Advantages: Excellent teaching, sports, social life and environment
Disadvantages: Very few!

.... In Birmingham this is a very viable option as they have a wide range of postgraduate courses, and it's such a great place to study many find it hard to leave behind. Whatever you choose to do, good luck!! I guarantee if Birmingham is your choice, you won't be disappointed. NB If you are interested in the BA English course at Birmingham, please see my review of the course, also on Ciao for some advice and information!... Read review

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Advantages: cheap, clean, friendly staff
Disadvantages: quite a walk from town centre

...Etap Hotels are another budget hotel chain created by Accor, the creators of hotel giants Ibis. This 250 room complex is situtaed in the centre of Birmingham and all rooms cost £35, whether its a weekday or the weekend. But for this price, don't expect luxury acommodation, as luxury is probably the worst word to describe this hotel. The rooms are clean and modern and sleep up to 3 people. In most cases, this is either a double or twin beds with a single bunk on top - not very glamourous but good for the money. You do get a television (complete with an array of English and European channels), but I can't guarantee that you'll get coffee and tea making facilities, as some rooms seem to be missing these. There is also no hairdryer or anything like that, but you can get one if pay a £10 deposit at reception - you will get this returned... Read review

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Advantages: Lots of things to do
Disadvantages: Not enough time, unless your lucky enough to live here!

...**Birmingham England** Ah where to begin. Birmingham or Brum (as it is known to some), is my home and has been for almost 19 years. I have never lived anywhere else and I will always consider it my home. I felt compelled to write this review of this fantastic city as I find that people are all too quick to judge Birmingham for all of its downfalls and not necessarily its wonderful attributes which make it the friendliest city I know. So never judge Birmingham until you have been and experienced the offering of a world class cultural scene, a diverse and lively mix of shopping and people, attractions, nightlife, major international events and exhibitions, such as the motor show, the clothes show and many, many more, and of course a beautiful countryside just a short drive away. WHAT TO DO IN BIRMINGHAM This is a huge city... Read review

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Advantages: Big enough to get the destinations, small enough to care
Disadvantages: Complex road system to get there

...There's a theory that says every opinion on a site like Ciao is valuable and so we should post as much as we like on whatever topic takes our fancies. However, Ciao don't actually reward an opinion once there are already a bunch on a given topic. So this won't earn me a penny - even with the special bonus. Double nothing is ...... er.... nothing. But since there hasn't been a review of Birmingham International Airport for several years, much of the information on Ciao is outdated and well overdue for an update. So pennies or no pennies, here are my thoughts on BHX. When I was a kid, I loved going to airports - any airport, it didn't matter - it was all just so exciting. Strange exotic people, big shiny shops and lots of static electric shocks from the nylon carpets - there was nothing quite like it. But as I grew up the whole... Read review

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Advantages: Now unique in the UK - the only representative of the Hyatt
Disadvantages: Very average compared against the standards of this chain

...We had the occasion to spend a couple of nights in Birmingham recently. As Gold Passport members, our natural choice was the Hyatt Regency Hotel in the centre of Birmingham. Billed as the premier hotel venue in Britain’s second city, this is now the only remaining representative of the upscale American chain in the UK – the Carlton Tower and the Lowndes Hotels in London having been sold about three years ago. The Hyatt brand started on the west coast of America in the early 1960s with a mission statement to be large, open plan and generously accommodating. New buildings were often constructed around multi-floor atriums lavishly decorated with marble, glass and fountains. They led the way in providing “extras” for the discerning traveller. This has been formalised in the Regency Club. Several floors are set aside for guests wishing... Read review

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Advantages: Great shopping mecca for every shopoholic
Disadvantages: None

...Birmingham once renowned for it's 60's style concrete fashion has transformed it self in to one of the best cities in the UK today. Birmingham has lifted the heavy concrete restraints it once had and instead has replaced them with a smothering of modern looking steel and glass buildings. And the most famous of these transformations has to be the Bullring. The Bullring was the jewel in the crown for early 60's Birmingham but by the 1990's it was looking old and somewhat a eye sore on the surroundings. But the year of 2003 saw the opening of the new Bullring or "Europe's new shopping capitol" as it promotes it self. The Bullring is a marvel of glass and design, it covers 3 levels all covered by a wonderous glass ceiling that you can't but help stop and stare at, inside of this enormous construction are 2 large department stores... Read review

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Advantages: Lots of fantastic shopping locations and restaurants
Disadvantages: Can be slightly crouded around christmas

...Christmas is here and there is no better place to do your christmas shopping and have a great day out! Weather your a teenager, like me, an adult or an oap, christmas Birmingham just has it all! Im am going to give you fantastic guide to birmingham and why it is a brilliant place to go this christmas for all your shopping and more! First of all lets talk about spectaculour shops on offer. If you get off the train at new street you will find yourself in the heart of the pavillions, of which is joined on to the Bullring! You walk through the Pavillions untill you reach the diamond Bullring. The new Bullring is a faboulous shopping centre with a massive range of over 150, great shops. There is a big variety of shops at the Bullring from game to Anne Summers! Here are some of the hottest shops for christmas presents... Read review

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Advantages: Cheap and cheerful, clean and tidy
Disadvantages: very basic, no frills, but at that price who wants them?

...We live in Devon and had tickets for a Runrig concert in Birmingham Symphony Hall. We live out in the country so going out into the big wide world can be quite scary you know what with all the guncrime and murder in the big cities!!! We were a bit wary of staying in the centre of Birmingham mainly due to cost, so we looked for somewhere on the edge and found Days Inn in West Bromwich, Birmingham. It is just off junction 1 of the M5 which was great and easy to find. We then took a taxi into Birmingham later on. This cost £12 each way, but thats another story! The hotel had underground parking which made us feel that the car was secure (no need to take the wheels in with us)!. The hotel is based on several floors of a large 10 storey building, with reception on the ground floor. Our swipe card would not open the room door... Read review

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Advantages: With homage to James Elroy Flecker
Disadvantages: Apologies to him too

...(Readers of my ops on “Top 10 Holiday Destinations” and “Hassan” will know that I am an admirer of the poet Flecker, and in particular his dramatised poetic masterpiece The Golden Road to Samarkand. It struck me that this might find some echoes in the forthcoming Midlands Meet.) PROLOGUE We who with songs beguile your pilgrimage And swear that beauty lives though Brum is nigh We who are fond of spouting verbiage Now feel it’s time a verse or two to try. What shall we tell you? Tales, marvellous tales Of inns and hotel rooms where good men rest Where nevermore the foyer carpet pales O’er-shadowed by the gloom of Midlands (West). And how beguile you? Death has no repose Warmer and deeper than the land of yam Which tarnishes the chrome-bright faith of those Who take the concrete road to Birmingham... Read review

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Advantages: Everything about this hotel
Disadvantages: Christmas time Parties

...The Thistle Birmingham City Hotel is situated a few miles away from Birmingham International Airport, easily accessible from the major motorway network and close to New Street Station. I stayed at the hotel for 8weeks on a business trip and really enjoyed my stay there. The rooms are very clean, its well maintained. Staff very friendly and helpful. During Christmas time there are loads of parties and the in house guests have no flexibility in the food timings which was a major draw back. Food was very good and so is the bar always well stocked! You can have a short walk for your shopping to the City centre, Bull Ring and the Convention Centre. I would definitely recommend this hotel to my friends and would return again.... Read review

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