Hotel Girl

Ask most Glaswegians what they associate Blythswood Square with, and they won't think 'luxury'.

Before it was cleaned up, this area of the city centre was famous for being the city's red light district.

Now it's home to a new luxury hotel, the Blythswood Square, the latest addition to the mostly Edinburgh-based Townhouse Collection.

In a building dating back to 1823, the hotel has lots of beautiful period features combined with strikingly modern decor.

The owner hasn't shied away from the area's past, but given a cheeky nod to it by putting a red light in the windows of all 100 rooms. 

The other striking feature of the design is tweed. You'll find tweed, Harris Tweed in particular, in the rooms, the staff's uniforms, and even on the chairs in the screening room. American tourists will love it.

Tweed aside, rooms are spacious, luxurious and full of cute reminders of the building's former use as the Royal Scottish Automobile Club.

And judging from the Trip Advisor reviews so far, it looks like the Blysthwood is proving stiff competition for Glasgow's best-known luxury hotel One Devonshire Gardens.

The Hotel Adlon Kempinksi in Berlin is probably best known for being the infamous spot where Michael Jackson dangled his baby out the window.

But after spending a couple of nights in this grand and glamourous hotel , I realised there's far more to it than a few cheap headlines.

The Adlon has an incredibly rich history.

It was built by Lorenz Adlon in 1907 and became a magnet for the celebrities of the day. 

It survived two world wars before being destroyed in a fire in the 1940s.

Adlon signed over the name to the Kempinski and the hotel eventually reopened in 1997. Although little of the original hotel remains, the place still oozes the glamour of its early years.

No other hotel has such a prestigious location, right in front of the Brandenburg Gate and a minute's walk from the Holocaust Memorial and the Reichstag.

Rooms are spacious, traditional in style but with all the high-tech touches. 

The furniture in mine was due for a little updating but the fantastic view over the Gate (pictured) made up for that.

The swimming pool and new Day Spa are also worth a look.

 But my favourite part of the hotel was the lobby - a perfect place to relax after a busy day soaking up the history and culture of the city.