The Titanic Hotel - A Historic Hotel in the Heart of Belfast

The Titanic Hotel Belfast is located in the former headquarters of Harland & Wolff, builders of the Titanic, and provides the perfect destination for anyone travelling to the Titanic Quarter on business or for pleasure. 

The hotel's location really is exceptional, located just 10 metres from the Titanic Exhibition, 50 metres away from the HMS Caroline and 5 minutes walk from the exciting SSE Arena and W5. The location of the Titanic Hotel was a real drawing point for us as it was close enough to walk to Belfast City Centre, yet far enough away to relax and not have to worry about the hustle and bustle of the city. 

On arrival, we were greeted with the sheer beauty of the exceptionally historic building, almost like a museum than a hotel. It’s certainly a very aesthetically pleasing hotel with a clean open reception and open bar/ restaurant area.

Check in was a breeze, with the very kind lobby staff offering to show us to our room, on arrival to the room we were welcomed by a lovely array of macaroons, which really was the icing on the cake.

The room itself was very spacious and had a real historic feel to it, from the high ceilings to the old light fixtures and notable mirrors. Both the room and the hotel are very dark, although we like the relaxing dim lighting it may be an issue for some.

In the room were two large TV’s playing enjoyable documentaries and related videos of the Titanic, which was a lovely touch. Also, provided was all the important amenities; hair dryer, ironing board, air conditioning, complimentary bottled water, tea/coffee facilities, refrigerator on request, safe, bespoke bathrobes and slippers & very good WiFi.

The bathroom was very spacious for a city hotel with both a shower and a bath and two large couple sinks (although this differs from room to room), even the simplest of rooms have everything you need. In the bathroom, you'll also find a handful of Paul Costelloe toiletries, which we ended up taking for travelling (sorry Titanic Hotel).

The Titanic doesn’t just have amazing rooms though, it also offers some of the best food options we have seen in any hotel. We had both dinner and two days of breakfast and I couldn’t fault it. The Breakfast was plentiful with a wide variety of options ranging from cereals, pastries, yoghourts and a wide range of traditional Irish breakfast options, we recommended the Irish fry.

After you’ve tickled your taste buds with the plentiful breakfast options and have explored the tremendous titanic quarter, the Titanic’s Wolff Grill or the drawing office dinner will certainly make your trip that little bit more special. We aren’t what you would call ‘fine dining’ type of people but the Titanic really changed our opinion on ‘fine dining’ with large portions & flavours that we can’t really put into words how incredible they are. If you want something a bit more casual the Drawing-office lunch or dinner menu is prepared by the same kitchen so you will still be in for a treat.

Rating
Overall the Titanic Hotel is an excellent hotel experience with a brilliant location to the Titanic Quarter, set in history and with some incredible top class food options. It really could be a brilliant city getaway or if your coming to Belfast to visit the culture and history this hotel is perfect. Staff were extremely intentive and went above and beyond to get us extra amenities and when we left the room we arrived with the bed pre-made and chocolates on the pillows. Although not exactly a budget Hotel, keep an eye their website and social media as they run packages with breakfast/stay/dinner and for the perfect price this hotel could be the perfect getaway.

Rating:
Price: £120-180 a night
Address: 8 Queens Rd, Belfast BT3 9DT
More Info: Click Here

Understanding our rating class.
We rate our Travel Accommodation ranging from First class being the best and Last class being the worst.

Clayton Hotel Cardiff Lane - A Dreamy Dublin Detox
The Clayton Hotel Cardiff Lane is located in the bustling business district in Dublin 2, just a stone throw away from the beautiful Samuel Beckett Bridge and a number of bars, restaurants and attractions.

This four-star hotel is just 1 minute from the famous Bord Gais Energy and a 5-minute walk to close-by public transport. Although situated in Dublin's busy business district, the hotel has that relaxing vibe that's a real breath of fresh air.

As soon as we arrived we were given a warm welcome and a perfect explanation of the many facilities the hotel offers on-site ranging from the state of the art leisure centre, swimming pool, sauna & jacuzzi, restaurant & bar and breakfast area.

Although large the hotel is labelled and signposted well to keep you on the right track of the many different floors and areas and staff were friendly with any questions or queries we had and even offered to order taxis or guide us to the local transport to get back to the airport. 

The room itself was extremely spacious, especially for what you would except for a city centre located hotel, boasting a comfortable super king-sized bed and spacious seating area, there was more than enough room for all your luggage and then some.

