Elba Sara Beach & Golf Resort Caleta de Fuste, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Span

We planned our winter sun holiday and wanted to go for the first time to Fuerteventura, the Canary Islands. Our target was to have suitable flight times and using the whole 16 days we had available in January/February 2016, so we booked single flights from Dublin to Fuerteventura, Fuerteventura to London Gatwick and London Heathrow to Dublin.

We prepared meticulous for the holiday and tried to make sure we were going to have the right hotels. After months of debating we settled for five nights at the Elba Sara Beach & Golf Resort, eight nights at the Elba Palace Golf & Vital Hotel and two nights at the Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel in London. Reviews of the two latter will follow.

The Elba Sara Beach & Golf Resort is located in Caleta de Fuste and is a short distance (ca. 12 km) from the airport. The hotel belongs to the local chain Elba - Hoteles Unicos -, which owns/manages ten hotels, mostly on Fuerteventura, other Canary Islands and some on the main land of Spain.

We chose the hotel, because we liked the design and location at the beach and just a very short stroll from the Atlantico Shopping Center. Tripadvisor reviews were overall positive as well.

We booked a Junior Suite including Half Board and free WIFI.

After our flight with Aer Lingus we took a taxi to the Elba Sara. It took ca. 15 minutes and cost 13 Euro (ca. 14.80 USD).

It was a Mercedes Estate and we had a lady driver.

At the hotel we were warmly welcomed and received as welcome drinks Cava. During check in all features were explained.

The lobby was large with a waterfall and stairs leading down to the restaurant Albatroz, the Wellness Zone Spa and Broadway Bar. Between the bar and restaurant was an exit to the pool with a pool bar, gardens and other activities like beach volley ball, tennis, gym, archery and mini golf.

On the lobby level were shops, flower arrangements and the lobby lounge.

Our junior suite was located on the 6th floor above the lobby with pool and sea views. We had our own fully furnished balcony.

The suite was large with traditional design. We had a kangaroo sized/ large king-size bed, a seating area, a flat screen TV, writing desk, mini fridge (unstocked) and tea/coffee making facilities with complimentary chocolates.

The TV was slightly too small for the distance to the seating area, but watching the national and international TV channels (Fashion One, BBC World, Bloomberg and CNBC, beside local Spanish, German, French, Chinese and other channels) was comfortable from the bed and writing desk.

We liked the flower framed blue and ochre tiles and floor to ceiling windows.

The bath room was very large and divided into two sections. The first contained a wardrobe and double sinks with own branded toiletries, which I liked, but weren't my favorite. The smell was slightly too chemical. This part of our junior suite didn't have a door and felt exposed.

The second part was enclosed in milk glass and housed the toilet, bidet and bathtub/shower combination. The water pressure and temperature were consistent and high/strong.

The safe could be used, but was chargeable at 4 Euro, ca. 4.60 USD a night.

When not being busy or exploring the hotel we enjoyed spending time on the balcony. Sometimes we had a visitor - a curious pigeon, who hoped to get some bread crumbs, but didn't like gummi bears or local rice pudding we also enjoyed.

The maids were very thorough, but sometimes a bit too quick to enter the room. It happened once or twice they knocked and were already letting themselves in before we had time to say anything or open the door.

The staff took their job very seriously and called or asked when we met them in person, if we liked our stay or if they could do something for us.

We arranged a tour of the island with the reception. It was perfectly organized.

The spa offered a small selection of massages, body treatments and facials. Massages and facials started at 25 Euro (ca. 28.50 USD), while body treatments were from 30 Euro or ca. 34.15 USD.

There were day activities for adults and children, for example T-shirt painting or sangria making and stretching.

We liked the pool- and gardenscape. There was the main pool and the kids pool with enough sun loungers available for all guests. The garden is based on the flora of Fuerteventura with cacti and aloe vera amongst many other flowers and plants.

Cats were living on the grounds as well. Some were shy, others enjoyed the company of humans, liked to be petted and occupied loungers.

We didn't use the bar, since there was every evening some kind of entertainment going on, i.e. discos, magicians, 80ies music and much more.

The Albatroz Buffet Restaurant could get very busy, depending on the time. The selection was generally large and good quality.

