LE MERIDIEN KING EDWARD IN TORONTO

Le Méridien King Edward is said to have received guests for over 100 years. Its situation in the heart of the financial district, downtown Toronto, is ideal for business meetings in the city. It is a rather large hotel with 298 guest rooms. However, from a European perspective, this hotel is far from being modern or oriented for Europeans. The staff is nice but that is as far as it goes. You are charged for everything. Internet is available, somehow free if you manage to get your wifi to read a signal... but very unstable. The room I was in certainly was spacious... but the furniture was rather old-fashioned. The bed was comfortable but the bathroom was very basic. Thank God I was having a shower at an early hour, (due to my jetlag) but had the people in the offices opposite been working, they would have had a look at my whole naked body. The net curtain that supposedly hid the inside was extremely thin... They claim to be a modern hotel but I have to say, that either they have not visited their competition in other countries or they don't know what modern tendencies are. For me, it was an experience that made me go back 20 years.

Breakfast: Well, that was another surprise. I do travel a lot and get to stay over in many hotels, where a buffet breakfast is offered. In this hotel, you had a menu and you had to choose from something you didn't even know what would look like. Eggs Benedict were good, I have to say. But breakfast was rather... weak.

The Concierge was extremely helpful and the reception people either spoke Spanish to us or just attempted to do so, which is always something to thank for. Not so pleasant staff in the breakfast room. I have to say, in the hotel's defence that they prepared a nice packed breakfast for us to take, as we were leaving rather early in the morning. I think that was even better than the one in the restaurant, I have to admit.

LE MÉRIDIEN KING EDWARD

37 King Street East

Toronto, Ontario M5C

Canada

Tel: +1 (416) 863-9700

HOTEL CORINTHIA, IN LISBON

The Corinthia Lisboa Hotel is a luxurious 5-star hotel. Staff is always friendly and helpful, even more if you mutter a couple of Portuguese words. The rooms, in my experience, are spacious and had a comfortable bed. As you can see from the picture, I got lost in such a big bed. (It was actually two beds put together, so... if I ended up in the middle, which usually happened, I could feel the borders of both beds. Still, moving to one side, it was a perfect bed. Also, a selection of pillows to adapt more to your needs was appreciated.

The breakfast, for me, is essential. And The Corinthia can boast to be one that has a wide range of food to offer. Fruit, cereals, cold meat, cheese, dry fruits, pastry, juices (that could improve, certainly) kitchen to have fresh fried eggs, omelettes, crêpes... you name it, and it's bound to be on offer. It even has a corner for those who look after their shape, with "light" products.

Some people say it is far away from the centre. True. It is not central, but, in my case, I need to be close to the motorway as I am going there for business and need to get out of the city fast. The ring road is barely 5 minutes away. If you do want to go to the city centre, you can always get the underground, which is just 100mts away, and it takes you directly to the Chiado. Lisbon International Airport is just 7 Km from the Corinthia, which is also another good point if you are flying back home.

There are 518 guestrooms, including double, single, twin, executive double, Club room, Executive Superior and suite.

But I also have to say that I am not very happy with the cost of the car park. The surrounding area is rather difficult to park, as there isn't much space for parking: 18 Euro per night. Also, the cost of internet connection in your room: another 18 Euro. Apparently in the hall, it is free of charge, but if you need to do some work, get some papers and so, the place is not prepared for that, therefore, I prefer to do it in the room. It is a 5 star hotel and, as such, extra services have 5 star price too, which, in my opinion, are not acceptable.
Nevertheless, it is a highly recommended hotel.

CORINTHIA HOTEL LISBON
Av. Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro, nº 105,


Lisbon 1099-031,


PORTUGAL

T: +351 21 7236363


F: +351 21 7236364


E: lisboa@corinthia.pt

STARHOTEL BUSINESS PALACE - A DECENT HOTEL IN MILAN, AT LAST!!!

Sleeping in Milan was a nightmare up to now. Really old hotels, not renovated, somehow difficult to access the rooms, noisy, far too expensive for what you got, getting away from that exclusive Italian Image that the city boast of. However, this has changes after my latest trip there. I stayed over in the Starhotel Business Palace. Not the best hotel I have stayed, but much better from what I was used to in Italy. It's a 4 star hotel that gets closer to the real meaning of a 4 star rating. A bit far away, true... (only two metro stops from the end of the yellow metro line in the south) but just round the corner from the station. I visited the exhibition, and the trip took around 50 minutes, with exchange in Duomo less than halfway through.

