Tag: #boutiquehotel

Our stay at Beech Hill Hotel, Windermere

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On the last day of our stay-cation in the UK, we stayed at Beech Hill Hotel & SPA.  

Location:

Beech Hill Hotel & SPA is located in on the shores of Lake Windermere – England’s largest natural lake with river cruises and walking routes being within easy reach. It is just a short drive from the popular resort of Ambleside.

Rooms:

Beech Hill Hotel & SPA has 55 rooms ranging from simple ‘classic’ to exclusive Ruskin Suite. During our stay, we were accommodated in a classic room, one of the best value rooms offered at the hotel. It was spacious and offered a view of the lake as well as the fells beyond. It had classy decor and provided the homely comforts you require whilst being away from home – flat screen TV, complimentary WiFi access, telephone, hairdryer in addition to selection of tea and coffee, a work desk and a couple of chairs to relax on.

Our en-suite bathroom had a slightly outdated decor with both shower and bath. Towels and Gilchrist & Soames toiletries were provided.

Facilities:

Holidaymakers choosing Beech Hill Hotel & SPA can relax in the  ‘Griffin Bar and Lounge’ that also serves afternoon tea and light snacks. It has a homely feeling with features such as log fires and a large terrace overlooking the lake. Breakfasts & dinners are served in Burlington’s – AA Rosette Restaurant. An extensive Continental breakfast is available and for an extra £9.95 you can upgrade it to full English.

In addition, if you wish to relax and unwind Beech Hill Hotel has its own SPA centre consisting of an indoor heated swimming pool, a sauna, a steam room and outdoor spa pool. You can access it for a supplement of £15 per person for a duration of your stay. There are a range of Caudalie treatments available if you wish to spoil yourself with a facial or a massage.

Restaurant:

Breakfasts & dinners are served in Burlington’s – AA Rosette Restaurant. An extensive Continental breakfast is available and for an extra £9.95 you can upgrade it to full English.

When it comes to dinners – you can select two-five courses dinner:

  • The Two course menu is priced at £29.95
  • The Three course menu is priced at £39.95
  • The Five course menu is priced at £44.95.

Restaurant’s Head Chef – Lukasz Zebryk prides himself on working with local suppliers so he can fulfill his ambition to provide his dinners with the best experience of our local flavours of North Yorkshire, Cumbria and surrounding areas.

We decided to have a 3-course dinner. To start with, I had some ham terrine with quail egg, apple & toast.

My husband had some mackerel accompanied by beetroot & shallots dressing. Both dishes were presented nicely and flavorful.
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Next, I had a fillet steak served with hand cut chips, tomato, onion & mushroom.

My husband had some lamb rump with mint mash, kale & carrot. Both dishes were palatable.

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Finally, for my dessert (surprise, surprise!) I had some sticky toffee puddling with banana, vanilla ice cream & butterscotch. A question to all my regular readers: can you see a pattern here? Hahaha! I know, I know – i think I had sticky toffee pudding as a dessert everywhere we stopped in the Lake District! I really liked the caramelised banana addition to this classic pudding – it was delicious.

My husband had a cheeseboard served with some apple, celery, grapes, chutney, crackers & Port. It was appetizing.

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Overall experience:

Beech Hill Hotel & SPA is a nice hotel placed a magnificent location, offering a good food and good service. If you are planning a trip to the Lakes then it’s worth considering.

Website:

For more information and to book visit their website.

Address:

The Beech Hill Hotel & Spa
Newby Bridge Road,
Windermere,
Cumbria.
LA23 3LR

Hope you enjoyed reading this review!

X

Pauline

Lovely dinner at Ees Wyke Country House, Sawrey

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What do you consider a perfect meal? For me it’s who I am having the meal with, mouth-watering food, good-service and pleasant decor / surroundings. Ees Wyke’s restaurant ticked all this boxes.

Location:

Ees Wyke restaurant is located in a classic English dinning room of an elegant Georgian house Ees Wyke Country House in Cumbria, near the small village of Sawrey and less than 3 miles from the town of Hawkshead. It is set on high ground overlooking and adjacent to Esthwaite Water and providing spectacular views to the Langdale Pikes and Grizedale Forest. It offers a perfect base not only for a delicious food but also for exploring the wonders of the Lake District. Additional bonus is that Ees Wyke’s dining room provides breathtaking views over Esthwaite Water to Coniston Old Man to the Langdale Pikes. Simply stunning!