Breakfast offered everything one could imagine from egg dishes to jelly, rice pudding with cinnamon, pancakes, bacon, cold cuts, cheese, baked beans, bread, fruits, yogurt and much more. I loved the Tortilla Espanola, also called Tortilla de Patata.

Fish was rarely served and if, it was mackerel. One guest wasn't happy about it and missed smoked salmon.

The only critisism on our side would be the concentrated juice. The orange juice tasted more like it was made with Vitamin C soluble tablets than real oranges. The pineapple juice was very sweet.

The smoothies on the other hand were very good.

Coffee and tea was self-service.

In the evenings we had to show our key card holder at the entrance of the restaurant, which indicated on which board basis we were staying. We received a list of beverages and could then choose our own table. Since the restaurant was very large it was never a problem to find a suitable space.

Drinks could be ordered from the waiters, who filled out the list.  At the end of the meal we had to bring it back to the reception desk, where the bill was created and had to be signed to the room. On some evenings we didn't have to pay for the drinks, which was a nice and suprising touch.

Dinners were themed, i.e. Mexican, Italian, Canarian or Asian.

The rice, fish and meat dishes were all very good. His favorite were the Canarian potatoes with red Mojo sauce and pizza, mine was the Chinese rice, the sushi and exotic pizza with ham and plantain. It worked astoundingly well.

Our stay passed way too fast. It was soon time to check out and move on to the sister property Elba Palace Golf & Vital.

We loved the island, the hotel and the location, so we would consider stay here at this resort again in our future, but we would also want to try other hotels/resorts on the island of Fuerteventura.

©2016

Hilton Dublin Airport, Ireland

Having stayed over thirty times at the Hilton Dublin Airport we returned after an absence of a couple of years.

 

This is a review of our combined three stays in January 2016.

 

The hotel has been mostly renovated, the dining concept changed and a lot of new staff was working there.

 

On one occasion the check in was a bit rushed due to a large queue behind us. Otherwise staff was always friendly and warm.

 

We were upgraded during all our stays as Hilton Honors Gold members. Twice from an entrance category room to a Deluxe Room and once to a Corner Deluxe.

 

The furniture had changed from blonde wood to dark wood. The lightning was reduced and sultry. The newest alarm clock – much smaller than the former model – was also available in two of the rooms.

 

The mini bar had been replaced with a mini fridge, which was empty.

 

The flat screen TV had an improved line up of channels including CNN, Bloomberg, CNBC and BBC World.

 

The artwork was still the same, but in different frames, depicting Irish seascapes.

 

The king sized bed was comfortable on all three occasions/stays.

 

One room did show more wear and tear than the other two and hadn’t been renovated yet. One example was the remote control. It had been used so often that the buttons were unreadable.

 

In one of the other rooms the feather in the safe door was too tight and didn’t let allow the door to open. At first we thought the safe was broken until a manager opened the safe for us and showed us how to deal with it.

 

Views were either over the entrance and Clare Hall Shopping Centre or Clare Hall and the sea in the distance.

 

The bathrooms hadn’t been changed.

 

Gold amenities were 4 bottles Deep River Rock water, Doorman’s salted peanuts and Wasabi peanuts as well as drink vouchers for two at the bar and restaurant. Each time we received a slight variation, i.e. just water and voucher, all items and once no Wasabi peanuts.

 

24 hours in room dining had improved too and was delicious. We enjoyed for example Irish smoked salmon sandwiches with a generous amount of salmon and salad, Chicken Satay and green Thai curry.

 

Earlier each meal came with crisps or fries. We were happy to see, that fries were still on the menu as side dishes, but had been generally replaced with green leafy salad.

 

At Burnell’s Restaurant and Bar we had a memorable pumpkin risotto.

 

Breakfast has been also upgraded. It was very good before, but it’s even better now in terms of choices on the buffet. Before tea and coffee were brought to the table. Now a coffee machine and tea making facility are at the buffet for the guest’s own use.

 

On weekends live entertainment still takes place in the evenings.

 

The shuttle to/from the airport was reliable, only once it arrived a bit late. One of the drivers recognized us from earlier stays and was as happy to see us again as we were.

 

In our opinion the Hilton Dublin Airport is the best hotel near the airport and we will use it in our future again before early flights or when arriving in Dublin from a flight in the late evening.

