Book a room or a suite in one of these beautiful Paris hotels that boast the perfect atmosphere to enjoy a dirty weekend in the City of Lights.

1. Le Fabe Hotel – Paris Left Bank

Passion, Desire, Together, French Romance, Opium, Silk & Drops and Happiness are some of the 17 guest rooms available at the trendy Le Fabe Hotel Paris. Divided into 3 categories – Pleasure, Charm and Cozy, these sexy hotel rooms boast modern amenities, stylish design and intimate atmosphere. Located in the romantic Paris Left Bank area, Le Fabe boutique hotel also offers a sauna open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (tip: book your free sauna session in advance).

2. Hotel Gabriel – Paris Le Marais

Boasting high-tech amenities and zen-like atmosphere, the Hotel Gabriel advertises itself like the first “Detox Hotel” entirely devoted to relaxation and well-being. Since its opening in February 2009, this brand new boutique hotel in Paris has welcomed guests in a superb Art Deco building in Le Marais district. Offering massages, detoxifying treatments and NightCove sleep system in guest rooms, the Gabriel is a great hotel for a relaxing weekend hidden in a private setting right in the heart of Paris.

3. Sezz Hotel – Paris Passy

A member of Design Hotels, the Sezz boasts sexy hotel rooms and suites in Paris, all featuring modern amenities, special stone walls, handblow lights, think carpets, woolen curtains and furniture designed by Christophe Pillet. At the Hotel Sezz guests are welcome by a personal assistant and can have a drink in the intimate alcove area of the first Veuve Cliquot Champagne Bar in the French capital. This Paris design hotel also offers a wellness center with Jacuzzi, steam baths and massage room.

4. Champs Elysées Plaza Hotel – Paris Champs Elysées

Centrally located next to the world famous Champs Elysées avenue, this Luxury hotel in Paris offers spacious and exciting Jacuzzi suites boasting the perfect atmosphere for a night of love and passion. The Hotel Champs Elysées Plaza also features an oriental sauna, a hammam, a fitness center, a hip bar and a gourmet restaurant offering the perfect setting for a romantic dinner in Paris. The Champs Elysée Plaza is amongst the best rated hotels on venere.com.

5. Elysées Regencia Hotel – Paris Champs Elysées

Perfect for a night of romance in Paris, the Elysées Regencia Hotel offers elegant guest rooms and two beautiful suites: the French fashion-inspired Blue Suite and the Lavander Suite filled with lavender scents. This Paris boutique hotel also features an exclusive lounge bar with red sofa and dark-colored parquet where you can relax and have a drink in an art deco setting. Personal massage service is available in either your hotel room or the “well being space” which boasts the perfect atmosphere for abandoning yourself.

Make your flight as comfortable and as conducive to sleep as you can. Listed below are some tips on how to put the comfort and the zzzzzzzz to your air travel:

1. Do the electronic check in to avoid the long queue and to get a better seating arrangement.

2. Avoid the seats at the end of the aircraft and those near the wings and toilets if you want minimal distraction, noise and movement.

3. Get to the airport early to minimize the stress. One time, I was the last passenger to check in and all eyes were on me when I stepped on the plane. Not to mention, I had to run from the check-in counter all the way to the aircraft and even long after the airplane took off, my heart was still palpitating.

4. Wear a pair of shoes that’s easy to slip on, without having to tie/untie each time you go through security check and to the toilet.

5. Wear or bring a thick pair of socks. That way, when you take your shoes off, your feet are still protected form the cold. If you’re still feeling cold, you can let your blanket hang loose to reach the soles of your feet.

6. Wear comfortable clothes. Consider the fit and the texture, nothing silky as it gets even colder when its cold. It should be something you could wear comfortably while sleeping without looking like you’re going to sleep (like a negligee or pajamas).

7. Bring a jacket. It may not be cold at the check-in counter but it’s worth tagging along when it gets cold up there.

8. Watch inflight movies. It’s an entertaining way to pass the time. There’s one movie which was never shown in local theaters here but thankfully, I saw it while flying with Northwest Airlines – Bottleshock. Unfortunately, not all airlines show free movies. I’ve learned that an Airline company is now charging pay per view to deal with the economic crunch.

9. Move around and stretch for better circulation. At the beginning of the flight, an instructional video shows easy exercises which can be done without leaving your seat.

When you’re feeling comfortable but still far from feeling sleepy, then

10. Read a book or a magazine. Bedtime stories are not just for the kids. Skip the suspense thriller and action genre (even for the movies), if you want to set your mood to sleep.

11. Listen to a relaxing music which can help ease the tensions in traveling and which can help you get to sleep.

12. Keep the remote control in its place. You might end up sitting on it, which is uncomfortable and you may accidentally press tn or call the steward.