Decorated with the modern Clayton style and cleaned to perfection it was a perfect base for us when we just wanted to relax after a long day in Dublin. Especially with the full Sky TV package to sit down and watch your favourite shows, which was a really nice touch that we haven’t seen in many hotels.

The amenities were plentiful with not only tea & coffee making facilities but a full Nespresso machine for those coffee lovers that fused well with the complimentary Irish chocolates that were awaiting us on arrival.

Leading on from the sizeable bedroom was the bright bathroom with a complete list of toiletries to pamper yourself if you didn’t feel like using the award-winning spa and leisure facilities complete with soft bathrobes & slippers.

The Clayton Hotel doesn't just have amazing rooms though, the food is brilliant as well. The hotel offers a variety of dining options; the vertigo bar, Stir restaurant and breakfast area. The complimentary breakfast was a great start to the day and defiantly is needed after working up a sweat in the Club Vitae gym and pool.

All hotel guests have access to the fully equipped gym with over 50 pieces of fitness equipment or can enjoy one of a selection of fitness classes. 

If relaxation is your thing escape in the 22 metre heated swimming pool, jacuzzi, steam room and sauna or get a professional massage or beauty treatment.

Rating
Overall the Clayton Cardiff lane really is a perfect hotel whether you're a family of four or on a business trip, it truly is an affordable option with amenities and facilities that would be in a completely different price bracket. The leisure facilities are some of the best we have seen never mind in a hotel. But for us it was the little things that the hotel and staff had made that made this a perfect hotel; the small box of chocolates, full sky package, complimentary bottles of water, professional coffee facilities and friendly staff makes this a first-class hotel in our eyes.

Rating: 
Price: £80-120 a night
Address: Cardiff Lane, Sir John Rogersons Quay, Dublin, Dublin 2, D02 YT21, Ireland
More Info: Click Here

Understanding our rating class.
We rate our Travel Accommodation ranging from First class being the best and Last class being the worst.

The Manor House Country Hotel, Fermanagh's Charming Country Retreat 
Located in the heart of the Fermanagh Lakelands, close to the Enniskillen town centre but just far enough away to enjoy the tranquillity of the Lower Lough Erne shores. The hotel itself is quite large with just under 80 rooms yet still feels like a family run homely resort.

As soon as you enter the welcoming gates of the Manor House country hotel you really get a sense of relaxation. Driving past the large green gardens and getting a glimpse of the sun reflecting off the calm Lakeland's. On check in we were greeted by the front desk and even received a friendly call to the room when I clumsily forgot my drone bag at reception.

The hotel has a fairytale feel to it with a charming country house ambience, from the classic fireplaces to the vintage chandeliers, you almost feel like your in a medieval castle. 

The room itself was extremely spacious with a large living area that alone was bigger than my apartment's living room, it actually took much difficulty even getting a picture of the whole room as it was so enormous.  The living area came kitted out with a large TV, fridge, tea & coffee facilities, large table to work on, comfortable sofas and off course an incredible view of the Lakeland.

Leading on from the living area was the cosy bedroom with a sizeable bed that has more than enough room for three people never mind a couple. Looking out from the bed you have a large balcony that has some of the most scenic views we have seen from a hotel, we even managed to take off a drone from the balcony it was that large.

This balcony is way too tempting not to take the drone off from @ManorFermanagh #manorhouse #FridayFeeling #travel pic.twitter.com/jWtiYxWLOP

— Beatthetravelagent (@Beattravelagent) May 5, 2017

Yet the bedroom or living room wasn't even the best part of this hotel room, in the bathroom, you have two large sinks, a shower and the pièce de résistance the jacuzzi bathtub with a monitor to relax while watching some late night television.

The manor House doesn't just have amazing rooms though, the food is incredible as well. The hotel offers a variety of dining options; their AA Rosette Belleek Restaurant, Cellar Door Bar & Bistro & Watergate Bar. We especially loved the true Irish breakfast that was served up every morning with a smile that starts your day off perfectly.

After you have tickled your taste buds, the Manor country house offers numerous in-house facilities for all your needs, including a complete leisure centre with a large swimming pool, steam room, Jacuzzi, Sauna, fitness suite and Outdoor Hot Tub. Also on offer is a 9 Hole, Par 3 golf course, tennis court, pitch and putt and an option for a luxurious cruise around the Lakelands on the Lady of the Lake Cruiser.

