The Mercure Bristol Holland House Hotel and Spa

Location: Redcliffe Hill, Bristol
Date of stay: Wednesday 27 May 2015 
Duration of stay: 1 Night 
Room type: Classic Double 
Average cost: £115 per night (with breakfast) 
My rating: 3.5* 

Checking into a hotel less than 5 miles from one's house may seem like a pointless exercise and yet, when immediate escapism is required, it's the perfect fix. Cue, Accor Hotels', Mercure Bristol Holland House Hotel and Spa* which incidentally is the most long-winded name for an establishment I've ever heard - it's almost as if there was an unsettled dispute regarding what to call it that resulted in someone deciding to include every single suggestion! That said, its-well kept interior and accommodating workforce initiate what can certainly be described as a comfortable stay. Although its decor is fresh and contemporary, furnishings are purpose-built rather than plush and the family-friendly policy that is undeniably at the core of this hotel seems to negate any exclusivity that may have otherwise existed; that is, in light of the on-site spa and mood-lit pool.

Check-in was quick and efficient and despite rocking up a good hour prior to the prescribed 2:00pm arrival time, my room was already available. This was a reasonably-proportioned double for one with a queen-sized bed dressed with soft sheets and stacked with pillows. Additional features included a sizable flat-screen TV, tea and coffee making facilities, a (pretty powerful) hairdryer and good old trouser press. As the mini bar was uninvitingly empty, I essentially had a rather large fridge at my disposal which I filled, somewhat hastily, with snacks and alcohol from the local Co-op...well it would have been rude not to! The bathroom was clean and functional with a very modest offering of complimentary toiletries; namely shower gel and shampoo; the latter of a quality that transformed my hair into straw - eek! I also had to ask reception for a bath robe and slippers which I knew, based on a previous visit, should have been provided as standard. What's more, my room sported an unsightly view of the hotel's car park which although wasn't the most attractive backdrop, luckily didn't make for a disruptive night's sleep. On the contrary, the room proved so dark and quiet that only the wake-up call that I'd scheduled brought me out of my subconscious!

Careful timing of one's visit to the gym and pool is required as both are decidedly cosy - they are maintained to a high standard however and the gym has a substantial range of equipment which is of the latest spec. Personally, I took issue with the solitary treadmill, as the woman that opted to run a half-marathon on it before breakfast pretty much killed my routine; and in fact the chances of anyone else getting a look-in! The pool (sans children) is really rather tranquil and open until 11:00pm which is lovely if you're partial to a relaxing swim before descending into sleepy-time! The 'Spa Naturel' is in a separate building to the hotel and offers a wide range of treatments which are averagely priced. I popped in for a brief perusal of the space which was suitably serene - I only wished I'd had more time to indulge in their multi award-winning 'Ultimate Vitamin Glow Facial' which, at £60 for 55 minutes, is quite frankly amazing!

On the subject of dining, it's fair to say that all the usual suspects lurk within the menu - room service comes with a £5 tray change and I'd suggest that a short walk to one of the many nearby eateries would offer a far greater culinary experience, (Byzantium, the Hole in the Wall or Severn Shed to name but a few...) Breakfast was included in my stay and constituted the typical self-serve buffet. Continental and cooked items are to be plated oneself but dishes such as Eggs Benedict can be ordered from the kitchen at no additional cost. That said, if it isn't included in the rate of your room, breakfast comes in at almost £16 which, although unsurprising, is in my view extortionately priced. I mean, unless you have what we shall politely refer to as a 'hearty appetite', you really wouldn't get your money's worth. As an example, I ordered an Illy latte (rather than settling for filter coffee) and filled my boots with yogurt, granola, fruit, toast, pastries and jam; would you pay £16 for that ensemble?

In conclusion, I enjoyed my stay at the Mercure Bristol Holland...oh you know the rest! The brief was escapism and this was amply met - my room was comfortable and clean, staff were helpful and friendly and it was a pleasure to while away the hours in the pool, gym and lounge, (making use of the complimentary WI-FI as I did so). I would suggest that this hotel would better accommodate a family on a visit to Bristol rather than a couple (or lone-wolf) seeking a little luxury but for the overall price of my stay, I was satisfied and as such, I'm sure that I'll re-run the fun as soon as another getaway becomes necessary.