13. Bring an eye mask. If it’s part of your sleeping regimen that all lights are turned off before you sleep, then recreate that environment by using an eye mask. If your child hugs a stuff toy when sleeping at home, you can either bring her stuff toy or make use of the pillow.

14. For the male traveler, pull out the wallet from your back pocket. It will create an uncomfortable bulge when you sleep and it will create an imbalance on your spine.

15. Instead of drinking soda and caffeinated drinks such as coffee and tea, opt for water. Skip on the sugary items, too. You can set aside your dessert for later, when you wake up.

16. The ideal posture is sitting at 135 degree angle so unless it’s meal time, take off and touchdown, pull your seat back.

17. Put the allocated pillow or blanket between your low back and the seat to alleviate spinal compression.

18. Relax and clear your mind. Avoid thinking of complicated matters which will keep your mind awake. Perhaps you can picture a serene view of the plains and hills and start counting sheep.

Sure, it is exciting to travel but it can be uncomfortable with long haul trips. If not addressed properly, the start of what could be a beautiful journey may end up disastrous and ruining the trip. Make sure you get a comfortable flight and a good sleep so you’re all set and recharged to begin your new journey.

“Sleeping on the Plane” picture by bravenewtraveler

• Extravalencia celebrates Las Fallas in Valencia, Spain.

• VisitScotland invites golf fans to attend this weekend’s Scottish Golf Show in Glasgow.

• Travel Tip tells you why you should inform your bank before traveling abroad.

• BudTravel recommends reading a travel article on the highest cities in the world.

All ideally located in the city center, these Paris hotels offer modern amenities and trendy interiors designed by famous French artists.

1. Hotel Bellechasse Saint-Germain Paris

The Bellechasse Saint-Germain is a small boutique hotel in Paris boasting unique interiors by famous French fashion designer Christian Lacroix. This wonderful design hotel also enjoys an outstanding location near the Musée d’Orsay, and a 10-minute walk from the Louvre Museum and the trendy Latin Quarter. The perfect spot for fashionistas, style junkies and art lovers visiting Paris!

Completely renovated in 2007, the Hotel Bellechasse offers very special guest rooms. All individually decorated by Christian Lacroix with beautiful frescoes and rich fabrics, these splendid hotel rooms feature iPod station, free wifi and flat-screen TV.

Hotel staff speak English, French and Spanish.

2. Hotel des Académies et des Arts

The Hôtel des Académies et des Arts is a great hotel for a romantic break in Paris. Ideally located in a small quiet street in the area of Boulevard Montparnasse, near the Luxembourg Gardens and Place Saint-Sulpice, this lovely boutique hotel in Paris welcomes guests in a warm, modern space and provides them with excellent, personalized service.

Des Académies et des Arts hotel rooms are small and cozy. Guests can choose between Art Deco bedrooms, Creative Art bedrooms and Classic Style bedrooms. In addition, some rooms overlook the hotel courtyard where are some of the greatest art works by French painter Jérôme Mesnager.

The perfect hotel in Paris if you like modern art.

3. The Five Hotel

The  Five is a fantastic design hotel situated in Paris Latin Quarter. Guests will enjoy the charm and the style of this small boutique hotel designed by Isabel Emmerique and characterized by the use of Chinese lacquer and fresh shades.

Hotel rooms boast ultramodern design and are decorated with different colors creating various atmospheres. Guests have the choice between the energy of the orange room, the tranquility of the black room, the discretion of the beige room, the richness of the violet room and the quietness of the green room.

Hotel staff speak French, Spanish, German, Italian and English.

4. Hotel Ares Tour Eiffel

The Ares Tour Eiffel is a design hotel located in Paris city center. Situated in the lively Motte-Piquet district, just a few minutes walk from the Eiffel Tower, the Champ de Mars gardens and the Village Suisse antique market, this charming Paris hotel welcomes guests in a contemporary décor with soft shades and modern furnitures.

The Hotel Ares Tour Eiffel offers spacious comfortable rooms featuring modern amenities including 26′ TV, movies on demand and free Internet access. This boutique hotel is a great spot for international guests and design fans visiting Paris.

Hotel staff speak French, English, Spanish and Italian.

 5. Hotel Odéon Saint-Germain

The Odéon Saint-Germain is a small, charming hotel situated in the heart of Paris, just a few steps from Odéon metro station, Place Saint-Sulpice and the Luxembourg Gardens. Featuring trendy but non-minimalist interiors, this elegant Paris hotel welcomes guests in a luxurious lounge that blends Middle-Age style and regency furnishing design harmoniously.

Th Odéon Saint-Germain offers romantic hotel rooms and suites boasting an intimate atmosphere. Room amenities include wireless internet access and satellite TV.

Hotel staff speak French and English.

