Crystal Bay Sports, Lauterbrunnen

If your heading to Lauterbrunnen there is not a great deal of choice in the tiny village. The main spots are the contiki camp at the bottom of the village or Crystal Bay Sports Hotel near the train station.

Now whilst it may not be comparable to other accommodations on the blog, the small family run hotel rooms are clean with fabulous views over the valley. You know when you get the brochure and the the view is nothing like the picture???? Well the view here is straight from one of those pictures - fantastic.

The room we stayed in was at the back of the hotel with a decent sized private bathroom on a high floor. Although the hotel is small, do not worry, it does have a small lift for those with heavy baggage. The room was large, light, airy and clean and the beds were comfortable with nice fresh linen.

The breakfast was a well stoked continental style with plenty on offer. The staff at the hotel were willing to try to accommodate requests for boiled eggs, cereals etc. for those not wanting the continental experience.

Lauterbrunnen is a very small town that is en route to Jungfraujoch and has easy access via train the the larger town of Interlaken. We did make the train trip to Interlaken as we were keen to check out prices on the Swiss made watches - yes they were quite discounted here =). We also found a giant Hooters - slightly took away from the Swiss Alps experience but it seemed to be doing a roaring trade non the less.

On advice from our hosts we caught the bus (not far about a 10 min ride) to Trummelbach Falls. Trummelbach falls belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Jungfrau-Aletsch and is listed in the Federal Inventory of Landscapes and natural Monuments of National Importance of Switzerland, so we thought it must be worth a look.

The falls provide walkways that allow access and viewing of deep crevices and caves that have been cut out by heavy streams of water. Its wet, its loud, and a unique half a day out - well worth the short trip. En-route you can stop for a quick putt putt game at the small and slightly humble course (no big clowns eating your balls or windmills launching them at speed as far from the hole as possible) just concrete and grass.s and caves

The cog train to 'The Top of Europe' Jungfraujoch, will require an early rise but is well worth it. The view, the ice caves and the husky dog sled rides are definitely worth it.

For James Bond fans you can visit Piz Gloria, the revolving restaurant sitting on the top of Schilthorn were scenes for 'Her Majesty's Secret' where filmed.

Due to the altitude you may find yourself rather weary on return. We arrived back to the hotel at 2pm (opting for the early train) decided to take a 'quick nap' and awoke at 10pm only to find there was nowhere open for the hungry travellers to get a feed =( Thank goodness that our lovely hosts at Crystal Bay had packed us a lovely brunch (we had advised the staff at the hotel we were heading to Jungfraujoch and would miss breakfast the the night before. They had arrived after dinner that night armed with a mini fridge packed with a large breakfast/lunch of croissants, sandwiches, snacks, fruit and juice). That brunch would have to tide us over until morning - still the trip was worth it =)

Nestled in a valley in the Swiss Alps, Lauterbrunnen was a welcome change of pace after completing a whirlwind trip through Europe. Going for walks, visiting the falls, the 'top of Europe' and admiring the view out of the window was just what we needed to recharge our batteries. having said that, it may not be the ideal stop for those wanting a fast paced energetic fun filled time. However, your energy could be put to use with snow activities on the mountain =)

Hilton, Anaheim

This hotel is located within easy walking distance and on the shuttle bus route to Disneyland. However, unfortunately the walk from entering the hotel lobby and getting to our room was almost as long as the walk to Disney =(

This is a huge hotel with many rooms being an unbelievable distance from elevators. At one point I almost lost the will to live after a full day at Disney (staying for the ever impressive final fireworks) traipsing corridor after corridor for what felt like miles to a weary traveller was almost too much.

