Archive for July, 2006
We meet with James at the Ocean Hostel and are greeted with a friendly welcome and a nice cup of coffee. James is passionate about his hostel, and has lots of great plans for the future. It’s still relatively basic at the moment, but has all the facilities that you need and his plans sound great. There is a really relaxed feel to the hostel, and well suited to long termers, but also short termers as well. It’s not right in the city centre, but it is a short bus ride away, opposite the pub that was seen in the movie ‘Trainspotting’ and the location is still pretty good. James is quite flexible and happy to help make your trip better in any way he can. He’ll even book highland trips for you. All in all, it’s a good basic hostel, with incredibly friendly staff and it’s just going to get better and better.
A short walk down to the Traveller’s Inn saw us meeting with Mike. We had to get him down from the roof where he was doing maintenance, and straight away, we saw that this was different to your usual hostel. Our suspicions were confirmed when Mike explained that everyone, including himself worked for free, and any profits went to his charity that he had set up. This adds a real different feel to the place. All the staff live on site, and are all travelers themselves. The lounge and outside areas are excellent with a BBQ set up for those sunny days. This had a great feel to it, and although possibly slightly more suited to long termers, everyone is made to feel welcome here. A great little hostel, just a 20 minute walk right to the centre of town.
We met with the guys at Edinburgh Metro - Glen and Valetin – who took us around to see all the rooms. This place is just ideal for stag and hen weekends and also for big groups. The rooms are very clean and tidy and although the property was a little difficult to find it is still very centrally located. I would highly recommend to anyone coming to stay in Edinburgh.
We were then accompanied to the Edinburgh International by Valetin. He introduced us to Malcolm who took as around to see the rooms. Much the same as the previous property and with all the same perks it again comes recommended.
Euro Hostels, Edinburgh halls was the next stop. We met with the lovely Steve who took us to view all the possible rooms. This accommodation is again excellent and very clean and tidy. Staff are great and lots of fun and its in a great location.
Next up was the Princes St East Backpackers where we met with Steve. A fantastic old building in a great location it’s a sterling option. However, it is aimed at the seasoned backpacker and someone traveling and not so familiar with this way of life may be a little intimidated by the long term residents.
Having said that though there is an unbelievably relaxed atmosphere there and the rooms are great and very individual with loads of great art spread out throughout the entire building.
Onto the next property Palmerston Lodge., where we met with Kirsty. A lovely property which is very quiet and peaceful with massive rooms that are filled with sunlight from the massive windows it’s a great choice of accommodation. The location is great and rooms are clean and tidy.
The Edinburgh Hostel is run by the same people as the Belford. This one has an incredible location, right in the centre of things, right by the Royal Mile. Jacqui met us for a cold drink next door, and we chatted about both hostels. The Edinburgh has excellent facilities and is very modern. It will keep you fit walking up the stairs, and there is cool use of colour on the walls. They do have private rooms, which are in different buildings, but are very close to the main building. This gives a little bit of privacy for them, which is nice, and is also good for groups.
This next hostel - City Centre Tourist Hostel - was very clean and tidy but had the most basic facilities. I perhaps wouldn’t recommend for a long term backpacker as there seemed to be very little socializing going on in the hostel, however I would recommend for those having a short stay. It has an excellent location which is its biggest appeal. We had a quick meeting with Hugh who showed us around a couple of rooms. All clean and tidy.
The City Centre Guest House and Hostel is in a great location and offers very clean and tidy rooms. It is a very quiet place which would not be suited to those looking to have a party though. If that is what you are looking for as a long term backpacker then this place is ideal. Lovely and friendly staff will make your stay a pleasure.
We stayed at St Christophers’ Inn and we had a great time. Great staff, and a fantastic bar (Belushi’s) where there are nightly events such as Karaoke, pub quiz (which we won!) and live music. There is a beer garden outside also, and a really nice chill out lounge to watch TV in. The beds are very comfortable and we definitely got a good night’s sleep here. Great breakfast included and the location was right in the heart of the city, and extremely close to the train station. You’d be really happy staying here. It is a great hostel. We met with Liam the manager just before we left to come back to London, and would have been quite happy to stay on.
.All in all I think I can speak for both Theresa and I and say that we had an excellent time in Edinburgh. An incredibly fast paced trip with very little time for anything else has left us both with ideas of visiting Edinburgh next summer and doing it all again.