Check out these 5 Copenhagen hotels close to Tivoli Gardens. Also conveniently located within walking distance of København H train station, these city hotels allow easy access to the most popular children-friendly attractions in and around Copenhagen, such as Denmark’s Aquarium, Zoologisk Have (Copenhagen Zoo), and Bakken Amusement Park.

1. Bertrams Hotel Guldsmeden

Part of the Guldsmeden hotel group, the Bertrams Hotel offers romantic rooms in Copenhagen, Denmark. Located in the Vesterbro area, right behind the main train station and a short walk from Tivoli Gardens, this Copenhagen hotel boasts luxury amenities including a 24-hour reception desks, a café-restaurant, meeting facilities, a shop where guests can purchase Guldsmeden beauty products such as organic shampoo and body cream, as well as a private parking at the Carlton Hotel Guldsmeden. This non-smoking hotel features a lovely inner courtyard with garden furniture, heating lamps and blankets, where guests can relax, away from the hustle and bustle of central Copenhagen.

2. Axel Hotel Guldsmeden

The Axel is another Guldsmeden luxury hotel in Copenhagen ideally located in the central Vesterbro district, just behind København H central station and a few steps from Tivoli Gardens. Ideal for a romantic getaway in Copenhagen, the Axel Hotel offers splendid guest rooms and suites blending modern art and traditional Balinese style furniture, as well as top quality amenities and services including 24-hour reception desk, fine dining restaurant, lounge bar, bike rental and fully-equipped conference and banqueting facilities. In addition, this Spa Hotel in Copenhagen features sauna, steam bath with essential oils, cold and hot tubs, and meditation and yoga area.

3. Hotel Kong Frederik

The Hotel Kong Frederik is situated in downtown Copenhagen within easy reach of the city’s finest restaurants, most popular tourist attractions and trendiest shops, bars and nightclubs. Located by Rådhuspladsen Town Hall Square, next to the main pedestrian street, Strøget, and Tivoli Gardens amusement park, this 4-star hotel offers high standard accommodation in Copenhagen and luxury hotel amenities including 24-hour front desk service, bar, meeting facilities, banqueting room, private car park, and wireless Internet access. This city hotel also boasts the award-winning restaurant Brasserie Le Coq Rouge, where hotel guests can enjoy fine French cuisine, wine and music in a chic Parisian atmosphere.

4. Hotel Danmark

The Hotel Danmark enjoys a central location in Copenhagen. Situated in a lively area filled with shops, bars and restaurants, this Copenhagen hotel offers accommodation near Tivoli entertainment park, Rådhus city hall and Glyptothek art museum, and only a 5-minute walk from the world famous Strøget (Copenhagen’s main shopping street). Owned by the Brøchner-Mortensen hotel chain, this city hotel has a trendy restaurant with terrace, where guests can enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet and sample genuine Danish food, including classic smørrebrød sandwiches. Hotel amenities also include 24-hour front desk service, private parking area, meeting facilities, and free wireless Internet access.

5. Ascot Hotel

Ideally located close to Copenhagen Tivoli Gardens, Rådhuspladsen City Hall Square and Strøget shopping street, the Ascot Hotel is a landmark hotel boasting a unique history. Dating back to the 19th Century, this 4-star hotel was originally Copenhagen’s Bath House and its architecture creates a very special atmosphere. Hotel amenities include 24-hour reception desk, comfortable guest rooms, bar, restaurant, modern meeting facilities, wireless Internet access, solarium, fitness room, banqueting and meeting facilities, and private parking area. In addition, hotel guests can rent a car or a bike on the premises.

The things they overlook might happen while traveling as they are occupied in trying to choose the gadgets they can take with them while overlooking the necessities for the gadgets to work.

Below includes a checklist for technical travelers:

• You should always be light since techies don’t normally fly to boring spaces which are not anything tech related. So, when you are ready to go to a tech literate place then it’s forever good not to overload since you don’t want to have gadgets that are not working in other countries. Bring what you need.

• Make it a point to the right plug adapter since different countries use different ones to avoid regretting after words.

• You must always have an extra battery for the computer or phone to use when needed.

• Bringing very many USB Sticks and Mini Mouse may lead to confusion, so have only those you need.

• Have scanned copies of your travel documents on places like your email in case you loose them.

• The airlines usually allow luggage up to 56 by 45 by 25cm so try to limit yours to that size.

• Must buy the calling cards of the destination country to be used if your phone is disconnected or gets spoiled.

• Money must be exchanged from your local currency to the one of the destination country in case of any trouble.

• You can avoid the language barrier by looking over the internet for how to read and address different languages since you will find that some countries only speak their native language and its good to know this before you go.

• Lastly, you must know how to manage time because what you do isn’t supposed to affect your normal time including being aware of what time your flight is to avoid ignoring anything since time is money.