The Starhotel Business Palace has 246 rooms. Spacious, clean rooms, good service, friendly personnel and a fairly good variety in buffet breakfast. You even have a selection of pillows to choose from.

Drawback: Apart from the distance to the centre, I would like to comment on the very expensive Internet access, (22 euros per day or 10 euros per hour!). I still don't know why the cost of it is so exorbitant... Especially when the rooms are also a bit high on price.

STARHOTEL BUSINESS PALACE
Via Gaggia, 3
20139 - Milano
ITALY

T: +39 02 53545
F: +39 02 57307550
business.mi@starhotels.it

ZENIT ABEBA - MADRID

The Zenit Abeba, in the Salamanca residential district is one of those hotels where you will stay overnight and remember it quite positively. It is a no frills 4 star hotel. Rooms are clean, with wooden floor that make them quite comfortable. Somre rooms are extremely small. Other are big. Same happens with the toilet.

All rooms have free wifi (very rare among hotels of similar status to offer it for free). Toiletries are also supplied. The hotel has a carpark, where you need to pay and it is not cheap. Also, ig your luggage is heavy, bear in mind that if you park your car in the carpark, you will need to get the luggage up the stairs from the garage to reception. There is no lift to the carpark!!! But then again, you are in a quiet and high class neighbourhood. Starbucks, for those lovers of the American Franchise will have one just round the corner.

The hotel is handy if you are getting up early to go to Barajas airport, the Exhibition centre (IFEMA) or to travel towards Zaragoza or Barcelona on the A2. The city centre is a bit far away on foot, but just outside the hotel, within 20 sencond walk, you have the Underground entry, where you can choose from 4 lines to move any way in the city.

But for me, the best thing about the hotel is breakfast. A wide choice of pastries, churros, porras, fruite, yogurts, juices, even diet food, or Spanish omelet, cold meat, cheese... You will definitely forget about eating along the morning... Your stomach will be pleased after visiting the breakfast room.

Staff are always very helpful and nice to you.

ZENIT ABEBA Alcántara, 63
Madrid - 28006 Madrid (España)
Tlf.+34 91 401 16 50
Fax+34 91 402 75 91
E-mail:abeba@zenithoteles.com

HOTEL DOÑA CARLOTA - CIUDAD REAL

Doña Carlota Hotel could be considered as one of the best in the Castilian city of Ciudad Real. Doña Carlota Hotel could be considered as one of the best in the Castilian city of Ciudad Real. The city is well located on the High Speed line to Seville, and its size makes the hotel quite handy. It is within the University area. The modern façade welcomes and gives you the first impression of "Uff. I didn't make a mistake when booking it". However, the first impression stops there. The reception is rather bland and old fashioned. When asked about WIFI, they tell you it's 1 Euro per hour, which, I must say, it is rather cheap considering the fees around the world in hotels. But if you don't have a computer, you need to go... not to the Business Centre, but... the Cafeteria. Strange location!

The corridors are spartan and are without lights, waiting for the hosts to get in and automatically light them on. When you get to the room the first thought is: "Oh my God!” Where am I? Is it a 21st Century Hotel or one of those Don Quixote’s Inns?

The bathroom has really old ware, and also offers some soap, which in my case, had been open and used previously.

Breakfast was... poor in choice, but rather traditional. The "pain au chocolat" where immense and very good. Coffee was, on the contrary, rather bad. A choice of cheese, and garlic sausage, as well as minced tomato sauce, which I really liked on top of a toast. Yogurts ... doubtful! Orange juice... out of a bottle.
Doña Carlota Hotel, a 4 star hotel that should be reclassified. Staff was neither nice nor nasty. They were, basically. Foreigners may have problems, as receptionists’ knowledge of English is limited. Its 161 have air conditioning, satellite T.V. I am sorry, but if I have the choice, I would try to go to my favourite NH, which in the city is only a 3 star, but, so far, NH Hotels have not let me down so far.

Hotel Doña Carlota.
Ronda de Toledo
13003 Cuidad Real (Spain)
Tel: 926 23 16 10
Fax: 926 23 16 10

A JUMBO JET TURNED INTO A HOSTEL, IN STOCKHOLM ARLANDA

This is the first time I talk about a hotel I have never been... but I saw it and I couldn't help making a short article. The Jumbo Hostel is at Stockholm-Arlanda airport entrance and offers you an unforgetable experience. At least, it would be for me: To spend the night on board a genuine jumbo jet transformed into a hostel. Ok, you won't be flying, as the plane is retired from flying, but still, it would be worth it.

