Travelling Wren

Hotel review: The George Hotel, Hamburg

By Andrea Wren

On my recent media trip to Hamburg, Hamburg Marketing accommodated us in The George Hotel, at Barcastraße 3 on the east side of the city centre. It's always lovely when you get a nice place to stay on a press trip, especially when the accommodation isn't the key focus of the trip.

I was pretty impressed with The George, especially for its wonderful boutique-style and the level of service offered. The hotel is very modern and stylish, and clearly prides itself on being something of a sleek number.

Hotel review: Adina Apartment Hotel Berlin Hauptbahnhof

By Andrea Wren

After making the mistake of going to the wrong Adina hotel (d'oh!), we finally checked in to the 4 star Adina Apartment Hotel Berlin Hauptbahnhof around an hour after arriving into Berlin, feeling a bit weary following an early start from Manchester.

Thankfully, the hotel was a good pick (the Wren did well!) and the apartment suite was a nice size for a city centre location, especially at the price we had booked (I had managed to get a deal of £158 for three nights with breakfast, over Valentine's weekend!).

Hotel review: Thorseby Hall Hotel & Spa, Nottinghamshire

By Andrea Wren

Thorseby Hall Hotel & Spa is a grade-I listed mansion set into the beautiful Thorseby Hall estate on the edge of Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire. I stayed here with one of my best friends for a spa weekend, and the hotel is run by Warner Leisure Hotels who provide breaks for grown-ups only.

So yes, Thoresby Hall is blissfully child-free, which works well considering spa is all about rest and relaxation. And it's lovely – though it is very 'coupley' with an older clientèle. Not that we minded as two girls having a nice time together, and we noted a few other women who were clearly here to enjoy a bit of R&R.

Hotel review: The Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong

By Andrea Wren

I have to say, of all the hotels I have stayed in over the years, the Island Shangri-La Hong Kong has got to be one of my favourites! I was here in November 2010 with my son, and it was hard to say goodbye after only two nights of complete, unashamed luxury.

Though I didn't love its location as much as other hotels in Hong Kong (the Shangri-La is the heart of the Admiralty district on Hong Kong Island with direct access to the Pacific Place Mall, but I felt it to be too 'sterile'), the hotel itself was spectacular.

Hotel review: The Montagu Country Hotel, Montagu, South Africa

By Andrea Wren

Anyone doing Route 62 in South Africa's Western Cape will see Montagu along the way, and a stopover here most definitely should include a stay at the Montagu Country Hotel. In my recent girlie 'road trip' around the Western Cape, this was actually one of the hotels I preferred the most.

Funnily, I didn't have such high expectations of the Montagu Country Hotel before arriving here – it appeared to be a cheap and cheerful option to rest at along Route 62, but nothing more. How wrong I was.