Tag: Europe Hotel Review

The latest Europe Hotel Review from THEGAYUK.

GAY TRAVEL | Amsterdam is more than damn thrilling
Paris may try to lure you in with its reputation for style and sophistication, Berlin with its unconventional ways and underground creativity and San Francisco with its liberal mindset. Amsterdam, however, has all of this but doesn’t feel the need to flaunt it. It is the coolest looking person in the club, and it knows just how cool it is. If Amsterdam didn’t exist, you would think it’s too unbelievable to be real, a fictional utopia, the product of an over-zealous mind.

Pexels / Pixabay

As always the Eurostar journey was effortless, the perfect combination of speed, practicality and comfort, which could almost be the motto on the coat of arms of the city I was heading for. You can travel directly from London to Amsterdam for as little as £35 per person, and Amsterdam to London (with a stop in Brussels) for £65.50 per person. Time your return to London smartly and spend the day in Brussels at no extra cost.

ernestovdp / Pixabay

My destination was The Toren hotel, only 15 minutes walk from Amsterdam Centraal Station, nestled seductively in the iconic canal belts of the city and the perfect location from which to explore the main attractions at the heart of Amsterdam. Chic, theatrical and more than a little bit mysterious, this old building blends warmth and comfort and is rich with vivid patterns and lush interiors.

Photo by: thetoren.nl

The Toren is almost too good to be a mere hotel as I couldn’t decide if I wanted to just stay there all day or explore the sights of Amsterdam, that’s how inviting the place is. It also was the perfect inspiration for how my own home could be. The bed was comfortable, the decor deep, dark and elegant, the curtains draped heavily as if they were hanging blankets, the bedding had the reassuring and luxurious weight and feel of curtains and the lighting was designed so that you could adjust to any mood desired; to rest or digest, for ambience or excitement…or even fight or flight!

Photo by: thetoren.nl

When I entered the bathroom, I realised that I had met my match! A Jacuzzi bathtub, which had industrial style settings… so don’t expect soft bubbles, this is bubble technology as a deep but sensual massage. It featured a dual shower block for 2 people which also doubles as a steam room, complete with comfortable seats, and an intelligent toilet with an activated sensor that raises and closes the seat.

Photo by: thetoren.nl

Typically for The Toren’s habit of never cutting corners when it can offer a bit more indulgence, the toilet seat even heats up. Breakfast felt as if you had been invited to your Auntie’s house for a buffet; charming, warm and wonderfully intimate. With an open fire, The Toren bar is strikingly inviting and almost like a secret hidden from the foot traffic of Amsterdam and the staff are more than just personnel, they are nothing short of point-blank comfort ambassadors.

Photo by: thetoren.nl

But if you can drag yourself away from this glorious and inviting place, then there is plenty to see and experience.

8 Things To Do While Staying At The Toren
1. Anne Frank’s House, a museum that has retained the required authenticity and subdued atmosphere to match its sombre but poignant back story.
2. Walk to the famous Heineken Brewery. A guided tour of their factory is undoubtedly worth checking out, and so is their non-alcoholic beer.
3. The Van Gogh Museum, a must-visit for art fans and culture vultures alike.
4. All roads lead to Dam Square, the real heart of Amsterdam, where you can casually check out The Royal Palace, the Nieuwe Kerk and the War Memorial in a square that is the embodiment of the iconic look of Amsterdam.
5. Jordaan is a neighbourhood somewhat akin to London’s Cockney East End, a blend of the working class past and modern gentrification, the perfect collision of old and new, rich and poor.
6. Men seeking more hedonistic or at least social options should visit Nieuwezijds Gay Sauna which offers a fully licensed bar with lounge, whirlpool, Turkish bath, Finnish sauna, private cabins, light meals, masseurs, smoker’s lounge and ample relaxing and cruising space. Look out for No Towel Tuesday!
7. Prik, a wonderfully inviting LGBT cocktail bar hidden in the city’s heart and while compact and bijou, is intimate, warm and welcoming.
8. People watch in one of the ubiquitous cafes and coffee bars which you can’t avoid finding as you travel around the city.
In short, Amsterdam knows just how damn sexy it is, so much so that it doesn’t even have to try to make you fall in love with it, that just happens naturally.

Written By: Ray Si – Proud Member of IGLTA
22nd January 2019
Considering travelling to Belgium or France by coach? You might want to reconsider

It is better to travel well than to arrive, at least, that’s how the saying goes. The idea being that the journey itself should be an equal experience, form part of the memory, add some quality to the overall excursion, as much as the destination. That’s the theory anyway.

