Travel News

Stuart Maconie has accolades as long as his arm, including those of journalist, author and radio and television presenter. However, he also possesses more bizarre claims to fame, like starting a rumour Blockbusters host Bob Holness played the saxophone on the song Baker Street and is rumoured to be responsible for planting the word Britpop in popular culture.

As well as being known for his cheek, Maconie is also well known for popular guide to the north of England entitled Pies and Prejudice: In Search of the North, which went on shelves last year. He has just been charged by the Northwest Regional Development Agency with spearheading a campaign to lure tourists to take a break in the best hotels in Liverpool among other north-western locations.

Here are a handful of Maconie's top tips for visiting Liverpool:

Grade II listed toilets

Liverpool's premier performance venue and pub Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, was restored as part of a £10.3 million refurbishment project in 1995 with parts of the foyer said to resemble the tomb of Tutankhamun - so why does everyone bang on about the toilets?

Maconie, as well as students around the city, has paid these marble urinals a visit in the grade II listed building, affectionately known as the "Phil". The loos are considered so special, women are even allowed to take a peek on organised tours.

The Pantheon of Liverpool

Maconie describes the 19th century St George's Hall that greets visitors leaving Lime Street Train Station as "the Pantheon" of the city "but in much better nick". The neo-classical structure was reopened last year by the Prince of Wales after a £23 million restoration. It now serves to provide visitors to this year's European Capital of Culture with an introduct ... read more

There is no doubt that the Six Nations is the jewel in the crown of the northern hemisphere rugby union calendar. It sees traditional rivals produce some fearsome clashes on the pitch, while fans head to Cardiff, Dublin, Edinburgh, London, Paris and Rome to celebrate their love of the sport - generally with the help of a few pints of the local brew.

Rugby revellers will have to wait until February for the Six Nations action to begin, but they have plenty of opportunities to sink a few beers while watching some top-class action before then, as world champions South Africa, Tri-Nations winners New Zealand and Australia will all play Test matches in Europe this autumn.

Springboks head north in search of redemption

Being the world champions in any sport should be great, but South Africa's rugby stars do not appear to be enjoying the experience. The Springboks finished rock bottom of this year's Tri-Nations and were even booed off the field by their own fans after a poor display against the All Blacks.

Coach Pieter de Villiers, who took over after Jake White led South Africa to Rugby World Cup glory, needs wins quickly and will get his first chance to find one against reigning Six Nations champions Wales on November 8th. The clash at the Millennium Stadium is sure to attract a sell-out crowd so anyone planning to attend needs to book match tickets and affordable accommodation in Cardiff as early as possible.

After taking on the resurgent Welsh, South Africa head north to face Scotland in Edinburgh on November 15th, before taking on England at Twickenham seven days later.

All Blacks have plenty to prove

One of the most memorable moments of last year's Rugby World Cup was favourites New Zealand's shock 20-18 quarter-final defeat against France. Once again, a supremely talented All Blacks side failed to deliver when it mattered most.

Graham Henry's men will not take on Les Bleus during this autumn's European tour, but they will attempt to prov ... read more

One of the more popular decisions made by referees of Uefa Euro 2008 would have been staying at the Movenpick Hotel in Zurich. A total of 44 officials were put through their paces by competition organisers before the games at the Movenpick this April.

Upgraded function rooms were perfect places for the refs to receive final instructions about the tournament and the 3,000 sq metre Migros-Fitnesspark, annexed to the hotel, as well as other leisure facilities, including an 18-hole golf course, were great places to relax.

In addition to these features, the hotel's conference centre accommodated up to 1,200 guests, perfect for tournament officials. The centre is undergoing further modernisation next year, which will make the Movenpick one of the best hotels in Zurich.

Regensdorf

Movenpick Hotel's major commendation is its location. Close enough to the city, with a free shuttle service to Zurich Airport, yet far enough to be in the middle of nature. It is a 15-minute drive from the Messe Zurich exhibition centre and the Hallenstadion sports facilities. Next door is a 50-outlet shopping centre.

Queen, REM and Bryan Adams are playing at the Hallenstadion in September and at the Messe is Zuspa, a consumer family event.

Get active

As well as the gym next door and the 18-hole golf course, the Movenpick has a swimming pool, sauna and spa as well as tennis courts outside. The conference rooms are flexible for all types of training and guests. Work out rooms and solarium are available.

Terrace dining

One of the highlights of the Movenpick is the terrace dining facilities of Ciao Italian restaurant. You can choose from a variety of pasta and pizza served throughout the day to a Mediterranean atrium garden seating area. Guests can also use two other hote ... read more

The Vltava is the longest river in Czech Republic and comes from the old Germanic words for wild water. It runs past attractions like Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, Prague Parliament, Mala Strana, the National Theatre and Vvsehrad Fortress, which makes a cruise a perfect direction to sail.

There are a variety of cruises to choose from in Prague. They include meal-time excursions, musical tours and booze cruises for the burgeoning number of stags and hens looking for a different way to party. Trips can also be tailored to include the type of entertainment and embarkation you desire.

Places on the regular cruises are limited, so it is recommended you book a river cruise in advance as well as one of the best hotels in Prague to dock before sailing.

Booze cruise

This cruise would be ideal for the growing number of grooms and brides-to-be choosing Prague as their stag and hen party destinations. These cruises generally leave in the evening from the centre of the city, with a special party planned for New Year's Eve.

Over the course of five hours, guests will be able to taste a variety of specialist beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks. A large glass of wine is touted as good value for money at 70czk (£2.31). A hot and cold buffet dinner is served inside the boat, with the deck an ideal place to party to your requests from the on-board DJ.

On New Year's Eve, guests will be invited to come onto the deck to watch the fireworks at Charles Bridge at midnight with the boat leaving at 21:00 local time and returning at 02:00.

Jazz on the water

Cruise past some of the most magnificent sights in Prague which are lit up at night while listening to one of the riverboat jazz bands. Cruises leave regularly from the city centre and the read more

A trip to Barcelona would not be complete without visiting the work of Antoni Gaudi. His Gothic door knockers, colourful tiled mosaics and architectural influences pepper the city's buildings, temples and parkland. In fact, stay at one of the best hotels in the Barcelona, and it is impossible to miss him.

Gaudi was born in southern Catalonia and graduated from the Escola Tècnica Superior d'Arquitectura in Barcelona. He is responsible for some of the greatest buildings in the city still standing today and was commissioned by many of its wealthiest people. Gaudi died crossing the road in Barcelona in 1926 and was buried in one of the most famous buildings he worked on, the Sagrada Familia.

Sagrada Familia

According to Barcelona Tourist Guide, the Sagrada Familia is the most popular tourist attraction in the city, drawing in more than two million visitors a year. Controversy has surrounded current construction after some critics said it was far from what Gaudi would have initially had in mind. The architect was commissioned to oversee part of the construction, which started in 1882 and is still ongoing. Admission to the temple on Calle Mallorca is €10 (£7.92).

La PedreraGaudi's wavy brickwork and colourful tiles are signatures on La Pedrera or Casa Mila. According to the Tourist Guide, it is the fourth most popular attraction in Barcelona with just over one million visitors a year. The Espai Gaudi, which makes up the most elevated part of the building, hosts permanent and temporary exhibitions dedicated to the city's favourite designer. Find La Pedrera on Passeig de Gracia for €9.50 entry.

Casa Batllo

Also on the Passeig de Gracia in Barcelona is Gaudi's other great work, the skull and bone-lined Casa Batllo. The skulls are curvaceous balconies while the bones are supporting pillars. The building is one of the most striking in the city and was designed ... read more