Rating
Overall The Manor House country hotel really is a Northern Irish gem, it truly is a perfect relaxing retreat where you can arrive and not have to leave the comfort of the resort. The food is incredible even in the bar and the facilities are top class. When taking the price into account it really is a first class hotel even for the upgraded suites including breakfast it beats the price of many hotels yet has so much more to offer. The only issue we had was the internet which was slightly slow for our needs but for just scrolling social media or checking your emails it would do the job for most.

Rating: 
Price: £80-120 a night
Address: John Wesley Rd, Enniskillen BT94 1NY
More Info: Click Here

Understanding our rating class.
We rate our Travel Accommodation ranging from First class being the best and Last class being the worst.

Venice Beach Suites & Hotel
Built in the early 1900s, the Venice Beach Suites & Hotel is a piece of Venice Beach history, it retains much of its original architectural charm from its lift ‘Betsy’ to its exposed brick walls. It's perfect for low-maintenance tourists looking to explore the area's unique attractions while being right in the thick of the action. Rooms have plenty of charm for a value hotel, and the price is hard to beat for the location.

When we arrived, check-in was simple and the member of staff was very attentive on explaining the hotel's facilities and policies. We then got the famous 100-year-old lift called ‘Betsy’ up to our top floor room.

As soon as you enter the room it was apparent we were in for a treat with the view. Not many hotels offer such a close Beach view like Venice Beach Suites & Hotel, never mind at that affordable price.

In our room, there was a large double bed, A flat screen tv with full cable, two fans, A kitchenette with; a microwave, coffee maker, sink, fridge and a full layout of kitchen utensils. The kitchenette is extremely useful when you want to cook a quick authentic meal without having to break the bank in a nearby restaurant.

The WiFi overall was very good and we had no issues whatsoever, which was a relief as most of the hotels we stayed in on this trip had some internet issues. We easily uploaded videos and streamed films with no issues.

The beach View really makes you get up early and get straight to the sand. We got up bright and early and enjoyed the free coffee at reception and used the complimentary surfboards, towels and beach balls, which can really cost you a bit elsewhere to rent on the boardwalk.


The hotel also offered a brilliant roof-top seating area with some outstanding views during both the day and the evening. We also found out during our stay that they hold a complimentary pizza and beer night every Friday evening which seemed to be very popular with the many guests staying and really added a personal touch that made the hotel stand out from the rest.

Before arrival, we had a feeling it was going to be a bit rowdy during the day and night as many tens of thousands of people walk the Venice Boardwalk every day. Overall the noise was quite contained and the hotel's windows did a good job of controlling the noise. The only issue that we had was although it is one of the best-located hotels during the day, at night many of the local vendors and bars close shop and during the night it becomes slightly exposed with the large homeless population. Needless to say for us this wasn’t an issue and the hotel is overall very secure, but this needs to be mentioned as I know many travellers may have issues with this.

Rating
Overall the Venice Beach Suites & Hotel is an excellent hotel for the young demographics and is ideal for most travellers. Although it can be quite rowdy due to its location, but the reason you go to this hotel is the location.
The Venice Beach gets our Economy Plus rating and we hope when we are back in LA to stop by.
Rating: 
Price: $150-250 a night
Address: 1305 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291, USA
More info: Click Here
Book Now

Understanding our rating class.
We rate our Travel Accommodation ranging from First class being the best and Last class being the worst.

DoubleTree Hilton Hotel Downtown Los Angeles
Nestled in the Little Tokyo section of Los Angeles, California, this hotel is an exotic retreat that takes travellers on a Japanese themed adventure. Well located nearby attractions such as the Los Angeles Convention Centre, Dodger Stadium, Bunker Hill and the Staples Centre.

On arrival, we got checked in very quickly and the desk staff were friendly and attentive to all our needs, they even received an Amazon parcel for us before arrival. The lobby itself was very clean and spacious and the Japanese theme really shone through. As with most DoubleTree Hiltons the lobby has that tasty aroma of freshly baked cookies, which you can treat yourself to.

We were only staying for 2 nights as we were coming back from Las Vegas so we opted for the Standard king room, although we got a larger room with two king beds.

Also in the room were complimentary bottles of water and as you guessed it- more cookies. In our room, there was also the standard amenities of a safe, docking station, Flat screen, coffee/tea facilities, Air/con and toiletries. The internet was very fast if your A HHonors Member for the ‘premium internet’. The Standard internet was bearable and was more than enough to check emails and have a scroll through Facebook.

