Accommodation for visitors in Derby

The area in and around Derby has the usual range of places for the visitor to stay from hostels to 5 star hotels. However, it has to be said that Derby city is not renowned as a tourist centre and so the accommodation provision is mainly from the major chains that can be found anywhere. An advantage of that is, of course, that a hotel belonging to one of the major chains like 'Holiday Inn' is the same in Derby, London or Edinburgh.

If you want to arrive in Derby and not have to drive, or be driven, to other places in the city then a city centre hotel is always the best option, the following are hotels that are located in the centre of Derby. On the London Road, heading north into the city centre and the Market Place is the self-styled four star Stuart Hotel. The XS restaurant serves good meals and wine at extremely affordable prices, the Stuart Hotel offers some great 'last minute' deals on its rooms. Prices vary according to the time of year and the type of room you require. During the weekend a basic double room can be as little as £50 a night, excluding breakfast, rising to £75 for a suite. A little further, on the southern edge of the city centre by the Midland railway station on Midland road, is the Best Western Midland Hotel. Part of the Best Western hotel chain it occupies a Grade II listed building and was opened in 1841 as a 'railway' hotel, for the newly opened Derby to London line and the business it brought to the city. This four star hotel has had amongst its guests, Queen Victoria who had a suite of rooms there. The hotel also has long held associations with Rolls Royce. The hotel's Wyvern Restaurant is acknowledged as being one of the best in Derby. The hotel offers occasional 'murder mystery' weekends, as well as being available for other special functions. There are 100 rooms and ninety free on-site car parking spaces, a double room over the weekend can cost as little as £70 a night, excluding breakfast, which for a four star hotel in the city centre is excellent value.

Derby has plenty of 'motel' style places which are convenient for short stays and offer accommodation that is generally three star standard. The following are some examples of what is available. There is an Express Holiday Inn on Wheelwright Way in the Pride Park complex. Convenient for the city centre all the 103 rooms are air conditioned. The price for a double room for one night during a week-end is typically £65, which includes breakfast. Also on Pride Park at Prospect Place is the Sleep Inn hotel with 84 air conditioned rooms which typically cost £50 per night for a double-room during the week-end, or £60 for a King sized bed. Both of these rates include breakfast. There is a Premier Travel Inn at the Foresters Leisure Park, off the Osmaston Park Road, in Derby. On the Kingsway Retail Park about 2 kilometres from the city centre is a 50 room Travelodge, a double room without breakfast is around £55 a night.

If you prefer the idea of staying in a Bed and Breakfast or Guest House establishment, you could consider the following. On the west side of the city on Curzon Street, just off the Uttoxeter New Road, is the Redsetters Guest house. Prices are very reasonable at £25 for a single room and just £20 for a double room, including breakfast. The wonderfully named Chuckles Guest House is on Compton Street, not far from St Peter's church in the city centre. Although it only has four rooms the prices can vary between £22 and £50 a night, which includes breakfast. Chuckles offers warm and inviting surroundings with exceptional quality and service. In the suburb of Mackworth, on Thames Close is the Thames Bed and Breakfast, which holds the British Rose VB four star award. It has two rooms available whose prices are £25 or £30 a night with breakfast.

Just outside the city boundary to the north of Derby is the Marriott Breadsall Priory Hotel and Country Club. This four star hotel has all the comforts and amenities that you would expect from the Marriott chain of hotels. It has 106 rooms, 6 suites and an award restaurant. It also has its own swimming pool, a fitness centre, two golf courses and a Spa beauty centre. The hotel can arrange a variety of other activities from white-water rafting to pony trekking in the nearby Peak District. The Breadsall Priory Hotel is off the A608 at Morley Smithy. The Dannah Farm Country House holds five AA stars. With only eight stylish and exclusive rooms this is a hotel to consider for a really special treat. Prices range from £100 a night to £275 if you want to take one of the really exclusive suites, complete with its own Jacuzzi and sauna. All the prices include breakfast and evening meals are available if pre-booked. The Dannah is 20 minutes by car from the centre of Derby at Shottle on the Chatsworth estate.

Velazquez : Winslow Homer

Best Family Resort - Atlantis Resort - The Bahamas

Probably the best family resort developed to date is the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. The resort is located on Paradise Island, adjacent to the capital city of Nassau.

The Bahamas are located off the east coast of Florida and are comprised of around 700 islands and cays extending over 500 miles. The warm climate, crystal clear blue waters, tropical landscape, world class shopping and luxury hotels make the Bahamas one of the most popular tourist destinations. There are plenty of sports and aquatic activities to enjoy including golf, diving, snorkeling, boating and fishing. The capital city of Nassau has some of the best food, drinks, shopping and nightlife to make it an ultimate vacation destination.

