HOTEL REVIEW
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InterContinental Warsaw Warsaw, Poland
contact details Emilii Plater 49, 00-125, Warsaw, Poland T: +48 22 328 8441 E:
warsaw@ihg.com W: www.warsaw.
intercontinental.com
The Hotel: Opened in 2004 the fi ve-star hotel has quickly established itself as Warsaw’s leading luxury property. It has 326 guest rooms and suites and an additional 75 long-stay luxury suites Where Is It? The hotel is located in the heart of the city and is one of its largest buildings. It is right next to the Palace of Culture and Science, a major tourist site. The Old Town, another major attraction, is within easy walking distance. It’s a 30-minute taxi transfer (22 Euros) to the city’s Frederic Chopin airport and just 300 metres from Warsaw’s main train station. The Room: I stayed in an entry-level standard room. Very spacious, features included a large L-shaped bathroom with a bath and shower and wall-to-wall views of a cityscape dominated by the Palace of Culture, Poland’s highest building. The room featured a king-size-bed, bar
and coffee-making area, a work station and an ‘automated’ mini-bar (move an item out of its slot in the fridge and it’ll appear on your bill!)
The Merton Hotel St Helier, Jersey
contact details The Merton Hotel Belvedere, St Saviour Jersey JE4 9PG Channel Islands T: +44 (0) 1534 724231 F: +44 (0) 1534 768603 E: enquiries@mertonhotel. com W:
www.seymourhotels. com/the-merton-hotel
The Background: One of Jersey’s best-known hotels, The Merton has been welcoming visitors for over 90 years. More of a self-contained resort than a hotel, the property recently completed its latest refurbishment and now offers a range of facilities to keep everyone as busy or as relaxed as they want. Where Is It: It is conveniently located next to Howard Davis Park, about a 15-minute walk or fi ve-minute taxi from the town centre and nearest beach. The Room: We were not able to have interconnecting rooms but the hotel did provide us with rooms next to each other. Both rooms were adequately furnished although a lack of air-conditioning or fan made it quite stuffy. There was a TV with a selection of free-to-view channels. The bathroom was small but suited our needs. Facilities & Activities: The hotel is geared towards families. There’s a choice of six restaurants, cafes and bars plus an entertainment lounge with nightly shows. The Kids Zone has a range of
Discerning views on the latest hip hotels, at home and abroad
The Facilities: The signature restaurant, Platter by Karol Okras (a well-known celebrity chef), offers traditional Polish fare with a classy modern twist. The menu changes each season (for example, autumn choices include lightly-grilled forest deer marinated in acacia liquor). Each Sunday a second restaurant,
Downtown, serves up a huge buffet, for 35 Euros. The One Bar is an open, relaxed bar with a good wine and cocktail list and ultra-comfy brown leather chairs. The E-Wedel café, in the lobby, features drinking chocolate, pralines and cakes from one of Poland’s best known chocolate-makers. The Riverview Wellness Centre, with a
swimming pool, gym, sauna and steam bath, is located on the 43rd and 44th fl oors, with great views over the city. The Pearl Beauty Centre has a menu of facials, massages and hairdressing services. Recommend To: Anyone looking for a top-quality hotel in a very central location. The Cost: Rates fall as low as 75 euros, with breakfast, on weekends.
The Verdict: The Intercontinental Hotel is primarily a business hotel – but that means great bargains are on offer to leisure travellers looking for a weekend break. The Riverview Wellness Centre is one of the top health facilities in the city and Platter by Karol Okras among its most classy eateries. The perfect recommendation for a short break with style. Steve Hartridge
Exceptional OK
Stay Away! Loved It
arcade games and there’s an outdoor children’s play area, a crèche and a special club aimed at the 10-to-teens. A fi tness centre has a range of equipment and The aqaudrome houses the indoor part of the swimming pool, a sauna, steam room and aquaslide and lazy river.
The outdoor pool was a good size and
lifeguards are on duty around both pools. The main attraction was the FlowRider which sends a thin sheet of water up a sloped, cushioned ride surface to create a wavelike fl ow of water. Guests are then
able to body board or even surf under the watchful gaze of the instructor. Recommend To: Families, particularly those with kids aged up to their mid-teens. The indoor and outdoor swimming pools were very safe and the Flowrider a big hit! The choice of restaurants was also a bonus. The Cost: Rates per room per night, in- cluding buffet-style full-English breakfast, are from £50-£170 for a standard double/ twin, £95-265 for a family room with bunk beds and £110-£305 for a family suite with twin beds. The Verdict: The Merton provides all that you could want for a family holiday. The FlowRider is the star attraction, but with all the other entertainment options and facilities there’s plenty to keep everyone occupied. A great choice for a family break. David Clare
Exceptional OK
Stay Away Loved It
22 xxxxx 2011 •
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