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Accommodation Review: Wombats Hostel London City

 

 

 

 

Whilst on my recent internship at The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, I had the pleasure of staying at Wombats Hostel for a couple of nights during my two weeks in London. I was in need of somewhere to base myself for the first week, and on the first two nights I didn’t want to have to worry about finding a friends to stay at, or having to get the train to and from Oxford each day, so I booked myself into Wombats ready to embrace London life. Wombats have a series of budget hostels across Europe, from Vienna to Berlin, with a variety of rooms and locations to suit everyone. Whether you’re travelling as a group or riding solo, Wombats is the place to be. Here’s the lo-down of this quirky hostel, and everything you need to know about what to expect from your stay…

 

The Location 

 

 

Set in a historic building  that has been a hostel since the Victorian era, this place was first used in 1865 as a base for sailors before their overseas trips. Situated on Dock Street near Wapping, just 5 minutes from the historic St Katherine’s Docks, Wombats Hostel London City is perfectly positioned to explore everything that the Great British capital has to offer. After an easy 25 minute walk you’ll reach the likes of The Shard, City Hall, the Tower of London and of course the iconic Tower Bridge. I was working in offices at London Bridge, right opposite The Shard, and chose to walk each day so I could really get to know my surroundings and it was so much better to soak up the fresh air and riverside views rather than commuting by tube. If you do need to use the tube during your stay though, you’ll find Tower Hill is the nearest station, just an 8 minute walk away.

 

The Rooms

 

 

I stayed in a private, en suite double room which was comfy, clean and had everything I would need for my two night stay. I couldn’t believe it was a hostel as it totally had the feel and style of a hotel, but without the expensive price tag! The double bed was comfortable and there was plenty of floor, wardrobe and draw space to use. The bathroom was clean and modern with the most incredible rainforest shower which I just didn’t want to leave in the mornings! I definitely felt that my room gave me a little bit of luxury, and total privacy, which was really important to me for this particular stay. Obviously I can’t comment on the dorm rooms, but I’m sure they were of a similar quality throughout, minus the privacy of course. Wombats offer a variety of private and shared rooms at an unbeatable price.

 

The Staff

 

 

The staff at Wombats were so fun and friendly and really made me feel welcome throughout the duration of my stay. I didn’t check in until after 9pm as I’d had a long day at the office and then met a friend for dinner, but despite my late arrival everything went smoothly and I was shown to my room right away. I was presented with two breakfast vouchers and two drinks vouchers to redeem during my stay, and was told where to find the communal areas such as the bar, kitchen and dining area. Everyone was super friendly and I really felt that I was looked after during my stay. 

 

The Facilities 

 

 

 

This hostel has everything you’d need for a comfortable stay and offers plenty of things to do whilst on site. The breakfast area doubles up as a bar in the evening, with comfy futons, plenty of chairs and a big screen for watching sports events with fellow guests. There’s a communal kitchen for those of you who want to cook instead of eating out, and there’s also a courtyard patio and a pool table. I didn’t spend much time in the communal areas as I was staying for business not pleasure (sadly) but I had breakfast both mornings and used the kitchen to cook a meal on one of the evenings and found both areas to be absolutely fine. There were plenty of people around, but I didn’t really stop to chat or get to know any of the other travellers as I was short on time what with having to get to and from work each morning and evening. There was a good atmosphere in and around the hostel though, with plenty of groups and other travellers staying, so I think the bar would have been a great place to meet new people if I’d had the time to check it out properly.

 

 

As you can see I had a great stay at Wombats Hostel London City and would definitely recommend this hostel to anyone looking for budget friendly accommodation in a fantastic central location. Having a private room was brilliant whilst I was doing my internship as it gave me somewhere relaxing to come back to after a busy few days of office life. I would most definitely stay at another Wombats if I ever needed accommodation in any of their other European cities and I wouldn’t hesitate to book their London hostel again. 

Thank you Wombats for an awesome stay!

 

NB. My 2 night stay was provided complimentary to me on a B&B basis as I was a guest of Wombats for the purpose of this review but all thoughts, opinions and photos are of course my own.

