Advantages: Clean, helpfull staff, local facilities, handy for Thames Valley Park Disadvantages: dated, no cooked breakfast
...Introduction
As part of my job occasional travel and stays away are necessary. This time it was a visit to Microsoft Campus in Thames Valley Park, Reading that meant I was going to spend a night in the Reading Whitley Travelodge. As it turns out its listed on Ciao so I'll make a review out of it - first hotel review that I've tried so please be gently with me.
Finding it
The address is 387 Basingstoke Road, Whitley. Tom (TomTom to give him his full name) has a pretty spot on idea where this is. The Travelodge building itself isn't visible from the road but you should be able to spot the sign. Travelodge's directions don't make particularly clear that what you are really looking for is a large Harvester called the World Upside Down - what a bizarre name. If you come off the M4 at Junc 11 and then follow a couple of turns onto...
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Advantages: Nice and central, cheap price Disadvantages: The extras are a little bit expensive
...It would seem over the last few months I've spent almost as much time staying in Hotel rooms as I have in my own flat, which can prove rather costly. One of my more recent excursions was to the Novotel in Friar Street in reading. Now being as how I only live in Basingstoke, getting a hotel for the night in Reading might seem a little bit pointless, but as it was my leaving do from work it seemed a cheaper and simpler option than trying to get home. That said, once all the little extra bits and pieces are added on it soon mounts up and what seemed like a good idea at the time, was perhaps a little too close to home to justify.
As I'd decided upon the need to book myself a hotel room I paid a visit to the Novotel website where I managed to secure the room for a reasonable price. I've stayed in Novotel's quite a few times before so knew...
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Advantages: An enjoyable read suitable for everyone! Disadvantages: That I had initially dismissed 'Quick Reads'
... Minette Walters
Minette Walters is one of my top ten authors, and I had read all of her books aside from her latest ("The Chameleon's Shadow") and one which I'd heard about called "Chickenfeed" but for reasons I will explain hadn't yet got round to reading.
Minette Walters is famous for books such as "The Ice House", "The Sculptress" (which was made into a fantastic TV drama staring Pauline Quirk), "Acid Row", and "Fox Evil". She has written 14 books including Chickenfeed. They are of the crime/psychological thriller genre. Personally I would equate her writing to a slightly more modern version of Ruth Rendell (sorry Ruth, I do enjoy your books too).
I feel that Walter's books would appeal to both men and women, although I am not a man, so I cannot be absolutely sure! I first got into her books through my mum when I...
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18.02.2006
15.02.2008
