Question 1: Why does John Malkovich own a budget design hotel in Eastbourne?

A) Because he is neighbors with a guy who claims his family invented the chocolate bar
B) So he could get in bed with 300 Welsh Secretaries
C) Because furniture design is his hobby
D) To make some dough
E) All of the above

Please fill in your answer with a number 2 pencil on the Scantron form provided.  Be sure to fill in the circle completely, or your answer will be marked incorrect.

Question 2 (essay format): Why do we care?

And the Story goes:

Just recently, the budget yet chic Big Sleep Hotel in Eastbourne has been rated by Trip Advisor as one of the world’s top ten celebrity owned hotels.  For design and pet-friendliness evidently.

I love this part.  Malkovich  got started in the hotel business because he is friends with a Mr. Cosmo Fry, his neighbor in Provence,  France.  Mr. Fry is a chocolate heir – his family’s chocolate business was founded in 1728, and run for over century before being bought by Cadbury’s in 1936.  He also claims that his ancestor created the first chocolate bar.  Now, Mr. Fry is a hotelier and Malkovich a part owner in this enterprise.

Malkovich got involved, because he is an avid furniture designer (he designed the furniture in his home in France). The concept of the design hotel was right up his alley – so far in fact, that in 2000 Malkovich got in bed with 300 Welsh secretaries as a promotional stunt for the Cardiff branch of the hotel.

What does this mean for you? If you are in the UK and looking for what has been described as an IKEA-quirky budget hotel stay – it’s the place for you.  Depending on the location, rates are as little as 45 pounds a night.

Check it out:

The Big Sleep Hotel
www.thebigsleephotel.com

If you are like me, and have ever based your choice of hotel on the fact that it had a gym -this may sound familiar!  You imagine you will exercise diligently and upon returning from your vacation your friends will eye your physique enviously. What really happens is that after sizing up the one worn out treadmill, exercise bike and rack of free weights (adjust imagined equipment  according to the star rating of your hotel) you beat a retreat promising to return tomorrow- never to return.

So what’s a girl (or boy) to do if any excuse to avoid the gym on vacation is a good one but the desire for toned thighs is non-negotiable?  Sightseeing Runs  and Jogging Tours  are an easy way to get your daily dose of exercise, and instead of the same old ipod playlist, you get a fit runner guide to fill you in on the juicy history of the city and landmarks you pass.

If pounding the pavements is too much like hard work, how about a bit of gentle peddling?  No, not selling vacuums door to door- I am talking about bicycle tours. There are a variety of companies offering these and due to London’s extensive network of cycle paths and large parks it is highly unlikely you will turn around and discover a bus breathing down your neck.

 Then again if you’re simply too busy, too tired or too lazy to do any type of exercise on vacation and prefer instead to sample some delicious British comfort food , I quite understand!

Contributing Editor – Anna Hegedus

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The Scarlet is a new adults only hotel on England’s north Cornish coast.  It’s been generating a lot of buzz here in the US and there are loads of reasons why.  This area of Cornwall is known for its surf’s up attitude with dashes of style with places like the Scarlet.

What stood out for me was its art collection.  Eighty percent of the pieces are from local artists and almost all of them are made from recycled material.  The hotel looked more like an art gallery than a hotel.  There’s one piece of a life size man made enitrely of tree bark.  Another sculpture that caught my eye was made of chestnuts that sits on a table in the lobby.

Take note of the furniture.   It’s modern without being stuffy.  There’s a room with cozy bean bags scattered around.  This may sound weird but the bathroom urinals are cool.  Apple red circular bowls.  Never seen anything like it.  I’m sorry to say that I didn’t get a chance to whip out my camera while I was in the john.  Head outside and you’ll see hot tubs that are heated by open fire.  Eek!

I can’t end this post without addressing the lengths the Scarlet goes to to be eco-friendly.  It has sea thrift growing on the roof and a pool filled with harvested rain water.  Mother Nature is smiling as we speak.