A beautiful city that if you have not yet visited should be at the top of your list!!!
Comprehensive list of Edinburgh Hostels.
For more information on getting aroun Edinburgh go to Transport Edinburgh
Our first appointment was with the Globetrotter Hostel. Situated in the most beautiful area on the outskirts of the city we were stunned at the beauty of the location. An incredible combination of both this beauty as well as really fun hostel makes this one a great choice. It’s a little far out of the city but they have a regular shuttle bus which departs every half an hour from the city centre to the hostel so its never an issue to get around. There are also buses available from just outside the hostel. With lovely clean and tidy rooms and the best staff its one great hostel.
We had a good chat with Angela who explained to us the running of the place. She was just lovely and we were quite keen to spend a bit of time at the hostel however we had arrived a little on the late side and had to make our way across town to our next appointment so needless to say we were a little rushed. So we said our goodbyes and promised to visit again very soon. Next summer perhaps?
Met with Marcus and Sandy at the Eglinton Youth Hostel who were really relaxed and friendly. This place is closing in October, and it’s a real shame as this place has bucket loads of character. It’s not a brand new hostel, but that’s not a problem as you’ve got everything you need here. It has such a great feel to it, and the staff are really friendly. It has a real homely feel to it, but is still vibrant enough to make new friends. Facilities are basic but good. A little out of the main centre, but not far from it, and is set next to a gorgeous park. It’s a great little hostel.
Next up we went to visit Renata at Argyle Backpackers. Perhaps not the most easily accessible of them all as it is situated a bit far out of town but with excellent and regular bus routes that take you right to their front door you cant complain.
This hostel comes highly recommended because it is so very homely. The rooms are great and all very unique. The communal garden area and kitchen area is lovely and makes you feel like you are at your home away from home. With great staff and clean rooms what more could you want.
We met with Mikesh at the Caledonian Backpackers, because Dodo, the manager, was unavailable. The place had an amazing character and feel to it. Dodo has painted amazing artwork on the walls, and it really adds life to the building. It’s in a good location, just near the Queensferry Road shops. There is also a bar called the Swamp Bar, which is famous around Edinburgh for the general population as well. Again, amazing mural artwork on the walls, and this is a bar that you would want to be in. Live music and open til 5am on the weekends, it would be a short stumble upstairs to your room. Great feel. Great hostel.
Perhaps my favorite hostel in Edinburgh, Budget Backpackers is just incredible. With the loveliest staff and the most bright, sunny and colorful rooms with ample storage space it’s a fantastic location. We met with Shaun who gave us the grand tour. With plenty of art decorating the walls and ceilings there is never a dull moment in this place.
With fantastic communal areas and great kitchens spread out throughout the building it’s a perfect place to stay for the young backpacker. It is situated in an excellent and central location too.
The Belford Hostel is again not right in the centre, but is not far from it and is set in a lovely area by a big park. The main thing to note straight away is this is not your everyday hostel building. It’s a converted church and it really is a beautiful building. Walking inside, I was curious to see how it would work as a hostel. There is a mix of dorm rooms, and privates, and some of the rooms were amazing, with stained glass windows. There is a lovely communal area downstairs, and an outside part where you can lie in the sun and work on your tan.
We moved on to our next visit, Castle Rock Hostel. This place has a lot going for it. Amazing location with amazing views of the castle, incredibly friendly staff, great facilities and atmosphere to the hostel and nice rooms. Rachel and Katie welcomed us with open arms, and we immediately felt relaxed. There;s fantastic artwork on the walls, and a great outdoor place to sit. All the staff live in the hostel, and there is a lot of long termers there as well, but they don’t seem to take over, and short termers are also made to feel at home straight away. Great hostel. Excellent value.
Needless to say that after our antics on the Monday evening we headed to bed right after dinner, with full tummies and heavy heads we were out for the count as our heads touched the pillow.
Comprehensive list of Edinburgh Hostels.
For more information on getting aroun Edinburgh go to Transport Edinburgh
Having just arrived from Glasgow this was going to be a busy couple of days. I met up with Theresa where we began our the first of our appointments.