References:
* http://www.mercure.com/gb/hotel-6698-mercure-bristol-holland-house-hotel-and-spa/index.shtml

Melia Galgos, Madrid

Location: Calle de Claudio Coello, 139 Madrid 28006
Date of stay: Wednesday 1 April 2015
Duration of stay: 6 nights
Room type: Classic Double (after upgrade)
Average cost: £106 per night
My rating: 4*

Situated in Madrid’s fashionable Salamanca region, Melia Galgos Hotel* is suitably glitzy; the blue neon lighting lending a sultry disposition to the marbled foyer. Mirrors reflect sizeable ‘evil genius’ style seating, lavish black carpets and contemporary décor, (think boxy light fittings and ornamental centre pieces). In fact, you may even describe the initial ambiance as spacey; though comfortable enough to never begrudge being buzzed back to the mothership!

Check-in was a little long-winded as it transpired that booking a standard double via Booking.com is rather misleading given that it contained one teeny-tiny bed; a poor excuse for a double by the hotel’s admission and certainly not fit for a mother-daughter party, (whether adverse to a snuggle or not!) Consequently, we were offered an upgrade and although at cost (at 15 Euro per night), it was considered a no brainer given that the new and improved room contained two generously proprtioned queen-sized beds; each with cloud-like appeal and complete with soft cotton sheets and a choice of pillow. This was the extent of the extras however as all rooms offer complimentary (somewhat manly-smelling) toiletries, plus big fluffy towels, a flat-screen TV, trouser press (does anyone actually use this?!) safe and mini bar – the latter doubling up as a handy fridge if, like me, you shun said mini bar prices in favour of stocking up on refreshments from the first available supermarket! A distinct lack of tea and coffee making facilities will trouble anyone requiring an accessible brew and it’s not obvious how the windows open…though the room was effectively air conditioned and above all, kept to an exemplary level of cleanliness. The hotel is well-connected to the City Centre and a mere 20-minute journey from the airport. There are also a number of metro stations close by and parking is available on-site, though again at cost. Wi-Fi is free to use and available in all areas of the hotel.

This establishment also has a small fitness room and hot tub – the latter situated in a tropically-heated, wooden-clad room adorned with a pair of sunbeds. Large windows allow for a view of the rooftop terrace whereby unattractive astro-turf is pretty much all that meets the eye! That said, this was a great addition to the hotel’s facilities, especially given that we were lucky enough to bag this space to ourselves most afternoons. The gym too was empty each time I visited – probably as I’m the only person crazy enough to work out before breakfast whilst on holiday! The equipment was a little behind the times but in good working order nevertheless. I’d suggest that multiple bodies in either space would render them unusable; neither able to accommodate more than half a dozen people at a time.

Fitness Room

Spa








Breakfast was included in the price of our stay and can be appropriately referred to as a feast! Constituting the typical self-serve buffet, this included mountains of fresh fruit, pastries and cake, continental-style cheeses and cold meats, plus all the ingredients for a full English! For an authentic Spanish start, try the homemade tomato sauce on toasted ciabatta drizzled with olive oil or crispy churros dunked in Nutella coupled with freshly-squeezed orange juice – yum! The Galgos’s Diabolo restaurant serves a la carte Mediterranean cuisine and the Blue Lounge/bar serves tapas, hot snacks and burgers; dishes proving generously portioned and reasonably priced. What's more, ordering a drink equals complimentary nibbles– though who knew that Haribo jellies could be so amply paired with a free-poured g&t!

Overall, this was a pretty sturdy 4* hotel – clean, lavishly furnished and with a good grasp of culinary expertise. Although most of the staff were friendly and accommodating, there were a couple of individuals who could have benefitted from turing the frown upside-down! One in particular that relegated my Mother and I to a table at the far-corner of the bar as our card games were deemed offensive – I will hasten to add that this was merely a spot of Rummy and not strip poker…! That said, I’d certainly choose the Melia Galgos hotel again should I re-visit Madrid as nearby Calle de Serrano ticks all the boxes in terms of both site-seeing and shopping. For the record, I’d also recommend sister hotel, Melia Me Madrid located on Plaza Santa Ana – its rooftop bar an optimum location for panoramic views of the city and the hotel itself demomstrating the perfect balance between style and comfort. Despite having to fork out 15 Euro for a visit to its aforementioned bar (even, it seems, if you’re staying within the Melia chain), it's certainly worth considering if budget allows. Finally and quite incidentally, I've discovered that the Melia family have opened the first Spanish 5* hotel in the Middle East. With an trip to Dubai booked for later in the year, I certainly intend to investigate whether this 'urban oasis' has retained its Mediterranean charm amidst the bustling heat of the UAE...I'll keep you posted!

