guestspy » Travel http://www.guestspy.com undercover, independent reviews of places to stay & eat Thu, 12 Aug 2010 08:41:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Hotel Barcelona ME – Merry Crisis http://www.guestspy.com/2009/03/24/hotel-barcelona-me/ http://www.guestspy.com/2009/03/24/hotel-barcelona-me/#comments Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:07:10 +0000 Undercover Brother http://www.guestspy.com/?p=28 I was lucky enough to spend a few days in the brand new designer Hotel, Barcelona ME, when I was visiting the city for a show earlier this month. This hotel had it all but you would want deep pockets. Maybe not the ideal time to open a hotel of this grandeur. On the other hand if you want to escape the rat race with a weekend in Barcelona I would highly recommend the ME. Situated in the 22nd district near the Pobleneu Metro station it’s stunning architecture (see the slide reel below) and everything possible concierge left me with a feeling of awe. I can only thank God that I wasn’t paying with a double pack of Durex (flavoured albeit) coming in at a tidy 15 Euro and a bag of crisps (small snack size) at 6.50 Euro.
The room was small but comfortable with a large panorama window giving a eye catching view which had you looking straight down the outer wall. The bathroom was all you would expect and featured a large window into the bedroom which gave the room a spacious feel. If you like a good book there was also a Roman style triclinia in the corner. It was 160 Euro a night. The cheapest option.
Breakfast was quality. A buffet with a large selection of tropical fruits, cereal, pastries, cheese, bread, cold cuts, juice, coffee and tea along with a menu where you could order a range of cooked items. I couldn’t resist the chorizo sausage, bacon and eggs (along with a good helping from the buffet). They do say breakfast is the most important meal! The butter was, strangely, noticeable through it’s absence and if I have to admit it, it wasn’t missed so grand was the selection on offer.
Unfortunately I didn’t have any time to get stuck in at the pool or gym (after a breakfast like that it would have probably been a good idea) or any of the bars or lounges. I did however manage a few sneaky pics for you on my final morning.
]]> http://www.guestspy.com/2009/03/24/hotel-barcelona-me/feed/ 0 Stansted Express – Some sort of sick joke! http://www.guestspy.com/2009/02/27/stanstead-express-some-sort-of-sick-joke/ http://www.guestspy.com/2009/02/27/stanstead-express-some-sort-of-sick-joke/#comments Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:13:57 +0000 Undercover Brother http://www.guestspy.com/?p=21 Flying into London, the self professed ‘best city in the world’ (I love London, but really?), I’m always glad to escape the clutches of the direct selling personnel until I remember what comes next. Airports aren’t my type of place. Paranoid and expensive, if I’m lucky enough to land on-time and before the last train has left (this happens more often than I care to remember), I’m usually happy to step into the carriage anticipating what awaits. Not at Stansted. Shanghai has the Bullet Train, Toyko the Keisei Skyliner Airport Express so surely London would have something to shock and awe……

The Stansted Express. The train where it’s April 1st every day. Seriously, 1st class passengers pay double for the privilege of a different colour cloth on their seat and maybe a free drink if the staff remember to pass through with the drinks trolley. I only know 1st class exists because the conductor moved me on claiming that my presence in 1st class with a standard ticket was unfair to the passengers who had stumped up the cash for the real deal. The irony was entirely lost on him. I’ve travelled return 1st class London to Liverpool on Virgin for the same price as a standard single on the Stansted Express. Incidentally the only thing remotely express about the Stansted Express is the £2.50 instant coffee which they try flog. Presumably to add insult to injury.

Spot the Difference. Spot the Difference.

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

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