HotelsClick - The Blog

Frankfurt Travel Guide

2008-07-04T03:09:00.000-07:00

Frankfurt Travel Guide

Frankfurt Travel Guide for HotelsClick customers travelling to Frankfurt in Summer 2008. This is no easy task. A city of 6 million people known mostly for its business travel Frankfurt actually offers plenty to the leisure tourist. Located in West Central Germany, Frankfurt is one of Germany's most important cities, in fact, one of Europe's business hubs and has a unique and varied scene. There is something for everyone in Frankfurt, young or old, male or female, straight or gay, you are going to find something to tickle your fancy in Frankfurt.

Frankfurt - The QT

Parks, a central river, skyscrapers, wonderful museums and an eclectic and award winning culinary scene, Frankfurt could remind you of a couple of other world famous cities out there. So what makes Frankfurt worth a visit? It is actually surprisingly cheap, New York hotels are insanely priced and if you're a European, like me, the air fare and hotel combined is enough to put you off. In Frankfurt we have also what New York can not create, for Frankfurt is also European at heart and the fabulous Germanic cultural alleyways and boulevards, together with the beer (never forget the beer) come together to create one of Europe's hidden travel gems.

Back to price, would you believe it possible to stay 3 nights over a weekend in a 5 star Intercontinental hotel in the middle of the city for £170 including breakfast? I'm not kidding! 2 People inclusive, 3 Nights inclusive, Breakfast inclusive! Maybe in Riga right. but Frankfurt? Check it out below.

Who Flies to Frankfurt?

Depending on your carrier you'll fly into Frankfurt into the International Airport (Europe's second largest) or the low cost carrier airport Frankfurt Hahn. The low cost option is Bargainous with Ryanair coming in from the London airports. Everyone flies into Frankfurt, finding a flight will not be difficult.

RyanAir - 30 destinations including, Barcelona, Birmingham, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Kerry, London Stansted, Madrid, Manchester, Milan, Rome, Stockholm and Venice.

British Airways - Manchester, London, Birmingham

Iberia - Barcelona, Malaga, Madrid, Seville, Boston, Chiacgo, Los Angeles and New York.

AirFrance - Lyon and Paris

Lufthansa - Seriously everywhere, Amsterdam, Athens, Bangkok, Barcelona, Brussels, Dublin, London Heathrow and City, Milan, Moscow, Paris, Rome, Vienna, Zurich.

What Hotel Deals can you offer?

Over the British Bank Holiday weekend (Fri 22nd August - 3 Nights - 1 Double) we have the following Hot Deals. We have 100 hotels to choose from, but here are the best of the best.

3 Star Hotel - Continental Hotel - Opposite the Train Station - £126,75

4 Star Hotel - Miramar Hotel - Located in the heart of Old Town - £186.75

5 Star Hotel - Intercontinental - Opposite the Train Station - £219.75

To see all our Frankfurt Hotels Click Here.

What is there to see and do in Frankfurt?

Frankfurt City Sights

Alte Opera - Inaugurated in 1880, the Renaissance-style Alte Oper was designed by Berlin architect Richard Lucae and stylistically influenced by Gottfried Semper, creator of the famous Semperoper in Dresden. After being destroyed in WWII, and then narrowly avoiding being razed and replaced with 1960s cubes, the Alte Oper was rebuilt and its façade reconstructed to resemble the original, graced with statues of Goethe and Mozart. The interior is modern.

Bornheim - Berger Strasse is the spinal cord of the district of Bornheim, the traditional working class part of town. These days, it prefers the label 'bohemian', an image it measures up to well with its mix of dusty bookstores, eccentric boutiques, health food shops and inexpensive cafes and restaurants. Towards the north, the feel gets more mainstream with chain stores and snack bars.

Explora - Immerse yourself and the kids in this family-oriented science and technology museum full of cool optical illusions and three-dimensional works. The photos of turn-of-the-century Frankfurt are a definite highlight.

Frankfurt Zoo - Germany's second-oldest zoo has been delighting fans since 1858. Today, you can encounter an international cast of furry, feathered and finned friends on a trip that might take you from the Amazonian jungle to Antarctica via the African Savannah and the Australian Outback. If you're lucky, the howls of wolves can be heard throughout the surrounding neighbourhood of Ostend. When doors close, the zoo's own beer garden opens to help you wind down.

Frankfurter Dom - Dominated by the elegant 15th-century Gothic-style tower (95m; completed in the 1860s), the Frankfurter Dom was one of the few structures to survive the 1944 bombing. The Dommuseum (tel: 1337 6816) has a valuable collection of reliquaries and liturgical objects; it conducts tours of the Dom at 15:00 daily.

On the cathedral's southern side is the small Wahlkapelle (Voting Chapel), where seven electors of the Holy Roman Empire chose the emperor from 1356 onwards. Adjoining it is a choir with beautiful wooden stalls.

Goethe-Haus & Museum - Anyone with an interest in German literature should visit the Goethe Haus, the birthplace of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in 1749. Although furnishings are often reproductions, some original pieces remain on show. Highlights are Goethe's original writing desk and the library. Guided tours are conducted in German at 14:00 and 16:00 ; English tours can be arranged, but staff can also help you along.

'He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home.' Goethe's parents' house is a wonderful example of how Frankfurt's well-to-do lived in the 18th century. It was Goethe's birthplace, and he lived here until moving to Weimar in 1775, an act that many Frankfurters found hard to forgive. It was here that Goethe penned his ode to suicide, The Sorrows of Young Werther , and began work on Faust . The rooms are nicely decorated with a mix of reproduction and original furniture, offering a glimpse of 18th-century domestic life.

The museum next door illustrates the various stations of his long life with paintings from the late Baroque to the Biedermeier periods. The gorgeous little garden is perfect for getting away from all that Sturm und Drang.

Jüdisches Museum - The city has two notable museums on Jewish life in Frankfurt, reminding visitors that the Jewish community here, with 35,000 people, was once one of the largest in Europe. The main Jüdisches Museum, in the former Rothschildpalais, is a huge place with an exhibit of Jewish life in the city from the Middle Ages to present day, with good detail on well-known Frankfurt Jews persecuted, murdered or exiled by the Nazis. Religious items are also displayed.

Main Tower - A good place to start seeing the sights of Frankfurt is from the Main Tower, Frankfurt's highest public viewing platform. At 200m tall, the tower offers spectacular views of the city. Nearby is Europe's tallest office block, the 258m-high (298m including the antenna) Commerzbank Tower. Main Tower has a restaurant and cocktail bar on the 53rd floor, one below the viewing terrace.

From the viewing terrace to the southeast you can see the Römerberg, a remake of the original city centre; beyond it, across the river, is Sachsenhausen, an entertainment area with lots of pubs, bars and restaurants. To the north and northwest is the banking district with its ever-changing vista of towers, including the 256m-high peak of the elegant Messeturm, which locals call the Bleistift (pencil).

