Europe a la Carte Blog

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Good - great value at the Saver rate of £29 per room if you book at least 7 days in advance. Five minutes walk from Haymarket rail station and 2 minutes from bus stop, a ten minute walk from Princes Street.

Bad - very difficult to find parking nearby as it’s mainly residents parking bays. The large bedrooms and bathrooms may be rather chilly in Winter.

Rating out of 10 - 9 (at £29 Saver rate)

I stayed on a night at the Edinburgh Haymarket Travelodge on Sunday 31 August 2008. I booked online on the 13 August at the Saver rate of £29, non refundable and payable up front. This rate was for a family room which could sleep up to 2 adults and 2 kids.

I was allocated a room on the lower ground floor facing the back of the hotel. I was happy with the location of my room as it was very quiet. There are major diversions in Haymarket at present due to the construction of the new Edinburgh tram lines and the traffic currently passes in front to the hotel. My room was very spacious and did look pretty spartan with the basic furniture. As it’s an older building the rooms are of varying sizes and layouts. I’m not convinced that the small electric heater would suffice during a cold spell, especially as there is no heating in the bathroom.

It was impossible to find a metered parking place close to the hotel as the vast majority of parking is set aside for residents. I drove down the main road toward Murrayfield and turned first left into Stanhope Place where there are several metered parking spaces at a charge of 70 pence per hour charged from 8.30 until 17.30. It took around 10 minutes to walk back to the hotel from here. However unless your hotel offers free on site parking, parking is always going to be a issue with a city centre hotel in Edinburgh.

This Travelodge does offer a cooked breakfast. If you book online in advance the price is £6.75, otherwise it’s £7.50. Kids eat free with paying adults, so it’s a good deal for a family if 4 can have breakfast for £13.50. You can also book a two course dinner online in advance for £8.

In summary if you want to stay in central Edinburgh at a very low price, the Edinburgh Haymarket is a good bet if you book in advance outside peak season. Travelodge have 2 other hotels in the city centre Edinburgh Central, just off the Royal Mile and Edinburgh West End close to the Gallery of Modern Art and the Water of Leith Walkway.

Skyways, a Swedish budget airline operating out of Arlanda airport in Stockholm, is rumoured to be shutting down its Arlanda-based operations and cutting down routes. It’s believed that the airline will still fly out of Stockholm-Arlanda to Karlstad, Visby, Halmstad, Jönköping, Växjö and Kristianstad (domestic routes), as well as continue the connection between Karlstad and Copenhagen (Denmark).

photo: Skyways.se

According to the info from Arlanda (from the horse’s mouth so to speak, someone just texted it to me after talking to a Skyways employee) 70 pilots and about 30 cabin staff are expected to lose their jobs.

The future of Skyways routes to northern Sweden is uncertain, which is a pity as the airline serves some truly unique and hard to reach destinations, including several ski resorts. So if you plan to go skiing in Sweden this season, you should perhaps be cautious and book your flight on a different carrier. Better to be safe and pay more than be stuck at the airport later on.

Bizarrely, I can’t find any new press releases on the airline’s website regarding this new development. The information I have comes from a Skyways pilot at Arlanda airport in Stockholm and a local Swedish newspaper. Are things over at Skyways really THAT bad they don’t have anyone left on staff to update their website?

So it looks like Skyways has become yet another casualty of high fuel prices.

Who’s next?

Iceland Express will offer 3,000 tickets from London Stansted to the Icelandic capitall Reykjavik for only £60 including taxes for one day only, Monday 1 September 2008. Tickets will be available on selected flights and dates. You must book online on 1 September and complete your travel between 15 September 2008 and 31 March 2009.

Sunset in Iceland

There’s no mention of £60 flights for your return flight but evidently prices start from £90 so looks like the cheapest possible return flight would cost £150.

One thing I liked about Iceland Express is that they offer a 50% reduction for children under 12 years of age travelling with an adult. The site also has an interesting blog.

In this guest post Jennifer Gregory advises travelllers to consider if a hostel will suit their needs.   Jennifer is a writer with a passion for travel. After completing her degrees in Social Work and eBusiness, she traveled through Europe, across America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. She now writes for On the Go Travel Blog.