The Jumbo Hostel has a total of 72 rooms, divided into two- and three-person rooms and dormitories as well as a cockpit suite at the upper level of the plane.

In the café you can buy breakfast, take a coffee break and buy basic meals. It will also be possible to microwave food you have brought along. Which other hotel would allow you to do so?

Additionally, you can visit the Jumbo Hostel, even if you don’t spend the night. It even has a museum, so it becomes more than just a hotel...

Pricewise, it seems to be rather economical, for Sweden, I suppose... :=)

JUMBO HOSTEL

Jumbovägen 4

SE-190 47 Stockholm Arlanda

SWEDEN

Phone +46 (0)8-593 604 00

Fax +46 (0)8-593 604 11

E-mail reservation: booking@jumbohostel.com

GRAN HOTEL REY DON JAIME - CASTELLDEFELS (BARCELONA)

The most fashionable word nowadays is "CRISIS". You would expect that now, requirement for hotels has reduced, but, despite what they say, you still find it difficult to get a hotel in certain places. Barcelona, when there is a convention, getting a place to sleep seems to be extremely expensive. Hotels increase prices to limits that no sane person would normally pay... but, if there is a convention or an exhibition, you will find it difficult.

That is why, sometimes it is worth it to look in the outskirts. This would mean, normally, that you need a car to get to your final destination relatively easy.

In this situation, we can find the Gran Hotel Rey Don Jaime, a 4-star hotel in Castelldefels, in the outskirts of Barcelona (on the way to Sitges, 20 minutes from Barcelona and 10 minutes from El Prat airport). It is more economical than those you find in the city, but a car is essential, due to its location. It is far from the railway, far from the town, on top of the hill... far from... everywhere. Carpark is large and free of charge. The hotel was built in 1950, last reformed in 2008 and you would never think the hotel was nearly 60 years old. It looks really modern inside.

It is, however, a rather strange hotel. You access to it from the street level and, in my case, I had to go two floors down to my room. Rather strange... Don't you think?

The rooms are correct (220 all together). A big bed (and very comfy)with zillions of pillows is waiting for you. Ok, I exaggerated. 4 pillows only. Normally is quiet (there is nothing around that could be noisy... at the end of the day, you are on top of a hill, out in the countryside). Sleeping is easy. Still, if you want to use the TV, there are a few channels, but then you notice that they are pay TV... so, in the end, the choice is really reduced.

The bathroom is well equipped with soaps and other accessories. It is always good to get these things if you are coming just to stay overnight...

Breakfast is good... Could be better, as usual, but I think it is ok. Problem!!! The coffee comes out from a dispenser machine and it is really awful. Juices... so so. But there is plenty of food in the buffet to choose from. I am sure that you will not be hungry when you get out of it.

You should not miss the swimming pool either.

Staff are nice... when you get hold of them. Reception is open 24 hours but breakfast is very poorly served by staff.

Personally, I would opt for a different hotel in Barcelona, but as an emergency, and taking into consideration all these points, it is a nice place to stay... Don't expect a lively nightlife... There isn't any.

GRAN HOTEL REY DON JAIME

Avenida del Hotel,

22 08860 CASTELLDEFELS Barcelona (Spain)

Tel.: 936 651 300

Fax. 936 645 151

donjaime@grup-soteras.com

It is a SERCOTEL hotel.

HOLIDAY INN RESORT NICE - PORT ST. LAURENT

Hotels normally have grand names. Sometimes, experience tells you the name lives to reality, some others, its wishful thinking.

The Holiday Inn Resort Nice is more... tsecond option. It is close to the airport, which is convenient if you arrive late... Well, sort of. Taxis don't want to take you there because it's literally, round the corner... But you can't go there on foot. There are "navettes" (shuttle buses) that take you there... When they work, of course. If you arrive late, you end up stuck in the airport, without a "navette", as they don't work after certain hour, and no taxis wanting to take you there. Well, that's service for you.

When you get there, the reception staff are friendly and tell you all you need. You get to the room, and then your "adventure" continues. The rooms are spacious, but furnished with old times items, in desperate need of renovation. It is just an old 3-star hotel.

Bathroom and toilet are separated, which is always good if you are sharing. Bathroom kit is a bit scarce. A little hand soap and some moisteriser. For the shower, there is a soap dispenser. It smells pleasant, by the way.

