Velvet

www.arcotel.at/velvet.htm
Oranienburger Strasse 52, 10117 Berlin, t +49 30 2787 53-0

Stylish design hotel in the middle of Berlin. All rooms have a complete glass facade at one of the rooms' walls which offers a great view.

The bathroom is in the middle of the room next to the bed, just separated by a transparent curtain. A very open atmosphere. (The toilet is in a separate room, though.)

I haven't tried the breakfast buffet, but there are plenty of places nearby that offer everything from coffeee to bagels and everything else.

The higher up you stay, the more you can enjoy the view out of the glass wall without anybody seeing you... Book a suite here if you take your girlfriend to Berlin.

Hotel Parlament

Hotel Parlament Budapest
Kalman Imre utca 19, HU-1054 Budapest,t +36 1 374-6000


Opened 2005, centrally located near the Parlament, moderate prices. Pleasantly minimalistic and stylish interior, small but nice area with sauna and Jacuzzi. Breakfast buffet also small but nice. Free internet in all rooms and two internet terminals in the lobby.

Holiday Inn Skopje

www.holiday-inn.com.mk
Vasil Agilarski 2, 1000 Skopje, t +389-2-3292929

Okay-ish, but nothing more. Centrally located if anything. Rather post-socialist charme and considering the prices it's a laugh. Make sure to get a room with a balcony overlooking the river. Or try the 'Stone Bridge' hotel next time you go to Skopje - although rumours say it's an Albanian whorehouse... And let me know how it is.


The espresso at the hotel bar in the lobby of the Holiday Inn is quite reasonable, though.

Kempinski Corvinus

www.kempinski-budapest.com
Erzsébet tér 7-8, 1051 Budapest

If you book early in advance you might get quite good rates for this 5 star hotel. Spoilers: a 20 per cent city tax will be added on top of the price and you cannot afford anything else in this hotel. Only breakfast and parking would be the price of a single room at some reasonable hotel. Nice spa, though, maybe only a little small for a hotel of this category.

Crowne Plaza 'The Pitter'

salzburg.crowneplaza.com
Rainerstrasse 6-8, A-5020 Salzburg, t +43 662 88 978-0

Typical American standard hotel chain as they come by the dozen. But very high standard indeed. Pool, sauna, and a very(!) impressive breakfast buffet. Centrally located, 10 minute walk along the river Salzach to the old town.

Hotel Hammer

www.hotel-hammer.com

If you would like to have even the taxi driver laughing at you when you mention the name of your hotel, stay at Hotel Hammer. But seriously: it's basic, but centrally located (just opposite the main train station), clean, with friendly staff and basic breakfast and very affordable. And there's apples for free at the reception at all times.