Natone Hills Fly Fishery Bed & Breakfast

Room

Wow, I didn’t expect to have a big 3 bedroom house to ourselves. We had 3 big bedrooms to choose from. Our pillows were nice and comfy, but the double bed was a bit small and hard. All the beds were equipped with towels and electric blanket.

The place had a big living room, with some comfy but old chairs. The bathroom was spacious and newly done up, not fancily, just functional.

There was a carport out the front too that we had to share with the pigeons.

Rating - 4

Facilities

We had access to the fully stocked kitchen, flour, egg, cereal, pots, pans, all kinds of tea and coffee. You want it, it was available. There was a huge fridge, but alas, no freezer. We had a very small TV (a good thing). The bathroom even had toothpaste and loads and loads of toilet paper.

There was also a laundry and second toilet, a dartboard, loads of brochures. The best thing though, was that it was a working farm and in the morning you could go watch the cows being milked and have a go yourself. There are lots of tracks and paddocks you are free to wonder across as well.

Christine and Ian were very nice and very friendly. They talked a lot and invited us into their lives. They showed us around the place but left us alone too.

Rating - 4

Location

The location is both good in bad. Situated on a farm around 30 minutes from Burnie, it meant you couldn’t just get to the shops and go to restaurants or freshen up when you want, but the setting was so beautiful and quiet. Also because it was a farm there was no mobile reception.

Rating - 2.5

Food

We were given 6 fresh eggs, white and wholemeal read, loads of different jams nad butter, a huge supply of cereal and milk (sadly because of the law they couldn’t give us the fresh milk, which gets sent to be packaged), tea (green, peppermint, camimole, jasmine, breakfast), coffee, hot chocolate. They had sugar, flour, oil, vinegar, salt and pepper, so I was able to whip up some pancakes for breakfast!

Rating - 4.5

Value

I couldn’t believe how cheap it was, at $60 a night, including breakfast supplies. I would definitely come back for more.

Rating - 5

Snooze Points - 20

Info

Greta Road
Upper Natone
North West Coast
TAS 7321
Phone (03) 6436 2181
Website

Riverfront Motel

Room

It was one of those holes in the wall. There’s enough room for you to walk between the two single beds, and that’s about it. We had a big suitcase so we had to step over it to get anywhere. The bed itself? The pillow was extremely flat, with a very soft mattress. The bathroom had a shower, a very small sink and nowhere to put your stuff.

Rating - 1.5

Facilities

Well, the light was not working so we had to make do with just the reading light. The kettle was one of those dumb one with no on/off button. It just boils when you plug it in, which of course meant it doesn’t turn itself off either, so you have to wait around to hear it boil before you turn it off. We were given biscuits and fresh milk, but there are really no other facilities. The curtain also don’t reach all the way past the bottom of the small slits of windows, and let the light through. Good thing we had a very early morning flight so it didn’t matter that much.

The service was very efficient (hey at least they had our booking!), I managed to arrange my check out the night before all without a problem.

Rating - 2

Location

It’s not in Hobart itself, but it’s not too far away. It’s easy to eat to Hobart if you have a car, and it’s actually a bit closer to the airport. However, except for a winery, there’s really nothing much around there. We couldn’t enjoy the supposedly beautiful views because we arrived after it was dark and headed off very early in the morning.

Rating - 2

Value

$75 per night, “discounted” from the rack rate of $79.

Rating - 2

Snooze Points - 7.5

Info

897 Brooker Highway
Berriedale
TAS 5001
Phone (03) 6272 6721
Website

Rialto Hotel on Collins

Room

Our package was for a deluxe king room. The room was certainly bigger than normal. Situated on the 7th floor, which is the highest on that side of the hotel, and with a balcony overlooking the cafe area below, it is very impressive. It might be a bit freaky not to have natural light, but I was fine with that. I went out on that balcony often to observe people around.

We had a king bed that had the pillow thing going on. The bed as very comfy, the pillow a little soft but at least not floppy. The decor in the rest of the room I will describe as yellow. You couldn't really turn the lights up to brighten up the room. Gold glitz and dark wood paneling is the order of the day. There is a chair with a foot rest and a writing desk. The bathroom was quite spacious, with a marble-topped basin.

Rating - 4

Facilities

The mini-bar was kinda impressive. We had Foxtel (not that I cared) and a Playstation (ditto). All the usual suspects: huge rooftop pool, spa, sauna, gym, bar, business centre... The bathroom amenities were generous, and they had bathrobes (which we didn't use again) but no fluffy slippers.

The staff were very professional, both at reception, valet parking and at check-in. The check-in chick was a bit ditzy, thinking our breakfast wasn't included in the price. The bell-boy was nowhere to be seen when we needed him though. We didn't try out the famed concierge as we didn't even have enough time to do anything!

Rating - 4

Location

Right in the centre of town, actually, the ritzy part of town. It's close to transport and all the major attractions in the city. Too bad we didn't really make use of it.