References:
*http://www.melia.com/en/hotels/spain/madrid/melia-galgos

Crowne Plaza, London Heathrow

Location: London Heathrow, Stockley Road, West Drayton, Middlesex, UB7 9NA, UK*

Date of Arrival: Sunday 15 February 2015

Duration of stay: 2 Nights

Room Type: Standard Double             

Average Cost: £75 per night

My rating: 3*/5

Despite having to stay at the Crowne Plaza on business, I’m guessing that the primary motivation to book a room at this hotel is an imminent flight from London Heathrow given that its conveniently located nearby all the airport terminals, (including Terminal 5); just off the M4 Motorway at Junction 4 and 2 minutes’ drive from the M25. Furthermore, Central London is approximately 20 minutes by car (well, on a good day) or there’s the option to take the Heathrow Express into the city which is accessible from the airport itself. I arrived at the hotel amidst a flurry of cabin crew which made for a rather slow check-in. That said, staff were apologetic, efficient and appeared unflustered in the face of what had become – for want of a better word – bedlam! Parking is available just outside the hotel and is charged as £12 per day. There is also an option to abandon your car for the duration of your holiday via the ‘park, stay and go’ packages.   

My room was rather sizeable for a standard double; offering a great deal of storage space, tea, coffee and hot chocolate making facilities, a mini bar and rather executive-looking work station complete with ‘I’m the big boss’ pleather swivel chair! The usual hotel gripes applied including the concept of having to re-mortgage one’s house to afford anything from the aforementioned mini bar and a kettle that took what seemed like hours to come to fruition! It was refreshing however, to have access to a hair dryer that wasn’t fixed (often somewhat precariously) within the bathroom and what’s more, one with enough power to dry longer hair before developing arm strain! The aromatherapy kit was a thoughtful touch and aided a particularly restful sleep – I also noted how dark and quiet the room was which was rather surprising given the hotel’s size and proximity to the airport. The lighting in the bedroom was a little dim but the bathroom was appropriately garish! The latter was also kitted out with complimentary toiletries as well as a generously-sized bath robe which unfortunately was a little on the scratchy side; meaning that I was forced to lounge around in my jim-jams instead! I had to contact Guest Services in order for an engineer to mend the television which didn’t display a picture until he arrived to work his magic – I have to say at this point, how friendly the engineer was; we had a good old natter and as company policy is to pacify the guest’s complaint with a box of jelly beans, he left a suitable cinema-style snack to compliment the movies that were on the agenda for that evening. Win!

The ‘Spirit’ Health club included a gym, heated pool and spa; the latter consisting of a sauna, steam room and jacuzzi. It was a little cramped in the gym and I had to do my floor work off-piste but the equipment was bang up-to-date, clean and well-maintained. I also liked that the gym was accessible between 5:00am and 11:00pm in order to accommodate those (present company included), that wish to exercise at what could be considered an anti-social hour! The pool was amply sized but was unavailable the day I arrived as it was over-capacity. When it came to dining, I thought that the wait on food was unacceptable – my companion and I ordered an evening meal in the bar area upon our arrival and waited a good 50 minutes before it made an entrance. I also felt that the chicken burrito I had opted for, although tasty, was rather sparsely portioned given its £10 price tag. There is an Indian restaurant on-site but I’m afraid that I didn’t sample its cuisine. Breakfast fared considerably better however and it’s fair to say that the food baby I sported well into the afternoon was a result of the extensive selection of foodstuffs available. We’re basically talking everything you’d want from a breakfast (or brunch if you’re the kind of person that sleeps-in) – ok so in no particular order there were; Artisan-style breads, pastries, a ‘muffin of the day’ (honey and bran on this occasion), Greek-style yogurt, granola, cereals, cheeses, cold meats and fruit in addition to your typical cooked breakfast buffet, phew! There is also a facility to whizz-up your own smoothies and even a pancake machine which actually created teddy bear-shaped pancakes; absolute genius don’t you think?!

Overall, this hotel was fit for purpose – wake-up calls could be arranged to ensure that you got up on time for your flight / meeting (delete as applicable) and bedrooms are designed so that you achieve an optimum night’s shut-eye. Staff were friendly and accommodating and the hotel itself was contemporary and altogether shipshape. In short, I’d stay again but I’d eat elsewhere…

References:
*http://www.ihg.com/crowneplaza   

EVEN Hotel, Rockville

Location: 1775 Rockville Pike, Rockville
Date of Arrival: Saturday 24 January 2015
Duration of stay: 7 Nights
Room Type: Wellness King with glass enclosed shower
Average Cost: $128 approx. per night
My rating: 4.5*/5

Part of the IHG Group, the EVEN Hotel in Rockville* is an ample base for exploring the Washington DC area - although 18 miles from the city-centre (which to be fair, does a little out in the sticks), it’s a stone-throw away from the Twinbrook Metro Station from which you can navigate to  the bustling downtown tourist traps until your hearts-content! There are also a number of nearby shops and eateries – the Silver Diner an example of the latter which, within walking distance, is perfect for indulging in an all-American breakfast or brunch, (wear an elasticated waistline though folks…you have been warned!)

