Travel & Food, Itineraries & Guides, Hotel Reviews
Greenleaf Hotel Gensan is a refreshing welcome to the accommodation scene in General Santos City. Never has this city seen a deluxe hotel of such impeccable standards until this six storey hotel opened its doors almost a year back. Located at the junction of San Miguel and J. Catolico Streets and just across a large mall in the form of SM Gensan, the hotel is well located slightly east of the traditional city center.
a post-modern concrete jungle – blown away by the interiors
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One of the most unique hotels that I’ve had the pleasure of staying in is the Hotel Q! in Berlin. In a city that is known for being cool and edgy, boutique hotels have essentially proliferated across town. Hotel Q! which is located in the Charlottenburg neighborhood, is one of the best known, having been designed by architectural firm GRAFT and a darling among the celebrity set.
lobby of hotel q! berlin
hotel’s fox bar
The unconventionality was apparent from the moment I stepped in the property. From the outside, it’s an unassuming white building on a side street of high-end Kurfurstendamm but the interiors tell another story. The lobby was decked in blood red with bold curves while the furnishings seem to have been inspired by The Jetsons. In the true style of a boutique hotel, staff members were dressed snazzily in full black and an iMac was available for guest use. It also helps that the hotel is just minutes away from the S-bahn – Savignyplatz station to be precise.
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The Intercontinental Hotels Group continues to expand in Singapore – opening its sixth Singapore hotel through the new Holiday Inn Express Singapore Clarke Quay. This is the second “no frills” property of the group, after the successful Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard Road which opened around a year ago.
futuristic-looking lobby of holiday inn express singapore clarke quay
The hotel hosted me for a staycation less than two weeks after it opened its doors. Holiday Inn Express Singapore Clarke Quay is located around a block or two from the Singapore River, a stone’s throw away from the clubs and dining options at Clarke Quay. This makes the hotel a great location for those planning a late night out on the town.
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The spanking new Hotel Jen Puteri Harbour in Johor, Malaysia, which opened just less than a year ago, finally marks the rise of a Johor hotel of international quality. Those who venture out to the nearby theme parks – Legoland and Hello Kitty Town – no longer have to scurry back to Singapore for the night for a worthwhile place to stay.
Some weeks back, I had the opportunity to check out the property. From Singapore, a hotel van picked us up and whisked us through the border and directly to the property. The hotel itself is located in a suburb of Johor Bahru, in a new town development called Nusajaya which is currently being touted as the next mega-hub in Johor and where Legoland is located. It is also one of only a handful of decent chain hotels in the Johor Bahru area, the other one being the Doubletree by Hilton Johor Bahru.
The hotel’s layout is quite distinct. At only 4-storeys high, Hotel Jen Puteri Harbour is actually spread across several adjoining towers, and shares space with commercial outlets and even a theme park! At the opposite end, the hotel is fronted by a picturesque harbour where yachts are docked, creating a mellow sea-side atmosphere that is enchanting especially at dawn and dusk. The property is practically surrounded by a small commercial village, with shops and dining options to satisfy the savvy traveler. Those who come with kids will be pleased to know that the Hello Kitty Town theme park is just a few steps away from the hotel.
lobby of traders hotel puteri harbour
The hotel’s interior cleverly mimics its seafront setting, with the lobby and other public areas painted in shades of warm, natural colors and protrusions in the ceiling that emulate the undulating waves of the sea.
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When I was planning my visit to the UNESCO World Heritage temples of Ayutthaya in Thailand, I decided I wanted to stay in this historical city despite being just an hour’s drive from Bangkok in order to beat the crowds and be able to explore early in the morning. It was most fortunate that I found Iudia on the River, one of Ayutthaya’s boutique options, for that one night stay. The town doesn’t have much in terms of chain hotels, and one’s best bet for a pleasurable stay would be with guesthouses or boutique properties that won’t break the bank.
Officially called Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, the town sits in an island and used to be the fortified capital of the Ayutthaya kingdom (Siam). Today, it is a fine example of the old and new. It is a functioning city by every sense of the word, with random temple ruins standing side-by-side modern buildings. Iudia on the River is located at the southern part of the island and separated from the mainland by the Chao Phraya river.
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When I finally got the chance to visit Bohol last week, I wanted to stay somewhere close to the best beaches of Panglao. After researching online, I came across South Palms Resort Panglao, which is a new property molded out of the former Bohol Beach Club. There were barely any pictures of the hotel available online but I decided to take the plunge anyway.
the pool at south palms resort panglao
South Palms Resort Panglao has inherited the top selling point of the Bohol Beach Club back then, which is the longest fine white sand beach in Panglao Island. Last year, a large chunk of the club was sold to a new owner and underwent several months of extensive refurbishment. The result of that is South Palms Resort, a new upscale accommodation option in Panglao Island.
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Being the first and only Shangri-la property in Japan and often cited as one of the best hotels in Tokyo, Shangri-la Hotel Tokyo encapsulates the world-renowned service and ambiance which has by now become a trademark of the hotel chain. Add to this the strong service culture of the Japanese, exhibiting omotenashi and serving with pride wherever they go and you’ve got the perfect formula for a well-pampered experience should you choose to make it your place of accommodation in Tokyo. I had the opportunity to witness the delights of this luxury 5 star hotel in Tokyo when they hosted me for a night during my recent trip to Japan. Like all my other stays in Shangri-la properties, it was superb.
time to check-in!
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During my short trip to Phnom Penh the other week, I was hosted by La Rose Boutique Hotel and Spa, a relatively new place of accommodation in the city center and one of the top-rated Phnom Penh hotels.
La Rose Boutique Hotel and Spa is located in Preah Norodom Boulevard, one of the city’s main arteries. From here, the road leads directly to the stunning Independence Monument, and further on to the likes of the Royal Palace and Sisowath Quay so the location is pretty strategic. I took a tuktuk ride here and was pretty excited to see how this property ranks among Phnom Penh hotels.
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