Photo of Maldive Islands originally posted by Novecentino

Valencia, Spain is certainly one the best accessible destinations in Europe. The third Spanish city is a modern and dynamic center which offers museums and tourist attractions to all kinds of visitors. Valencia provides high quality public services and features disability equipments which ensure both seniors and disabled tourists an enjoyable stay on the sunny Costa del Azahar.

• Accessible Transport in Valencia

Although strolling through Valencia Old Town might not be so easy for wheelchair visitors since the area is a real maze of small cobbled streets, the city of Valencia is a great destination for visitors with reduced mobility or other disabilities.

First of all, Valencia is a good choice for physically challenged people traveling by air as accessible airport transfer is available. In fact, the International Manises Valencia Airport is connected to the city center by two wheelchair accessible metro lines (lines 3 and 5). Located in the northeast of Spain, Valencia is also an excellent choice for a day trip from Barcelona. The journey to Valencia Norte station takes about 3 hours and all trains feature wheelchair spaces and bathrooms specially-equipped for travelers with mobility issues.

In addition, Valencia public transport system is excellent. Bus lines served all city beaches, tourist attractions and business venues and buses are all wheelchair accessible vehicles equipped with ramps and low steps. Valencia underground network has also been adapted to welcome people who suffer physical impairment. It is entirely accessible to wheelchair users, except at the following metro stops: Sant Isidre, Hospital, Patraix, Jesús, Plaza Espanya, Túria and Beniferri. Many metro stations also have ticket booths with Braille and audio information, as well as tactile surfaces to help people with visual impairment.

• Accessible museums and city sights in Valencia

Filled with museums, historical monuments and beautiful beaches, Valencia has put many efforts in making these sites of interest accessible to physically challenged and senior visitors. For instance, the IVAM (Museum of Modern Art) offers free admission to disabled visitors. All Valencia city beaches, such as Arena and Malvarrosa, are also fully-equipped to welcome disabled visitors and offer sea-wheelchairs for hire. They can be reached by accessible metro and bus lines and allow easy access to the sea. But the most remarkable example of accessible tourist attraction in Valencia is with no doubt the City of Arts and Sciences.

The new Ciutat de les Arts i de les Ciències is a fantastic cultural center featuring interesting permanent and temporary art exhibitions. Housed in an impressive, futuristic complex designed by Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava in collaboration with Felix Candela, the City is surrounded by large water pools and fountains.

Made up of five areas – El Museu de les Ciences Principe Felipe science museum, L’Oceanografic open-air oceanographic park, L’Umbracle garden, El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia Opera house, and L’Hemisferic planetarium and Imax cinema, Valencia City of Art and Sciences is a fully accessible museum: All buildings and areas are easy to access for visitors with disabilities and physical impairments: hearing loops, signage, elevators, ramps and adapted toilets are available everywhere in the City.

This Valencia museum also runs a monthly public workshop on disability, with the aim of raising public awareness on accessibility.

• Wheelchair friendly hotels in Valencia

Almost every hotel in Valencia is wheelchair friendly since most of the accommodations available are new or have been renovated recently, more especially in the area around the City of Arts and Sciences.

Here is a short selection of disabled friendly hotels available on venere.com:

Hotel Urbem Opera

The Hotel Urbem Opera is a stylish hotel ideally situated in the area of the City of Arts and Sciences, only 5 minutes from the Oceanographic and a short bus ride to Valencia city center.

This Valencia hotel offers spacious accommodations including rooms accessible to disabled guests. Boasting superb interiors, the Uberm Opera also boasts an array of luxury hotel amenities, such as business and banqueting facilities, a solarium terrace, a spa center, a garden, a beautiful design lounge bar, and a fantastic restaurant.

Venere Guest Rating: 9.0

Hotel Barcelo Valencia

The Hotel Barcelo is a brand new hotel located right in the heart of the City of Arts and Sciences, just opposite Reina Sofia opera house, and a few minutes away from Valencia Old Town.

Hotel facilities include disabled accessible rooms, 3 theme restaurants, a lounge bar overlooking the Ciutat de les Arts i de les Ciències, 2 meeting rooms, 6 offices, and a covered car park. The Hotel Barcelo Valencia also boasts a Spa & Wellness Center with sauna, Jacuzzi, fitness room and massage room, and offering chocolatherapy and wine therapy.

Venere Guest Rating: 8.7

Hotel Confortel Aqua 3*

Housed in a shopping center with restaurants, bars, bowling, cinema and car park, the Hotel Confortel enjoys an excellent location for guests visiting Valencia City of Arts and Sciences.

Featuring facilities for disabled people, this modern business hotel in Valencia boasts beautiful design furnishings and offers 8 meeting rooms, an Internet point, and a trendy panoramic restaurant offering splendid views of the Ciutat de les Arts i de les Ciències.