Rating - 5

Food

We started with some good quality champagne, very sweet choc-dipped strawberries, and dark chocolate mint, so they were already in my good books. Anyone who provides a selection of fresh bread (go olive!) at breakfast gets my vote.

The food was above average for a hotel breakfast buffet, but of course doesn't beat a cafe. They have an egg station, offering up half set poached eggs, as well as your standard hot food fare. The bacon was very lean. The pancake still a bit rubbery.

My favourite, besides the bread, were the mix your own muesli and fruit compote. I also forced down a hot-cross bun because it was Easter.

Rating - 4.5

Value

Our one night package was $169 for a king sized room, champagne and strawberries on arrival and buffet breakfast for me. It as great value for a Easter holiday weekend right in the heart of the city. Valet parking was an extra $25.

Rating - 4

Snooze Points - 21.5

Info

495 Collins St
Melbourne
VIC 3000
Phone (03) 9620 9111
Website

Frog Gully Cottages

Room

There's a small kitchen, a large dining and living room, spacious outdoor deck, and 2 bedrooms, each with its own ensuite. Everything is tastefully decorated, more in the country style than that Mod look. I really like that there is a uniqueness in their decorations. Everything is frog themed, from the door mat to the toilet paper!The cottages are obviously quite new, some things even still have their tags on!

The double bed has electric blankets and fluffy doonas, but the mattress wasn't that comfortable and the pillow was floppy! This really let the cottage down in terms of rating.

Rating - 3

Facilities

This is supposed to be 4 star rated, and there is almost everything you need. The kitchen is not a full kitchen but all the basics are there, with everything being almost new. The gas BBQ on the deck is great too! They actually provide gloves for the kitchen and encourage recycling and composting.

There are heaters, electric blankets and fans, as well as DVDs, CD player, books, mags (all outdated unfortunately) and games. The bathrooms had some amenities and hair dryers. There is also a laundry should you be that way inclined.

Rating - 4

Location

Located on some beautiful wetlands, away from any life really, but close enough to a major town. Really the best of both worlds.

Rating - 4

Food

The breakfast provisions included: 4 strips of bacon, 4 eggs, 4 slices of bread, a selection of cereals and jams. Not as generous as other places we've been to, and not of the highest quality. In fact, the quantity is just right instead of being too generous. The milk they supplied had already passed its use by date though. Boring supply of tea and coffee, with 3 packets of Jarrah hot chocolate. They also gave us some chocolate frogs.

Rating - 3.5

Value

The cottages are priced at $160 for 2 at any time of year. At other times I would think they are a tad expensive, but at Easter, it's not bad.

Rating - 3

Snooze Points - 17.5

Info

Lot 2419
Rosedale Rd
Longford
VIC 3851
Phone (03) 5149 7242 or 0439 369 057
Website

North Lodge Apartment

Room

One word, HUGE. We were in the "penthouse", and the room consisted of one very very long room, with a bedroom with a queen sized bed and bay window and dresser on one end, to two single beds and the tiniest, and I mean the tiniest, bathroom I've seen (about the size of Japan's). In between all this there's a dining room and a pretty big kitchen. It all sounds really good doesn't it, but it's not as it seems. The penthouse was opened in 1982 and obviously hasn't been renovated since then. The furnishing were worn. The cupboard doors and tiles were falling off the kitchen and all the cutlery and appliances were also from the 80s. The bathroom was so impractical we brushed our teeth in the kitchen.

The good points though, there was plenty of room, the bed was nice and comfy, with very nice pillows. We had a pretty big TV and the largest wrap-around balcony with great views over the Launceston hills.

If they renovate this place they can probably charge an outrageous amount for it. I wonder what the rate is normally? I'd hate to imagine what the "studio" we originally booked would be like...

Rating - 3.5

Facilities

There's a full kitchen, laundry, lots of beds. But all this is matched by cheap coffee (International House), a small bottle of milk, shampoo and conditioner. The kitchen holds lots of bits and pieces, but they are all falling apart, plus, stuff were so dirty I didn't really want to touch them.

The guy who ran the place forgot about me, and questioned me heaps about whether I really had a booking. upon producing my email confirmation though, he turned nice and accomodating, and had to give us the only room left, the "penthouse", out of the whole place. He was very helpful actually, if only the first impression he gave didn't turn me off.

Rating - 3

Location

Great, very close to the city centre, right next to Kings Park. From our balcony you can get a view of the park and the surrounding hills. We didn't really make good use of it though.

Rating - 4

Value

Only because we got the penthouse was this place worth $90 a night. Granted it's quite close to the city centre, but this IS Launceston we're talking about, it's not like the city centre is the centre of everything. Despite all our times in Tasmania, we haven't spent very much time in Launceston at all! I don't appreciate misleading advertising on their website though, they made everything sound much better than they really are.

