Cheap Hotels in UK: Classes of Accommodations

UK Hotels and Guest Houses

You will find a significant difference in both price and facilities between hotels and guest houses in the UK. Hotels usually offer breakfasts, lunches, teas, dinners, a licensed bar and a range of services and facilities to suit individuals, families and often business groups. Country house hotels will often add recreational facilities in their grounds such as golf, tennis, swimming, health spas, gyms and attended play areas for children. Top league international hotels in London and major cities offer comprehensive amenities and services for business and holiday guests, and a choice of first class and luxury accommodation. Guest houses may not have bars or offer lunch or teas, but will have television and sitting lounges.

In England and Wales, the AA, RAC (the largest UK motoring organisations) and the English Tourist Council have come together to provide an overall star for hotels and diamond rating for guest accommodations, including bed and breakfast. Hotels have between one and five stars; guest accommodations between one and five diamonds. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, all tourist accommodations are also graded regularly to provide a clear indication of the level of facilities you can expect.

Hotelpepper – hotels and guest houses also include impartial user reviews with user-defined “pepper” ratings to reflect their experiences and review of a hotel.

UK Bed and Breakfast

Bed and breakfast accommodation, advertised by the famous ‘B&B vacancies’ sign, is mostly in private homes and the emphasis is on bedrooms rather than on facilities such as a bar or restaurant. They are often the least expensive form of guest accommodation although prices vary between those in the most popular holiday locations and those offering stopovers ‘en route’.

Thousands of bed and breakfasts have been visited anonymously by tourist officers to be inspected for a diamond rating of between one and five stars. This is intended as a guide to the quality of accommodation and food on offer.

As private homes, including farmhouses and working farms, B&Bs tend to offer a very personal welcome, and an insight into British ways of life in different parts of the country. Breakfast is intended to fill you and will often include bacon, eggs, fried bread, tomatoes, even fried potatoes and local additions such as black pudding. Or you can enjoy a ‘continental’ breakfast: cereal, bread, toast, tea, coffee and juice.

UK Hostels

There are many hostels located all over England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Hostels vary in style and amenities but they offer bedrooms with between two and six beds for young people, families and groups. They usually provide substantial breakfasts and dinners at low prices and have communal kitchen facilities if you prefer to cater for yourself.

The main hostel organisations are the Youth Hostel Association (YHA), the Scottish Youth Hostel Association (SYHA) and Hostelling International Northern Ireland (HINI). You do not have to be a ‘youth’ to stay because there is no upper age limit (in Scotland the lower age limit is 5). But you do have to be a member of the YHA or SYHA, which involves paying a small annual membership fee. There are also a variety of independent hostels offering accommodation. Staying in hostels is traditionally popular with people pursuing backpacking, walking, cycling or generally exploring outdoor pursuits. But there are also hostels in many towns and cities, which enable members to enjoy good basic accommodation on a low budget.

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With Christmas finally getting into full swing, many of us will be looking forward to traveling abroad for a well earned holiday. Of course, you’ll need access to cash while you’re away, so what are the best and safest ways of arranging your travel money?

1) Local Currency

It’s a good idea to take a small amount of local currency with you whenever you travel, if only enough to last you for your first few hours. You’ll probably need to arrange travel from the airport to your hotel for example, and local currency is the easiest way to pay for these initial expenses. The exchange rates charged at airports are notoriously expensive, so buy some currency before you leave and you’ll get a much better deal.

The drawback to carrying currency is that if it gets lost or stolen, it can’t be replaced. For this reason it’s best to use another form of travel money for most of your funds.

2) Travellers Cheques

These are the traditional way of carrying money abroad. When you buy the cheques, which can be in Sterling, Euros or US Dollars, you have to sign the stub of each cheque in the presence of the teller. Once abroad, you can convert the cheques into local currency by signing the other half of the cheque at a currency exchange, where the teller will compare the two signatures and also inspect your passport.

This system is more secure than cash as each cheque is uniquely numbered, so if a cheque goes missing it can be quickly canceled and replaced by the cheque issuer. There is a drawback in that you have to cash the cheques at a currency exchange, and you might not find one offering a good exchange rate.

3) Credit Cards

Credit cards are accepted virtually the world over, and may seem a good way of paying your way while abroad. As well as using them for shopping, they can be used to pay restaurant bills and even to withdraw cash. Before choosing this as your travel money option though, check your card’s small print to see what interest rate is charged on overseas use – it will probably be higher than the standard rate of your card, and you’ll probably have to pay exchange charges too.