Venere Guest Rating: 8.5

Hotel Valencia Center

Standing on the modern Avenida de Francia, the Hotel Valencia Center is an elegant hotel offering wheelchair accessible accommodation very close to the famous City of Arts and Sciences and only a few meters from several bus lines taking you to Valencia city center.

Hotel amenities include an elevator, a lounge bar, La Magrana Restaurant, conference and business facilities, a covered car park, an outdoor swimming pool, as well as a fitness center with sauna.

Venere Guest Rating: 8.2

Picture of Valencia Science Museum and Imax Cinema at sunset originally posted by Andrew Parnell

Offering an array of luxury hotel facilities and services, such as massage, yoga, spa, and swimming pool, these resorts are also three great places to enjoy a spiritual retreat in Asia.

1. Villa Kubu Hotel – Seminyak, Bali

Nestled among the luxuriant Indonesian vegetation, Villa Kubu Bali offers luxury accommodation in sumptuous vacation villas located within a 10-minute walk of Seminyak Beach, a lively seaside resort full of bars, restaurants and designer shops.

Perfect for either a romantic honeymoon in Bali or an exotic holiday with your family, this fantastic luxury hotel boasts an intimate atmosphere and has a spa & wellness center.

Each villa of Villa Kubu Hotel offers all modern comforts and has a garden with gazebo and private swimming pool. Butler service is also available to ensure even the most demanding guest an excellent stay in Bali.

2. Uma Ubud Hotel – Gianyar, Bali

Members of the COMO Hotels & Resorts group, the Uma Ubud is a Bali luxury hotel located in Gianyar, only a few miles from Ubud city.

Overlooking the wonderful landscapes of the Tjampuhan Valley, this Bali hotel boasts interiors by Japanese designer Koichiro Ikebuchi and offers a wide range of services and amenities including conference and meeting facilities, bar and restaurant areas, outdoor swimming pools, gym, shuttle service and babysitting service.

The Uma Ubud Hotel is the perfect place for travelers seeking for body health and spirituality. The COMO Shambhala hotel spa & wellness center offers sauna, steam baths, pool, treatment rooms, reflexology area, meditation, yoga lessons. In addition, diet meals are available at the COMO Shambhala health restaurant.

3. Alila Ubud Hotel – Ubud, Bali

The Alila Ubud Bali is a luxury boutique hotel situated in the Indonesian village of Payangan, only a few minutes drive from Ubud and the mystic Ayung river. Designed like a traditional Balinese village, this luxury hotel in Bali offers an array of top-quality facilities and services in a peaceful environment.

Hotel amenities include an award-winning swimming pool with breathtaking panoramic views over the stunning Balinese countryside, private gardens, secluded courtyards, shady terraces, an excellent restaurant, a library, a boutique and an art gallery featuring contemporary Indonesian pieces.

The Alila Ubud Hotel also has a luxurious spa providing a vast choice of body and hair treatments, massages and meditation therapy.

1. Holiday Inn On the Hill

The Washington DC Holiday Inn enjoys an excellent location on Capitol Hill – an area filled with museums, art galleries, shopping venues and business buildings, only a couple of blocks from the US Capitol and three blocks from the White House.

This family-friendly hotel welcomes children with soap bubble toys and offers an array of facilities for kids including outdoor swimming pool and Nintendo games. In addition, the Holiday Inn hotel has a full-service restaurant that applies a “kids under 12 eat free” policy.

The Holiday Inn Washington hotel also offers a health & fitness center, free Internet access in guest rooms and common areas, conference and banqueting facilities, a gift shop, a lounge, and an ATM machine.

2. Morrison Clark Inn

The Morrison Clark Inn is an elegant boutique hotel ideally located in Downtown Washington DC, only a few steps from Washington Convention Centre and one mile from the major city sights, such as the White House and the Smithsonian Museums.

Built in 1864 as two separate town homes, this Downtown Washington DC hotel boasts stylish rooms and suites, as well as a lovely courtyard, banqueting and meeting facilities, an award-winning restaurant serving excellent American cuisine, and a fitness room.

Babysitting service, baby cribs, free wireless Internet connection, and access to a seasonal swimming pool situated two blocks from the Morrison Clark Inn hotel are also available.

3. Hampton Inn Bowie

The Hampton Inn is located in Bowie, Maryland, only a 15-minute driving distance from both Washington DC and Annapolis, 21 miles from Ronald Reagan Airport and less than 50 miles from Washington International Airport.

The city of Bowie offers an array of family attractions including FedExField Stadium – home of the Washington Redskins, The Showplace Arena & Equestrian Center, Prince George’s County Sports & Learning Complex, and Six Flags Amusement Park.

Ideal for a family holiday in the Washington DC area, this pet-friendly hotel offers an array of leisure facilities for children and parents alike: in-room Nintendo games, outdoor swimming pool, spa tub, and fitness center.