We did have a slightly poor experience with guest reservations. We had paid for a 'Disney-view' room and had arrived into a room, which, in fairness was a Disney Glimpse but the window was directly in front of the large carpark so the main view was concrete and cars. On having a bit of a whinge and requesting a move the 'lovely lady' put us in a room next to the service elevator meaning that every couple of minutes the room rattled when the elevator went up and down and there was constant noise from staff chatting and moving furnitures, delivering room service etc. It was so bad I requested to move back to the 'car park view room' almost to the delight of the 'lovely' guest service representative - needless to say I did not like her for the duration of the stay.

The hotel fills its niche in that it provides reasonable accommodation in a good location for Disney and the Convention Centre, however we did feel it rested on these facts and that the level of service and the quality of the bathrooms in the hotel needed attention.

We would recommend this hotel to those requiring convenient accommodation to Disney and the Convention Centre. However, we would recommend requesting (carefully so as not to upset and be put next to the control room) a room that is not at the ends of the earth.

The shuttle 'Anaheim bus' is $10 for 3 days or $4 a day, whilst worth it if the weather isn't great, we often found it quicker to walk to Disney.

The hotel is more geared towards conference delegates and seems to look after this group well - to the point were we felt like unwanted relatives........due to this, the expectations we had of a Hilton (that was not met) and the extensive travel to rooms, we will not be returning,

Hilton, Sydney

The Hilton Sydney is a five star hotel in Sydney CBD that underwent extensive renovations in 2005.

The hotel is located opposite the Queen Victoria Building in the heart of the city, very handy for the shops and also within walking distance to Darling Harbour. The entry foyer is an impressive wall of glass and the staff at check in are polite and eager to help.

As with most Hilton hotels it comes with all the trimmings:

• Business centre
• Gym
• Pool
• Spa
• Restaurant
• 3 Bars
• Lobby cafe
• Wireless internet access

The rooms are clean, fresh and modern with remote control block out blinds,comfy beds, crisp white sheets, flat screen TVs and glass encased bathrooms with well designed lighting and all modern appliances.

Check out is a little later than some other hotels in Sydney and greatly appreciated =) The hotel is the proud and well deserving owner of the "best re-developed hotel' award 2005.

Occasions: Perfect for couples wanting a romantic getaway in the middle of the city giving plenty of choices.

Best bits: The remote controlled block out blinds are fantastic if you need a 'Nanna nap' after too much pounding of the pavement or shopping, or if you have had a big night the night before.

Worst bits: The Hilton has a club 'Zita Bar' which, whilst very trendy can lead to large queues, at times blocking side entry to the hotel and requiring patrons to validate themselves to burly security guards.

Keep in mind: Please ensure you check the room you have chosen has the upgraded bathroom facilities as some of the rooms are lacking this - we were bitterly disappointed on one of five visits to be without the new sleek bathrooms

Chaophraya Thai and Palm Sugar Lounge, Liverpool

This relatively new (opened in 2009) Thai restaurant is a welcome edition to the Liverpool food scene. The food is fresh and fabulous, reasonably priced and staff are pleasant and attentive without being intrusive.

Favourite dishes include: Pad Prik Sod (duck or chicken), Panang Curry, Gung Chup Pang Tod (tempura prawns) and the vegetarian spring rolls. We encourage you to work your way through the menu as its all good =)

The restaurant is tastefully decorated and has a great atmosphere. This, combined with the internal link in to the Palm Sugar Lounge makes it a great place for a night out.

There is also the option to secure a private dining room for groups - this has views into the Palm Sugar Lounge next door, where, if you wish to carry on the exclusivity, you can book private booths for your group.

Bring some extra cash if you will be making it a long night as Palm Sugar, as lovely as it is, does come with slightly hight drinks prices than other pubs and clubs in the area, however, the area and venue in my opinion warrants the extra charge.