4) Cash Machines

There are now several international cash machine networks in operation, for example the Cirrus network, and it’s likely that your cash card can be used internationally, especially in Europe and the USA. This is a good way of financing your holiday spending, as you can draw out what you need while keeping the rest of your money safe in your normal bank account. The downside is that you may have to pay a fee for each withdrawal, and the exchange rate you’re charged may not be the best available.

5) Prepaid Cards

These are a relatively new kind of plastic card, which are used in much the same way as credit or debit cards, with the big difference that you have to ‘load’ the card with funds before you can spend with it. They are a secure way of carrying money, as the card is replaceable if lost, and as it can only be used in conjunction with a PIN number then even if stolen it’s difficult for a thief to make use of it. There will, however, still be exchange commissions payable when you use the card, and also usually a flat fee for cash withdrawals.

The main thing to bear in mind with travel money is that while each of the above options is useful, not all are suitable for use everywhere in the world. The best advice is not to rely on a single kind of travel money, but to take a sensible mixture of cash, local currency, and plastic or cheques, to make sure you can always get local currency when you need it. Enjoy your holiday!

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It is true that you cannot find a single luggage that will be able to meet all your travel needs. Knowing which type of luggage is right for you depends on your packing style and the type of travel.

An important consideration when it comes to luggage decision is the kind of trip you will be taking, the activities that you plan to be doing and the number of belongings that you plan to bring along with you. You should find a bag that provides convenience when it comes to packing, comfortable to carry and versatile.

Travel backpacks have internal frames, a suspension system and can be converted into a hand held bag. Some styles even have a removable daypack for short daily excursions. Travel backpacks are ideal for travelers who desire mobility and would prefer to carry all of their gear. If you plan to visit urban areas, these backpacks are not suited.

Available as well is wheeled luggage categorized into two namely the traditional wheeled luggage and the convertible wheeled luggage. The traditional wheeled luggage is equipped with durable and heavy-duty handles and in-line wheels. This type of wheeled luggage is not suited for the adventure seekers but is ideal for business travelers or people visiting urban areas. A piece of advice for business travelers is to have a suitcase, a carry-on and a briefcase as these pieces work well together.

Convertible wheeled luggage can be converted to a wheeled luggage and could as well function as a backpack. This luggage is equipped with hidden shoulder straps to enable you to carry the bag as a backpack. It can even be carried as a duffel bag. This type is suited for travel to an urban area. As the bags are not equipped with a hip belt, these are not suited for long backpacking as the entire weight of the bag will be supported only by the shoulders.

Duffels are of three types which include the general purpose travel that comes in varying sizes, wheeled duffels and expedition duffels. General purpose travels have various sizes and are cheaper as compared to other luggage types. This is ideal for short trips and if you are traveling light.

Expedition duffels can be equipped with straps to convert the bag into a backpack for added convenience. These are suited for travelers who have a lot of gear to bring along with them and it isn’t necessary for them to carry the duffel by hand within a considerable distance upon arriving at the destination.

Wheeled duffels provide a large storage capacity and are equipped with wheels. This is very much ideal for travelers who need to bring along with them a lot of gear but would need the convenience of wheels to maneuver their luggage at airports or train stations. This is not suitable though for travel to remote areas as compared to the travel backpacks.

For those who are into camping, climbing or backpacking, internal frame backpacks are for you. These have been specifically designed to provide good support for long periods of hauling gear on wilderness trips.

With the numerous travel luggage and bags available for you, check on which types are suited for your type of trip.

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Budget travel doesn’t mean limiting your fun. Often the cheaper alternatives are the the ones that you’ll enjoy the most.

Budget travel is not just about finding ways to spend less. The point is to have just as much fun while spending less. Here are some tips to get you started, and afterwards, a suggestion on how to think about travel.

Are you considering a long trip? You may want to rent an apartment in an interesting city. We did this for two months in Tucson. It saved us at least $600 per month, compared to even the cheaper motels. It was fun to have a “home base” for our travels, from which we took day trips to Mexico and or up to Mount Lemmon, the furthest-south ski resort in the country. Many cities have apartments that are furnished and available on a month-to-month basis.

In general it is the traveling part of travel that costs the most. This is due to the cost of gas, convenient fast food, and the expensive hotels you are forced to pay for when you just can’t drive any further. So if you find a place with a reasonable motel, and a lot to do in the area – stay for a while! We find that a place becomes more interesting when you have a few days to explore it.

