Travelling long term and living in hotels is not fun. You have no privacy, no space and no possibilities to cook. Even for short stays it’s nice to have your own space like at home and you don’t have to worry about housekeeping knocking on the door at 9am. That’s why I mostly stay in apartments these days so I can live like I would at home and experience the destination like a local.

The Location

This was my first visit to Lisbon and even though it was a short trip I was determined to experience it like a local. I was provided with an apartment in the Marques de Pombal area of Lisbon by Housetrip.com to use during my stay. It’s a great area with a few cafes, supermarkets and the metro nearby but it’s not a touristy area so you’re mostly on your own with the locals.

The Apartment

I stayed with a group of seven people in a massive apartment which sleeps up to 12 people. I’m not sure how 12 people would go sharing one bathroom (though there is a second WC) but this apartment would be perfect for a large family or two couples sharing. Of course HouseTrip has many other apartments in Lisbon to choose from and it’s an incredibly affordable was to stay. Our apartment was only £38/night for two people which is so much cheaper than a hotel. There is an additional charge for extra people but it’s usually only an extra £10 or £15 per night depending on the apartment.

The Kitchen

Lisbon has fantastic food options including amazing fresh fish and seafood dishes and their famous spicy piri piri Portuguese chicken.

But sometimes it’s more relaxing (and cheaper) to eat at home and this apartment has a wonderful modern kitchen where you could cook up a storm.

The Bathroom

The seven of us managed surprisingly well with only one bathroom. I was a bit worried at first as to how it was going to work out be we were all very considerate and managed without any problems! That second WC definitely came in handy though.

The Bedrooms

The bedrooms were clean and tidy. I got a great room with loads of natural light and plenty of space to hang my clothes.

Living in Lisbon Like a Local

I really do prefer this way of travelling. I’ve had enough of staying in sterile hotels and would much prefer to stay in an apartment when visiting a city. This is a trend nowadays with more and more people choosing to stay in apartments over hotels and hostels and it’s not surprising when you consider the price savings and the better experience.

Trier is a popular destination in Germany for tourism. The city is famous for its Roman history with many well preserved buildings and some ruins remaining from the Roman period. Most of these sights are located within a short distance of each other so it’s handy to stay in a centrally located hotel. On my recent trip to Trier I stayed at the Mercure Hotel Trier Porta Nigra ideally located opposite the city’s number one attraction, the Porta Nigra.

The Room

The room was very large and the bed was typical German style with two single beds pushed together and individual bed covers. When I first travelled in Germany I found this kind of setup strange but I actually quite like it now. We each have plenty of space and there is no fighting over sheets or blankets!

The Bathroom

The bathroom was also on the large size with a shower over the bath. The hotel is a little on the older side but as with most hotels in Germany is was spotlessly clean.

The Breakfast

While the breakfast itself was not particularly memorable I’ll never forget the view from the restaurant. The above photo of the Porta Nigra was taken while I had my breakfast. I happily lingered over my toast and tea while I took it all in and imagined the Romans living in the city all those years ago.

The Location

It’s obvious from the Porta Nigra photo that the location is perfect. You just need to cross the road to be through the city gate and into the old town. If you are arriving by car the Mercure Hotel Trier has private paid parking and finding the hotel was very easy.

Summary

As part of the Accor brand, Mercure hotels are fairly standard but that also means they are very clean and well taken care of. The Mercure Hotel in Trier is well worth it for the location and that fab view.

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Heidelberg is a fairytale-like town on the Neckar River in the west of Germany. It has a sandstone hilltop castle which overlooks the historic old town which is nestled along the pretty riverside location. It’s one of the most visited cities in Germany and it’s a young, dynamic university town.

The Hip Hotel in Heidelberg is located more or less in the centre of the old town on the main pedestrian street a few minutes from the Marktplatz main square and the river. You couldn’t pick a better location and the renovated boutique hotel has a range of rooms which aren’t numbered but named.

The Room

We were lucky enough to be upgraded to the Heidelberg suite which is a massive room on the top floor with its own terrace with a glimpse of Heidelberg Castle. I wasn’t sure what to do with so much space, especially considering it was much larger than my Paris apartment, but it was definitely a nice change for us. The bed was comfy and we each had slippers which is a necessity if I want to feel a little spoiled.

The Terrace

The terrace was unexpected but welcome. It was nice to sit outside and relax or in my case listen to the cheering from below from the 1000s of football fans following the European Cup. This would be a great spot to have breakfast or to enjoy a little picnic on a sunny day.

The Bathroom

The bathroom was modern, as expected. I wasn’t crazy about having to take a shower in the bath, especially as that meant water going everywhere because there was no curtain but otherwise the bathroom was clean and fresh.

The Breakfast

Breakfast at the Hip Hotel was pretty standard except for the champagne that came along with it. I love champagne breakfasts and haven’t had that in years! It was such a nice surprise.

The Restaurant

I don’t usually eat at hotel restaurants but I was feeling tired after a long drive and we had a 10% discount so we decided to go for it. The Hip Hotel restaurant has modern German cuisine which basically means grilled meat and veges presented in a very nice way. I had some very tender lamb and F had a steak which he said was great. My order got messed up a little but they took it back to the kitchen and quickly redid it so all was good in the end. I think this place is a little pricey compared to other restaurants in Heidelberg but the food was definitely prepared to a high standard so it depends on what your priorities are.

The Location

As I said earlier, the location of the hotel is pretty much perfect if you’re spending a few days sightseeing in Heidelberg. It’s situated on the main pedestrian street which is right in the thick of things. Heidelberg is a small city so the hotel is walking distance to pretty much every place you’d visit on a typical visit to the city. If you have a car you can drive down the pedestrian street to drop off you bags at the hotel and the reception will give you the easy directions to the nearby public car park.

Summary

I stayed at the Hip Hotel courtesy of Heidelberg Tourism and the hotel but I couldn’t have chosen a better hotel myself. The service and quality of the rooms was excellent and the location unbeatable.

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