My first trip across Europe was an amazing experience. I was on a limited budget and had little cash to spend on rental cars, cabs, expensive restaurants, and fancy hotels. Instead, I opted to hike, bike, eat locally, and spend my evenings in hostels.

Hostel by Ranciedad

Hostels are an inexpensive, and sometimes free, alternative to costly hotels or motels. While most hostels will meet your basic needs, they definitely don’t provide the amenities or accommodations you’ve come to expect from regular hotels. Hostels aren’t for everyone, and that’s ok.

It’s incredibly important, however, to determine whether or not staying in a hostel is going to be right for you before you leave on your trip. You don’t want to waste your time in Europe scrambling for a last-minute hotel room when you could be taking in the sights on what is likely going to be a once-in-a-lifetime vacation experience!

Take the following into consideration as you plan your trip:

Hostels provide travelers with a certain degree of flexibility. It’s often easier to find a hostel at a moment’s notice than it is to book a hotel room. While some hostels will allow you to make reservations in advance, some do not. Make sure you purchase a good guide book so that you’ll have information on all of the area’s hostels before you arrive. If you have a set agenda, making reservations in advance is recommended. Staying in hostels allows for a certain degree of flexibility in that you aren’t wedded to a particular destination each day or evening – you can change your travel schedule without worrying about hotel cancellation fees and late arrival charges. If you are anxious about not knowing where you’ll stay each night, hostels may not be the right choice.

Don’t be surprised when the hostel receptionist asks you if you’d like to sleep in a same-sex or co-ed room. Some hostels offer both types of rooms while others do not. Decide in advance and know what you’ll do if presented with this situation. This is most uncomfortable if you should happen to be traveling alone and find yourself at a hostel with co-ed rooms only. Otherwise, you’ll likely enjoy a same-sex room unless you are traveling in mixed company, in which case you might want to stay together.

You may have to rent sheets or purchase shower tokens. You’ll want to make sure you have flip-flops to wear in the showers, and you’ll have a limited amount of time to spend depending on the number of tokens you’ve purchased. Learn to shower quickly. If you can’t live without a 30 minute shower, you may be better off in a hotel.

Ask about the hostel’s opening and closing schedule. Arrive early enough to get a good night’s sleep while planning to rise early. Most of your roommates are likely to get up early, and they will start making noise, so it’s not likely that you’ll have an opportunity to sleep in late – ever. If you’re planning a leisurely vacation, and want the flexibility of sleeping late or getting up early, a hostel may not be the best choice.

There are, of course, quite a few things to consider when deciding whether or not to stay in a hostel during your travels. Be sure to research the area in which you’ll be traveling by checking out the websites or calling the hostels you might visit. Gather as much information as possible and, whether you choose a hostel or a discount hotel in Europe, you’ll always be prepared!

My comments - I think that there’s a lot of confusion about the definition of a hostel versus a budget hotel, I’ve written about this in the Wandalust post,” Hostels - Doss Houses or Trendy Budget Accommodation“. I stayed at the Generator Hostel in Berlin when I attended the ITB in March 2008, mainly because hotel prices were so inflated due to the Travel Fair and I wasn’t prepared to pay more than 100 euro per night for a hotel room.

I happened upon the website http://www.adayin.com which claims to sell ‘free vacation guides’. Upon further investigation, I have to say I am very impressed! At first I thought they only have guides for Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, but this is simply a bug with the display map as a number of central European destinations can be found in the location list.

Each city is broken down into smaller guides (Factual and Background, What’s to See, Shopping, History and Economy, Art & Culture, Recreation & Sport, Getting Around, Eating Out) but you can download a single PDF containing all sections.

Pros:

• ·Consolidates all types of information into a single document.

• It is Free!

Cons:

• You are required to give some self-identifying information before downloading (Gender, Age Range)

• There is no rating or recommendation on listings.

I think these types of guides are perfect for long weekends or city ‘minibreaks’ where you might not find it justified to buy a full blown travel guide (or if you are like me and lacking bookshelf space). Indeed you might need to do some further research, but A Day In offers a great starting point. However, be sure always to check in with us here at Europe A La Carte to find the cheapest airfare and exclusive tips for authentic travel.

