough space for the kids to play around. Abbaye De Valloires is number four on our list of top ten European hotels because of its quintessential 18th century chateau look. The view around the hotel is breath-taking and the room furnishings are lovely, though they are very simple and like to refrain from the luxury styles.

European hotels like El Juncal in Ronda, Spain which provides a British country-house feel is a converted bodega that is totally Spanish. The lawn and the rooms are spacious and finished with white décor and pool side. Hostal Del Sol in Roses, Spain takes the next spot and is very different from other European hotels as the hotel is crammed with local art rather than luxury to make you feel like you’re a part of Spain. Another good European hotel that you may want to stay in is Finca Buenvino in Aracena, Spain. Located in the forest mountains of western Andalusia, this hotel is a country-house with a pool terrace to provide you with all the comforts.

When you are digging deeper for European hotels, you will find Portixol hotel in Palma, Mallorca which offers you Scandinavian seafront hotel just a few minutes away from a small harbor called Palma. Casamar in Llafranc, Spain also ranks as one of the few good European hotels where you can enjoy Europe and beach at the same time with lovely food and accommodation options. La Corte De Lugas in Lugas, Spain also provides one of the best food and room services that will make you feel like an Asturian king.Enjoy your hotels and try to find the right one. P.S. Always remember that the most expensive one is not always the best.

European hotels – top 10 list

1. Auberge De La Quatr’heurie (France)
2. Chateau De La Barre (France)
3. Les Tourelles in Le Crotoy  (Frace)
4. Abbaye De Valloires (France)
5. El Juncal in Ronda (Spain)
6. Hostal Del Sol in Roses (Spain)
7. Finca Buenvino (Spain)
8. Portixol (Spain)
9. Casamar  (Spain)
10. La Corte De Lugas (Spain)

Posted under Europe, Travel