When it comes to the destination wedding of a good friend, you simply go with the flow and hope for the best. Such was the case with a destination wedding in Atlantic Beach, Florida. That was, until I saw where the wedding was being hosted: One Ocean Resort & Spa. I’ll confess – I’m not a huge beach person, but in scrolling through the website and TripAdvisor reviews, I started to get pretty excited. With a great gym, spa and plenty of local shops and restaurants within walking distance, I hoped this could be a nice mini getaway.
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As someone who frequently travels to London, I highly recommend staying in different neighborhoods when possible to properly explore new areas. I’ve previously stayed near Regent’s Park, Oxford Circus, Russell Square, Chelsea and South Kensington, offering a more in-depth knowledge of those neighborhoods. On my most recent hop across the pond – a spontaneous President’s Day weekend trip – I shook up my London travel routine once again with a stay in Clerkenwell at The Zetter Hotel.
Clerkenwell is an East London neighborhood that’s become more hip over the years. Although still a little quiet on the weekends, stroll through the neighborhood on a weekday and it’s bustling with staffers from a number of the area offices (many are digital/marketing agencies) out and about at the restaurants, pubs or some of the amazing local coffee shops. Clerkenwell’s proximity to Covent Garden, Russell Square and other parts of central London make it easy to play tourist while not spending a ton on a hotel.
During this stay, I called The Zetter home. The Zetter is a stylish boutique hotel centrally located in Clerkenwell and describes itself as, “A small hotel with a BIG personality.” Upon entry, guests will see this in spades, from the quaint reception area, to the charmingly decorated restaurants and rooms.
The rooms are best described as a mix of cozy and quirky. My room was “L” shaped with a large bed (singular vs. the European style two twin beds together), plus a chair and separate desk area. Alongside the bed are small storage areas for clothing and suitcases. Small pet peeve – no hotels ever seem to have enough clothing hangers for me, but at least that’s an easy fix.
The decor is simple and modern, with pops of color and quirky patterns, like the fabric fixture of flamingos alongside my very comfortable bed. Also adjacent to the bed are a stack of classic Penguin books, seemingly well-worn (er, loved) and there for your nighttime reading pleasure.
Other unique features of the hotel include a free coffee/cappuccino machine on each floor, plus free still or sparkling water. Interestingly, the hotel has its own spring water from what they call, “The Zetter Borehole,” which is part of the hotel’s sustainability initiative.
Although small, the bathroom was very modern and lovely. The space is used exceptionally well and I do love a good oversized rain shower head. Ren bath products, a makeup mirror, plus mist free bathroom mirrors were also nice touches.
Bathroom
During my stay, I noticed that many of the local quick-service places (e.g. EAT, Pret A Manger) were closed on Sunday, so I decided to spoil myself and order room service. I ordered the following below with pastries/toast, yogurt, an apple, orange juice and a cappuccino. Note: In small print they note that there’s a three pound fee to carry the tray to your room that you can’t avoid (sigh). The meal was average, although I did love the cappuccino ‘froth art,’ but it did beat heading out on an empty stomach.
All in all, I enjoyed my stay at The Zetter Hotel. It was very easy to catch a bus into more central parts of London, and I genuinely enjoyed exploring parts of Clerkenwell like The Modern Pantry and Workshop. I unfortunately did not get to try the hotel’s restaurant, but the menu looked lovely. Perhaps next time!
Covent Garden Market
Paris may have festive lights and markets, but London also offers plenty of holiday cheer for travelers during Christmastime. From Christmas trees in most of the major attractions, to outdoor skating rinks and floors dedicated to holiday decor at prominent shops, I was thrilled to celebrate this time in London. Read on to see snapshots from my visit.
Entrance to the hotel
Following an incredible time in Paris, I spent five days in London. London is my favorite city in the world and I cherish every opportunity to spend time there. On this trip, I stayed at The Kensington Hotel, which is part of the Doyle Collection, in South Kensington. From the incredibly cozy lounge bar, to the charming Christmas decor and comfortable rooms, the hotel more than delivered. Here’s a peek inside.