A group of Swedish IPA members visited the house in Colchester this weekend (13-14 November, 2010). Their only regret was that they had to go home and that they hadn’t booked a longer stay!
Yet again members sang the praises of Colchester in the visitors book and couldn't recommend the house or the city highly enough.
"Great house, Great city, wonderful restaurants and fantastic pubs. We strongly recommend the Kings Arms (a pub) and the Indian restaurant, Indian Ocean, - fantastic food and environment. We are sure to return to Colchester and stay longer. The shopping is better than London. We had a reservation at. The Warrington (Gordon Ramsey’s) in London but it never came even close to what we experienced here in Colchester.
We will be back."
Anders Benberg with wife and friends, Sweden.
Mick Harvey and his family visited the UK from Australia. They enjoyed their visit so much that they intend on making a return trip in the near future. Mick has also recommended Colchester to his friends back home.
"The Colchester apartment is very well situated within easy walking distance to the high street.
It is also quite handy to the Colchester Railway Station which enables an easy 1 hour commute to London for those travelling from overseas and desirous of visiting the sights in the capital.
The unit has 2 comfortable bedrooms with an ensuite attached to the main bedroom. All the appliances we take for granted at home are also included: micro wave, washer, dryer, TV etc.
The unit is situated so that you can take in a view of the surrounding countryside from the lounge room windows and this location will never been built out. I most heartily recommend staying here for anyone contemplating a trip to England and Essex in particular.
You will also find Steve Hunt the keyholder a very affable chap and very forthcoming with tour suggestions for the visitor.
Cheers, Mick Harvey, IPA Australia."
IPA member Robert Thoma from Twente, Section Netherlands, along with his wife and her parents, enjoyed a two weeks' stay at the IPA House Colchester - albeit they're not entirely satisfied with all the UK has to offer - rain and midgies!
It has been some years since we visited the UK, so this year we were ready for another holiday in England. Our colleagues thought that we were mad; who spends his summer holidays voluntarily in England. Surely its rains all the time………..?!
In the past we have travelled a lot in England and Wales. The weather was always friendly. Either we were very lucky or the others had bad luck. Anyway, we decided to go. Years ago we spend a week in the IPA house in Maidstone, Kent, but this house isn’t on the list of IPA houses in the UK anymore. There are two houses on the IPA site; one in Scotland and one in Colchester, Essex.
Scotland is too far away. Besides it rains all the time in summer and the “midgets” eat you alive……….. So I sent an email to Steve Hunt, the representative of the IPA house in Colchester. Shortly after that he answered me that the flat was available. I made reservations and transferred two weeks rent and on the 22nd of August we were under way from Germany to England.
We crossed the Channel at Dunkirk. At 18.00 we arrived in Dover. As we didn’t know how long it would take us to get to Colchester we agreed with Steve that I would call him as soon as we passed the Dartford tunnel. At about 21.00 we arrived in Colchester where Steve was already waiting for us. He showed us the flat and the parking space, handed us the keys and whished us a happy stay.
A happy stay it was indeed.
The flat is on the 6th floor and overlooks a great part of the castle park. The flat is fully equipped and very cosy. We were the third “residents” as this IPA house only opened in June this year. In the two weeks' holiday we’ve explored a great part of Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridge. After being out everyday we really got the feeling that we came home.
We had an unforgettable vacation, also thanks to our host Steve Hunt. Therefore we can strongly recommend this IPA House.
Robert Thoma Member of the IPA branch Twente, Netherlands.