The latest addition to pod hotel concept is citizenM (short for citizen Mobile) Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. The hotel is conveniently located just a short walking distance from from the arrivals and departures terminal at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

citizenM Hotel room bed window

The concept of which citizenM hotel is built on caters for modern day travelers who wants a contemporary, comfortable, a more luxurious and convenient place to stay at reasonable prices. Value-for-money is what citizenM hotel is known for but unlike any regular pod hotels, it doesn’t skimp on space and amenities. Plus, the window and bed is huge, thank god.

A room may measure just 14 square metres each but it is well-designed to make use of every single inch of space. It is evident that citizenM designers gave careful, attention to detail and tedious thoughts into planning the room decor. Everything you need - bed, power rain shower, sink, toilet and other facilities - fits nicely and doesn’t make you feel cramped. Everything just seems to make perfect sense.

Take the bed for instance, you might wonder how cleaners could remove and replace the bedsheet without access to every corners of the bed. No they don’t climb on top the bed either. With citizenM’s patent-pending bed design, the bed can be pulled forward vertically and allow the cleaner easy access to replace the bedsheet. By the way, the bed is decked out with the finest linen.

Room entertainment includes an LCD television with free movie channels including blockbusters and classic favourites. Notebook toting roadwarriors will be pleased that citizenM offers WiFi internet access for free 24/7. Worried about charging your electronic gadgets? That’s taken care of with a global plug system. Philips ‘MoodPad’, an all-in-one remote control unit, controls the lighting, temperature, adjustable blinds, LCD TV and alarms.

Buses, taxis and trains are within walking distance and provide a 24 hour a day connection to the city centre of amsterdam (20 minutes by train) and all other major cities in the netherlands. Parking and rental cars are within walking distance as well

CitizenM Hotel opened just in time to help travelers offset the rising cost of travel and the high Euro conversion. And that’s always welcomed.

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, one of the most spectacular buildings of the Victorian era, is ideally located by the exclusive boutiques of Sloane Street and Harrods, and directly opposite Harvey Nichols, cementing its reputation as London’s premier hotel for the avid shopper. It is the only hotel in London to be located on Hyde Park, allowing guests’ unrivalled views of extensive royal parkland from both of the hotel’s restaurants and many of its rooms and suites. Its position also offers guests an array of outdoor leisure pursuits including riding, cycling, tennis, jogging and rowing, as well as gourmet picnics which can be arranged by the hotel’s culinary team.

At GBP2525, the ‘Christmas Extravaganza’ holiday package deal is made especially for this festive season. Enjoy the following:

• 3 nights stay for a family of four in two deluxe inter-connecting rooms stylishly decorated with an aura of traditional English Christmas spirit. Christmas trees, Christmas stockings and many more festive decorations.
• Full English Breakfast at a family table in The Park restaurant every morning
• Now this would light up your children’s eyes: A Golden Pass to Harrods Children’s Christmas Grotto! Head over to Harrods department store between 12.30am and 1pm on Christmas eve for a wonderful family time.
• Christmas Day Lunch in The Park with a special appearance from Father Christmas and gifts for the children
• A family pass to London’s largest outdoor ice skating rink at the magical Winter Wonderland in adjacent Hyde Park
• Complimentary porter gift collection for Christmas gifts from nearby Harrods, Harvey Nichols and the surrounding luxury boutiques of Knightsbridge
• Access to the Mandarin Oriental box at the Royal Albert Hall for the Raymond Gubbay ‘Christmas Carols by Candlelight’ concert at 7pm on Christmas Eve

Prices are based on 2 inter-connecting rooms for a 3 night stay arriving 24 December 2008, for 2 adults and 2 children (0-12 years only) including a guaranteed early check-in at 9am and late check out to 4pm. This package is subject to availability excludes 17.5% VAT and 5% discretionary service charge. Bookings must be made two weeks prior to arrival.

Source: Mandarin Oriental

Whether you choose the 2-night suite package in Bangkok and Chiang Mai or the 3-night resort suite package, be indulged by:

• 2 nights in Bangkok or Chiang Mai, or 3 nights in one of our resorts staying in a luxurious suite.
  Daily American breakfast
• Round trip airport transfer by private limousine at Amari properties in Bangkok
• Round trip airport transfer by mini van at Amari Rincome Hotel - Chiang Mai, Amari Coral Beach Resort - Phuket, Amari Vogue Resort – Krabi, Amari Trang Beach Resort - Trang, Amari Palm Reef Resort - Samui, Amari Emerald Cove Resort - Koh Chang
• No return airport transfer at Amari Orchid Resort and Tower - Pattaya and Amari Nova Suites - Pattaya
• A complimentary dinner with a bottle of wine

Prices start from US$426++ per room for hotels in Bangkok (twin sharing). Prices start from $493++ per room for resort properties, including Chiang Mai (twin sharing).

Amari’s Suite Package is available at: Amari Don Muang Airport Hotel - Bangkok, Amari Boulevard Hotel - Bangkok, Amari Watergate Hotel - Bangkok, Amari Atrium Hotel - Bangkok, Amari Rincome Hotel - Chiang Mai, Amari Orchid Resort and Tower - Pattaya, Amari Nova Suites - Pattaya, Amari Emerald Cove Resort - Koh Chang, Amari Palm Reef Resort - Koh Samui, Amari Coral Beach Resort - Phuket, Amari Vogue Resort - Krabi and Amari Trang Beach Resort - Trang.