Coach travel operators Ouibus, however, seem not to have heard of this phrase.

I’m an adventurous type of person, open to new ideas and experiences, and so never having travelled to Europe by coach, normally preferring the Eurostar or plane, I thought that my planned trip from London to Bruges and on to Lille was within reasonable distance for a coach trip. Ouibus, by the look of their website, were the perfect balance of affordability and service that I was looking for, and so there I was at Victoria Station at the appointed hour to start my journey to Belgium and then to France. I was there, but sadly the coach wasn’t!

With no representatives from Ouibus available at Victoria Station, there was no way of knowing if the coach was late, cancelled, or if the departure times had changed. As my fellow travellers and I sat around the designated waiting area, a glorified cloakroom with all the charm of a low brow nightclub the morning after their busiest night and prior to the cleaners arriving, we came up with a quite reasonable plan. Ring customer service. A twenty-minute wait to be connected to an international number only to then be disconnected without speaking to anyone didn’t improve collective spirits, but finally, only two hours late, our carriage drove into view.

Not quite the level of luxury that the website had indicated, but there was designated seating to prevent that disorderly scrum that happens as people rush for the best seats. Sadly, the Ouibus staff failed to regulate or organise the flow of bodies, and the system quickly descended into chaos. But at least we were now on the way.

Or we would have been if the coach had been punctual, but the two-hour delay ensured that we were stuck in the worst of the London commuter traffic, adding another two hours to the journey as we inched our way through the nose to tail congestion that is part and parcel of inner city life. There was a Wi-Fi connection, but this was only a limited service, so I occupied my time watching the south of England and eventually the west of Belgium pass by the window.

The time allotted to a long lunch stop I had planned in Bruges had already been eaten up by the delays, and again without a company representative to consult, I hopped straight onto the Lille connection, which was surprisingly comfortable and spacious for the remaining 45-minute jaunt.

And if my journey had been frustrating and disappointing, The Grand Hotel Bellevue in Lille was total consolation. A 4-star hotel but plush enough to have been rated 5, located on the Grand Place or main square, wonderful urban views and positioned right at the city’s heart. What more could you ask for? Grand, plush bedrooms? They have that too. Great service? Absolutely. The feeling of being treated like royalty? Check.

Lille is not only a great city for families and romantic breaks, historical visits, and to soak up the rich culture, it has a wonderful gay social scene, especially at La Privilege, a very stylish and chic gay friendly bar and club, beautifully embellished and not overly expensive, and all just a short walk from the hotel. If you feel like a bit of a change, then Vice Versa across the road, though more of a boisterous, clubland vibe, is also worth checking out.

The city, in general, is a wonderful experience; there is strong support for local arts and the cafe culture, and night-time social scenes are vibrant and friendly. Two nights are enough to experience everything you need, and if you prefer a quieter place to stay whilst doing so, Grand Hotel Bellevue’s sister Hotel Couvent des Minimes is your answer.

So my advice to you comes in the form of another famous phrase. You get what you pay for and Ouibus’ cheap ticket price is such for a reason. Say no to the Ouibus, say oui (yes) to Eurostar, but ensure you experience both Bruges and Lille at least once in your life.

Written By: Ray Si – Proud Member of IGLTA

22nd June 2018
HOTEL REVIEW | The Hotel, Brussels – perfect for a 24 hours in Gay Brussels

24 Hours in Gay Brussels

Obviously, you can’t hope to get to know any city via just a one day stay but, if you know how to organise your time, you can combine a relaxing and luxurious break with enough of a flavour of the place to make it a memorable experience and Brussels is perfect for such a trip. Without much time available to travel too far from your base, choosing the right hotel is essential, it being required to deliver all the necessary wining, dining and pampering needs and easy access to other amenities is also essential.

Located on the Boulavard de Waterloo in the Louise district of Brussels, the equivalent of Chelsea or Knightsbridge, but without the pretentious feeling that often is associated with those parts of London, The Hotel Brussels, is an ideal base of operations to explore and soak up the city’s vibes. Continuing the theme of concise titles, The Restaurant offers a weekly menu with the focus on local, fresh and seasonal produce that combines both the authenticity of Belgian cuisine and chef Pierre Balthazar’s own unique creativity. It should be noted that vegetarians may find their hot breakfast options to be a little on the limited side.

The rooms are an oasis of refinement and space, the decor is modern and light, though one drawback is that the bathrooms are not only open plan but the toilet door is hinged to serve also as the shower door. Fine if you are staying with someone who has seen it all before, not so ideal if you are just sharing with a friend.

