Andara Hotel @ Phuket

Andara Hotel @ Phuket unlike any Fort Myers rentals was still a pretty good experience overall, the suites were pretty awesome.  But first for those who are not aware of this, Phuket is a little island away from Bangkok - well not so little since the last time I was there but very touristy if you asked me.  You will find even a Hard Rock Cafe there but they were already there since like 15 yrs ago i think.

There are many bedrooms in the suite, so you can actually fully utilized the whole suite room and share the cost with friends or family - just not much privacy.

The master bedroom over looking a awesome seaview was what I want for the rest of my life if I can.  Hahaa! really the stay there once made me long to go back again.

And your very own private pool and sun deck - do just about anything you want - swim naked or sun tan any which way you wish.  The suite consist of a full kitchen with coffee machine and the works but make no mistake because you don’t have to lift a finger if you chose not to because room service is 24hrs.

read comments (0)

Venetian Hotel - Macau

I’ve been to Macau several times for work and pleasure and I must say the hotels are awesome.  Not only are they priced right. .they have such huge and magnificent rooms - almost majestic .. and really huge.  The office furniture in the study are specially ordered and each room themed differently.

Staying at the Venetian in Macau cost us like $250USD .. but it was worth every penny.  The Royale Suite that we were in was huge..!!!!  the king size bed was very nice and soft.   Then they have the living room with couch to watch your tv on .. with LCD screens .. executive work area.. for those who are there for business.  Of course, high speed internet at no extra cost or the all in one fax machine with printer and copier too.  The mini bar was fully stocked.  We were in for a good start when I entered the huge reception counter.

An awesome and huge bathroom and dressing room - unlike the hotels in Japan.

Huge area for brushing and washing up.

The staff are friendly.. although they seems to have an awful time understanding us.. .and with what little mandarin i knew.. i was just glad .. they didn’t give up on us.  The Venetian Macau reminds me of Las Vegas.. and of course it is no surprised.. because i heard the owners are the same.  With 3000 suites to offer to their hotel guests.. and many programs and event.. and spa, gym and even a kid’s club - for those bringing the whole family.  They also have 5 chinese restaurants in house - several Western delights and of course a Portugese restaurant too - 2 japanese restaurants and many entertainment within the hotel.   Truth be told, one don’t even need to get out of the hotel for anything.  But of course, we need to explore the outside - just a word of caution .. to be weary when you are buying jewellery or silk - most of them are faked.

read comments (0)

Hyatt Hotel - Bangkok, Thailand

The entrance of Hyatt Hotel, Bangkok

Hyatt Regency was definitely the place to stay .. when one is in Bangkok. It is in the middle of the city.. and you can just go about anywhere you want from the Hyatt, there is also the train station nearby, so you can even hop on the train instead of the tuk tuk.  The hotel was awesome.. with concierge services.. and even office supplies in the rooms that we were in.

And yes.. the receptionists all does speak in English… and they do have a great concierge department. Talk to them.. for any kind of tours you want to go to. They don’t have their own private arrangements.. like some smaller hotels and everything is very professional.

The courtyard, where you can have a evening drinks.. and some snacks. Internet access, business centers, convention rooms or meeting rooms for smaller business meetings. They also have 6 restaurants.. and had done extensive renovation since i was last there. Overall, i found the Hyatt in Bangkok a really good choice for the money.

Their rooms are pretty huge.. and they have very nice and comfy beds too.

read comments (0)

No Frills Hotels With Frills

Some 15 yrs ago, some very smart businessmen in Asia came up with this ideal about “No Frills Hotels”.  No frills hotels are actually business class hotels for those who are long -staying guest who doesn’t want to pay a lot for their rooms but still have a great place to entertain and talk business in. These no frills hotels are managed by a reputable group of hotels .. and they are the old boys when they come to the hotel industry or the hospitality industry.  Even though with no frills, one can expect the best technology available within the hotel and in your rooms, with Honeywell Barcode Scanner for most of their restaurants and gifts stores.