The menu:

The menu is created daily by Ees Wyke’s current owner – Richard Lee who purchased it over 15 years ago and he is also in-house Head Chef. The choices on the menu are limited in order to ensure quality so you can rest assured that whatever you select will be tasty and satisfying. All dishes use only the very best of local produce from top local suppliers and Richard prides himself in the relationships he built with them over the years. If you like to have some wine with your meal then Ees Wyke’s wine list offers a wide range of wines from the “New World” to French classics. They are all reasonably priced and sourced based on their ratings.

Prior to the dinner, guests can have a drink, in one of two spacial lounges, on the veranda or in a garden. When the dinner is served, you will be escorted to your table by a friendly waitress – Angela.

As we were staying in Ees Wyke, we booked our dinner for 7:30p.m. When we entered the dinning room, there was already some other guests seated who were also eager to discover Richard’s cooking based on the typical English dishes with a French influence. They were loyal dinners who returned to Ees Wyke on their travels to Lake District after discovering the restaurant a couple of years ago. As soon as we sat down, our waitress welcomed us and we received some complimentary freshly baked bread and butter.

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For our starter, we both decided to have some pork and apricot terrine with pistachio nuts served with roasted vegetable chutney on toast. What an impressive combination! It was urban, elegant and had that pleasurable chunkiness of pistachios added.
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Next, it was time for our mains. As I love seafood, I decided to have a fillet of salmon with mint and cucumber wrapped in puff pastry bedded on some lobster sauce and served with a side of seasonal vegetables – carrots & broccoli.

My husband had noisettes of local lamb pan fried and served with a wine, mint and garlic gravy. Both dishes were excellent and we cleared our plates in no time.

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Lastly, it was time for my favorite course of any meal – dessert. I decided to have my best-loved sticky-toffee pudding which was served with hot butterscotch sauce. It was delectable and I would happily have eaten another one if that was an option.
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My husband had a cheese board which included 4 regional cheeses:

  • Crook (a soft blue veined cheese),
  • Crofton (unpressed cows and goats milk cheese from Carlisle),
  • Eden Chieftain (A creamy, close textured mature cheddar style cheese),
  • Eden valley Brie by the Appleby Creamery using local milk.

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They were presented beautifully with some crackers, celery and grapes. It’s always great trying local produce and this just convinced us that the British cheese is amongst the best in the world!

Overall experience: 

We both loved our dinner at Ees Wyke Country House and Richard somehow managed to combine home cooking with top French professional standards and influence. All dishes were well thought of and included the best local ingredients to bring up the most aromatic flavors of each course on offer. I would happily dine here anytime especially when I consider how affordable the dinner was – at £37.99 for 3-course dinner, it’s a bargain! You should definitely visit. I promise – you will not regret it.

Website:

For more information and to book visit their website.

Address:

Near Sawrey
Ambleside
Cumbria
LA22 0JZ
England

Hope you enjoyed reading this review!

X

Pauline

Our stay at Ees Wyke Country House, Sawrey

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As our stay-cation in the magnificent Lake District continued, we carried on discovering glacial ribbon lakes, rugged fell mountains and some lovely hiking places in Cumbria. After a long day hiking around White Moss Walks and Stock Ghyll Force fall, we came across a hidden gem when we stopped for a night in a lovely Ees Wyke Country House.

Location:

Ees Wyke Country House is perfectly located in Cumbria, near a small village of Sawrey and less than 3 miles from the town of Hawkshead. It is set on high ground overlooking and adjacent to Esthwaite Water and providing spectacular views to the Langdale Pikes and Grizedale Forest. You will be pleased to discover that Ees Wyke Country House was once the holiday home of Beatrix Potter – an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist and conservationist. It offers a perfect base for exploring the wonders of the Lake District with Hill Top being only a 4-minute walk away. It is also just a 30-min walk from the head of Lake Windermere, England’s largest natural lake. If you are an adventure seeker then you can walk on the tree tops at Go Ape Grizedale which is a short drive away.
Alternatively, if like me, long walks are more appealing then I would suggest taking a lovely walk along the Windermere shoreline and Rawlinson Nab recommended by Richard Lee – Ees Wyke Country House’s owner and on-site chef. He used to take it with his late wife – Margaret and I would suggest you to experience it when you stay here.

Facilities:

According to the Ees Wyke Country House’s website: ‘Ees Wyke was built as a Lake District retreat for a Lancashire mill owner in 1742′. It has remained a private home until it was converted into a guest house with some famous visitors such as above mentioned Beatrix Potter, visiting on several occasions. Ees Wyke’s current owner purchased this elegant Georgian house over 15 years ago and as he has a wealth of experience in hotel management since he took it over Ees Wyke has won multiple awards which are proudly displayed in the lounge and dining areas.