 

©2016

Novotel Birmingham Centre, England, United Kingdom

We had a second night in Birmingham and wanted to try something new after staying at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham (Please see review.) in October 2015 for our 4th time.

The hotel's location is very good on Broad Street. A Sainsbury Express and all the nightlife is just a few steps away.

We booked an Executive Room, the highest category available.

After our lunch at Purnell's Restaurant (Please see review.) we picked up our luggage from the Hyatt Regency and checked in at the Novotel.

The building made the impression it was purpose built.

The modern interior was inviting and colorful. On the right was the reception to the left Elements Restaurant and the bar.

Check in was quick and friendly.

Our room was on the 3rd floor.

It was large with arched double windows and views over the neighboring buildings. They were double glazed and didn't let in any noise.

The room wasn't luxurious, but had interesting design features, like the blue writing desk chair. It looked uncomfortable, but using it proved the whole opposite.

The curtains had colorful circles printed on them. The sofa and carpet were grey, while the rest of the furniture was light brown.

The bed was queen-sized and Japanese sliding doors led to the bathroom.

The flat screen TV offered a wide range of channels including BBC World. Essentially it had the same line up as the Hyatt Regency.

There was also modern artwork and a Bose IPod docking station.

The minibar was free and contained Highland Spring Water.

A Nespresso coffee machine and tea making facilities with Twinning’s Tea were also available.

The bathroom was small with a shower, separate bathtub and sink. The toilet was in a separate room near the entrance - no sink there, but it had a hand disinfectant.

The bathroom amenities were own branded. The interesting thing about them was that they were Fair Trade and came from exotic locals like Mauritius and Kenya. We liked the soap with avocado oil and the sugar cane toiletries. There was also an exfoliant gel scrub and a body milk.

We didn't spend much time on our room or at the Novotel. For example we went to Wagamama on New Street for dinner, because the food at Elements was a bit too outdated for our taste and didn't sound good.

The room was comfortable and the bed allowed a good night’s rest. Overall, it was a good mid-scale room.

The next morning we went for breakfast at the hotel. It was a pleasant surprise and very good value for the quality. It cost 13.95 GBP (ca. 17.45 Euro or ca. 19.85 USD) per person. There was a wide choice of mueslis and cereals, Mueller products including yogurts and drinks, bread, fresh fruits and fruit salad, cold cuts, cheese, products by Tim's Dairy, eggs, bacon and much more. We had a pot of Twinning’s green tea each and got two and a half cups, so that was very generous. To our surprise there was even organic Soya milk.

Afterwards we had a bit time to explore the bar area and were fascinated by the cocktails on display. My fiancé believed they were not real and plastic samples like you see when going out eating in Japan. The bar tender, who was also working as a waiter at the breakfast service, explained they were real and all made by him.

Checking out the other public spaces we found a coffee corner beside the reception and near the entrance to the meeting facilities.

We had a sneak peek at the conferencing facilities. An event was taking place at the time.

Lying on an unoccupied table were printouts of the day's agenda and attendee's names. The meetings had already started. We were concerned about privacy and security as the info was there to take away, if we would have been so inclined.

Soon afterwards it was time to check out. It was done quickly and correctly.

Would we stay here again? Probably not. It's a very good  mid-scale hotel with friendly and helpful staff, but we are more interested in upscale to luxury properties, beside this our favorite Novotel so far is their Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport property which feels different than most Novotels we've experienced so far.

Would we recommend this hotel to a friend? Maybe, this depends on purpose of visit and budget.
Would we want to stay again at this hotel when visiting Birmingham in our future? Probably not, as we prefer the Hyatt Regency which was newly renovated recently and feels fresh and innovative.

©2016

Purnell's Restaurant Birmingham, England, Uninted Kingdom

When planning our travel through the UK in October 2015 we wanted to have lunch at a Michelin starred restaurant in Birmingham. There were two choices for us we liked to pursue on this particular visit to the city: Purnell’s Restaurant or Adam’s. 

Purnell’s Restaurant was longer on our list, so we decided to reserve a table there.

 

Glynn Purnell was born in 1975 in Birmingham on a council estate, so Brummies are very proud of their “son”.

His first cooking experience was preparing meals for his siblings.

