Crowne Plaza, Marlow

Hidden where nobody would find it, The Crowne Plaza, Marlow is a hidden gem. Set on the banks of Thames and accessed via an industrial park, it's hard to predict your expectations on the drive to it. A typical business traveller hotel, it's tastefully decorated in a modern/contemporary design throughout the hotel which lifted it above competitor hotels in the area. Public areas are clean and modern. The rooms are very comfortable with the picture inset being a realistic reputation of the style of the rooms (the bathrooms let it down a bit, however on balance it's comfortable). There's a good size desk in the room for work, which I think is a good shout. My usual bugbear of the cost of internet access is repeated here, £14.95 for 24 hours I think is excessive, my Vodafone wireless dongle couldn't get a signal here, so you have to put up or shut up. Drinks and food are a little on the high side, typical of a big chain. A pint will set you back just short of a fiver and dinner was around £25 for two courses, although I will say that the food quality was good for a chain. Service overall was also good. Good welcome on reception, enthusiastic waiters in the bar, attentive in the restaurant. They have a nice gym, pool, mini-spa with outside hot tub, which was a nice bonus after a long day. As a regular traveller down this neck of the woods, I normally stay at The Holiday Inn at High Wycombe. If you can get a comparable rate, I would recommend you stay here instead. Official rating 4*, My rating 4P.

The Shendish Manor Hotel, Hemel Hempstead

If you're heading Hemel Hempstead way and want an alternative hotel to the well know business hotels like Holiday Inn, you could think about this place, The Shendish Manor.

First things first, it's not the easiest of places to find. It's entrance is tucked away from the main road. First time I stayed there, my SatNav couldn't find the place and I spent forever trying to track the place down. However, second time was easier. Also, don't be tricked by the room photos that you see here. Most bookings on the web are actually for the 52 hotel rooms which are in the new wing, they are more contemporary but not nearly as lush or grand. They've had a go at making them "boutique style" but they do fall well short of the standard, nevertheless they are comfortable enough.

The mobile phone network is very poor. Most of the hotel has no signal. Last time I stayed I had one of the few "signal hotspots" right outside my bedroom window and was interrupted by people talking loudly on mobiles all the time. The in-room broadband, although free, isn't particularly good either. So, comms could be a lot better.

The building itself is very pretty and the gardens at the rear are really lovely to sit and have a drink in on a warm summers evening. The main reception has been tastefully decorated and the welcome was warm. The hotel is quiet, not many people in the public areas so it's good if you want to get stuff done. Hemel Hempstead is only a short taxi ride away £5 or £6 and it's worth a ride out for something to eat at one of the restaurants in the Old Village.

In summary, if you want something different than a sanitised chain hotel, give it a try. It cost me £90 on the web (via one of the major room discounters), this included breakfast, so the value isn't bad. A hotel photo gallery can be seen here.

Official Rating: Not rated.

My Rating: 4P - (just). Broadband needs to be better. Rooms are OK but lack a bit of personality. Nevertheless, it's got bags more character than a normal business chain hotel.

Hotel Indigo, London

Decent London hotels, that don't charge the earth are hard to find, this one's a cracker. Hotel Indigo, in Paddington hasn't been open that long and it's a real find.

Bang smack in the centre of London Street, in busy downtown Paddington, you'll find The Indigo. Nestling in amongst a number of bars, restaurants and shops, this is a far more interesting part of London to stay in as a tourist or visitor as there are lots of places to walk out to and the West End is only a short taxi ride away, max £8. My advice is stay here and pay the taxi fare as some of the West End Hotels are way too expensive for what they are.

The rooms are compact, but really comfy, nicely decorated, with all the mod cons and free w-fi, (which is worth fifteen quid on its own, however I do have to comment that the wi-fi and the ethernet was unreliable, regularly dropping out. Rooms don't have baths if you want a good soak after a long day, but they do have walk in showers which are spacious with big shower heads. Room design is contemporary and modern (see picture), with free room safes, plasma TV, i-Pod dock stereo, nice towels and tea/coffee making facilities, Hotel Indigo is great value for money. The room I have stayed in (106) even has a small terrace, which would be nice for a warm day.

The staff have been really welcoming, which is really nice for a London hotel (a smile goes such a long way after a long day) and if this continues, then Hotel Indigo will be seeing me again.