My Crowded Bookshelf - Copyright by Andrew Hayes

I stayed at the new Travelodge in Falkirk in central Scotland last week and was horrified at just how close to the motorway it’s located. Now I do accept that Travelodges will be close to major roads and I’m not expecting the peaceful rural idyll BUT there are limits to just how close is too close for comfort.

A lorry speeds past the Falkirk Travelodge

When I checked in I was allocated a room on the first floor at the back of the hotel facing the motorway. I knew I’d never be able to sleep with the constant whoosing sounds, I reckoned the bedroom window was 5 metres from the motorway. Now it is possible to insulate against exterior noise as when I stayed at citizenM hotel right next to Amsterdam airport, no noise entered the room but this is not the case at the Falkirk Travelodge.

I went back down to the front desk and the charming receptionist was able to give me a room at the front as the hotel was pretty empty. I asked her if other guests had complained about the road noise and she said there had been complaints which had been passed onto head office. I’d hate to be in her shoes when the hotel is more than half full and irate guests can’t be moved to the quieter side.

Falkirk Travelodge car park

What I can’t understand is why the building was constructed so close to the motorway when the car park stretches in the front, the car park could have next to the motorway and the hotel built at the far end of the car park, where I was standing when I took the photo. It seems to me that the cars can enjoy a more restful night that the human guests.

Now I’m a big fan of Travelodge, they’re my favourite UK hotel budget chain because of their low prices and generally good standards but I’ll be carefully checking the exact location of Travelodges when I stay at one for the first time from now on.

As modern tourists we tend to travel fast. We fly in, grab a hotel room (or hostel bed), see all the tourist sights, try a local meal or two and zip back home again. We stay within cities, we are surrounded by other tourists and we do it all in a hurry before our days or cash run out. We don’t soak in ambience, we dive bomb into it and think that the few drops clinging to our hair are equivalent to the pruney-skin permeation of a long and leisurely exposure.

Personally I’m an exponent of slow travel, a term I thought was particularly nifty until I googled it when writing this article and discovered that I didn’t coin the phrase. My version of slow travel is camping. Travelling leisurely through the back country, off the highways and into smaller towns. Getting to meet the locals in an environment (the communal lifestyle of a campsite) which encourages interactions (unlike the private sterility of a hotel room).

Camping lets you soak in the atmosphere

Of course camping isn’t always feasible. If you go with your own car, caravan or mobile home you are limited by how far you can drive in the allotted holiday travel time. Driving three days across Europe only to have four days there and a three day return journey is not anyone’s idea of fun. Some ways around that are to look at carrying your car on the train – something which saves time, stress and petrol. You can also carry the minimum camping gear with you on a flight and locally hire a car or just rely on public transport to get you around. Or you can rent the entire get up once you arrive.

But the prices do start paying out, especially if you are travelling for a longer period. The average European campsite costs 15€-20€ per night, including electricity, with each person costing around 2€ extra. Showers may or may not be an additional cost (usually 0.50 – 1€). This is similar to a bed in a dorm room of an inner city hostel for one person, but in a group becomes extremely cheap and is far more appropriate for travelling with a family. Finding campsites is easy – decent maps of the country will have many marked and usually your home automobile club will have lists of international campsites, ones which they have even checked out and rated.

You aren’t necessarily limited to remote campsites on the outskirts of town either. If you are travelling in a self-contained motor home there are many sites which allow for short stops, overnight stays and replenishing water/emptying waste. The E6 on the coast of northern Norway is dotted with them, in Germany they are called Stellplätze, in France Aires De Service, and many are free of charge.

The varying sizes of mobile homes

I’m not really encouraging the use of the large mobile homes. These white ships are gas-guzzlers, can be dangerous on narrow roads (especially when driven by people unused to the size) and cannot be driven into European city centres because of their size. Smaller vans, such as VW camping buses, can be and tenting means you have a car available for local trips without having to pack up your campsite every time.

Of course camping doesn’t work for everyone, nor does it work for every situation. It requires a certain amount of preparation and investment in gear, the availability of a little more time and a roughing-it mentality. While northern France’s freezing autumn rains may send even myself into the shelter of a local chateau, as a budget summer travel option it is a relaxed, slow travel affair.

