REVIEW: Kale Konak – Cappadocia’s Best Cave Hotel

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Time to check out Kale Konak Cave Hotel in Cappadocia.

“Let me show you to your room via the tunnel.”

I’m used to taking the stairs or lift, but this was the first time a hotel manager had instructed me to take a tunnel. But then again, this was the first time I’d stayed in a cave hotel.

I flew from Istanbul to Kayseri, Cappadocia with Pegasus Airlines. It’s a simple budget route (singles around £14) and takes one hour and twenty minutes. The transfer to Kale Konak Cave Hotel took around an hour, and went past many of the region’s most famous landmarks. Mount Erciyes shrouded in cloud on one side, then the Fairy Chimneys on the other. It was spectacular introduction to Cappadocia’s weird and wonderful landscape!

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However, once into the small town of Uçhisar, the roads become steeper and narrower to reach the heights of Uçhisar Castle. Kale Konak’s position means it benefits from an incredible close-up view of the castle next door, as well as across Cappadocia’s rocky landscape.

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REVIEW: Point Hotel Taksim, Istanbul, Turkey

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Time to check out the Point Hotel Taksim in Istanbul, Turkey.

With only a few days in Istanbul, the dilemma is whether to stay in the old town close to landmarks such as The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar, or stay in the modern town, in the heart of the shopping, dining and nightlife district. I opted for the latter, and enjoyed 4 nights at the Point Hotel Taksim

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It prides itself on being an affordable 4 star hotel, within walking distance of Taksim Square – one of the best areas to stay in Istanbul. The name? Well it’s a triangular building, with the entrance being at a point. It boasts a 9th floor restaurant (where breakfast is served) with panoramic views of the city. There is a spa, gym and swimming pool in the basement, and a Japanese sushi restaurant and bar on the ground floor. It provided the perfect base for a city break.

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While there, I stayed in three different rooms, on different floors (I’ll get into why in a moment!) They were all clean, modern, with nice touches such as the gift of an evil eye bead (evil eye is a symbol of protection in Turkey), a pillow menu, a book with 101 Ways To Sleep Happily, a CD of lullabies to encourage better rest, and an arrival gift of a fruit bowl and a bottle of Turkish red wine.

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Afternoon Tea At Sandy Lane, Barbados

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What’s it really like to go for afternoon tea at Sandy Lane in Barbados?

This guest post was written by Sarah Connolly

Some hotels are known globally, be it for the guests they host, a long standing reputation as a leading hotel, impeccable service, the destination of a high profile wedding, or just as somewhere people aspire to go to. I’m thinking of places like The Ritz, George V, Beverly Wilshire, or in my case Sandy Lane.

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The word luxury is thrown around a lot and used far too often when it comes to hotels. Luxury to one person may not be luxury to another but having been to Sandy Lane I am 100% confident that this hotel wholeheartedly deserves to be deemed a luxury property, and that all those who have stepped through its doors would agree.

I was in Barbados for a week staying at a nearby hotel and booked to have afternoon tea at Sandy Lane. From the gated entrance to the long and winding driveway, everything plays a role in creating a really exclusive and beautiful setting. On arrival we were led to the lower level of Bajan Blue; an alfresco restaurant looking out to the beach, scattered with the famous pink sun loungers and even more famous guests.

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REVIEW: Hotel Primero Primera, Barcelona, Spain

Time to check out Hotel Primero Primera in Barcelona, Spain.

As small boutique hotels go, Primero Primera is pretty special. When visiting Barcelona, most people want to be bang in the centre of the action, but sometimes it’s nice not to be caught up in the hustle and bustle! This hotel is located in one of the upmarket suburbs of Barcelona, close to the fashionable Sarrià district. It sits on a suburban street, lined with apartment blocks. It’s not an area littered with shops and restaurants, but in some ways that is part of this hotel’s charm. Since re-opening in 2012, it has shot up the Trip Advisor reviews, currently 3rd of all the hotels in Barcelona.

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It prides itself on being a family run hotel – the Perez Sala family have owned the building since 1955 and still live on one floor. The rest of the building has been converted into 30 luxurious hotel rooms and suites. Reception is smart and inviting with a grand staircase ascending from it.

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REVIEW: Hotel Cram, Barcelona, Spain

A stay at Hotel Cram in the Eixample area of Barcelona is a luxurious, stylish experience. Don’t be fooled by the grand facade dating back to the late 1890s, the rest of this hotel is über contemporary.