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

THE KING GEORGE PALACE IN ATHENS

Its full name is Classical King George Palace Deluxe. I hope I can be forgiven if I have forgotten any "surname".

This is a hotel, where you will feel like a movie star. The location is fantastic... Syntagma Square, where every hour, you have the famous change of the guards. It is also the place where everyone meets each other... and also, the place where the strikes take place... After all, Syntagma Square (Constitution Sq.) is where the Government is placed.

It is within short walking distance from the touristic and traditional Plaka district, where you will find a huge amount of restaurants and tavernas, where you will enjoy local food.

The hotel itself is rather classical in decoration. I always prefer a much modern looking one, but this is just a matter of taste. Like Louis XIV, you walk along the extremely baroque decorated corridors until you reach your equally furnished bedroom. As you can see from the picture, I am not exaggerating. Its all frills there. (I have to say I was not welcome with a bouquet of roses... I think I should have complained, hehehe).

Rooms tend to be rather small too. You would expect that a 5 star hotel at the high rates they charge would offer you a bigger room. At least, mine was very small. The bathroom is fully equipped with soaps and other accessories from a well known brand. I even like the smell of the soap... (Sometimes you find hotels with awfully smelly soaps).

But, something that you will never forget is breakfast. It is served in the terrace on top of the hotel. There are waiters coming in an out, to offer you coffee and juices. The rest is self-service. Between bite and bite you can stare at the Acropolis and the Parthenon in particular that is ... just there. In front of you... LOOKING at you. I fell in love with the place. Outstanding...

Service was always very attentive, offering you whatever you needed. Something you really appreciate.



THE CLASSICAL KING GEORGE PALACE DELUXE

3 Vasileos Georgiou (Syntagma Square)
Athens 10564, Greece

Tel: +30 2810 300330
Fax: +30 2810 220785

THE LEGEND CHIANG RAI RESORT

Thai people tend to show their good manners and are always polite to you. When it comes to a nice hotel with nice staff, then, it is a plus. The Legend Chiang Rai Resort is situated somewhere in Chiang Rai, by the Mae Kok river.

The place is peaceful. Several Villas scattered in the grounds give you the privacy you need, yet, you are part of a group of houses. The Villas are beautifully decorated in a stylish rural decor. Beds have nets hanging for the nights, to avoid mosquitoes to bite you during the night...

The bathrooms have a Jacuzzi to enjoy your relaxed time. Depending on the room, you may have a terrace overlooking the river. Nearby, you have a swimming pool where you can just refresh yourself. If you feel like doing some exercise, then, you have a gym and spa too. You should not forget the Thai Massage.

Food is served in an open restaurant by the river. Breakfast and dinners tend to be buffet style, where you will find a lot of Asian food, so... be prepared. It is all excellently presented and tastes good.

The City is only a few minutes away by car. There is a minibus shuttle service (you need to pay for it) but on the way back, you should try a tuc-tuc. Not expensive. In the city, don't miss the night market. Worth a visit.

We also had booked a trip up river (3 hours) in a long tail boat, which was impressive. The Hotel has its own jetty from where you can board the boat.

THE LEGEND CHIANG RAI

124/15 Moo 21 Kohloy Road,
Amphur Muang,
Chiang Rai 57000,
Thailand

Tel: +66(0)53 910 400
Fax: +66(0)53 719 650
Email: info@TheLegend-ChiangRai.com

THE BRITANNIA ADELPHI HOTEL IN LIVERPOOL

It may be one of those buildings you cannot miss in Liverpool. The Adelphi Hotel is very well situated, next to the railway station and the buzzing shopping district. Public transport (buses and underground) are also quite at hand. The reception staff were not that interested in the guests, who, of course, had to wait for them to come out, while conversations and laughs about their private lifes were taking place behind the mirror wall.

The building it self shows the splendour the city once had... It has 402 bedrooms and en-suite bathrooms. According to the hotel, they are beautifully presented in Edwardian style with plenty of character. In my opinion, I got the impression of being in a huge Russian Hotel... I felt it was quite bare in decoration, poorly lit, and quite basic. I had been told that the hotel seemed as though it had been important a long time back, but since that time, little renovation had taken place... and the comments were not exaggerate. I must say that I felt a bit let down by the hotel. Rooms are big but extremely basic. The furniture and door frames had undergone several layers of paint throughout the years. The bathroom was big, and it had a Jacuzzi bath tub... but little extras there.

