Europe gives an opportunity to spend an unforgettable vacation at any time of the year. The New Year holidays have already passed, but winter discounts have just started to gain momentum, and in the largest shopping centers you cannot get through from people who want to get branded items at a significant discount.
You can write capacious volumes about shops, shopping centers and outlets, but how to choose a hotel that will meet all the requirements of a modern tourist and not be hit by a pocket – you need a tourist experience. Alternatively, you can use the advice of the TaxFree4U service, and you can go through the bills again to save money.
And do not forget: with this service you can return up to 19% VAT on shopping in Europe, as easily as ordering breakfast in the hotel restaurant. You just have to enjoy shopping and live in a wonderful hotel. How to find it? Now check out!
Avoid historical centers. Of course, it’s good to live next to the Eiffel Tower or the Tower of London, but the prices for hotels that are near attractions are usually 2-3 times higher than for four-star rooms a few kilometers from them. In addition, close to frequently visited places, as a rule, regularly conducted repair work, and in the hotels themselves there are often interruptions with electricity and water. Also, large shopping centers are not built in the Old City (usually), so next to the hotels in the historical center, you can hardly do full shopping.
Near the hotel there should be a metro station. This is an obligatory condition, as there are often traffic jams on the roads and in the large cities the subway is the only salvation during traffic jams. Especially if there is a possibility of delivery of purchases by courier service.
Explore the location of the hotel and its interiors in advance to avoid the situation in which the room windows face the wall of the neighboring building. Read hotel reviews on independent sources. Pay attention to the safety of things (whether there is a safe in the room), the quality of the kitchen, the level of service in the rooms and other seemingly trifles. If possible, have a spare option immediately. Best of all, if a spare hotel is in the immediate vicinity of yours, then the emergency relocation will not “eat” much time.
Close to major shopping centers in capitals such as London or Helsinki, there are always a large number of hotels of different levels, but it is better to book places in them 2-3 months before the trips, since it is almost impossible to get a number there during the discount periods.
If you want to choose a quiet hotel, strangely enough, in advance, find out how popular it is for guests who love parties and a noisy holiday (most often during the holidays and summer season). The hotel administration must provide you with true information on your request.
Of course, one can never be 100% sure that your choice will turn out to be right and that you will not have to wait for some unpleasant surprise. But if you think about everything in advance, you can avoid this by following the five rules from TaxFree4U. To simplify the task, we have assembled several hotels from European capitals, which are sure to please you and leave pleasant memories.
The Fox & Goose Hotel (London, UK)
This traditional hotel (address: Hanger Ln, Ealing, London W5 1DP, United Kingdom), which for more than 150 years can boast a cozy atmosphere of Old England and delicious cuisine. Nearby – Oxford Street and Regent Street, and the Harrods department store – in walking distance.
Best Western Premier Katajanokka Hotel (Helsinki, Finland)
A 10-minute walk from the old town (address: Merikasarminkatu 1, 00160 Helsinki, Finland) is a hotel that has virtually no negative reviews. What is noteworthy, the hotel is located in the building of the former prison (15 years ago it was occupied by prisoners), but now it is a hotel with four stars.
Innside Hotel Dusseldorf Derendorf (Dusseldorf, Germany)
Innside Hotel Dusseldorf (address: Derendorfer Allee 8, 40476 Düsseldorf, Germany) – modern hotel, designed in high-tech style, can please not only the proximity to the historic center and major shopping centers, but also good food. The hotel has 165 rooms, each with a wonderful view of Düsseldorf.
Radisson Blu Hotel Milan (Milano, Italy)
The hotel chain “Radisson” is known to everyone, even a far from the shopping tourist. This is a high service, excellent rooms and high prices. However, in Milan, against the background of other hotels of the same category, Radisson Blu Hotel Milan (address: Via Villapizzone, 24, 20156 Milano MI, Italy), looks very democratic, not yielding to others as a service. At 15 minutes from it there is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the street Montenapoleone, so shopping can be done even during the morning jog. A huge hall and a swimming pool will help you relax after a hard day during hikes in boutiques.
Hotel Champlain Paris (Paris, France)
This hotel is located at 11Bis Rue Jules Chaplain, 75006 Paris, France. Next to it – cabaret Moulin Rouge, Sacré Coeur and many other attractions, and to the Galeries Lafayette – 20 minutes on foot. The hotel looks like a luxurious mansion of the Sun-King era, but it has rooms both luxurious and quite democratic. It was chosen by shopaholics, and not by ordinary tourists, so in the lobby you can learn all the news from the world of high fashion, discounts and just gossip of bohemia, get acquainted with interesting people.
H10 Villa de la Reina (Madrid, Spain)
In Madrid, a huge number of hotels that can satisfy any, even the most refined taste, but shopping lovers recommend choosing a hotel H10 Villa De La Reina (address: Gran Vía, 22, 28013 Madrid, Spain). It has 76 luxurious rooms, and getting to any Madrid boutique or shopping center from this hotel is simple and easy. Also near is the main square of the city, so that the cultural program will not pass you by.
During the rest and shopping – don’t forget to return the VAT!
The mobile application TaxFree4U will allow you not to think about how to save on purchases. With it, you can return up to 19% VAT on shopping in the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Finland. You only need to install the application, fill out the profile, upload photos of checks to it. After this, put a note from the customs officer and send the original documents to the office of the company TaxFree4U through the partners of the service. No queues and waste of time. Enjoy shopping – TaxFree4U will do all the work for you!