This was the first appointment of the trip and I met with Iain who is the manager of both the Brodies Hostel 12 and 93. The numbers relate to the address of High Street that they are situated on, and although everyone checks in at 93, number 12 is literally a few steps away. Iain was really friendly and showed us around both hostels. Both are on High Street (also known as the Royal Mile) and have different features. While both have the same facilities, 93 has the benefits of smaller sized dorms. Number 12 has larger dorms, but has really lovely wooden floors and very cool, cave like walls which doesn’t make it feel so big. The staff are very friendly in both places, and you will definitely enjoy your stay here.
We met with Chris at West End Hostels. A great place for the seasoned backpacker –however, if you are looking for a party hostel then perhaps this isn’t for you. It has everything you could possibly need including a great location. Rooms are clean and tidy and staff very friendly.
Met with Gene at the High Street Hostel who is the manager and is really friendly. It is in the middle of renovations at the moment, which will be fantastic, but even so it’s a great hostel with a lot of character. Their facilities are pretty comprehensive and they offer a free city tour. The location is brilliant, just off the Royal Mile, which means you are right in the thick of where the action is. Pretty relaxed vibe the whole way through and seems popular with short term travelers as well as definitely with long termers also.
On our return to our hostel we spent a couple of hours in the bar getting to know the others staying there. We ended entering ourselves along with two others into a quiz which we ended up winning. 24 shots of vodka later and the night was only just beginning. We then headed off to a few local pubs and clubs and eventually wondered home at around 2 in the morning. Tuesday was going to be a long day!
Comprehensive list of Edinburgh Hostels.
For more information on getting aroun Edinburgh go to Transport Edinburgh
Tuesday, Jul 25th, 2006
Categories: Barcelona
The first point about Home Guesthouse is that by tube it’s about 20 minutes from central Barcelona towards Canyelles, but once there, in a residential area, and once inside the house, you have the impression that you are in Mexico! It’s an old house, but inside it’s all nicely painted with a garden where you can chill. All kinds of rooms, from singles to big dorms (10 beds), very lively colors, green, yellow, red, without being too over the top. Staffs are quite animated, friendly and helpful even funny at some point. At the time we were there we couldn’t feel the atmosphere because of the distance from the city center, not much to see around the guesthouse, the tube finished around midnight, so you have to run if you’ve been out in the center. Even still, you can cook at the hostel and buy some beers around the corner to drink in the nice garden that they have, a little compensation to the geographic situation.
The Hostal Centric is a really interesting building - surprisingly gorgeous, clean, tidy, full of charm. Staying there just one night must make people want to stay longer and longer! It’s central, next to shops, bars, restaurants, and a couple of clubs too, easy to reach by metro. It has a spacious and welcoming reception, staff are ok, rooms are on two floors from single to private 6 beds, all ensuite. This place gives you a maximum of privacy, reminds me of some Spa in the Pyrenees, fresh atmosphere, would recommend it to large families group booking.
Quite close to the Plaza Catalunya (and Las Ramblas) is Hostal Lazza providing accommodation with a family atmosphere. The Hostel is bright, clean, not that spacious but still comfortable. One of the rooms has a jacuzzi, while most of the others have showers and toilets, and a couple of economy rooms for budget travelers. Manolo, the bird, will welcome you from your first step in the hostal (he’s whistling when you say his name).
Hosteria Grau is a small family hotel, and will probably always be a pleasure to visit. It’s a small comfortable hotel, one of the most beautiful and authentic places in Barcelona - a welcoming reception, a beautiful lounge with fireplace, clean and tidy rooms, fans all over the place. Friendly and helpful staff with a bar café next door that you can directly get to from the Hosteria. They provide private rooms from single ensuite to private 5 beds, also apartments self catering. Location is great, 5 minutes from la Ramblas, and from Plaza Catalunya, surrounded by intimate shops and restaurants in small and safe street. Would definitely recommend it.
How to forget La Ciutat Hostel We’d been walking for an hour under the heat because the directions we had from the web site were overly vague….situated quite close “La Sagrada Familia” - 15 minutes or so in the heat! We were exhausted and thirsty …the worst and most tiring day in Barcelona ;( The building is old and decadent though with no air conditioning. Rooms are quite spacious and some of them are private with a small TV. We visited the breakfast room and we realized that the time the breakfast is offered only between 8h and 9h, 100 people eating in 1h?? difficult no..?
Paraiso Travellers Hostel is owned by 4 friends, not in the centre of town, but the metro is nearby and a few step away are nice bars and restaurant…A very slippery stairwell led up to the inner entrance with a very small and untidy reception where we met Gabriel one of the owners. We couldn’t see the rooms because the hostel was fully booked, but we went in the roof where Gabriel organizes a sangria party for free twice a week. Not too many facilities on offer, though there is internet and TV.
