Gadling Take FIVE: February 14 – February 20

by Jamie Rhein on

You never know what you’ll find out at Gadling. That’s what I thought this week when I perused the offerings. In the midst of Cockpit Chronicles, Galley Gossip, SkyMall Monday, Tuesday Trivia, Through the Gadling Lens, and Undiscovered New York were posts with information I didn’t know about until I read them.

  • For example, Jeffrey’s post that Waterford Crystal’s main factory has closed caught me off guard. When my husband and I got married one of his cousins gave us Waterford wine glasses that he bought in Dublin. Hearing that the factory has been affected so severely by these hard economic times is startling. It’s Waterford Crystal, for heaven’s sake.
  • Alison’s post on driving RVs from one destination to another offers one more idea on how to travel cheaply. Plus, with a RV who needs a hotel room?
  • If you’re thinking of going to Africa, Kraig’s post Africa more affordable than ever in in 2009 points out that you ought to not wait. Prices are expected to skyrocket in 2010.
  • Check out Tom’s post Hotel Gaudi, a comfortable bargain. He recently stayed at this hotel in Madrid, Spain. The gallery pictures prove its stay-worthiness in case you don’t trust Tom’s word alone.
  • Last summer I was enamored with the show “I Survived a Japanese Game Show.” There’s no accounting for taste. On that note, Aaron’s post Osaka Bang! is good for a laugh. This concept would not work in the U.S. in case anyone is thinking about an American version.

Hotel Gaudi a comfortable bargain

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Centrally located on Gran Via, Hotel Catalonia Gaudi offers inexpensive comfort and convenience in Madrid. Long a favorite of business travelers, tourists will also enjoy its spacious rooms, large private balconies and proximity to local attractions.

The rooms are large enough for two people to have plenty of elbow room. Request one with a view if you want some outdoor space. The walls on the balconies do obscure most shots of the city, but you will be able to sit outside and enjoy a combination of fresh air and the rhythms of the city. Also, since I’m not a fan of heights, the tradeoff (lack of view for lack of anxiety) was worth it.

Back inside the guestroom, the bathroom is enormous by European standards, and it sports a good-sized bathtub. But, if you expect a shower curtain or full glass door, you’ll be disappointed. The European style is prevalent at Hotel Catalonia Gaudi, with a piece of plexiglass reaching only a quarter of the way across the side of the tub (except in some rooms, which have shower curtains). Expect to step onto a wet floor, unless you have some how mastered the art of the European shower (I have not).

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Do try the continental breakfast at least once during your stay. With pastries, cheese, fruits and eggs, it’s a bargain at €8 per person. When you arrive, be patient … advice to heed at any restaurant in Spain. Nobody’s in a hurry, and there’s nothing you can do about it. For a caffeine-addled New Yorker, this is nothing short of torture, but it’s unavoidable. Get used to the fact that it will take a while for you to be seated and that coffee refills are not always as prompt as you would prefer.

If you plan to have dinner at the hotel, make sure it isn’t closed for a special event. I was disappointed that (a) I was not able to dine there one night (after waiting a while for the restaurant to open and (b) that no sign indicated the restaurant’s unavailability for the evening. I did eat in the bar that night, which was both sufficient and inexpensive. Somehow, a €2.90 glass of wine has a way of curing all that ails you. The seven year-old rum from Havana, illegal back in the United States, made the entire experience downright pleasant. I paired it with a Nicaraguan cigar (De La Concha Grand Reserve, Toro-sized) instead of picking up a stick from the rum‘s homeland, though, as I prefer reliable taste and construction.

The Hotel Catalonia Gaudi is firmly planted in “Old Europe,” so expect to find smokers in the lobby and lobby bar, in guestrooms and on balconies. Madrid has not joined the smoking ban epidemic, and the hotel prohibits smoking only in the restaurant and in certain guestrooms. This is neither criticism nor praise; it’s simply a function of the environment. Madrid is smoker-friendly. Know this before you book your trip.