What to wear:The restaurant is not pretentious at all and we have attended in shorts/t-shirt as well as dressed to the nines. However, most people to get glammed up and you will certainly want to dress to impress if planning to sweep into Palm Sugar afterwards

Prices: Entrees sit around the £7-9 mark, Main meals are £9-12 with individual rice portions at around £3

Other information: Bookings are essential to avoid disappointment, even on mid- week nights

Aguas De Ibiza, Lifestyle & Spa, Santa Eulalia Del Rio and Blue Marlin, Ibiza

Aguas De Ibiza is a member of Design Hotels and is located in Ibiza’s Santa Eulalia Bay marina far from the loud sounds, messy streets and rowdy revellers of San Antonio.

The hotel is wonderful and has become a firm favourite of ours.

There is free parking (on street) at the front of the hotel - a welcome change to the hip pocket, and our hire car stayed there safe and sound for the duration of the stay.

The rooms are large, bright and airy with all modern amenities. Clean lines, great tones and nice lighting make it easy to want to stay in your room/on your balcony for the duration of your stay.

The hotel has direct access to the promenade that leads around to the next little village and is flanked with restaurants and bars which makes it easy to stroll around whilst working up a hunger with plenty of food styles to choose from.

There is a boat trip from Santa Eulalia stopping at Cala Longa and San Antonio which is much cheaper than booking a guided vessel and has views just as good.

The only negative with this property is if you go in the off season. Arriving in May we were astonished to find that all hotel facilities were not available:

- roof top bar & pool was closed

- one of the hotel restaurants was closed

- limited staff on duty

However, to compensate these aspects the hotel was much cheaper than during peak times and the only reason the above was an issue was due to the fact that we were not advised this when booking.

Highly recomend making the trek to Blue Marlin. Our sat nav began taking us down dirt roads, over grown with head high grasses and we began to think we would never find our way out/back when the road opened into a dirt car park full of trendy mopeds, four wheel drives and sports vehicles. All of a sudden shorts and t-shirts did not seem the appropriate attire.

Yes, we would have preferred to have been aware of the venues reputation and clothed ourselves appropriately, but that was just our preference, as the staff treat everyone the same, make all feel welcome and there is a great relaxed atmosphere. The food is fantastic and for the quality you get not that expensive. The Blue Marlin is a regular haunt for celebs and plays host to some great DJs. It's cool, beachside, chilled vibe made this a highlight of the trip and although getting there may be hard (we have since heard there may be buses from the towns) it's well worth it.

Pablos, Lark Lane, Liverpool

As much as we like the fact that Lark Lane has its own eclectic/studnet vibe, Pablos is a welcome edition for those who want to enjoy a more modern restarant with a great bar.

The venue is trendy and comfortable and one very important feature (at least to woman) - Toilets are clean and faboulouslly decorated

The menus is reviewed often, there are set menus, mid-week specials, Sunday dinners, cheaper rate prior to seven and the food caters for all tastes. Wait staff are friendly and helpful making dinners a casual and enjoyable event.

Pablos bar has a wide variety of drinks and is one of few bars that stocks Bollinger Champagne - big ticks for that, as well as an extensive wine, beer and spirits menu.

If you wish to have a nice night away from the crowds of town then Pablos in Aigburth will not disappoint. A taxi to the restaurant from Liverpool CBD will set you back £8-£12 each way.

keep posted, as there will definitely be further reviews as we intend to return to this place again soon.

Hotel Griso, Lecco Italy

Located on Lake Lecco, a boat ride away from the more famous Bellagio the hotel venue is fantastic.

Reading lonely planet, Lecco did not get high ratings, but we were pleasantly surprised and happy that we chose this spot over the more popular Bellagio and Como.

It had a town feel, plenty of shops and places to eat and have a relaxing atmosphere.

We arrived by train from Milan - an ok but not too enjoyable experience - worth it though.

Having booked Lecco due to Bellagio being busier/pricier we thought we'd best check of what/if we had missed out on anyting and so decided to take the (quite expensive) boat trip to Bellagio. The village is nestled in between the water and mountains and has some fabulous scenery - one day we sat lake side for 4 hours taking it all in.

The boat trip was about 1.45 to 2 hours each way and the views were amazing. Although the boat was a little noisy it was a very relaxing trip.

