Category: Travel

Hotels In The News Part 2

Hotel In The News is a Backup Of The Popular Section at MyCen Hotels under Hotels In The News. Bookings can be made via the links given here too.

Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (booking link)
Why You Should Consider the Cayman Islands for Your Spring Break Getaway.
http://www.vogue.com/article/grand-cayman-travel-guide-where-to-stay

The Westin Long Beach (booking link)
Hyatt Regency Long Beach (booking link)
30th Annual Scuba Show highlights new lineup of activities and entertainment.
http://www.oc-breeze.com/2017/04/11/99441_30th-annual-scuba-show-highlights-new-lineup-activities-entertainment/

Fonteverde Tuscan Resort & Spa Tuscany Italy (booking link)
Where the surroundings are as soothing as the spa treatments: A spring escape at a dreamy Tuscan hotel with its own thermal waters.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-4360760/A-spa-escape-Tuscan-hotel-thermal-waters.html

Centara Hotel Hat Yai (booking link)
Hatyai jaunt
The southern Thai city has great food, night markets and massages.
http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/hatyai-jaunt

The Swan Hotel, Bibury, United Kingdom (booking link)
Adorable kitten rescued from hotel wall after housekeeper heard mewing.
http://www.itv.com/news/2017-04-10/adorable-kitten-rescued-from-hotel-wall-after-housekeeper-heard-mewing/

1. Hotel Palisade The Rocks, Sydney (booking link)
2. Cremorne Point Manor Hotel (booking link)
3.  Glenferrie Kirribilli North Sydney (booking link)
4. The Old Clare Hotel, Chippendale, Sydney (booking link)
5. Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel, Sydney (booking link)
Where to stay in Sydney: Five affordable boutique hotels.
Sydney’s best cheap hotels for budget travellers.
http://www.aol.co.uk/travel/2017/04/10/sydney-hotels-affordable-boutique-cheap/

Hotel SSJ International Lucknow India (booking link)
Now, Yogi Adityanath ‘inspired’ menu at Lucknow hotel.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/now-yogi-adityanath-inspired-menu-at-lucknow-hotel/articleshow/58107701.cms

Phum Baitang Resort Siem Reap, Cambodia (booking link)
Inside Angelina Jolie’s Favourite Hotel.
http://www.billionaire.com/travel/2616/inside-angelina-jolies-favourite-hotel

Palm View Villa Hoi An (booking link)
Huong Sen Hotel Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon (booking link)
The ultimate (pork) bun fight has taken over the streets of Vietnam.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/themes/food/91401697/the-ultimate-pork-bun-fight-has-taken-over-the-streets-of-vietnam

Al Meroz Hotel Bangkok The Halal Hotel (booking link)
How Thailand is making itself more appealing to Muslim travellers.
http://www.news.com.au/travel/world-travel/asia/how-thailand-is-making-itself-more-appealing-to-muslim-travellers/news-story/8f066d943600bdb5b0a4baae8ada01e5

The Tongsai Bay Hotel (booking link)
Breathtaking seaside hotel in Thailand practices radical reuse, grows 100% of its produce
http://inhabitat.com/breathtaking-seaside-hotel-in-thailand-practices-radical-reuse-grows-100-of-its-produce/

Oasia Hotel Downtown Singapore (booking link)
Grow your own hotel: this tropical high-rise in Singapore has its own ecosystem.
http://www.wired.co.uk/article/oasia-singapore-ecosystem-hotel

Villa Samadhi Singapore (booking link)
Villa Samadhi stands out in urban Singapore as it is the only resort villa to be set in a lush nature reserve.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/singapore/hotels/villa-samadhi-singapore-hotel/

The Rittenhouse Hotel (booking link)
Caviar Dreams Come True In Philadelphia With Luxury Jeweler And Hotel
https://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonydemarco/2017/04/09/caviar-dreams-come-true-in-philadelphia-with-luxury-jeweler-and-hotel/#6786818c1ea5

Taipei Garden Hotel (booking link)
Taipei Garden Hotel to hold month-long Malaysian food festival to lure Muslims.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2017/04/06/2003668137

Sunway Pyramid Hotel (booking link)
Fuss free stay at the newly renovated Sunway Pyramid Hotel.
http://www.nst.com.my/news/2017/04/228337/stay-fuss-free-stay

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Binghamton, New York (booking link)
April the giraffe – forget the LIVE stream, Hilton hotel offering EXCLUSIVE zoo package
http://www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/789787/April-the-giraffe-live-stream-hilton-hotel-offer