When you walk out of the Sea Point Hostel your feet are on the sand! The entrance is a bar, so that it puts you straight away on a “beach and cocktail” mood. Artwork all over the walls, from the bar to your bed, making the hostel ultra bright and welcoming, reception is a bit tiny, on your right the free internet access and sofas, on your left the hostel, access to all floors, kitchen and lounge. They also organize tours, with Tapas, Spanish Shots, and Flamenco for really cheap (18 euros, but was free for us…), involving backpackers in 
Barcelona’s night life. Sea Point work quite a lot with Contiki Tours, who sometimes take over the building (100% Oz and Kiwis), the majority of the rooms are not that spacious as they mainly sell small dorms.
Located in the city centre, next to Las Ramblas the Sun and Moon Hostel is a perfect place for those travelers who are on budget. The owner is a funny Indian man, and his daughter Hina is working at the reception and she is a very friendly and smiling girl. The place is very clean compared to others in the area, it seems to have been just renovated and everything was spotless. I believe there are people constantly wiping the floor and it smelted fresh and clean…like lemon soap.
Always has been and will always be a party hostel…..the Kabul Hostel used to have a beer machine, now they have a bar! The lounge is as nice as it use to be, lot of space, view on Plaza Real and the fountain, really nice Plaza, day or night. They have 100 beds, rooms have always been the same, a bit tiny, but it’s all fine as people go there for fun and party, not really for sleeping. Very central, very easy to find, pool table, bar, loud music, live bands playing there from time to time, this is probably THE hostel that always charged for everything, Sheets, towels, Internet (net is now free). Wouldn’t be my first choice as there’s a lot of noise at night, too much alcohol, but staffs are still keeping control on what’s going on, as night crew do reception and security (loads of muscles).
Having said that, was a great place to finish our two days in Barcelona - a few beers and some pool, followed shortly by a nice stroll back to Gothic Point to get a decent night’s sleep before heading back to London. Roll on the next trip!
Comprehensive list of Barcelona Hostels.
For more information on getting around Barcelona go to Transports Metropolitans of Barcelona
Our trip started on Monday 24th of July around 11h00 am, arriving in Barcelona’s center at 18h00, after a long coach trip as our airport “Reus” was situated a 100km from the city.
Because of the late hour and the proximity of the apartment to the heart of Barcelona, we started our job straight away with Gothic Point Hostel knowing that Carles, Manager and owner will only meet us the following day. This visit made us end at a Flamenco show organized by “Equity” for 18E four times a week, for us it was free and interesting, as being there with customers.
Now, let Mirella and I introduce you to our vision of Hostelbookers selection of hostels in Barcelona.:
The amazing part of Abba Youth Hostel was the location with view on the marina, which is quite exceptional; our appointment has been quite brief there, as Millan (manager) was “busy”, that I couldn’t believe as having such few rooms, and no one around, except a customer charging his mobile phone at an electric plug. Once half the appointment done, he actually asked us to come back later, and that he would call me…..time to move on!
Albergue New York Hostel is a YHA, location on a small street, nice entrance, but not to choose if looking for fun. Marc, the manager, was waiting for us, he’s a quite a funny character. The building is central, on a typical tiny street of Barcelona, the capacity is more or less a 100 beds, quite basic rooms, not dirty but a place to sleep. People working there could give you a wrong impression at first, but they will be there for you, whatever happens. Shops, and nice bars around, half way between beach and Las Ramblas, Albergue New York has management in common with Albergue Palau Hostel, really close from each other.
On to another YHA – Albergue Grau Hostel, a bit difficult to find, luckily one of Albergue New York Receptionist took us there. Basically it is a floor, still really typical of Barcelona, very small, 45 beds more or less, ideal if looking for a quite place where to sleep (only). Gives a feeling of being at home, no one is queuing, everything is available, whatever you need, internet, shower, microwave. Marcelo, the Argentinean in charge of reception, is a really friendly person. So what could be say to that, we gave him the t-shirts (I would by the way recommend sending a box or two by post as to make every trip easier, ufff…). He enjoyed our company, and we also enjoyed it, it should be called the Peace of Mind Hostel, as even tired, we then left from there quite relaxed.
