VIDEO: Travelodge, Covent Garden, London

If you’re planning a Christmas or New Year jaunt to London, you could do a lot worse than stay at the central Travelodge, Covent Garden hotel. 

The rooms were relatively spacious, especially when you consider the price (from £69 a night for a double room).

And the location and views at the admittedly a little dated-looking (on the outside) hotel were stunning.  

London landmarks, including the London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral and The Shard were visible from the bedroom window, making the Drury Lane location all the more special.

I combined the stay with a visit to the free-to-enter Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park and a stroll through Covent Garden, to experience notoriously expensive London on a budget.

New Year visitors can also enjoy free fireworks not too far away to see in 2015.

And with the festive cheer of Hyde Park and the jaw-dropping street entertainers in Covent Garden, it was possible to enjoy the delights of the capital for next-to-nothing. 

Back to the hotel, I simply must mention the terrific breakfast.

The choice was superb and the food unlimited, which again is perfect for the budget traveller.

Travelodge is renowned as a budget option in hotels, but I have stayed at some far more expensive accommodation and it has lacked the convenient central location and the fabulous views of one of the most recognisable skylines in the world.

So, think about Travelodge, Covent Garden for your next London getaway.

• For more information or to book click here

Audiofly Clublife Paradise in-ear headphones by Tiësto

Some very cool new in-ear headphones landed on my doormat last week.

The mint green, or “aqua”, as makers Audiofly are calling them, ear buds are made in collaboration with superstar DJ Tiësto, who helped with the design process.
And, as well as looking superb, emblazoned as they are with the Dutch DJ’s iconic ‘Nyana bird’ logo, the isolating ear buds really do pack a punch.
And they even glow in the dark!
To test out these bad boys I fittingly called up a series of Tiësto tracks to experience what the makers call the “true club sound – anywhere”.
The bass response on ‘Love Comes Again’ was very pronounced and crisp and the vocals on ‘Red Lights’ were as clear as a bell.

The £29.99 headphones come in a range of colours (some cost more) and are just about on general UK release now.
They feature a mic for hands-free calls and come in stylish packaging with a quality ‘Clublife’ protective pouch. 

There really is a ring of truth in the company’s claim that: “Paradise earphones boast a full, balanced sound to capture the feel of the club and takes you there everyday.”

Specifications:

- 9mm dynamic driver

- Small/medium/large silicon tips

- Soft storage pouch

- Glow-in-the-dark headphones

• For more information click here

No1 Traveller airport lounge

Flying is stressful.

You rush to the airport, only to get herded through various gates, queue up and have orders constantly barked at you, and then you get crammed into a winged metal tube for hours before being catapulted to your destination.

Therefore anything that can bring an element of relaxation to proceedings is most welcome.

And that is where No1 Traveller airport lounges come in. 

With lounges at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester, Edinburgh and Birmingham airports, there’s a good chance there’s a No1 Traveller lounge near you.

I visited the lounge at London Gatwick Airport on a trip to Athens and was blown away by the service.

I perused newspapers and magazines, ate tasty cheese and biscuits and ordered a delicious hot meal. 

And the unlimited drinks certainly helped the trip start with a swing.

The lounge itself also offered stunning views of the runway and I really felt like part of the jet set as I watched planes take off and land.

If you’re flying, make time for some lounging too.

• For more information click here