Bed is big and comfortable. It is a shame the room was freezing cold and there was a draft. The windows, even with the curtains drawn, allowed a lot of cold and air to come inside.
My remote control for the TV didn't work. I was so tired that I didn't need it. But had I needed a little bit of entertainment, I would have been a bit annoyed.

Morning breakfast was a buffet... A few cold meats and cheese, yogourt, toast (that I accompanied with Nutella, my favourite) and pain au chocolait. The hot food was not that interesting... Scrambled eggs (soup version), a bland omelette, roasted tomatoes... And not much more.

Juice and cereals too. Coffee was horrendous and staff was rather slow... And the worst of it was that they only needed to pour the coffee.

I was not impressed by the hotel. I have to say that everytime they offer me a Holiday Inn, whether it is Express or the standard one, I am not very happy. I don't like them. I guess in the past they were nice hotels but now they seem abandoned.

If you have another hotel in the area to choose from, go for it. The Holiday Inn should be the last choice.


HOLIDAY INN RESORT NICE-PORT ST. LAURENT
167 PROMENADE DES FLOTS BLEUS
SAINT LAURENT DU VAR, 06700
FRANCE
Telephone: +33-4-93148000

SOFITEL CITY CENTRE DUBAI

Sofitel is a good hotel. When you stay over in one, you are staying in all, as they all have the same features. However, the Sofitel hotel in Dubai is in deep need for renovation. Its 361 rooms are old, and the typical Arab lack of maintenance shows that many years have passed since it was refurbished. It clearly gets away from the idea of a 5 star hotel, making it more like a 4 star one.

The hotel location is excellent. Only 10min from airport, and offers a free shuttle bus service. Once you finish work, the hotel offers you bars and restaurants, but the best thing is that is attached to the City Centre Shopping Mall, were you can walk, shop, eat, drink, watch a movie... You don't even need to go into the City centre in Dubai...

The rooms are reasonably big. The beds look clean and are comfortable. For some reason, I really felt good in the bed. At night, when you return to your room, your curtains are drawn for you, the bed open, and a little chocolate (extremely good, I have to say) waiting for you by the bed.

The bathroom offers a kit that is welcome, as well as two bottles of complementary water. Avoid the EVIAN, which you have to pay for...

Breakfast is good... for the first day. Then... it is very repetitive. I was expecting a little bit more. There was no fresh fruit. Only fruit out of a tin. Bakery was ok... but the best was the possibility to get a couple of fried eggs or an omelette... How many omelettes can you eat in a few days? Service was a bit slow, but pleasant.

My rate included free internet connection, which allowed me to keep up with the office.

The bellboys were rather slow, careless, distracted, and not that helpful... but their managers weren't either. It was a nightmare to get a taxi unless one came to unload... This is a general problem in Dubai, but a little bit of interest from the bellboys would have improved things.

My flight was an evening one (I think they normally are... Who flies from Dubai in the morning?) and I got an extension until 4pm to do the checkout, something I am really grateful about.

SOFITEL CITY CENTRE
Hotel contact details
Near City Centre Shopping Mall,
Deira, DUBAI,
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Tel +971 4294 1222
reservation@citycentrehotel.ae

HOTEL IBIS MONS CENTRE GARE

An Ibis is an Ibis. There is not much you can say about them. You go to one and you could go to a different one to see that there is not much difference. However, Ibis Mons Centre Gare has 72 spacious rooms (a bit cold in winter, as you get there and the radiators are cold...) and big bathroom. Still, they have the same functional style that characterises the chain.

It is just opposite the railway and bus station, it is only 500m from the historic town centre of Mons, numerous activities are nearby. Getting to it is also easy. The motorway exit 24 will take you into Mons centre, and then follow the signs to "GARE".

Breakfast is more than what I had expected. Coffee was good. Juice as well. There was some cold meat, cheese, yogurt, wonderful pain au chocolate and croissants, that in this part of the world, are excellent... toast... well, a relatively good breakfast to enjoy.

Parking is easy. It has a safe car park at the back of the hotel, and if required, but don't think it comes free. You need to pay for it. But, you can always park opposite the hotel, in the street. Mons doesn't seem that dangerous city.

WiFi Internet access and you have to pay for it, using your credit card... A system, which under my point of view, is not very attractive.

Hotel Ibis Mons Centre Gare
Boulevard Charles Quint 27b -

7000 - MONS

BELGIUM

Tel : (+32)65/847440

Fax : (+32)65/847441