 

 

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My 2018 Year in Review

 

 

I’m pretty sure I say this every single year and you’re probably going to be bored of hearing it by now, but let me just say it anyway… How the HELL are we at the end of 2018? Like seriously, HOW? I feel like I blinked in January and then when I opened my eyes we had skipped straight to December. It is beyond crazy how fast this year has gone! I always like to take some time at the end of each year to reflect on how the past 12 months have gone, so I’m going to do a little round up for you. 2018 has not been a particularly good year for me to be honest, I have found it really tough and, at times, I have really struggled. In the past 12 months my dog has passed away, my grandad has died, my nan went into hospital and we very nearly lost her, my best friend has been in and out of hospital battling a serious health condition, and I was told I was being made redundant from my current role at work. On top of all of that, I found myself in hospital twice after becoming quite seriously ill, and just last week my dad was rushed into hospital after doctors found a blood clot on his lung. Yep, it’s safe to say that this year has been pretty damn awful, so it comes as no surprise that I’m not feeling particularly enthusiastic about putting together my end of year review. There were some good times though, don’t worry, I will try not to be a Negative Nancy for this entire post 😉 I had some incredible highs and I’ve managed to travel to some more brilliant places, but sadly most of these have been overshadowed by the rubbish lows that have happened this year. If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you’ll know that 2017 was such a fantastic year for me, and I put together a ‘highlights’ type post for my end of year review, but this year I just didn’t feel like I had ’18 highlights from 2018’ so thought I would just do a generic round up instead. I’ll also be discussing how I got on with my 2018 New Year’s Resolutions, so here’s everything laid out bare for you, including the good, the bad and everything else in between!…

 

January & February

 

 

The first part of the year was probably the worst for me. Just before Christmas we said goodbye to our beloved Westie Cassie, who had been our family pet from a pup, and we were still finding it really difficult to come to terms with losing her as 2019 started. I did celebrate my 25th birthday in January though, and this kind of felt like a turning point for me, and a bit of a milestone in my little life. To be honest I was really apprehensive about turning 25, I always thought I’d have my life figured out by the time I reached this age. I thought I’d have a house and kids and a husband, just like my mum and my nans did, and the fact I didn’t have any of these things made me reaallly sad, so I felt like a bit of a failure. I got over it though, and made myself realise that things are so different nowadays, and that I should be proud of the things I HAVE got, not what I haven’t got. February was a pretty quiet month, I spent most of it at home seeing friends and training for Mount Snowdon, which I was due to climb in June. I also spent a weekend in Essex seeing my nan which was really lovely, especially as she became poorly in March.

 

March & April

 

 

 

The start of March wasn’t too exciting, but I had a great end to the month as my sister and I went on a European inter-railing trip together and had a brilliant week away. We spent the Easter weekend in Paris before heading on to Luxembourg and Bruges where we had a really lovely time exploring new cities and enjoying allllll the French/Belgian food and drink. Sadly a week after we returned from our trip we received the devastating news that our grandad had passed away after a long battle with Dementia. It didn’t necessarily come as a shock to us as he had been unwell for some time, but that still didn’t prepare us for the grief that we would feel in the days and weeks to come. 2 days later, my nan was taken to hospital after she had heart problems. Fortunately my dad was with her and paramedics were on the scene quick enough to help her, but I was convinced that we were going to lose both my nan and my grandad within a matter of days. It was horrendous but my family were amazing and we got through it together. It’s still hard even now, 9 months on, and I think about my grandad all the time, but I know he is at peace, and I hope he would be proud of who I have become. At the end of April I took my little sister on her first city break as we went to Pisa and Florence for a long weekend. I was lucky enough to win a raffle prize at work and got to stay in one of our amazing villas which was a fantastic experience, and this little break away after a tough few weeks was sooo needed. We had a great time visiting the famous Leaning Tower and enjoying all that Florence had to offer, so it definitely took our minds off the sadness that had been happening at home.