Frankfurt Nightlife

Balalaika - Beer Hall come Jazz Bar in Sachsenhausen

Former New York resident, Balalaika's owner, Anita, was singing long before many of her customers were born, as one of the pace-setters in the jazz and blues scene in the swinging 60s. These days she sings a more mellow song in her tiny, candlelit pub that has the usual cheer of the local taverns but with a more intimate vibe.

Harveys - Upmarket Lounge in Nordend

This odd-shaped, high-ceilinged corner bar looks like Dame Edna's living room. Always on the ball, it will no doubt adjust the style dial to suit Frankfurt's fickle club clientele. It's the perfect setting for flouncing around, and boy, do they flounce. It's a long established location on the gay map but attracts a mixed crowd.

Living XXL - Top Nightclub on the riverbank in Bahnhofsviertel

If the euro goes into free fall, it'll land here - Frankfurt's large, bustling and highly popular club has three bars and a gallery dining room at the foot of the European Central Bank.

Sandbar - Cocktail Lounge in Ostend

If the other bars get too cramped or their glam starts wearing thin, dive into the Sandbar as a chic alternative. The minimalist interior and soft bar stools invite a long evening or a short repose between clubs.

Frankfurt Shopping

Bogner Goethestr 21, Innenstadt

For sportswear that's almost too good to sweat in, Bogner is your brand, as many a stylish German jock will inform you. They also have a rather dapper range of women's and children's clothes with all sorts of accessories to complete the 'B' look.

Bornheimer Wochenmarkt - Am Uhrtürmchen, Bornheim

This farmer's market is a great place to stock up on fresh healthy rations for a hike in the woods, so good they do it twice a week! Met someone you need to impress? They have fresh flowers for next to nothing. As for cheese, don't buy it anywhere else. From an excellent range of markets, this fresh fruit and vegetable emporium is many people's favourite.

Galeria Kaufhof - Zeil 116 -126, Altstadt

You can find homewares, clothing, toys and electronics elsewhere in Frankfurt, but not under a roof as large as the one at Galeria Kaufhof. It also sells a great range of wines and spirits.

Saturn Hansa - Berger Str 125-129, Bornheim

This three-storey electrical good specialist stocks a heap of appliances, but on the top floor has the most comprehensive and one of the cheapest CD selections in Frankfurt. The jazz and blues corner and the classical music section are impressive and, best of all, there are plenty of play stations where you can pre-listen to any song.

Frankfurt Restaurants

Eckhaus - Bornheimer Landstrasse 45, Nordend

The smoke-stained walls, the iron fan above the door and those ancient floorboards all suggest an inelegant, long-toothed past. We love this place, others say the noise level snaps their nerves. The hallmark Rösti (shredded potato pancake), large servings of tasty salads and other main courses have been served in this restaurant-bar for over 100 years.

Grössenwahn - Lenaustrasse 97, Bornheim

The food in this upmarket pub-restaurant relies on pure flavours and the wine seduces your tongue into parts of your mouth you didn't know were there. The downside of this wonderful Frankfurt institution is that the air can be shocking at times, especially if someones tugging on a cigar or a pipe at the next table. Stylish modern German cuisine with plenty of international extras are the order of the day.

Metropol - Weckmarkt 13-15, Altstadt

In the long shadow of the Dom and with a lovely courtyard out the back where children can chill out away from the city heat, Metropol serves dishes from a changing menu that fluctuates between the inspired and the bistro staples. It's a great place for coffee or a drink too.

Tiger - Heiligkreuzgasse 16-20, Bornheim

Culinary guru Martin Göschel concocts delicious Italian and French-inspired cuisine in what many consider to be the best nosh address in town. Expect to pay for the kudos (menus over €100 ). It's part of the Tigerpalast cabaret venue.

We are recommending an August Bank Holiday break to Frankfurt to avoid the fairs and the crazy fair costs of the hotel rooms. That's all Folks.

Have a Tampa Tantrum

2008-01-15T00:40:00.000-08:00

Greetings!
I can't think of another city with so much going on that is so often overlooked as a travel destination. Sure, Disney is down the road, and Miami a few hours further south but Tampa has it going on in spades. Situated on the gulf coast it has some of the best beaches in all of Florida, great sports teams and events, a chilled University town spirit, historic Ybor and Busch Gardens. Close to the cultural city of Sarasota, Tampa is a great base to spend some time exploring the beautiful west coast of Florida.

Tampa- the QT
The Tampa Bay area consists of the cities of Tampa, Clearwater and St Petersburg and has a population of almost 3,000,000 inhabitants. By Florida standards, Tampa is a great grandaddy of a city and makes the very most of its 200 year history. The area had been inhabited by Seminole Indians and their influence on the area is well documented in the city's museums. However, Tampa was nothing but a swamp pit with less than 800 inhabitants until 1883 when phosphate was discovered in Bone Valley. In the 100 years following the discovery Tampa became the third biggest city in the South East of the USA, behind only Atlanta and Miami.

Tampa is the proud home of the cigar in the USA and nowhere is this more obvious than Ybor city (where 500,000,000 cigars were rolled a year at the height of its prowess), a hispanic quarter of Tampa, where cigar shops, the cigar museum and the older men of the neighbourhood congregate im sure, just to make the place look atmospheric.

Tampa is a very temperate place all year around. We were in Tampa in December and the temperature reached 25°c and above every day, even as high as 32°c on some days. The area is prone to tropical weather but no major hurricane has hit Tampa in 80 years. We recommend Autumn and Winter as the best times to visit Tampa.

Who flies to Tampa?
Tampa has its own airport but the only international flight is from London. However, Orlando is 1 hour from Tampa so flying into Orlando could prove the better option. We chose to fly to New York from Rome, and then take the 2 hour flight down from JFK to Tampa airport. You can fly to New York or Orlando from almost every major airport in the UK and Europe.

British Airways, provides the only International direct flight to Tampa

What hotel deals can you offer me?
Tampa, Clearwater and St Petersburg have some fantastic old fashioned hotels as well as hi tech business hotels and resorts. We've chosen the best value hotel we have in each of the 3 cities. The price is based on the 22nd February 2008, 1 week, 2 adults.

3* DAYS INN BUSCH GARDENS NORTH - Tampa- £225.75
4* HOLIDAY INN HARBORSIDE INDIAN ROCKS - Clearwater - £715,75
5* RENAISSANCE VINOY RESORT - in St Petersburg- £1,150.00

Click to see all TAMPA HOTELS

What can I see and do in Tampa?

The metropolitan area of Tampa, Clearwater and St Petersburg has a wealth of attractions spread out over a very large area. Whilst transport isn't poor, we highly recommend you rent a car. Tampa itself is the financial, business and cultural centre of the area. The city is home to several museums, including the excellent Tampa Bay history centre, the Children's museum and theTampa Museum of Art. If you prefer exploring a city by foot, the areas of Ybor and Hyde Park are the most interesting for a stroll.

