As part of our series of guest bloggers, Janice Waugh of Solo Traveler stops in Edinburgh to investigate Hotel Missoni.
Last November at The World Travel Market in London I had the chance to meet in the acclaimed travel blogger and social-media advocate, Janice Waugh. Up to then Janice and I had what could be called a casual electronic acquaintanceship on Twitter.
Yes, @bestlovedhotels and Janice, affectionately known as @solotraveller, had exchanged tweets from time to time admiring each other’s work.  Since 2009, Janice has carved out an interesting niche writing …

Guest blogger Laura Porter finds historical inspiration from her stay at Doxford Hall, Northumberland.
At a recent stay at Doxford Hall Hotel & Spa near Alnwick, Northumberland, my room was named ‘Grace Darling’ and I discovered a Victorian heroine from the area.
Grace was born in nearby Bamburgh in 1815, the seventh of nine children and the fourth daughter. Her father, William Darling, was a lighthouse keeper and the family lived at the lighthouse with him. In 1826, when Grace was ten years old, her family moved to the Longstone Lighthouse …

Amie O’Shaughnessy is the Founder and Managing Editor of Ciao Bambino, an award-winning global family travel resource featuring trusted hotel recommendations, extensive destination-related insight, and tips for traveling with kids all ages from babies to teens.
 I asked Jeffrey Epstein for his advice on a family-friendly weekend getaway from the Best Loved Hotels portfolio that would be appropriate and fun for a multi-generational group including our 8-year-old son. Given our limited time for this holiday — just 72 hours — we also needed something that was no more than a 2–hour …

Winner of the Isle of Skye’s first and only Michelin star for outstanding food and the Scotland Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year, Chef Marcello Tully is rightly proud of his achievements. Working previously with the Roux brothers, Marcello’s menu uses only the finest ingredients available. Specialities include Isle of Skye crab mousse, hake, and pigeon breast, all with a unique twist. Each dish is accompanied by a wine recommendation which can be purchased by the glass or bottle enabling dinners to enjoy a variety of fine wines with fine …

By Olive Roberts
Best Loved Hotel; Knockranny House Hotel in Westport, County Mayo has just launched a new training weekend programme designed specifically for beginners to triathlons. If you enjoy the outdoors and like a challenge, or have never tried a triathlon, this is a perfect way to get started! This is also one of the most wonderful locations in Ireland, overlooking Clew Bay and Croagh Patrick to begin your triathlon journey.
 
Knockranny House Hotel; awarded Best Four Star Hotel in Ireland by Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Awards 2010, has …

By Olive Roberts
Well I think most folk in Ireland will agree that Christmas 2010 will not be forgotten for a while to come. Temperatures got as low as -16 & -19 in some parts! A White Christmas indeed! This Arctic weather spell was in the lead up to Christmas and bookings were made and events planned. Some went ahead and others just had to be postponed or cancelled altogether. Spending Christmas at a Country House or Hotel is a big deal for people, many guests return to the same property …

Every Friday people from across the globe gather on Twitter to share their favorite images that match the Forum’s weekly category. #FriFotos is a day-long event, and people can participate and Tweet images throughout the day.

 
We will announce the weekly subject or category on Twitter usually on Monday or Tueday. Recent themes have been Autumn, Where I would rather be…, and Childhood Categories vary from personal travel experiences to everyday life to fun and off-the-wall subject matter. Just search for #FriFotos  to find the week’s topic.
When the forum begins, by …

Mary Ryan, an accomplished chef from Knockranny House Hotel, working under the mentorship of multi award-winning Head Chef Seamus Commons, has just been announced as the overall winner of the Euro-toques Young Chef of the Year Competition.
 
The prestigious Euro-toques Young Chef of the Year Competition seeks out excellent cooks who think about what is happening beyond the kitchen, such as where their ingredients come from and how they are sourced and produced.
As the overall winner, Mary receives a €1000 cash prize along with mentoring and training from Head Chefs in …

What an enchanting idea – take home a piece of The Merrion Hotel with you for yourself or for your loved ones. For over a decade, guests at The Merrion Hotel, Dublin, have been enjoying Chef Ed Cooney’s delicious food. Now, with the launch of The Merrion Pantry, they can take it home.
Remember, before the fridge was the Pantry and inside was any amount of necessities and treats waiting to be discovered. The Merrion Pantry offers chutneys, jams, sauces, oils and spread are all now in attractive bottles and jars …

At a meeting on 18 November in Dublin with leading Irish hoteliers, Jeffrey Epstein, Founder Publisher of Ireland’s leading hotel marketing group, Best Loved Hotels, pledged that Best Loved Hotels would only work with hotels that were not directly or indirectly being supported with taxpayer’s money.

“It is unfair that well run hotels are being undermined by hotels that are undercutting rates using tax-payers money to support failing businesses.  It will simply lead to more tax revenues being poured down the drain” he said.
Mr. Epstein also announced that during 2011 Best Loved …