Hotels In Singapore and Budget Hotels In Singapore (booking links)
Why Indian tourists love Singapore.
http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/why-indian-tourists-love-singapore

Mashpi Lodge Cariaco, Cariaco, Ecuador (booking link)
Guinea pigs for dinner, 90% humidity and LOTS of wildlife: Inside the $10m cloud forest hotel in one of the last pristine areas of jungle on the planet
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-4346742/Inside-10m-cloud-forest-hotel-pristine-jungle.html

Hotel Pueblo Camino Real (booking link)
Spanish Hotel Trashed by 1,200 Partying Portuguese Teens
https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2017-04-09/spanish-hotel-trashed-by-1-200-partying-portuguese-teens

1. Four Seasons Shanghai (booking link)
2. Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi (booking link)
3. Marina Bay Sands Singapore  (booking link)
4. Fairmont Monte-Carlo Monaco (booking link)
5. Hotel de la Source Belgium (booking link)
F1 drivers’ mega-bucks CRIBS: 5-star luxury lives at GP weekends REVEALED.
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/602828/F1-Chinese-Grand-Prix-Formula-One-Hamilton-Vettel-Verstappen-Shanghai-Hotels-Travel-5-Star

Britannia Birmingham Hotel – City Centre (booking link)
We reviewed Britiannia Hotel in Birmingham dubbed ‘the worst hotel in the UK’.
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/reviewed-britiannia-hotel-birmingham-dubbed-12863278

Trump International Washington D.C. (booking link)
See The Dress Omarosa Wore For Her Wedding at Trump Hotel.
http://www.bet.com/lifestyle/2017/04/08/see-the-dress-omarosa-wore-for-her-wedding-at-trump-hotel.html

Hotels In The News Part 1

Hotel In The News is a Backup Of The Popular Section at MyCen Hotels under Hotels In The News. Bookings can be made via the links given here too.

Gran Hotel Miramar GL, Malaga, Spain (booking link)
Barça resting in the hotel where Jesús Gil was judged.
http://www.sport-english.com/en/news/barca/barca-resting-the-hotel-where-jesus-gil-was-judged-5962026

Hotel Football Old Trafford (booking link)
Gary Neville hires notorious Manchester United hooligan and ex-con to work as security at hotel he co-owns with Ryan Giggs.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/3289766/gary-neville-hires-notorious-manchester-united-hooligan/

Lotus Desaru Beach Resort & Spa (booking link)
Desaru coast — a hidden gem.
http://www.nst.com.my/news/2017/04/227711/desaru-coast-%E2%80%94-hidden-gem

The Whitby Hotel New York NY (booking link)
Inside the Whitby Hotel: Crosby Street’s Sophisticated Older Sister.
http://wwd.com/eye/lifestyle/inside-the-whitby-hotel-crosby-street-hotel-firmdale-10863353/

Hotel Indigo – Los Angeles Downtown (booking link)
Hotel Indigo Opens in DTLA
https://www.cpexecutive.com/post/hotel-indigo-opens-in-dtla/

Not a hotel specific story (no booking link)
Quick and Simple Hotel Workout
http://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2017/hotel-room-workout-fd.html

Mimi’s Hotel Soho London (booking link)
Mimi’s, Soho, London: hotel review.
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/apr/08/mimi-soho-hotel-frith-street-london-review

Boucan by Hotel Chocolat (booking link)
Real-life Willy Wonkas: how Hotel Chocolat turns bean into bar from a paradise HQ in St Lucia.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/features/real-life-willy-wonkas-hotel-chocolat-turns-bean-bar-paradise/

Nice Hotel, New Plymouth, New Zealand (booking link)
New Plymouth hotel named ‘most elegant’ by international travel guide – Nice.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/91318870/new-plymouth-hotel-named-most-elegant-by-international-travel-guide–nice

Formerly The Vidella Hotel Blackpool (booking link)
Family holiday goes sour at rebranded ‘Viagra Hotel’
http://www.aol.co.uk/travel/2017/04/05/family-holiday-goes-sour-at-rebranded-viagra-hotel/

Sky Mirror The Social Media Magnet

I wanted to promote the new VI Boutique Hotel in Pasir Penmbang in Kuala Selangor. They opened on March 25th and unfortunately their applications to Agoda and Booking.com are not approved as yet. I will link them when they are ready. Credit to recently featured Muo Boutique Hotel in Muar for sorting out their online booking affiliations upon opening their doors. I saw the pre-opened VI Boutique Hotel when I was heading to Sekinchan in late January 2017.