Clearwater is a laid back small city of around 100,000 inhabitants and is most famous for its beautiful sandy beaches and being the seat of new religion, Scientology. Clearwater is home to some interesting events throughout the year including the Ford Ironman competition, Hispanic Heritage festival and the Imagine International Film Festival.

St Petersburg, the sunshine city, is the most popular holiday destination of the 3 cities making up this metropolitan area. St Petersburg also has some great beaches and a fantastic harbor where million dollar yachts are lined up in all their glory. The city has a great Baywalk area with shops, cinemas and a small aquarium. However, it is the beaches of St Petersburg that are its true attraction with Fort Desoto beach ranked as the number 1 beach in America by Dr Beach in 2005.

Sports - Florida is obsessed with sports and the good folk of Tampa Bay are no exception. The pride of the area is the Super Bowl 2002 winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers, owned by Manchester United supremo Malcolm Glazier. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers play at the Raymond James stadium in Tampa.

If you prefer your Baseball you can catch the Tampa Bay Devil Rays who play their major league baseball at Tropicana Field in St Petes.

Tampa even has a major league Ice Hockey team in Tampa Bay Lightening, however, they are currently bottom of the Eastern conference. The Lightening play at St Pete's Forum.

The Museums and Galleries of the Tampa Bay area are varied and of a very high quality. The museums we would most highly recommend to you would be the Ybor City Museum, Tampa Bay Historical Centre, Museum of Science and Industry, Tampa Museum of Art, The Childrens Museum in St Petersburg, Museum of Fine Arts (St Petes), The Holocaust Museum (St Peters) and the Salvador Dali Museum (St Petes).

We visited the all these museums but the Tampa Bay Historical Centre really gives you the best overall view of Tampa and how the area grew up. The best "museum" is centro Ybor itself. The area is a treat with many bric a brac shops, great restaurants and funky nightlife. Spend an entire day and night in Ybor to get a true feel for the area.

Attractions- As good as they are, nobody goes to the Tampa Bay area for its museums. People coming to the area are looking, for sea, sand and nightlife and this is what Tampa does best. With a student population keeping the town young and funky, the city has loads of gay and straight bars and nightclubs.

Tampa Bays main attractions are the beaches. Fort De Soto is heralded as the best in the area and it's very hard to argue. However, for nightlife, St Petes and Clearwater beaches are where it is at with plenty of bars and nightclubs to keep you going into the wee hours. The best nightlife in a 100 mile radius is Ybor City, check out Club Prana, Empire & Climax and Orpheum.

Tampa's #1 event is the annual Gasparilla Pirate Festival (on this weekend, late january each year) celebrates the apocryphal legend of José Gaspar (Gasparilla), supposedly a Spanish pirate captain who operated in southwest Florida.

The theme is an "invasion" by Gasparilla and his men, which begins when the "Krewe" (made up of residents of the city) arrives on a 165' long pirate ship, the Jose Gasparilla, in Tampa Bay and land near downtown Tampa. The mayor of Tampa then lends the key of the city to the pirate captain and a parade ensues down Bayshore Boulevard, one of Tampa's major streets. The krewes throw beads, coins and other items while shooting blank pistols from floats during the parade. The average attendance for the event is over 400,000 people.

Can we write about Florida without mentioning Theme Parks? We nearly did it. That would be a huge disservice though to the fabulous Busch Gardens. Busch Gardens is a grown up and FUN Disney, real rides, less queueing and less expense. If you don't enjoy heart stopping white knuckle rides then Busch Gardens also has excellent and educational Safari trips and great 3D shows. Tickets for Busch Gardens are $64,95 for adults and $54.95 for children under 10, however, look out for discounts and coupons that can be found everywhere from Walmart to your hotel.

Where can I eat in Tampa Bay?
There is a very strong Caribbean/Mexican influence in Tampa and so the traditional regional cuisine could be considered to have a certain hispanic flair. Floridians like to eat, and they like to eat cheaply. You will be fed very well for surprisingly little in the Tampa Bay area.

Here are some recommendations (£ - Inexpensive - under £10 for a main course - ££ - Reasonable £10-£15 for a main course - £££ - Pricey £15-£24 for a main course- ££££ - Expensive £25-£35 for a main course - £££££ - Daylight Robbery - £35+ for a main course)

Berns - The areas best restaurant for wine freaks, huge cellars. Steak House - £££
Columbia - Spanish/Cuban flamenco dancing but exceptional quality - £££
Dockside Daves - Excellent fish restaurant in St Petersburg- £
Frenchy's Cafe - Excellent Surf and Turf in Clearwater- £
Bernini - Outstanding Italian restaurant in Centro Ybor- ££

You can easily spend a full week in the Tampa area and not be tempted over to the Disney Corporation! Consider Tampa for your own "spring break".

Ciao for now HotelClickers!

New York, New York

2007-12-19T00:42:00.000-08:00

Greetings!
Finally back from my trip stateside and have four great guides to bring you about the American east coast cities of New York, Tampa, Orlando and Miami. Lets start with the big apple. This was my first trip to New York though the city is familiar to everyone from film, television and photographs. It's Christmas time so lets plan for a great time in New York, the January Sales and the Valentines period.

New York- the QT
New York, the world's most famous city, doesn't need much introduction. The home of US big business, high fashion, the best in new music, theatre and shopping New York is the first city in the world richest country. New York has gone through a massive transition in the past 20 years. What used to be a filthy, crime ridden and dangerous city; New York has cleaned up its act.

Today New York is a living city, families with babies continue to stay in the city, it's sanitized, safe and suburban. This is great for people visiting New York to see the sights, Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty, Rockerfeller Center but there are those who miss the old New York. The New York that didn't have a Starbucks on every corner, where graffiti artists shook their cans creating a colourful and exuberant city. New York has lost its graffiti and its edge but is still the worlds most exiting city.

Who flies to New York?

Silverjet low priced luxury flights from London's Luton to Newark Airport.
Delta, US Airways, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Continental and American Airlines all from the London Airports to New York Airports.
Delta, Aer Lingus, Continental and Delta fly from Manchester to New York Airports.
Continental and Aer Lingus fly from Glasgow to New York Airports.
Continental fly from Birmingham to New York Airports.
Air France, United Airlines, Continental, American Airlines fly from Paris to New York Airports.
Continental, Alitalia and Delta fly from Rome to New York Airports.
Continental, Delta, Air Berlin, Lufthansa, fly from Berlin to New York Airports.

