2, ARRIVING IN EUROPE
Wednesday, 11th February 2009 VENICE Hotel Bauer
I managed to have a nice ‘long weekend’ without too much problem with jet-lag and getting acclimatised to the European temperature -coming from 38 degrees in Singapore, there was quite a difference! Lucky for me I had the opportunity to spend an amazing, fantastic, out of world experience celebrating my friend’s birthday in Venice over Valentines week-end in Venice, Italy. Being in Venice during ‘Carnival’ was quite an experience, though little tiring.
After bidding farewell I continued my journey to Frankfurt to meet my friends Chen + Stu who would guide me through the path I was to take.

Monday 16th February 2009. FRANKFURT Hotel Nassauer Hof, Wiesbaden
I stayed a few days in Hotel Nassauer Hof, Wiesbaden outside Frankfurt, and although this is ranked 5* and a member of the ‘Leading Hotels of The World’ it was FAR from it. Living in Asia sure has set the boundaries high and Europe Hotels sure have a lot to learn from Asia counter parts! The rooms here are small and VERY basic. The TV set was back from the 70’s and there was absolutely no-where for me to listen to music, no radio, no place to plug my I-pod etc. Excuse me, but if you’re paying Euros 700++ per night which I was, I have certain expectations. I expect more than one English speaking TV channel available on a flat screen TV’s that I can hopefully attached my lap-top. A docking station to charge and listen to my MP3 player. A DVD player and / or pay per view movies on the TV. The hotel had NONE of these! It had BBC world +CNN on TV in English and THAT WAS IT! Luckily for me my friends who are accompanying and helping me on this trip took a Euro 1600++ suite connecting to my room, so the hotel bent over backwards to be nice to them. Unfortunately during this time I was very very ill, weak and unable to move around -think I may have contracted Strep on top of everything! So was bed-bound and unable to move. My friends wanted to remain close as I floated in-between sleeps so we requested cables so we could plug my lap-top to e TV (I have movies etc loaded into my laptop) but as the TV is SO old we found it was not possible. We then requested a DVD player (seriously!!!! How can you NOT have a DVD in a thousand euro suite!!!!) It took them nearly two days to arrange one, then a further 12 hours to send some-one to a DVD rental company to get us a selection of English language films! May I also add, my friend was charged for all this!
One thing I cannot get used to is that the Germans seem to like to sleep with a single duvet, and even if you book a double bed (even on my own, I like my space) they ALWAYS just push two single beds together and STILL insist on two separate quilts. It took them nearly two days to source a double duvet in their hotel! I was so exasperated by it all I screamed at the Housekeeping ‘we’re paying more than Euros 2000+ a night GO BUY A DUVET FROM SOMEWHERE!!!’
Amazingly enough, not soon after we were all given a double duvet ;-)
I found this situation to be odd but have been told it’s a German thing. As I am here during winter I wish I’d have brought my own large feather down KING duvet, but then maybe it’s just me being a bedding snob ;-)
Besides, it’s an International Hotel, not a LOCAL German B&B. So I expected more than this.
My lesson learnt, DONT STAY HERE AGAIN.
My friends did say the ‘Michelin Star’ restaurant food was very good +I’ll take their word for it, I was too ill to eat solids. I craved Congee desperately but unfortunately this is not possible around this area. The Hotel did however try to follow our recipe and instructions but I was presented Risotto, which was too difficult for me to eat.
Ok, enough of my whinging and a few key tips for you –
1, you’re probably quite sick, so if you have a favourite blanket, cushion / pillows etc BRING IT!
2, Europe is EXPENSIVE. Expect to shell out again and again and again.....
I’m sure there are cheaper alternatives but I want to feel comfortable and know anything-everything is only a call away should I need it, hence my ‘guide’ so far. I DO NOT recommend this Hotel is you are looking to be ‘entertained’ i.e. TV channels etc. They do however have a pool and Spa but the spa seems permanently booked. Hotel is opposite a Casino – if that’s your thing
3, PRE BOOK ANY SPA TREATMENTS BEFORE ARRIVAL. I am learning this is key for most hotels.
(most hotel websites have the spa menus)
3, Should you decide to stay at the Hof, Tony from Concierge is the only saving grace in this Hotel, and the guy really does try.
4, there are very few Asian restaurants. If you are like me and after a week or so you are craving local delicacies i.e. congee (Asian Porridge) than I suggest you bring a little rice cooker. This may sound excessive but I wish some-one had told me. Finding ingredients is easy, but finding some-one to cook it is not ;-( also handy for immediately after Vaccine when you don’t feel like eating, I personally feel soft soupy food s easier to metabolise than solids. You can buy small travel size rice cookers in most department stores these days.
5. if possible bring one of those electronic translators, as we found very few people actually spoke English!

FYI, alternative hotel- friends have recommended the Hilton Hotel Frankfurt, it is new, modern, has pool, spa and all modern amenities. This is their words.
Personally, on my return next month, I think I will just skip being in Frankfurt and go direct to Duderstadt.
There is not much to do/see in Frankfurt but as I was on bed-rest this did not affect me.

We booked a driver to take us from Wiesbaden to Duderstadt, where we would be spending periods of time over the next six months.
As we were 3 people with lots of luggage we booked a mini bus from a recommended taxi service. The bus was comfortable as the seats tilted (ever so slightly) and even though we had a few issues with the GPS system (luckily my friend was in good spirits and helped as navigator for the driver with his map!) we arrived safely approx 3.5 house later in Duderstadt paying the driver Euros 500 as per agreed.