We now getting away from the previous hostel’s concept, to introduce Alberguinn Youth Hostel, which is a clean, tidy ad design space using loads of colors in Ikea style. A relaxing place with around 50 beds. The hostel also got a lift for wheelchairs, internet free of charge, a kitchen tat you are scared to us as so clean and tidy, Really looking for something we didn’t like, but can’t find anything, as it is also close to tube stop, they are not on la Ramblas, but if it was the case, the hostel wouldn’t probably be as nice, quite and relaxing as next to Sants. Outstanding level of hospitality!
The Apartment Rooms Barcelona is a very new property from the Barcelona Mar Group. Not situated in the safest of area - as all know la Ramblas, but the building is one of the safest I stayed at in Barcelona. Recently refurbished, furnitures are great, air conditioning, great showers, comfortable beds, Wireless internet (coming soon). We can say that our stay was great, we had some good sleep there, not much noise at night, one request maybe, a lift serving all floors, still a good value (£25 per person for an apartment 4 persons, 2 double beds), very central, less than 2 minutes from the main street, shops, cafes, restaurants, all around.
Barcelona Dream Hostel is still just as great as when it actually opened - beautiful building, 30 sec from tube station, surrounded by restaurants, very central, air conditioning, free internet, great painting all over the hostel’s walls etc. etc. Exactly what anyone would expect from a hostel: clean, cool, design, great atmosphere, nice kitchen, nice lounge, bright and welcoming reception, smiling receptionists (all girls), helpful. Reservations are all organized by Ana (reservations manager), she’ll tell you everything you need about availability within seconds, great organization.
Recently refurbished, the Barcelona Mar Youth Hostel has great showers and toilets, air conditioning all over the place, painting all over the hostel again, great atmosphere, a bar is coming soon, the 200 beds hostel, right in the center. The team is great, speaking, Spanish, French, Swedish, Italian, and more, and really enforce a family atmosphere - not only with customers, but also when outside the hostel. With this kind of hostel, you miss a bit less your home, and you also wouldn’t mind staying in for days. Depending on what kind of rooms you’re looking for and what kind of customer your are, you will be sent to the party side of the hostel, or to the grandparents’ side, for a twin with air conditioning. Staff is really flexible concerning the booking, due to the reception organization, and if they can they will switch rooms. Security also is great; all customers at check in get a key and a pass to be identified when back from the outside Barcelona at anytime.
The Barcelona Ramblas Hostal is a hotel with private rooms only, bright and welcoming reception with nice sailing decoration, with a great location (2min from la Ramblas). 24hr reception, at night a security receptionist, a lift is available, at the basement the breakfast will wait for you (for a little money), rooms are all coming with fan and TV (air conditioning is coming soon, as Adria is planning to make a hostel with it). I personally stayed there last September, quite, good sleep, clean facilities, and a nice Mexican receptionist to tell you good morning everyday. It is a not a hostel, so the fun is not there, but staff are still great, helpful, smiling, I think we cannot ask for more than that considering that it is a hotel, and great value, for the price of a dorm, you get a private room…
Once you’ve picked up your keys from the main office of BCN Loft Hostel there are 4 different buildings that you can be sent to. The lofts are quite cool and stylish, with nice paintings on the walls, you either get a hamster, either a bird in your loft, fan all over the place or air conditioning. We saw 3 buildings, one is old, but lofts are cool and spacious, right on las Ramblas. The customers we saw were quite happy about what they booked.
The next stop was Center Ramblas Barcelona Hostel . We’re talking about two properties here, very central, one side YHA hostel, the other budget apartments, all check ins have to be done at the hostel’s reception, with nice, smiling receptionists 
The apartment building is typical for the centre of Barcelona center - old, tiny stairs, dirty and old walls, but the apartments are spacious, clean, bright, and perfect for families or group of friends. Furnitures are new, configuration of bed and sofa bed. The Center Ramblas Barcelona Hostelside got nothing to do with the apartments, on one side you have a private accommodation, on the other side you have a hostel that is quite basic, except reception that is actually the nicest area. The breakfast area is basic and small. Cristina in charge of reception and Juan in charge of the Hostel and apartments were very welcoming, and took the time to show us all, which was appreciated considering how busy reception was 
Centric Point Hostel is one of the newest and biggest hostels we have in Barcelona.