What hotel deals can you offer me?
Hotels in New York are notoriously expensive. The weak dollar means it is the best time to go to New York and stay in some kind of luxury. Any hotel with 3 stars+ should be very comfortable although New York's accommodation is famous for being a little hit and miss. Here are our recommendations based on price, location and our customers own reviews. Prices are based on two sharing a double or a twin room for 4 nights from the 8th of February 2008 taxes included.

3* GERSHWIN- Central Manhattan- £348.00
4* RADISSON LEXINGTON - East side Manhattan - £456.00
5* PALACE - in MidTown East- £724.00

Click to see all NEW YORK HOTELS

What can I see and do in New York?

The City is actually 5 boroughs, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island and the Bronx. Most visitors to New York spend the entire trip in Manhattan and only enter the other boroughs (or even New Jersey) when they catch their flight home. Manhattan is New York to many people but you should not discount Brooklyn and Queens if you are staying in New York for a longer visit. Brooklyn would be the USA's 5th most populous city were it not part of New York and offers many charming parks and river walks. Prices for accommodation, food and shopping are all cheaper outside of Manhattan. Many of the sports events also take place in Queens, the US tennis Open at Flushing Meadow, Queens and the baseball team the New York Mets at Shea Stadium.

Manhattan - the cultural, financial and fashion centre of the world, Manhattan is the world in miniature. The world's rich and poor live here, nationalities from every country of the world can be counted among the 1.5 million Manhattanites currently on the Island. Manhattan is anything you want it to be and has a niche for everyone, no matter what your flavour you will find it has a home in Manhattan. Filled with trips, tours, museums, shops, galleries, events, theatres, restaurants, it's a tourist paradise, whatever you are in Manhattan you are not bored.

The Museums and Galleries of New York are wonderfully thorough and perfectly maintained, interesting and appreciated. The most famous museums and galleries, the Natural History Museum, Moving Image Museum, Ellis Island Museum, Frick Collection, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Television and Radio and the Museum of Modern Art are all world class museums that you can not possibly visit all in one trip.

More specialist museums that I enjoyed were the Museum of Jewish Heritage down by Battery Park. Spanning the last 200 years of Jewish history the museum focuses on the Holocaust and Palestine as well as documenting the rise to fame of Jewish stars and the Jewish lifestyle in America including a section dedicated to the Jewish influence in Miami and the Catskills.

The less well known, Museum of Sex is a tasteful and interesting look at how sex is portrayed, sold and played out across the states. The museum is an eye opener looking at sex and sexuality from every angle, literally!

Sports in New York get about as passionate as you can get. The cities major teams, The Mets, The Yankees, The Giants, The Jets, The Knicks, The Rangers all have a loyal and vocal following and attending a sports match is really the quintessential New York experience. Depending on the time of year there will almost certainly be a game on during your stay, Football, Hockey, Baseball or Basketball.

If you can we recommend a Baseball game at either the Yankee's up in the Bronx or the Mets in Queens to get you out of Manhattan and into real living and breathing New York and New Yorkers.

Shopping - Two dollars to the Pound and one fifty to the Euro means that your greenbacks are really stretching nicely in the States. Even in New York you're going to find yourself chuckling merrily at the prices in comparison to London.

New York's got it all, electricals, fashion items, gifts, jewellery and everything you may ever desire. The typical and famous New York shopping hot spots are Barneys, Bloomies and Saks. The ladies will enjoy countless hours in these stores but for a younger crowd looking for some lesser know designers at better prices check out the Meatpacking District.

If electricals and laptops are more your thing, try going into the East Village and Soho where there are some great low cost stockists.

In Chinatown you can pick up many a cheap fake item head into China town via Broadway and you'll be amazed at the amount of street vendors asking "Gucci, Fendi, Prada, you buy?"

Where can I eat in New York?
Certainly New York is the USA's number 1 city for dining. People from every culture came together to create New York an nowhere does this strike you as more obvious than when making a restaurant reservation. The possibilities are endless, Chinese, Thai, Italian, Mexican, Hungarian, Polish, Jewish, English, Irish, Korean, Japanese, Argentinian, Cuban and even... American!

Babbo - Greenwich Village Italian food mecca, Exceptional - ££££
Katz Deli - famous Pastrami sandwiches in this Jewish cafe. East Village - £
Momo Fuku - Greenwich village multi cultural, Chinese meets Mexican meets ??? - ££
Union Square Cafe - Top chef, great service and expansive wine list, class - ££££
Sushi Yasuda - finest Sushi restaurant in New York - ££££

No one can ever wrap up New York in a few words. These are our personal recommendations for great things to do in New York. Don't forget to write to us and let us know about your own experiences in the world's favourite city.

Ciao for now HotelClickers!

No place like Rome

2007-11-22T02:38:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

Well, the football is over and England are out. The face behind the blog is very upset today but I will try and pull myself together and write a blog entry about my favourite city and the headquarters of HotelsClick, Rome.

Rome - the QT
Rome is surely on everyones "top 10 places to visit" list. Everyone I know either has been or desperately wants to visit Rome and with good reason. Rome is all things to all men with an ancient quarter, gothic quarter and modern areas. Rome is also all things to all women with Via Condotti (high end shopping), the world's most fabulous Ice Cream and Italian men dressed as Gladiators. Surely there can be no finer city to visit? That's right, there isn't. Wonderful cuisine, museums and public spaces make Rome my favourite city and if you come in Spring, the best time of year, it may just be your favourite city too. Just do yourself one small favour... leave the car at home. The Romans drive like today is their very last day on earth and everyone is going to pay! Look both ways before crossing the road people!

Who flies to Rome?

EasyJet fly daily from Belfast, Bristol, East Midlands, Gatwick and Newcastle.
RyanAir fly daily from Glasgow, East Midland, Dublin, Liverpool, Stansted and Luton.
British Airways fly from Heathrow, Gatwick
Alitalia fly from Heathrow.

What hotel deals can you offer me?
Roman hotels can be a hit and miss affair. There are many budget options around Termini but whilst this area if convenient and well connected it is a little "dodgy" shall we say. Below we've recommended some hotels in the safer area's of Rome. These prices are an example of 11 January, 2 Nights, 1 Double Room.

4* EUR SUITE - Well connected luxury in EUR- £92.50
4* NOVA DOMUS & SUITES - Close to the Vatican - £153.50
5* AMBASCIATORI PALACE - on Via Veneto- £297.50

Click to see all ROME HOTELS

What can I see and do in Rome?

The City of Rome is more compact than you'd imagine and it's quite possible to walk from the sights in the East (Colosseum and Forum) to the sights in the West (St Peters and the Vatican) though taxi's are cheap and frequent. Much of Rome is covered by the local Metro although some areas, notably Piazza Navona, are not covered by Metro due to the possibilities of endangering many historically important buildings by digging underneath them and the constant vibrations from a metro could cause damage. So, it's out with the old comfy trainers to see Rome on foot. The summer in Rome can be extremely hot with temperatures regularly soaring over 40°c. Many Romans leave the city in August and Rome basically shuts down including many shops, business' and restaurants. The best time to visit Rome is just after Easter, after the christian pilgrims have left the city or in September and October when temperature can stay in the pleasant 25°c range.

