Travel News

Visitors to Madrid this autumn will never have seen so much film. A gay and lesbian film festival is followed by an event focusing on short films then there is a period focusing on experimental masterpieces, which take over the city towards the end of November. It would be hard to know where to start looking for the best hotels in Madrid, but we have a few top tips to get you started.

Gay film

The Madrid Gay and Lesbian Film Festival aims to create a more tolerant view of homosexuality and chooses films with pertinence. They are judged on their artistic merits for prizes such as best feature length and best short film and are voted for by audiences. The festival takes place at cinemas around the best hotels in Madrid from October 30th to November 9th.

Stay in...

For a gay friendly hotel in Madrid, the Hostal Pizarro is for you. It is located by some of the cheap hotels in Madrid in the Chueca district, which is famous for its lively alternative nightlife. The hostel is a great place to get to meet gay-friendly travellers with a large communal lounge, which has Wi-Fi access and a satellite TV. During the day it is home to many of Madrid's best shops. Culture is also only round the corner in the shape of galleries.

Shorts

This film has been the big break for many up and coming film directors, with Daniel Sanchez Arevalo winning last year's City of Alcala award for best director when he presented Traumalogia. For film fans, the Alcala De Henares Film Festivalfrom November 7th to 15th is a must-see with its focus directly on short film. 2008 will be the 37th year the festival has been organised by Alcala de Henares/Comunidad de Madrid. The Audience Award is worth €1,000 (£755). It is also home to the European Competition of Short Films this year which w ... read more

Bonfires that will be lit all over the United Kingdom on November 5th serve as a sinister reminder of a historical punishment for treason in England. Dissenter Guy Fawkes was burned at the stake in the 17th century for his part in a plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament alongside King James I with barrels of gunpowder. Those brave enough can stay at a hotel near the houses of parliament. Historically children used to make effigies of one of the United Kingdom's first terrorists to burn on fires lit all over the kingdom, often asking people for a "penny for the guy". Visit some of the venues in our guide from the best hotels in London.

Ealing Cricket Club

Ealing marks the 90th anniversary of the Royal Air Force (RAF) as well as the anniversary of the Gunpowder plot at Ealing Cricket Club on Saturday, November 8th this year. Fireworks will go off to music from 19:30, local time, with Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries and Dambusters chosen to celebrate the work of the RAF alongside some digitally remastered Sir Winston Churchill quotes. The gates open at 18:00, local time, and the Cricket Club will be serving up mulled wine, barbecues and candyfloss. Tickets are £5 for adults and £3 for children under 14. Stay in a hotel by Ealing or catch the tube to Ealing Broadway.

Fireworks at Hampton Court Palace

The Hampton Court fireworks take place on Saturday, November 1st. During the day the Palace boasts an exhibition dedicated to the pin-up King Henry VIII, costumed guides and the famous maze. Visit from the affordable accommodation in London. To celebrate Bonfire Night the architecture will be lit up to music, mirth and song. Tickets are £5 for adults and £2.50 for children with the gates opening at 18:00. Proceeds go to the Historic Royal Palaces, the Hobson Charity and the Gosling Foundation.

The Lord Mayors showdown ... read more

Visitors to the UK can see some of the largest and oldest mazes in the world, usually found in grounds of castles and stately homes, which is all the more reason to go. They are made out of yew or maize and there is even a water labyrinth for those looking for something different. Be sure to wrap up warm and take comfortable shoes and snacks for the journey, because who knows what time you will find your way out.

Hampton Court Palace in London

Stay in one of the hotels near Hampton Court Palace to properly investigate the palace, gardens and maze. Described as the "most famous maze in the history of the world" by Ernest Law in 1926, the maze at Hampton Court Palace certainly lives up to its name. It was planted in the late 1600s from yew and has almost half-a-mile of paths. It was planted for William of Orange by George London and Henry Wise and was the subject of Jerome K Jerome's novel Three Men in a Boat. Thousands flock to it from the best hotels in London every year.