It’s an impressive modernist building completely refurbished in the best location ever dreamed. Situated next to Plaza Catalunya, almost in the richest and most elegant part of the city. They have an amazing common area with the biggest bar we have ever seen in any hostel! They are still working on the roof where there will be an amazing terrace with a Jacuzzi to enjoy the stunning view of the city. In the 4 floor the walls have been painted by an Italian artist with beautiful and modern painting of some birds (see picture). So everything you need is there: Kitchen, bar, private smoking room, Jacuzzi on the roof and definitely a smiling, friendly and professional staff.
Gothic Point Hostel is within walking distance of la Ramblas and has a great atmosphere, huge common room with a lot of colors, lights and music. The rooms are really cool ,we really enjoyed the privacy that loft set-up with curtains gives you so you can keep your light on and do other things without disturbing anyone else. The hostel offers a lot of tours, a cheap way to familiarize yourself with the city and the Spanish culture; we saw a Flamenco show for free. Fantastic! It is definitely a party hostel so the only downfalls are that it could be very noise at night, inside and out. This is a very welcome place for a group of young and party people
We were so curious about the Hello BCN Backpackers Hostel as it’s brand new - opened in July 2006. It’s a great hostel - they were still getting the air conditioning up and running, as well as the internet, but the staff is super friendly and incredibly helpful. There is a lounge in Ikea style, black chairs and flat screen TV sliding from the ceiling…an original and unusual atmosphere. They have a lot of facilities such as bar, laundry, internet, tour reservation and unusually a gym to stay fit during your vacation. They were giving for free a red plastic name tag to put in your luggage…good idea. What could we say more? A perfect place to stay for independent travelers and large groups of people (except for stag parties).
Comprehensive list of Barcelona Hostels.
For more information on getting around Barcelona go to Transports Metropolitans of Barcelona
Friday, Jul 14th, 2006
Categories: Milan
Hotel Stazione is located in close proximity to Hotel Trieste, so we had an opportunity to enjoy a nice morning walk to our first appointment with Sandro whom is working in the reception area once we arrive. More sliding doors, it seems to be the norm for most hotels in Milan, quite a good feature if you’re busy with bags into the reception. As Silvia speaks to Sandro; I observe the modern facilities and the colour coordination of the strong scarlet red and the dark wood. We make our way up and the retro artwork, modern furnishings and cleanliness is stunning. The rooms also come with safety boxes and are air conditioned. There’s a very modern bar and breakfast area that has you breathless. The only unfortunate thing is that this is only a one floor hotel and you don’t want to be in the rooms close to the bar and breakfast area. A great spot if you’re looking for all the modern necessities, look and real retro feel. There are no outdoor facilities and only being on one floor would be the only draw back.
Our next stop is to Hotel La Pace to meet Giuseppe who’s standing behind the reception. The reception area has someone there 24 hours and there’s a bar directly across if want a drink while you wait. The lounge for you to relax is also used for breakfast which can seat about 40 people.The rooms were clean and very basic with its requirements. It’ almost seemed like a blast from the past. There is no luggage room but the rooms are spacious enough to hold your personal bags. If you’ve brought a car, get ready to dole out 15 Euros, which has been the most affordable of all the places we’ve seen up to now.
The only true hostel in Milan - Hostel HI Piero Rotta - is located out of the centre and in a more suburban area. We entered and met Lucia and Silvia who started our tour with TV room and snack area - everything here is a hostel, far from the various stars of hostels that we’ve been visiting on our trip. There are dorms that have lockers in and out of the rooms and shared shower facilities. Downstairs in the basement you have another eating area, laundry facilities and a games room. On the other side is the breakfast room and a door to the outdoor garden and terrace. There’s also tables outside for you to sit outside and eat, drink and play cards. The area is gated and very secure, so there aren’t any worries about strangers barging in without card. Currently, the genders are separated but they looking to change all that but it will be friends placed together not strangers. It’s very professionally run and the staff are aware of guidelines and what must go on in the midst of the amount of people lodging there.
How do you get to Hotel Bonola We went through buildings, plazas and construction to find street names and signage to guide us in the right direction. The reception is open for 24hrs and there’s no curfew. They have air condition, how showers and this is the only hostel with car park.