Amsterdamse Bos - Copyright Andrew Hayes

“Bos” means forest in Dutch, but Amsterdamse Bos is much more than that. Rarely visited by the casual tourist, this wooden oasis is an easy 30 minute cycle ride out of town but feels like it is worlds away. It is one of the largest city parks in Europe, with its 137km (85mi) of footpaths, 51km (35mi) of cycle paths and 50 bridges. A day out is not complete with a visit to the GeitenBoerderij, a goat farm where children can pet the animals and adults can enjoy an array of beverages (Dutch beers, wine, soft drinks) and purchase various goat’s milk products (ice cream, yogurt, cheese). There is also the Grote Vijver (translated as the ‘big pond’) which offers calming views as well as kayak/row boat rental during the summer. At all entrances to the park as well as throughout paths are well signposted so you should have no troubles getting around.

Before setting off, check with your bicycle rental company to get directions (do not worry it’s not too difficult). I also suggest a picnic lunch if you do not want to eat at the goat farm.

Amsterdamse Bos Reflections - Copyright Andrew Hayes

HotelShop are offering 3 night family breaks at the Quality Hotel in Newcastle upon Tyne for only £249 per family until 30 September 2008. This rate includes breakfast, dinner and lunch for 2 adults and 2 kids (aged under 14)., which is great value at £83 per night for full board for a family. This rate was available for any three day period over the next few weeks when I checked on the Hotelshop site.

I think that Newcastle is a great location for a family break. I spent a few days there with our sons when they were young. There’s lots to do and see such as the Seven Stories the National Centre of Children Books and The Centre for Life. You can buy a Metro off peak day travel ticket for £3.70 per adult and £1 per child (aged under 16) or for £3.70 for the whole family on a Sunday.

Ok, well, almost free.

I have just returned from a near week of sun-drenched Nordic summer bliss, and I must say I was thoroughly impressed. Helsinki is not blessed with an abundance of graceful architecture; however, beneath the surface is a cosmopolitan city full of joie de vivre that really inspired me. My view might be a bit different should I be plunged into the darkness of a cold Finnish winter, but from what I gather the Finns make do regardless of the weather.

Helsinki, alongside the rest of Scandinavia and the Nordics, has a terrible reputation of being an expensive experience, a status well earned. High airfares, food and drink tax, and prices in the shops will leave your credit cards feeling a bit overstretched. But there is no reason to worry – in Helsinki, some of the best things on offer are free (well, almost):

- Suomenlinna: only €4 gets you a return ticket on the ferry from the market square in Helsinki to this set of islands. Skip the museums and spend the day playing around on the old fortifications, walking through tunnels, and laying around on the rocks on the shoreline. Locals fill ferry after ferry, arms full with all the picnic gear. The amazing bit is that there is plenty of room for everyone.

- Keskuspuisto (Central Park): it is said that you can walk all the way from Helsinki to the top of Finland without leaving a park or forest. If that sounds like your bag, I would suggest starting here. Although I was disappointed by the city’s architecture, walking around the two large lakes here just north of the central station offer stunning views both day and night as well as highlighting some of the most popular attractions (the Olympic Stadium, the Opera, and Finlandia Hall).

- Eduskuntatalo (Parliament Building): the city offers free tours on the weekends. Check the visitors’ centre website for schedule and details

- Museums: the following museums offer free admission: Finnish Architecture Museum, National Museum of Finland (on Tuesday evenings), Bank of Finland Museum

- Churches: none of the main churches charge admission: Lutheran Cathedral, Temppeliaukio (the Church in the Rock), Vanhakirkko (the Old Church), or Upenski Cathedral

- Saunas: with the exception of cut-rate hostels and the like, almost all hotels in Finland offer a sauna as part of the room rate. Those that do not will often offer free or discounted passes to nearby facilities. As we all know, the sauna is at the core of the Finnish experience, so take advantage.

Do not be scared of high prices – check out Helsinki’s tourism bureau homepage to choose a season, then book. For finding good fares to Helsinki, check out Blue 1 (part of the SAS Group).

“Sunset” in Helsinki - Copyright by Andrew Hayes