 

The building itself is unassuming and understated. Only a few signs with a big P on the wall indicate that Purnell’s Restaurant is located there.

The interior is totally different. It’s modern with a bar in the front and the dining room at the back with a colorful carpet and tapestry.

There is also a small window, allowing guests to spy on the chefs or vice versa.

When we entered we were warmly greeted, asked for our name and our coats were taken.

The table was ready and we were invited into the dining room.

 

It was already relatively full with a group of businessmen and women, couples and another small group.

The atmosphere was convivial, upscale and upbeat, all this matched the setting in harmony.

Our table had partial views into the kitchen. I sometimes had the luck to spot Glynn Purnell and his brigade.

We were asked if we would like to order some drinks before being presented with the menu.

I asked for an alcohol free cocktail and was re-assured that it was possible and no problem at all. My fiancé ordered a glass of Billcard Salmon Rose Champagne.

My mocktail was made with cranberry and pineapple juice and elderflower. It was very well balanced, not too sweet and not too bitter.

The Maître d’ commented on the Champagne and said rose was a good choice, because it had a more intense flavor.

We ordered from the three course lunch menu and had a bottle of still water with it.

The greetings from the kitchen were potato balls with curry mayonnaise from the Brummie Tapas menu.

They were tasty. The presentation was Asian inspired. The mayonnaise was served in an understated black stone dish. The potato balls were finger food. They came with two little white rolls on a white porcelain plate. We were advised by the waitress not to eat the white rolls, since they weren’t edible. We wondered what they were. We found out with the help of “magic”. Another waiter came with a pot of boiling water and dowsed the balls in it. They suddenly grew and turned into hand towels.

A fresh loaf of bread was served too. It was really delicious, one of the best we had in a longer time and again we were told by the Maître d’ that it had a good flavor.

Our first course was the Beetroot Escabeche. It was very enjoyable and colorful.

Our main meal was Brixham cod with pumpkin puree and carrots. This was one of the best fish dishes we had. It was pure melt in the mouth.

Originally we expected as dessert a macaroon, checking the online menu, but it had changed. Instead we had a chocolate banana cake with frozen yogurt. Normally I’m not a big fan of this, but this one was gooey, chocolaty with neither the banana nor the chocolate overpowering and very satisfying. The flavor was full on. The cake looked more like a tart.

As a dessert wine he ordered the Legacy of the Barossa from the Dandelion Vineyards with 30 year old Pedro Ximenez. He loved it. It was syrupy and sweet, but not cloyingly.

Later the Maître d’ had some more time to chat with us and wanted to know where we were from. He recommended we should visit Patrick Gilbaud, a two Michelin starred restaurant, or Rustic Stone by Dylan McGrath, when he heard we were from Ireland.

By now we have eaten at Rustic Stone, but not managed Patrick Gilbaud so far. We were very happy with his suggestions.

The staff is a great asset to the restaurant too, very caring, friendly, attentive and knowledgeable.

A visit to the bathrooms is unusual. You enter a totally different world. The floor is covered in jungle wall paper and there are birds tweeting in the background. There’s also a full view through a glass door to the kitchen. My fiancé was lucky and was greeted by the complete brigade.

Too soon it was time to pay and leave this memorable restaurant.

The bill came in at 120 GBP (ca. 152 Euro or ca. 170 USD).

We loved our lunch experience at Purnell’s. 

 

©2016

 

In-Room Art Afternoon Tea @ The Merrion, Dublin Ireland

While staying at The Merrion Hotel Dublin, Ireland in March 2016 we enjoyed in-room Art Afternoon Tea, which is based on the artworks which are exhibited throughout the hotel.

 

When ordering I was advised that different sandwiches were served than on the menu. This wasn’t a problem.

 

I asked to receive only plain scones, because my fiancé is allergic against raisins.

We ordered green tea, but if no specific tea is requested, Breakfast Tea would be served. Additionally we had two orange juices.

 

The tea arrived within the time frame, but unfortunately there were a mix of scones. We were promised we would get an additional plate with more plain ones, which was delivered promptly.

 

The setup was beautiful with three tiers and an additional plate for some of the Merrion art inspired sweet treats.

 

On the lowest level were the savories, in the middle the scones, clotted cream, butter, lemon curd and raspberry jam and on top the cakes.

