Oslo from Holmenkollen

This year, the European music contest will be celebrated on 29^th May in Norway. Before, the representative of the UK will be chosen in Your country needs you, a BBC programme. About this programme we only know that last year’s representative, Jade Austen, will be there and so will the rest of the components of Sugababes, who will present their new album.

Oslo is the city where the European Song Contest will take place this year. It is Norway’s capital and also the biggest city and the cultural, scientific, economic and governmental centre of the country. The city’s unique position between a fjord and the hills makes it an unforgettable experience. During summer one can enjoy a summer concert at Holmenkollen, or order a drink at Aker Brygge. Or take a bike ride through Nordmarka. The city also has several interesting museums – the Viking Ship Museum, the Kon-Tiki Museum, the Fram Museum, the Ski Museum, the Munch Museum etc.

If you want to organise a different trip, try organising a cruise around the fjords and don’t forget to visit the capital at the end of May so you can be there for this fantastic contest which at least will be fun to watch. Don’t forget to make your hotel reservation in Hotelopia. Oslo,why not?

Amy Williams, Skeleton

Vancouver has been, during the month of February, the place to be if you are a winter sports fan. It has held (and will be holding until next Sunday 28^th February) the XXI Olympic Winter Games, an international multi-sport event.

It started on 12^th February with the traditional lighting of the Olympic torch, after the flame had travel by air, earth and water in a 106-days journey across Canada. Of course it was light in Olympia, Greece, as it is meant to be.

At the moment, the countries with more medals are the United States with 25, Germany with 22 and Norway with 17. Great Britain has achieved one gold medal, won by Amy Williams in Skeleton.

Of course, Hotelopia can find the best hotels in Vancouver if you have just decided you would like to see the last days of this magnificent sports event or the closing ceremony, a unique experience.

Betty Jackson (catwalking.com)

London Fashion Week was started last Friday with a bang last night, thanks to Naomi Campbell and her seasonal Fashion for Relief charity catwalk. The top model managed to get the help of some of her most famous friends by getting them to take part in the show, which was organised to raise money for victims of the Haiti earthquake.

It will be on until next Wednesday 24th and until then, the catwalk will be full of top models showing the thoughts of the most important designers about what next winter’s tendencies are going to be like. Colours, fabrics, cut… they are the Gods in fashion and tell us what we will be wearing in a year from now.

If you have tickets to go to this event you shouldn’t miss it, check out the best prices for hotels in London in Hotelopia UK!

What about a nice weekend in the south of England? It is not always necessary to go out of the country to discover somewhere beautiful, different, special and charming. Those words describe perfectly the essence of Dartmouth, a small town in the south of England that is famous for its castle and its colourful houses.

Dartmouth is a smart choice; a nice, tranquil and peaceful place to get out of the city’s traffic jams and stress. There are plenty of things to do: have a walk to the castle, or get the little boat that takes you there; or take the ferry to Kingswear, where you can see and get on a steam train. If the weather gets worst the Cherub Pub is the place to be. It is also worth knowing that it is Dartmouth’s oldest building.

Soon winter will be over (or at least it is something we are all looking for) so book your hotel in this wonderful little town and get out of your day to day routine!

From the 15th to the 18th of February, the beautiful city of Barcelona, in Spain, becomes the place for mobile leaders to collaborate and gather as well as exhibiting their advances in mobile phones.

In 2009, Mobile World Congress hosted approximately 47,000 mobile professionals from 182 countries. In addition, more than 2,400 members of the press reported from the event, representing more than 1,500 media groups from 76 countries. This year, even with the crisis, the numbers will be quite similar. Although some handset makers (such as one of the leaders in the market, NOKIA) have skipped this year’s congress, there is still plenty of mobile industry news about cell phones, carriers, services, and software applications.

Some of the highlights of the event this years are the cheapest mobile phone in the world, a mobile phone that turns into a projector, phones for aged people… and the Windows Phone 7, the phone that Microsoft will launch at the end of the year. If you want to know more about this congress visit www.mobileworldcongress.com.

For those of you who are in love but don’t have the time or money to spend a weekend in Paris, City of Love, why not treat yourself and your partner with a few of these sweet ideas?

We all know that chocolate and love always go together. Chocolate is one of the best ways of saying “I love you”, especially if it’s given with a smile. But you might need a hint about where to get a special box of chocolates. So we just thought we’d help you with some suggestions for the city of London. The store Rococo Chocolates in Motcomb Street is a great example of passion for chocolates. Charbonnel et Walker are the royal chocolate producers, so their chocolate must be quite good. And last but not least, Hotel Chocolate, a British company whose tasting club is delicious.

Our second suggestion is related to perfumes and colognes. Who doesn’t like remembering his or her love through a smell? Especially if that smell is the one we chose! Perfumes are a great gift and the variety is so wide that there is a fragrance for everyone. Where to get them? Here are some hints: The family-run business Les Senteurs is a good choice and a safe bet. And so is Floris, a traditional shop in which you can find the most traditional fragrances.

Hurry and get your lover a gift before the stores run out of stock!

If you like travelling and your girlfriend/boyfriend likes it too, in stead of a bunch of flowers and a nice card, Valentine’s day is the perfect excuse to flight somewhere and spend a romantic weekend with your partner. And what could be more romantic than Paris?

Paris has always been known as “the city of love”. Nobody knows exactly what it is but we all agree on the fact that Paris has “that something”. The small streets, a walk by the Seine, the Tuileries Gardens… everything will seem perfect for the lover’s eyes. From having a dinner for two in a cruise through the Seine, with some romantic music and the views of the wonderful Eiffel Tower or the Louvre, to hiring a bike and going around the city on two wheels, plans for each and every pocket and all different tastes.

However, if this is not the plan for you, it is maybe a bit too sentimental or you don’t have a couple to share this with, wait for the next few posts on Blogtelopia. We will give you other ideas on how to celebrate the day of love, even if you are single!

Monday is a day everyone hates; there is no doubt about it. However, Hotelopia wants to make this day of the week as happy as any other.

How can we turn this day into a good day? Easy: every Monday, from now until we reach 5,000 fans, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. all fans of Hotelopia in facebook will have a 10% discount in hotels and apartments booked through our page, you have read it right, A 10% DISCOUNT!!

And don’t forget, if we reach the 5,000 fans it won’t only be Mondays but every day of the week!

Who said Mondays were hateful? Enjoy Mondays with Hotelopia!

HAPPY 10%, HAPPY MONDAY!

China has so many outstanding places to visit and such a good gastronomy that it is difficult to choose where to go and what to eat. Shanghai is a vibrant economic centre, with great shopping and a mix of things to do that are relatively unique in China. Xian is the old capital of the Empire. And last but not least, Beijing is a must. The current capital offers a great number of attractions of which you cannot miss The Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace.

However, the news today bring us to a different aspect of China, known as “The Great Firewall”. The Government of China has a very strict legislation. Google and other big Internet companies have had to adapt to this legislation in which some politically sensitive terms could not be displayed when looked for.

Nevertheless, Google rebelled against this legislation about two weeks ago, arguing that they had been attacked by hackers of the Chinese Government and declaring that they will close their web page google.cn unless this censorship ends. Nowadays the debate is still on, Will Google leave such a strong market or will the Government give up to the Multinational?