Crowne Plaza Amsterdam

Very convenient, just opposite the end of Centraal Station.  Best internet of any hotel, and very helpful staff.  The restaurant is a bit Dutch, i.e. Efficient and functional rather than warm and romantic, but I dont have a problem with that.  Lots of shops and restaurants nearby.  I am sure it is expensive, but I was not paying.  Recommended.

Last weeks hotel Travelodge Southwark

Can you tell the difference 

The Thistle Birmingham

The wind it whistled.  And the flags flapped.  Just outside the window

Last week's hotel: Kingsway Hall Hotel, London

Couple of minutes walk from Holborn station, so not far from the British Museum.

Prices can be seriously variable, from £100 to £200/night.

Staff very pleasant, food nice enough but not outstanding, room lovely. I would be seriously hacked off by the £10 internet charge if I had not been comped.  The gym is basically a large hot tub, and 4. Cross trainers.  Still by London standards, it is something.

Haapy to be back, and to stay again.

Holiday inn Express, Milton Keynes

Very nice, and very close to the M1.  Free wifi which was ok until everyone started using ut.

Travelodge Waterloo Central

Reasonable wifi, reasonable and very nice breakfast - but rather expensive at £166/night. Quiet enough too which is always a worry when you are on the ground floor.

Thankfully I was not paying.  And this time there was some shampoo - admittedly in a dispenser on the shower wall, but not to complain.

Today- Ballabridge hotel, Dublin

Hardly here long enough to form an opinion, but good wifi, good shower, full Irish breakfast.  What more do you want?  Nice bed.  Just didnt have enough time in it.

Yesterday's hotel: The Rugby Hotel, Rugby

Pretty much opposite Rugby School, this looks like the sort of place choose to stay when they are paying rather than an identikit business box.  Wifi was good, shower rather feeble, breakfast full english.

Rather nice.  Probably back to the Travelodge next year though, just because it is closer to my venue.  But I

'd be happy to stay here again.

Todays hotel: London Continental Hotel

Very affordable, and provides wifi and shampoo.  A bit hot, but then London is a bit hot today.  It might be a bit cold other days.  I shall find out.

Hyde park boutique hotel

Hidden gem

Park lane mews, London

Wifi dosnt really get to this room

Earlier in the week's hotel room: Jury's Inn, Brighton

Well it could hardly be more convenient for the train station because it is just beyond the drop off turning circle - maybe 100m from the platforms.  But no train noise.
Free wifi, which was pretty reasonable. Hotel was more expensive than I would have liked, but then again it was sea side resort in summer.  Clean and comfortable.  Typical Jury's Inn in other words (apart from the free wifi).  Shower was a bit feeble, but I had more beds than I needed.

An earlier week's hotel- the Pavillion, London

The Pavillion is a "rock and Roll" hotel.  Very cheap through Laterooms, and too small to swing a cat.  Yes that IS the bed.  But I shall use it again.  Convenient for where I need to be, and a place to crash.  And distinctly stylish.  Or weird.  Your choice. No gym, obvs.  Didn't check wifi, but there was a TV.

This weeks hotel room: Kensington close hotel london

Just off high street Kensington.  Quite roomy for London.  Pay for wifi and gym, which sucks.

Two weeks to go in the season

And Liverpool are still top.  Though not favourites, and we won't be top when we next play.  But time to appreciate our best season for a long time. It's not we could have been contenders. We were contenders. That will have to do.

This weeks hotel- Hilton Istanbul

Very "the shining".  I like it.  A reminder of the days when Hiltons were Hiltons, not over priced Travelodges.

This week's hotel: Travelodge Waterloo Central, London

Apologies for me scruffing the room up before the photo.  What is there to say.  It's a Travelodge. Quite close to Waterloo Station IF you know how to get out of Waterloo station.  I didn't.  And so it was a bit of a hike. Not their fault.

Unlike the lack of free WiFi, or shampoo.  I am sure that all helps keep the rates very reasonable, but it is a bit of a downer to have to go to the corner shop for shampoo.  Also luckily there is a corner shop on the corner.  Possibly on both corners of the block.  It is well served, along with a Sainsbury's express opposite Waterloo station.

The shower only worked if you held the head in place, but to make up for that they offered me a free breakfast.  Sadly I had already eaten.

Clean enough, safe enough, and probably reasonable enough (I didn't choose or pay - seems to be £88/night).  Not quite the Ritz Carlton though.

Last Weekend's hotel room - De Vere Greenwich, London

Not a great picture, but a great hotel and a bargain.  Less than £130 for 2 nights for 2 in London.  I know people who expect to pay twice that for one night for one.  Admittedly this was for a weekend break, but it is great value.
The hotel itself is an old Admiralty building, and the location is fantastic - about 100m from the Cutty Sark (so about 150m from a tube station and the water bus).  Greenwich itself is interesting, and has a good range of restaurants and bars.  OK, it is 30 minutes from central London, but this was the heart of Empire, and of course of GMT.
The hotel has free wifi, and is nice throughout though a little generic.  Rooms are fine, and by London standards quite roomy (i.e. you can walk in them rather than shuffle).  The Admiral's bar is reasonably priced too, which is a surprise.  Strongly recommended.

Oh, and apparently Thor stays there.

Longer days

It is already noticeably brighter in the afternoon, if not in the morning.  This is an annual good thing.