Nestled on the Caribbean Sea minutes from downtown Nassau is the majestic Atlantis Resort. Atlantis is a water theme resort based on the mythical city that sank without a trace thousands of years ago. This resort has endless activities for every family member. Peter Diaz, President and CEO of VoyageMonkey.com Online Travel, says The Atlantis Resort is a destination in itself. Guests are provided with all they need to have a relaxing fun filled vacation without leaving the resort. You don't want to leave. The resort is entertaining for children and adults. There are not too many resorts that match the family amenities offered by Atlantis.

The resort sits on one of the best beaches in the Bahamas, Cabbage Beach. Along these 3 miles of pristine soft white sand, resort guests can soak up the sun, snorkel, parasail, jet-ski and participate in multitudes of water and beach activities. For a more carefree beach experience, the 7-acre Paradise Lagoon offers swimming, sunbathing and a variety of water sports. Continuing the water theme, guests can partake in the Leap of Faith: a 60-foot drop down a Mayan temple water slide. This thrilling wet ride takes you through the resorts spectacular aquarium. The magnificent aquarium is a center piece of the resort. The resort has a total of 141 acres of waterslides, a quarter-mile lazy river ride and several pools. You can even fulfill your dream of swimming with friendly playful Dolphins at Dolphin Cay.

For your nightlife entertainment, the Atlantis boasts the largest casino in the Caribbean. At the Atlantis you will find a world class gaming experience with 100 table games including Craps, Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat, and Caribbean Stud Poker. There is also a Race and Sports book. The casino offers over 1,000 of the newest slot machines each equipped with state of the art player tracking system (with denominations from a penny to $100). Enjoy the convenience of using your room key to play.

Atlantis features 21 restaurants and 19 bars and lounges offering everything from fine dining to quick-and-easy favorites. Two of the Bahamas best restaurants are located at the resort: the Bahamian Club and Villa Este. The Bahamian Club serves international and French cuisine and is known for its fine cuts of meats. Villa Este serves some of the best Italian cuisine in the Bahamas.

If you do desire to leave the resort, downtown Nassau and its neighboring resort areas are just minutes away for your enjoyment. The Bahamas proximity to the United States and its safe track record makes it attractive for U.S. tourists. You just can't go wrong with this family vacation choice.

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8 of the World’s Most Beautiful Coastal Towns

Stunning views of the cliff, with gorgeous beach houses dotting the coastline and narrow highways meandering close to the rocks beneath – Coastal towns bring a whole new meaning to seaside lifestyle.

There is a certain allure about these coastal towns, be it in Africa or Australia; their elegance and disarrayed beauty tend to make you fall unknowingly for their charm.

What’s special about them is their geographical edge blessed by forces of both nature and man, making them unique and visually enticing.

1 – Positano, Naples – Italy

Perched on the steep slopes of the stunning Naples, Positano is one of the many coastal towns littered along the Amalfi coast. Featured in many romance movies, Positano is the perfect setting for a dreamy rendezvous. Driving along the zigzag highway towards the town, you are embraced by breathtaking views of the coast and typical Italian seaside architecture.

A playground for the rich and famous, Positano can be a costly place to visit, with its high-end hotels and exquisite restaurants offering a view to die for. Full moon nights on the main beach of Positano can be quite an experience for you and your loved one.

How to: Take a Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento, and then continue by the SITA bus to Positano. It is easily connected to Salerno, Sorrento and Naples by ferry in summer.

2 – Apollo Bay, Melbourne – Australia

The Great Ocean Road offers one of the most scenic drives in Australia. Only in this Southeastern part of the country will you be able to enjoy views of the treacherous coastline made famous by the 12 Apostles. Also unique to this region, are the koalas in the wild, curled high up in the eucalyptus trees. Try to spot some near Kenneth River along the way!

Amongst many of the gorgeous coastal towns along the coast, Apollo Bay has a great reputation for the leisure parks, sizzling barbies (Aussie slang for ‘barbeques’) and its proximity to some of the best surfing spots in Australia. It is also bigger than neighboring towns, with many conveniences at your doorstep.

3 – Kamakura, Kanagawa – Japan

With technology taking over the entire Japan, a traditional town like Kamakura is a rare gem these days. Just one hour away from Tokyo, it is after all, not the best kept secret. Still, with its slapping waves thundering against the coast, and impressive monuments against the backdrop of Mount Fuji, it is no wonder Kamakura is top on the list. Besides its coastal charm, there is just so much history and culture in this town.

Kamakura is of course most famous for the Great Buddha of Kamakura – a bronze statue of Amida Buddha built on the grounds of Kotokuin Temple. It stands majestically as the second largest statue in Japan. The Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine is the spiritual heart of the coastal town, along with the torii-gates (signature red gates of Japan) welcoming you into the town center. Come in April, and you sure will find beautiful pink cherry blossoms lining the the Dankazura Street that runs parallel.

