All posts tagged: Hotel Review

Review: Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas

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Phuket has always been on my list to visit whenever I am in the southeast Asia due to the inordinate amount of enticing beach photos that are published on social media. On my recent trip to the region, I was able to fit a few days in Phuket. The biggest question while researching the popular destination was where to stay because Phuket is renowned for its amazing luxury resorts and party towns. After receiving advice from my Thai friends, I opted to stay in the northwest region of Phuket as the weather is better there in November and my main objective was to relax. I selected a 5-day stay in a pool villa at the Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas located near the Sirinath National Park. Did the 5-star resort meet my expectations? Positives: This 91 villa-only resort is catered to honeymooners and high-end clientele. The location is approximately a 20-minute cab ride from Phuket International Airport. Each villa has an infinity pool making it a perfect spot to hide away for days. Alternatively, there …

Hotel Review: Hotel Nikko Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)

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Hotel Nikko Saigon is a modern and minimalist five star hotel from a Japanese conglomerate located on the outskirt of District 1. It takes approximately 15 minutes to get to city center in a taxi so the location is close enough to get where you need to go. However, it is not completely in the center of all the action. I had an opportunity to stay twice at this hotel while I was in town for business. The hotel left a great impression on me and I look forward to coming back. Here is my assessment from my two visits. Address: 235 Nguyen Van Cu, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam Website: http://www.hotelnikkosaigon.com.vn/ Pros: This is a new hotel with luxury modern amenities. The room has a gorgeous soaking tub and  a large bathroom. Room size is large even for the standard deluxe room. Customer service is what one would expect from a 5 star hotel. Price is reasonable for a 5 star hotel in Ho Chi Minh City with nightly rates ranging between $120-$150 for a standard room. Cons: …

Hotel Review: Millennium Bailey’s Hotel (London)

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I am a huge fan of BBC shows that showcase 18th century London scenery. There is something ultra romantic about the ornate mansions and row houses around the city. I can imagine the Victorian ladies with their lace parasols taking a stroll around the block. For my trip to London, I decided to stay in a converted mansion instead of the usual hotel chains.  Millennium Bailey’s Hotel came up during my search and  I fell in love with the impressive 19th century London mansion that is situated in the affluent Kensington area.  Let’s find out if the interior and hospitality are just as impressive. Address: 140 Gloucester Road, London, SW7 4QH, United Kingdom PROS: The hotel is perfected located for sightseeing. You can walk to the Natural History Museum, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens and of course, the Palace. It is conveniently located across the London tube Gloucester Road station. The rooms are recently renovated and has a highly stylized decor. It conveys a the hip boutique hotel vibe. There are plenty of mirrors and good lighting for girls to …

Hotel Review: Hansar (Bangkok, Thailand)

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Hansar Bangkok is a unique 5 stars boutique hotel in the heart of Bangkok. Hansar’s objective is  to provide for an “authentic and unpretentious luxury experiences in an intimate environment where your privacy is achieved through our boutique size.” The hotel offers 94 rooms which are very spacious, and the rooms are the epitome of modern luxury. We had two opportunities to stay at the Hansar while in Thailand. We will be reviewing our experience staying at the urban room and the studio. Positives: Central location and step away from most activities. The rooms are spacious, luxurious and homey at the same time. The service is excellent and the staff really tries their best to get you everything you would need. Unlimited free snacks and minibar in the room. Fresh fruit plate every day. The bathroom is gorgeous and I would love to have a bathroom like that one day. Breakfast is mostly made to order and is locally sourced. Free Wifi everywhere in the hotel. Intimate feel in an international style hotel. Negatives: There wasn’t a …

Hotel Review: Pilgrimage Village Resort (Hue, Vietnam)

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Hue is Vietnam’s most historically significant city located in the central region of the country. Between 1802 and 1945, Hue was the imperial city under the Nguyen dynasty. The city is well known for historical sites such as the imperial city, the royal tombs and numerous temples. The city is still very rural compared to HCMC, Hanoi and nearby DaNang as most of the city was heavily damaged during the Vietnam War. The government continues to make progress to restore the city to its former glory but the process is slow.  Hue does not have world class accommodations that have been springing up all over the major tourist cities in Vietnam.  However, there is one resort in Hue that is worth checking out. Pilgrimage Village is an oasis on the outskirt of city center that provides a retreat from a hot and humid day of sightseeing. It is one of the few high end hotel catering to luxury jet setters. La Vie Partagee has stayed at this resort over the past few years and we …

Hotel Review: Hanoi Delano Hotel (Hanoi, Vietnam)

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Hanoi Delano is a new hotel situated in the heart of Old Quarter in Hanoi. I had the pleasure of staying there on two occasions in two different rooms. My experience varied a lot because of the location of the rooms where I stayed. This cozy and elegant hotel should be classified as a boutique hotel. The hotel is rated as a four stars hotel on Booking.com but it is really on par with 3 stars international ratings for boutique hotels. Overall I had a good stay for the price and the location but there is still room for improvements. Website: http://www.hanoidelanohotel.com/ Address: No.52 Bat Su Str., Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi, Vietnam Pros: The location is in the heart of Old Quarter. The hotel is new and has all the modern amenities. The staff tries their best to be accommodating. Breakfast option was very good for a small hotel. Cons: The rooms are very small and nothing like the size implied in the official photos. Noise insulation is very inadequate in this hotel so you can hear …

Hotel Review: Lotus Blanc Resort (Siem Reap, Cambodia)

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On my recent 3.5 day trip to Siem Reap, I decided to check out a local boutique hotel instead of staying in better known international hotels. I combed through the offerings for 5 stars hotels on booking.com and other similar sites and decided to give Lotus Blanc Resort a try. I did not know what to expect from this hotel when I arrived in Siem Reap. There are some positives and negatives to staying at this resort. Even though the hotel is listed as a 5 stars establishment, it is really on par with 3.5 to 4 stars international rating. Overall, I rated this hotel 4 out of 5 stars as explained below. Website: http://lotusblancresort.com/ Room (3.5/5) The hotel was built approximately 10 years ago and recently changed owners.  All the rooms and public spaces were renovated two years ago.  I had the Landmark room that comes with a double bed and is very spacious. The room décor is a mix of modern with a lot of wood furniture that is typically seen at Asian resorts. Even though it was …

Hotel Review: Mercure Phu Quoc Resort Hotel (Phu Quoc, Vietnam)

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Mercure Phu Quoc Resort Hotel  Editor’s Revision on 7/9/2015:  Mercure Phu Quoc Resort Hotel is part of the Accor Hotels Group.  We originally listed it as part of the Novotel Brand.   Address: To 1 Ap Duong To Xa Duong To, Huyen Phu Quoc, 95000 TINH KIEN GIANG, Vietnam For our weekend trip to Phu Quoc, we decided to stay at the newest resort with a private beach, away from the crowds.  The Mercure Hotel on Phu Quoc Island was the perfect choice.  It just opened in November 2014.  The boutique resort is located 10 minutes from the airport and about 20 minutes away from town. It offers the exclusivity of a boutique luxury resort but goes easier on your wallet.  The resort is even expanding with further construction that will continue through next year. PROS: The breakfast buffet is a great deal!  The breakfast buffet offer an incredible array of food (Phu Quoc’s specialties and the standard Western hot and cold buffets).  Breakfast is served until 10:30am.  We got there at 10am to secure a table in …