Hotel Review: Hotel Blume, Heidelberg

Recommended as a 'hip' residence, the only big advantage of Blume Hotel is the location: close to the Central Station, the center and the Zoo. I cannot say the price or the advantages as for such a price, in more expensive places I can get a much better quality for less. Let's start with the very beginning.

When you know that some of your visitors will arrive late, or can arrive late, it is a good idea to send them an e-mail and let them know how they can enter if nobody will wait at the reception. Or, at least, leave them a note, with the steps to be pursued to enter in possession of their key. I was able to enter my room only 20 minutes upon arrival, after calling a number mentioned for emergencies on one of the doors. Welcome!

I got into my room after walking a dusty hall, with some artificial flowers - Blume means 'flower' in German. The entire building looks like a reconditioned hospital or factory, or something in between. The room was big, maybe too big, but at least one welcoming sign was waiting for me: a bottle of water from a local spring. The sheets were clean, but relatively worn out.

A little desk was hidden in a corner with a cable presumably for the Internet connection, but, surprise, as no one gave me any specific indications about the password and any details, I was not able to use the Internet. Big issue, as the access to wifi was an important reason to consider in booking the room. I was revealed some details the next days, but was too late.

The restroom is looking well, with some soaps and shampoos offered in a little basket.

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The room can be a good choice for those travelling with big luggage. It is a lot of improvisation in the furniture, room and lobby decorations, but without too much passion to make things looking good and inviting, even without a significant investment. Everything look cheap and if you like to stay, it's your choice. In other words, no one invite you to really enjoy the experience of your stay there.

To be honest, the balcony is the best place to spend your time there: big, with a table to take the breakfast in the morning or to read while sipping your coffee.

The next morning, after a self-imposed long sleep and a headache from the evening before, I checked the breakfast facilities. The same impression of things done because should be done, not because there is a pleasure to do it and make other people feel better. The menu: an omelette, a coffee, some fresh juice and cheese. I checked out as soon as possible and went out to save my day in Heidelberg.

Hotel and Restaurant Review: Der Blauer Bock, Munich

I don't visit the South of Germany very often, but every time I do I try to make a short visit to Munich too. This time, I am going only to Munich, on the occasion of Internet World Fair and I am more than pleased to discover new things in the city. The adventure starts with my stay at the Blauer Bock, that celebrates this year 200 years of tradition in the hosting industry, that offered me a complimentary stay. The glorious past of the 400-year old building are discretely reminded to the visitor, through the documents hanging on the walls of the lobby leading to my room.

The premium double room I was offered has a view on the Munich foodie paradise, Viktualenmark that I will visit late in the afternoon. The hotel is centrally situated, very close to the new synagogue and around 15 minutes by foot from the historical city hall. The room is simply decorated, in white-beige colours. Although the furniture doesn't include a big desk where I can set my own working space, the beige leather chairs are comfy enough for doing a little bit of work before doing my program in the city.

The room is provided with a safe and a closet and a relatively big lobby where bigger luggage can be stored.

A bottle of Adelholzener mineral water, produced in the Bavarian Alps, and a small 'kugel' cake is waiting for me. The room doesn't have mini bar but various beverages can be purchased from the reception desk. The wifi is free and 2 iPads can be rented for free. The restroom is small, provided with various facilities. You can also buy your own shaving or sewing set at the reception.

Black-and-white paintings of iconic corners of Munich inspire the visitor to start the journey through the city as soon as possible.

The centrality of the location doesn't bring the usual noise associated with high traffic and after a long day of travel, I can easily sleep a bit later in the morning, at an hour when usually most of the active inhabitants are ready to head for their offices. But I don't hear anything.

At the time of my visit, part of the hotel was going through another restoration process that might be ready in the next weeks. The hundred years of history are not always easy to accommodate to the high-standards of hotellerie of the 21st century, but creativity can always bring something new and interesting. The elevators are by far one of the most modernist part of the building, with neon lights changing regularly.

In the evening, I am inviting to taste the gourmet menu, prepared by the famous local chef Hans-Jörg Bachmeier, who also authored many cooking books. The seasonal menu is changed almost every two weeks and very often the chef himself chose the ingredients from the markets nearby. The restaurant is very different from the rest of the hotel, as it has a different style and a very intimate ambiance.

The service goes very fast, in English and German. The restaurant has regular customers not only among the hotel residents, but also those working nearby that prefer to have a healthy and special meal during the lunch break. We are in Munich, where people are more careful about style and high-end taste, especially in food.

