Accommodation and Travel

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BrainStomer Christmas Update - Oxford

Whilst we endeavour to ensure that all information is as accurate and up to date as possible, the information and opinions given below are given as a guideline only. Mindworks Inc Ltd cannot be held responsible or liable for any inaccuracies. All prices and details should be confirmed directly with the hotel prior to booking.

If you are flying in to London Heathrow, a black cab will cost around £70.00 - £80.00 to Bracknell – they do not have to use their meter once out of the London Metropolitan area and can charge virtually what they like. There is, however, an excellent private car service which can be booked in advance on countycars@web-hq.com or telephone 01344 752227 and they charge £35.00 to Bracknell.

This hotel has 65 bedrooms all en suite all of which have colour satellite TV, tea and coffee making facilities. Free parking on site. Residents bar & restaurant. Non smoking rooms available. The hotel is a 10 minute drive from the centre of Manchester.

Our opinion: This is a clean and comfortable hotel with no frills offering good value for money.

Cost guide: £39.50 per night

This is a 2 star hotel with 104 rooms and has ample and secure car parking. There are no leisure facilities. Each room has been recently refurbished. Adjacent to the hotel is a Bistro serving breakfast and evening meals.

The hotel is a 15 minute walk, 10 minute drive from the centre of Manchester.

Our opinion: Rooms are fairly small but perfectly adequate, and all are simply furnished. The cost is value for money for a no frills hotel which offers a clean, comfortable and reasonable quiet environment.

Cost guide: £46.00 per night Room Only

This hotel has 170 very large rooms which are furnished to a high standard, with TV, telephone/modem points and en suite bathrooms. A bar and restaurant provide good quality food at reasonable prices. The hotel is near the centre of Manchester where there are a lot of bars, restaurants and a cinema within walking distance. No smoking rooms are available. As the hotel is a tower, noise levels from outside are very low.

Limited but very secure parking is available and there is a nearby NCP car park if the car park is full.

Our opinion: Excellent value for money, large and very comfortable rooms. Highly recommended. Very good for female guests as security is high level and access to all floors is by key cards, and no rooms are on the ground floor.

Cost guide: £49.95 per night room only

This is a 2 Star hotel with 160 rooms and has limited parking. There are no leisure facilities at this hotel.

Cost guide: £50.00 per night Room Only

Located in the Salford Quays area, this is a new 2 star hotel with 120 rooms and has ample secure parking. There is a bar in the evening but no other evening dining facilities are available. The hotel is however, only minutes walk from various restaurants in the Salford Quays complex. Breakfast is a self service cold buffet.

The hotel is an easy 15 minute drive from the centre of Manchester.

Our opinion: A good hotel with good quality room furnishings and pleasant environment. Rooms are a reasonable size. Not ideal for females on their own as you need to go out to eat in the evening as there are no dining facilities. The price isn't fixed and tends to go up in busy periods.

Cost guide: £60.00 per night Room Only

The Novotel has 119 spacious rooms. All rooms have double bed, sofa bed and en-suite bathroom and separate toilet. There is a large working area in every room with direct dial telephone (one socket above the desk for modems) colour satellite TV and tea / coffee making facilities. No smoking rooms are available. A buffet breakfast is served in the restaurant as is dinner. There is an outdoor pool, a pool table and a pleasant bar area.

The hotel is a 15- 30 minutes drive to the centre of Manchester depending on traffic.

Our opinion: Despite being near the motorway the rooms are fairly quiet. The rooms are big and simply furnished. Some of the hotel has been refurbished, including the bedrooms but some areas such as corridors are still to be done.

Cost guide: £72.00 per night bed and breakfast

This hotel currently features 161 en-suite bedrooms. Non smoking rooms are offered, as is a choice of standard or executive bedrooms. Each room has a power shower and bath, direct dial telephone with modem and fax points. Satellite television offering national and European stations with in house movies. 24-Hour room service and minibars enable the late guest to enjoy natural comforts. The restaurant linked to the hotel, offers excellent evening dining. A hot and cold buffet breakfast is served in the morning.

The hotel is a 20 minute drive from the centre of Manchester and free parking is available.

Our opinion: The hotel is good and reasonably new, so the rooms are nicely furnished and are a very good standard, although they aren't huge.

Cost guide: £80.00-90.00 per night Room Only

This top hotel offers 159 guestrooms, each equipped with minibar, tea/ coffee making facilities, remote-control cable TV and movies, telephones with voicemail and multiple data ports. There are two choices available for dining: Brindley's (International) for more formal dining and The Club Cafe Bar open for breakfast, lunch, dinner for more relaxed surroundings.

The hotel has excellent leisure facilities with 20 x 10-metre swimming pool, sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi, Gymnasium and dance studio. Or pamper yourself in the health and beauty suites. Worseley Park also offers an 18 hole 6689 yards, 71 par, golf course.

The hotel is 25 - 30 minutes drive to the centre of Manchester depending on traffic.

Our opinion: The Marriott is an excellent hotel offering excellent facilities, especially if you are staying more than one night and get the opportunity to use the leisure facilities. There is a pub next door and lovely grounds to walk in. It is a good tranquil environment yet close to the motorway for access.

Cost guide: £109 per night room only

READING MOAT HOUSE HOTEL, NR WOKINGHAM

Telephone: 01189 499988 Web: www.moathousehotels.com

The Moat House is set in landscaped gardens on the banks of the River Loddon with 100 well equipped en-suite bedrooms. The hotel has a restaurant and a bar. The hotel also has a gym.

The hotel is approximately 20 minutes drive to Novell depending on traffic.