 

 

May & June

 

 

 

May saw the date for my grandad’s funeral, which was a really difficult day, but we remembered his life in our own special way and made it a celebration. The sun shone and it was a really hot day – he would have loved that, he absolutely lived for the heat and warm weather! I wrote a poem which I read out at the service; at one point I didn’t think I would be able to do it but I found the strength from somewhere and was able to deliver. We cried a lot, but we got through it, it was the perfect send off for an incredible man. Unfortunately a week later I ended up in hospital myself as I had an unexpected haemorrhage and suffered from some external bleeding. It was really scary and I had no idea what was happening, but the doctors who looked after me were brilliant and I was back home later on that evening. A week later I was back to my usual self and spent the bank holiday weekend running around Amsterdam and Rotterdam whilst exploring Holland for the first time. I was in the country to attend my 3rd annual Traverse conference in Rotterdam but was glad I tagged on a day in Amsterdam at the start too – I was reunited with one of my fave travel buddy’s Rachel and we had a blast! At the end of June I took on my biggest challenge yet as I set out to climb Mount Snowdon with 55 others as part of a fundraising event for The Pituitary Foundation, the charity I am extremely proud to be an ambassador for. We had the most incredible day and ended up raising over £25,000 collectively which is an absolutely AMAZING achievement. The climb was one of the highlights of my year and I’ve already signed up to do Ben Nevis next May… wish me luck!

 

 

July & August

 

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#HappyBirthdayNHS – Thankyou for being a constant source of support and comfort to me over the past 25 years with my many illnesses and ailments from a baby to an adult. 🏥 Thankyou also for looking after me these past few days when I was found passed out in the disabled toilet at work (so classy) and taken into A&E on the back of an ambulance 🚑 A nasty bout of gastroenteritis made me extremely ill after a 39degree temperature, an abnormally high heart rate and 8 hours of vomiting left me dangerously dehydrated 😩 Couldn't be more thankful to be out of hospital and back in my own bed! Lots of rest and fluids have been prescribed, I've just eaten my first meal since Monday, and the anti sickness meds are working a treat – massive thanks to all my work friends who were there for me when it mattered most, and my mum n dad for coming to stay with me 💖Hoping to be on the mend so I can watch the big game tomorrow 🙏 #NHS70 #SoGrateful #GetMeBetter

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Doing the Titanic pose all by myself cos this Rose doesn't need a Jack in her life 😎 I've been home for just 24 hours and I'm already missing being at sea 🌊 Words can't describe the amazing experience I had on my first ever cruise 🚢 I was so nervous before going as I suffer so much with travel sickness (ironic as I'm a travel blogger) but luckily I was absolutely fine and kept well the entire time! It's only now that I'm home I'm suffering with motion sickness despite being back on land! What is THAT all about?! 😩I think it means I need to book another cruise asap, I'm a total convert now and loved waking up in a new place each day, but my favourite thing was spending hours looking out at the blue waters, with nothing but the ocean staring back at me 🐬 Can I go be a mermaid again please? #cruiselife #titanicpose #takemeback #marellacruises

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July brought us a heatwave AND the World Cup which was the best combination for us Brits! What a rollercoaster us footy fans had as we watched our team get to the semi-finals of the biggest sporting competition on the planet. My summer evenings were spent watching the games on big screens down the pub and dancing on tables when we scored! July also so me heading to London with my mum to watch Michael Buble in concert (our fave) and my lovely nan came down to visit for the first time since my grandad passed away so it was great to spend some quality time with her. Unfortunately a few weeks later I became unwell again after I passed out at work and was taken to hospital on the back of an ambulance – I had suffered from a nasty bout of gastroenteritis and had no idea what was happening to my body, but again the NHS staff at my local hospital were amazing and I was back to normal a few days later. I also went on a blind date that was set up by Heart Radio a couple of weeks later, and that was certainly an experience!! August was the month I was most looking forward to this year, as I was due to set sail on my first ever cruise with 12 of my family members and I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited for a holiday! We had an absolute blast exploring 5 countries and 7 cities over 7 days as we visited Croatia, Montenegro, Greece, Italy and Malta. I totally fell in love with cruising – it has definitely opened my eyes to a new way of travel and I already can’t wait to book my next one!