The Holy See and the Must See - It's impossible to write about Rome without mentioning the Collosseum, the Forum, the Vatican, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and St Peters but please, we all know about these. Half of us have visited these before, and maybe more than once so what I want to talk about today is the lesser know tourist attractions; the path less travelled. I am not recommending that you don't see these wonderful attractions, of course, if you've never been to Rome these are must see, 5 star attractions and among the very best spectacles anywhere on the planet. Today we're going to talk about the Roman Catacombs, Villa Borghese and Trastevere.

The Roman Catacombs are not as famous as their Parisian counterparts but still intriguing in a morbid way. All history buffs should set some time aside to visit the catacombs. A burial place from the 2nd Century for Christians and Jews the catacombs have lived a chequered life. Originally just a place of burial they have served also as a place of refuge from persecution and the shrine of actual Christian martyrs. The catacombs came into effect simply for financial reasons. Unable to afford to bury their dead spread out across expensive Rome, they had to dig down, creating an underground world full of corridors and, well, dead bodies. The catacombs continued to be used until the 5th century after the fall of Rome and invasion of the Barbarians.

The relics and jewels once buried with their owners were then taken away to churches throughout Rome away from the hands of the Barbarians. With their removal there was no longer an urge to visit or guard the area and the catacombs were deserted and well into the middle ages were considered "lost", noone knew where they were anymore. Not until the 17th century were the catacombs found once more and are considered amongst the most important archaeological sites of Christian history. At the catacombs you can witness the burial chambers in something of a labyrinth, many of the inscriptions on the "tombs" remain as well as some emblems and relics.

Trastevere is my favourite area of Rome. This medieval district on the left bank of the Tiber was once home to the poor of the city and looked down upon by the grand Imperial Romans. Today Trastevere is the most trendy area of Rome with the best restaurants and bars in the city. With an international atmosphere it is common to walk around hearing as much English as Italian. Many American and British Ex-pats have made Trastevere their home seeing the potential in this medieval quarter that looks more like Barcelona's Barrio Gotico than anything resembling Rome. It's also home to many famous Italians as well an International artists who have helped raise the areas profile, and it's property prices.

Filled with antique stores, books shops and quaint old knick knacks you can spend a day walking its narrow streets and just enjoying Trastevere for its ambiance. The area's life focuses around the famous church and the square in which it sits, the Santa Maria in Trastevere. Wonder around, get lost and enjoy a long lunch at one of the great traditional Italian trattoria's.

Villa Borghese is hardly a secret but it's still under appreciated. It's the best place to bring kids in Rome with huge outdoor spaces and a zoo. As the best open space in Rome, home to a fantastic art collection, and host to outdoor events all year round it's a hub of Roman life in the same way Hyde Park is in London. It's huge. If you've had the fortune to walk around the circumference of Villa Borghese then you know you've put in some km's and deserve that Spaghetti Carbonara.

The Bio Park, the city's zoo, is a valiant attempt to educate Rome's young about the plight of animals and the dangers of global warming. The message gets lost in the cute monkeys and lion cubs though.

Galleria Borghese, is an impressive 17th century villa housing the work of famous artists including Bernini and Canova. The museum is more for history fans as its first floor is dedicated to Roman antiquities, busts and mosaics. The Galleria Borghese is open all year round.

Where can I eat in Rome?

Where can't you eat in Rome? All the districts have traditional trattoria's as well as cheap pizza stands where you can get yourself a filling slice of pizza for €1.50. No matter what your budget you can eat well in Rome.

GUSTO - Upmarket Italian restaurant - ££££
IL PASTARELLARIO - famous restaurant in Trastevere - £££
REMO - best place for traditional roman pizza- ££
IL CON VIVIO - One of Rome's most fashionable restaurants, great foodie place - ££££
DAGNINO - 50's style Sicilian patisserie, great food and ambiance - £

That's it for Rome. There are a million other attractions worth seeking out but hopefully we gave you some new ideas to get excited about.

Ciao for now HotelClickers!

Venice on my Mind

2007-11-07T01:38:00.000-08:00

Ciao a tutti,
This week I've been up to the beautiful city of Venice and would like to talk to you about what Venice can offer you at this time of year. This weekend reached 24°c in Venice so if you're lucky it can still be a temperate time of year.

Venice - the QT
Home of the gondola, the Rialto bridge and St Marks Square, we all know the basic tourist sights in Venice. At once familiar to all of us from films, television commercials and even computer games the Venitian cityscape is a magnificent thing of beauty. Venice was once a bustling city state independent from Italy and in many ways, as well as being geographically adrift from the mainland, still likes to think of herself as seperate entity. Today we are going to look not at the Venice of memory, but Venice as the Venetians enjoy. These attractions and recommendations come from th people of Venice.

Who flies to Venice?

EasyJet fly daily from Gatwick, Belfast and East Midlands.
RyanAir fly daily to Treviso from Dublin, Stansted and Liverpool.
Click Here to view all incoming flights into Treviso Airport.
Click Here to view all incoming flights into Venice Marco Polo.

What hotel deals can you offer me?

Venice is packed with beautiful hotels positioned on the Grand Canal that are somewhat pricey. There are cheaper options on the Island but for a really cheap deal you'll need to be on the mainland in Mestre or the cheaper Island of Venice Lido. These prices are an example of 7 December, 2 Nights, 1 Double Room.

3* ARISTON - Mestre on the mainland - £63.50
4* DUODO PALACE - St Marks Square - £134.00
5* GRAN DEI DOGI- Jewish Ghetto - £282.50

We highly recommend the £134 deal at the Duodo Palace, 2 Nights in a 4 star hotel for that price is really excellent. The hotel has its own pool and is very luxurious - a great bargain.

Click to see all Venice Hotels

What else can I see and do in Venice?

The City of Venice is split into 6 main areas that you will need to be familiar with when touring the city. The six districts are named Cannaregio, San Polo, Dorsoduro (including the Giudecca), Santa Croce, San Marco (including San Giorgio Maggiore), and Castello (including San Pietro di Castello and Sant'Elena). The Cannaregio is the most populus area of the city with many hotels options. It is also home to the Jewish Ghetto, the Ca' d'Oro and the St Lucia station. San Polo is the smallest and oldest part of the city situated along the Grand Canal the main attraction here is the Rialto Bridge. Dorsoduro also includes Giudecca and here you can find the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, the Accademia and the Peggy Guggenheim collection. Santa Croce is the only area of Venice where cars can travel and houses the main bus depot. Attractions in Santa Croce include the Church of San Nicola da Tolentino and the Centre for the History of Costume. San Marco is Venice's msot famous district where St Marks square is located as well as Doge's Palace, La Fenice Theatre and Palazzo Grassi. Finally Castello, the largest district and home to the 13th century shipyards and the Scuola di San Marco.