It is common to see expresso machines in your hotel room these days.. but the no frills hotels offers your personal fax machine and personal line for your incoming fax.. at no extra cost.  All you need to do is to request it.. or be very nice to the business center’s manager.  Asian hotels and its management wants to give their guests or returning guests the comfort of home away from home and the office within the room environment.  Business guests loves it.. but not so much for those on vacation, for they have no need for it.  Therefore, although the no frills hotels were meant for vacationers.. business traveller actually benefits from it most.  Look at their club floors and you can undertand where i’m coming from.  Your personal butler.. and free breakfast.. and evening cocktails.. and the use of their private lounge.  What else can you ask for right..?

read comments (0)

Summer Rates Or Peak Periods

So the summer is here.. and school is out .. and the wife wants a vacation .. just because it is the summer.  But with summer rates or what we called peak periods - the hotels are asking for an arm and a leg for your room rates.   When one usually pays like $85 + taxes for a room other than the summer period.. they are now asking for $155.  Almost 50% more.. ??!!!??  Now you asked yourself,  it is like the wife choosing Black Friday to go shopping.

So you asked .. what is the difference right..?? it’s the same room, same amenities.. same location.  So you try to speak with the Front Desk Manager.. and she wouldn’t budge.  So no vacation..??  Well.. the peak period is actually the only money making season for the hotel, therefore all hotels charges premium.. and some will even block some rooms away.. for their VIP guests.  Does it make any difference if you booked earlier or later..?? nope not exactly but having said that.. if you are a regular guest at the hotel or you have a corporate rate with the hotel, you might be able to negotiate for a better rate.

Back home in Asia, if you know another hotelier, your chances of a long staying rate is definitely a plus but don’t forget the front desk manager needs to meet her quota and the sales team needs to make sure that they are selling their rooms like hot cakes… else they are answerable to the share holders.  So when it comes to peak periods.. or the summer rate.. you pretty much need to fork out that amount.  But if i managed to negotiate anything better this summer.. i’ll  be sure to let you know.

read comments (0)

Late Check Outs

In my many years in the hotel industry ..  the late check outs had been requested often enough and it is at the discretion of the front desk clerk to approve or not approve the late check out.  Truth be told, the only reason why the hotel demand that you check out at 11am is because of housekeeping purposes and the turn over of rooms.  In case of high occupancy.. you need to have the rooms prepared for the next check-in.

One can definitely understand from a hotelier’s stand point but what about you as a guest in the hotel who has a flight at 11.55pm…?? what are you gonna do from 11am - 11.55pm..???  afterall, you can only do the city tour for a certain hours.. and you would wanna go shower.. and refresh yourself before going on the plane right..??  i completely  understand you .. and if you don’t want to fork out half the room rate for another few hours… this is what you do.

If you are a business traveler, try to use the same hotel everytime you stay in that city because as a long time guest of the hotel, you do get special priviledges.  And if you are not a business traveler, try to be nice to the front desk ppl or better yet, drop your business card to make sure the hotel manager knows that you will recommend other clients and your co-workers or employees .. to this hotel.. even though you are currently not on business.  The free late check outs.. are entirely at the discretion of the front desk clerks.. so do be nice to them.  They don’t really have to give an explanation for giving out free late check outs.. especially if it is not peak periods.

read comments (0)

Free Hotel Stay For 3 Years If You Don’t Die Of Swine Flu

I had to laugh out loud when i saw the hoteliers in Mexico trying this tagline .. well not in those exact words.. to lure tourists to Mexico after the swine flu scare.

Hotels on Mexico’s Caribbean coast on Tuesday offered free vacations for three years to any tourist catching swine flu while on holiday there, in a bid to counter swine flu’s blow to the industry.

