TRAVEL
Home & Away with Robert Walshe London hotels are amongst the worst in Europe, according to a new survey. Of all the continent’s capital cities, London came out the worse in the study by online hotel price comparison website trivago.co.uk. Out of 1,000 cities and towns across Europe, hotels in London were given lowest collective score by users of the site. Hotels in Birmingham also scored badly. Out of a possible 100 points, London managed only 72.2 and Birmingham 74.15. Out of 1000 cities evaluated, the only ones to score less than London were Sliema in Malta (71.00) and the Spanish towns of Lloret del Mar (69.57) and El Arenal (66.78).The German city of Dresden scored the highest marks, with an average hotel rating of 82.32, followed by the Polish city of Krakow, which scored 81.09 and Bruges in Belgian, where the average hotel rating was 81.03.Venice scored 80.72, Barcelona 79.32, Budapest 80.24, Florence 79.75, and Berlin 78.88. Belfast, Canterbury and Cardiff were the best in the UK, scoring between 79 and 81 and Edinburgh managed 78.63 while Glasgow achieved an average of 75.95. The study was based on European cities and towns with more than 50 hotels and over 28 million reviews from customers were taken into consideration
Weekend Hideaway Built in 1865 and designed by the same architect as the Langham, the privately owned, Petersham Hotel lies on the top of Richmond Hill and boasts the most amazing views over the Thames and the surrounding Petersham meadows making it hard to believe that we were still in London. The property is a yellow-and-red brick fantasy of Victorian architecture and decoration. With its tower, turrets and high-pitched, red-striped roof, this privately owned hotel stands out ahead of the rest! The most notable feature of the interior is its magnificent Portland stone staircase; reported to be the tallest unsupported stone staircase in the country. The paintings on its ceiling were executed by Ferdinando Galli an Italian painter then briefly working in England (he exhibited at the Royal Academy in
Living
1866). In 1877, following a change of ownership, the hotel’s name was changed to ‘The Mansion’ (which left Richmond Hill Hotel free to be assumed by another hotel on the hill in 1913). In 1889 it became ‘The Mansion Hotel’. Then in 1922, when the famous old Star and Garter had been demolished n View from to be replaced by the the restau rant. Royal Star and Garht. nig at ham ers Pet The n ter Home for disabled servicemen, it took on the name of ‘New Star and Garter Hotel’. The ‘New’ was dropped a with the royal family since few years later and the hotel contin- medieval times – the park ued as ‘Star and Garter’ until 1945, was a hunting ground for when the Bank of England bought it King Charles I, and London’s for use as a staff hostel. It was sold high society was attracted to in 1951 and reopened as ‘The Star the area by the royal court. and Garter Hotel’. In 1978 it was Royalty also resided at Kew, purchased by the Dare family and where today’s Royal Botanirenamed ‘The Petersham Hotel’. cal Gardens are one of the Traditional luxury runs throughout areas and other big draws for this elegant four-star hotel with the thousands of tourists. n The Petersham - Balcony view. 60 guestrooms on offer. The River The Petersham Hotel is view rooms include bay windows conveniently placed just 8 and a private balcony, overlook- miles from Central London, ing the River Thames’ and many of the West End and Heathrow the bathrooms are designed with Airport. With the M3 motorChocolate truffle cake from the reselegant Italian marble. Each room way just 15 minutes away and excel- taurant’s Easy Evening menu (availis equipped with LCD television, lent tube and rail links, the hotel is able Tuesday – Thursday) will have laptop connection, Internet access, easily accessible for those traveling you in foodie heaven. Located just direct-dial telephones and trouser by car, train, tube or plane. For two minutes from the vibrant town press. The Petersham’s award-win- details on their autumn packages of Dungarvan and just five minutes ning restaurant is a favourite with check out www.petershamhotel. from the Copper Coast blue flag locals and movie stars alike and I co.uk/accommodation beaches and three championship could not help but notice US actor golf courses, the Park Hotel is the John Voight at the adjoining table. Weekly Best Buy ideal base for exploring Waterford. The views from our table at the In addition to this, there are the window were beautifully green and Two of Waterford’s most welcom- hotel’s Aqua and Fitness Centre, while we were there people were ing destinations have come together Meladon Bar and Garden Room Ressailing their