Because of the growing popularity of RV (recreational vehicle) boondocking, the BLM has begun to establish areas for longer stays, particularly in Arizona. They have a permit fee is around $140 now. Although you can still park your RV for free on most BLM and National Forest land, paying for the fee areas means you get to stay up to six months (The free stays are limited to two weeks). You’ll also have pump stations, dumpsters and water available. You can find out more from the BLM’s Arizona web site.

Budget Travel Quick Tips

The federal tax on airfare isn’t due if you are taking a flight from one city in the U.S. to another in order to catch an overseas flight. Show your ticket to another country to the agent to have the tax removed.

You may be able to get a senior discount if you are 65 or older. Ask. If you are using an internet site to search for tickets, they may not include this information, so you may have to call the airline direct. Recently, Expedia.com has included a box to check if you are over 65.

For cheaper hotel rooms, use the coupon books at gas stations along the highways. We’ve almost always found good deals using these. It’s rare that a manager won’t honor the coupon. Generally, only if they’re absolutely full will they refuse. Read the fine print, though. They often charge more for certain dates, or for two people.

The above is a good example of how to travel cheap without sacrificing a thing. The same room will often be $20 more without the coupon, and you have to stop for gas anyhow, so why not grab those coupon books? Save on a room for a few nights and you can pay for another day of vacation. Just keeping your eyes open for opportunities like this is one of the keys to budget travel.

Another key to budget travel is to make sure you search for your preferred hotel through hotelpepper.com and find the right hotel and the right price for you!

You have quite a few different options as to where you stay in Bangkok. You just need to figure out what is best for you.

Finding a place to stay in Bangkok is easy.  Finding a place to stay that suits your needs can be a different story.

This is geared primarily to the single man looking to have a bit of fun in Bangkok.  And it is for the short term stay.

If all you have is a few hours to a half day in Bangkok, I recommend that you just get a room near the Suvarnabhumi airport.  If you donít know where you are going, getting from the airport to the main part of the city can take anywhere from 1 to 3 hours depending on traffic.  If you are just in Bangkok on a short layover, stay near the airport.

If you have a day or two, you have many more options.  It all depends on what you want to do.

For the first timer, I would recommend staying near Patpong Road, Soi Nana, or Soi Cowboy. These are three of the main night venues for the single man on the prowl.  They all have advantages and disadvantages.

Patpong was the place to go during the Vietnam War and for quite a few years after.  Now it is a tourist trap with a capital “T”.  But, for the first time visitor, it is still worth seeing.  Just don’t buy anything from the street vendors.  Getting to Patpong at about 5 PM you can see how much work it is to set up this street market and how fast they get it going.

Soi Nana or Soi 4 is home to the Nana Entertainment Plaza (NEP).  This is a three story, horseshoe shaped, neon lit, den of debauchery.  Lots of go-go bars and some beer bars on the first floor for your drinking pleasure.  Be careful of the transvestite bar on the second floor.  A few years back, this was a great place for the local expats, but with the Internet, this is now a tourist destination.  Hang out at the Nana Hotel parking lot across the street at closing time for a sight you will not see anywhere else in the world.

Soi Cowboy is still primarily for the expats.  This is a small side street between Soi 21 and Soi 23 off of Sukhumvit Road.  It is bar after bar after bar.  Lots of hawkers and “hello’ girls trying to get you inside.  Most of the bars are go-go’s and prices are lower than Patpong or Nana Plaza.  Well worth a visit and a short cab ride from Soi 4.

There are other areas to get your hotel but I try to find a hotel near an area I plan to hang out in.  I usually get a hotel near Soi 4 and this gives me easy access to NEP and also to Soi Cowboy.  There is also a three-story, beer bar complex on Soi 1 where I like to hang out.  I try to avoid spending time in taxis on the Bangkok streets.

If you are still undecided, get your hotel room on Sukhumvit between Sois 3 and 24 and you will be close to the action and short cab rides to anywhere else.  You can walk to many of the shopping venues or catch the overhead train to get around.

Find out what you plan to do in Bangkok and pick your hotel based on where you plan to party.

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Just a short bus ride, 25 miles north of Milan, is one of the most scenic spots in all of Italy – Lake Como. Its shores are circled with charming little towns and fabulous century-old villas; one larger, and more ornate than the next. The glistening water beckons one to sit, and take time to enjoy all that the lake and surrounding lush scenery have to offer. Lake Como being the third largest lake in Italy, I found it not only tranquil, but magical. With its lush Mediterranean gardens and spectacular views, it is easy to see why it has earned the reputation as one of the most romantic getaways in Italy.

