Euro Travel & More

Usually when we are in Halifax – we stay at the Econolodge – but this time due to some business we had to take care of – on some  mmf drawer for an early meeting – the next day – we decided to stay in downtown.  The Courtyard Marriot Halifax is located at Salter Street but try as you might for a reservation by phone – you will not get a reservation staff.

After trying for 2 days – i left a message with at the General Manager’s phone – to get him to call me back – but 48 hrs later (till today in fact – 3 weeks later) still no call from the General Manager. Yes! you heard me right.   When I tried to call again – the reception counter – told me she doesn’t take reservations and insisted on putting me to the reservations department once again – and again – i was put on hold and got cut off.

But we wanted to stay downtown – so we went online and booked online – the room rates were good – at $109 + taxes and not forgetting – valet parking at $19.95 – no complimentary breakfast – but wireless connection in the room.

The Courtyard Marriot Halifax is a very beautiful property from the outside as you can see – some of the room faces the sea – and it’s really beautiful – normally – you don’t get the price we got – but during the off peak season – it’s not bad.  We wouldn’t have bothered with the Courtyard if we didn’t have to be in the city first thing in the morning – not because we didn’t like the property but first impression do count – and both reception and reservation – sure did not seems to think it was important at all to keep a customer – well, I cannot say i am impressed with the General Manager either.

More on the Courtyard Marriot Halifax in another post – in which you will see our experience from inside the hotel.  Stay tuned.

Parking has always been free in the hotels i stayed in  when i was in Asia – therefore when I was told that I had to pay for parking – $20 – i asked myself – if i needed to tip the valet whenever i use our car.  Have i gone cheap or is it because – we usually use the $20 for tipping the valets – plus in Asia – you have the option to park yourself – but even then – we still tip the bell hop.

The West and the East – so much difference – back in Asia – you have room service door hangers you can use to order your breakfast – in the morning – but even at the Marriot in Canada – there wasn’t any room service for breakfast.  No wonder the westerners don’t want to leave Asia as soon as they’ve experienced the Asian hospitality.

So to tip or not to tip?  We did tip at the end of our stay  – but it was so unfair to the valet whom had taken our car on the first day – but he didn’t provide any bell hop services and the check out valet was only nice to us when we tipped him $5 – so all in all we paid $25 per day for parking – it could be worst.

With the Universal Studio in Singapore officially opened – the Casino resort is also up and running from what I hear.  My reading up on joint health supplements had to hold because someone commented on a forum that Singapore was working hard on increasing the amount of tourists that comes into its country.  For someone from Singapore – it’s a really funny comment because isn’t Singapore full of tourists already?   Anyhow – coming back to the Singapore Casino resorts – i am wondering if they are anything like Las Vegas where rooms are not that expensive to entice the people to come gamble?

The Crockfords Tower is also home to Resorts World at Sentosa’s Casino, where private gaming rooms, lavish suites and a sweeping designer gaming floor offers guests the chance to live the high life and enjoy pampering hospitality and the city’s finest cuisines.

When we were in Amsterdam – we stayed at the Grand Hotel Krasnopolsky – unfortunately the spa there did not do any anti wrinkle treatments when i enquired, so i was unable to book some spa time there.  But this hotel is located centrally and has 400+ rooms and right in the middle of Dam Square.  It was pretty convenient to get to everywhere – for they have shops and eateries around the hotel.  Although my travel agent said it was a 5-star hotel – i beg to differ but it is not the prettiest hotel in Amsterdam as we later learned.  The rooms were alright and nothing to shout about – and i was pretty glad we didn’t stay there for too long.  For reasonable price and a better hotel i wouldn’t really choose Hotel Krasnapolsky anymore but the being centrally located was actually a good thing.

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.

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.

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.

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..?

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.

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.