The Bristol – part of The Doyle Collection, a group of eight luxury hotels located in five cities in Ireland, UK and the States – has many merits, as my family and I discovered when we stayed one night in January 2016. One of its main selling points is the prime location. Edging the harbourside [...]
If you’re heading to the Cotswolds and looking for a child-friendly place to stay where delicious meals are dished up and a welcome smile greets you the moment you arrive, then try The Priory Inn. Situated in the thriving market town of Tetbury, the inn is owned by Dave and Tanya Kelly, who’ve worked in [...]
I spent a week with my family at Alykes Garden Village, just outside the village of Alykes on the attractive Greek island of Zante. We stayed in a four-person studio (number 101). Equipment and facilities were basic, but that was what we expected. On arrival, we had to ask Jimmy, the owner, for extra [...]
If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in the Lake District’s most beautiful corner – well, that’s my opinion – then look no further than Hassness Country House, run by Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. This grand, white-walled manor-styled property is the jewel in the operator’s wide-ranging portfolio. It’s easy to see why because it has much [...]
It’s extremely rare that I settle down to write a review with nothing but positives to report. However much I’ve enjoyed a visit to an attraction, hotel or restaurant, there is usually something, however small, where I can offer some constructive criticism in the hope that the proprietor can improve their customers’ experience. But I’ve [...]
En route to our hotel in the Lake District, my eight-year-old son, Peter, asked what the “HF” stood for in HF Holidays. My explanation that it was an acronym for “Holiday Fellowship” didn’t register – not surprisingly. But after enjoying a three-night break with the UK’s largest walking and leisure activity holiday provider with over [...]
Many hotels claim they have a decent view but the location of Bristol’s Avon Gorge Hotel takes some beating. It’s situated on the edge, quite literally, of a deep gorge in the heart of Clifton Village, overlooking Brunel’s fabulous Clifton Suspension Bridge. Avon Gorge Hotel - Bristol This hotel will always remain close [...]
I’ve stayed in a few of these large hotel/leisure complexes and sometimes they promise more than they can deliver. But that’s not the case at Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa. Whilst the self-contained resort has two beautifully-designed championship courses, it offers much more than just a round of golf. As you turn off [...]
One thing I like about Premier Inn is their predictability. When I book a hotel room I want to know what I can expect in terms of service, facilities and, most importantly, quality of accommodation; I don’t want any nasty surprises. There is always an exception but, by and large, you know that award-winning Premier [...]
When looking for a base from which to explore Snowdonia, the beautiful village of Betws-y-Coed, regarded as the gateway to the national park, takes some beating. It’s reputedly the “home of Britain’s first artists’ colony” and you can understand why such artistic individuals were smitten with the place. Surrounded by dense woodland, the village – [...]
