Hotel Window Blog
It started off as a bit of fun.
I travel extensively and for a few years whenever I stayed somewhere I started to take pictures out of my hotel room window, mainly to show friends and family when I got home. One evening, in a roof top bar, as a bunch of us snapped the skyline, I realised I was snapping a view that existed in a thousand other places and that if you wanted a view of Shanghai or New York from up high you only had to go online or buy a postcard.
But what about a collection of views that nobody else has, that isn't Golden Gate Bridge appearing through the fog, or the surf crashing on Copacabana beach? How do you compete with the best travel photography when you're on the ground floor facing the car park in Nowhereville?
What once began as a straight-out snap each time has become a quest to find, I guess, the most interesting view. This now involves a lot of gear: DSLR, wide-angle and telephoto lenses, action camera, smartphone, unusual angles, the optimum light and whether or not to obey the rule of thirds. I changed the game over time, too - so not only hotels, but wherever I stay.
I missed some great opportunities early on - Copacabana Beach, Melbourne, Buenos Aires, Tokyo. Back then I never carried a camera or a device capable of decent image quality. Oh well. I'm not sure where this project will go or when it will stop - I might lose the ability to travel or fall out of a window onto the street below - but in the meantime I'll keep developing that collection of views that nobody else has... Enjoy!
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I travel extensively and for a few years whenever I stayed somewhere I started to take pictures out of my hotel room window, mainly to show friends and family when I got home. One evening, in a roof top bar, as a bunch of us snapped the skyline, I realised I was snapping a view that existed in a thousand other places and that if you wanted a view of Shanghai or New York from up high you only had to go online or buy a postcard.
But what about a collection of views that nobody else has, that isn't Golden Gate Bridge appearing through the fog, or the surf crashing on Copacabana beach? How do you compete with the best travel photography when you're on the ground floor facing the car park in Nowhereville?
What once began as a straight-out snap each time has become a quest to find, I guess, the most interesting view. This now involves a lot of gear: DSLR, wide-angle and telephoto lenses, action camera, smartphone, unusual angles, the optimum light and whether or not to obey the rule of thirds. I changed the game over time, too - so not only hotels, but wherever I stay.
I missed some great opportunities early on - Copacabana Beach, Melbourne, Buenos Aires, Tokyo. Back then I never carried a camera or a device capable of decent image quality. Oh well. I'm not sure where this project will go or when it will stop - I might lose the ability to travel or fall out of a window onto the street below - but in the meantime I'll keep developing that collection of views that nobody else has... Enjoy!
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Petersham Hotel. Richmond, Surrey UK. 4pm, August 2020 - 0 comments
Well, when you pass by and look at somewhere for years on bicycle or on foot or in a car and one day you decide to stop looking and just do... The planned surprise stay for my wife's birthday on March 29th was cancelled a few days before lockdown, so we waited for this gorgeous Victorian dream to re-open. Wednesday this week saw the height of the heatwave but within minutes of arrival we witnessed a downpour and hailstones of biblical proportions... 1st floor
Well, when you pass by and look at somewhere for years on bicycle or on foot or in a car and one day you decide to stop looking and just do... The planned surprise stay for my wife's birthday on March 29th was cancelled a few days before lockdown, so we waited for this gorgeous Victorian dream to re-open. Wednesday this week saw the height of the heatwave but within minutes of arrival we witnessed a downpour and hailstones of biblical proportions... 1st floor
Premier Inn. Sandown, Isle of Wight. 10am, July 2020 - 0 comments
First trip since lockdown and the view from the first floor this weekend was much anticipated. Initially I felt cheated at not having a view that showed the gorgeous landscapes of our beloved IOW, but the lush green was indeed there to see and we were amused to have - outside - a second toilet and, in the distance there, a bath. Conversely, I guess the earth mover in our room would have been more complicated to fit. Merrie Gardens was perfectly located for our visit to fabulous Shanklin and Ventnor. 1st floor
First trip since lockdown and the view from the first floor this weekend was much anticipated. Initially I felt cheated at not having a view that showed the gorgeous landscapes of our beloved IOW, but the lush green was indeed there to see and we were amused to have - outside - a second toilet and, in the distance there, a bath. Conversely, I guess the earth mover in our room would have been more complicated to fit. Merrie Gardens was perfectly located for our visit to fabulous Shanklin and Ventnor. 1st floor
Hotel Innsbruck. Innsbruck, Austria. 6.30pm, Feb 2020 - 0 comments
This fantastic hotel and Innsbruck gave four of us such a great weekend this time last year, so much so that we came back again as a group of eight. During our stay we had sun, rain, cloud and mist, each of them revealing or hiding the beautiful mountains in a different way. This is a city I could happily live in. I couldn't quite get myself out of our fifth-floor eaves window for a wider view without serious risk of getting stuck or hurting myself, so I got this with a selfie stick.