The Gaudi was particularly inexpensive during my stay, as early February isn’t peak season for this part of the world. So, the bargain rates I received were probably pushed lower by a general lack of interest in the region. I suspect that May and June are a bit pricier. Nonetheless, you’ll find a deal at this hotel … but not at the expense of your total experience.

Gadling Take FIVE: February 7 –February 13

by Jamie Rhein on

We heard Tynan was coming back to blog on Gadling, and sure enough, this week he began his series Life Nomadic about living no where in particular, but where everywhere is filled with possibilities.

This week boasted a few more tales of amazing feats.

  • One of them was Richard Donovan’s marathon spree of around the world travel– literally. For anyone who wonders if you’ll ever get in shape by spring, read Kraig’s post and weep.
  • In London, 17,000 people mobbed London Liverpool Street Station. Scott posted the video to prove it.
  • Tom wandered in Madrid’s red light district, but not so far that he got into trouble
  • and Brenda gave a heads up on Hawaii’s possible foray into space tourism.
  • Then there is our own, Mike Barish who braved Hotel Carter to wow us with hilarity and look at what the dirtiest hotel looks like. From what I can tell, he’s over feeling woeful and almost good as new.

Enter Madrid’s red light district

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Just north of Gran Via, you’ll find all the leather, sex toys adult novelty items, prostitutes and hook-up bars you’ll need – whether you’re in Madrid for a few hours or several months. For wholesome distraction, however, look elsewhere. The narrow streets and tight alleys can frustrate navigation and make a sketchy space feel even more confined. A mere two blocks from my hotel, I found an “erotic boutique,” “Bears Bar” (which is not a celebration of Yogi or Winnie) and several posters advertising all manner of gratification.

So, why would you hit this neighborhood?

Aside from the obvious anonymous lust-fueled jaunts into a neighborhood designed to satisfy with minimal effort, the bars may be worth the trip. There is an evident party scene in this corner of Madrid, and it’s not limited to the Bears’ niche. After 9 PM, the restaurants and bars along Calle des Infantes [verify street name], especially, attract a young, energetic crowd. Stop by El Tigre for tapas (and be prepared to eat standing), and then crawl from one dive bar to the next … there are plenty to occupy your evening. Finally, in a drunken stupor (or, “stooper,” as a commenter on one of my previous stories put it), decide whether to hunt or pay for an evening’s companionship.

A word of caution: I’ve read that this part of town can be dangerous for accompanies women after dark. While I’ve made light of some of the risks in this neighborhood, please be smart. Both prostitution and drugs, I understand, are common just north of Gran Via. There is a cool bar scene up there, but you probably don’t want to check it out alone.

Are the trains in Spain faster than the planes?

by Jeremy Kressmann on

If you’ve ever had a chance to travel around Europe, you’re probably familiar with its various high-speed rail networks. In France, the TGV and AGV lines whisk passengers between Paris and points beyond including Brussels and Lyon at speeds over 200 miles per hour. And in Spain, the AVE rail system connects Madrid to Seville and as of 2008, to Barcelona as well.

According to a recent post at Wired, the new high speed link between Spain’s two biggest cities has had a dramatic effect on the country’s transportation network. In 2007, the airline route between Madrid and Barcelona was the busiest in the world, carrying over 70 percent of the passengers traveling between the two. Yet upon the opening of the new Barcelona rail line last year, that percentage has already dropped to 60 percent, and experts predict the number of plane and train passengers on the route will be equal within the next 2 years.

Aside from the obvious environmental benefits of traveling by rail instead of air, there’s a significant convenience advantage as well. As heavy airplane traffic continues to choke airport runways worldwide, it’s likely many of us will be turning to the railways for trips shorter than three hours. And when you think about it, by the time you’ve made it through TSA clearance, located your gate and fought for an overhead bin spot, your quick two hour plane trip has often turned into four or five. Here’s hoping the U.S. continues to look into similar high-speed rail solutions like Acela. It’s no AVE yet, but certainly a good first step.

[Via PSFK]