Having decided I needed a couple of nights away on my lonesome, I used the Avios website to book a two-night stay at the Radisson Park Inn in the beautiful city of York. The philosophy of this hotel chain is to provide guests with a ‘vibrant and lively’ atmosphere, offering a fun environment and a friendly, welcoming service. The hotels are mid-priced, aimed at business travellers and holidaymakers.
The hotel is ideally situated on the River Ouse, near the city centre. All the major attractions are within walking distance, and the railway station is five minutes’ walk away. I started to feel slightly anxious when I saw a group of frankly manly women sitting on the front steps of the hotel smoking and adjusting their underwear. I politely side-stepped these ladies, avoiding eye-contact, and entered the reception area. It was dark and cheerless, not at all like the bright and happy pictures on the website. Two receptionists were having a whispered discussion at the end of the reception desk. While they pretended I was invisible, I quickly twigged that there was a mix-up with a booking for the group of elderly ladies sitting in a corner behind me. It was five minutes before one of the receptionists said she would be with me in a minute. (No apology for keeping me waiting.) Eventually, she checked me in, while on the phone to someone else. My key card was almost thrown at me. No eye contact, no helpful information, no smile. Nada. Where was the ‘friendly and welcoming hospitality’ raved about on their website?
Check out our first post from the latest member of the Travel Freak community – Mrs Control Freak! Welcome to the gang!
The client I was working with had booked my stay at The Kanzler on my behalf. I was a little despondent as I was hoping to cash in on a Hilton Hhonors promo.
For the first time in a while, I was on a leisure stay with Mrs Travel Freak! Best of all the Junior Travel Freaks were somewhere else. We were alone for a whole weekend!
I had arrived in Phoenix on the first of four countries I was visiting for a project. My day had started at 03:35 UK time and I had flown via CDG and ATL; I was beginning to get tired. The local time was almost 23:00 when my plane landed at Phoenix International Airport.
I was staying in Singapore for 11 nights on business as part of a project. There were some 21 global colleagues staying in the same hotel; alas I had no choice in the brand.
The Hilton London Met is a huge hotel. I mean really huge. This is a big hotel for international conferences from everything to defence (yes, guns) through to sex toys. It is also a big group hotel with a large number of school parties.
I find Norwich a bit of a strange place. There doesn’t seem to be very much to it; however every major insurance and finance company seems to have a regional office here.