Amsterdam - Happy New Year

Happy New Year everybody! Wishing you lots of great city trips for 2010.

January is the perfect time to start dreaming and maybe already planning a trip to a great city. How about sleeping in the most original hotel in The Big Apple without busting your budget? Enjoying sun, sand and city in a cool Lisbon apartment for only 30 euro? Or staying in London for next to nothing?

I say keep checking my blog for these and more cool budget design hotels in great cities.

Bremen - Prizeotel

Just the other day I leafed throught ‘Verrassend Duitsland’, a travel book on the great things Germany has to offer. I read about breathtaking nature, picturesque villages and trendy cities.

Like Bremen, a modern harbor city with two faces: On the outskirts big shopping malls and them parks. In the old city center warehouses, maybe the most beautiful city hall you have ever seen and ‘das Viertel', the trendy neighbourhood of Bremen, in no way inferior to the ones in other cool cities.

I want to go! Lucky me I found a budget design hotel in Bremen: Das Prizeotel. A smart hotel in pop art colours by famous product and fashion designer Karim Rashid.

Price: from 30 euro p.p.p.n. (double room)

Prague - Dahlia Inn

Want a weekend of strolling about in a stunning city? Doing a bit of shopping, visiting barock churches and sipping cocktails? Prague is your top destination.

Now don’t be afraid of the beer gulping stag night tourists. They made way to a new improved visitor and together with them came nice hotels. Like Dahlia Inn, a newly remodeled family design hotel. With all the comfort and services you want for a budget price.

Price: 40 p.p.p.n. (double room)
Special offer 29 euro (Jan. and Febr. 2010)(double room)

Maastricht – Townhouse Hotels

A new kid in town and already winner of a prestigious award? It happened to Townhouse Hotels, a brand new hotel in the center of Maastricht.

With good service, innovative concept and interior. No slick design - so last year - but modern with a wink to the past. And let’s not forget the luxury so much needed on a weekend break: a Mosa bathroom with rain shower or bath. And if that is not enough upgrade your room with a bottle of local whine, romantic breakfast, free laptop and more.

I say this Townhouse is something else. No wonder they were given the VENUEZ Hospitality & Style Award 2009.


Price: from 39 euro p.p.p.n. (double room)

Stockholm - 4Trappor

Visited London, Paris, Barcelona and even Istanbul? Why not head up north to Stockholm. Great for a winter wonderland break or for a midsummer stay.

And if you like hip and beautiful SoFo, (south of Folkungagatan) is the neighborhood to stay. Here you will find independent design shops and the trendiest restaurants and bars of Stockholm. And a great B&B: 4Trappor, an apartment for two with a bedroom, a full equipped kitchen and a modern bathroom. With lots of extra’s to make your stay comfortable: LCD TV, cooker, fridge, microwave and espresso machine.

Price: 850 SEK breakfast excl./ 1000 SEK breakfast incl. p.p.p.n.
(appr. 42 euro/50 euro)

Zürich - Zum Guten Glück

For most Zürich is not really an obvious destination for a city trip. But this city has got more to offer than just great chocolates. Visit creative Zürich West and discover great architecture, the newest galleries and cool bars.

Want to enjoy Swiss design close up? Stay at Gasthaus Zum Guten Glück . 10 rooms with a basic setup but with lots of original Swiss design furniture from the 60’s and 70’s. Add to that a great location: near the cultural hotspots and in a fast developing multicultural neighbourhood. And for sure you will have a brilliant time.

Breakfast is served daily until 8PM. Think of pancakes, waffles and Dutch poffertjes as the manager is Dutch.

Price: from 42 euro p.p.p.n. (double room)

Rome - RetRome

Combine 2500 years of Roman history with classic Italian films like "Vacanza Romana" and "La Dolce Vita" and RetRome is born.

A unique short stay concept with vintage styled apartments throughout the historical center of Rome - opened in 2005 and owned by an Italian, Israeli and a Dutchman. With the help of various artists and designers they developed little oases of retro style in the heart of the eternal city.

Apartment sizes vary from 2-7 persons. Amenities: free Wifi, AC, fully equiped kitchen, desktop computer.

Price: from 69 euro (low season)/from 99 euro (high season),depending on the size of the apartment and number of guests.