This fantastic hotel and Innsbruck gave four of us such a great weekend this time last year, so much so that we came back again as a group of eight. During our stay we had sun, rain, cloud and mist, each of them revealing or hiding the beautiful mountains in a different way. This is a city I could happily live in. I couldn't quite get myself out of our fifth-floor eaves window for a wider view without serious risk of getting stuck or hurting myself, so I got this with a selfie stick.
Clarion Sign. Stockholm, Sweden. 7.30pm, Jan 2020 - 0 comments
Arrive in the dark, leave in the dark. Arrive in the dark, leave in the dark. That was the story of my two days this week at the #clarionsign. My fifth stay - twice in two weeks - yielded a new view from the fourth floor but I never got to see what light and colour the Swedish winter sun might have bounced into the courtyard. And nor was there time again for the spa.
Arrive in the dark, leave in the dark. Arrive in the dark, leave in the dark. That was the story of my two days this week at the #clarionsign. My fifth stay - twice in two weeks - yielded a new view from the fourth floor but I never got to see what light and colour the Swedish winter sun might have bounced into the courtyard. And nor was there time again for the spa.
Clarion Sign. Stockholm, Sweden. 8am, Jan 2020 - 0 comments
Back again this week to one of my favourite hotels and this time my first stay on the top floor, the 10th. The only downside is never being able to stay for longer or more frequently and in this case not having enough time to use the rooftop spa. Hey ho. The night-time skyline is always fantastic, as it was when I arrived, and you can see forever, but all that glass everywhere promised the best view soon after sunrise. I got this before I had to head to the office.
Back again this week to one of my favourite hotels and this time my first stay on the top floor, the 10th. The only downside is never being able to stay for longer or more frequently and in this case not having enough time to use the rooftop spa. Hey ho. The night-time skyline is always fantastic, as it was when I arrived, and you can see forever, but all that glass everywhere promised the best view soon after sunrise. I got this before I had to head to the office.
Park Plaza. Eindhoven, Netherlands. 7am, Dec 2019 - 0 comments
I was happy to be back at the lovely Park Plaza for the second time in a couple of weeks and the staff must have mistaken me for someone important as they upgraded me to a superior king room, this time on the 3rd floor. As usual, there's not enough time to enjoy it fully. It was dark for all but 30 minutes of my time in the room and I felt that this view would adequately tell the story of the one night in Eindhoven - rain, flat light, cold, and dark until nearly 8am.
I was happy to be back at the lovely Park Plaza for the second time in a couple of weeks and the staff must have mistaken me for someone important as they upgraded me to a superior king room, this time on the 3rd floor. As usual, there's not enough time to enjoy it fully. It was dark for all but 30 minutes of my time in the room and I felt that this view would adequately tell the story of the one night in Eindhoven - rain, flat light, cold, and dark until nearly 8am.
Indigo. Newark Downtown, NJ USA. 630am, Nov 2019 - 0 comments
From my 3rd floor room in this fabulous old bank vault I had five windows in two directions. If only I could have got out onto that balcony. When I arrived late evening the streets were busy but it was dark and raining. But this is what I saw when I opened the blinds at 6.30 this morning...
From my 3rd floor room in this fabulous old bank vault I had five windows in two directions. If only I could have got out onto that balcony. When I arrived late evening the streets were busy but it was dark and raining. But this is what I saw when I opened the blinds at 6.30 this morning...