Rating - 2.5

Snooze Points - 13

Info

7 Brisbane Street
Launceston
TAS 7250
Phone (03) 6331 9966
Website

Travelodge Victoria

Room

All hotels just reflect cultural differences...well from my review of Hotel Waterview, what does that say about Australia? Anyway, I digress. This is somehow so typical of hotels in the little town. It's a 2 level rectangular brick building with a veranda running along one side. You park your car next to the building and enter. There are 2 huge beds (I think they are doubles, but they may be singles...) in the room, with a huge TV, a huge cupboard and wardrobe. The furnishings are quite new, and the theme is green. Because of the veranda and only 1 window, there's not much privacy so you have to keep the blinds closed. The bathroom actually has a bath tub! The beds were also very comfy and there were many pillows, so I didn't have to worry about any flat pillows.

Rating - 4

Facilities

I found the strangest things in the drawers. Besides the bedside bible, the bathroom toiletries also include make-up remover... What's more, there's a digital bathroom scale! Hehe, maybe they are trying to make a point? Of course now that we're out of Europe, there are the usual coffee & tea making facilities, including a huge percolator in every room!

We made good use of their big indoor swimming pool and had a go at their not bad gym equipment too.

The staff were Canadian friendly and were able to cater to a dog.

Rating - 4

Location

Ummm, there's a Travelodge in every town? You wouldn't stay there unless you have a car anyway.

Rating - 3

Value

Well we didn't pay but according to the Internet, it costs from $65 CDN plus taxes for a double, so great!

Rating - 4

Snooze Points - 15

Info

229 Gorge Road East
Victoria, B.C, Canada
V9A 1L1
Phone (250) 388-6611 or 1-800-565-3777
Website

Krönlein im Weinberg

Room

Finally, we found a hotel in Germany that's actually different to all the others. This place is situated in a suburban area. It's basically a very big house, in the style of the big attics. And that's where we got to stay. The room looked very cool, with a huge slope ceiling and a window that you open sideways. Unfortunately that meant the room was quite small, but still bigger than Japan and Centro Turistico Citte di Bologna. It also meant we had to carry our luggage up 2 flights of stairs. The bed was big, but the blankets and pillwos the same as all the other German hotels. Still, they made some effort with the room, with some better asthetically looking furniture.

Rating - 1.5

Facilities

They have unique touches, like a shoe shine machine, a sewing kit, bottled water, but no fridge. The lollies on the pillow were from the famous German brand Haribo.

The staff really reflect the philosophy of the hotel, they were the friendliest and warmest in Germany. They were able to accomodate our reqeust for an earlier breakfast because we had a flight to catch, and they made us feel very welcomed.

Rating - 4.5

Location

As mentioned, this is away from the touristy area, but there were parking and it was nice to look out to see farms and trees. The location was especially lovely when you could have breakfast out on the balcony, with a great view over all of this.

Rating - 4

Food

The breakfast was defintely worth the wait. A few types of very yummy bread and 5 different liver/sausage spread along, not to mention jams, honey, nutella, cold cuts, cheeses, as well s the German breads, muesli, a really yummy chocolate cereal, yoghurt and fresh and dried fruit. The boiled eggs were cooked just right and they made freshly brewed coffee (unfortunately Italian coffee beats it any day) and I'm happy to report, not a croissant or pastry in site!

Rating - 4.5

Value

We paid 58 Euros, not bad considering the excellent breakfast. And the hosts had charm, which is more than you can say for a lot of these places!

Rating - 4

Snooze Points - 14.5

Info

Gerbrunner Strasse / Krönlein 5, D-97236 Würzburg-Randersacker
Phone +43-1-40 40 20
Website

Achat in Augsburg

Room

I'm beginning to think that German hotels all look the same! I didn't know that Achat is actually a chain until I arrived. The building was huge but ugly, the room was again, quite big, with nice blankets, big beds, but flat pillows.

Rating - 3

Facilities

Not too bad, they had all the usuals, plus a nice bowl of lollies at the front. Finally finding somewhere where they supply the shower caps was good too. Again, no fridge or Internet.

The staff were nice and friendly. They did make a mistake with our bill, charging us for breakfast when we didn't have any. This was all fixed quickly when I told them the mistake though.

Rating - 3

Location

It's outside the city centre, but we had a car and there were plenty of parking. There's good public transport, with trams not that far away, so it's all good.

Rating - 3.5

Value

We paid 51 Euro, which was ok for that area and size. The breakfast that we were slugged was actually 12 Euros - good thing you can choose not to have it, as I think you can definitely eat A LOT with 12 Euros.

Rating - 3.5

Snooze Points - 13

Info

Servicezentrale,
Untere Hauptstrasse 11,
68766 Hockenheim
Phone +49-(0) 62 05-20 49 0
Website

Hotel Royal

Room

Like the other German Hotel, Hotel Garni Diplomat, the room was quite big and spacious, with a very long and large bed and comfy blankets. The pillows were a bit flat though, but the heating system was quite good. The room and the hotel, was, in the German way, quite plain but very functional.

Rating - 3.5

Facilities

They had a lift, albeit a small and clumsy one where you have to shut lots of doors manually before it works. Our room was quite high up so we couldn't really take the stairs up, or with our luggage. They have Internet, as well as all the usual hairdryer..etc, but yup, no kettle or fridge.

