London is justly famed for its shopping, which is among the best to be found anywhere in the world. From high-end boutiques to famous street markets, London shopping is as varied as you could wish – from the jewellers of Bond Street to the vibrant, lively Carnaby Street, with all manner of discoveries to be made in between. The main shopping areas are around Oxford Street, where you will find Harvey Nichol’s, among many, many others – and also Knightsbridge, which has a plethora of upmarket shopping options, not least the world-famous Harrods.

For these reasons as well as others, it is best to try and stay as close to the centre of town as possible; London is a big city and getting in and out from the suburbs can be time-consuming. However, like any European capital, the closer to the centre you are, the more expensive accommodations will tend to be. There are genuine bargains to be had, if you are willing to spend a little time shopping around for online hotel bookings, but you should be aware that the standard of budget hotels is extremely variable. London is one of the more expensive cities and prices tend to be accordingly high.

There are any number of attractions in London for all the family, and it is a sensational destination for anyone interested in history. It would be impossible to do justice to the many essential sights that any visitor to London should try and see, but highlights include Buckingham Palace, which is open to visitors during August and September, the Tower of London with its famous Beefeater guards, and London Zoo, widely considered to be among the finest in the world. Other attractions include Madame Tussaud’s, the famous waxworks on Baker Street, Trafalgar Square, the Houses of Parliament, and Big Ben… the choices are endless.

In the evenings, enjoy one of London’s thousands of restaurants, with every kind of food imaginable from the home-grown to the exotic, and catering to all tastes and budgets. London is well known as a meeting-place for cultures from all over the world, and this is reflected in its cuisine – going out for a curry in Brick Lane is as English as fish and chips. It also boasts some of the finest restaurants in all of Europe, so if fine dining is more your style, then you will be spoilt for choice.

The other great attraction of London nightlife is the West End, with its famous Theatreland, the focus for all manner of plays and shows. The finest actors from all over the world flock to London to tread the boards at one of the famous old theatres like the Old Vic or the Prince of Wales, and West End musicals are noted for their exuberance and originality. Many a hit show started out in this small corner of the capital, so get in there first before the crowds do!

Thanks to online booking services, it’s easier than ever to book a break in London. Online hotel bookings take a lot of the hassle and stress out of organising your trip, and help you plan your journey with complete confidence.

As Senior Editor of “Paris Eiffel Tower News”, I often peruse these forums to find out about the concerns voiced by fellow travelers headed to the ‘City of Lights’.

Among the postings which keep coming back, one stands out from the crowd: what does a 3-star rating really mean? Travelers tend to be confused by the many star-rating systems in use. I felt the subject called for an educated explanation.

The meaning of stars in the US

First of all, let’s be clear: there is absolutely no relationship whatsoever between the number of stars commercial travel sites award to hotels, and the hotel rating system in use in France.

The core business of commercial travel sites is to sell you hotel rooms, flight tickets, car rentals, and cruise packages. They purport to guide your choice by awarding stars to the products they peddle.

When you book a room on such sites, a significant portion of your money goes to the travel operator which presents the hotel – up to 50% on well-known websites.

For this reason alone, you could reasonably ask yourself: are these ratings unbiased, or tainted by corporate greed?

To make matters more complicated, each travel website uses its own rating method. Consumer Reports published an enlightening article on the topic in its November 2005 issue.

In other words, the number of stars awarded by commercial travel sites is not a fully reliable yardstick for selecting a hotel.

The meaning of stars in France

The French hotel rating system works on a completely different set of rules.

1.It is a standardized system: meaning, all hotels across France are categorized on the same unique basis.

2.The rating system was not born out of mercantile purposes: it was framed by the French lawmakers without any concern for profit.

3.Last but not least, the French hotel rating system does not measure quality. Instead, it uses 22 measurement criteria to assess the presence or absence of certain features in the hotel.

Among the main criteria used:

- Room sizes and numbers
- Room soundproofing
- Heating and air-conditioning
- Design of bathroom facilities
- Phone system
- Electrical equipment
- Elevators

Each requirement varies from one star category to another. (See link to full article below.)

Subjective quality vs. objective quantity

The French rating system does not take into account subjective quality criteria.

And because of this limited approach, it does not guarantee your expectations will be fulfilled.

First, there are keen differences in perception between populations. For example, American travellers are used to larger sizes of rooms and beds than the average room and bed sizes offered in Parisian hotels. This can be a source of disappointment.

Moreover, the French rating system does not measure service quality – cleanliness, absence of smells, staff attitude, speed of service, etc.

It may thus be chancy to base your hotel choice solely on the French rating system.

The safer bet

To afford the best chances to pick the right hotel in Paris I recommend the following 4 steps:

- Have a basic understanding of the French rating criteria
- Check guests’ reviews on Travelocity
- Visit the hotel’s own website
- Do not hesitate to e-mail your questions to the hotel.

Many travellers use Travelocity to write reviews on the hotels they stayed at. No hotel satisfies 100% of its guests throughout the year, so both extreme judgments and moderate opinions can be found on this open forum. My advice: favor moderate reviews with some flesh on the bones. They will usually give you a useful picture of what to expect from the hotel – good and less good.

Visiting the hotel’s website will usually allow you to see multiple views of its rooms and bathrooms. I insist on visiting the hotel’s own website since it usually is the place which offers the greatest number of photos.

Lastly, e-mailing your questions to the hotel owners may or may not get you an answer, usually depending on the proficiency of the receptionist in your language. Receiving informative answers to your questions is a good sign that the hotel cares for his prospective guests.

Following these 4 steps should help you minimize the risk of being disappointed during your stay in Paris. This is no guarantee though. Remember that cultures differ from each other, and your expectations of service might not be fully understood. In such case, communicate with the owner. They are usually keen on serving you to the best of their means.

Have a safe and pleasant trip to Paris!

The closeness of hotels in Barcelona Near Costa Brava

Here is a sample plan of what you can do while visiting Barcelona. You can start by getting a transport to the hotel near the adventure park in Barcelona “Port Aventura”. Keep in mind that Eurocar has special discounts for rentals for anyone who is staying in Port Aventura. This lodging will not only provide with a place of relaxation and fun, butr it will also give you the option of being close to all things in the city if you are on a trip for both business and pleasure. By choosing to stay in Port Aventura you will have not only chosen to stay at a quality hotel in the city and adventure park, but in lodging that is rated very highly and personalized.

The three hotels on the theme park property all have their own special designs and themes with which to attract different people. One has a Colombian theme and another of the hotels has a Mexican theme. All are Spanish in nature, but have their own twists and intricacies. There themes are all based on different cultures so as to bring in different visitors and to provide a variety of options. There are many packages and options that are available for both adults and children. The prices will vary based on the time of year as well as the number of children and adults that are staying at the hotel. Base your trip on the time as well as the price since the weather is fairly good year round in Barcelona.

Other Lodging Options In Barcelona

One option is the Arts Hotel which is a bit pricey, but well worth the price. This hotel has many rooms and options and all of which have a great view of the marina. This is a great location to be pampered and catered to. The Goyescas restaurant is a very tantalizing accompaniment to your stay at this lavish hotel.

The city is well known for its hotels and food. The Can Ravell and the Club del Gourmet are two places well within distance of the two hotels for exquisite food to accompany your stay in Barcelona.