4. Best Western Capitol Skyline

The Best Western Capitol is a children-friendly hotel conveniently located within easy access to the main Washington attractions including the US Capitol, the Smithsonian Institute, the National Mall and the Navy Yard.

This Best Western Washington Hotel offers free wireless Internet access, banqueting and business facilities, a large parking area, complimentary health club passes, and free hotel shuttle to Downtonw Washington.

The Best Western Capitol Skyline Hotel also boasts an outdoor swimming pool with poolside bar, as well as the Skyline Diner restaurant that serves American cuisine and has convenient menu options that cater for kids and parents alike.

5. Georgetown Suites Harbour Bldg

The Georgetown Suites is a family-friendly Washington hotel located in the heart of Georgetown, an upscale neighborhood in Washington DC filled with shops and restaurants.

This first-class Washington DC hotel boasts comfortable, contemporary guest suites with all the comfort of home, including fully-equipped kitchen and laundry facilities. Also offering a fitness center, complimentary continental breakfast, free wireless Internet access and free local calls, the Georgetown Suites hotel is a perfect place for a family Washington vacation.

Baby cribs and roll-away beds, as well as free DVD and video players are available on request.

1. Hotel Swissôtel Hong Kong Macau Centre – Beijing

Located in Beijing Chaoyang North, the Swissotel Beijing is a Beijing luxury hotel that offers spacious, comfortable accommodations including suites, Executive Club rooms and disabled-friendly rooms right in the center of the diplomatic and shopping district.

The Swisshotel Hong Kong Macau Centre offers a business center with state-of-the-art meeting and conference facilities, as well as a vast choice of dining venues: The Café Swiss contemporary style restaurant, Happy Valley Chinese restaurant, The Flow Lounge & Bar, The Swiss Deli take away restaurant, The Beer Garden, and Kawa Japanese restaurant.

On the 3rd floor of the Hotel Swisshotel Beijing is a Spa & Wellness Center with sauna, steam rooms, fitness room, indoor swimming pool, and outdoor tennis court. Sporting activities including yoga, pilates, Tai Ji, different aerobic classes, Te Kwon Do and body dancing are also available.

2. Oriental Garden Hotel – Beijing

The Oriental Garden Hotel is a Beijing business hotel conveniently situated in the ancient neighborhood of Dongcheng and the area of Beijing CBD.

The Oriental Garden boasts an array of hotel amenities including a business center with function halls, banqueting rooms and interpreting service, as well as four restaurants serving delicious Western and Chinese cuisine, a café, a lounge bar, a gift shop, and private parking.

This high-class Beijing hotel also offers wellness & spa facilities and services with all you need to work out and relax during your stay in China: messages, beauty salon, Health & Fitness Club, gym, sauna, and indoor swimming pool.

3. Jianguo Hotel – Beijing

Located withing easy walking distance of the red line underground and numerous Beijing sights including China World, Silk Street, Ritan Park and the China World Trade and Exhibition Center, the Jianguo Hotel offers business rooms, executive rooms and business suites in the Beijing’s district of Chahoyang South.

Set around a beautiful Chinese water garden with sculptures and fountains, this Beijing hotel has five restaurants for all tastes: Justine’s French restaurant that offers yummy pastries in an elegant atmosphere, The Café that overlooks the garden and serves both international and Chinese food specialties, The Lobby tea room, Shang Court that offers Cantonese cuisine, and Charlie’s Bar that serves snacks and drinks in a pub-style setting.

Jianguo Hotel Beijing also boasts business facilities as well as an array of as a sport center featuring indoor swimming pool, sauna, gym and fitness equipment.

4. Redwall Hotel – Beijing

Situated just one block from the Forbidden City and a few minutes from some Beijing’s most popular tourist attractions, such as the Isle of Giada, Jingshan Park, Beihai royal Park, and Tienanmen Square, the Redwall Hotel Beijing welcomes guests in the Dongcheng South area.

Perfect for a business stay in the heart of the capital city of China, this Beijing hotel offers a bar-cafeteria, a snack bar, a restaurant serving authentic Chinese cuisine, as well as modern conference amenities including two meeting rooms and audiovisual equipment.

The Redwall Hotel is also a great hotel choice for fitness conscious guests on holiday in Beijing. The hotel offers excellent sport and wellness facilities including a fitness center, gymnasium, sauna, beauty salon, beauty shop, and traditional Chinese foot massage service.

5. Beijing Longtou Hotel – Beijing

The Longtou Hotel is a business hotel offering accommodation in East Beijing, only a 10-minute drive from the National Trade Center.

Located in the Chaoyang District, close to the city library and the antique market, this 4-star Beijing hotel boasts modern, spacious guest rooms, a Chinese restaurant, a Japanese restaurant, a barbecue restaurant, as well as five fully-equipped meeting and conference rooms.

