Latest news with #hotelstay
The Sun
18-06-2025
- The Sun
One of Britain's tallest men puts height to the test by spending night in UK's smallest hotel room
One of the tallest people in the country spent the night in one of the UK's smallest hotel rooms - and it went exactly as you'd expect. From knees dangling off the bed to the occasional headbutt, the stay put the everyday quirks of being tall to the ultimate test. 3 3 Theo Turner, who stands at a towering 7ft, spent a night at the easyHotel in Shoreditch, London, where the bed is 6ft 2 inches long and the compact room measures ten square metres – it was understandably, a tight fit. It comes after research commissioned by the hotel brand revealed the top 20 hotel pet peeves, with uncleanliness, uncomfortable beds, and noisy rooms at the top of the list. With other common complaints including slow or unreliable Wi-Fi, hidden or unexpected fees and unhelpful staff. Theo, 30, from Middlesborough, who is just eight inches off being the UK's tallest man, said: 'Being seven foot tall has its pros and cons. "But it's something that I've come to live with, and personally I love it – I wouldn't change it for the world. 'When I'm travelling, I always have to pay for extra leg room on flights and trains and I duck everywhere I go. " Finding a bed that fits my large stature can be difficult – so my go to is to starfish across the bed, otherwise my legs are hanging off the end. "Hotel stays are always an adventure, but as long as I have a comfortable bed and can rest easy, I'm happy.' A spokesperson for easyHotel, which commissioned the research, said: 'We like to call our rooms 'cosy', but even we'll admit this was a bit of a squeeze. 'But when you're on an exciting city break, we know our guests value experience over expanse. 'You don't want to spend your money on a huge room you're not going to be in for most of the time. "Instead, you want a hotel that provides a great night's rest, and our quality four-star style mattresses deliver just that. 'And for our taller guests, we tested things out ourselves – and if someone who is 7ft tall can squeeze in and sleep well, there's hope for the rest of you too.' The study also revealed 14 per cent of travellers get wound up frustrated by hotels inconveniently located to their main destination. But 63 per cent believe a hotel is just somewhere to lay your head, and as long as it delivers core comforts it doesn't need to be fancy. While 96 per cent didn't consider room size to be the most important feature when booking. For 37 per cent, the single most important attribute is price per night, while 32 per cent want to be close to transport, and 25 per cent consider the comfort of the bed. Price is also what will get most people to re-book a hotel (67 per cent), and 26 per cent are swayed by friendly staff. Travellers are also far more likely to trust online reviews like TripAdvisor and Google (30 per cent) than recommendations from friends or family (nine per cent). And 58 per cent are likely to stay at a hotel chain they've never used before, according to the figures. A spokesperson for easyHotel added: 'When it comes to booking a hotel, people's priorities are shifting. 'It's less about how many square metres the room offers and more about convenience, comfort, and location. 'That's why we focus on what matters most: great sleep in smartly designed compact rooms that enable us to offer great value prices and central locations. 'Whether it's a boutique stay or a compact city-centre pad, travellers increasingly see hotels as a springboard to the real adventure – the city itself.'
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mocktails and a swimming pool swordfight: five ways to make your hotel a child's holiday highlight
'Oh look! A crocodile!' my six-year-old daughter Zenya squeals. We'd planned an action-packed itinerary, but spotting safari animals isn't part of it. She jumps on the bed and puts her arms around it, because this crocodile isn't deadly – it's made out of rolled-up towels. 'Come and look at this!' my nine-year-old son Ziggy calls from the massive living room next door, where a sofa bed is made up for him. He points to more towel art – a monkey in sunglasses, clipped to a wooden hanger. But it's my 10-year-old Zayla who is the first to spot the real piece de resistance: white plates with the children's names written on them in chocolate, on which stand chocolate sculptures sprayed in gold. 'This is why I love hotels!' she says. 'You never know what you're going to find in the room when you arrive.' As a travel journalist, my children have been lucky enough to stay in all kinds of accommodation, from manor houses to canvas safari tents, but for them a holiday means staying in a hotel. They love engaging with the staff, particularly when someone remembers their names. They adore the independence of helping themselves to a buffet breakfast, and they are thrilled when they walk into a hotel room to find it has been especially prepared for them. These are all the little things that make a family holiday special for me. Here are five ways to make your family holiday one to remember. The hotel offers a warm welcome for all the family, with the children particularly impressed by the towel art – and their beds Choose a hotel that comes with family extras The towel art and chocolate welcome plates were just a few of the little extras the Hilton Birmingham Metropole had put in our room to ensure the kids had the best time. We also found miniature versions of the hotel slippers and soft fleece dressing gowns to fit the kids. Grownups hadn't been forgotten either, and we were delighted to find a bottle of vegan prosecco, which because of the confirmed connecting room setup, we were able to enjoy when the children were asleep without feeling we had to clink glasses in bed. It's not easy finding suitable accommodation for a family of five, but the hotel gave us the perfect solution with a king bedroom and twin bedroom either side of a huge living room, which, as well as the sofa bed, had a dining table to seat six