Guests can have a drink, read a book or relax in one of two spacious lounges, on the veranda or in a garden. Breakfast and dinner are served in the dinning room.

The breakfast at Ees Wyke Country House has received an AA award and is simply spectacular. It is sourced from local ingredients i.e. sausages and dry cured bacon are from the local butcher or you can try a Loch Fyne kipper or poached Finnan haddock. You can also try some continental breakfast including a selection of cereals, freshly squeezed juices, compotes, porridge and freshly baked croissants. Guests can also book for a freshly prepared 3-course dinner with a daily changing menu. The choices were limited in order to ensure quality and the dishes we selected were mouth-watering and we cleared our plates in no time.

Rooms: 

Ees Wyke Country House is a small boutique hotel with only 9 rooms. We stayed in the ‘blue’ room situated on the 1st floor providing breathtaking views of Esthwaite Waters and the fells beyond.

It had a traditional and classy decor with a mix of antique and contemporary furniture. It provided us with all the homely comforts you require whilst being away from home – satellite TV, selection of tea and coffee, work desk, and a comfortable king-sized bed. Complimentary sherry was an adorable thought and we appreciated it after a full day walk.

Our en-suite bathroom had a classic decor. Penhaligon toiletries, and soft fluffy towels were provided.

Overall experience: 

I could continue and write 1000s of words about how Ees Wyke Country House is worth your custom, about how it’s owner Richard somehow manages to combine home cooking with top French professional standards of cooking, about how the breakfast is hands down the best I’ve had in the North West and how Angela (the front of house) entertained us with the stories and advise on the best local walks and attraction. I could write all this, but none of it matters, the Ees Wyke Country House is simply excellent and the view from its rooms is world class – simply breathtaking. This soul-soothing scenery is definitely something I would love to wake up to everyday…

Lastly, if you are planning a trip to the Lake District then you should definitely book a room in this classic country house. You will not regret it. Both me and my husband loved it here and being looked after by Richard and Angela seemed like we were staying in some relatives house. I would love to return here soon and have already mentioned to my husband that we should travel here for my birthday in May.

Website:

For more information and to book visit their website.

Address:

Near Sawrey
Ambleside
Cumbria
LA22 0JZ
England

Hope you enjoyed reading this review!

X

Pauline

Our stay at Rothay Manor Hotel, Ambleside

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As our stay-cation in the UK continued we traveled to the magnificent Lake District. I love hiking and discovering new places so I was super excited to visit this popular vacation destination, known for its glacial ribbon lakes, rugged fell mountains and historic literary associations. Whilst in a popular market town of Ambleside, we stayed at the luxury Rothay Manor Hotel & Fine dining. 

Location:

Rothay Manor Hotel & Fine Dining is perfectly located in Cumbria, in the picturesque village of Ambleside which marks the head of Lake Windermere, England’s largest natural lake which is only 450 yards away. It is just a short few minutes walk from the town center which has now become a major tourist resort with shops, restaurants and a cinema. In addition, it offers a perfect base for exploring the wonders of the Lake District. I was pleased to discover that the hotel put some proposed itineraries of local walks which you can easily access by scanning a QR code whilst in reception. We took a couple of the recommended walks and they offered breath-taking views. If walking is not your thing then you can hire mountain bikes or Segways or have some fun at GoApe adventure.

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Rooms:

Rothay Manor Hotel & Fine Dining is a Grade II Listed house built in 1825 with landscaped garden and period features. Guests can relax in a spacious lounge which is also perfect for a drink or two after a day discovering the Lakes.

All rooms are named after local falls – we stayed in a superior room situated on the 1st floor which was named after famous local waterfall – Tom Gill. Our room was spacious and had it’s own balcony overlooking the gardens to the fells beyond. It had a stylish and classy decor. Our room provided the homely comforts you require whilst being away from home – satellite TV, in-room safe, mini-fridge, selection of fairtrade tea and coffee, work desk, a couple of armchairs to rest on and a comfortable bed.

Our en-suite bathroom had a modern decor with both shower and bath. Some large, fluffy towels and bathrobes as well as the luxurious Noble Isle toiletries were provided.