Official Rating - Unknown

My Rating - 4P. Doesn't make 5P, as it's not a 5* hotel, however I would recommend you stay here if visiting London.

Maritim Hotel, Frankfurt

Another one of those "stay here only if you're going to the conference centre next door" hotels. The Maritim Hotel, Frankfurt is aimed at the business market in the financial district of Frankfurt. Lacking atmosphere or distinctness, it stands out for its mediocrity. Rooms are comfortable, yet uninspiring. I'm in a superior room which has cost €255 for the night, not particularly cheap, decor looks like it was last updated around 10 years ago. Internet is €15.00 for 24 hours. The centre is about ten minutes walk up a straight road where you'll find plenty of bars and restaurants. Taxi transfer is around €25 from the airport. Starbucks is around 10 mins walk, on one of the streets opposite the main station.

Official Rating - 4*

My Rating - 3P

Sheraton Hotel, Amsterdam (Schipol Airport)

There are only two reasons why you would stay at The Sheraton at Schipol airport, Amsterdam 1) You have a meeting or conference here 2) You need to do an overnight in Amsterdam due to flight connections.

It's a typical, hygenic, business hotel, which lacks any charisma whatsoever. Internet is €19 for 24 hours (outrageous), rooms are comfortable but not outstanding. The only real plus points are a) You can access the hotel from the airport terminal b) there is a Starbucks close by c) you can get a train from the airport to the Central station in Amsterdam for around €7 return.

If you're coming to The Netherlands to see the City, experience the bars and nightlife, steer clear of this hotel. It's Corporate or transit passengers only.

My Rating - 3P.

If you're travelling to the USA

You might find this site useful, it details insider information on hotels including which rooms are the best to request in advance. Covering around 18 major destinations, definitely worth a look before you travel to make sure you've got a decent room.

Yang Sing Oriental, Manchester (Now Closed)

This new boutique hotel is the latest business from the Yeung brothers, next door to their famous restaurant on Princess Street, Manchester. You'll probably see Gerry Yeung patrolling the hotel during your stay, a personable fellow, so say hello if you get the opportunity.

We stayed in room 407, which was a stunning room, especially when you consider the current special offer rate of £128 via their website. No doubt the best value hotel in Manchester for the quality you get.

A beautiful hallway led you through to a stunning double aspect bedroom, looking over Manchester. Everything about the room furnishings has been looked at in great detail, from the stunning blinds, to the super comfortable bed and pillows. This place has been thought about, with nothing being overlooked.

What impressed me about this place was that pretty much everything in the room is free. The mini bar, which was stocked with four bottles of water, fizzy drinks, a couple of cans of Tiger, Red and White wine, Jelly beans and peanuts was all complimentary. In any other hotel, this would cost you a merry fortune and you should take this into consideration when comparing hotels.

The bathroom was wetroom style (which I'm not a massive fan of) however everything about it was quality, right the way from the Clarins miniatures to the quality of the towels, bathrobes and slippers.

Breakfast was included and was of a good quality with the English breakfast being cooked to order. It felt a bit disorganised in the dining room however the choice was good, including the freshly squeezed orange juice and thick toast. At weekends, they serve up to 11am, which is great if you want a lie in.

Location wise, it's spot on. Car parking, like all Manchester hotels is not in the hotel, you're best to pre-park in the underground car park alongside the Yang Sing restaurant (St. James Street) and then walk up with your bags, overnight it was about sixteen pounds. You'll need a big de-tour to get back to the car park if you pass it.

Pulling up outside the hotel isn't easy as it sits on a major set of lights. However, there are some spaces alongside the hotel, which may be free.

The room was quiet during the night, however, we were woken by bottles being emptied into bins in the early morning, this is the downside of being in a City centre and close to Chinatown, however, I'm a light sleeper. The only other bug bear was that the lift seemed to take ages.

In summary, I think the Yang Sing Oriental is a super hotel and full worthy of a 5p recommendation. We will definitely stay again. Having stayed at St. John Street (the other boutique hotel in the city which I haven't written my review for yet), I would say the Yang Sing is the better bet if you're coming to the City, both in terms of value for money and location. Point to note, this picture is not room 407, but it is a room from the hotel, so you can get a feel for the design.

Official Rating - 5*

My Rating - 5P