Quirky Traveller's Tales

I was thrilled when Zoë agreed to let me write a guest post for The Quirky Traveller as I love her way of seeing the fun in everything. I reckon she would love the Magic Circus Hotel in France, where I spent Christmas, as it’s a French manor-inspired hotel with a circus theme!

I decided to go crazy and take my young daughter to Disneyland Paris for Christmas and I wanted a hotel with a fun atmosphere but was still ‘grown up’ enough to offer a quality stay as no-one wants to be trudging around a theme park after a sleepless night.  Magic Circus is a Disneyland Paris ‘Selected Hotel’ which means it reaches high standards and is only a short bus ride from the parks so can offer more space as well as more peace in the evenings.

It’s a large four star hotel and each and every room has a circus reference. It can be subtle with framed prints of circus escapades, or full-on, brightly-coloured fun, as the family rooms have bunk beds with circus tent curtains!

Magic Circus Family Room

I had booked a Family Room but the hotel upgraded us to a Tower Suite, which was a real treat as it meant my daughter had a separate bedroom and I could relax in the evening with the TV, while lounging on my enormous Queen-size bed when she was asleep. The hotel has chargeable wifi but I took a Tep Wireless pocket wifi device so I could stay in touch with friends (mostly on Twitter!) and this option meant I could get online while away from the hotel too.

After seeing so many buggy-pushing parents smoking at Disney Village when we arrived in France, I was grateful that the hotel is fully non-smoking and the luxury L’Occitane toiletries allowed me to feel spoilt too.  I also discovered the hotel is not only popular with families and guests going to Disneyland Paris, but also as a Conference Centre. I reckon it would be so much more fun than the often bland and generic conference venues I’ve attended.

The hotel’s circus theme is in all the public areas too.  When we arrived and saw the huge lobby with arcade games and rides – including a carousel right opposite the Reception Desk – we were both happy. And there were more squeals of delight when we turned around and saw a ball pit next to the bar!

Magic Circus Hotel - Bar des Artistes

All staff wear a red faux ringmaster/military uniform which is quirky in the extreme and even though the hotel was at maximum occupancy they always had a smile for every guest. Costumed characters were in the lobby each day to hug youngsters and make them feel special too.

I had thought about staying in a serviced apartment for this trip but there’s no way we would have had the same festive experience. On Christmas Day morning, Father Christmas came to the restaurant to meet families at breakfast and at the end of a long day at the Disneyland Park we were greeted off the shuttle bus with mulled wine and clementines.

Speaking of breakfast, the large restaurant lays on the best buffet breakfast I’ve even seen. From cooked items to fresh fruit salad, dried fruits to brioche-men, yogurts, cereals, cheeses, cold meats… Really, the widest selection I’ve ever come across. There’s no way we would have enjoyed breakfast in an apartment as much as here.

We made good use of the hotel’s indoor swimming pool which stays open until 10pm every day and is a great way to let off steam before bedtime. I didn’t need to use the Fitness Centre as the theme parks were my workout but we enjoyed going to the Health & Beauty Salon and watching other guests have fish pedicures.

Magic Circus Hotel

I’d definitely stay here again as, even though the theme is fun and loud, the hotel also offers peace and quiet and I slept soundly every night. Magic Circus is part of the Austrian hotel group Vienna International; not a brand I was aware of before but I’ll certainly be looking out for their hotels across Europe for future travels.  I paid for my travel and stay at the Magic Circus Hotel.

All Images Copyright © Vienna International Hotelmanagement AG. Tep Wireless loaned the pocket wifi to the author.

Laura Porter writes the About.com London Travel site which is an online travel guide for visitors to London. Like Zoë, she also writes every month for the Visit Britain Super Blog. You can follow Laura on Twitter and Facebook too.

Picture the scene…middle-aged couple, two monsters children, busy working lives, and never any time to be together. Not even date nights.  Such is my life.  And then … a surprise birthday gift. Vouchers for GilpinLodge, a luxury country house hotel in the heart of the Lake District.  My mind was made up.  No flitting this on just dinner, oh no, I wanted the full Monty and all parents’ dream, a childfree night away!

Needless to say, it took flipping ages to find anyone stupid willing to have our darlings for just one night’s sleepover. So six months later, we’re booked, sleeping bags and pyjamas delivered (not for us) and we’re outta here!  To make things even better, we received a call earlier from Gilpin to say we’d be getting an upgrade to a junior suite. Oh the excitement. So what if the journey was only 30 minutes from home? We still felt like tourists.

There was no gleaming glass-fronted behemoth when we arrived. Just a secluded house set back behind the mature garden. This was far from a typical overnight experience. It felt like someone’s home.  A grand one, mind.  We were welcomed and checked in though it didn’t really feel like checking in. The suite was a delight. A massive bed that was just asking to flopped upon – so we did. A large living area with French windows looking out, not just at countryside, but at … llamas.  Not what you’d expect in the Lake District. But that’s Gilpin all over. Uniqueness and details. We made tea and were happy to find delicious homemade biscuits to go with it. Feet up and just relax.