The staff were friendly and helpful, with very good English skills.

Rating - 3.5

Location

Excellent, close to trains, tram and the city centre, and also right in the heart of the red light district by the looks of things. There's an Aldi nearly as well as lots of cheap eating places.

Rating - 4

Value

When they advertised, they said that breakfast was included, at 69 Euros per night, it was quite expensive. I guess you are paying for the location?

Rating - 2

Snooze Points - 13

Info

Schillerstraße 11a
D-80336
München
Phone +49-(0)89-59 10 21
Website

Hotel La Residenza

Room

The bed was big enough with some extra pillows, but the room itself wasn't that big, so after putting all our luggage in there, we had to stay on the bed all the time. The decor and furnishings were a bit warm, and not like the design-conscious efforts we've seen so far. We couldn't adjust the air-con so we were quite cold. This was also the first hotel out of the whole of Europe we stayed in that had no bidets!

Rating - 3.5

Facilities

This was a 3.5-star hotel, but the facilities were nowhere as good or everything as nice as Hotel Admiral. They did have 10 minutes of free Internet though, which, while good, you can't really do much with. Having a lift also helps.

The reception staff were so-so, polite, but not friendly. Who I had a problem with though were the breakfast ladies. They spoke no English but did manage to be rude! They were really slow in getting the food replaced, so people were constantly waiting, they told me off for using the coffee machine which was supposedly broken but there was no sign up telling you not to use it. Of course we had to ask for cappuccino, and they reply with a rude, "room number", that's it. They advertised that breakfast was supposed to start at 7.30 but of course when we got there they weren't ready, in the Italian way.

Rating - 2

Location

This was extremely hard to get to, we needed to catch a few connecting buses as well as walk a long way from the bus station to get there. Luckily Milan's public transport system works relatively well most of the time. I think this is best if you have a car.

Rating - 1

Food

Despite my discontent at the breakfast ladies, at least there was a bit of variety (when you can get it, you basically have to pounce on the food when it comes out) besides the usual fares. There were some coddled egg dish and other pastries we hadn't try before. Those cappuccinos that was so hard to get tasted quite good though.

Rating - 3.5

Value

65 Euro for an out of the way place with a smaller room and nowhere near the quality of Admiral. Still, out of all the hotels we've stayed at, this one is reasonable for the price.

Rating - 3.5

Snooze Points - 13.5

Info

Via Scialoia 3,
20161 Milan
Phone +39 02 6461646
Website

Admiral Hotel

Room

The room was very nice and comfy, decked out in period furniture. The bed was very comfy, with good pillow and blanket. The room was big with a huge balcony. Too bad when you get out there it's really noisy!

Something you probably didn't know, and probably doesn't affect you in any way, but they are the home of the James Bond Fan Club. The lobby is decked out with all sorts of 007 memorabilia.

Rating - 4.5

Facilities

This was a 4-star hotel, so facilities were excellent, or would've been if wireless internet wasn't broken. They had a mini bar - which meant a fridge! The toiletries were also quite nice, with all the extras besides the soap included.

The staff were quite funny because they didn't speak much English. Otherwise they were quite helpful. At breakfast though, we didn't get asked for cappuccino by the ladies again, but we really couldn't be bothered because there was a huge group at breakfast and we didn't want to wait.

Rating - 4

Location

Not that close to the city centre, but very close to public transport. There's a tram right outside, the train station is about a 7 minute walk away. I guess that's why it's cheaper.

Rating - 3

Food

The standard fare was present, i.e. tarts, pastries, cakes...etc, but the quality was better. They had some good muesli and fruit. I'll be quite glad not to have to eat Italian breakfasts anymore.

Rating - 4

Value

Excellent! For only 60 Euros a night. Too bad we didn't get to stay long enough to really enjoy it. We actually wanted to book 2 nights but they were fully booked out.

Rating - 5

Snooze Points - 20.5

Info

via Domodossola 16,
20145 Milano
Phone +39 023492151
Website

Albergo Il Sole

Room

A pretty big room with a big bed and firm pillow, plus extra blankets. Decor wise, things could be better. There was no carpet but this worn green lino thing on the floor that had little pot holes. The furnishing were all very worn.

Rating - 3

Facilities

This was only a 2 star hotel, so everything was very basic. The worst thing was that we weren't allowed to use the lift so had to lug our suitcases all these giant staircases. Our room was basic, by that I mean no TV, phone, iron...etc, but all we really needed was a bed, chairs and table really. At least they cleaned the room and we had towels everyday! I was there was a fridge or Internet though.

This was a family run place so they were very friendly and helpful. Over our 3 nights stay we met most members of the family. Slokky had a big football and F1 conversation with them too.

Rating - 2

Location

Right in the heart of the city centre, it was also about 10 minutes walk from La Spezia station. There's a lovely park across the street and the ocean is not too far away either.

Rating - 3.5

Value

You pay for the location I guess. This place served its purpose, but could be cheaper. I think because of the Easter holidays we were charge peak season rate.