 

 

September & October

 

 

 

My mum celebrated her 50th birthday in September and we had an amazing day out in London, taking her to Kensington Palace to see the Princess Diana Exhibition (her  idol) before heading over to the Sky Garden with incredible panoramic views over the city below – she had a brilliant day out and it was so nice to spend some quality time together as a family. At the end of September my best friend and I took a spontaneous road trip to Bournemouth to celebrate the last weekend of summer. We were so lucky with the weather and spent 2 days enjoying the beach, the pier, the arcades and everything else in between. It felt so nice to have one last ‘holiday’ before autumn came and it made me realise how beautiful some parts of the UK really are when you get the right weather! After leaving Bournemouth we headed over to Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door for a day of hiking between the two and I was sooo sad to leave this pretty part of the world so am already planning to return next summer. October brought colder weather and some family time as I spent a weekend in Liverpool at my cousins baby shower, it was my last chance to see her and bump before she was due to pop in December, and we had a really lovely weekend. I also had lots of fun over the Halloween weekend as I fulfilled my life-long dream of becoming a mermaid (well a fancy dress one) as I hosted a spooky themed party at my house. By the end of the month I was ready for allllll the fireworks show as I looked forward to saying goodbye to October and hello to November.

 

 

November & December

 

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So today, after four long years of blogging, I had a career highlight when Journeys with Jessica was given its very own stand at WTM – the biggest travel conference in the entire world! 🌍 I was selected as one of 120 travel bloggers to come and showcase what it is that I do and how my blog works. I had brands approaching ME, not the other way round, and I met and spoke to tonnes of people who had a genuine interest in my blog and wanted to know more about me as a person too. 🎉 I ended up staying an hour longer than I was supposed to because I was talking way too much to too many people and having way too much fun! I've learnt so much today and I've never felt prouder of my little blog 💖 Here's to the next 4 years of blogging, adventures and even more fun! Thanks @wtmlondon for an amazing day ✨#WTMLDN #travelblogger #London

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I was fairly busy in November, with fireworks events and lots of autumnal fun with friends. I headed to London to watch Ed Sheeran and Olly Murs in concert – they were amazing – and stopped off at Westfield for some shopping. I did grown up things like submit my annual tax return and move some money around in my savings – I’m putting away a decent amount of money from my wages each month so that I can look to buy a house in the next few years, which is overwhelming, stressful and exciting all at the same time! Probably the single biggest thing I did in November was attend WTM London, where Journeys with Jessica was given its very own stand for the first time ever! I had such an amazing time at the biggest travel conference in the world and learnt so much, as well as getting my blogging mojo back after a few months of feeling like I didn’t really belong in this industry. I was invited along to the VIP press launch of Christmas at Blenheim at the end of the month and took my mum with me for a wonderful evening of festive fun. December isn’t over yet but so far I’ve done work parties, theatre evenings, nights out and Christmas  markets. We are off to Somerset for a new year’s break with the family next week so, although we are having a quiet Christmas at home, I’m really looking forward to ending 2018 and starting 2019 on a high.

 

 

My 2018 New Year’s Resolutions: How I Got On

 

Visit at least 5 countries – SUCCESS – I managed to get myself to a whopping NINE countries this year, which is almost double what I set as a target so I am really pleased that I’ve done so well on this one. My cruise made it super easy as I actually visited 5 countries in just 1 week, and whilst I was out there I hit my 25th country as well which was an incredible feeling! Roll on the next 25!

 

Reach 10,000 followers on social media – FAIL – Sadly I didn’t reach the big 10k this year, but on my last count I was up to approx. 8700 followers across all platforms, so I am so close yet so far! This is a goal I will try to re-aim for next year, but I’m not going to put pressure on myself to reach it by a certain time frame; what will be will be!

 

 

Spend less time on social media – SUCCESS – I feel like I’ve done quite well at this one this year. I obviously do still spend a lot of time online in order to promote my blog, but I wanted to cut down on scrolling and wasting time being unproductive, and I definitely think I’ve done that. Turning off all my notifications have helped, and I’ve set a time limit of 25mins per day on each app which has made an improvement too, so it’s small steps but I’m definitely going in the right direction!

 

Work on new projects for The Pituitary Foundation – SUCCESS – I am so proud to be an ambassador for this fantastic charity, and 2018 was the year I really challenged myself and put more effort into this. Climbing Mount Snowdon with Team Pituitary was one of the biggest achievements of my life, and I couldn’t be more proud to be a pituitary patient! Roll on Ben Nevis next May!