Longleat House in Wiltshire

The longest path in this maze is 1.69 miles, but there are hidden directions under signs for anyone who gets truly lost. More than 16,000 yews make up this maze, which includes six wooden bridges offering tantalising glimpses of the centre that has an observation tower. Longleat is one of the largest English mazes at 1.48 acres in size and was first laid out by Greg Bright in 1975. The stately home and grounds belong to Lord Bath, and are also worth a visit.
Reserve a hotel by Longleat to gain some tips on how to find the centre of the maze from towns folk or from another one of the cheap hotels in Wiltshire.

Hever Castle in Kent

Not only does Hever Castle sport a maze, but Rose and Tudor gardens and topiary. Reserve ... read more

Legendary King Arthur is rumoured to be buried in Glastonbury, Christian saint Joseph of Arimathea is said to have walked through the small market town and it is meant to be the final resting place of the Holy Grail and Chalice of the Last Supper, which contained Jesus' blood. It is also a site where an unusually large numbers of mystic leylines converge. There is something very magical about Glastonbury.

At least 150,000 people seem to think so. They swell the population of this small Somerset market town by 18 times its normal size to attend Glastonbury Festival. The performing arts event takes place over 900 acres at Pilkington Farm and is best known for big bands although there is an arts field, comedy arena, drama stage, food stalls and much, much more. A casino, black tie ball and even a church have even gone up in previous years.

One thing that is synonymous with Glastonbury is mud. With the temperamental climate in the UK, camping in the rain is not for all of us. So when you register for your Glastonbury Festival ticket which went on sale at the beginning October, why not consider flying in, eating out and staying in one of the best hotels in Somerset, to make your experience more comfortable.

Fly in

If you're in too much of a hurry to take a train, car or bus to the event, the nearest airport to Glastonbury Festival is Bristol International. Why not relax in one of the best hotels in Bristol before you pull on your wellington boots and head out into the mud.

It's a wonderful city to explore for some sightseeing either side of the event. An express bus service, called the Flyer, shuttles international visitors to the festival from the airport. A total of 6,500 people travelled in this way last year. Anyone concerned about their carbon footprint, can use the calculator on Bristol International Airport's website and offset their emissions with ClimateCare, which supports renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation.

Fill up first

Not only does 15th century Glastonbury hotel the G ... read more

Whether it's hip Berlin, cultural Berlin or classic Berlin you are after this season the city's tourist board has a range of packages to suit all tastes. The German capital is putting up 350 Christmas trees and organising more than 40 markets as well as a three-day travel pass, to ensure the best hotels in Berlin stay full all winter.

Christmas markets

Stay in a hotel by the biggest Christmas market in Berlin, situated in Gedachtniskirche, which is framed by a brightly-lit concert hall and cathedrals. The largest of the 40 plus areas of stalls around the city will be selling Christmas gifts as well as traditional refreshments such as warm alcoholic Gluhwein, heart-shaped gingerbread biscuits and roasted almonds.

Best shopping areas

Rest your head near the shopping area of Kurfurtendamm so the stores are not far from your bed. A Christmas market opens near this famous high street in Berlin, so shoppers have the best of both worlds. It runs from November 26th to December 23rd. For a nostalgic view of the festive season try the market around the opera house, which is open from November 24th to December 28th.

Watch the winter wonderland unfold

Accommodation near the best view of Berlin is around the TV Tower. The huge tower complete with revolving restaurant is known locally as the Alex, because it is situated in Berlin interchange Alexanderplatz where half a million people travel each day. Dine here to take all the festive lights, Christmas trees and sights in. From November 24th to December 23rd Alexanderplatz Christmas activities include merry-go-rounds, which prove a perfect break for the children.

Festive attractions

Go for a sauna, spa and bath in modern squashed oval buildings of the Treptow from November to March by joining ... read more