Rating - 2.5

Snooze Points - 11

Info

Via Felice Cavallotti, 31
19121 La Spezia,
Italia
Phone +39 0187 735164
Website

Centro Turistico Città di Bologna

Room

What a change, we went from the biggest room we had, to the smallest, yes, even smaller than Japan. There wasn't really enough room to do anything in this place, especially with our 2 huge suitcase. We were only here for 1 night so we didn't bother unpacking anything. Decor was very very simple of course, but the setting of the Tourist park is quite nice.

The beds were kinda small and short, the bed spread was not very attractive and the pillow was very flat. We could control the temperature differently for the room and the toilet though, so that was great.

Rating - 2.5

Facilities

Again, no kettle, but also no fridge, which was kinda bad 'cos we still had some cheese from Tuscany left - but then again - nobody seem to fridge their hard cheese in Italy, so we weren't too concerned. There was a shared laundry and an Internet terminal with a 10 minutes limit. It was enough so we could do some stuff. The shower had great water pressure though! This was a tourist park so I had very different expectations for its facilities, and what they offer more than met my expectations.

Staff were a bit colder, but they were efficient and effective, with very good English.

Rating - 3.5

Location

Not located in the centre of town, but a few minutes drive away. It's quieter, and there is a bus that connects to the town. It seems to be situated in the middle of a field. The setting is typical tourist park, but unlike before, there is no view.

Rating - 2.5

Value

This was only 44 Euros a night. Since we weren't there for that long and we only used the room for sleep, more than adequate.

Rating - 4.5

Snooze Points - 13

Info

Via Romita 12/4 °A
40127 Bologna
Phone +39 051 325016
Website

Castello Vicchiomaggio

Room

Wow! That's all I can say. From the moment we drove up the dirt track to the cast-iron gate we were blown away by the setting. Perched on a hill, with a huge balcony space overlooking the Tuscan hillside. Incidentally, there was a wedding taking place so the place was decked out with flowers.

We were shown our attic space, up 2 narrow flights of stairs. I thought this was going to be a little space, but it was huge. The main area contained a bed, a huge wardrobe, dining table, a couch and a buffet. There was a separate area for a kitchenette and another for the bathroom. For such a huge space it could be heated up pretty quickly. For an attic it had small windows you could open to look out to the surrounding hills. The view from the bathroom was great! The furnishing was country style wood and very tasteful.

The bed was huge and comfy, with extra pillows :). I think I had the best sleep so far here.

Rating - 5

Facilities

Again, there's a bit of beauty over function here. The kitchen had lots of good wine and coffee making facilities, but not much for cooking and preparing food. I guess you're only supposed to drink wine and eat already prepared food here, but actually whip up any Tuscan cuisine! The bathroom was in blue and white chic, with a bath tub and heated towel rack, but there was no screen (I guess that's not a good look) so when you have a shower you got water all over the floor. There was no internet or laundry but they did offer a cellar and wine room door as well as a Tuscan banquet on a night of the week.

This place is really a self-service apartment. Apart from the initial check in, you're on your own, which was great! The maid who showed us the apartment couldn't speak any English, but we got by by miming. All the staff were much more Italian friendly than the big tourist centres.

Rating - 3

Location

The good news? You're in your own wine estate, a castle set in hectares of vineyards. The atmosphere is absolutely surreal and beautiful. It's quiet and secluded, a hideaway. The price you pay? Even though this place is in Greve in Chianti, it's still about a 10 mins drive into the town centre. (BTW, Greve is a beautiful Tuscan town).Being in the upper part of Tuscany, it's quite far away from some of the must-visit towns. Conclusion, a good place to go if you want to relax and enjoy the surroundings, but if you want to explore Tuscany, base yourself at a more central location, as the roads are windy and it takes awhile to get to the next town.

Rating - 4

Value

I can't believe this was one of the cheaper places we stayed it, it was far and away the best place ever. We booked through Flight Centre (which I don't recommend at all btw), for 7 night stay, and 9 day car hire of a small manual car for $1291 Australian

Rating - 5

Snooze Points - 17

Info

via Vicchiomaggio, 4
50022 Greve in Chianti (FI)
Phone +39 055 854079
Website

Casa Susy

Room

This place is basically just an apartment block of about 12 flats. The owner stay in 1 flat, converting some of their rooms into the B&B. They also have another flat on the floor below, where each room has been fitted with its own ensuite. All the other facilities are shared.

Our room was pretty big, but it was filled with furniture, a big wardrobe, desk and another bed so there wasn't much room to move around. The best thing was probably the little balcony we had with views of the mountains in the distance which was beautiful. There was also a clothes line on the balcony which was handy. Everything was kinda homely and simple though, so no designer furnishing here. The bed was comfortable enough, but not the best. The pillow was very thin but at least there was an extra so I could prop myself up. The walls were really thin so you can hear next door, upstairs, downstairs, basically everything. Luckily we shard our apartment with only 2 other girls - there could be a maximum of 8 people sharing the flat.

