Whilst in London, back in February, I had the privilege of staying at some really great hotels, the first of which was Malmaison. Malmaison is a small chain of boutique hotels within the UK that don't remotely have a chain feel.

It was one of the most enjoyable stays I've ever had in a hotel. Of the course the company, my Mum and my sister, made it extra special, but the staff were friendly (to the point of laughter) and the hotel was simply gorgeous.

Location wise the hotel is extremely central – minutes from the central line and easily accessible from most areas in London. The hotel is located in Clerkenwell, a beautiful and historic part of London, very close to the City and home to the Smithfield market, which is right across the street from Malmaison.

During our stay we were treated to a complimentary dinner in the hotel restaurant. The food was delicious, from the cheese plate we shared to my risotto to my Mum's dish which she had absolutely no complaints about (which, I'm sure she won't mind me saying, nearly never happens!)

We also had a complimentary breakfast, the hotel puts on a veritable spread of cereals, fruit, granola, yoghurt, juice, pastries – if it's breakfast – they have it. They also have a hot breakfast menu which was equally delicious.

The room was a good size, featuring all mod cons, with an incredibly comfortable bed – we had no intention of squeezing three people in it – but we didn't have the heart to send my sister across London alone to her empty flat – so she squeezed in too, making the best photo op ever. The bathroom was clean, but a little run down, (a few missing tiles and flaking grouting) but nothing that deterred from the enjoyment of the stay.

Something that I've noticed hotels in the UK do sooo much better than hotels in the US: Free WiFi. It's essential for someone traveling on business – especially someone like me who cannot be separated from the interwebs for more than an hour…and so very welcome.

It's really hard to say what made the stay so special – but it was special, everything went smoothly, everything was comfortable, everything was yummy, and everything was friendly. Thanks Malmaison!

My stay and meals at Malmaison were complimentary for purposes of review.

Kelsi x