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Restaurant:

Rothay Manor Hotel has a fine dining restaurant which was awarded 3 AA rosettes. It offers modern British cuisine. Its Head Chef – Daniel McGeorge creates memorable dining experiences using only the best fresh, seasonal ingredients. His passion for great food is reflected with 2 tasting menus plus a la carte menu available daily. All of the menus can be adapted to accommodate your dietary requirements.

We decided to have a 5-course tasting menu. To start with, we had some Scottish Langoustine with carrot, yuzu, timut pepper, shiso. The dish had creative flavors and was delectable. Secondly, we had some Norfolk quail breast, leg, onion, girolle and pine. It was juicy and succulent.

Next, we had some monkfish with sweetcorn, red pepper, sea kale, XO and coriander. I love seafood and the dish was simply luscious. For our final course, we had some Cumbrian Dexter beef sirloin, tongue, bone marrow, aubergine, sea beet and nasturtium. The dish was flavorful and my husband’s favorite dish from our dining experience at the Rothay Manor’s restaurant.

Finally, we had a cheeseboard to share. It had a great selection of some local cheese served with artisan crackers, honey, olives and chutney. It was appetizing.

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Overall experience:

Rothay Manor Hotel & Fine Dining offers a perfect base for anyone travelling to the Lake District. I also discovered that its management team put together special interest short breaks on offer i.e. for art collectors and walking holidays enthusiast so make sure that you check their seasonal offering.

Rothay Manor’s Fine Dining restaurant is a must-have to add to your list if you are in the area and I am sure you will enjoy all dishes on the menu – I certainly did and I will definitely return here again to experience some other dishes.

Lastly, all staff members we came across made us feel welcomed and were professional which is always appreciated when you are away.

Website:

For more information and to book visit their website.

Address:

Rothay Manor Hotel
Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0EH

Hope you enjoyed reading this review!

X

Pauline

Our stay at The Black Bull Inn, Sedbergh

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As some of you know, due to COVID, I decided to take a stay-cation in the UK traveling around the North of England and visiting some stunning places during my journey. Whilst hiking in the Yorkshire Dales with my husband, we stayed for at The Black Bull – a former 17th century coaching inn. Its owners – Nina Matsunaga and James Ratcliffe moved from Manchester to Sedbergh in 2014 and opened the Three Hares – a popular local cafe and deli located across the street which won a host of accolades and appeared in the Good Food Guide. In 2016, they have embarked on another project and decided to transform and develop The Black Bull.

Location:

The Black Bull Coaching Inn is located in Cumbria, in the picturesque village of Sedbergh which is one of the UK’s most famous book towns. It sits within the Yorkshire Dales National Park, at the foot of the splendid Howgill Fells and James refers to Sedbergh as the neck of Britain – Cheshire, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Durham, Northumberland and Cumbria. He is right as visitors can easily reach these destinations whilst experiencing this interesting town and its surroundings at the same time.

Service:

James, Nina and Ernest are the family behind The Black Bull and as soon as you enter you get that vibe that you are visiting your relatives or friends which you haven’t seen for a while. Everyone is super friendly and makes you feel relaxed and welcomed.

Rooms:

After transforming The Black Bull, the Couple opened an 18-bedroom hotel with a spacious dining room and bar. All rooms are named after local fells – we stayed in room 11 – Crook. Our room was spacious and its decor was influenced by Japanese design combined with using local designers who provided some accessories such as Herdwick and Rough Fell carpets and blankets, mugs that were hand-made by local artist Rebecca Callis and evocative photography of the surrounding area by Rob Whitrow.

Most importantly our room provided the homely comforts you require whilst being away from home – tea & coffee making facilities, homemade cookies, dressing table and a very comfortable bed to sleep in.

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Our en-suite bathroom had a modern decor with see-through glass-walled design however if baring it all in front of your travel companion is too much then you are always able to pull a privacy curtain across. In addition to a nice open shower there was also a bath available to relax in after a whole day of hiking. Soft towels and a selection of toiletries from Sedbergh Soap Company were provided.

Restaurant:

I always like trying the restaurants in the establishments we visit. After reading about Nina’s heritage and the culinary awards she has won, I booked a table for a dinner at The Black Bull.

The menu is based on the best British, European and Asian-inspired dishes. Sourcing local products and establishing long-lasting relationships with the suppliers are important to the Owners and this reflects in the menus which change daily in order to use the best ingredients available at any given time. The wine list is congruent with the menu.