boats along the river to create a truly memorable (not to taurant to enjoy or take some qualall adding to this idyllic view. The mention delicious) autumn break. ity time to stroll through the town restaurant itself has a kind of retro The Park Hotel in Dungarvan’s new and take pleasure in its many shops feel harking back to a 70’s and 80’s Autumn Experience package com- and lively atmosphere. The Park Hostyle which I loved. Chef Alex Bent- bines three nights in their stylish tel’s great value Autumn Experience ley’s cooking is without doubt the accommodation with full Irish break- package is available from €159 per star attraction here. His style stems fast each morning with a fabulous person sharing, subject to availabilfrom the time he spent in Michelin three course dinner on the evening ity.For more information visit www. start establishments both in London of your choice in the famous Tan- flynnhotels.com and internationally but at the heart nery Restaurant. Dishes like Smoked of his menu is true British cooking, bacon and hazelnut salad with garlic Robert Walshe is a freelance conusing fresh, seasonal produce and crumble, Summer garden vegetable tributor / broadcaster and guest the result is unfalteringly wonder- soup with goats cheese and cream, travel writer for River Media ful and without pretension. Locally Roast and confit chicken leg, with newspaper titles across the island Richmond has been associated Tuscan bread salad and aioli, and of Ireland
Pet’s Corner...
Home and Away Extra The souvenirs on offer in Barcelona’s gift shops range from tasteful reminders of local artists and architects such as Picasso, Gaudí or Miró to tacky, wide-brimmed Mexican sombreros and posters of footballers such as Lionel Messi.But the latest souvenir is a set of lapel badges and fridge magnets deemed so subversive by the city hall that they have been banned from municipal museum shops. The badges depict local scenes that are familiar to both city residents and visitors. They show bag-snatchers, prostitutes, street alcohol vendors and, in a reference to the brutality with which recent demonstrations have been treated, the local riot police. But now orders have been issued for them to be removed from the city hall-controlled history museum before they damage the tourist industry
with Kathleen Murray
Do cats and dogs really get along together? Cats and dogs can get along really well together if they are brought up properly together. If you have had a cat for a while and then get a young pup there will be some settling in to do. The cat will not like the intrusion and may go away for a while or may be a bit rough with the pup, but if you keep the cat indoors in a cage and let the pup get over its curiosity, by allowing it to sniff the cat without getting injured, then the novelty will wear off very soon and they will be able to co-exist quite peacefully. The pup must always be corrected for getting too “enthusiastic” if it tries to get the cat to
run so he can chase it, or is too excitable during any play with the cat. The cat will soon get used to it and then not pay too much attention to the pup after a few days. Make sure that the pup has enough exercise so that the cat is not the target for his energy release or frustration. If you have just gotten a new adult dog and it is showing a tendency towards being aggressive with the family cat then the cat needs to be put into a cage for its own safety and the dog should be put on a lead. The dog needs to learn to ignore the cat. This is very important but
will take a little time to achieve. You can practice each day a few times by bring the dog into the room when the cat is in the cage. If the dog ignores the cat then reward it but if it shows “interest” then chastise the dog for that until it stops. There are many ways to chastise a dog… none of them should contain shouting or hitting as part of it. This only slows down the process and may even excite the dog into being even more aggressive toward the cat. If you have a dog already and then get a new kitten, the kitten has all the rights. It has the right to wander about without being licked,
nosed, pawed or whatever else that the dog has in store for it. The dog is the one that needs to be controlled. When the kitten has more confidence and starts to approach the dog itself then things will need to be supervised in case the dog is unsure about how to react. It is very important that the animals are never let alone together until you are certain that they get along. No matter how well your dog and cat get along in their lifetime a strange cat passing by outside will still always be an intruder and something to be chased by your dog… and most likely your cat too.