3 Must Do Weekends Away In 2020

Where: St Petersburg

Why: Offering a fascinating glimpse into what’s been dubbed as the cultural capital of Russia, St Petersburg is filled with historical values. Not only does it have beautiful palaces, cathedrals and luxurious hotels, but it also comes with a more affordable price tag in comparison to traveling in the west. What more could we want?

When: If you’re aiming for wonderful temperatures of 20-25 °C your best times to visit are April, May, June and September, making it a perfect time for outdoor activities and exploring. Something utterly surreal in St Petersburg is that in June you’ll experience ‘White Nights’ (these tend to differ slightly each year, be sure to check before!). This period in summer is when the city remains light for a 24hr period. During this time bars, restaurants and museums all stay open late and festivals happen around the city, creating an amazing atmosphere throughout.

Great for: Something different! A corporate event/retreat, or a site seeing weekend.

Where: Paris

Why: This destination has been pulling in visitors for centuries. With its range of historical monuments to exceptional cuisine it really is a destination like no other. It’s amazing for those that love history, art and a great sense of luxury.

When: Paris is a great option all year round with its usually mild temperatures and some hotter periods in July and August, however even exploring Paris in the Snow can add a whole new dimension.

Be sure to visit the Louvre Museum, inside the former palace you’ll see some of the most iconic pieces of art in history. Although, Paris’ art scene is not just kept in the museums. Whilst exploring the streets you’ll be sure to come across some of its vibrant street art.

Paris really is the city of food so you have a great choice of wine bars, pastry shops and a world-class range of Michelin star restaurants. Private dining experiences here are a great way to celebrate a special occasion.

Great for: Celebrating a special occasion or event

Where: Barcelona

Why: This vibrant city embraces a reputation for being one of the most attractive cities in Europe and I can really see why! Holding a cosmopolitan international vibe it draws people in from all places and paths.

When: Barcelona remains rather warm throughout the year, however between June to September you’ll be sure to enjoy some warmer times with temperatures reaching 30°C and an average of 10 hours sunlight a day! With a variety of pools and beaches I really love exploring, then relaxing and soaking up the sun.

Visiting Eixample will spoil you with some of Barcelona’s best shopping, vibrant bars and restaurants as well being the home to Gaudis Casa Batlló, Casa Milà and Sagrada Familia. A very popular way to explore is often by hiring a bicycle, it’s a great way to discover the sites at your own pace. I felt a weekend away here really have me the buzz Barcelona was known for.

Great for: An exciting event or corporate retreat, a good all rounder!

Each destination really does have something unique to offer, from a luxurious private dining experience in Paris, to a trendy activity based corporate event in Barcelona there’s a match for all! If you would like any more information about planning a getaway or incentive trips like this please click here …

Lets Get Planning in Lisbon

We are back & still in Lisbon! Our last blog was all about the fabulously located hotel we stayed in while in Lisbon.
It was perfect for exploring and reaching the multiple clients & meetings we had to meet with in the city.

During our days of exploring & looking for venues we found Lisbon to be a truly accommodating city for the world of events. So this blog is about our top 4 favourite locations we will now be working with in the lovely city of Lisboa!

The Fairytale

This venue took our breath away with all its character and history it had to offer. The 34 event spaces range vastly in size ranging from a capacity of 10 - 600. This venue has been used for Weddings, Birthdays, Awards’s and filming and we understand why. Any guests visiting would fall in love.
As a hotel it has stunning rooms and an award winning spa.
The grounds itself are as stunning as the interior.

The MICE

With 12 event spaces there is not a corporate or brand event this hotel could not accommodate. Now although we call this one the MICE this hotel has 3 beautiful spaces that would also work well for social events and weddings. The location of this hotel is on one of Lisbon’s most popular roads where you will find luxury clothing brands and restaurants. The hotel has such a fantastic layout your company/brand could host a Press Conference, Reception Drinks and a Meeting all at the same time with a smooth flow. This hotel also has a popular restaurant and an amazing spa and generously sized bedrooms. What more could you want?

The Elengant Modernist

This is the complete opposite from the Fairytale venue. With only 3 event spaces including the foyer this space is super modern and elegant. We loved the ease of this venue should you want to host a dinner on the lower ground and a party on the first floor. As it is solely an event space you would have the upmost privacy. Exclusivity at its finest! The river and bridge poses as the perfect backdrop and firework displays look phenomenal here.

The Blank Canvas

As you can see from the images this venue offers versatility at its finest. Unlike the usual blank canvas of white walls this offers a canvas with just enough character to be beautiful and not too much to restrict the event setting its own tone and vibe. This venue is located by the river and offers great transport links be it Tram, Metro, Bus or Taxi. With a capacity of up too 700 both corporate and social clients love this venue.

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As you can see there are a handful of stunning venues in the capital and the after meeting the teams at each venue I am looking forward to creating memorable events for my clients at one of these locations.

If you would like to know more about hosting an event at one of these venue or elsewhere in Lisbon please complete the form below and we will be in touch.

I hope to plan an event for you all!
Until next read

S x

Hotel White Lisboa

Last weekend I had the pleasure of visiting Lisbon in search of venues for some of my fabulous clients.

The amazing thing about the world of events is it really is greater than just booking a venue for a meeting or a party. I do not just google and book!
I like to visit the destination and learn about the city and culture and really understand what there is to offer and how we can create a memorable and serenity fuelled corporate or social event.

The venue has to fit the client as well as the clients brief, when hosting an event or incentive abroad the location has to work well with all other activities taking place on the trip.

I managed to not only find some amazing event spaces around the city that will work well for our clients; I also discovered & stayed in a hotel with an amazing location for all types of guests but especially those wanting to get around the city with ease.

Hotel White Lisboa, is a small hotel with 41 rooms and 4 suites in the centre of Lisbon offering guests stunning rooms, a great lounge breakfast buffet & lovely service from its staff. It also offers a Rooftop terrace with a swimming pool, free highspeed Wi-Fi in all areas and is walking distance so a mall and attractions.

The hotel ouzes comfort and has all the essentials you need as a tourist wanting to explore the city, a guest visiting the city for meetings or conferences and guests visiting for a social event over the weekend.

The metro & tram links are on the doorstep, along with the sweetest patisseries & coffee shops and a range of restaurants (the following blog will detail this, stay tuned!).

The hotel itself was super sleek, clean and has a very serenity feel to it. Ticking the cleanliness box is for sure more important than many other factors for me. The overall design from the foyer to the bedrooms was consistent, modern and pretty.

The bedrooms were very spacious and had all I needed. I stayed in a deluxe room where there were no balconies but a lovely city view. My favourite feature of the room was the TV and mirror display, which was something quiet unique. If you’re anything like me you’ll appreciate a practical bathroom layout with a shower rather than a bath tub. It had it all.

As I visited in January there was no need to use the rooftop pool but this area was still super clean so I can imagine it being a hit in the summer time.

The pricing of the hotel is very reasonable, especially for what they have to offer. To get the best rate and benefit from free early check in and late check out we recommend contacting the hotel direct via their website HERE and be sure to give them a follow on INSTAGRAM. Be sure to quote Serenity London on enquiry.

We would recommend this hotel to friends, family and clients. All the staff were lovely and a big thank you to Gonçalo and Hugo for your hospitality and helpfulness during our visit. We will be returning this summer for sure!

If any readers have any questions please feel free to comment below or email us. Our following two blogs will be on Lisbon event spaces and places to visit while there so be sure to return in a few!

S x