Etap Birmingham Centre, Birmingham

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 to...

jdeacon_162 11.11.2006 (12.11.2006) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Etap Birmingham Centre, Birmingham

Leap Frog Activity Centre - Keeping Baby Occupied!

Advantages: Enables baby to be nosy, look around without being held if unable to sit up on own
Disadvantages: Price

...Features 1. Plastic Book like activity which enables baby to turn one page to either have a musical experience with the activity centre or a number experience. 2. Plastic DJ/Vinyl like record look where baby can pull on the arm of what is meant to look like the needle bit of a Vinyl record player, this will then play music and lights up the keys explained in point 3. There is a little compartment which teaches baby to open and close. There is also an item where baby can move the piece up and down. 3. Plastic big keys numbered 1-5. When pressed in number mode speaks the number pressed and sings a song, when pressed in music mode speaks a type of dance i.e Jazz and plays music. When other parts of the activity centre are pressed the keys also light randonmly. 4. A plastic like microphone look. This is very flexible and can be pulled in...

lilt2001uk 13.12.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of LeapFrog Learn & Groove Activity Station

Botanical Birmingham

Advantages: Plenty to see, a relaxing escape from the city.
Disadvantages: Expensive for a one-off visit. Disappointing restaurant.

...botanists could see exotic plant varieties brought back from around the world. The gardens opened in 1832 to members of the Birmingham Botanical and Horticultural Society. During the later part of the nineteenth century, glasshouses were added, but the basic layout of the gardens remains still very much as Loudon planned. Arrival at the Gardens The Botanical Gardens are located in Westbourne Road, Edgbaston. This is to the south-west of the city centre, approximately 1.5 miles away. The gardens are well signposted from the ring-road, with brown tourist attraction signs. If you are approaching the gardens by car along the main Westbourne Road, be aware that the entrance is immediately left after a set of traffic lights. It's very easy to miss the entrance when driving, which means you then have to go back round the block as this...

JoannaPiano 31.10.2008 (02.11.2008) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Birmingham National Sealife Centre

Advantages: Interesting, factual and a great one for the kids!
Disadvantages: None in particular

...Having been to the Sealife Centre a couple of times when I was younger and living at home, I found this to be an extremely interesting attraction. Now I have my own 7 month old daughter, I decided to take her to the centre at Birmingham when we were visiting family for a week. The price was very reasonable, £14.95 per adult and free for our little one as she is under 3. We wondered round for a good 2.5 hours, looking at a number of different fish, all in tanks with bright colours. It is very well designed to keep the attention of young children, even as young as 7 months. There is a feely pool for children who are able to get close to the creatures, including sea anemones and crabs. There is also a seahorse breeding facility at this particular centre, which provides and interesting look at these sea creatures. You can also see giant...

halawin123 07.02.2008 (06.02.2008) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of The National Sealife Centre

Birmingham International Airport - 2008

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

...life I suppose. Other than that, I'm very happy with Birmingham. If it's in an area that's good for you, why not have a look at the airport website - www.bhx.com - where you can find out more about the airlines that use the airport as well as information about trains from the nearby Birmingham International Station. Unfortunately I can't tell you anything about that as I've never been. One final point to make would be to point out that Birmingham airport is only a few minutes walk from the NEC (National Exhibition Centre) which is an important venue for concerts, sports events and trade show....

koshkha 11.02.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Birmingham (BHX)

The Centre MK

Advantages: Vast range of stores
Disadvantages: Some duplicate stores

...past and enjoy. There is always something going on there and they used to have collectormania which was this event for meeting stars of the sci fi programmes on television. However, this has moved venue now but was held in this area. Atmosphere The centre has got this atmosphere where you sense it is busy I like the idea how the building has such a tall frame and roof is high up so the volume travels further and you just feel inside yourself that place is really nice and friendly but also a pleasure to be walking round. You get frequent customer announcements about various activities and store offers so you're kept up to date with the latest information around the centre. Market The market is outside and you will not miss this one bit when you are walking through the centre. They have these huge windows which let you view...

tink-er-bell 25.11.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of MK Shopping Centre (Milton Keynes)

Cheap and cheerful

Advantages: Cheap, clean, easy to book
Disadvantages: Basic, few car parking spaces

...clean and for £35 for a night what more can you want? Any other items such as shampoo, shower caps and toothbrushes are available from reception for £1. Location: The hotel describes itself as ?Birmingham Centre? but it took us about 15 minutes to walk to the NIA. It?s not exactly a salubrious area and it looks like it is undergoing a major regeneration. The street opposite the hotel has a couple of restaurants, neither of which looked remotely inviting! We felt safe walking back at midnight and there are plenty of taxis around if you don?t. The service: The staff were all dressed in white shirts and seemed friendly and helpful. Breakfast: Breakfast is served downstairs for an extra £2.95 per guest and consists of juice, pastries and hot drinks. We were up to late and missed breakfast! Checking out: Check out was very simple...

Katieshaz 22.04.2007 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Etap Birmingham Centre, Birmingham

The University of Birmingham

Advantages: Great teaching, facilities, opportunites and social life
Disadvantages: i am only here for 3 years, wish it could be more.

...there is a subway inside, which has managed to clear out my wallet for most of this term. To counterbalance this you may want to search for a job you can find everything you need in the guild if it?s food from Spar or just a cash machine to dig into that student loan. If you want time to study your books then there is an astounding library in the centre of Campus with well over a million books and documents to satisfy your fancy. The sheer size of this Library will take your breath away. Alternatively, there are great sporting opportunities to be had if you lead a very active lifestyle like me. The hundreds of different sports teams cater for everyone. Each club has social events to help you bond with your teammates. The Monroe sports centre on Campus is the centre of Birmingham?s sporting community, providing a fully equipped Gym...

Greenyman 19.02.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Birmingham University

The Galleon Centre

Advantages: Good Value for Money, Swimming Pool
Disadvantages: Some of the staff's attitude

...upwards as well as ther being adult classes. The fact that the Galleon Centre has a swimming pool is another reason that I chose to join ahead of Fitness First although you do have to check out the times to avoid the swimming club and the fun swims. 4) Games Hall The games hall can be booked either by using one of the individual courts for badminton or by booking the full hall for a game of 5-a-side football, basketball or netball. 5) Other Activities Other activities in the Galleon Centre include bowling, squash, curling, ice skating, ice hockey and a sauna. There is also a creche in the Galleon Centre which is staffed by fully qualified Nursery Nurses and accommodates children aged from six weeks to five years old. This means that if you want to go to the gym but don't have a babysitter you can take your children and leave...

killiefan 01.02.2006 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Galleon Centre

dermalogica active moist lotion

Advantages: lovely smell, verry hyrdating and lightweight
Disadvantages: have to use with other dermalogica products not so good on its own

...dermalogica active moist is recommended for skin prone to oiliness and is a lightweight lotion which provides daily moisture protection to combat surface dehydration. It contains silk amino acids, and natural botanicals of lemon, cucumber and burdock with no artificial colour or fragrance. It comes in a slim white tube - i do hate pot moisturisers they seem so unhygienic so this was great in that respect and it really lasts for ages despite the steep prices dermalogica products do work out to be quite economical over a long period. Always get your skin mapped by a dermalogica professional before purchasing to avoid all that trial and error when you start using a new regime. I would say this moisturiser is lovely, light and easily absorbed when used with a full regime of dermalogica cleansers and toners and scrubs. When I first bought...

sarima 25.06.2009 (29.09.2009) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Dermalogica Active Moist