I have to say it - but this hotel is one of my favourite hotels in the world. Just everything about the Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown is perfect. I'm as you will know a big fan of the Indigo brand from IHG. I've stayed at a number of them and another one of my favourites is Hotel Indigo Bath. But the Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown tops this in every way. It's my must go to hotel in Dubai when I stay in the city and for everything that it has to offer there isn't much more that it has to offer. Nestled amidst the towering skyscrapers and bustling streets, this boutique hotel offers a tranquil oasis that provides the perfect escape from the city's hustle and bustle but also close…

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For someone who used to spend every week at some point with my bag packed travelling somewhere it's been a bit of a change staying at home and not heading off somewhere. When the lovely people at Billesley Manor Hotel invited us for a stay though we couldn't wait to get the bag packed and on our way to this hotel and spa! Billesley Manor Hotel is a stone’s throw from the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare penned his comedy ‘As You Like It’ here in 1599. The hotel has just completed an extensive £5.6m refurbishment of it's buildings. There is a real mix of the interior styling. The main reception and bar areas are wooden panelled and emphasis the old history of the 16th Century building. However this is tempered…

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I love a good Indigo Hotel! Of all the reviews you'll find on this site - the Indigo brand is one of my favourites. So when the team at Hotel Indigo Bath asked me to do a review for them of their newly opened hotel I was more than willing! The Indigo hotel chain which is part of the IHG group of hotels is their more boutique brand. Not so much copy and paste like you might find in a Holiday Inn. More the type which plays on local history, the local styling etc... Earlier in 2020 I stayed at Hotel Indigo Stratford and this was an excellent example. Lots of theatrical references, playing on the Shakespeare name etc... I couldn't therefore wait to get to Bath and see what…

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Anyone who's read my blog elsewhere know's that I love a good Hotel Indigo. So when a work trip to Stratford Upon Avon came up this week and I saw an Indigo on offer. Why not?! What I didn't know was quite how good the Hotel Indigo Stratford Upon Avon was going to be. Now when I say the statement that it was the best hotel that I've stayed in ever that might sound dramatic. But here's the thing. Yes of course if you stay in a £1k a night hotel I'm sure that it would be better. However for £160 a night? Genuinely this is the best hotel I've ever stayed in! Let's start with the simple things - it's built just off the high street in Stratford. For…

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I hit the big 40 and my other half planned me a great 72 hours away to enjoy it. The first stop on this stay was at the Hotel Indigo London - Kensington. I'm a big fan of the IHG Chains of hotels. Holiday Inn and the Holiday Inn express are my favourites when out on the road. "Most" of the time you know what you are going to get and frankly that's all you need and want when travelling with business. However slightly less known in the IHG brand is the Hotel Indigo chain. These are fewer in their number in the UK but I love them for their styling and that they don't conform the usual standard hotel room. They all have a bit of charm and character…

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Planning your Route 66 trip can appear quite daunting. It's travelling across one of the biggest land masses on Earth. You'll find my post coming soon about the best things to do and see but Route 66 isn't all about that. To get the most out of the trip and make sure that you firstly don't miss anything and also you are as fully prepared as you can be I've pulled a number of hints and tips together to try and make your trip more enjoyable.  This isn't a you must do this or you must do that those posts are elsewhere on the site, but this is a post about the tips and tricks that might make your whole trip easier/simpler or indeed safer! Don't plan to much  It's…

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So I first came to Dublin about in 2006 time I love the city and it's with lots of great bars clubs and a fantastic friendly population. The Beacon Hotel isn't in the city centre but is outside of the city in the area of Sandyford. I first visited here in about 2018 and since then the hotel has undergone some refurbishment and refresh, having said that, in it's previous incarnation it wasn't exactly poor! I arrived late at night (hence the dark room photos)but I had a very warm welcome from the front desk. Upon entering the room the first thing to strike you as the size of the both the room and bathroom. This isn't a small box room, it's a large spacious room with large bed, lots…

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I've always liked Bath as a city, it's probably because I spent a load of my childhood growing up and living in Cambridge that I've always found the city to be a great place to visit. The mixture of the old stone work, the historical buildings, the narrow streets, and all the charm that this brings always makes for a nice trip to Bath. Due to the lack of choice of Hotels, I had a bit of an upgrade to a standard that I wouldn't usually go for on my recent stay here. The M Gallery Francis Hotel sits high up in the Accor range of hotels. This is no Ibis! Recently renovated it describes itself as "an exemplary ensemble of Georgian townhouses on Bath's original classic square". Quite frankly…

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In the last year or so I've become a bit of a convert to the IHG chain of hotels. A number of reasons really - but I find them to be good value and a bit more consistent than my previous chain of choice with Accor. Due to location of meetings though I stepped away from the usual Holiday Inn or Holiday Inn express and stayed in the Crowne Plaza in Basingstoke. The hotel is situated just off a main road quite close to the city centre. As always I arrived quite late in the evening - so didn't really have time to explore the neighbourhood around the hotel. Parking was ample for the car and was free (which makes a change from a few of my recent stays!) On…

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  Set in the rolling hills just outside of Blackburn is the wonderful Stanley House Hotel & Spa. With a mix of the modern rooms (that I stayed in) and the bedrooms in the grade 2 listed Manor House - this hotel really does have everything for everyone. Attached to it can be found a great spa for all your pampering needs as well! I was here on business so didn't manage to make use of the spa facilities but from the reviews I've found it's got a good reputation. My room was situated in the new block of 18 rooms that have been built. First off - it's a huge room with a huge bath and bed! I know that I did have the disabled room (I don't know…

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