 

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🏃‍♀️WE DID IT! 🏃‍♀️ What an amazing day!!! 33000 steps, 4000 calories burnt, 18 kilometres walked and 7 hours long! One of the best things I've ever done, and definitely the hardest thing I've ever done, both physically and mentally. 🏔 Didn't think I would make it up to the top at one point but these amazing people got me through!! Couldn't have wished for a better group of people to climb #Snowdon with, and am hoping we've almost smashed our fundraising target! You can still donate if you want to 😘 Collectively our group have raised over £22000 so far for @pituitaryfoundation which is INCREDIBLE!! My illness gets me down sometimes, but when events like this bring people together I wouldn't change it for the world 🌍 https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jessica-bucks-team

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Start saving at least £500 a month – SUCCESS – I’ve been super strict with my finances this year, so much so that I’ve now got over £10,000 in savings to my name which is something I am immensely proud of! The main reason I am saving is because I want to buy a house in the next couple of years, but I also plan to use some of that for travelling and taking some more trips throughout 2019 because you only live once and mortgages are boring 😉

 

Incorporate exercise into my weekly routine – SUCCESS – I have got better at this as the year has progressed, and am proud that I am now working out three times a week compared to doing virtually nothing (other than walking for an hour each day) at the start of 2018. Don’t get me wrong, I still HATE the gym but I do my workouts from home so that I can overcome this, and I don’t work out to lose weight, I just do it to feel good about myself.

 

Grow my blog as much as possible whilst working full time – FAIL – I kinda feel I haven’t done this very well this year. Yes my followers have grown and I have taken on new opportunities etc, but I haven’t been on a single press trip this year and, in my eyes, that makes me feel like a failure. I see bloggers left right and centre being paid to go on trips and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t jealous, but I guess nothing right has come up for me this year. WTM felt like a turning point as I got my blogging mojo back and definitely felt more inspired after making new contacts, so I’m looking forward to seeing how things go in 2019 for me.

 

What I want from 2019

 

 

Not sure where to start with this one, but what I do know is that I want 2019 to be my biggest and best year yet. I want to travel more, learn more, and be more spontaneous. I kinda played it safe this year as I struggled to come to terms with feelings of grief and uncertainty, but I really want to start next year differently and I want to push myself out of my comfort zone. I’m not sure where life will take me next year, but I’m currently setting some plans in motion ready to make 2019 really special. I’ll probably write a separate post in January with regard to my 2019 New Year’s Resolutions, but I am trying not to make too many promises to myself as I get older and as I learn to be more content with life. I’ll see what happens over the coming months, but watch this space for lots of new things coming soon to my little life, and to Journeys with Jessica!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year – thanks, as always, for continuing to share this little square of the internet with me – your support has been invaluable this year!

Love Jess x

 

 

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Oxford Castle Unlocked: A fun-filled day out for all the family

 

                                                             Going down the steps from the top of St George’s Tower

 

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending Oxford Castle Unlocked, one of the most popular tourist attractions in the entire city, and perhaps one of the oldest too! With history dating back to the 11th century, this 1000 year old castle was largely destroyed by the English Civil War and, by the 18th century, it had become Oxford’s local prison. Home to some of England’s most notorious criminals, and still in use right up until 1996, Oxford Castle has now been turned into a major hotel, but part of the site has been opened up to the public to offer the full prison experience. With it’s original motte and bailey hill, real underground chambers from its prison days, and the magnificent St George’s Tower still in place, Oxford Castle oozes history, charm and sends shivers down the spines of those that visit… Here’s what I got up to during my time there…

 

The History

 

                                       Just one of the inmates at Oxford Castle Prison

 

This partly ruined Norman medieval castle is one of the oldest in the country, and was believed to have been built in the year 1071 according to the Abingdon Chronicle. The instruction of the castle was ordered by William the Conquerer after he granted extensive land in Oxfordshire to the baron Robert D’Oyly. The castle played a key part in British history during the 12th and 13th centuries, where it was attacked and seized many times. Between the 14th and 17th centuries, the castle was starting to be used as a prison, instead of being seen as a royal residency, although it was never officially given this title. By the time the 18th century had started, it was being used as a full working prison and remained that way right up until its closure in the mid 1990s.

 

The Guided Tour

 

                                                          With our lovely tour guide, Alastair!