Hotel amenities of the Beijing Longtou also include an entertainment room with chess and poker games, and a sport center with fitness equipment.

1. Watttredici Hotel – Milan Famagosta

The Watttredici is a brand new Milan hotel enjoying a great location in the capital of Italian style. Situated only a few steps from Alzaia Naviglio Grande waterways – a trendy area offering a vast choice of shops, cafés, and dining venues – this design hotel is the perfect spot for discovering Milan fashion district and experiencing the city’s lifestyle. In addition to modern guest rooms, this 4-star hotel offers relaxing lounge areas and a modern lounge bar, where you can participate in the traditional Milanese ritual of aperitif and taste yummy cocktails until midnight. The Watttredici Hotel also boasts a meeting room fully-equipped with innovative technologies.

2. Enterprise Hotel – Milan Fiera

Located in the lively neighborhood of Milano Fiera, the Enterprise Hotel offers comfortable rooms within short walking distance of FieraMilanoCity fairground and close to some of Milan’s trendiest night clubs. Representing the city’s creative spirit, The Enterprise is the first design hotel in Milan and is the perfect venue for social events, business meetings and fashion shows. Boasting a relaxing atmosphere, this 4-star Milan hotel features a gym, a cozy lounge area, a garden courtyard, the Event Plaza meeting room, the fashionable Privé wine bar, and the Sophia’s Restaurant offering excellent creative cuisine in a splendid, spacious loft.

3. Hotel Straf – Milan historic center

Hotel Straf is ideally located in Milan city center, a stone’s throw away from Via Montenapoleone shopping street and close to the Duomo Cathedral and La Scala Opera House. Combining classic elegance, Italian style and minimalist design, this luxury Milan hotel offers 64 rooms and suites with high-tech functionalities and comfortable amenities. The Straf Hotel Milan boasts fantastic interiors featuring innovative materials including cement, black stone, iron, burnished brass and scratched mirrors, as well as beautiful furnishings by Italian fashion designer Vincenzo De Cotiis. This design hotel also offers meeting facilities, a fully-equipped gym, a stylish cocktail bar and a modern restaurant open for lunch.

4. Hotel The Gray – Milan historic center

Situated in the city center, a few steps from La Scala Opera House and the Duomo Cathedral, The Gray is amongst the newest Luxury hotels in Milan. Set opposite the elegant Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, this design hotel offers meeting facilities and comfortable, spacious guest rooms in the very heart of Milan’s financial and shopping district. Boasting stylish interiors with modern Italian design by Florentine architect Guido Ciompi, The Gray Hotel also has a splendid lobby and the ‘GBar’, which welcomes guests in an intimate atmosphere with background music. Serving delicious Mediterranean and International cuisine, the hotel restaurant ‘Le Noir’ is the perfect setting for your banquets and cocktail parties in Milan.

Dear Travel Agony Aunt,
I frequently travel for business and always notice that 4 and 5 star hotels usually apply a surcharge for internet access in the room. When I go on holiday and stay in budget hotels, internet access is usually free. That doesn’t make sense at all! Shouldn’t it be the other way around? More “free” comfort in luxury hotels and paid extras in budget hotels?
Mijntje, age 31, from Holland

Dear Mijntje,
The practice of most luxury hotels charging for internet access while most budget hotels offer free internet access seems very strange, it actually makes perfect economic sense. Economist Robert Frank explains the economic principle of this puzzling anomaly in pricing strategies in his book The Economic Naturalist – Why Economics Explains Almost Everything.

The cost for hotels of offering internet access is flat: once the hotel has installed its wireless internet connection there is no extra cost to the hotel if additional guests log on to the system. It would seem logical to just include internet access in the room price.

The market for budget hotels is more competitive than the market for luxury hotels, simply because there are less luxury hotels than budget hotels and luxury hotels offer more specialized services. Hoteliers in the competitive budget market advertise the free internet access in order to lure away customers from other budget hotels that don’t offer this service for free. The free internet access becomes a competitive advantage.

Then why don’t luxury hotels do the same thing?
Luxury hotel guests are likely to be either rich or traveling for business on an expense account. They are not as sensitive to price difference than budget travelers are. The simple answer is: luxury hotels tend to charge for internet access because they can (for now at least). Budget hotels could charge for internet access too, but most of them choose to advertise their free internet to price-sensitive guests who will choose them over a competitor that charges for internet.

Even in these days of Star Alliance, standardisation, and what with the various, increasing facets of globalisation, it’s important to find out whether or not the carrier you pick will let you down. Nothing stings more than not checking up on your information first, as I found out once after getting on a plane for a 14-hour flight to Frankfurt and finding the legroom was barely at amoebic levels, and that there was not one thing, aside a mindless in-flight magazine and a projector playing just two movies, to keep me entertained.