Our dinner was the one of the best meals we’ve had whilst in the Yorkshire Dales. Let me tell you about it and the dishes we had…

To start with I had some lobster gratinee with summer vegetables. My husband had some wood pigeon with blackberry and cobnut. Both dishes were tasty and presented beautifully.

For my main, I decided to have some Hereford beef fillet, brisket accommodated by some hokkaido squash and wild garlic. My husband had wild Lakeland venison wellington with some pickled walnut and spinach. We finished both dishes in no time.

Sticky toffee pudding is always my choice if it’s on the menu so it was not a surprise that I had it this time. My husband decided to have a cheeseboard. We both loved our choices and once again cleared our plates showing how we enjoyed the meal.

Overall experience:

To sum up, The Black Bull offers a perfect base from where you can experience the Yorkshire Dales. This relaxed yet luxurious coaching inn would be a perfect accommodation for anyone seeking to experience the English countryside and tranquility of Sedbergh. Whether you are thinking about a hiking break or a romantic escape with your loved one – I am sure that you’ll enjoying staying here as much as both myself and my husband did. You definitely need to experience their restaurant too as both food and service were faultless. Do remember to book it in advance though as it was fully booked on Wednesday evening when we visited as due to COVID restrictions there are less tables available.

Website:

For more information and to book visit:

https://www.theblackbullsedbergh.co.uk/

Address:

The Black Bull,
44 Main Street,
Sedbergh,
Cumbria,
LA10 5BL

Hope you enjoyed reading this review!

X

Pauline

Our stay at Chilston Park Hotel in Lenham, Kent

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Whether you are looking for a romantic break for two, a spa break or just a weekend away then you should definitely check what Hand Picked Hotels offer. It was my first adventure when I discovered one of their properties and let me tell you – I loved it. I recently travelled to Kent’s countryside and stayed in the stunning Chilston Park Hotel. If, like me, you are seeking the best places to stay in then you should definitely visit.

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Location:

Chilston Park Hotel in located in the picturesque village of Lenham. Visitors can easily reach it whether they are travelling from Ashford, Dover or London which are only a short drive away. If you enjoy romantic walks then the hotel offers picturesque views of its neighbouring lake combined with a tranquil charm of its garden.

In addition, if you are planning to stay in Kent for a few days then Chilston Park Hotel would be a perfect base from where you can experience this beautiful part of England with many famous castles, landmarks and nearby white cliffs.

Service:

As soon as we entered the hotel, we were welcomed by a helpful receptionist. The porter took us to our rooms and as there was some time to spare we decided to have a drink at the historical lounge. Both bar and restaurant staff were helpful and professional.

Rooms:

Chilston Park Hotel offers its guests 53 bedrooms to suit their needs and budget – ranging from classic rooms to exclusive suites. All rooms were individually styled and are now known by a name, not a digit, as they have their own unique history and feel. Some rooms come with a view of the lake others overlook the grounds. Most importantly they all provide homely comforts you require whilst being away from home.

We stayed in ‘Evelyn’ which features a stunning views across the garden and grounds. Our room featured a comfortable, pencil four poster bed with luxury linen, a large wardrobe, coffee table with two chairs and a telephone. In addition, there were tea and coffee making facilities.

Our en-suite bathroom also had a classic décor. A selection of natural bath toiletries was supplied. In addition, there were some soft towels, slippers and bath gowns provided.

Facilities:

Besides its charming rooms, hotel features the bar, lounge as well as a pretty garden. After sightseeing during the day, the bar was a great place to relax and enjoy a drink. A nice selection of alcoholic beverages and cocktails was on offer.

In addition, there were many great historic features such as beautiful classic staircase, fireplace with two guarding lions and a bookshelf with lots of old historic books.

Restaurant:

The hotel also prides itself in having a 2 AA Rosette – ‘Culpeper’s’ restaurant that offers an inviting atmosphere and is located in the original dining room of the house featuring a decorative ceiling and fireplace.

As we are massive foodies, we decided to have our dinner there and we were impressed with the vibrant, modern British, seasonal dishes created by the head chef – Adrian Martin. I was also happy to discover that many of the ingredients were sourced locally to offer the highest quality dishes. We decided to have some house red wine with our meal but diners also have an opportunity to sample some of the wines offered by the sommelier.

To start with I had some pan seared Rye Bay scallops with burnt onion relish, cauliflower purée and pancetta crumb. They were simply divine. My husband had some griddled tiger prawns roasted in red pepper sauce, citrus and parsley oil.