 

The tea came in a silver pot; there were linens and a flower on the table, and the table was laid out with bespoke cutlery and Wedgewood porcelain.

The delicious savory items included a pea mousse, chicken, smoked salmon, cucumber and ham and cheese sandwiches and an egg brioche.

 

The sweet items were lemon bread, Porter and Battenberg cake, which were inspired by Sean Scully’s abstract paintings.

 

Another one was inspired by art hanging in one of the Drawing Rooms.

It was sumptuous, memorable and the presentation was beautiful.

 

The cost were 92 Euro (ca. 102.90 USD) for two.

 

We enjoyed the meal very much and would look forward to enjoy the Art Afternoon Tea at The Merrion Hotel again.

 

©2016

 

The Merrion Dublin, Ireland

The Merrion is located opposite the Government Buildings and on Upper Merrion Street in Dublin.

The hotel has two wings, the Main House and the Garden Wing.

During our previous stay a few years ago we had the entrance category room at the Garden Wing, which was added in the 1990's. The hotel opened in 1997.

For our stay in March 2016 we consciously chose a Deluxe King Room located at the Main House. The Main House comprises the four original Georgian buildings from the 18th century.

Lord Monck leased four plots and built houses on all of them.

He lived in Number 22. It is named after him and has neo-classical Adams style interiors, while Number 21 has rococo plaster work and a heavy staircase.

Number 24 was originally leased to Lord Antrim, but he moved after his own home was ready, and it was instead taken over by Garret Wellesley, the Earl of Mornington. The building is also known as Mornington House. The Earl of Mornington was the father of the 1st Duke of Wellington, who was born in Number 24.

Reception is located at Monck House. The hotel was already buzzing when we arrived. The bell captain welcomed us warmly and  offered to take our luggage and to bring us to the check in desk. We were travelling light, so we didn't need help with our luggage, but accepted to be brought to reception.

We had to wait a bit, because other guests were checking in. When it was our turn the formalities were quickly dealt with and we were accompanied to our room on the second floor. Unfortunately the hotel was very busy and a late checkout at 2 PM couldn't be given, but we were offered until 12.30 hours, which we took. Emma also explained we could use the spa and any other facilities even after checking out.

We were promised a beautiful room. It was true. The Deluxe Room felt newly renovated in light colors, mostly green, white, crème, beige and gold. The two floor to ceiling windows let in the sunshine and overlooked the courtyard and building site for the new garden restaurant.

After a short explanation about the features we were left alone.

The room was large and bright with a seating area, a coffee table, a throne bed with a Chinese themed throw and night stand lamps, a bench at one of the windows, a large flat screen TV, an alarm clock with IPod docking station, a built in wardrobe, luggage rack, writing desk and a credenza, containing the mini bar.

The matching Chinese theme continued on the cushions on the sofa and the upholstery of the bench. We loved the design and the softness of the material used.

The duvet, all towels and bath mats were Merrion branded.

There was a Leading Hotel of World catalogue, where The Merrion is a proud member since opening.

On the coffee table were different magazines including Vanity Fair, Image, Social & Personal, a booklet about the artwork at The Merrion and a coffee table book about artist Roderic O'Conor.

The Merrion's art collection is the largest of any hotel in Ireland and includes a few works by Roderic O'Conor.

Having frequented the hotel many times over the years we recognized most of the artwork and knew where they were located.

The 100 TV channels available were regional and international, including CNN, Bloomberg, CNBC and all Sky Sports channels.

We enjoyed watching golf tournaments from the US and Thailand on Sky Sports.

Bewley's tea and coffee making facilities were hidden in the wardrobe. The china was by Villeroy & Boch.

The mini bar was stocked with the usual soft drinks, a half bottle of Ruinart Champagne, other alcoholic beverages, The Merrion Pantry dark and milk chocolate, other snacks, sweets and some Tethra Spa products by Espa.

The mixers were 3 Euro (ca. 3.35 USD), soft drinks 3.50 Euro (ca. 3.90 USD), the Ruinart 48 Euro (ca. 53.35 USD), gin, vodka, rum and whiskey 7 Euro (ca. 7.80 USD), Hennessy 9.50 Euro (ca. 10.60 USD), Remy Martin VSOP 11 Euro (ca. 12.25 USD) and the chocolates 4 Euro (ca. 4.45 USD) each.