A thought came to us. Best work up an appetite for that evening’s gastronomy. So off we zoomed down to Bowness and the Old England Hotel and its spa and pool. A quick swim, a pause to admire the view of Windermere from the water plus time in the steam, dry heat and ice rooms. Then it was back to our suite for a sleep. All this relaxing was exhausting. Or perhaps it was just our bodies telling us something?

We dressed smartly for dinner and made our way smartly to the bar for an aperitif. The bar was unstuffy and has an unusual walk-in wine cellar so guests can explore their ample and tempting collection. In the past I’ve felt a bit self-conscientious in similar hotels. Not here.  Here we felt at ease. It was like being with friends. We made our choices and treated ourselves for the recommended wine with our courses. Never done anything like that before; naughty but hopefully nice.

The dining room was spacious so we didn’t have to whisper for privacy or shout to be heard. And the meal was heavenly… Gilpin’s chef has worked in Michelin-starred restaurants previously so we knew we were in for some great flavours – Cumbrian rarebit soufflé, Celtic scallops, local pheasant, wild mallard – all mouthwatering. With wines to match, expertly poured and explained by sommelier Ziggy. We could have finished the evening with coffee and petit fours in the comfy lounge. Instead we climbed under our duvet and slept like logs!

We woke late, no little feet bothering us this morning. Breakfast was magnificent as expected and we were sad to check out. But for that shortest of breaks, the weight of the world was no longer on our shoulders and we floated off to the car park without a care, ready to face modern life once again.

 Alex McCoskrie is a freelance marketer specialising in tourism. Visit his website AMPM Professional Marketing and follow  him @AMProfMktg on Twitter

With hype building up around the island of Cape Verde the media has focused its eye upon the archipelago just off the coast of Senegal. The islands have been dubbed the new Caribbean and you can certainly see why.  Holidays to Cape Verde have become increasingly popular over the last few years with people looking to get away to luxurious new locations.

There are a surprising number of things for tourists to do and with towering mountains terraced in greens and a volcano reaching towards the sky, you will be astounded at the amazing scenery.  There are also world class water sports on offer and vibrant festivals titillating the senses. The island appears to be a mix between the Sahara and the Canary Islands and one of the most stunning destinations in the world.

The most famous inhabitant, who certainly brought the island to the world stage, was singer Cesaria Evora. Her songs are filled with a longing for the island, which she yearns to return to. The island is certainly diverse and has every type of landscape possible on offer: from Maio’s dry flats to the lush valleys of Santo Antão.

Diving is also a huge attraction and with many shipwrecks scattered along the shore there are certainly many exciting places to explore. You can see an example of the gigantic ships scattered along the cost on Santa Maria beach. The coastline is littered with similar ships that have become stranded in the shallow waters.

Cape Verde Underwater by Dive World

There are many destinations around the world, but Cape Verde is certainly worth adding to your bucket list for a number of quirky reasons.

This post is brought to you by Holiday Hypermarket

The Midland Hotel glitters with Art Deco design. Opened in 1933, it is on the site of a much older hotel, built in the 1840s when the railways first started bringing holidaymakers to the seaside resort of Morecambe, in north Lancashire. Architect Oliver Hill was chosen to create “a building of international quality in the modern style”; he more than fulfilled that brief. The sensuous lines of the outside are synonymous with Art Deco: from the front and the rear of the hotel it has a beauty and grace that defined that movement. There are very few such buildings left in the country and this is, without doubt, one of the finest.

Sculptor Eric Gill’s Sea Horses welcomes visitors from on high and the motif is repeated in sparkly mosaics on the floors inside. The interior is quite simply unique. Marion Dorn, a well-known textile designer, produced the beautiful rugs, which have been recreated and placed around the foyer. The precious frescoes by Eric Gill are as fresh and bright today as they were when he sculpted them in the 1930s. His most famous piece, ‘Odysseus Welcomed from the Sea by Nausicaa’, carved from Portland stone, is behind the Reception Desk. It’s inscribed with the optimistic message, “There is good hope that thou mayest see thy friends”… Look upwards to see the lovely ceiling medallion of Neptune, Triton and mermaids

Due to the proximity of The Winter Gardens theatre, many actors, musicians, comedians and other performers often stayed at the Midland in its heyday. I had heard that other famous names had also been guests, so was disappointed to read the following,

“Rumours abound of famous people said to have passed through the Midland’s doors during this time, such as Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, Gloria Vanderbilt, Winston Churchill, Oswald Mosley, Noel Coward among many others. Most of the stories are probably no more than embroidered hearsay and any documentation, such as the pre-war visitors’ books, has long since disappeared.” from The Midland Hotel History.  Whatever, it has a romance, style and elegance that would have delighted them all.