The Hotel also offers a spa and fitness suite, located on the 23rd floor of The Hotel meaning that whilst you exercise you can take in the sumptuous views of the city. It’s a little on the small side but the views do make up for this. You can also indulge yourself in a visit to the sauna or steam room and spa treatments are also on offer.

What to do when in Brussels

You could use the combination of dining, relaxing and wellbeing as the extent of your visit, but step outside the hotel and a wealth of experiences opens up. If Belgium is known for one thing it is chocolate and Groovy Brussels offers a walking tour to help you appreciate this most exotic of foods. Over two and a half hours you will visit six of the most beautiful chocolate shops found in the heart of the medieval city passing along beautiful galleries, romantic city views and impressive monuments. The tour might not be your cheapest activity around but you will come away from this memorable experience with a much better understanding of the history and culinary art of chocolate.

If something more social is your goal then there are a cluster of gay bars nearby such as the iconic Le Belgica, with its wealth of drinks, including the world-famous Belgian beers, and top DJ’s pandering to all of your House and Techno needs. There is also a great selection of restaurants nearby especially if you want to find something away from the hustle and hassle of the tourist routes around the Grand Palace.

And as you want to get the most out of your brief time in the city, it is worth noting that the Eurostar terminal is an easy walk from The Hotel allowing you to maximise your time getting to know the city itself.

Written By: Ray Si – Proud Member of IGLTA

31st May 2018
GAY TRAVEL | Costa Del Sol: 24 hours in 20°C

If you have never visited the Costa Del Sol might it of been because you are not ready to retire, don’t need a tan, don’t want to socialise with Brits abroad or don’t care for an English breakfast or perhaps that was just me.

I had to add some gay travel glam to this trip so booked a direct flight from London City Airport to Malaga and with a flight time of 2hrs 40mins and the welcoming temperature of 20°C (Feb ’18) this was a great start.

A 20-minute drive from Malaga airport is Torremolinos a beach town obsessed by the Brits wanting to escape the grey’s of the UK to catch some of the 300 days a year sunshine in the comfortable climate of this Mediterranean resort town. Sol House Costa Del Sol by Melia occupies the edge on one of the sandy beaches that is La Carihuela.

Waking up to views of the ocean and the seafront promenade in one of the hotels main attraction (stayed in House Suite). Its cosy modern loft style design can be divided into two private independent spaces by a sliding door.

The Sol House Costa Del Sol Hotel is in a very desirable location with easy access to Benalmádena which hosts one of the best marinas in the world. Having explored a few of the beachfronts in the nearby areas you will notice that La Carihuela has a more compact feel with a nice bustling energy of locals and visitors exploring this stretch.

There are numerous activities, trips and excursions that the Sol House offers which easily places this hotel in the family and pet-friendly category. The hotel’s resort approach will have a few surprising beach gifts waiting for you in your room which offers a considerate welcome.

Breakfast time can be quite stressful at this hotel as if you are lucky enough to get a vacant table right away you will still end up with warm toast and cold tortilla (omelette) or vice versa – I just don’t know how to mathematically work my way around those buffet breakfast’s especially when hot food should be hot…so cereals and fruit it is.

After the commotion of breakfast, it was wonderful to discover this serene water culture haven in Malaga – Hammam Al Andalus. The Hammam experience at these Arab baths allows you to enjoy the water journey, massages and rituals without any overcrowding since they have a strict capacity for each session which adds to the exclusivity of your visit. This gem has some wonderful touches that will make the feeling of being wrapped in clouds a possibility. Hammam Al Andalus is so peaceful I almost felt as though the elegant staff can sense when you need assistance and then serenely appear.

I always find it a turn off when restaurants try to lure diners from the promenade with staff or advertising – I don’t want pizza, all day English breakfasts, kebabs or generic tapas. I wanted somewhere where the food speaks for itself and not dependent on advertising or location – I won the food lottery with finding the discreet, humble and enticing Lime and Lemon. Every dish was like a visual theatrical experience. Their tapas menu raised the bar for combined flattering tastes and creativity all without the hefty price tag. It was no surprise that this quaint passion joint was fully booked. The snug atmosphere that the owners create all match the pleasing dishes they produce.

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The Sol House Costa Del Sol Hotel arranges themed nightly performances however; leave yourself plenty of time to order a beverage as like me, you may go unnoticed at the bar (and I’m very tall).

I would definitely return to the Costa Del Sol – unless Lime and Lemon open up and take a squeeze out of The Big Apple or London.

Written By: Ray Si – Proud Member of IGLTA

24th April 2018