Author: Shane

REVIEW: Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11, Savvy Suite

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I came to Bangkok for business this weekend and decided to check out a few hotels along the way. Since I was arriving late into Bangkok late on Wednesday evening, I decided to book the cheapest Starwood property available in town to clock a stay for one night, before moving on to other hotels the next day. Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 is my choice this time round, given that their cheapest room went at about THB3000 (S$120). I didn’t book early enough, because there were times where early bird discounts drive the room price as low as THB2400. Depending on the time of the year, another Starwood property, Four Points by Sheraton Sukhumvit 15 may take the place of being the cheapest Starwood property in Bangkok city, so do check both hotels. I booked myself into the entry level Chic Room simply because it was only for one night. Or a little over 12 hours, to be exact. Checking in at midnight is definitely not a fantastic way to start a trip and all I …

REVIEW: Metropolitan by COMO, Bangkok (Metropolitan Room)

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The Metropolitan by COMO in Bangkok is one of my favourite hotels in the entire city. Despite it being a boutique chain of hotels with no affiliation to any of the major hotel chains (read: no loyalty perks), this remains one of my most memorable hotels for its simplicity in design, comfort and excellent service, making me feel right at home. About COMO COMO Hotels and Resorts is a chain of luxury properties across the world, and they believe in providing “luxury travel experiences with personalised service in elegant properties, each individually curated to reflect its location.” There are 14 COMO properties around the world, with over half of them in Asia. You will notice a trend in the locations they choose for their resorts: most are idyllic or exotic destinations, such as the two resorts in Bhutan and several beach resorts including Phuket and Bali. And I bet you didn’t know – the COMO Hotels and Resorts is part of the COMO Group, which is owned by Singaporean Christina Ong. Some other well known …

REVIEW: Eastern & Oriental Hotel, Penang

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Having not been to Penang for a while, I left the choice of hotel to friends whom I was travelling with. We ended up with Eastern & Oriental, or better known as The E&O, one of Penang’s finest luxury hotels. A quick Wikipedia search will tell you that this is a combination of not one, but two remarkable properties (Eastern Hotel & Oriental Hotel, hence its current name), founded by the Sarkies Brothers in 1884. So who are the Sarkies Brothers and what’s the deal with them? They were Armenians who settled in Southeast Asia and became famous hoteliers of the 1880s, having built several luxury properties across Asia, including Singapore’s very own Raffles Hotel. Location, location, location The E&O is located in the heart of George Town, along Lebuh Farquhar right by the sea. The closest landmark is Fort Cornwallis, while the famous food streets are either within a 15-minute walk away. For reference, Lebuh Armenian, where most of Penang’s famous murals are, is about a kilometre away. Gurney drive is also a short …

PROMO: Exclusive UOB fares on Korean Air from S$733

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UOB has tied up with Korean Air to offer 10-20% discounts for UOB cardmembers on fares to North Asia and North America. The promotion is valid until 31 July 2017, for travel until 31 March 2018. After the discounts, tickets begin from S$733 in Economy, S$2,085 in Business and S$3,184 for First. Note that the discount is not available for Economy early bird fares (Q class). If you ask me, seriously consider this offer only if you are visiting Korea, but forget about it for travel to North America – there are way more affordable options unless you are looking to accrue Skyteam miles. To book, you will need to go the Korean Air and follow the following steps:  

REVIEW: Pan Pacific Orchard, Pacific Club King Room

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UPDATE: Pan Pacific Orchard is currently closed for a complete redevelopment, due to reopen in 2021. I was researching for a quick weekend getaway in the peak season of June (what was I thinking) and decided that a staycation was probably more worth the money, given the premium in airfares this month. Having tried the Conrad Centennial the last time round, I was itching to try out another property with a decently priced Club room. Having previously stayed at the Pan Pacific Singapore many years back and found the room to be of good value, this time round I decided to go with the sister property, Pan Pacific Orchard. Once you enter the hotel, you will be greeted by an equally time-worn yet elegant lobby. However, I had difficulty looking for the check-in desk, as I wasn’t sure if that was the concierge counter or the reception. The check-in experience was rather lacking. The check-in desks were considerably small so the separation between different guests became a little too close for my comfort. While I …