Like any bed and breakfast, the room had its TV on a really cheap and nasty wheeled table, Telephone, and Tea & Coffee making facilities (also hot chocolate). This hotel also features 2 great restaurants, 2 bars and a pizzeria. You can also find a gymnasium. Additionally, there is also a Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and solarium in addition to the beautiful heated marble swimming pool.

If you are travelling by car, it has a car park, but they charge you for the space... They still do it the old way. You take the car, then they park it for you until the car park is full... and I mean full. They even park cars in the corridors to maximise spaces.

Breakfast... Well, what can I say about breakfast...? Very sad. You feel like being inside a local cafe, rather than in a Hotel. The Continental breakfast offers you a rather "cheap" looking variety of products. Personally, I didn't go for English breakfast, although, other guests seemed to like it extremely. Shockingly enough, there were people who just came in the Hotel to have "breakky".

Summarising my stay, I can say that the hotel was clean, handy for visiting the city, but far away from a decently stylish hotel. Breakfast needs to improve considerable; so does the decoration. There is nothing wrong with old style decoration... But one thing is old... another, the "abandoned" state the hotel is...

I am sure that if the hotel was taken to 21st century standards, it would be a reference hotel. For now, I have to say, it is a poor choice, and will think twice before checking in again.


BRITANNIA ADELPHI HOTEL - LIVERPOOL
Ranelagh Place, Liverpool L3 5UL United Kingdom
Tel: +44 0871 222 0029
Fax: +44 0871 222 7009
Email : res700@britanniahotels.com

NH KENSINGTON - LONDON

London is a huge city... Thousands of hotels to chose from... They could be good, but if you don't know the place, you are taking too many chances. If you are just one night, then you could be ok anywhere, on condition the place is clean... but there are many factors to take into consideration.

I have to say that I am in love with the NH Hotels. It is a safe choice, true... so there is very little where to explore... I have to say that the NH Kensington is a bit far off the centre... However, it is situated in the exclusive Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, and Earls Court Underground station is only 5 minutes walk away.

I arrive on New Year's Eve, and at reception, I showed my voucher, and they told me that the double room I had booked was not available, but a suite was. I would not be charged extra for it... So of course, we accepted... (see picture below... would you have refused?)

The room was a bit small, but comfy. It was a two floor room, with even two bathrooms and a living room on the top floor. Flat TVs on both floors...

There was a little detail I didn't like about it. Normally, you get soap, shampoo and other bathroom accessories as standard. The bathroom was bare... Just soap and shampoo. Of course, I had to complain. The excuse was the exchange rate and the ecological issue of trying to save chemicals thrown to the sewers... What does a comb (to say something) have to do with it? I thought, that after the cost of the room, specially, with it being a suite, I would have expected a better service.

Breakfast, buffet, of course. Cereals, yogurts, fruit, nutella (extra point for me) bread, veggies, scrambled eggs, meats, biscuits, tarts... you name it... there was. It is true that if you were expecting a Full English Breakfast, it was not the right place... but after all, I believe the hotel is focused for Spaniards (at the end of the chain is Spanish) or other European. While I was there, there were also many Italians.

Bus 94 stopped right outside the hotel, taking you straight into Harrod's, Harvey Nickols... It also has a night bus, if you want to have the night bus experience. As I said earlier, it is withn short walking distance from Earl's Court Underground station. There are other buses nearby that will take you somewhere, although, I didn't check where.

Staff was friendly and helpful...

As I always say... you are not deceived with an NH Hotel. Of course, it is not the cheapest, but... cheaper are not that far away in price, but yet again, what you get in exchange, is considerably less. NH is a bit pricy, but worth paying for.

REFERENCE:

NH Kensington
Address: Cromwell Road 202-220,

SW5 0SW LONDON,

United Kingdom

Contact details:
E-mail: nhkensington@nh-hotels.com

Tel.: +44 207 2441 441

Fax: +44 207 244 1442

Category: 4 Stars