I will no mention the airline on here, nor will I ever fly them again. But before any Venere blog readers make the same mistake as I did, before booking the flight, always make sure these factors are included:

1. Personal in-flight Entertainment

Make sure, never, ever, to book a long-distance flight without it. Yes, people always say they’ll mostly just be reading their book or trying to sleep, but don’t you believe them. 99% of them will be sitting goggle-eyed at it the whole flight, with nary a toilet break. It’s important to understand that actually, you’re not the philosophical, literary hippy you think you are, and will actually just end up diving into the entertainment in a desperate bid to see if they’ll be showing Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street yet.

2. The Special Diet Option

A top travel trick of mine. Requesting one of the special meals on economy class (diabetic, hyperglycaemic, gluten free) beforehand will not only mean you’ll get your meal before everyone else, it’ll most likely be of a much higher quality. I discovered this trick years as a young boy. While everyone else was reluctantly munching away on artificial-looking packaged cornflakes accompanied by room temperature milk, I was scoffing down a delicious honey-oat breakfast roll. What makes it even better is that you can still order all the other items on the list which are not associated with forced diets. Just expect weird looks when the Cabin Crew wonders why an apparent Diabetes sufferer is demanding a Pepsi with ice.

3. Reserved Seats in Strategic Areas

A big travel controversy which pops up is where the best seating lies. Let me tell all the uninformed right now that the worst seats on the plane are the ones just behind the lavatories, mainly because of the noise and often the uncomfortable seekers in aid of relief lining up right next to your seat, hopping on one foot.

The best economy seats by far are the ones that lie just behind the Economy Class and Business Class barrier. Not only can you catch the whiffs of superior food being served, but also the legroom will be better because of no seats in front of you.

Please remember this advice next time you’re on the move. It’s amazing how just some minimal preparation will improve your flight to no end.

Enjoy your travels!

Photo of airplane window originally posted by Hyougushi

Buses, taxis, motorbikes, tuk-tuks,… Bangkok’s traffic is notorious and getting around town is often exhausting. So if you are planning a holiday in Bangkok, you may be looking for a hotel with wellness facilities to relax and pamper away from the hustle and the bustle of the city.

Here is a selection of three luxury Bangkok hotels, which offer everything you need to work out and de-stress during your stay in the capital of Thailand: swimming pool, Jacuzzi, spa, sauna, steam bath, fitness room, massages, and body and beauty treatments.

1. Hotel Lebua at State Tower

Situated in the city’s business district, a few steps from Thailand shopping paradise – The Central and Robinson malls, the Hotel Lebua at State Tower offers luxury suites in Bangkok, all equipped with state-of-the-art amenities and boasting fantastic views of the town and the River Chao Phraya.

This modern 5-star hotel features an array of facilities, including some of the best bars and restaurants in Bangkok, a business center, an outdoor swimming pool with Jacuzzi and jet nozzles, as well as a wellness center.

Open daily from 6.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m., the hotel health and fitness club has a fully-equipped gym with cardiovascular and resistance machines, a sauna, steam baths, several massage rooms, an indoor swimming pool and a Jacuzzi.

2. Baiyoke Sky Hotel

Centrally located and housed in a Bangkok skyscraper, the Raiyoke Sky Hotel is the tallest hotel in Thailand and offers lux

urious guest rooms with unique views over the city. Do not miss the Observation Desk on the 77th floor and the Revolving View Point on the 84th floor.

This 4-star Bangkok hotel features prime amenities such as a business center, fine dining venues, a coffee shop, a lounge bar with live music and entertainment program, and a wellness center.

The health and fitness club of the Baiyole Sky Hotel offers a wide choice of body treatments and traditional therapies including Thai traditional and aromatherapy massages. It also has a sauna, a beauty salon, a fully-equipped fitness room and a outdoor swimming pool.

3. Siam City Hotel Bangkok

The Siam City Hotel enjoys a central location in Bangkok, a few steps from Phayathai BTS Skytrain Station and only 30 minutes from Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

Boasting spacious rooms, a full range of meeting and conference facilities, several award-winning restaurants, as well as a health and fitness club with spa, sauna, and swimming pool, this wonderful 5-star hotel is a great place to stay in Bangkok whether you are on a business trip or on a holiday in Thailand.

The spa of the Siam City Hotel Bangkok – the “Lotus Spa of Siam”- is a real sanctuary where guests can relax and pamper in a peaceful and serene atmosphere. Offering Thai massages along with body and beauty treatments (available from 10.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m.), it features First-Class facilities such as several private suites and treatment rooms, the Massage Pavilion, a private massage section and the Pool Side Thai Massage Pavilion.

Photo of Thai massage originally posted by thomaswanhoff