Rating - 3.5

Facilities

The best thing about this place was the Internet and laptop that we were basically free to use as we liked. I got a LOT of catchup done. There was also a real big fridge which was great. We really were living in Suzy's house, so we could use her kitchen with all its utensils. So we got to boil our water ok. You could also get Suzy to do your laundry for the inflated price of 10 Euros.

We met Suzy and her brother Nicola who ran the place. They were pretty nice people and quite helpful, but I didn't feel they were interesting or genuine. I think they were seasoned pros so just put on a fake front. Their true colours came out when they tried to rip us off at the end. (See value entry below).

Rating - 3.5

Location

Relatively close to Sant 'Agnello station, a 10 minute walk down some narrow pathway. It was a good base for Sorrento and Pompeii, and also cheaper. The town itself is smaller and cheaper, with a more "authentic" Italian feel which I like. Just note that Sant 'Agnello is a small station so the trains and buses are not very frequent.

Rating - 3.5

Food

Befitting a small B&B, the breakfast was all "homemade". There was not very much choices available, but it was quite acceptable. We were served some yummy fresh bread every morning, with a selection of spreads you use out of communal big jars. The spreads weren't very interesting or good quality, but the bread was so good I could eat it plain.

I was most disappointed with the cheese they served. In a country renowned for their fantastic cheeses, which were all reasonably priced, we were served plastic wrapped 'singles' cheese which tasted like nothing at all.

We got stovetop-made cappuccino every morning, allbeit with cheap coffee, but we only got chocolate cakes and hazelnut biscuits on the first morning. We were always the first people at breakfast since we always headed off early, however, on the last day we came back later in the day (around 9.30) to pay the bill, and saw that other people had much BETTER breakfast items served to them, including an Easter cake.

Rating - 2.5

Value

Here is what I don't like about this place. What they advertised on the Internet and their promotional websites is definitely not what you get. The breakfast was described as very elaborate and half the items they promised was missing. They tried to rip us off when we paid the bill, trying to charge us an extra 10 Euros on top of the quoted 60 Euros a night. Luckily I kept all the documentation and was able to prove straightaway that that wasn't our agreed rate. They also said they accept credit card but it turned out they only accepted cash. It was only later, when we talked to the guy we met at the station who worked as a receptionist at a Sant 'Agnello hotel, that he told us we paid too much. If it wasn't for the lies this was quite an acceptable place to stay.

Rating - 1.5

Snooze Points - 14.5

Info

Via Cappuccini 36
Sant'Agnello di Sorrento
80065 Naples
Italy
Phone +39 3389424111
Website

Welcome Residences

Room

It's a case of style of substance. Everything was being renovated here so it was all new. The furnishing is of the Victorian period and very tasteful. The bed was quite spacious and comfortable, with nice doona and pillow that's not paper thin. It was warm enough in Rome to not need any sort of heating. However, the bathroom shower leaked and there weren't any hooks to hang up stuff. The drawers were beautiful antique like but required you to turn a key every time you want to open it, after awhile, it was just tedious.

Rating - 3.5

Facilities

They had a fridge, yeah! But again, no kettle or water. I am confused again, what is it with Italian hotels and inconsistency? The 1st day we were there we got soap and shampoo, after 2 days, they stopped giving us anything. A few days later we got razors. Sometimes they don't line the bins. Alas, no Internet (which we really could've done with) or laundry (also really needed!)

The level of service we received from the staff was also very inconsistent. There were 2 people there who were really nice, and went the extra mile to get you information and other stuff you need, for example they recommended great restaurants, laundry and supermarket for us, but at other times, totally useless. When I told them we had a leak in the shower, they promised it would be fixed the next day. Needless to say, it wasn't so I went to find out why. It turned out that the person we told didn't even bother writing down our problem or passing it on. We then got told it couldn't be fixed for a few days because of the Easter holidays and we'd just missed the last working day opportunity. They didn't offer to move us to another room, and when I complaint they gave us some towels we could put on the floor to absorb the water. This only happened once though, afterwards we couldn't be bothered going specifically to get towels all the time and gave up all hope of the shower ever getting fixed where we were there, and just lived with a damp floor.

Got the useless guy again when we checked out. Luckily we did it early as it took them ages to figure out what was going on.

Rating - 1

Location

It was close to Termini station and the Metro, which was good, but you get "bad" sorts here - homeless, beggars, gangs. It was also quite noisy with road noises. Because our house is next to a highway, the noise didn't really concern us, but if you're not used to it, you might not get a good night's sleep. They seem to do construction work at really odd hours.

Rating - 3.5

Food

They serve a buffet style breakfast every morning. The selection is not as good as all the other places we've been to, and we were staying for 7 days, so got sick of all the stuff by the end of it. What's strange is that the selection is pretty different on different days, as in some pastries and cakes are not available sometimes, sometimes there's no bread, sometimes none of a particular jam. I think it's more a matter of inconsistency rather than them changing it for variety.