Traveling with my husband, son and daughter-in-law, we were all pleased to arrive at the hotel we had reserved for our stay. The Hotel Bellevue was our unanimous choice. Built in 1820, it neighbors the stately Villa Carlotta. On arrival we were pleased to see that the hotel was situated just feet from Lake Como. The hotel itself was lovely. It had wonderful charm, gardens, antique furnishings, and an outdoor swimming pool. The lobby was stately with a huge Venetian chandelier and a great sweeping staircase. Art adorned every wall. The rooms were lovely, with antique furniture, and soft Italian linens.

After unpacking and settling into our rooms, it was time to explore. No sooner had we left the hotel when we spotted a charming restaurant called “The Victorian Tea Garden” which sat right on the banks of Lake Como. We were seated at a lovely outdoor table covered in crisp white linen. To our delight, a grapevine-covered pergola hung overhead. But what really stole the scenery was the breathtakingly beautiful view of the Swiss Alps. These majestic mountains circled the shoreline and provided a stunning backdrop to the dark, marine-blue waters of Lake Como. It left us with the impression that we had traveled back in time. The owner ñ a gentleman who looked in his 80s – was very hospitable and could not have made us feel more welcome. We ordered Champaign, and toasted each other (and our magnificent setting) with tall, chilled glasses. We sat there in appreciation and awe of the spectacular setting for the next two hours, finishing two bottles of Champaign!

With the sun beginning to set, we returned to the Hotel Bellevue for a relaxing, fabulous dinner. Then, to cap off the evening, we ferried over to Bellagio, the famed, picturesque Italian resort village. Narrow, cobblestone streets were lined with old shops, restaurants and churches. My advice? Don’t leave Bellagio without visiting the shops, as here you will find some of the most wonderful silk scarves and ties – not to mention leather goods – in all of Italy.

There was little traffic on Bellagio. This made it ideal for walking and taking the sights in. Bellagio is completely unspoiled, and possesses the grace and charm of “old world living”. It was also very clear that the Bellagio residents loved their gardens, and kept them well tended.

The wide area of Lake Como offers inexhaustible things to do for tourists. It is an ideal place to vacation with family. For those who desire relaxation, the tranquil scenery of the lake surroundings is sure to please. Lake Como is also perfect for anyone looking for a more active vacation; swimming, water-skiing, sailing, hiking, mountain-biking, and horseback riding await. Day mountain excursion trips are also worthwhile ventures. These trips offer the most breath-taking views of the lake and surrounding areas.

Boat excursions from Lake Como are a must. Ferry service will take you to local monuments and exquisite villas, as well as to lovely lakeside towns (I recommend the picturesque town of Varenna.) Or, you may also choose a ferry excursion to neighboring Switzerland. The Swiss town of Lugano offers great shopping, though it is expensive, so bring credit cards.

If spectacular works of art, classical Italian gardens, and elegant, period settings are your interest, I recommend a visit to the famed Villa Carlotta, located in the town of Tremezzo. It offers spectacular landscaped gardens, while the villa is a must-see for antique lovers. The Duomo, better known as the “Renaissance Cathedral”, is another spectacular must-see. It’s located in the town center of Como.

Shopping adventures (and treasures) await at any one of the lakeside towns, as do epicurean delights. Taste regional products like olive oil, wine, and cheese in the numerous lakeside shops, restaurants, and cafes.

In the evening, enjoy a glass of wine at one of the local wine bars, and relax before eating at one of the many memorable restaurants that the area has to offer. Most restaurants offer regional or modern cuisine. After dinner, treat yourself to a night of music and dance in local discos; most stay open until sunrise. Or, as my family and I enjoy doing, take an evening walk along the lake before retiring to read a good book.

Lake Como is fabulous unlike any other place. It possesses spectacular views, lush, tranquil settings; fine Italian architecture, elegant, by-gone charm, and warm, hospitable people. With its unspoiled grace and charm, Lake Como offers its guests the opportunity to experience an enchanting slice of life which is relaxed, elegant, and breathtakingly beautiful. It is a place where you will be drawn back to time and time again. Perhaps on a sunny day in your own backyard, your daydreams will beckon you to the shores of Lake Como.

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