and a balcony overlooking a lake. If you're travelling with kids, it's always worth calling the hotel in advance to discuss room options with them, particularly if you have booked via a third-party booking site. This is also an opportunity to let the hotel know your children's names and ages so they have the opportunity to tailor your stay. Pick a place with a variety of dining options We arrived quite late on Friday night, so we wanted to fill our stomachs as soon as we got there. At the Hilton Birmingham Metropole you can choose between dining in the restaurant or the bar, so we opted for the more relaxed atmosphere of the Gild Lounge and Bar. The kids were happy to graze on platters of crisp calamari, spicy chicken wings and cauliflower fritters, but were also pleased when they were given a children's menu with lots of favourites such as margherita pizza, mac and cheese and a burger. When choosing a hotel, it's always worth checking if they allow children in the bar, and if there are any time restrictions on them being there. It's also good to know if the hotel has children's menus or if it can do child portions of dishes from the main menu. To get us in the holiday mood, I let the children order virgin pina coladas, while my husband and I knocked back a couple of negronis. And the hotel provided pens and paper for the kids to draw on to keep them busy between courses. Book a hotel that's weather-proofThe next morning, we were set for a day trip to a nearby castle. Unfortunately, the arrival of a sudden biblical downpour meant we were stuck indoors. So the kids suggested we go for a swim. For a moment, I thought they were joking about the puddles that were fast filling up outside, then I remembered that, of course, the Hilton Birmingham Metropole has a large leisure swimming pool with hydro jets, whirlpool bath and a fabulous view of the surrounding trees. The Hilton Birmingham Metropole's large pool and whirlpool bath were a hit Nothing makes kids feel more like they are on holiday than a swimming pool. I knew they wouldn't regret missing out on medieval jousting if they could pretend to sword fight with a couple of swimming noodles instead. We had a great time splashing around as a family – the kids took it in turns to climb up my knees and be thrown into the water, they showed off their handstands and raced each other up and down the pool. But bear in mind that some hotels have specific times when children can use the pool, which may not fit in with your plans, while some are only available for adults to use. This can particularly be the case if the pool is part of a separate spa. So it's always good to check the overall usage policies. Find out if the hotel offers any other child-friendly activitiesWhen I realised the weather wasn't going to abate any time soon, I asked if the hotel had any other indoor activities the kids could take part in. 'How about our mocktail masterclass in the onsite restaurant?' suggested the cheerful young woman at guest relations. 'I spotted your lot were into the virgin pina coladas last night!' Perfect. With the promise of sweet drinks, I was able to entice the children out of the pool and into dry clothes. We hadn't even noticed that the hotel had another restaurant in our hurry to eat the first night, and were wowed by the stylish space. A large wood-panelled bar lined with turquoise leather chairs, teal velour banquettes with plump cushions and floor-to-ceiling windows. The children were delighted to be in such a grownup place, sitting at high bar stools with their own cocktail shaker in front of them ready to learn how to mix the perfect mocktail. The bar manager was so patient with the children as he guided them on how to measure the ingredients, shake them, pour them and dress the glass. They loved the blue effect created by a squeeze of butterfly pea flower tea, but the highlight was being shown how to use the flavour blaster; a handheld device that creates bubbles of flavoured vapour to sit on top of cocktails. With the kids thoroughly entertained, we were able to sit at the bar, just the two of us, and have an uninterrupted conversation. On arrival, the children were greeted with chocolate sculptures sprayed in gold; later on, mocktail making kept them entertained Make the most of the restaurantThe mocktails led into dinner, a slap-up affair that saw the children try their first taste of scallops and my eldest braving a plate of chilli prawns. As we gave each other forkfuls of our food to try, we all agreed how grateful we were that we'd booked into a hotel for the weekend and not a self-catering property. For our best range of family hotels, see below or book direct at and save on your stay. Join Hilton Honors for free and save up to 20%* in the Hilton Sale, now on. *Terms and conditions apply. Must be a Hilton Honors Member. default
The Guardian
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Mocktails and a swimming pool swordfight: five ways to make your hotel a child's holiday highlight
'Oh look! A crocodile!' my six-year-old daughter Zenya squeals. We'd planned an action-packed itinerary, but spotting safari animals isn't part of it. She jumps on the bed and puts her arms around it, because this crocodile isn't deadly – it's made out of rolled-up towels. 'Come and look at this!' my nine-year-old son Ziggy calls from the massive living room next door, where a sofa bed is made up for him. He points to more towel art – a monkey in sunglasses, clipped to a wooden hanger. But it's my 10-year-old Zayla who is the first to spot the real piece de resistance: white plates with the children's names written on them in chocolate, on which stand chocolate sculptures sprayed in gold. 'This is why I love hotels!' she says. 