Till my first meal is brought, I am tempted with some local fresh breads with butter, a very delicious and crispy introduction to the rest of the foodie evening.

Without acknowledging, I am ready to begin real gourmet adventure, that starts with goat's cheese with various sort of fresh red beets and lemon foam. It is served cold and achieved a mysterious alchemy, when all the individual tastes are melted together to create an unexpected tasty surprise. I wish I can eat only this for the rest of my lunches!

But it seems that moderation is the keyword of the menu: you should taste enough for both your hunger and gourmet needs, but no more. After a short break, a delicious turbot consommé with veggies is brought. It is hot, maybe a bit too salty for my taste, but good enough to make me curious about what will be next.

For the main course, I opted for a dorade with sauce bouillabaisse. Every bit is as seasoned as it should be, nothing more nothing less. From time to time, I take a break to scribble my impressions, enjoying the view: modern paintings on the walls, nice and pleasant colours of the furniture and chairs comfy enough to spend some good hours here.

Crème brulée was not on my menu for a long time, but it seems that since this January, I am trying to catch up and I am tasting as many recipes as possible. Mine was a relatively unusual combination for me: with apple sorbet that balances the sweetness of the cream. My initial scepticism was battled by the exquisite results I experience. At the end of the menu, I have the good feeling of not feeling hungry any more but not necessarily 'full' either. This is how one should feel after a really good eating.

A good night after a lot of walking and work the day before, enjoying the comfy mattresses of my room continued with a special breakfast. Probably one of the best in a long time, as it serves a carefully selected menu: many veggies and fresh fruits, a selection of cheeses, breads and pastries and coffees. The veggies are regional products bought directly from the markets nearby, as in the case of the restaurant menu.

While reading the latest news from the local newspapers offered I am ready for my fully schedule.

At the hotel reception, there are a lot of branded souvenirs that can be bought, but also some of the cooking books authored by the chef Hans Jörg Bachmeier.

Late in the afternoon, I am going to a full tour of the location, learning more about the history and the design concept. The 3-star hotel has 69 rooms of different categories, all of them non-smoking. Most of the rooms suit the requirements of families, and during the summer special family prices are offered. Some of the rooms even allow the children to have their own room. In most cases, pets are also allowed. The summer and the month of October are the usually the busiest one, with most visitors coming from Germany, Austria or Switzerland, but also the US.

The hotel has 5 rooms with shared shower and restrooms, offered at 57 EUR/night, including breakfast. All rooms have old keys, keeping the flavour of the old inn days.

The dimensions of the room vary from 25 to 85 sqm. There are two main design colour choices: the white-beige light and the cherry. The last one is by far, one of my favourite, with the rooms keeping a certain home ambiance.

The cherry rooms also have a little gidéon that can be easily used as a working office, and a big closet that can accommodate longer stays.

The name of the hotel can be translated in English as 'The blue buck'. In the old times not everyone was able to read, a certain symbol associated with a inn was enough to single out the destination in the local memory of the inhabitants. The image of the 'blue bock' still can be found in some rooms and at the entrance reminds the old history. Small details from the old building are still kept and creates a historical branding of the location.

Munich is a very busy city and is not easy to find a good parking place, especially if you are visiting. The hotel offers 17 parking places to the guests. For those 'eco' oriented, bikes are available for 9 Eur/day.

Another historical detail of the location: the old parquet in the lobby, well preserved.

At the reception, most of the furniture and decorations are from the old times. This table, for instance, has the white-and-blue specific colours of Bavaria.

For the late busy evenings, there is also the bar, with a fine selection of wines and cocktails.

As I am ready to leave for returning to Berlin, I am happy to be offered a new and interesting side of Munich, and some local history and a good meal contributed significantly to this new experience. Maybe it is about time to visit more often this part of Germany.

Disclaimer: I was offered a Premium Double room and a gourmet menu on complimentary basis at the hotel, but the opinions are, as usual, my own.