I wouldn’t go to Mexico even if they offer me .. a lifetime free stay .. at this moment.. until .. i can be sure .. that there is no more epidemic in Mexico.. or anywheres around the world.   But desperate situation requires desperate measures.. and I do applaud the Hoteliers in Mexico for coming up with something so innovative .. and you can’t really blame them for trying right.

read comments (0)

Got Reservations But No Room

So you have a reservation at a hotel .. but when you arrived.. you are told they are fully booked.  So what do you do ..?? at 9pm .. in a cold winter nite..??  You are upset of course.. and the hotel receptionist doesn’t give you much explanation.  And they wouldn’t give you a room even if you have mesothelioma. So what do you do..??

As an insider who had been working in the hotel industry for 15 yrs .. I’ll have to tell you that hotels usually over booked themselves.. in hope to fill up as many rooms as they can.  It’s in their way of doing business to cover the no shows.  But once they have no rooms.,. they farm them out to another hotel of the same comfort but for some, they just farm them out to whatever hotel they can find room.

So where do you stand now..?? what do you do..??  If you stand firm.. not rude.. you will get either an upgrade.. or they will have to find you a room.  If you refuse the hotel they provide.. they have to give you something that you are satisfied with.  No hotel wants to upset their customers .. and if you are still not happy, i suggest you make an appt to speak with the General Manager .. and make sure you know the share holders names as well.

read comments (0)

Hostel Inn in Puerto Iguazu, Argentina

When ppl hear the word hostel .. they kinda think that they are only for back-packers .. meaning.. not good quality accommodation. Just the basic is what is to be expected.. but little did i know.. that Hostel Inn In Puerto Iguazu would take my breath away. Lined along the swimming pool were tall palm trees .. and a very well maintained pool - it was a packed place alright.  But everyone that was at the pool looked so relaxed.. and had a drink with them.. lounging.. enjoying the sun.. and breeze.

This was taken at nite .. by the pool.

I knew we came to the right place.. after seeing the pool.. the interior of the hostel was quite nice too.  Marbled floors and air conditioned lobby with friendly front desk staff.  Check in was efficient.. and nothing like some of the hostel i stayed in .. when i was in Europe.  The front desk receptionist gave us some info about breakfast.. and some places of interest.. and how to get to the Falls the next day as well.. without us asking for that info.  Really nice.

The rooms were spacious.. and clean and if you are like me who needs to be on the internet .. at least a few times a day.. you will be glad to know that they have free wi-fi here.  I had good connection even from my room.. it was awesome..!

This was where we got our breakfast, a kind of dining area almost like a canteen.  One can get your ice creams, cold drinks, snacks and even wine by the bottle. Leather sofas for sitting and some pool tables and internet access here.  Next the Iguazu Falls.

read comments (0)

Hotel Mayfair, Paris France

This wasn’t exactly the room i stayed it.. but it was similar size .. and almost similar decorations and wallpapers. Mayfair Hotel is at the heart of Paris between Place de la Concorde and Place Vendome, A 4 star hotel and going rate per nite is about $150 €, which not many people like us can afford unless you are on a business trip like me.

My bosses stayed here.. and didn’t think it was convenient for me to stay in another .. with another co-worker. A luxurious hotel .. Mayfair is.. and expect professionalism.. and extended hospitality .. once you become a house guest. The front desk takes time to remember your name. In my whole time there.. they called me by my family name. Each room has it own unique decoration and reflects the unique Parisian style.

The hotel has room service .. but not 24hrs.. a business center, concierge to make those special dinner arrangements for you. Cable TV, Hair Dryer ( you need not bring yours) . .safe in the room and of course air conditioning. For those traveling with children, you will be glad to know that they have a day nursery as well. Call either the Concierge or Housekeeping for arrangements.

The breakfast room serves continental and buffet breakfast from 7am to 10.30am daily. We didn’t eat here.. because we usually have breakfast meetings in another hotel.. or the office in Paris.

read comments (0)