'You never know what you're going to find in the room when you arrive.' As a travel journalist, my children have been lucky enough to stay in all kinds of accommodation, from manor houses to canvas safari tents, but for them a holiday means staying in a hotel. They love engaging with the staff, particularly when someone remembers their names. They adore the independence of helping themselves to a buffet breakfast, and they are thrilled when they walk into a hotel room to find it has been especially prepared for them. These are all the little things that make a family holiday special for me. Here are five ways to make your family holiday one to remember. The hotel offers a warm welcome for all the family, with the children particularly impressed by the towel art – and their beds Choose a hotel that comes with family extras The towel art and chocolate welcome plates were just a few of the little extras the Hilton Birmingham Metropole had put in our room to ensure the kids had the best time. We also found miniature versions of the hotel slippers and soft fleece dressing gowns to fit the kids. Grownups hadn't been forgotten either, and we were delighted to find a bottle of vegan prosecco, which because of the confirmed connecting room setup, we were able to enjoy when the children were asleep without feeling we had to clink glasses in bed. It's not easy finding suitable accommodation for a family of five, but the hotel gave us the perfect solution with a king bedroom and twin bedroom either side of a huge living room, which, as well as the sofa bed, had a dining table to seat six and a balcony overlooking a lake. If you're travelling with kids, it's always worth calling the hotel in advance to discuss room options with them, particularly if you have booked via a third-party booking site. This is also an opportunity to let the hotel know your children's names and ages so they have the opportunity to tailor your stay. Pick a place with a variety of dining options We arrived quite late on Friday night, so we wanted to fill our stomachs as soon as we got there. At the Hilton Birmingham Metropole you can choose between dining in the restaurant or the bar, so we opted for the more relaxed atmosphere of the Gild Lounge and Bar. The kids were happy to graze on platters of crisp calamari, spicy chicken wings and cauliflower fritters, but were also pleased when they were given a children's menu with lots of favourites such as margherita pizza, mac and cheese and a burger. When choosing a hotel, it's always worth checking if they allow children in the bar, and if there are any time restrictions on them being there. It's also good to know if the hotel has children's menus or if it can do child portions of dishes from the main menu. To get us in the holiday mood, I let the children order virgin pina coladas, while my husband and I knocked back a couple of negronis. And the hotel provided pens and paper for the kids to draw on to keep them busy between courses. Book a hotel that's weather-proofThe next morning, we were set for a day trip to a nearby castle. Unfortunately, the arrival of a sudden biblical downpour meant we were stuck indoors. So the kids suggested we go for a swim. For a moment, I thought they were joking about the puddles that were fast filling up outside, then I remembered that, of course, the Hilton Birmingham Metropole has a large leisure swimming pool with hydro jets, whirlpool bath and a fabulous view of the surrounding trees. The Hilton Birmingham Metropole's large pool and whirlpool bath were a hit Nothing makes kids feel more like they are on holiday than a swimming pool. I knew they wouldn't regret missing out on medieval jousting if they could pretend to sword fight with a couple of swimming noodles instead. We had a great time splashing around as a family – the kids took it in turns to climb up my knees and be thrown into the water, they showed off their handstands and raced each other up and down the pool. But bear in mind that some hotels have specific times when children can use the pool, which may not fit in with your plans, while some are only available for adults to use. This can particularly be the case if the pool is part of a separate spa. So it's always good to check the overall usage policies. Find out if the hotel offers any other child-friendly activitiesWhen I realised the weather wasn't going to abate any time soon, I asked if the hotel had any other indoor activities the kids could take part in. 'How about our mocktail masterclass in the onsite restaurant?' suggested the cheerful young woman at guest relations. 'I spotted your lot were into the virgin pina coladas last night!' Perfect. With the promise of sweet drinks, I was able to entice the children out of the pool and into dry clothes. We hadn't even noticed that the hotel had another restaurant in our hurry to eat the first night, and were wowed by the stylish space. A large wood-panelled bar lined with turquoise leather chairs, teal velour banquettes with plump cushions and floor-to-ceiling windows. The children were delighted to be in such a grownup place, sitting at high bar stools with their own cocktail shaker in front of them ready to learn how to mix the perfect mocktail. The bar manager was so patient with the children as he guided them on how to measure the ingredients, shake them, pour them and dress the glass. They loved the blue effect created by a squeeze of butterfly pea flower tea, but the highlight was being shown how to use the flavour blaster; a handheld device that creates bubbles of flavoured vapour to sit on top of cocktails. With the kids thoroughly entertained, we were able to sit at the bar, just the two of us, and have an uninterrupted conversation. On arrival, the children were greeted with chocolate sculptures sprayed in gold; later on, mocktail making kept them entertained Make the most of the restaurantThe mocktails led into dinner, a slap-up affair that saw the children try their first taste of scallops and my eldest braving a plate of chilli prawns. As we gave each other forkfuls of our food to try, we all agreed how grateful we were that we'd booked into a hotel for the weekend and not a self-catering property. For our best range of family hotels, see below or book direct at and save on your stay. Join Hilton Honors for free and save up to 20%* in the Hilton Sale, now on. *Terms and conditions apply. Must be a Hilton Honors Member.
