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Culturally London

hotelpepper — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 23:57:41 +0000

Quite a lot of people have striven to define “Englishness” and failed in fact English culture is really a mixed culture, having assimilated the best from many other cultures. Racially the English are Celts, Romans, Vikings, Saxons, Normans, with a handful of lesser traits thrown in for good measure.

The colonial past has made the city more cosmopolitan than any other. Class is still often more important than color, though its boundaries shift with the winds. The English have always admired foreigners, and have imported other cultures, languages and foods, giving them a unique turn.

The main distinguishing trait of the English is the aplomb. The stiff upper lip and the seeming endless capacity to put up with the unspeakable was given a boost during the blitz when Londoners faced the might of the Nazi bombing campaign and terrible hardships with a cheerfulness that was almost pathological.

London is one of the most cosmopolitan places in the world. Where else can you order breakfast in Farsi, book a taxi in Urdu, ask for afternoon coffee in Arabic and spend the evening chatting with your friends in Cantonese? Over 300 languages are spoken in this very city.

London is certainly the capital for multicultural events and festivals, and hosts the biggest celebrations for the Chinese, Sikh, Bengali and Hindu New Years. London also boasts some of the greatest festivals in the world , one can witness anything from Turkish belly dancers to 4 x 4 Bhangra dancers, Bharatanatyam dancers to flamenco dancers and Russian classical ballet to Mexican Folklorico. Students play a crucial role in making London so dynamic and your experience in this city will provide one with a network of friends from all over the world.

London offers a fantastic diversity of population and supports a myriad of different lifestyles.People of all ages and backgrounds flock to London for many different reasons. They include improved work prospects, better wages, a higher standard of living and the stimulation of living in a bustling metropolis. The city’s lifestyles vary considerably and the options are endless. From nightlife to sport, shopping to theatre, art to dining there’s always something to do and people to meet.

London’s long-standing ethnic diversity is an important factor in its popularity with settlers from overseas. The strong economy of the City draws many people including graduates from around the country and beyond. The presence of large numbers of long- and short-term visitors also adds to London’s vibrancy. As with all big cities, there can be issues with traffic congestion, crowded public transport, long working hours and high costs of living but there are ample compensations and ongoing improvements on many fronts.

London is frequently likened to a collection of villages. Clusters of local shops, markets, parks, leisure centres and other venues help foster a feeling of local community within a conurbation of seven million people. Some areas have a particularly strong identities and associations making London a world in one city. The capital continues to draw newcomers all the time and it is a city that is always changing.

To get a hotel and experience the London culture for yourself, search the pepper!

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A new blog direction for hotelpepper

hotelpepper — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:12:25 +0000

There comes a time when a business or a blog decides to pivot for one reason or another. It doesn’t necessarily mean something isn’t working or a failure, but that energy may be best utilised pointing in another direction.

As hotelpepper.com is all about finding a good hotel room at a good place in a good location, the blog should also focus on ways to save money and cut costs on holiday and business travel.

There’s been a load of posts on the topic already and they seem really well received by this audience so it would be right to focus on more of the same.

There’ll still be posts in the other usual categories too (food, mini travel guides on cities etc) but budget travel tips and saving money (especially in this current economic *cough* situation) is a great contemporary focus.

If you’d like to suggest another focus or have anything else, please don’t hesitate to post below or get in touch.

Thanks for your time,

Michael
hotelpepper.com

Photo by Josep Ma. Rosell

Hotels: Why Small Is Beautiful

hotelpepper — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 22:08:32 +0000

What is it about staying in a big hotel that annoys you? Maybe it’s the impersonal service, or the amount of time you have to queue to check in. Perhaps it’s the buffet breakfast that’s been under hotplates for a while, or the fact that your room looks like every other room you’ve ever stayed in. Large hotels are great for some occasions, but its worthwhile looking at boutique hotels to regain some enjoyment from your stay.

So what is it about small hotels that enchants you? If you’ve stayed in a boutique hotel before, then we can make a fairly accurate guess:

The design

Properly designed hotels are so different from regular hotels that you notice the difference as soon as you walk in. The furniture, the artwork, the colours and the flooring all convey a message that this hotel has been designed for a purpose; to make you feel at home.

The attention to detail

The purpose of a boutique hotel is to make your stay comfortable and stress-free. The design includes attention to details that enhance your stay. It could be the fact that you can tailor your own breakfast in the morning, or that your shoes are shined and your laundry done overnight. It may be the fact that your bedroom opens directly onto the beach or the welcome tray that’s in your room on arrival. It’s the details that make a difference, and boutique hotel owners know it.

The numbers

The main characteristic of a true boutique hotel is the number of rooms. A lower room count means that the hotel is dedicated to ensuring that your stay is as perfect as possible. Too many people to look after often results in poorer service, whereas a higher service-to-guest ratio means that you should never have to worry about asking for anything and in fact, staff usually anticipate your needs.

The locations

By their nature, big hotels require big buildings. Boutique hotels can run from small, individual buildings, using their unique architecture and features in the design and layout of the hotel. It means better city centre locations, better views and more interesting interiors. Location is as important when you’re choosing a hotel as when you’re buying a house, and boutique hotels can usually deliver.

Boutique is small and small is beautiful; particularly when it’s combined with classic design, detail and service.

Would love to hear your ideas below!

Can you find a small boutique hotel on hotelpepper?

Photo by InAweofGod’sCreation

Most popular hotelpepper blog posts round-up

hotelpepper — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 05:28:25 +0000

Here are the most popular blog posts on the hotelpepper.com blog as voted so far by you and what you are reading on the site:

Thanks so much for your readership and support and hope you keep coming back for more : )