On arrival in Bellagio we enjoyed a very quick trip round the city (the boat trip was a bit of a pain as the timings were not so good, you can either stop in Bellagio for 30 minutes or 5 hours) we decided to whip round the very small place in 30 minutes and were happy with the choice as we were still able to see most of the cobbled lanes, whiz past the shops, get all the photos we wanted, post cards and an gelato and be on our merry way.

After visiting Bellagio we were comforted with our choice of staying in Lecco as there is much more space and things to do, more choice in terms of where and what to eat, plus it is cheaper and more easily accessible - in our opinion Lonely Planet got it wrong and this place is great.

The hotel Griso was a welcome haven compared to other hotels expreienced throughout Europe with commanding views across the serene water. Our room was spacious with a large, well equiped bathroom (shower only) and a large balcony over looking the amazing lake and mountains- the view was fantastic.

Breakfast was above the typical fare offered by European hotels however McDonalds is a 20 minute leisurely walk around the lake for those who need to indulge in a heavier breakfast to get prepared for the day ahead.

The hotel restaurant served modern food with a seasonal menu that had a wide range of dishes. Please ensure you check the dress code as flip flops etc are not acceptable in the hotel restaurant.

All in all a great base for those wanting to take time to explore the Italian Lakes District over a week or so, or a lovely stop for those who have 3 nights to spend in a picturesque place but that also has a variety of choices in terms of things to do and places to eat in the lakes.

Could have sat on the balcony for the duration of the trip !

Restaurant Gordan Ramsey

Well, one of the most controversial chefs - do you love him/do you hate him...........I wasnt a fan and did go to the restauant purley due to wanting to try a Michelin starred restaurant in London and also to poke holes in the cocky chef.

However - It was worth every penny, the food was fantastic, staff were amazing and we would definitely go there again.

The only thing we did not love was trying to secure a reservation.........due to the demand for the restaurant and the need to keep the experience an intimate affair (meaning not too many tables) getting a table secured can require quite a few calls so please have a few dates and be flexible in order to secure a spot. You will also be required to secure the reservation with a credit card.

The restaurant has a variety of menus; a set lunch (3 courses £45pp), al a carte (3 courses £90pp), menu prestige (Degustation, £120pp), seasonal items and an extensive wine list.

The service was impecable, not pretencious at all. Although the staff were maybe a little too attentive (I dont need my drink topped up after each sip) they were pleasant, friendly and very knowledgeable. Nothing was too much trouble, we felt completely pampered and looked after and thouroughly enjoyed what can only be descrived as an experience. This is not just going out for dinner.

You phone up 28 days prior to your required date at 9am sharp if you want to secure a booking. This reserves you a tabel for the night - yes, the whole night. - a welcome change as many other restaurants seem to have the 'in at 6 out by 8 rule' that I hate so much. You are not given the 'you have it from 6-8' or ushered out with repeated coffee suggestions and the bill. Even when we had stopped ordering and had finished all food and drinks we were allowed to stay as long as we liked - no placing of the bill on the table or questioning if we were done. As soon as we motioned we were ready to leave the bill was prepared, our coats appeared and so did a taxi right at the front door.

Please be aware that a 12.5 % gratuity is added to each bill - however do not worry about this as after the service you receive ( the high level of waiter to patron ratio, the knowledgeable and friendly service) you wont be complaining too much.

Also note that there are dress requirements for the restaurant which is listed on the website. Our tip is to dress up but be comfy as you will want to eat til your heart is content and ladies - those suctions suits and tight dresses can be a little restrictive with such tempting treats on the menu.

At the end of the meal I was lucky enough to be serenaded by the Maitre d' Jean-Claude with his own version of happy birthday, complete with a lovely sorbet and birthday candle.

A visit is recommended, please see this as an experience and and all night event and do not book anything after dinner as you may want to take your time with the many tasty menu options or linger and relax after your meal.