The view from our room was pleasant and overlooked the busing streets of Downtown LA. The area itself is well located to many attractions but there is a strong presence of homelessness if you go a walk, although this doesn’t bother us as we mainly use UBER to get around so not much walking was done. The best bet is to ask reception the best route if you walking by foot more than a couple of blocks or use their complimentary 3-mile radius shuttle service. Another issue with the area also seemed to be the noise at night with cars, trucks and the never ending police sirens even on a very high floor, thankfully we are quite heavy sleepers.

One of our favourite things about this hotel is the peaceful rooftop Kyoto Garden that offers skyline views of the city and really is a unique place in Los Angeles.

The hotel also offers a really impressive array of refreshments whether it be the Starbucks next door, the hotel restaurant which you can also take out, the brilliant breakfast buffet options or the lobby shop.

The hotel also had one of the best room service options we have seen with 5-star food brought straight to your room just in case you’ve had a long day and don’t want to trek to one of the many options for food.

Rating
The Downtown DoubleTree Hilton Hotel is a great affordable hotel in Downtown Los Angeles with very friendly staff and a great list of facilities so overall we give it our Economy Plus rating. The reason we didn't rate it higher is due to the noise and the surrounding area than can put you off.
Rating: 
Price: £180-250 a night
Address: 120 S Los Angeles St, Los Angeles, CA 90012, United States
More info: Click Here
Book Now 

Understanding our rating class.
We rate our Travel Accommodation ranging from First class being the best and Last class being the worst.

The Eventi, A Kimpton Hotel- Cutting-edge Comfort in Chelsea
Perched at the intersection of Sixth Avenue and West 29th Street on the Avenues of the Americas, this fashionable hotel places travellers in an excellent location. Offering a calming setting away from New York's buzzing city streets, this Kimpton property is perfect for travellers looking to live it up in the city but want a relaxing haven to come back to.

We arrived before check in and the hotel concierge lets us keep our bags at the hotel while we went to explore the wonderful streets of New York. When we got back that evening to check in, there was tea, coffee and cocoa available for guests. Who doesn’t love a cup of hot Cocoa? The main reception itself was very welcoming with cosy leather seating areas to just relax after a long day exploring the avenues of NYC.

When we entered our room it was quite late so we were not expecting an upgrade but, boy did we get one. We hot woke up every morning with the sunrise complimenting New Yorks extraordinary skyline. It really was the perfect wake-up call to get up and explore this never ending city.

The room itself was extremely spacious with enough room to swing several cats. Kitted out with everything you need; a large flat screen tv, iHome docking station, mini bar and desk for working on. At the desk, there was also an Ethernet cable connection although the WiFi speed was more than acceptable for most travellers needs.

The bathroom was a dream, marbled head to toe. Featuring a huge walk-in rain shower, deep soaking tub and double sinks. In usual Kimpton style, the toiletries were high end, the towels were fluffy and the bathrobes were just perfect for a calming easy night. If you're craving a little more luxury, though, book a treatment at the Spa at the Eventi, which offers speciality treatments like "Jet Lag Recovery" and "Rock N Relax" stone massages.

The hospitality doesn’t just stop there, though, The Eventi also offers A wine happy hour between 5-6pm for guests, two distinct on-site restaurants, the family-style L'Amico or the Portuguese Lupulo restaurant and a sprawling veranda on the fifth floor, looking straight down 6th Ave. If you feeling athletic there is also a full-serviced fitness centre that also offers complimentary CoreSentrik classes that combine yoga and pilates.

The Eventi’s dynamite location is just brilliant for getting around the city. Located a 20-minute walk to Union Square (& the ever fantastic Union Square farmers market), 5-minute walk to Herald Square, 10-minute walk to Times Square, & 5 minutes (or less) walk to the 1/2/3 & N/Q/R & 4/5/6 subway lines. It’s also a very easy walk to Penn Station, which is hugely helpful when you’re dragging a suitcase to the train.

Rating
The Eventi Hotel is a real gem in the midst of manhattan with friendly staff, amazing rooms and an all round perfect atmosphere that gets our first class rating.

Rating: 
Price: £200-300
Address: 851 6th Ave, New York, NY 10001, United States
More Info: Click Here

Understanding our rating class.
We rate our Travel Accommodation ranging from First class being the best and Last class being the worst.

Ibiza Rocks Hotel
Ibiza Rocks Hotel is the one of the most well known hotels on the Balearic Islands, famous for showing some of the biggest live bands and best DJ’s poolside. Based in the centre of San Antonio and only 300m from the famous sunset strip and beach you’ll have no shortage of entertainment.