4 – Sidi Bou Said, Tunis – Tunisia

With the entire town made up of white-and-blue Mediterranean architecture, it is hard to believe that one is in North Africa. Although lacking a tad bit of originality, Sidi Bou Said never fails to impress with its pure whitewashed walls, beautiful porcelain stalls and its hilltop location. It is after all a stark difference in comparison with the brown-dusted capital city of Tunis, where mosques and souks line the dusty streets.

With Tunisians donning their traditional djellabas walking through the Med-style pathways, it looks strangely befitting yet intriguingly mismatching. Somehow, you might get the feeling that Sidi Bou Said is nothing but a reconstructed Disneyland for the rich Mediterranean tourists; but deep in its narrow alleys, you can still find the soul of an enchanting coastal town.

How to: Catch a TGM Train from Tunis to La Marsa, and continue on the Light Railway to Sidi Bou Said. One-way tickets cost less than 1 euro!

5 – Sausalito, California – USA

Driving along the Golden Gate Bridge with Sausalito in the distance is one of the most romantic getaways in the USA. The coastal town is sandwiched between the cliffs of the Marin Headlands and the shore of San Francisco Bay. The art galleries and souvenir shops along Bridgeway and the soothing cafés along Caledonian Street make Sausalito somewhat atypically American.

For the outdoor lovers, Sausalito also offers excellent hiking trails from Spencer Avenue up to the Marin Headlands zigzagging along the coast. The best thing about Sausalito? It’s a great day trip from San Francisco for the urban dwellers, and the best way to get away from the crowd, and soak in some Californian sun. After all, some say it’s the reason why they built the Golden Gate Bridge!

How to: From neighboring San Francisco, it’s just a 30-minute ride on the Golden Gate Ferry from the Ferry Building or Blue and Gold Fleet from Pier 39.

6 – Oia, Santorini – Greece

Exactly like how one would picture the Mediterranean coast to be, Oia is littered with whitewashed blue-domed churches, and windmills perched on hilltops. These picture-perfect scenes look straight out of a postcard, and it’s hard not to fall for its charms, really. Oia is possibly the most elegant and scenic coastal town on the island of Santorini – with its narrow cobble-stoned paths running parallel to the coastline, right alongside quaint little artesian shops and cliff-edged cafes.

The perfect way to explore Santorini is renting a car at the foot of the hills (€20/day), driving up the steep slopes all the way to the top for a birds’ eye view, then spending a lazy afternoon on the black volcanic beaches enjoying a typical Greek salad with feta cheese and some ouzo (Greek aperitif), and finally strolling along the paths stretching through Oia, soaking in the Greek island life.

How to: Connected to Crete, Mykonos and Naxos by high-speed boats (can be quite expensive). From Athens, there are two flights per day (Olympic Airways) or catch the ferry from Piraeus, Athens (10 hours).

7 – Knysna, Western Cape – South Africa

There are hundreds of unbelievably beautiful towns along the coastline of South Africa, from Cape Town following the coast to Port Elizabeth, with Knysna standing out thanks to its lush forest and peaceful lagoons. Knysna Heads must be the most striking geological features along the entire southern African coastline. The two great sandstone cliffs flank a deep channel through which the sea pours in to flood the wide and breathtakingly pretty estuary at the mouth of the Knysna River. Don’t forget to drive up to the Eastern Head lookout point for spectacular views of the lagoon.

The Knysna oysters are also reputedly among the tastiest in the world, with Knysna lagoon having its own oyster hatchery! Wildlife lovers would adore the Knysna Forest which is home to plentiful ancient plants and vegetation, as well as antelopes and Knysna elephants.

How to: If you’re a young backpacker, the best choice would be the Baz Bus which you could hop on and off from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth. Or catch the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe train that goes on an amazing scenic route,including the Kaaimans River bridge (the most-photographed railway bridge in the world)!

8 – Rovinj, Istria – Croatia

As the most talked about country in Eastern Europe, Croatia has a reputation for its picturesque coastal towns, medieval stoned paths and the ravishing Adriatic coastline. Instead of sandy beaches, the shoreline of Croatia is mostly rocky, giving it a ruggedly rough edge. In contrast with the wealthier French Riviera, in Rovinj, you will be met by overt friendliness and food that is splendidly rustic.

This coastal town in the Istrian Peninsula is softly embedded in a stunning bay, oozing a mythical charm that makes this a paradise for artists and poets. The country is extremely conscious of its history and culture; there are many monuments worth visiting in Rovinj, especially the Church of St Euphemia. Built at a hilltop, it’s the best spot to catch a view of the old town. It’s definitely worth visiting, especially if you climb the wooden staircase to the top of the 60m campanile.

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