Tuckers Inn. Invergordon, Scotland. 7pm, September 2019 - 0 comments
Day 12 of the 1,000 miles from Lands End to John O'Groats ended similarly to how day 13 began, with great scenery and epic cycling: sunset across the Cromarty Firth was as spectacular as the sunrise next morning. But my view of the Firth from the 1st floor of Tuckers Inn, which serves enormous portions of great, great food, was partially obscured so I eventually preferred this shot of Paul, our support guy, who at 7pm was on the phone for ages to a bike shop in Inverness organising the repair of one of the bikes after one of the group took a fall
Day 12 of the 1,000 miles from Lands End to John O'Groats ended similarly to how day 13 began, with great scenery and epic cycling: sunset across the Cromarty Firth was as spectacular as the sunrise next morning. But my view of the Firth from the 1st floor of Tuckers Inn, which serves enormous portions of great, great food, was partially obscured so I eventually preferred this shot of Paul, our support guy, who at 7pm was on the phone for ages to a bike shop in Inverness organising the repair of one of the bikes after one of the group took a fall
Holiday Inn Express. Sports Village, Leigh, UK. 7.30am, September 2019 - 0 comments
Friday evening arrival into Leigh, Lancashire on day 6 of the 14 days cycling from the UK's Lands End to John O'Groats - "LEJOG" - yielded a view of the crowds filing into the sports stadium to watch the Manchester United and Fulham under-23 soccer sides play each other in a free-to-watch match. But we had little time and even less energy to go and watch. Saturday morning saw this spectacular sunrise at 0730 from the 1st floor, which we cycled off into an hour later en route to Kendal and the Lake District.
Friday evening arrival into Leigh, Lancashire on day 6 of the 14 days cycling from the UK's Lands End to John O'Groats - "LEJOG" - yielded a view of the crowds filing into the sports stadium to watch the Manchester United and Fulham under-23 soccer sides play each other in a free-to-watch match. But we had little time and even less energy to go and watch. Saturday morning saw this spectacular sunrise at 0730 from the 1st floor, which we cycled off into an hour later en route to Kendal and the Lake District.
The Longboat Inn. Penzance, UK. 7am, September 2019 - 0 comments
The Longboat was the first of 14 different places scheduled for 14 consecutive nights as Barry Scowen and I, along with 13 others and the great team from PedalBritain, set out to cycle LEJOG, the 1,000 miles and 55,00 feet of climbing between the most southerly point of Great Britain - Land's End - and John O'Groats, the farthest point north in Scotland. Directly outside this first floor window was where the taxis were waiting to take us to meet our bikes at Lands End ready to set off.
The Longboat was the first of 14 different places scheduled for 14 consecutive nights as Barry Scowen and I, along with 13 others and the great team from PedalBritain, set out to cycle LEJOG, the 1,000 miles and 55,00 feet of climbing between the most southerly point of Great Britain - Land's End - and John O'Groats, the farthest point north in Scotland. Directly outside this first floor window was where the taxis were waiting to take us to meet our bikes at Lands End ready to set off.
The Winery Hotel. Nr. Stockholm, Sweden. 8am, August 2019 - 0 comments
If I lived in one of these apartments, I would visit this hotel every day. Roof top pool and bar, stylish lounge, great food, visually stunning... and free parking
If I lived in one of these apartments, I would visit this hotel every day. Roof top pool and bar, stylish lounge, great food, visually stunning... and free parking
Bagshaw Hall. Bakewell, Peak District UK. 5pm, June 2019 - 0 comments
I've only visited the Peak District twice before - once on a school trip and then a climbing weekend, some years ago. I don't remember much from either. But a few days here this week meant we could see much of the spectacular scenery. That is, when it finally stopped raining. From our split-level suite there were four windows in different directions and the first floor saw the most action
I've only visited the Peak District twice before - once on a school trip and then a climbing weekend, some years ago. I don't remember much from either. But a few days here this week meant we could see much of the spectacular scenery. That is, when it finally stopped raining. From our split-level suite there were four windows in different directions and the first floor saw the most action
Ramada. Jersey City, NJ USA. 9am, June 2019 - 0 comments
Last week it was fire escapes and open-out windows, but this week only fire escapes - this was through the glass from my 4th floor room at 9am. Jersey City is full of contrasts and I was pretty happy to capture timber frame, steel, old, new and low- and high rise in the one shot...
Last week it was fire escapes and open-out windows, but this week only fire escapes - this was through the glass from my 4th floor room at 9am. Jersey City is full of contrasts and I was pretty happy to capture timber frame, steel, old, new and low- and high rise in the one shot...