For my main, I decided to have some roast fillet of Atlantic cod in parsley cream sauce whilst my husband had a crispy belly of Caldecott pork and braised cheek layered with garlic and potato cake, caramelised apple puree and Biddenden cider vinaigrette. Both dishes were cooked to perfection and we finished them in no time.

Choosing a dessert was not a problem at all when I saw a sticky toffee pudding on the menu. It was accompanied by some Butterscotch sauce and vanilla ice cream which was simply mouth-watering. My husband decided to have a selection of British cheeses served with some homemade chutney and Miller’s Damsels wafers.

Overall experience:

Chilston Park Hotel offers a charming accommodation to anyone seeking to experience a relaxing and unforgettable moments in the English countryside. From the moment we entered, we were enchanted by its history, décor and pretty location. Both food and service were faultless so I would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone who plans any adventures to Kent.

I would love to experience some other hotels from Hand Picked Portfolio as I was really impressed with this establishment.

Website:

For more information and to book visit:

https://www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/chilstonpark/

Address:

Sandway, Lenham, ME17 2BE, Kent United Kingdom

Hope you enjoyed reading this review!

X

Pauline

Our stay in VISIONAPARTMENTS in Zurich

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We travelled to Zurich recently for a short, weekend break. We stayed in one of the luxurious apartments managed by VISIONAPARTMENTS. They offer over 1,800 tailored temporary living solutions in Berlin, Frankfurt, Lausanne, Warsaw, Vevey, Vienna, Zug and Zurich. The main clientele of VISIONAPARTMENTS are businessmen and young leisure travellers who collectively help to create a great atmosphere there.

Location:
VISIONAPARTMENTS Wolframplatz building is situated just a few metres away from the Giesshübel Train Station which can get you to the Zürich Main Train Station in a few minutes. It makes it a perfect location for whether you are there on business or – like us – travelling for a short city-break. The airport is only 40min away can be easily reached by public transport too.
You can also grab a bite to eat nearby, with the nearest restaurants located only a short walk away or go shopping at the Sihlcity Shopping Centre which is a 5min walk away from the apartments.

Apartment:
The concept of an aparthotel is one that offers most of the services of a hotel: rooms are regularly cleaned but rather than living in a room, you are spend your time in a fully-equipped apartment. VISIONAPARTMENTS units are available in a variety of layouts, styles and sizes and are competitively priced whether you are looking for a long- or short-term accommodation.


We stayed in a lovely, fully furnished Junior Duplex Apartment (No# WO010), split over 2 levels. On the ground floor, it featured a bathroom, living room area and a kitchen (with a small mini-fridge, microwave and dishwasher). A staircase lead us up to our spacious bedroom with its own en-suite bathroom.

The bedroom had a large, comfortable king size bed, flat screen TV and handy night stands. There was a selection of toiletries available in our master bathroom in addition to comfy robes and slippers.


After long days of sightseeing, I really enjoyed coming back to our apartment and relaxing on the large sofa watching some news before going to bed. As our apartment had a fully furnished kitchen – we prepared our breakfasts there, trying some locally produced goods.

Overall experience:
We stayed at the VISIONAPARTMENTS in Zurich for 2 nights and we really enjoyed it. The complex is super modern – you do not need to even check in/check out as you get an access code to your apartment on the day of your arrival. I was impressed with how spacious and stylish our apartment was. There is no restaurant onsite but if you do not mind preparing your own breakfast or having it at one of the nearby cafes then that shouldn’t be an issue. I would definitely recommend it to all travellers who like to stay in beautiful modern surroundings that offer an excellent price to quality ratio.

Address:
Wolframplatz. 1,
8045 Zürich, Switzerland

Website:
https://visionapartments.com/en/

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

X

Pauline

Birthday celebrations at The Woburn hotel

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Someone wise once said that as you grow older, you learn to understand life a little better… I turned 34 a couple of weeks ago and as I love relaxing, being surrounded by nature and animals, we’ve decided to travel to the picturesque Georgian village of Woburn in Bedfordshire to celebrate it. We’ve stayed in ‘The Woburn Hotel’ – an award winning, 4 AA star hotel.

Location:

‘The Woburn Hotel’ is perfectly located in the heart of Woburn village, in the historic Woburn Abbey Estate that is home of the 15th Duke of Bedford. It can be easily reached from London (~1 hour), Milton Keynes (~20minutes) and in about 30 minutes from Luton Airport.
If being surrounded by nature and animals appeals to you then the hotel’s location should exceed your expectations as it a stone throw away from Woburn Safari Park and Woburn Abbey and Gardens. We visited all of these attractions on Saturday and I really enjoyed our drive through Woburn Safari Park which has over 1,000 wild animals roaming in 300 acres of beautiful parkland. Following from that we discovered an amazing deer park and visited Woburn Abbey which has been home to the Dukes of Bedford for nearly 400 years. In addition, if romantic walks around the gardens are of interest to you then you will be able to explore the 28 acres of award-winning, Humphry Repton inspired, Woburn Abbey Gardens.