For more insights about Der Blauer Bock Hotel and Restaurant, have a look at the dedicated Pinterest board: http://www.pinterest.com/ilanaontheroad/hotel-and-restaurant-blauer-bock-munich/

Hotel Review: The Market Courtyard-Jerusalem Suites: your home far away from home

Nachlaot is one of the nicest neighbourhoods of the busy Jerusalem, with its traditional small houses, quiet parks where people can meet to talk the latest news or play some chess or shesh besh, small green streets and local synagogues. During the sunny days, the old buildings are wrapped into the light and made you forget which century you are living in. I passed along HaCarmel street many times before, but never had the reason to stop for more and read its messages. It is close to the famous Mahane Yehuda Market and the flea market from Agrippa Street, but also from the Central Station and the Light Rail. The friendliness of the people and the colours of the streets invited me to stay more and this is what I did before checking my apartment at the Market Courtyard -Jerusalem Suites.

Once I was given the key, some small details about entering the courtyard and the house and some codes - everything looked very safe - , I am free to discover my residence for the rest of the day and the night. My apartment has a big living room, a bathroom, a bedroom that gives into the interior yard, a kitchen and a balcony where I am thinking to spend as much time as possible.

The bathroom is spacious enough, with a bathtube, a priviledge that is not easy to have, either in apartments or hotel rooms in Jerusalem. Hot water is available round the day and everything looks white and clean.

The kitchen is provided with minimal amenities: a fridge, a microwave, coffee machine, coffee and sugar. It is enough space to give you inspiration to cook a family meal and the vicinity to the Machane Yehuda offers more than an opportunity to make yourself, your family and children feel like home. As the table in the living room can be enlarged and made bigger, you can also have a big meal, eventually with your new friends.

The decorations are minimal, but with good taste, especially the old black-and-white pictures from the old city or the posters about art exhibitions. The furniture is custom made, with serious brown and red pillows that brings more life into the room.

The residences are tailored for short, medium and long stay, as you can rent them for the day, week, month and even year. It works very well for couples, single travellers longing for the feeling of being at home, families with or without children. The wireless works very well and there is TV and air condition too. Well-written and interesting books about Jerusalem and history of Israel are inviting you to plan more wisely the next legs of the trip.

The bedroom reminded me a bit of a bungallow, and as in the rest of the house, the details are minimal, offering enough space for moving and thinking freely. Who needs too much furniture when you are on vacation? The closet is big enough to accommodate different wardrobe needs. Mine gave to the courtyard and was quiet for this time of the year - beginning of January.

The Market Courtyard (or the Hatzar Hashuk, in Hebrew) is a historical building, preserved and reinvented as an apartment building, keeping in mind the traditional elements of the Jerusalem architecture. Its internal courtyard leads to a 3-storey building, each new and provided with modern facilities. Every residence offers a different view of Jerusalem: either the Nachlaot or the marketplace bustle. If you are lucky enough to stay at the top floors, you can even have a view of the Israel Museum, the road to Gilo, or the Supreme Court Building.

My balcony offered a view over Nachlaot, without too many people outside during the day, but apparently with its own secret life during the night. In the middle of the night, a guitar player and singer in the park, made me think about some local Romeo and Juliet story, and these thoughts kept me busy enough for not trying to bother the solo concert. The balconies are big enough to allow you spending a good part of the morning there and if you want to better understand this city and its people, this seems to be a good standpoint to start with.

The courtyard offers a fascinated view, and its interior yard offers opportunities to the guests to meet and, who knows, to plan some trips together. The green plants hanging fhe balconies give an air of familiarity and friendliness. The main construction was originally built in 1886, and was part of the larger efforts to bring more Jewish population outside the walls of the city of Jerusalem. The old stones of the courtyard can be a reminder of the old and many untold histories.

When it was about time to go to my next destination, I had the feeling that I have to leave a place that I was just starting to become too familiar with to abandon without regrets. The Nachlaot and the secrets kept into the courtyard were calling me back. I wonder if the guitar musician still singing in the park?

For more insights from this accommodation, check the dedicated Pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.com/ilanaontheroad/the-market-courtyard-jerusalem-suites/

Disclaimer: I was offered a one-night stay at the Market Courtyard - Jerusalem Suites, but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Hotel Review: Villa im Park, Düsseldorf

Working as hard as I can at my Project '100 Places to See in Germany' I got charmed by the passion of booking as many country trips as possible and as spontaneous as possible (nothing new about me). When I discovered a good offer for a night in Düsseldorf at a 4-star villa I did not think twice and did the booking. Before arrival, I did not know anything about Villa im Park, except the good communication with the hotel representatives via e-mail, in a good and fast English.