 

Our tour guide, Alastair, brought the prison to life and really gave us an insight as to what it was like for inmates living in those cells all those years ago, and for those imprisoned in more recent times too as it was only closed down in 1996! Each room/corridor/level of the prison had a story to tell, from the trial of Mary Blandy (she was on trial for poisoning her father) to the escape of Empress Matilda (the cousin of King Stephen). Alastair, and all of the other tour guides, did a wonderful job of telling these historical stories in a way that captured your imagination, really immersed you in the atmosphere, and made you even more interested in the castle than you had been before you walked through the door.

 

The Location

 

                                                                                                   The gorgeous castle building

 

Situated in the historic Castle Quarter, Oxford Castle can be found just off the main high street in the centre of the city. At the foot of the new Westgate development site, and just next to the Seacourt Park and Ride bus stop, the Castle can be easily reached by bus, coach, train, taxi, or on foot.

 

Useful Information

 

                                                                        The entrance to Oxford Castle Unlocked

 

The castle is open daily, with tours starting between 10am and 4pm. Admission prices (£10.95 per adult, £7.75 per child) include a guided tour and access to St George’s Tower, the castle hill and the exhibition. There’s also a gift shop and cafe on site too. Booking ahead is advised due to increased demand. Parking is available nearby either at one of the many pay and display car parks in the city, or one of the 5 park and ride car parks that operate excellent services every single day.

My time at Oxford Castle was truly enjoyable; I loved learning about the history of somewhere so important to England, and with it being right on my doorstep too I felt like I was completely immersed in the experience. Our wonderful guide. Alastair, was so fantastic in portraying his character (Daniel Harris) and delivering the history of the castle in such a fun, interactive and informative way. A big thank you to Alastair, Robin, Ellie and the rest of the Oxford Castle team for looking after us during our visit – we had so much fun!

Love Jess x

NB. My day out was provided by the Oxford Castle Unlocked team but, as always, all opinions, words and photos are of course my own.

 

 

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Hotel Review: 25 Hours Hotel, Vienna, Austria

Currently writing up my #review from my time at @25hourshotels in #Vienna last week and can't wait to share it with you all! 🏨

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Just over a week ago, as part of my mini European adventure with Lucy, the two of us were invited to stay at one of the quirkiest hotels in Vienna: 25 Hours Hotel at Museumsquartier. We stayed on a bed and breakfast basis for two nights and had the most amazing stay. Part of a chain, with other properties in Hamburg, Frankfurt, Berlin and Zurich, this hotel is a tourist attraction in it’s own right and boasts it’s own rooftop bar, restaurant, garden, gift shop and an actual, real life mermaid’s cave. Yep, you heard me right, this is what dreams are made of! If you’re looking for an edgy, quirky, extraordinary place to stay on your next trip to the Austrian capital, the 25 Hours Hotel is an absolute must…

The Location

The edgy, quirky district of #Museumsquartier made the perfect base to explore #Vienna 😍 @viennatouristboard

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The hotel is in the perfect location for exploring all of Vienna’s famous landmarks and is situated in the 7th district, Museumsquartier, one of the largest cultural neighbourhoods in the world. Home to an abundance of shops, restaurants, bars and, yep, you guessed it, museums, this place was seriously cool and you could easily spend a whole day here wandering around the parks and checking out all the fantastic buildings! Positioned between metro stops, tram stops and bus lines, the location of this hotel enables you to see everything that you could wish to see in the Austrian capital. We mainly used the metro to get around, and hopped on and off the trams whenever we got the chance, but with the nearest metro stop (Volkstheater) just 300m from the front door of the hotel, it was super easy to whizz around the city using this method of transport.

The Room

Oh my goodness I don’t even know where to begin! This room is hands down the coolest, funkiest, most frikkin’ freakiest room I have ever stayed in and I absolutely LOVED IT! I am used to staying in really lovely hotels whenever I travel, and I generally go for 3-4* mid range properties with a touch of luxury, but this place was something else altogether! I wouldn’t say it was because it was particularly luxurious, there were no silk linen duvets or duck feather pillows, but it was luxurious in that it was big, bright, modern, spacious and extraordinary and, for me, all of those things add up to something even better than luxury.

With a grand total of 217 rooms laid out over 7 floors, the 25 Hours Hotel is made up of M, M+, L, XL, Suites and Panorama Suites which are the equivalent of Economy, Standard, Luxury, Extra Luxury etc etc, you get the idea. We were staying in the M room, so the most basic of them all, and even that was a real treat and unlike anywhere I’ve ever been before. With a colourful headboard, Bluetooth sound speakers, LCD flatscreen TV, workspace, wardrobe, mini bar and safe, the room was fitted with everything we could ever need and more.