From the get-go you will notice this hotel isn’t for you if you want a quite relaxing holiday, on check in you will be given the low down of the events on at Ibiza Rocks and the many other clubs and bars around Ibiza. Although the staff were young and hip they had no shortage of information and were overall quite helpful.

Overall the rooms are kept clean and basic, with a monochrome look with associating pictures of music stars on the walls. The bathroom and shower was very spacious and you get towels provided, but that was about it. The beds although comfortable enough were only provided as two singles, which can be a bit annoying for some couples. Air conditioning and the safe is extra paid daily which can add up to a lot if you’re at Ibiza Rocks for a week or so.

Again you can pay extra if you want a balcony over the stage, the main pool or chill out pool. Think carefully before getting a main stage view as it can get extremely noisy 24/7. We had the joys of being upgraded to a main stage view room and although it was brilliant to have acts such as Craig David, Faithless and Example within view of your bed, it can get very loud morning, noon and night. If you're like us at BeatTheTravelAgent and you’ll be visiting Ibiza’s renowned club scene until the late hours of the morning the last thing you want to hear is a DJ blasting ‘House Every Weekend’ at 10am when your trying to sleep, so be careful when deciding on your room choice.

The hotel itself is specifically targeted towards English tourists, with England flags on the pillows, english speaking staff and english food. The breakfasts although not included is affordable with a good choice to cure that hangover served until late.

Ibiza rocks is never short of entertainment with daily live acts but thats not all it offers, with two large outdoor swimming pools, jacuzzi, three bars, two restaurants, a gym, tennis court and supermarket on the grounds. You really don’t have to leave the venue to have a perfect holiday experience.

Rating
Ibiza Rocks hotel is on paper a cheap alternative to other party hotels in Ibiza such as Ushuaia and the Hard Rock hotel, but when you include added charges such as air-con, safe access, breakfast and room upgrades for the full experience it really adds up. The hotel overall isn’t bad but with the constant partying and noise it really is targeted at the young Ibiza goer. Ibiza rocks gets our Economy rating overall.
Rating:
Price: £100-140 Per night
Address: Calle Cervantes 27, 07820 Sant Antoni de Portmany, Ibiza, Spain (Formerly Club Paraiso Mediterraneo)
More Info: Click Here
 
Understanding our rating class.
We rate our Travel Accommodation ranging from First class being the best and Last class being the worst.

The Shepley Hotel - A Miami Masterpiece

The Shepley Hotel is located in the heart of Miami Beach, precisely on Collins Avenue. This street is one block away from the world renowned Ocean Drive featuring some of the hottest restaurants and clubs in the world. The hotel itself with only 29 rooms would be in our opinion a small almost family run hotel.
When we arrived the concierge was at the door holding it open and although we weren’t holding much baggage offered to take it. The reception although small had a very modern style and was exactly what we look for in a hotel, the type of place you could sit with a coffee and relax or sit and read a book.

It was about 2 hours before check in time (3:00pm), but The front desk clerk was extremely helpful and let us check into our room straight away. We walked down the picturesque corridor to our room which was extremely spacious with two queen size beds some vintage furniture, safe box, flat screen tv, a double shower and complimentary bathrobes. 

For me, one of the main pet hates of hotels is internet issues or slow speeds but The Shepley Hotel blew my expectations out of the water with Wifi speeds hitting 50MB\s which are more than anyone would need for scrolling social media or streaming a film.

The main selling point for The Shepley Hotel for me was the close proximity to Ocean Drive and Miami beach which is mainly why most people travel to Miami. On two occasions we got up early to relax at the beach and when speaking to the friendly front desk clerk, we were told that beach chairs and towels were available complimentary of the hotel, which was an added bonus when having a dip in the sea.

Before arrival we thought that The Shepley Hotel was room only but when we got up in the morning to go grab a coffee we had quite a pleasant surprise to see fresh fruit, pastries, juices, cereals and hot drinks included. When eating breakfast you can eat it inside or outside while watching the world go by. We sat outside the hotel's enclosed seating area with a bottle of Grey Goose waiting on transportation for a nightclub with no issues, all while enjoying the warm Miami heat. 


Rating
The Shepley hotel is one of Beatthetravelagents beloved hotels and although we only stayed for a couple of days we loved the attention to detail and the truly friendly approach that staff gives. The Shepley gets our First class rating and we hope to be back in Miami soon to do it all over again.
Rating: 
Price: £150-200 a night
Address: 1340 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139-4209 (Formerly Beach Comber Miami)
More info: Click Here


Understanding our rating class.
We rate our Travel Accommodation ranging from First class being the best and Last class being the worst.