It was great to see the various hotels and hostels we work with in Milan, Italy. The majority of them are centrally located and is accessible by transit, once you find out where you’re going. Almost all the hotels provided a free breakfast and a comfortable place to stay. A traditional Italian breakfast for us consisted of a rolls, croissants, cream cheese, cherry jams, cappuccino, milk, cereal and juice…with this they isn’t any time for lunch. Most of the facilities were clean and tidy and many rooms came with traditional shutters along the windows. The bathrooms ranged bad to very good, depending on the star and latest renovation of the hotel. Hotels mostly had arrangements with car parks and they were rather pricy, so it’s suggested that you don’t drive. A day pass is very affordable and it’s good for the day on any form of transit on the Metropolitan.
Comprehensive list of Milan Hostels.
For more information on getting around Milan go to ATM
Thursday, Jul 13th, 2006
Categories: Milan
Silvia and I start day 2 in Milan with a meeting with Marco at the Hotel del Corso. Marco comes around from around the counter and starts his questionnaire and conversation with Silvia. We had to give ourselves our own tour because of the lack of personnel working, which seems to be the norm in Milan. Ladies were cleaning the bedrooms at the time but they looked very impressive and the bathrooms was very spacious and highly modern. Lean back after a long hot summer day in Milan in your fully air conditioned room and enjoy your personal mini bar The breakfast area is amazing - everything you need is in there from toasters to a microwave….this place is a cut above anything that we’ve seen so far. Oh! did I mention that your breakfast is free…enjoy! A great spot filled with all the modern features of your 3 star hotel and more. Located in central Milan on a side street, of Via Buenos Aires, which is a bonus because you’re away from hearing all the hustling and bustling sounds of the traffic. All rooms are en suite and contain air condition which is very important in Milan on days above 35 degrees like we ventured in.
As we enter the lobby of Hotel Serena we meet Leopold, who loves to speak! After ten minutes he asks if I can speak Italian and I just smile and say no, he continues in Italian. He brings us up the stairs of this small reception area to the breakfast area that also features a terrace. The rooms are air conditioned, clean and quite comfy. It’s actually a one star hotel, but it feels much more like a two star. They’ve done some encouraging renovations and do have an elevator, which is very classy for the physically challenged.
Our next stop is Hotel Bernina, which surrounded by another 10 hotels within two blocks. To the left of the very large reception is the bar and lounge area which is kept separate, and towards the right of the reception are two computers for internet use at 3 Euros for every ½ hour. We met Alex and he sat us down in another lounging area and Silvia questioned away. We make our ways to the rooms and the also contain the basic necessities for all 3 star hotels, except this includes a safety deposit box in the room. All the rooms were very clean, colour coordinated and air conditioned. It’s a very good hotel that caters to spacious lounging with guests and city friends. Hotel Bernina offers free local newspapers in their lobby for guests and comfortable and modern seating to read.
Next up is Hotel Due Giardini, a place with personality, smiles and a beautiful garden. We’re greeted by Anna Maria and Biagio; they have us seated and offer us drinks. Just outside is a beautiful garden with seats and tables to enjoy your meals from the outside or even from the bar. Not all the rooms are air conditioned and the option comes with a price tag, but the rooms are very clean. The reception is 24hrs and they like all hotels in the area, there’s no curfew but that doesn’t mean you can bring outsiders that you’ve picked up into your hotel room. This is very much frowned upon in Milan, unlike most destinations. But at least you can wake up to a free breakfast with the sounds of their two birds happily chirping away.
As soon as we reached Hotel The Best Filippo had spelt coffee on his shirt and didn’t seem to be in the best of moods, but was doing his best. The reception is open 24 hours and caters to those taking advantage of their no curfew policy. They’re currently renovating all of their bathrooms and it should be finished in about 6 months.The rooms were very basic and imply that they sell everyone on the terrace, which if I didn’t mention it is occupied with statues, ceramic animals and outdoor tables and chairs.
We’re hungry, we’re tired and we were offered warm soda and water at Hotel Durante. It was funny because Mr Wang did it with a smile he spoke in English and was very generous with his water. Silvia had just purchased her laminated Italy World Cup Champions poster and was all smiles as she sat and talked to Mr. Wang. On the tour you realize why the rooms are very roomy but the washrooms are very tiny and don’t look overly comfortable. There a yard of to the side of some of the rooms and two rooms actually come with a balcony. During the summer months they have some long timers that stay during that period. A good place for the extreme basics.
Comprehensive list of Milan Hostels.