As one of the first EVEN hotels in the world (the others located in Maryland and Connecticut), it really is rather unique – its focus is the wellbeing of its guests and its aim is to help maintain one’s healthy lifestyle whilst travelling; objectives which have been wholeheartedly adhered to at every turn. Take my room for example – a Wellness King complete with fitness zone (think complimentary water bottle plus, yoga mat, foam roller, exercise ball and resistance bands), LED mood lighting, natural ‘EO’* bathroom goodies and organic Eucalyptus linens which, designed for a cooler sleep, ensure that you wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed…uh-maze-ing! Its two most notable features however were the spa-style shower with multi-sensory water jets and the cloud of a bed which resulted in what could well be the most comfortable night’s sleep I’ve ever head. Seriously, if I felt I could have smuggled out just one of those oh-so squishy pillows to take home (pregnant…yes, yes, I’m due in April), I would have definitely done so. WIFI is free and easy to connect to and there are several outlets for plugging in electronic devices, not to mention a small area from which to work from. Storage space is a little on the stingy side however and the heater, although effective, was incredibly noisy – not great in the middle of the night when it lends to your dreams the inkling of being in the flight path of a jumbo jet The gap under the door was also pretty sizeable so added a little corridor glare to the pink glow of my mood lighting…that said, the dedication to cleanliness, ethereal décor and fresh scents which have been made to subtly fragrance the room more than made up for these minor gripes. I should probably also mention that parking is accessible (at a fee) in the hotel's garage.

Back to that personal fitness facility and the enthusiastic lycra-clad gym bods that greeted me at the touch of my TV remote. That’s right, you can choose from a number of in-room virtual training sessions which have been premeditated to suit any ability (and time frame). The main gym has been thoughtfully arranged with state-of-the-art equipment – so many hotels cram a few ancient treadmills into a space the size of a store cupboard but not here! This is a light, airy space with floor-to-ceiling windows where a designated free weights area couples the cardio apparatus; the only thing missing was a pool but then again, the 'flex room' is fitted with a ping pong table which makes for a pretty fun alternative don't you think?! When it comes to outdoor pursuits, the clued-up staff can advise in terms of what's available locally. Daily activities and group fitness options are also offered if you’re the kind of person that prefers to sweat it out ‘on mass’.

The hotel's café come bar, Cork and Kale, offers sufficient and unsurprisingly healthy options for dining; ‘grab and go’ meals are a fantastic idea for those having to eat on the hop and the range of snacks available appear to have come straight from a ‘Wholefoods’ light bite aisle. The bean to cup coffee selection is fantastic and proved my initial go-to each morning; the quality here negating any reason to go elsewhere for that all-important early morning caffeine hit. The importance of staying hydrated was upheld with no less than four varieties of 'infused' water to choose from in the hotel lobby…I kid you not! Made-to-order smoothies are also available but I particularly liked the night-time tea caddy which you could help yourself to before retiring to your boudoir; simply perfect for us tea-swilling Brits…or so I was told! The hard-core drinkers amongst us (everything in moderation, right?!) can be rest assured that wellbeing doesn’t equal dry given the ample selection of alcoholic beverages on-tap to quaff from the sanctuary of one's room or from the sociable hub of the communal lounge. The latter sports a questionable green and orange colour scheme which I just about managed to find peace with once my eyes had adjusted to its garishness! That said, buckets of complimentary reading material and an ambient soundtrack makes this a suitable base for a little R&R.

Overall, I loved how friendly this hotel is – in the grand scheme of American hospitality, EVEN is right up there in terms of its customer service; you’re greeted warmly, asked about your day and nothing is too much trouble,. I also loved the attention to detail and the little quirks at every turn…there are no ‘odd’ room numbers for instance and colloquial text brandishes typically mundane items in order to raise a smile. The concept of a fitness hotel may be written off by some and this is a shame because regardless of whether you’re a gym bunny like yours truly here or altogether unlikely to be ‘working on your core, behind your hotel door’, the inviting originality and focus on wellbeing equals comfort in a big big way, (thus, really setting this hotel apart from others in the vicinity). So, get your sprint on and book yourself into witness the fitness at EVEN, you really won't be disappointed.

References:
*http://www.ihg.com/evenhotels/
*http://www.eoproducts.com