The offering included cereals, tea, coffee, chocolates, apricot tarts, chocolate marble cake, bread, yoghurt. I really could have done with some fruit. Unfortunately, all the food were of the cheapo variety. They didn't have a real cappuccino machine, and the juice was sugary and cordial like. Also, they never refill the breakfast offering, so once it's gone, that's it. This didn't affect us as we always had an early breakfast so we could head off, but if you're a late sleeper, this could be a problem.

Rating - 2.5

Value

At 85 Euro a night, it was not as bad as the Venice place. There wasn't much cheap accom in Rome so it was passable. I hope the accommodation in the smaller towns will be better from now.

Rating - 3

Snooze Points - 13.5

Info

Via Amendola 7
Roma 00185
Italy
Phone +39 (0)6 48901248
Website

Ramada Fiera Hotel

Room

Hoorah! The room was big, tastefully furnished and decorated. Everything was functional! The beds were extra wide and comfy, but the pillows were quite flat and there was no extra blanket.

Rating - 4

Facilities

The staff were very efficient and very entertaining. When I went to check out, the guy chatted to me about visiting Sydney and surfing at Bondi, as you would. The only gripe I had was that at breakfast we weren't offered cappuccino but everyone else dining there was. It did look like everyone else were regulars though.

They offered the usual facilities befitting a 4 star hotel:toiletries , gym (that I didn't have time to use), internet. They had some great tasting lollies at reception but no kettle either.

Rating - 4.5

Location

I think one reason it was cheaper was that you cannot reach the hotel without a car. To their advantage they have plenty of free parking and they are close to the Verona Fairground - where most of their business seem to stem from.

Rating - 3.5

Food

Absolutely wonderful, they put out a spread of cakes and pastries, breads, cereals and milk, fruits, yoghurts, cold cuts, cheese, eggs, potatoes, bacon. They even had a separate biodynamic section. And the coffee when we got it? Excellent.

Rating - 5

Value

At 80 Euros a night, including that fabulous buffet breakfast, a bargain!

Rating - 4.5

Snooze Points - 21.5

Info

Via Zannoni 26-8
Veneto,
Verona 37136
Italia
Phone +39 458204485
Website

Hotel Watermark

Room

This place was a lot more run down than I expected. The lobby and foyer resembled any other 4.5 star hotels, with a few restaurants and shops. However, when you actually go up to your floor, the carpet is worn, and inside the room, the same. The bathroom was tied and old, and although clean, felt dirty. The room was spacious enough, but had none of the "luxurious" furnishings I was expecting from a high-class hotel. In fact, I've stayed at 3 star hotels with better furnishing, so what's the deal with that? Because we'd paid $30 extra per night for the privilege, we were on a higher floor ($18) and had a view of the lagoon and the highways, no ocean view though). The "Deluxe" room also came with king-sized bed. The bed? I was quite impressed by first impressions. It was big (king sized alright) and tastefully decorated, with five pillows as well as other smaller cushions, decked out in neutral earthy tones. But like they say, don't judge a book by its cover. On sleeping on it, the bed was hard as! This is really really bad for side sleepers. I didn't sleep at all the first night, and for nights after that, I made sure I had extra pillows so I was really elevated and my shoulders weren't as sore after that.

Rating - 2

Facilities

There were the restaurants, bars, gaming room, function room, gym, pool, laundry, hairdressers, spa, the standard facilities for a 4.5 stars hotel really. What was disappointing was that you have to pay to use EVERYTHING. Even Internet was charged. We didn't end up using ANY of the facilities because of the strict opening times. Really, how do you expect anyone to be able to use these.

The most disappointing aspect was the staff. They were all wooden, with a very forced friendliness and impersonal service which I found so different to everyone else I've encountered on the Gold Coast. They delivered what we asked but that was all, nobody befriended you or went above and beyond their call. What annoyed me though was what they did with the toiletries - which, I might add, was cheap and second rate for a 4.5 star hotel. One the first day, there was 1 bottle of shampoo and conditioner, but no soap. We had to go to the conceiage to get some. On the 2nd day, there was 2 bottles of shampoo and conditioner, as well as more soap. On the 3rd day, nothing at all. What on earth is going on? As well, for every extra toweling you ask for, there's a $2 surcharge. Outrageous!

According to the website (which incidentally, is broken. They really should check their links) [Note 20/10/06 - they finally fixed their website, link updated], the "Deluxe" room also came with bathrobes. However, there were none in the room and you have to phone up for it. We phoned up for the 1st night just to see what we paid $30 extra for, and the maid delivered 2 stiff white bathrobes I'd rather not touch, and they sat in our room for 3 whole days.

Rating - 2

Location

The best thing about this hotel, situated at the edge of the main tourist strip. We could walk to the beach (10 mins) and to the shops, and it's also quite close to the Broadbeach and casino end of town. The parking was convenient too.

Rating - 4

Value

Because we went in the dead of winter, all the hotels were doing so-called "special" deals. We paid $340 for 3 nights, which I think was a rip-off, simply because they did not meet my expectations. I tried to use the 3-card which entitled us to a further 10% off, but they gave me some excuse of the reservation system was not controlled by them and they couldn't change the amount - then how do they charge people for mini-bar items and such then? I will not be returning.