For more information on getting around Milan go to ATM
Wednesday, Jul 12th, 2006
Categories: Milan
After leaving Hotel Trieste, whom has given us complimentary rooms for our stay, we walk towards Repubblica Metro and proceed to get lost on the Metro!
Thankfully we left early just to make sure were prompt for our appointment at Hotel Mistral, and once we arrive there’s a bit of a shock from the reception areas and to their and our surprise our contact isn’t present. After a couple of light jokes we get the ladies to warm up to us and give us a tour. Toilets, showers and sinks were clean and for those that aren’t from Europe…get ready to be introduced to a foot wash. To enjoy some of the luxuries of this 3 star, try and book with a balcony attached to your room, the view might not be considered great, but it simply does wonders for you at night. Make sure you don’t show up without your passport and they don’t accept Diners Card, or traveller’s cheques. They do have a bar, but don’t look for any night time activities in the area…you’re on your own.
A Hot Day
Silvia and I moved on to our next scheduled meeting at Arcohotel Milan with Nicola, who we found out was actually on vacation once we arrived. We met Nicola’s father and were offered a variety of drinks….and yes we needed it because the weather was +32. After the initial questions we were both provided with a tour of the facilities. All rooms are ensuite and if you need to place your luggage in another room under their care it will cost you 2 Euros. A great spot if you’re looking for simple luxuries and a central location. It has a park right across the street. You won’t feel crammed in these rooms, there’s a lot of walking room, so you can lay back relax and not feel like your stepping on toes.
Our next was right around the corner at Hotel 22 Marzo, where we were warmly greeted with more refreshments. Here is a place that truly believes in bestowing upon you a personal touch to your stay. Silvia enjoyed an espresso, while I had a cappuccino - and if you could believe this, it tasted even better than it looked. We were able to get a mini tour of the facilities, since they were still cleaning at the time. Hotel 22 Marzo had a lot of information on the counters and certificates for travellers to observe. There is an elevator for those that may to be physically challenged. They’re large windows brings in a lot of light to the reception, bar and breakfast area. But what was most exciting, was seeing a small group of ladies who had received their booking from Hostelbookers.com and of course we took pictures of them.
Silvia and I moved on to our next meeting at Brasil Hotel Milan to arrive during the cleaning time, so weren’t able to get a tour of the facilities. Reception and Management greeted us and had a lot of information on the counters for backpackers, lounging area with a TV and DVD where backpackers can hang out. This is a place going through some renovations at the time so it was hard to see at its current conditions, but it does have some potential in the blue prints we were honoured to look at. Not for the physically challenged or those afraid of stairs. Not all the rooms are ensuite which is quite different then most of the hotels that we have seen so far.
Next stop Hotel Ideale Milano. We walk through the doors to see a very clean structure that has all the highlights of a simple and luxurious hotel, and be met by Antonio, the manager. Silvia then proceeds with questions to our informal but informative questionnaire and has he loosens up he becomes more jovial with us (well, Silvia at least!). We ask and receive a tour of the facilities and we venture into a double room that has your common luxuries with a 3 star. Good angle on the T.V. set, great sized bed and well kept large bathroom and a nice window opening to allow the sunshine to sparkle through. He offered us both drinks and food and it was a relief to sit down for a few moments. You’ll be welcomed with some great personality here in a very new establishment. A great spot to hang…sit on the terrace for the night, eat some food with a glass of wine.
On to the very central Hotel San Tomaso - a great location, very close to all your shopping and eating needs. Again, get ready to do some stairs, but once you make it up you’ll be welcomed with a very friendly smile from Jessica, the Hotel Manager. The rooms were adequate with the basics of a three star hotel and it was very clean. The hotel has great windows for lighting and you’ll be impressed with the abundance of smiles.
Hotel Trieste - our resting spot for our journey into Milan, Silvia and I were warmly greeted even though we didn’t get in till after midnight, since we missed the bus at the station. (If you’re going to Milan and it late at night, the taxi fares start at 6.10 Euros and you’ll get one at Central station.) At first the bedroom didn’t look the most appealing, but it was the most spacious of all that we had seen, and very clean. People greeted you in and out of the hostel with a smile and were there to attend to you in any way possible. Our stay was very much complimented by easiness of the staff that made us feel very much welcomed.
Comprehensive list of Milan Hostels.
For more information on getting around Milan go to ATM