Accademia - L'Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia was founded in 1750 by the Venetian Senate as the city's school of painting, sculpture, and architecture. In Vencie, it is uniformly known as the Accademia and mainly as a museum. The aim was to replicate official institutions which had existed for many years in other major artistic centers. It was one of the first institutions to study art restoration starting in 1777 with Pietro Edwards, and formalized by 1819 as a course. L'Accademia still holds some of the worlds greatest works of art including works by Canaletto, Giorgione, Charles Les Brun, Lorenzo Lotto, Mantenga, Piazetta, Preti and most famously, Leonardo da Vinci's "Drawing of Vitruvian Man"

Doge Palace is a hugely impressive building standing on the Grand Canal next to the Bridge of Sighs. Perhaps it is here, more than any other Venetian building where you get a real sense of Venice's changing fortunes. Visit the Chancellors Office, the man responsible for writing all the secret documents of the Republic and learn how the Venetian guaranteed his loyalty! Check out the gruesome Torture Chamber where enemies of the state would be tortured before the state inquisitors. Learn about the single form of torture that the Venetians used, and why no-one was able to resist the pain! "I Piombi" Prisons, were wooden cells beneath the lead roofs of the Palace that would be intolerably hot in the summer and freezing cold in the winter months. It was in these cells that the famous lover Casanova was incarcerated and here you learn about the trumped up charges that Casanova's enemies used against him to imprison the world's most famous lover.

Peggy Guggenheim Collection is Venice's most eclectic and forward looking museum with prominent American modernists and Italian futurists artists on prominent display. Famous artists including Picasso, Dali, Brancusi and Jackson Pollack all have works on display. The collection is housed in the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, an unfinished 18th century palazzo which was never built past the ground floor level. In one room, the museum also exhibits a few paintings by her daughter Pageen Vail. In the courtyards between the main buildings are sculpture gardens containing an extensive collection of works. Its most famous (or notorious) exhibit is the 1948 bronze "The Angel of the City" by Marino Marini, positioned at the front of the palazzo, facing the Grand Canal.

Where can I eat in Venice?

Venice is an expensive city but it also has some of the best cuisine on the planet. Below we offer some suggestions that cater to all budgets.

GRAND CANAL at HOTEL MONACO - smart dress, venetian cuisine- ££££
LA FENICE - opera house location, venetian/international- £££
HARRY'S BAR - exclusive 14 tables but very good food, central - ££££
AL PARADISO PERDUTO - Pasta, Fish and meat specials, good budget option - ££
DA RENATO - basic interior but great traditional food- £

That's it for Venice. A city worth a second visit and offering more than €10 coffee's in St Marks Square. We also recommend, if visiting in summer, to use the beaches on Venice Lido that are very appealing and child friendly. Venice is a city of Expos and Film Festivals so book well in advance.

Next Wednesday we will review the city of Dublin and take a look behind the Guiness and Temple Bar. Ciao for now HotelClickers!

Prague - The Christmas Markets

2007-10-30T01:29:00.000-07:00

Happy Tuesday HotelClickers!

Just a quick reminder that Thursday is a bank holiday here in Italy so there will be limited phone support on this day. Anyway, down to brass tacks. This is the article I've been looking forward to the most. Prague is a big favourite destination in the HotelsClick offices. It's definitely a top 10 wish list city for most of us here, I've already been and loved it. There is no better time to visit than Christmas. Snowy Prague is one of the dreamiest, most enchanting cities you can visit.

Today we're going to focus on Prague the capital of the Czech Republic.

Prague - the QT
Prague Christmas Markets run from Dec 1 to Jan 1. Prague Christmas Markets stay open until New Year and are only part of the large selection of Christmas festivities. The 5th of December is Mikulas day (St. Nicholas Day) and marks the start of the Christmas period for Czechs. Starting at 4pm the event is a ceremony of sorts as 3 figures move around the Old Town Square with children following them. It doesn't sound very exciting but is a tradition that draws thousands. There is a mass held on Christmas Eve at 21.15 in the old town square, the largest outdoor worship event in the Czech calender. The most spectacular event is the New Years Eve party on the Charles Bridge and Old Town square where thousands of fireworks are let off and happy revelers join together to see in the new year.

There are several Christmas Markets in Prague during the season but the most famous two are held in the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. The Prague Christmas markets consist of brightly decorated wooden huts, selling Czech handicrafts, hot food (corn on the cob, sausages and local specialties) and warm drinks. Outdoor Christmas shopping is so much easier with a cup of hot wine (svařené víno or svařák) in your hand! A good selection of Christmas stocking fillers can be found in the markets. Products include Czech glass, wooden toys, scented candles, hand-made jewellery, ceramic mugs, hats and scarves, puppets and Christmas tree ornaments. You can also see traditional foods made fresh right in front of you.

Christmas markets are not just about shopping. In the Old Town Square children can stroke sheep, goats and even a lama. There is also a Bethlehem manger scene - a large wooden stable replete with straw floor depicts Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and the Three Kings. Most impressive of all is the Christmas tree, shipped from the Sumava mountains in the South of the Czech Republic. Erected in the Old Town Square, the tree is draped in a blaze of lights, which are turned on every night round 5pm. Set against a dark Gothic skyline, this is a spectacular sight.

Who flies to Prague?

No one should have trouble flying to Prague, every country in Europe, major US, Canadian and Australian airports operate a service here.

EasyJet fly from London Gatwick, Stansted, Newcastle, East Midlands, Belfast & Bristol.
RyanAir fly direct from Dublin.
Click here for a list of all flights to Prague.

What hotel deals can you offer me?

Prague is full of terrific hotel deals. Let's choose a budget, tourist and luxury class hotel. These prices are based on two nights, in one double room and include breakfast. The price is for the entire stay for the room. These prices are an example of 7 December, 2 Nights, 1 Double Room.

3* DENISA - located in Prague 6, close to centre - £43.00
4* VYSEHRAD - city centre (Prague 4) - £81.50
5* SAVOY - city centre (Prague 1) - £201.50

Click to see all Prague Hotels

What else can I see and do in Prague?

The City of Prague is the perfect place to simply walk around and explore. The medieval streets reveal a perfect example of renaissance and medieval architecture. Prague was largely untouched by the bombing and devastation of World War II and is not blighted by grey blocks that cast a dim shadow over other Eastern European cities ravaged by war and then the communist regime. Prague is the golden city and has a splendid collection of churches, bridges, museums, galleries, restaurants and bars to keep the most ardent city breaker happy.

The most famous sights in Prague are concentrated in the old Town (Staré Město) so most visitors try to obtain accommodation in this area. The metro system is reliable and cheap but the coverage isn't perfect so be prepared to walk between sights.

Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world and the pride of Prague. Once home to ancient monarchs, roman emperors and presidents, today it is the home of the crown jewels of the Bohemian kingdom. During the Nazi occupation of Prague the castle was the headquarters of Reinhard Heydrich, the mastermind behind the Nazi death camps who was later assassinated by a group of Czech resistance fighters. The castle is Prague's most visited attraction and contains within its boundaries many churches, gardens and palaces. You could easily spend an entire day within the walls. Open from 9am daily.

Wenceslas Square is the first thing most people think about when they imagine Prague. Actually less impressive than the old town square, Wenceslas Square is the famous place upon which Good King Wenceslas apparently looked down on the Feast of Stephen (sing along with me). No Christmas time visit to Prague would be complete without visiting the square. Actually a boulevard and not a square at all, the area is home to finance, business and banking as well as super pricey hotels and restaurants. Not a place to frequent on a night, the square comes alive with prostitutes and patrons of various strip clubs, this is a popular area for stag nights so if you are visiting Prague with children, this is only a suitable destination during the day. There are some worthy monuments and churches in the "square" so it's not a disappointment but if you're looking for a picture postcard Prague square, go for the Old Town Square.

Old Town Prague is the Prague of your imagination. This area is home to the astronomical clock and the old town square. Certainly the most picturesque part of the city and also well connected to the Josefov, Mala Strana and the Charles Bridge areas, you need an entire day to explore this section of Prague.

Some of the best bistro's and bars are in this area of Prague, it is the cleanest and best representation of the city. This area was settled in the 9th century and is the birthplace of the city. Prague 1 is the most exclusive and expensive district and some of the world's best shopping chains and individual boutiques have their home in this area.

The National Museum is the most interesting museum in the country, highly respected and a joy to visit. Founded in 1818 the museum is a national treasure. The museum is split into 5 major departments. The department of prehistory containing artifacts from the Roman and Greek eras. The department of classical archaeology traces the development of the Czech nations through artifacts. The department of ethnography provides factual data about the development of Slavic nations. The department of Numismatics is a collection of coins used in past and present day Czechoslovakia and lastly the department of theatre chronicles the development of theatre in Czechoslovakia. The museum is very large and several hours should be allocated to view all the exhibits (6+ hours).

Prague is a huge and varied city, we have not included any information about the Charles Bridge or the many art galleries and museum that the city has to offer. You could spend over a week in Prague and would still have many famous sights left to visit.

Where can I eat in Prague?

The traditional cuisine has influences from Germany, Poland and central Europe although the Czechs also have some dishes that are truly Czech born and bread (get it?). The national dish is Vepřo-knedlo-zelo (Pork, cabbage and dumplings).

BELLEVUE - international food, fine cuisine, views of Charles bridge - £££££
BARFLY - Czech cuisine in the heart of old town, well priced - ££
LVI DVUR - city centre, true taste of Czech cuisine, very good - £££
U MALIRU - french modern cuisine Praha 1- £££££
HOT - great steak and pasta dishes in Wenceslas Square - ££

Prague is a fantastic city, so much choice and still a very cheap destination. If you have any Prague recommendations to give then leave your comments below. If you have anything to say about HotelsClick, this guide, Prague, any previous destinations or just want to say "hello" leave your comments below.

Ciao for now HotelClickers

Cologne - The Christmas Markets

2007-10-29T02:18:00.000-07:00

Ciao a tutti,
We hope you all had a wonderful weekend. The weather here in Rome got up to 30°c around the HotelsClick offices, this is late October? Several members of our team went to the village of Bomarzo in northern Lazio to visit the medieval "Park of Monsters" on Saturday. A spooky park just outside the town with lots of hideous statues and carvings! As we are coming up to Halloween we'd like to ask HotelClickers if they can recommend any scary ghost walks, parks or tours anywhere in the world? Anyway, back to business.

Continuing our series on the European Christmas markets todays blog entry focuses on Cologne in western Germany.

Cologne - the QT
Cologne Christmas Markets run from Nov 26 to Dec 23. The Cologne Christmas Markets are a series of huge markets in different locations all over the city. The most famous being the traditional market outside the Cathedral with 160 wooden pavillions you can eaily spend the entire day here. Cologne’s oldest Christmas market is held on the Neumarkt, the city centre market in the shopping district. The best market for the kids is the Alter Market in front of Cologne's town hall. The market on Rudolfplatz is also great for children with its fairytale theme and toy stalls. Our favourite Christmas market of all in Cologne is the floating market upon the ship "MS Wappen von Mainz". Here you can enjoy a glass of mulled wine whilst savouring the views of Cologne from the banks of the Rhine.

Who flies to Cologne?

EasyJet fly daily from Gatwick, Liverpool and East Midlands.
Germanwings fly daily from Stansted, Dublin and Edinburgh.
Click Here to view all incoming flights into Cologne/Bonn Airport.

What hotel deals can you offer me?

If we're honest, the hotel really is the highlight of organising trips. We all want to get that extra free star of quality for a lower price than expected so, let's try and acheive that. Let's choose a budget, tourist and luxury class hotel. These prices are based on two nights, in one double room and include breakfast. The price is for the entire stay for the room. These prices are an example of 7 December, 2 Nights, 1 Double Room.

3* CONTI - city centre - £119.50
4* CROWNE PLAZA- city centre - £151.00
5* WASSERTERM - city centre - £214.00

We highly recommend the £151 deal at the Crown Plaza, 2 Nights in a 4 star hotel for that price is really excellent. The hotel has its own pool and is very luxurious - a great bargain.

Click to see all Cologne Hotels

What else can I see and do in Cologne?

Cologne enjoys a wonderful position inbetween Dusseldorf and Bonn. Bonn especially deserves a visit if you are coming to Cologne for more than a few days. As the old capital of the former West Germany there are many superb museums and shops in the city.

The City of Cologne sits on the historic banks of the Rhine. It is Germany's 4th largest city. While it is true that much of Cologne was devestated in WWII by allied bombing raids the magnificent cathedral still stands although hit 14 seperate times. Cologne is a triumph of modern city planning and is a popular destination among students and fans of modernist architecture. Cologne is a wonderful walking city and a true University town with many inexpensive shopping options and nightlife with a growing reputation. The city has 30 art galleries and over 100 museums. Cologne is a popular business destination and has world class fairgrounds that hold scores of international trade fairs each year. Cologne was originally a roman town and developed its Rhineland cityscape over the medieval and modern periods.

Cologne Cathedral is a World Heritage site and Cologne's most famous landmark. Having survived years of bombing raids by the allies its a miracle the structure stands at all with many believing divine intervention saved the Cathedral. These reasons combine to make the Cathedral very special to the people of Cologne. In the gothic tradition, work began on the Cathedral in 1248 and took 600 years to complete. For 4 years it was the world's tallest building. Open from 6am to 7.30pm daily, the Cathedral is best visited in winter when it is lit up at night and can be seen from miles around. The main attraction within the Cathedral is the 13th century guilded sarcophagus, the "Shrine of the Three Kings".