Rating - 1

Snooze Points - 9

Info

3032 Gold Coast Blvd
Surfers Paradise,
QLD 4217
Australia
Phone +61 7 5588 8333
Website

Residenza Cà Dario

Room

I didn't know it at the time, but this was to be the worst hotel out of the whole trip, I guess at least it was good that my expectations were lowered. I was quite charmed by the outside, a two storey building. Inside, everything was decorated nicely, but nothing was as I expected.

Our room was on the first floor. Seeing this was one of the most expensive places we were staying at, imagine my dismay when we could hardly fit both our suitcases in there. (I had a peak at the other rooms though, and the one next door to us was heaps bigger, so maybe we were just unlucky. When I went to check the website, I realised they actually put us up in their "single" room as our exact room showed up in the "single" room photo, but they charged us the double room rate). The bed was also tiny, the pillows were FLAT, which were already bad signs... The blankets was thin and you could only turn the heat up a little bit. I had to sleep with a jumper on.

Rating - 0.5

Facilities

This was our first and only hotel where we had to share bathrooms, and I don't think I ever want that experience again. The bathroom itself was nicely decorated, but there was a lot of waiting around to use it. It was also very inconvenient if you wanted to use it at night because it was so far away. The shower didn't drain properly and after one person had a shower, the whole bathroom floor would be wet and filled with soap suds. The cloth hand drying dispenser ran out and wasn't replaced.

There was a cappuccino machine and tea and coffee making facilities (with a dirty kettle!) out in the hallway, but the cappuccino machine didn't work and wasn't fixed, and they gave you small plastic cups to make your coffee in, so whenever you poured anything into it, you got the melted plastic taste.

Apart from getting no toiletries items or even a cup to use for the bathroom, the towels were just cloths, and weren't replaced either.

At this stage, we weren't used to the Italian way yet, so I didn't know that when the office said it was opened at 8.30, they actually mean 9.00. We waited around for 2 days waiting for them to open, but when nobody showed after 9.00 on both days, we decided to take off. On the last day we had no choice but to wait, and the office ladies didn't come in under 9.10. When we finally got to meet her, she was pretty friendly, but not nearly as nice as the Japanese.

Rating - 1

Location

Venice is funny to judge on location 'cos it depends on your needs. For us, pushing our luggage over the least amount of bridges was the priority, so crossing only 2 bridges to reach this place was an advantage. However, this place is far away from the main tourist area around San Marco, which didn't bother us at all but other people might find inconvenient.

Rating - 4

Value

80 Euros per night, what a complete rip-off! As well as having a small room and shared bathroom, the supposed "breakfast" was a basket that kept diminishing every day.

Rating - 0

Food

The price was supposed to include "breakfast", but what we got was a basket filled with (on the first day anyway):

• two packets of cappuccino mix
• two packets of coffee and milk
• two mini chocolate donuts
• two mini apricot tarts
• two lemon tea

The second day there was no lemon tea, and the third day, as well as the lemon tea, the cappuccino packs were also gone. If they were trying to impress us the first day, it didn't work. The food was of low quality and not substantial at all.

Rating - 0

Snooze Points - 5.5

Info

Sestiere Di Santa Croce 642
30125,Venezia,
Italia
Phone: +39 0415242719
Website

Hotel Garni Diplomat

Room

After Japan, this room seemed absolutely enormous! The room actually reflected the characteristics of Germany. The room was sparsely decorated, but very functional. The beds were very long and narrow, catering to the Germans. All the switches and drawers were very high up, and I couldn't use the mirror at all! The European pillows and blankets were great too. Everything was basic, but you have everything you need.

Rating - 4

Facilities

The bathroom was very funny, in that there's no shower cabinet as such, you just get the whole floor wet. I was quite surprised that we had plenty of clean towels and soap surprised. This room didn't have a fridge, and as we found out later, no hotels in Europe provide kettles because of some sort of health regulations, so there are never any kettles in the room. The owner was extra nice though, as we didn't know about the kettle, he did manage to bring us a pot of boiling water so we had our water for the day.

checking in and out was easy, and the breakfast ladies were great. They were very busy making sure the food was always filled, and worked tirelessly making everything special, we really noticed the difference once we got to Italy...

Rating - 4

Location

This place was great, very close to transportation, pretty convenient to get to the airport, and we could actually walk to the city centre! It was in a suburban St, which had some wide kids running around though, and they were making a lot of noise. However, noise doesn't bother me so I slept through it.

Rating - 4

Value

We paid 46 Euros a night, the cheapest hotel in our EU stay.

Rating -5

Food

I was surprised, but the breakfast buffet was absolutely excellent. We didn't know it at that stage, but it was to become one of the best breakfast we were going to have. Buffet style, with loads of choices, including cold cuts, loads of cheeses, heaps of different breads, and best of all, fruit! It was all tasty!!!

Rating - 5

Snooze Points - 22

Info

Ostendstr. 24-26, 60314
Frankfurt/Main, Germany
Phone 069 4304040