I live in nearby Carnforth (where the classic film ‘Brief Encounter’ was shot) and often pop in for a drink in the Rotunda bar with its stunning ultra-modern chandelier and beautiful views across Morecambe Bay to the Lake District fells. For a special treat, their afternoon tea is totally yummy, as you can see …

The Midland Hotel is one of a choice selection of lovely English Lakes Hotels in Lancashire and Cumbria.  A version of this article originally appeared on the Visit Britain SuperBlog

The world is full of people who have hobbies, whether they love to crochet, spend their weekends standing on train platforms or maybe race through swirling rapids in a flimsy canoe. Many people go abroad to pursue their hobbies, whether that is to combine a holiday with their passion or to explore their interest further.  Tenerife, for example, is a great place to go bird watching and climbing.

The Canary Isles are an attractive winter destination and masses of people catch flights to Tenerife to get away from the gloomy weather back home.  This island is home to many birds, in particular the canary, hence the name. Brits have been travelling to the region for years to spot some of the exotic birds which call the island their home. Visitors in July have the best chance to spot seabirds and also butterflies, Canary Blue, Canary Speckled Wood and Indian Red Admiral among species present at that time of the year.

The island is also well known for a completely different hobby. The region, which is home to Mount Teide, is a favoured spot for many climbers, boulderers and other extreme sport fans. The island’s extreme sports persona has undergone some changes in the last few years and there has been significant investment in the routes and equipment found in the area. There are many different routes on offer, so people of minimal experience can take part in the sports on offer on the island.

There are many different activities on offer and some of them may lead to completely new interests. So why not take a break from the cooler weather and follow your hobby to the sun …

This post has been brought to you by cheapflights.co.uk

A treehouse? A castle? A cave? Now that’s an interesting way to spice up your holiday. Check out some of these unusual hotels around the world that are still well within budget for all sorts of travellers. Whether you want to treat your kids to an adventure or let you other half feel like a king/queen for a few days…

On a river … in Serbia

Floating idly on the river Danube, Arkabarka Floating Hotel is a multi-storey houseboat accessible from a small jetty. Out on the water it offers spectacular views across to the Kalemegdan fortress and Ratno Ostrvo (War Island) which you can enjoy from many of the bedrooms as well as the bar and communal balcony. It is moored at the edge of Usce Park, a charming leafy location for your stay in Belgrade and guests can make the most of the free cycle hire.

In a treehouse … in Turkey

Every kid dreams of sleeping in a treehouse and in the enchanting valley of Olympos in Turkey, such dreams can come true! Kadir’s Tree House has something for everyone. Thrill seekers can enjoy a host of watersports and hiking, others might prefer lounging on the stunning beach complete with turquoise and clear water.  There’s a spot where the loggerhead turtles come to breed so it’s also fantastic for nature lovers. With an onsite bar and pizza restaurant and breakfast included this is a great value place to stay.

In a cave … also in Turkey

Cappadocia is famous for its cave dwellings and there is no better place to experience them than at the Aydinli Cave Hotel in the heart of Göreme. One of the suite rooms would be ideal for families and most rooms have Jacuzzi, walk in showers, fireplaces and hamam sinks. Guests can enjoy their free breakfast on the roof terrace which overlooks the old town and there are also self-catering facilities if guests would like to prepare a packed lunch.

In a castle … in Italy

Now, everyone wants to feel like the bees knees by staying in a castle at least one in their life. And the 14^th century Castello di Galeazza in Bologna will help you with that fantasy.  Only 45 minutes from the city centre, the castle is something of a rural retreat, the perfect place to catch up on some reading – there are plenty of nooks and crannies where you can disappear with a good book or lounge in a hammock in the surrounding ten-acre woodland. Lose yourself in the frescoed rooms, library and interesting company of the friendly staff and other guests at dinner or for aperitivo.

On a jumbo jet … in Sweden

No chance of travel sickness on this one.  Jumbo Stay STF/HI is a converted Boeing 747-200 Jumbo Jet parked at Arlanda Airport outside Stockholm. So, if you have an early flight to catch in the morning, this hotel is ideally situated just 10 minutes’ walk from the airport check-in .You can even stay in the exclusive cockpit suite, the most luxurious space to be converted in to sleeping quarters.

In a palace … in India

In all its glittering splendour, the Umaid Mahal is an awe-inspiring spectacle of ornate furnishings and traditional welcoming  Rajasthani hospitality.  The luxurious swimming pool is the perfect place to cool off after a hot day’s sight-seeing and, on request, guests can enjoy a traditional folk dance and puppet show as well as excursions in to the desert, village, Jaipur and around Rajasthan. Luxury for a fraction of the price.

Delighted to have this article brought to you by HostelBookers.com You can stay in all of these hotels for real by booking through them … Sleep quirkily!