HotelChatter

The Elephant, a boutique hotel in Pangbourne, a cutesy village near Reading, is doling out free rooms on a Sunday night for anyone eating a three course meal at their restaurant. It’s not such a bargain as it seems, of course – we’re talking London prices (£17.50 for a steak, £5.75 for a pud), but the food is good and, let’s be honest, you’d be eating out if you’re going away for the night anyway. Offer ends when March does – and doesn’t include breakfast.

Or, for something a little different, Into Amsterdam is offering a similar trick at the AmstelBotel, a boat hotel moored in one of Amsterdam’s canals. Pay for half board (£50 for a breakfast buffet and three course dinner) and they’ll throw in the room for free. It’s a bit like Ryanair’s free flights – add the tax, priority boarding and the cup of tea, and you’ve racked up a standard flight price anyway.

We’re not sure the botel is the most sought after place to stay in Amsterdam, though – complaints on TripAdvisor range from the undesirable location to the constant rocking – but then again, there must be few people who’d notice the turbulence after a night on the tiles in Amsterdam.