Wednesday, 14 December 2011

H-Top Royal Star Hotel in Lloret de Mar (Spain) - Hotel Review

Our stay at Lloret de Mar (Spain) was in the H-Top Royal Star which is a part of the H-Top Hotels Group. We had booked an all inclusive package with them. We were a bit sceptical about it, but our weeks stay there was quite enjoyable and comfortable.



When you check-in you are handed the room keys and a "All-inclusive" card (if you had booked an all inclusive package). The card is like a photo ID card and allows you unlimited use of the bar. However the card only allows you to order local brands, cold drinks, beer and draught. If you need any brand not listed in the list, you need to pay a supplement. Free cocktails are limited to the "cocktail of the day". The card also allows you to use facilities like snack bar, swimming pool and restaurants in other H-top hotels in the vicinity until 7pm.

The Hotel has a range of facilities
- Indoor swimming pool
- Jacuzzis
- Sauna and Steam room
- Gym
- Mini Club
- Conference room
- A telivision lounge
- Luggage room
- 2 swimming pools
- 2 bars
- A games room
- Childrens play park



Since ours was an all inclusive package, even the excursions were taken care by our travel agent. However if you are travelling on your own and wish to do any sight-seeing then there a wide range of options offered by the hotel - day/night time excursions, visit to theme parks, and shows. You can enquire at the reception about this.

If you are heading out for a day excursion and will not be having your lunch in the hotel, you can inform the hotel the previous night and they will arrange for a packed lunch for you.

Daily late evening entertainment is organised in the hotel. The schedule is put up on the notice board and you can plan your day accordingly.

The rooms are spacious and well ventilated. There is a TV in each room, but if you need the remote control for the TV you need to pay 20 Euro deposit for it. It is refundable when you return the remote.






For guests on all inclusive packages, all meals are provided in the restaurant on the ground floor. Its normally a buffet meal. I felt that food was a bit of a let down as there was a limited choice for vegeterians. Even the non-vegeterians were not too happy with some of their dishes. A good range of salads though. And a decent selection of deserts daily.






Overall, for the price that we paid, we were quite pleased with the service. The hotel is just 10 minutes from the Lloret beach, so that was also a good point. The Modernist Cemetery is just a couple of minutes walk from the hotel.

H-Top Royal Star
Carretera Vila de Blabes, 78
17310 Lloret de Mar (Girona)
Phone: 00 34 972 36 55 12
Email: online@htophotels.com

"If you've just read this post somewhere other than UK Travel Blog, it's been plagiarized..."

Tuesday, 13 December 2011

The Sant Roma's Parish church in Lloret de Mar (Parochial Church of Sant Romà)

While wandering through the town center in Lloret de Mar, we came upon a beautiful church. It was so modern in look and feel and yet had that old world charm. It was the Sant Roma's Parish church. It has two side chapels both of which are in a very modern style.





We went in. There were just a couple of other visitors and it was so peaceful and calm inside.








We stayed for a week in Lloret and eveytime we went to the beach, we passed through the shopping streets and this lovely church. The two chapels namely - the Chapel of Baptistery and Chapel of the Holy Sacrament - have been designed in modern style by Bonaventura Conill I Montobbio.






If you happen to be in Lloret, then do visit this lovely modern church.

"If you've just read this post somewhere other than UK Travel Blog, it's been plagiarized..."

Tuesday, 6 December 2011

The Richmond Royal Park in London

We had been to Richmond park last week. Its one of the royal parks in London - infact the largest one covering almost 2500 acres. The main reason we wanted to visit this one was to see the free roaming deer. And we were not disappointed. Spotted lots of deer at a very close range.




The park has everything a nature lover could ask for - woodlands, ponds, well maintained gardens, grasslands, small green hills and wildlife.






Lets talk about the main wildlife attraction  - the deer. There are around 300 red and 350 fallow deer which roam the park freely. You can find them grazing on the lush green grass. We spotted the deer within a few hours of exploring the park. A huge herd was grazing and resting on a grassy mound. It was amazing to see them from such a short distance - we were just a few meters away from them.





The park is open all throughout the year. In summers its open from 7am to dusk. While in winter it opens at 7:30 am until dusk. The nearest station is Richmond on the District line. You can get down here and take the bus no 371 to the pedestrain gate at Petersham. You can walk too as its around 15-20 minutes by brisk walk.




Richmond Park Office,
Holly Lodge
Richmond Park
Surrey
TW10 5HS
T. +44 (0)300 061 2200
F. +44 (0)20 8332 2730