We took both chocolate bars. They were delicious and when mentioning it at checkout we were told The Merrion Pantry chocolate is saltier than usual, which was right. We liked the smooth, creamy texture and full flavor. Now we wished there would be more of those in the mini bar.

Classic mirrors and artwork by J.B. Yeats completed the room.

A complimentary large bottle of still water was waiting on the coffee table. It was replaced during turn down service and another two small bottles were provided additionally.

The maid offered to clean our water glasses, but we were okay.

The marble bathroom was large with a separate bathtub and shower, a sink, toilet and bidet.

It had a window, which flooded the bathroom with daylight. Blinds could be lowered, so that nobody was able to look inside. The amenities were by Asprey Purple Water and were outstanding.

The hotel offers a shoe cleaning service instead of a shoe shine. We used it and ours were clean and looking like new.

During our stay we used the 24 hour room service for Art Afternoon Tea (review to follow), dinner and breakfast.

Our dinner was smaller and we shared, because the afternoon tea had made us quite full.

It consisted of two mixed berries smoothies, McConnell's oak smoked salmon plate with red onion, capers, lemon and brown soda bread, grilled Monaghan chicken breast with champ mashed potatoes and petit pois a la Francais and a green apple parfait, transparent apple, olive oil cake and cinnamon chocolate wafer. It was all high quality, meaning superb restaurant style quality and delicious.

The bill was 84.50 Euro (ca. 95.25 USD).

The alarm clock had a great feature: The digital time display could be dimmed.

Sleeping comfort was great and getting out of bed was an issue. The wakeup call and reminder were delivered punctual and friendly. The staff double checked if we needed the reminder.

Breakfast the next morning was a Continental and Healthy choice and a cholesterol free omelette for both of us with asparagus as an additional item.

The Continental Breakfast included a choice of tea and coffee, orange juice, bakery basket, toast, jam and butter, fresh fruit salad and Glenillen yogurt.

The Healthy Breakfast included choice of tea or coffee, juice of the day, porridge with skimmed milk and mixed berries, rye bread, carrot bran muffins, Glenillen yogurt and fresh fruit salad.

The juice of the day, a multivitamin juice, was easily replaced, due to an allergy to apricot and peach.

There was a slight mistake in the bill - the omelette was charged full price, even though it should have had only a supplemental charge, when ordering a set breakfast. The mistake was easily rectified by the manager.

The correct amount was 69 Euro (ca. 77.80 USD).

After breakfast we explored the hotel a bit further incl. the beautiful manicured courtyard gardens in which one can view the beautiful "Ripples of Ulysses - James Joyce" statue/sculpture by Rowan Gillespie and then it was already time to pack and check out.

We enjoyed our one night stay very much and were impressed by the friendly and helpful staff, the detailed, luxurious Main House Deluxe King Room incl. bathroom and the excellent food.

Looking forward we would love to try also the Superior Room in the Garden Wing to experience a different room type.

©2016

Eddie Rocket's Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland

After a visit to the Gallery of Photography to see an exhibition about the 1916 Rebellion and Roger Casement we went to Eddie Rocket’s on Dame Street for a late lunch in March 2016.

We hadn’t been to Eddie Rocket’s for a longer time, since the quality had been declining. We wanted to see if it had improved again.

When entering we were greeted warmly and advised we could choose any seat we’d liked. We took a booth by the windows

The outlet is in need of renovation, because the upholstery of many benches was damaged and the interior could need overall a refresh.

Having not been settled for a minute we were already asked if we were ready to order. That was a bit too quick and then our waitress was gone for a good while. Finally we could order. From then on it went flawless.

We had two banana peanut butter milk shakes, a Skinny Beach Burger, made with a whole-wheat bun and fat reduced cheese, Southern Fried Chicken Tenders and shared a portion of Sweet Potato Fries. The portions had gotten smaller since our last visit and the shredded salad leaves didn’t appear with the chicken tenders. The quality was much better, though, and the meal delicious.

We paid 30.50 Euro (ca. 34.30 USD).

When out and about and looking for fast American inspired food, we will return to this or other outlets.

 

©2016