Hotel Europa. Munich, Germany. 8am, June 2019 - 0 comments
My fully open-out windows left me wondering if I could have used that staircase to get down to breakfast, or, if there had been enough time, to get to the beer garden. But on Thurs and Fri this week I took the traditional method down - because looking into hotel room windows is not really my thing ;-
My fully open-out windows left me wondering if I could have used that staircase to get down to breakfast, or, if there had been enough time, to get to the beer garden. But on Thurs and Fri this week I took the traditional method down - because looking into hotel room windows is not really my thing ;-
Clarion Sign. Stockholm, Sweden. 8am, April 2019 - 0 comments
From previous visits to this ultra-cool hotel - if you visit here, you have to check out the rooftop spa - I've shared front-facing views of snow-covered Norra Bantorget. But the square is being built on now, so having an inward-facing view this week on the 3rd floor gave me something different to work with. By 8am when I needed to head out the sun had lifted just enough to bounce some additional light and colours into the frame.
From previous visits to this ultra-cool hotel - if you visit here, you have to check out the rooftop spa - I've shared front-facing views of snow-covered Norra Bantorget. But the square is being built on now, so having an inward-facing view this week on the 3rd floor gave me something different to work with. By 8am when I needed to head out the sun had lifted just enough to bounce some additional light and colours into the frame.
Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic. Montreux, Switzerland. 7am, April 2019 - 0 comments
I'm a little jealous of those I know that have stayed here and enjoyed views of Lac Leman and Mont Blanc. And I've seen their pictures. But the view is the view and from the 4th floor of this gorgeous Belle Epoque Hotel at 7am this week I was able to watch the locals at breakfast and others heading down the steps towards the lake for the short walk to the Montreux Music and Convention Centre.
I'm a little jealous of those I know that have stayed here and enjoyed views of Lac Leman and Mont Blanc. And I've seen their pictures. But the view is the view and from the 4th floor of this gorgeous Belle Epoque Hotel at 7am this week I was able to watch the locals at breakfast and others heading down the steps towards the lake for the short walk to the Montreux Music and Convention Centre.
Sir Christopher Wren Hotel and Spa. Windsor, UK. 11pm, March 2019 - 0 comments
I was spoilt for views this week across Thames Street and the river, both of which were busy morning, afternoon and evening and between them yielding many photographic opportunities from the 4th floor. But in the end I was quite taken with the quietness and serenity of Eton Bridge when most of the crowds had dispersed.
I was spoilt for views this week across Thames Street and the river, both of which were busy morning, afternoon and evening and between them yielding many photographic opportunities from the 4th floor. But in the end I was quite taken with the quietness and serenity of Eton Bridge when most of the crowds had dispersed.
Marriott Miami Airport, Florida USA. 2.30pm, March 2019 - 0 comments
My room on the eighth floor gave a lot to see. But I was drawn to the view of downtown Miami using a longer focal length in good light: blue skies, glass skyscrapers, tenement-style buildings and endless landscape all seem to sum up the greater Miami area for me, as it probably does for locals. Downtown, South Beach, Biscayne and Coral Gables were only five miles away. Good to be back here with a new view.
My room on the eighth floor gave a lot to see. But I was drawn to the view of downtown Miami using a longer focal length in good light: blue skies, glass skyscrapers, tenement-style buildings and endless landscape all seem to sum up the greater Miami area for me, as it probably does for locals. Downtown, South Beach, Biscayne and Coral Gables were only five miles away. Good to be back here with a new view.
Hotel Sunway, Sitges, Spain. 3pm, Feb 2019 - 0 comments
From the 3rd floor there were picture-postcard sea views and sunsets with mountains and golf courses to enjoy. But directly below my balcony the symmetry of the pool patio area had previously caught my eye and the shadows were at their longest and deepest in mid-afternoon. My colleagues and I were closing down the workshop we had been holding and it was a great time to run upstairs and grab a shot of them as we dispersed in the general direction of the bar.
From the 3rd floor there were picture-postcard sea views and sunsets with mountains and golf courses to enjoy. But directly below my balcony the symmetry of the pool patio area had previously caught my eye and the shadows were at their longest and deepest in mid-afternoon. My colleagues and I were closing down the workshop we had been holding and it was a great time to run upstairs and grab a shot of them as we dispersed in the general direction of the bar.
Innside by Melia. Frankfurt, Germany. 8pm, Feb 2019 - 0 comments
It was dark when I arrived here for one night and there was no spare time in the morning but my third floor room was all glass onto Herriotstrasse and my Pentax DSLR captured this 30 second exposure before I grabbed dinner downstairs. Best tuna steak I've had in a long time..
It was dark when I arrived here for one night and there was no spare time in the morning but my third floor room was all glass onto Herriotstrasse and my Pentax DSLR captured this 30 second exposure before I grabbed dinner downstairs. Best tuna steak I've had in a long time..