Cost guide: £155.00 per night room only

TRAVEL INN, Wokingham Road, Bracknell, Berks, RG42 1NA

Tel: 08701 977 036 Web: www.travelinn.co.uk

This Travel Inn is the nearest hotel to Novell's office at Bracknell, located just a 2 minutes walk away. The hotel has all the basic amenities that you need and is next to the the Weather Vane Brewers Fayre pub for meals.

Our Opinion: A good budget hotel but one that gets booked up far in advance so don't delay phoning them if you need a reservation - you can always cancel it nearer the time if needs be. It offers some of the best value accommodation in the very expensive Bracknell area at around £56.95 per room per night.

PARKLANDS HOTEL, OXFORD

Telephone: +44 (0) 1865 554374 Fax: +44 (0) 1865 559860

Situated in the beautiful tree lined residential area of North Oxford. Within 15 minutes walk of the historical City Centre and University Colleges. A late Victorian building, once the home of an Oxford Don, his family and his servants. Extensively refurbished to a high standard in keeping with many of the original features, it now comprises 14 comfortable, tastefully decorated en-suite bedrooms to accommodate up to 25 guests.

Cost Guide: Rates from £59.00 single en suite and £89.00 double en suite.

COTSWOLD LODGE HOTEL, OXFORD

Tel: 01865 512121 Fax: 01865 512490 E-mail: reception@cotswoldlodgehotel.co.uk

The Cotswold Lodge Hotel is the ideal setting to take advantage of the beautiful city of Oxford. Whether for business, pleasure or a special occasion our team are here to help you make the most of your time with us. Our four star independent hotel is set in a quiet conservation area close to the heart of Oxford. Our facilities and award winning restaurant are renowned for the quality and friendly professionalism of our team. Recently refurbished to the highest of standards we aim to provide an individual and welcoming home from home for our guests.

Cost guide: Singles en suite from £125.00

LINTON LODGE, OXFORD

Tel : 01865 553461 Fax : 01865 310365 E-mail : sales@lintonlodge.com

The Best Western Linton Lodge Hotel is just a short walk from the city centre of Oxford. The Hotel's attractive 70 bedrooms have bath and shower facilities , hospitality trays , direct dial telephone , television/radio , hair dryers, in house movies .

Cost guide: £95.00 bed and breakfast

TRAVEL INN EDINBURGH (CITY CENTRE), 1 Morrison Link, Edinburgh, EH3 8DN

Tel: 0870 238 3319 Web: www.travelinn.co.uk

The Travel Inn is located approximately 5-10 minutes walk from the Novell Edinburgh offices which are located in Coates St. Situated in Edinburgh city centre next to the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, parking is available at an additional cost of £6 for 24 hours. The hotel has the Slice Restaurant & Bar inside.

Travel Inn rooms are generally well equipped by providing a comfortable king size bed with duvet, black-out curtains to ensure you are not disturbed by the early morning light!, En-suite bathroom with bath and shower, TV and radio alarm, spacious desk area, tea coffee and hot chocolate, temperature control facility and wireless internet access.

For your convenience payment is on check-in, which means a hassle-free departure, rooms for families and customers with disabilities, a choice of smoking and non-smoking rooms, iron, hair dryer and toiletries available at reception. Room rates are around £58.95 per room.

THE BONHAM, 35 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh, EH3 7RN

Tel: 0131 226 6050 Web: www.thebonham.com

The Bonham has 48 very stylish rooms of various shapes and sizes. Each room has an individual, contemporary design using rich bold colours. They offer huge comfortable beds, an abundance of cushions and throws, and large bright and airy windows many of which offer spectacular views across central Edinburgh. Designed by Janey Armstrong, the striking modern interiors of the bedrooms, with their strong lines and bold colours, complements the magnificent original features of the building.

You can check in to your room from 3pm on the day of arrival, and have the convenience of checking out at 12noon on the day of departure, should you have a late start.

Bedroom features include: two telephones, one with double-capacity to facilitate electronic transmission and ISDN communication - with 'Direct Dial In' (DDI) and voice mail; International Modem Points, Nicam television and remote control, with 55 cable channels, e-TV, providing complete pc capability, Internet access, DVD video, games and hi-fi system. An infra-red keyboard is used to access these facilities via the television. En-suite bathroom, Desk and seating area, 24 Hour room service, Mini bar, Tea / Coffee making facilities, Molton Brown Toiletries, Hairdryer, Iron and Board, Trouser press and Luggage stand.

Our Opinion: Definitely a hotel with a "Wow" factor with nothing standard about it. The rooms were very comfortable although a bit on the warm side.

The Bonham is located just a few minutes walk away from the Novell Offices which are located in Coates St. The city centre is also within walking distance. There is no parking at the hotel although you can park in the roads nearby with some restrictions in place.

Ask for the Novell Rate £90.00 Bed and Continental Breakfast in a single room, or £110 for Bed and Continental Breakfast in a double room for single occupancy.

NOVOTEL EDINBURGH CITY CENTRE, 80 Lauriston Place, EH3 9DE Edinburgh

Tel: (+44)131/6563500 Web: www.novotel.com

Novotel Edinburgh Centre is a four star New Generation Novotel in the city centre. The hotel's restaurant and bar are stylish and feature a contemporary menu. The swimming pool, sauna, steam room, gym and whirlpool are exclusive to in-house guests.

The hotel has 180 well designed and modern bedrooms, 144 of which are non smoking. All of the rooms have en suite bathrooms with bath, safety deposit box, mini bar, pay per view channels, satellite / cable colour TV and voice mail. Room service is available from 06.00 to midnight each day.

The hotel is approximately 15 minutes walk from the Novell Edinburgh office which is located in Coates St, and only 5 minutes walk from the City Centre. Outdoor public parking is available.

Room Rates are £85.00 room only internet rate. It is best to book on the internet as rooms are otherwise in the region of £129 per night.