Reaching the hotel was not as simple as my GPS phone app showed. On the map, there may be 15-20 minutes of walk from the airport, but in fact there it is a highway you cannot overpass otherwise than by car, in our case, taxi. The easiest way, recommended by the hotel representatives was to go to the city, to the Central Station and to take a local train till Lohausen station followed by a little walk. We tried this variant later in the day and lasted around 30 minutes. But for the beginning, we wanted to arrive as fast as possible to the hotel for starting the adventure of discovering the town and thus, we preferred to take a cab. 15 minutes later and 20 Euro less in our budget we were at our Villa situated in a very middle class peaceful neighbourhood with art galleries and schools and also some restaurants very close from the villa.

During the Sunday, it was no one at the reception desk, but we saw a letter glued on the door with our name on it with instructions about how to find our key, to enter the house and our room. Very easy and efficient method.

It was a quiet ambiance, without any other sound than the big airplanes coming and going till late in the evening. When I fell asleep around 23.00, the noise was still there and it is was the noise that I noticed the first thing in the morning, around 7am. Note to self: never book a hotel near an airport, whatever fancy it may look.

During our first 10 minutes spent in the room, I admired the nice balcony where later I will do some little work using the advantage of free Internet. In the front of my eyes, I had a little lake with a flamingo statue and some cows in the neighbourhood. The room has TV and a mini bar with some drinks and chips and some sweets, a bath tube and a closet and a little lobby with a green table to put your luggage on.

There were some instructions in English and German left on the desk about the main facilities, the Internet password together with a couple of leaflets about the city, including a map of the subway. Anything was fine at this level and time of the day.

More than 10 hours after, we returned to our temporary home and had more time to test the facilities of the hotel. It was still empty, and we took a little tour of the garden, we stopped in the library, with many German books for all tastes. We arrived too late for the sauna, open only between 10am and 8pm. I was in the mood for some spa feeling but more dear to me was the passion for trips so luxury travel will be a next time and preferably in Berlin where I do not need to rush too much to see as much as I can in so little time.

There was a smell of old furniture and humidity in the lobby that I did not like it. Back in the room, I discovered some traces of lack of cleanliness in the bathroom, especially in the bath tube that did not please me. The villa is quoted with 4-star and such negligences are much below my expectations. From outside, the villa does not look well kept and was a bit surprised when I saw it first. There it is parking space in the front of the building.

The next morning, in the breakfast room, I discovered some of the faces of the hotel, a nice personnel and ready to help, in English and German. We were not alone in the hotel, as a group of Japanese tourists and a German couple joined us in the breakfast room. The breakfast is included in the price of the room. For the sauna and swimming pool one need to pay an additional 10 Euro fee.

Overall we enjoy our stay, but only because we paid a Groupon price and did not plan a long stay. I did not like the permanent noise of the air planes and the bathroom modest standards of cleanliness. Thus, the next time I will visit the lovely city Düsseldorf - watch this space for more updates - I will prefer to try a different accommodation option.

The garden is big and simple. More flowers will bring more life to the residence, probably.

You can also have breakfast outside, but the tables did not look too clean. Inside was warm and pleasant, with some background music.

The balcony is big and will technical facilities to charge your computer. I loved working outside, except the frequent moments when an airplane was disturbing my concentration.

The bamboo in the corner is a nice choice. The metal vase was looking quite rotten though.

The hotel has a library with a bar and German books. During the autumn and winter it can be a pleasant space for socializing.

The couch from the lobby. In the rooms and in the lobby there are many reproductions of modern painters.

The villa does not have many rooms, but has a certain air of intimacy that can attract the visitor to stay a day more.

The morning coffee served in elegant recipients. The menu has a lot of healthy meals: yoghurt, fruits, cheeses and teas.

Hotel Review: Quality Hotel & Suites Nantes Atlantique

Assuming that I am the smartest and IT-literate person in the house always getting the best prices for accommodation, I am always in charge with the reservation for the next stay. Sometimes I use booking.com system that offers comparative views in terms of price and conditions, sometimes I follow various online or offline recommendations. From time to time, except the good price, there it is not too much to say positively about my choices.

For instance, two years ago, I booked an amazing hotel - according to the web descriptions - in Corsica. One hour of taxi ride from the Bastia airport later, we found ourselves in the middle of nowhere with nice goats and some lezards and the view of the sea 20 km. of mountain hike away. No restaurant to spend our nice evening and nothing to do except to look at the sky and listen to the bells (not my cup of morning tea). 