Service:

As soon as we entered the hotel, we were welcomed by a very helpful and professional receptionist. He was really approachable and handed us our tickets to Woburn Safari park, which we were going to visit the day-after. He also provided us with some leaflets about the village. Once we checked in, we dropped our bags at our cottage, and we went straight to our afternoon tea. We found all hotel staff at reception and restaurant extremely attentive and friendly.

Rooms:

The Woburn Hotel offers its guests a selection of rooms to choose from in the main hotel ranging from double standard rooms to Abbey rooms to suites in addition to one of seven lovely cottages adjacent to the hotel to suit all budgets. All rooms have stylish décor providing you with everything you need for a relaxing stay. We stayed in a lovely, two storey cottage with a mezzanine floor called – ‘Wispers’ which was overlooking the hotel and its front garden. Each of the cottages have been designed to reflect their connection to the Russell family. The cottage we stayed in was named after an Estate in Sussex, which was purchased by the 11th Duke of Bedford for his wife, Mary back in 1927.

Our cottage featured a comfortable bed, luxury linen, safe, a TV and a telephone.

In addition, there were tea and coffee making facilities a selection of delicious complimentary chocolates, which were freshly prepared for us and waiting for us on our arrival.

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The cottage was perfect to celebrate my birthday and relaxing in after our adventures with its separate, large lounging area.

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Our en-suite bathroom had a classic décor. A selection of The White Company bath toiletries was also provided. In addition, some soft towels, slippers and soft bath gowns were available – perfect for lounging in before and after our sightseeing.

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Facilities:

In addition to some charming rooms, hotel features the drawing room, The Tavistock bar, The Repton Room and 2 AA Rosette restaurant – Olivier’s.

The restaurant offers its dinners some of the best Bedfordshire cuisine. A Polish waiter, which assisted us – Mateusz made our stay extremely memorable by always being chatty and professional.

The hotel also has a lovely patio where its visitors can enjoy a drink or a snack.
Breakfast is offered in the main restaurant and provides a selection of made to order dishes.

Overall experience:

The Woburn hotel is perfectly located just steps away from Woburn Safari Park, Woburn Golf Club and estates. If you have a special occasion coming up, then the hotel offers a range of escapes to choose from. We loved the hotel’s charming accommodation, which being part of the Woburn Estate helped us to create lots of unforgettable moments in the English countryside. In addition, the service was faultless so I would recommend this hotel to anyone who plans to travel to travel to Woburn or surrounding areas.
I would love to stay in this hotel again one day!

Website:

For more information and to book visit:
https://www.thewoburnhotel.co.uk/

Address:
1 George Street,
Woburn,
Bedfordshire,
MK17 9PX

Hope you enjoyed reading this review!

X

Pauline

The Adagio London Brentford, UK

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Two weeks ago, I was invited the opening of the first ever Adagio Aparthotel in London Brentford. I’ve previously stayed in Adagio Aparthotel with my mum in Nice in France and I really enjoyed it so I was really looking forward to discovering what Adagio has to offer in London.

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Location:

The Adagio Aparthotel Brentford provides good links with Central London so it’s great for both business and leisure travellers. It is also located close to London Heathrow airport and within a mile of Kew Gardens. The closest tube station is 10minutes walk from the aparthotel.

Facilities:

Adagio Aparthotel Brentford offers all the comforts of home whilst you are away. The hotel features 100 apartments (a mixture of studios and one-bedroom apartments), virtual concierge, fitness centre, laundry facilities, open hot-desk work area next to reception and a restaurant where you can grab a breakfast or a drink from.

Lobby and Lounge Areas

Aparthotels Adagio London Brentford’s design takes inspiration from its urban surroundings with a modern feel. All Adagio aparthotels aim to provide open areas where guests can work and meet, perhaps even take part in one of their spontaneous cooking sessions all within Adagios comfortable setting.

As soon as you enter, you are welcomed by friendly receptionists and beautiful, contemporary surroundings.