I miss my super cosy room @25hourshotels #vienna – can I just be back there already pleaseeee?! 🏨🏨

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The smart bathroom, with incredible power shower, complimentary toiletries, hairdryer and little look-through window (cheeky) was just right for us in every way and was deceptively spacious. Lucy and I shared a double bed and it was so big that we didn’t have to worry about who was nicking the covers (or snoring in each others ears) and the pillows and duvet set were super comfy. We were also greeted with lovely goody bags from The Vienna Tourist Board and from 25 Hours Hotels themselves – thanks for making us feel so welcome!

The Breakfast

Breakfast each morning was served in the 1500foodmakers restaurant just next to the reception area on the ground floor. We were seated promptly and could then go back and forth to the buffet as many times as we fancied. With a whole host of yoghurts, fruits, cereals, breads, cakes and hot and continental items on offer, as well as juices, water and hot drinks, the breakfast was plentiful and set us up really well both days. I’ve gotta be honest though, as I always am with all of my blog posts, I don’t think I would have paid for this breakfast if it wasn’t included as the price is pretty steep. Although the food was great, the cost would set you back £16pp per day and, for me, it just really isn’t worth the money. Maybe it’s because I’m not a big breakfast eater, even at home I barely manage a slice of toast, so when I go away I usually just stay room-only and opt to get something small from the nearest café or shop when I start feeling hungry. Having said that, it made a really nice change to have breakfast included, so if you like your continental then GO FOR IT!

The Facilities

When looking for accommodation I always make sure there are facilities onsite to maximise your hotel experience, and the ones at 25 Hours Hotels certainly don’t disappoint! The property in Vienna was home to a super cool reception area complete with Apple macs, pinball game station, swing bench, photobooth and a gift shop/kiosk selling a range of quirky items. At the very top of the hotel you’ll find Der Dachboden, their rooftop bar, with views across the entire city that seemed to stretch for miles. The rooftop bar was incredibly busy during our stay, probably because the weather was so good, but also because its super popular with residents and locals alike, so get there during the early part of the afternoon if you want to reserve a seat! Outside and to the left of the hotel you’ll find their very own garden area complete with Burger de Ville, it’s very own burger van serving fast food to eat onsite or to take away with you, perfect if you want to grab something and go! As partners of Mini, 25 Hours Hotels also offer complimentary bicycle and Mini car hire to all of their guests, such a cool idea and it would have come in so handy, but sadly Lucy and I didn’t get chance to take these out for a spin during out visit!

The Mermaids Cave

Ok so this thing deserves its OWN PARAGRAPH and I don’t even care if it makes this post too long I just have to write about it and share it with you all! The mermaids cave, aka the sauna, steam room, gym, relaxation area, whatever you wanna call it, was single handedly the BEST thing about this entire hotel. Don’t get me wrong, I loved it ALL, but this place was just extra special. Located in the basement, the mermaids cave is kitted out with showers, a sauna, steam room, gym, workout area, relaxation hideaway and giant swings where you can be a child and put your hands in the air (and wave them around like you just don’t care – literally, I did this).

You can also soak your feet in large wooden tubs if you need to chill out for a while, and you can help yourself to hot drinks, bottled water and fresh fruit too. There’s toilets and washrooms for your convenience,  as well as lockers for your valuables which will save you going back and forth to your room. Both times Lucy and I visited the cave (around 8pm-10pm) it was completely empty and it we had it to ourselves which really made us relax and totally zen out for the duration of our time there. It really was the most magical place and, for me, it was the total highlight of the entire hotel – if you’re thinking of going anytime soon you HAVE to check this place out!

The Verdict

Room 309 – our little home during our time in #Vienna 🏨🏨 @25hourshotels

A post shared by Jess Buck|JourneyswithJessica (@jessica16_x) on

Overall we had a fantastic stay at the 25 Hours Hotel and I would highly recommend staying here on a mid-week or weekend visit for a really cool and quirky stay in the heart of the Museumsquartier. Every aspect from the brilliant location to the buffet breakfast, amazing facilities and colourful bedroom made our stay such a pleasant one; the staff made us feel so welcome throughout the whole of our stay, from the minute we arrived at check in, to the second we checked out, nothing was too much trouble. They were super helpful when we were asking about public transport, and about how far away all the major sites were, and they even helped us sort out our train back to Bratislava upon check out – thank you SO much for really going above and beyond, you guys were amazing!