Back in France, this time alone, I did another brave reservations of mine. On booking.com I've found the tempting: Quality Hotel & Suites Nantes Atlantique. Most probably attracted by the pleasant resonance of the name 'Atlantique' I continued with the process and booked a room for 2 nights, for around 90 Euro. I am not sure right now where I saw the description according to which the hotel is 'around 10 minutes away from the center' and insisted that this is the truth, even after I was told by 3-4 local people in the sweet French language I grew up with that it is not and most probably it is out of town if the street where the hotel is located did exist though.

When you at the end of over 20 hours of non-stop travel and outside is raining cats and dogs it is the last thing you want to hear. Over a glass of red wine and a galette, trying to do not fell asleep automatically, I was thinking that either I better find a nice hotel in the center and enjoy the pleasures - and take the risk of paying some extra for the bad first choice of hotel - or I assume the risk of my stupid decision and go finding the hotel. At the end of the meal, I had enough energy to go on the second bet. A busy taxi driver mentioned a tram station where I should go before changing for a bus and continuing by foot. I took that tram, but at the Gare de Nantes station I decided that I better take a cab. End of the problems: the cab drove me in exchange of 25 Euro to the hotel.

In the morning light, I've found out that it is not such a big pain to arrive to the hotel, unless you are not very tired and not afraid to walk in the dark in a semi-industrial area, with no soul around for a couple of minutes. There are some fast foods and even a Leon restaurant close to it. By tram, it takes around 15-20 minutes to go to the center and there it is not that kind of hotel you will like to stay for a Romantic vacation.

Let's visit the hotel

When I arrived at the hotel, closely to midnight and a bit nervous, I was welcomed by someone smiling at the reception desk and thus, all my unhappiness - no one by me was guilty for such a choice, of course - went away. I was offered the electronic key to my apartment and wished 'good night'. The next day, there were two persons at the reception, all smiling that guided me to the right way to the tram station. I needed to trust the words of my guide, as there were no maps or tourist materials at the entrance. 

The payment is done at the end of the stay. Those interested in having breakfast, will need to pay an extra 10 Euro. I was not interested and thus did not check the dinning room. There it is a city local tax of 0.85 Euro paid at any hotel in France that it is added to the original price.

The lobby was looking busy, with group tourists being hosted here, or other French tourists arriving by car or some Eastern European families. 

The room cleaning is not done daily, unless you want to pay some extra for this too, but there it is a special room dedicated to massage or cosmetic treatments. Did not feel the need to do so or to visit another hotel room so preferred to wait to be back in Berlin for a visit to my beloved Ahava. 

Another surprised I offered myself was the room: a family apartment, with kitchen and other facilities that I did not need. There were a lot of plastic and glass plates and pans and some glasses too, plus a clean sink and a microwave. In case that you want to do some special cooking, you don't have a proper table to do so, and thus the only choice is to heat some ready made food in the microwave. There it is a fridge  - but not a minibar - as well, where to keep your goodies. 

The rooms have air condition, but the weather was not that hot for fully using it. And me, who was missing so much to play with the air conditioning remote control...

As I am a full freelancer, I need to have a good corner to set up my computer and a proper Internet connection. If possible, a proper lightening too. I had them all, plus a TV - never used it - and landline phone. The Internet connection is made via the phone cable, not always speedy, but offered me the right conditions to finish some work. 

The bed is big and the sheets were white clean. There were same art on the walls, a bit sad looking abstract wooden composition, that I will not like to have it at home. The view out of the window was not happier either, with a parking in the middle of some construction site. I decided to better focus on my work and have everything done in time for enjoying the time outside the hotel as much as possible.

Those interested in the ecological hotels will love maybe to stay here. In line with Nantes' local policies - the city is the EU Green European Capital this year - the visitors are advised to separate the garbage - but there are no separate containers for plastic or paper though, trusting maybe our clear ecological mind - and to take care of limiting as much as possible the energy consumption. The hotel is no(anti) smoking. 

There are two different spaces for bathroom, respectively the toilet and I really appreciated this. But there it is any source of clean air in both of them. The bathroom looks elegant, and clean, with simple design of the furniture and some fresh shampoos and soap, but there was a persistent unpleasant smell of humidity that intensified during my 48 hours of stay, that I did not like it at all. (Who would like it, anyway?)

All said, I will recommend the hotel only for families on the road, eventually travelling by car and looking for an affordable accommodation. Otherwise, I bet there are many interesting options, even with 2 stars, in historical buildings for instance, that may offer something much better.