BreakingNews.ie
09-06-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Hotel stay in Oxford boutique hotel for Tánaiste and delegates cost €4,200
A single night hotel stay for Tánaiste Simon Harris along with Ireland's Ambassador to the UK Martin Fraser and a group of six public servants cost the taxpayer nearly €4,200. The room for then-Taoiseach Simon Harris at the five-star Old Parsonage Hotel in Oxford cost €563 for just one night of accommodation last year. Advertisement The hefty bill was run up when Mr Harris met with UK prime minister Keir Starmer and attended a meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) in Oxfordshire last July. The boutique Old Parsonage is one of the best-known hotels in the university city and prides itself on being 'a luxury home-from-home with impeccable hospitality". The Department of Foreign Affairs said the booking was made when rooms were in short supply because of a large number of visiting delegations. They said: 'Accommodation for one night, 17 July, was booked on the basis of location, availability and quoted costings in a period of high demand in Oxford. Advertisement '[There were] forty plus Heads of State and Government and their delegations also in attendance at the EPC conference.' Other more junior officials – who were also in attendance – stayed at a nearby Premier Inn where the overnight rate was nearly €275. The bills were among tens of thousands of euros of expenditure charged to diplomatic credit cards at Ireland's embassies in London and Paris over the course of a year. In Paris, the embassy ran up significant bills during the Rugby World Cup and Olympics with €2,800 spent on temporary accommodation for one member of staff. Advertisement There was also an Airbnb bill of €5,576 for an official at the 2024 Olympics, where Ireland claimed a record-setting haul of medals. A further charge of €2,090 with Airbnb covered the cost of a group of Irish artists visiting Paris at the time of the Rugby World Cup in 2023, according to records released under FOI. Other bills on the card included €620 for four rugby match tickets as part of 'political engagement' by the Embassy. There was a charge of €250 for promotional pins for the Rugby World Cup, a €2,900 bill at the Tsuba Hotel in Paris for a political delegation, and around €230 for Irish cheese. Advertisement Other more mundane costs on the credit card included €36 for door wedges, €21.50 for electric light bulbs, and €1,317 for a replacement grill. At the Embassy in London, among the charges listed were four umbrellas for drivers costing a combined €105, tea towels from John Lewis costing €144, and €138 worth of Christmas tree lights from Amazon. A new fridge cost €1,317 while €105 was spent on a congestion charge penalty under the road charging scheme in the UK capital. There was also a bill of around €2,150 at the Pullman Hotel for a visit by Minister Paschal Donohoe and four officials in August of last year. Asked about the spending in France, the Department of Foreign Affairs said: 'Tens of thousands of Irish citizens travelled to France for the Rugby World Cup (2023) and Paris Olympics and Paralympics (2024). 'In advance of these tournaments, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade reinforced its operations in France, to provide expanded consular services for traveling fans.'
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Beddy salted! Husband's attempt to surprise his wife goes hilariously wrong when hotel covers their bed in CRISPS after romantic gesture mix-up
There's nothing quite like the feel of crisp hotel sheets when enjoying time away from home. But one hapless husband had that taken to a whole new level when his entire bed was covered in the crunchy snack after a romantic gesture went spectacularly wrong. Johnnie Norman, 35, took his wife Rachel, 36, out for her birthday in Blackpool, Lancashire, and secretly asked hotel staff to put 30 assorted bags of crisps on the bed while they were out to surprise his crisp-loving wife. But staff misunderstood, opened the bags, and sprinkled the crisps on the sheets like salty confetti. Stunned Rachel thought they were victims of a strange break-in when she opened the door and saw the scene, but still decided to eat some of them. After a mortified Johnnie explained what must have happened the pair could not stop laughing. Rachel loves crisps and would eat four bags a day - spending up to £15-a-week on the snack - until cutting down to one every two days recently in a bid to be healthier. Rachel, an NHS worker, from Accrington, Lancashire, said: 'I was hysterical. 'His face was a picture. 'Since that day he's never tried any more romantic antics, but it's one of our favourite memories.' Johnnie, a warehouse operative, bought the crisps for Rachel's 30th birthday, on December 15, 2018. He said: 'Looking back it really is funny! Like we had some sort of prawn-cocktail crisp fetish...' Hotel staff changed the sheets and gave the couple a voucher for another night's stay.
