Win a three-night stay at the Mövenpick Hotel in Paris

The competition is organised by Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts.

Entry is free for any person of at least 18 years old. No purchase necessary.

All you have to do is to go to the address below and fill in the form with your name, e-mail address and brief travel preferences:

Win a long week-end in Paris

You must enter the draw until 4 September. The winner will be notified by e-mail on 5 September 2014.

The prize consists of:

- 3 nights in a superior room with breakfast at the Mövenpick Hotel Paris Neuilly;

- dinner one night at the hotel's Victor Hugo Restaurant.

You may use the prize until 31 December 2015.

Good luck!

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Free parking in Copenhagen

We've recently visited Copenhagen and found a central spot where you can park you car for free for 3 hours during the day and unlimited time during the night.

The is located just next to the Little Mermaid statue, on the Langelinie street (see half-circle pointed with the red arrow in the Google Maps print-screen below):

There is no parking meter in the area. You can stay for free for 3 hours by just using a regular parking disc:

All you have to do is to show the parking disc on your inner windscreen showing either the time of arrival or the time of departure (depending on the type of car parking disc you use at your place of residence).

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The best hotel deals in Scandinavia

We have recently enjoyed a 10 day trip through Denmark and Sweden and can share a recommendation for the cheapest rates at good quality hotels in Scandinavia.

The solution is to book Radisson Blu hotels at their Friends and Family Rate.

How does this work? Rooms at Radisson Blu properties are sold for only €80, breakfast included, when you book this special rate.

To benefit from these discounted hotel rates in Scandinavia, you need to know somebody (either a family member or a friend) who works at a Radisson hotel or another hotel from the Carlson portfolio (Park Inn, Park Plaza, Country Inns & Suites).

Especially in the today's Internet environment, it is virtually impossible that you do not have such a friend (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.). Or maybe you have befriended a hotel employee during one of your previous stays at any Radisson hotel.

After booking this special rate, during check-in the reception clerk might ask you the name of your friend and where he works. That's all, no other details as per the terms and conditions of the rate.

This rate is not always available at all properties, some you might not find it on all your travel dates.

Click on the link below to start your search:

Cheap rate at Radisson - use promo code CARLSONF

The code CARLSONF must be typed in the field "Promotional code" in the search form.

We have already booked these cheap hotel deals in Scandinavia at the Radisson Blu hotels in Aarhus (Denmark) and Malmo (Sweden). We were not asked anything at check-in.

These rates are even cheaper than budget hostels in these Nordic countries. All things considered, this deal might be one of the best tourists can get worldwide.

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€55 per night in Burgundy until the end of 2014

The deal is offered by TravelBird at the Ibis Styles Chalon-sur-Saône and includes:

- 2 nights in this 3 star property part of Accor Hotels
- free parking
- breakfast each day
- 1 child under 16 stays for free

Travel dates are available all days through to the end of the year 2014. Rates are non-refundable.

Click on the link below to search for your preferred travel dates (website is in French):

€55 per night at Ibis Styles Chalon-sur-Saône***

This deal represents a 50% discount compared to the regular price that you can find at your usual online travel agencies, like booking.com for example.

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€50 discount from HotelsClick for purchases until 15 August 2014

A limited time coupon valid for purchases of minimum €150.

Click on the link below to see the code and start your search:

€50 discount from HotelsClick - use promo code Meno50

The code should be typed in the search form, in the field "Promotional code", just below the room occupancy details (see print-screen):

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Week-end break in Buckinghamshire for only £39 per night

Great week-end breakaway of 2 nights at the Wendover Arms Hotel***  in High Wycombe.

This 2-night package offered by TravelBird includes buffet breakfast each morning and is available all week-ends from August through October.

Click on the link below to go to the deal page:

Week-end trip to Buckinghamshire - TravelBird offer

At only £78 for the entire package, this is a very good offer, considering that it is more than 50% discount compared to the same package bought from other suppliers (such as booking.com).

Visit the official tourism website of the Buckinghamshire county to see the wealth of attractions and activities in the area.

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Third night free at Marriott hotels in Middle East and Africa until 6 September 2014

Summer offer from Marriott and American Expreess: stay three nights and pay only two. Valid when you pay with an American Express credit card.

The  third night is discounted at check-out from the hotel, when you pay the invoice.

Click on the link below to go to the offer page and choose your destination and travel dates:

3rd night free at Marriott properties in Middle East and Africa

In the search results, this special rate is shown as "AMEX complimentary night and more".

Rates are fully flexible (you can cancel for free, in case your plans change).

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50% discount at Hyatt Hotels in India for stays until 10 January 2015

Seasonal sale for all Hyatt properties in India, offering a flat discount of 50% off the daily rate.

These special rates ares available for booking until 15 August 2014, for stays until 10 January 2015 (black-out period from 1 November to 15 December 2014).

Click on the link below to go to the deal page and start your search:

50% savings at Hyatt Hotels and Resorts in India

These discounted Hyatt rates are shown as "Monsoon Flash Offer" and are non-refundable (book only if you are sure of your travel dates).

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Best hotel deals to stay in Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy

Cheap hotel deals in Cinque Terre are hard to come by and even harder when you are looking for the best quality / price ratio for your Cinque Terre accommodation.


We usually stay away from guest houses because of the lack of any standards whatsoever. Being in a guesthouse means being at the mercy of the owner, with no other authority to complain to in case of problems. We do make some exceptions to this rule, though.

As usual, we do not consider hostels, or any form of accommodation with shared bathrooms. Also, we penalize properties that do not offer free in-room Internet, which should be as ordinary as toilet paper these days.

These are the recommended hotel deals for your Cinque Terre holiday:

NH La Spezia - located in the largest town in the area, it is the only international 4 star property around. It offers free Wi-Fi and a free varied breakfast 

Hotel Il Saraceno - a 7 room property located in Volastra, a small village on the hilltop above Manarola. Free WI-Fi, parking and continental breakfast

Albergo Marina - a 2 star family owned hotel in Sestri Levante, a short train ride from Cinque Terre. Reviewers speak greatly about the very good value for money dinner at the hotel

Oasi Hotel - a 3 star hotel located in Levanto, only 15 minute train ride from Cinque Terre. Perfect for those who want to combine trips to Cinque Terre with sunbathing at the sea, this property offers free Wi-Fi and breakfast (including hot cooked to order egg dishes)

Albergo degli Amici - a 3 star hotel located in the centre of Monterosso al Mare (the northernmost of the 5 villages). The best location, with free Wi-Fi and breakfast

Albergo Suisse Bellevue - 3 star property located outside Monterosso al Mare, offering a free shuttle into town. Great views of the sea from the hilltop location, with free Wi-Fi and continental breakfast

Park Hotel Argento - a 4 star property located in Levanto. There is little to fault about this hotel, however the price is rather high, so we left it at the end of our choices

When we visited the area we also stayed at the Holiday Inn in Genoa, however we do not recommend Genova because you loose 2 hours each way by train to reach Cinque Terre.

Let us know where and how were your stays in Cinque Terre.

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