Cologne's 12 Roman Churches are another draw on the Christian pilgrim tours of Cologne. Many were badly damaged in the allied bombings but reconstruction of the churches was completed in the 1990's and now all 12 are open to visits from the public.

El-De Haus was home to the Gestapo during WWII and houses many Gestapo related documents for WWII history buffs. During the war the house was a byword for torture and execution in the city. Ironically it is one of the few buildings to have survived the bombing raids in Cologne and is now a permanent museum documenting its involvement in the Nazi regime. The cellars, used to hold and torture the Jews of Cologne, are now a shrine in their memory. Photo Right ---->

Museum Ludwig is Cologne's best art museum and holds a wealth of noteworthy modern art. Heavily focusing on pop art and surrealism the building houses one of the largest collections of Picasso's anywhere in the world.

Where can I eat in Cologne?

Cologne has some really great, cutting edge, modern restaurants as well as some traditional German eateries

DIETERMULLER - in the Lerbach hotel, huge wine list - ££££
CAFE DUDDEL - university favourite, cheap and good - £
BRAUHAUS SION - Kolsch beer and sausages, traditional - ££
GRAUGANS - in the Hyatt hotel, European and Asian high quality - £££££
LE MOISSONNIER - best french restaurant in town, well priced - £££

That's a rap for Cologne. A modern and stylish city perfect for WWII buffs and modernist art & architecture fans, if you have any questions about Cologne Hotels then you can email us at info@hotelsclick.com. If you have any tips to share about Cologne, hotels, attractions or the Christmas markets then please leave them below.

On Tuesday we will review the city of Prague and take a look at its Christmas markets. Is there a Christmas market you would like us to cover? Ciao for now HotelClickers!

Strasbourg - The Christmas Markets

2007-10-26T00:08:00.000-07:00

OK so probably you don't really want to think about Christmas right now. Bah Humbug right? Well, we're making no apologies for it, we at HotelsClick love Christmas. It's a great excuse to live life to excess, eat too much, drink too much and steal a kiss from people way out of your league. It's also a perfect time to visit places that don't normally show up on the holiday radar. We're going to talk about the famous Berlin, Prague and Brussels markets but also some places we might consider "Serie B" in the travel industry, Cologne, Brugge, Antwerp and Strasbourg.

Today we're going to focus on Strasbourg on the French/German border.

Strasbourg - the QT
Strasbourg Xmas Markets run from Nov 29 to Dec 24. This is one of the largest Christmas markets in France, and the setting in front of Strasbourg Cathedral is breathtaking. In its 431st year, this market in Alsace is the oldest Christmas market in France. Be sure to visit La Petite France, a cozy neighborhood of timbered fairy-tale buildings with Christmas shops and a gingerbread bakery. While you are this close to Germany, cross over the river and visit the Christmas markets there, too.

Who flies to Strasbourg?

Air France fly daily from London Gatwick.
Click Here to view all incoming flights into Strasbourg Airport.

What hotel deals can you offer me?

Well I'm glad you asked. Let's choose a budget, tourist and luxury class hotel. These prices are based on two nights, in one double room and include breakfast. The price is for the entire stay for the room. These prices are an example of 7 December, 2 Nights, 1 Double Room.

2* ATELYS HOTEL - located at the station - £57.50
3* MONOPOLE METROPOLE - city centre - £111.00
4* SOFITEL - city centre - £233.50

Click to see all Strasbourg Hotels

What else can I see and do in Strasbourg?

Strasbourg Cathedral is the highlight of the city. Completed in 1439 it is thought to be, along with York Minster, one of the finest example of Gothic architecture in the world. Between 1625 and 1847 it was the world's tallest building stading at 142 meters tall. As well as being a breathtaking masterpeice of architecture the cathedral also houses a wonderful 18 meter astronomical clock.

The City of Strasbourg is a chocolate box scene of black and white timber frame buildings probably one of the best examples of a Rhineland cityscape. The photo shows Place du Marchè aux Cochons de Lait but many of the central streets follow the same style. The main square, Place Kleber, is the best viewpoint to sample the true flavour of Strasbourg.

Musée d'Art Moderne et Contemporain de Strasbourg is among the largest modern art museums in France and is one of many brilliant museums in the city. The museum is renowned for its large collection of works by Gustave Doré, Jean Arp and Victor Brauner and for owning the most important French ensemble of contemporary German artists (Jörg Immendorff, Markus Lüpertz, Georg Baselitz). Also worth checking out are the excellent Musée des Beaux-Arts, the Musée de l'Oeuvre Notre-Dame and the Musée zoologique de l'ULP et de la ville de Strasbourg which houses a collection of over 18,000 birds.

Where can I eat in Strasbourg?

There are a vast amount of places to eat in Strasbourg for all kinds of different budgets. Some of the best food can be found on the street from the vendors in the central square serving up traditional crêpes both sweet and savoury.

CHEZ YVONNE - a wine restaurant in the city centre - ££
L'ARSENAL - inventive menu in the city centre - ££
AU CROCODILE- city centre gourmet & luxury- ££££
LE BUEREHIESEL - french modern cuisine in l'Orangerie - ££££
BRASSERIE DE L'ANCIENNE DOUANE - 600 seat mega cheapy strasbourg fav - £

OK, so that's a pretty good skinny on Strasbourg. We hope you enjoyed this quick overview of Strasbourg, if you have any questions about Strasbourg Hotels then you can email us at info@hotelsclick.com and we'll do our best to help make your trip pleasurable and easy on the old wallet.

On Monday we will review the town of Cologne and take a look at its Christmas markets. Ciao for now HotelClickers!

HotelsClick - The Blog - The Launch

2007-10-25T08:57:00.000-07:00

Welcome one and all to HotelsClick very first blog entry.

We have created this blog space in order to reach out in a personal way to you, our customers. The blog will keep everyone informed about new destinations added to the website, any special offers and will contain reviews of hotels, resorts and destinations around the world.

Over the coming months you can learn more about what happens day to day at HotelsClick, the people involved, the destinations we cover. We will be suggesting new destinations, proposing our best deal hotels in those destinations and give advice on restaurants, tours, flights and events. We're going "beyond the call of duty" people.

Most importantly, we need your ideas! Where do you want to see more hotel coverage? What up and coming destinations would you like to see added? What do you like about HotelsClick (or dislike) and how can we improve our service? We are welcoming all comments from past customers (and future ones too).

This is the space where you can recount your experience of us, or your holiday in print, photo or even mini webcast! If you want to add a video diary then just send it to us at theblog@hotelsclick.com.