Reception and foyer

Room:

We stayed in a beautiful apartment located on the seventh floor. Our apartment had a fully-equipped kitchen, air conditioning, living area with flat screen smart TV, free WIFI and telephone. We also had a spacious bathroom with complimentary Malin + Goez toiletries.

The living area of the apartment consisted also had a large and comfortable bed so we slept very well.

Studio 1

We also had a large terrace featuring the panoramic views of London where the guests could enjoy a drink or sit down and relax with a good book.

Apartament 1 – Balcony

Overall experience:

The hotel staff believe that ‘home is not a place, it is a feeling’ and they try to create a friendly, open surroundings for its guests. Although, we stayed at the Adagio Aparthotel Brentford only for 1 night, we had a great time. The hotel has everything that’s needed whilst away from home and I will definitely stay in Adagio Aparthotels in the future.

Address:

Key Eye Tower

Ealing Rd

Brentford TW8 0FL

Website:

https://www.adagio-city.com

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

Our stay at The Millstream hotel in Bosham, Chichester

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hotel front

As some of you might know it was my husband’s 31st birthday 2 weeks ago. I’ve decided to take my Prince Charming for a weekend away to Chichester. We’ve stayed in a cosy, boutique hotel in Bosham and today I would like to share with you a summary of our stay in the Millstream Hotel.

Location:

Millstream Hotel & restaurant is situated in the heart of Bosham village on the shores of Chichester Harbour. If you enjoy history then you will be keen to learn that it boasts the Holy Trinity Church which is depicted in The Bayeux Tapestry, as it was from Bosham that Earl Harold, later King Harold who set sail on his ill-fated trip to Normandy in 1064.

If you enjoy romantic walks then the hotel’s location should meet your expectations as it offers picturesque views of a beautiful harbour combined with a tranquil charm of other traditional surroundings. Bosham is also only a short distance from Chichester and Goodwood, with easy access to Arundel Castle, West Dean Gardens and Portsmouth Historic Dockyards that are only 25minutes drive away. It is a perfect destination for any travellers all year-round, no matter whether you are going there to relax, shop or explore the surrounding areas.

Service:

The reception desk is open 24 hours. As soon as we entered the hotel, we were welcomed by extremely helpful Giulia. Once we checked in, she offered us some great advice on what we could do whilst in Bosham. We dropped our bags and decided to have a drink at the classy and inviting lounge. Once again, the service was helpful and professional. Same applied to the restaurant staff who made us feel welcomed and made our trip enjoyable.

Rooms:

The Millstream hotel offers its guests 35 rooms to suit their needs and budget – ranging from single bedded rooms to exclusive suites in the Waterside cottage. All rooms are individually styled providing homely comforts. The décor of all rooms is classic with a modern twist. We stay in one of the premium rooms overlooking the front garden. Our room featured a comfortable bed, luxury linen, safe, mini fridge (with some complimentary water, milk and chocolates), a TV and a telephone. In addition, there were tea and coffee making facilities including the Nespresso coffee machine with capsules and a selection of delicious complimentary biscuits, which were freshly made in-house by the hotel’s pastry chef.

Our en-suite bathroom had a modern décor and walk-in shower. A selection of natural bath toiletries was also provided. In addition, some soft towels, slippers and soft bath gowns were provided. They were perfect for lounging in before and after our sightseeing.

Facilities:

In addition to some charming rooms, hotel features the bar, lounge, a recognised as a 2 AA Rosette restaurant and pretty gardens. After driving from Colchester for 4 hours, the bar was a great place to relax and enjoy a drink. There is a nice selection of alcoholic beverages on offer – I really enjoyed my Bellini.

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The restaurant is offers a warm atmosphere as you enjoy your dinner. A Hungarian waiter which assisted us – Zsolt made our stay extremely memorable by always being smiley and professional.

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As it was quite cold, we haven’t spent much time in the gardens but they are available during the warmer weather for drinks, afternoon teas, coffees and snacks.

Breakfast is offered in the main restaurant and provides a selection of made to order dishes.

Overall experience:

The Millstream hotel offers a charming accommodation to anyone seeking to experience some relaxing, unforgettable moments in English countryside. The location was great and service was faultless so I would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone who plans to travel to Chichester, Portsmouth or surrounding areas.

I would love to stay in this hotel again one day!

Website:

For more information and to book visit:

https://millstreamhotel.com/

Address:

The Millstream Hotel & Restaurant

Bosham Lane, Bosham, Chichester, West Sussex PO18 8HL

Hope you enjoyed reading this review!

X

Pauline