So there we have it, my full review of the wonderful 25 Hours Hotel. I cannot recommend this hotel highly enough for those looking for a stylish and comfortable stay in the heart of the Museumsquartier district – thank you to the lovely staff for making our stay so wonderful, we will most definitely be back! For more information or to book a room please visit their website directly.

NB. I was a guest of 25 Hours Hotel for the purpose of this review, but all opinions are of course my own.

Don’t forget, we are all mad here…

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Hotel Review: Copenhagen Admiral Hotel, Copenhagen, Denmark

 

Last month on our wonderful winter city break to beautiful Copenhagen, my sister and I had the chance to stay at the fantastic Copenhagen Admiral hotel, right at the heart of the city just around the corner from the picturesque Nyhavn Harbour. We stayed on a room-only basis for three nights and had the most amazing stay. The historic building is a converted 18th century warehouse and everything from the waterfront location to the nautical themed décor, comfortable beds and welcoming staff made our stay truly brilliant. If you’re looking for a place to stay on your next trip to the Danish capital here’s why the Copenhagen Admiral is an absolute must…

 

The Location

 

 

Location is so important to me when booking accommodation for my city breaks, especially as I only have a few days for the trip and I like to be close to everything so I can make the most of my short break away. For me, the location of the Admiral hotel was perfect; situated on the Toldbodgade street right in the heart of the city, just around the corner from Nyhavn and right on the waterfront overlooking Paper Island. Amalienborg Palace was just a few steps away, whilst The Little Mermaid and Kastallet Fortress were a 20 minute stroll away along the waterfront, and Rosenborg Castle, The Round Tower and Christiansborg Palace were also a 20 minute stroll away, but in the opposite direction. The nearest metro stop, Kongens Nytorv, was just 5-10 minutes away allowing easy access to the airport and train stations.

 

The Room

 

 

I think my favourite thing about this hotel was our gorgeous, cosy room! The wooden beams really added to the charm and made it so authentic, whilst the desk/sofa area gave us an added sense of space. The bathroom with power shower was a godsend after a long days walking in the cold and there was plenty of wardrobe space too. The beds, and pillows, were super comfy and we both had an excellent sleep every single night.

 

The Facilities

 

 

The bar and reception area were spotlessly clean, modern and spacious with plenty of luggage area, large elevators and space to relax. The reception staff were so efficient, there were next to no queues and all our requests were dealt with very quickly. We didn’t dine in the restaurant area so I cannot comment on breakfast, lunch or dinner but I have heard wonderful reviews about the onsite SALT restaurant. We had a couple of drinks in the bar one night which was really enjoyable; the prices were expensive, but I would expect this from a 4* hotel bar, and the atmosphere was lovely, very relaxed and friendly. We decided to book an hour in the wellness centre one night to warm ourselves up after a cold day of exploring, and it was so nice to have it to ourselves and spend some time totally relaxing. The wellness centre, with sauna, steam room and power shower, can be booked for an hour free of charge and you will have the whole place to yourself – worth doing if you want some well deserved ME time!

 

The Verdict

 

 

Overall we had a fantastic stay at the Copenhagen Admiral and I would highly recommend staying here on a mid-week or weekend visit for a cosy and comfortable stay in the heart of the city. Every aspect from the brilliant location to the nautical sea theme and the charming room made our stay such a pleasant one; the staff made us feel so welcome throughout the whole of our stay, from the minute we arrived at check in, to the second we checked out, nothing was too much trouble.

So there we have it, my full review of the wonderful Copenhagen Admiral. I cannot recommend this hotel highly enough for those looking for a stylish and comfortable stay in the heart of the city – thank you to the lovely staff for making our stay such a pleasant one! For more information or to book a room please visit their website directly.

 

 

NB. I received a small discount in exchange for providing an honest review of the Copenhagen Admiral Hotel and, as always, all thoughts are my own.

NB. Featured photo: image credit -Copenhagen Admiral Hotel website

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