OK, so this entry isn’t necessarily about health and safety or food posioning, but I thought it was worth a mention nevertheless.

I was reading this month’s issue of HotelBusiness and I stumbled upon an article about a piece of research by Jurys Inn. The hotel chain surveyed 4,000 consumers to get their opinion of what cities were the most and least welcoming. Both lists are below:

The most unwelcoming cities in the UK:

1. London

2. Glasgow

3. Bradford

4. Birmingham

5. Liverpool

6. Manchester

7. Aberdeen

8. Wolverhampton

9. Belfast

10. Leeds

The most welcoming cities in the UK

1. Southampton

2. Norwich

3. Exeter

4. Brighton

5. Plymouth

6. York

7. Oxford

8. Nottingham

9. Derby

10. Portsmouth

As many of you know, Check Safety First is headquartered in Chepstow, Wales, and very proud of it. So, you can imagine my disappointment to see that not one Welsh city made the list of most welcoming places. I might be biased, but Wales is home to some of the friendliest people you will ever have the pleasure to meet. We demand a recount

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with the lists?

source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Now, we go on a lot about the importance of making sure your food is warm all the way through before eating or serving it – and it’s only because we care! But I never thought we would discuss the significance of a warm bed……

Apparently, the Holiday Inn, London Kensington is going to provide a human bed warming service to guests. A little odd, but bear with me. If a guest requests the service, then a member of staff will adorn an all-in-one sleeper suit and jump into your bed until it is suitably warm – approximately 20 to 24°C.

To be honest, I am not overly enamoured with the idea. I can understand the concept that people get a better night’s sleep in a warm bed. But, I’m not sure that I like the idea of a stranger being in my hotel bed before I use it – that would definitely hinder my night’s rest. And, I haven’t even begun to think about the health and safety implications.

Perhaps I am over thinking it, what do you think? Would you use the bed warming service?

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The news has been packed this week with gloomy stories about the weather – first the snow and now how we are expecting torrential flooding. So it was good to see a light-hearted story in The Sun about the silliest questions asked by tourists worldwide. And, it raises the question, are some people really that stupid?

We’ve picked a selection below of the ones that really tickled us along with the country/place that the question originated:

• UK – “I want to go somewhere in the north of Wales, but I don’t want to go to the coast. I’d like to go to the seaside. Can you recommend somewhere?”
• Rome – “What time do the gladiators start fighting in the Colosseum?”
• Val D’Aosta (mountain resort) – “Hello, where is the beach?”
• The Netherlands – “Where can I find this cow village?” (Pointing to a picture of a cow on a map)
• Ireland – “Where is the leprechaun forest?”
• Ireland – “Do you have St Patrick’s day here in Ireland as well?”
• Ireland – “Do you guys ever say ‘top of the mornin’ to you’?”
• Portugal – “Do you mind if I hide here until my wife goes away?”
• London – “Can you tell me why they built Windsor Castle on the Heathrow flight path?”

So in answer to my previous question – are some people really that stupid? – it would appear that the answer is yes!

Travelodge has researched 3,300 people and produced a list of the top ten British destinations of choice for people choosing to holiday at home:

1. Cornwall

2. Lake District

3. Yorkshire Dales

4.Scottish Highlands & Islands

5. Edinburgh

6. London

7. Isle of Wight

8. Devon

9. Norfolk Broads

10. South Wales

I have to say, we were a little disappointed to see Wales fall to the bottom of the list, we may be biased, but South Wales has some of the most beautiful beaches and countryside in the UK. That said, there was tough competition from the likes of Devon, Cornwall and the Lake District – all of which are stunning.

Wherever you choose to holiday this year, please remember to check with your agent or hotelier that your accommodation has been thoroughly checked for hygiene and safety. For most, this will be their one break of the year and by simply asking the question they can enjoy it with peace of mind.