Posts about Accommodation
Information and suggestions for accommodation options in the Context cities.
When I think about the connection between travel and literature, the first author that comes to mind is W Somerset Maugham.
In some ways, he’s an odd choice: although he did write a few travel books, those aren’t what he’s best known for. Instead, it’s in his fiction that one can find the perfect example of how travel can shape a writer, and provide him with a near-limitless source of material and new perspectives on the world.
Whether Maugham was in the South Seas researching a novel, or in Russia engaged in espionage for the British government, he was always soaking up experiences and talking to other travelers, and using what he’d seen and heard for his fiction. Sometimes rather literally: it’s said that more than one of his acquaintances sat down and opened a magazine to the latest Maugham story, only to discover his life story and darkest secrets printed there on the page. Read more »
Posted by Rob | This post has 6 comments
October 2nd, 2011 under Accommodation, Books & Literature, Culture, Literary City Special.
One of our favorite ways to travel is to stay in small inns, guesthouses and bed and breakfasts. We feel this is a great way to further steep yourself in the cultural fabric of a city and neighborhood. Not only is the architecture usually more interesting (and sometimes historically significant), but the proprietors are locals who value the cultural heritage that surrounds them and make it part of their daily mission to share it with visitors, while providing a homier, personalized lodging experience. Boston is the perfect city to take advantage of such accommodation. Below are some of our favorite places to stay in the city:
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Posted by Carolyn | This post has no comments
May 5th, 2011 under Accommodation, Boston, Budget Conscious Travel, Culture.
On a recent visit to the newly open Savoy Hotel, I picked up a copy of a handy map of London. Â Far from being the traditional tool to navigate the city, this handy document is designed to help visitors be more environmentally conscious when visiting London. Read more »
Posted by Petulia | This post has no comments
May 3rd, 2011 under Accommodation, Budget Conscious Travel, City Life, Context Travel, Family Travel, London, Transportation, Travel News.
Walking along the streets of Paris, you may have had the chance to peak into an open building doorway, surprised to find a
whole other world tucked inside an austere building facade; beautifully tiled foyers, vine covered courtyards or secret private mansions.
Our friend, Erica Berman, owner of Haven in Paris and creator of the HIP Paris Blog recently gave us an insider look at some of Paris’ best kept apartment secrets. Experience this for yourself with our joint Paris in the Springtime apartment rental and walk special – see details below!
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Posted by Lily | This post has 4 comments
February 28th, 2011 under Accommodation, Paris, Uncategorized.
We have always been advocates of apartment rentals as a great way to experience a city like a local while traveling. While it may not be for everyone, apartments can be a wonderful method to create a new “home” while on the road and to really ingrain yourself into the urban fabric. Today we have invited Sally from Apartments in Florence, which has over 100 properties in the city, to share a bit about why one might choose to rent an apartment and some of the benefits. Read more »
Posted by Jessica | This post has 4 comments
February 16th, 2011 under Accommodation, Florence.
When we started putting together the family issue of the newsletter, we knew that Rhonda Carrier had to be involved. Having written and/or edited for Frommer’s, Time Out, Condé Nast Traveller, The Guardian, Lonely Planet, and Cadogan, Rhonda is a true travel expert, especially when it comes to family trips. We asked her a few questions on the subject.
Q: Rhonda, you have three children and a flourishing career as a travel writer. Did writing about family travel become a necessity or was it a choice?
A: It was something I fell into, to be honest! Or perhaps I should describe it as a felicitous play of circumstances… I’d been working in-house for Time Out in London for several years, but when I was pregnant with my first son, an old Lonely Planet contact got in touch out of the blue and asked me to edit for Cadogan guides, which suited my new life better since I could work at home. Read more »
Posted by Petulia | This post has 5 comments
February 3rd, 2011 under Accommodation, Context Travel, Family Travel, Florence, Food and Wine, London, Naples, Paris, Rome, Uncategorized.
A few weeks ago we sat down docent Ann Marie Mershon, a co-author of the amazing Istanbul’s Bazaar Quarter, and asked her to share her suggestions for good hotels in Sultanahmet, the historic center of Istanbul where it’s tough to find a decent hotel. It’s a question we get asked quite a bit, and in her role as a kind of unofficial ambassador of the city (Mershon also teaches in a local British school) she came up with some helpful ideas.
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Posted by Paul Bennett | This post has 3 comments
October 14th, 2010 under Accommodation, Budget Conscious Travel, Context Travel, Istanbul.
New York is a city filled to the brim with hotels. With all of the new, trendy boutique hotels opening in nearly every neighborhood, many of the long-standing historic and architecturally significant hotels often get overlooked. We asked docent and architectural conservator, Hansel Hernandez-Navarro to share some of his favorite gems in the city.
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Posted by Carolyn | This post has one comment
August 17th, 2010 under Accommodation, New York, Uncategorized.
A few weeks ago I met Nadia Latif, Assistant Editor at Travel Intelligence. While looking at the fabulous collection of the Courtauld in London, I asked Nadia to share with me some of her trade secrets.
Here is some pretty good info from a travel insider:
Q-Tell us a little about yourself and your work at TI. How long have you been at Travel Intelligence? What led you to work in the travel world? Read more »
Posted by Petulia | This post has no comments
July 30th, 2010 under Accommodation, City Life.
I sat down with Almudena Cros, one of our docents in Madrid, and asked her about hotels in Madrid. Based on referrals from friends and family, as well as some feedback from some of the first Context clients in Madrid in the last few months, here’s what we recommend this year:
Several Context clients have already stayed at the Villa Real, a well know upscale hotel that faces Parliament. Almu notes, however, that there has been some roadwork there of late, which might detract from the allure.
The Palace Westin seems to be in some sort of rivalry with the Ritz across the square. For our money, the Palace is slightly more classy.
Among boutique hotels the Relais ORFILA is an old stand by. Although a tad pricey, Almu (who stayed here several years ago herself) notes its ‘feel at home’ qualities. Rooms are a bit small by American standards, definitely.
We also like the looks of the Casa de Madrid, almost opposite the Royal Opera theatre, very central, very exclusive.
On the cheap, we tend towards Chic & Basic in calle Huertas, which is a great tapas area, very central and full of life.
Posted by Paul Bennett | This post has one comment
May 28th, 2010 under Accommodation, Madrid.