From their Facebook page, I learned that the hotel organises a boat tour to a beach with an awful name called Sky Mirror or Sasaran Beach. It is a sea shore that looks like a Bolivian salt flat during low tide. Many people dressed colorfully to take group photos, selfies and wefies with reflections on the mirror like surface. Social media drives the hunger.

You will find the most ridiculous and puke inducing poses carried out there. The boatmen even provide props like colourful umbrellas and hats. Cliche mofos.

The jetty is 3 minutes from the hotel and from there another 40 minutes by boat ride out to sea. You can inquire at the hotel.

Through the hotel’s helpful social media administrator, I asked Low Siew Chong (group pic) and my friend Emily Lowe (threesome pic) for permission to use their pics.

See my FB for links: https://www.facebook.com/mytvsmith

#sasarn #skymirror #sasaran #selangor #kualaselangor

A Curious Case

Many years ago I thought of visiting a good friend in his hometown of Taiping during Chinese New Year. That was when many people are back in their respective hometowns and locals always make competent and knowledgeable guides to an unfamiliar small town. I called the friend and he said there was virtually no walking space in his mother’s house, with all his siblings returning.

It is a time honored tradition or custom to go back during a festival. He said he will throw a mattress on the floor for me. I told him to book a hotel for me. He called me later to say he cannot find a vacant hotel in town and offered to give me his room. He was staying in a hotel? As I was to find out. many other returning locals were taking up all the hotel rooms in town.

Seemed their pampered urban kids can’t sleep without air conditioning or bath without hot water showers. They like the Cartoon Channel and other kiddie shows on satellite or cable channels too but not all hotels provide it.. My friend explained that it was also to shield his infant child from the rampant sounds of bomb like firecrackers and fireworks in his village.

Meanwhile, poor grandma cannot understand why her grandchildren are unable to sleep under mosquito nets and a fan.

I was not surprised as I know of another friend who will put his two young daughters in the car with engine and air condition running whenever there was an extended power breakdown at night. He checks into hotels too when there is water disruptions.

It is a new phenomenon that impacted many Malay and Indian families too, as I was to find out. Don’t laugh at the proliferation of budget hotels everywhere because you think they are meant for ‘day use’ customers. They play a vital role albeit thrice yearly during festival exodus by urbanites.

If you are planning to book a room for the upcoming Hari Raya holidays, you may want to book now. Do a search for your hometown’s name at MyCen Hotels http://www.mycen.my/ and find a hotel you like. Let me know of your experience. Thank you.

Pic of a sheltered park bench at Taiping Lake Gardens from a MyCen Hotels post about Hotels In Taiping, Kuala Sepetang and Kamunting.

#cny #hometown #smalltown #exodus #festival #hotels #taiping #park #rain

Sunset Capital Of The World

Kota Kinabalu is the sunset capital of the world. I don’t mean it in the metaphorical sense as in declining.There was a spectacular or glorious sunset every day I was there. This is a scene from the same balcony I captured the earlier pic of the flickering silver sea with Bernard Khoo. Without warning, it soon developed into a majestic golden sunset,

Whether you are on the balcony of your hotel room or on the beach or on the waterfront, or at the UMS jetty at Sepanggar Bay, at the stilt houses of the water village or at the Bandar Mosque, a stunning sunset awaits you daily unless it is raining heavily. West Malaysians need to know that sunsets in KK are an hour earlier at around 6:20 pm.

Don’t wait for the sun to dip below the horizon although the beauty of an afterglow with rich hues has its merits too. Compose to include reflections on water, wet sand and palm trees if there are. Photographers go to the seaside for sunsets because all these elements make a great backdrop. Not surprisingly, the Shangri-la Tanjung Aru Resort has a bar named Sunset Bar.

The beaches of Tanjung Aru is a great place to photograph sunsets. The coast faces West. If you are planning to go KK to photograph sunsets, book a KK hotel listed in MyCen Hotels (http://www.mycen.my/) Suggestions are Marina Court Resort Condo Hotel (where I photographed this), Tanjung Aru Beach Resort, Manukan Island Resort, the Magellan Sutera at Sutera Harbour and possibly at the resort at big Gaya Island, if you are on he correct side.

You can do it at any beach or high elevation vantage point you have access, Nobody owns the sunsets.

#sunset #dusk #goldenhour #sundown #nature #sea #kk #kotakinabalu #sabah #kk #kotakinabalu #borneo