Australia road trip

Exploring new places is something I enjoy a lot and Australia is a perfect destination on that account. I’ve been to the country before and we also traveled by car for the biggest part of that trip. But a real road trip in Australia is done with a camper van of course. And that’s exactly what this trip was about. We toured Western Australia and it was amazing, even despite the rainy weather. I’ll publish more on our adventures later.

Our trip brought us to the city of Adelaide, which is mostly known for its world class vineyard – a great reason to visit this area of course.

After the living in a campervan for a while we were looking for something more luxurious. In Adelaide, the Sofitel is the place to go for luxury. Whether you choose to stay in a suite or a regular guest room, the experience is great!

The 5 star Sofitel Adelaide

The Sofitel Adelaide is centrally located in the city center. It’s a lively neighborhood where most of the city’s bars, restaurants and clubs are concentrated. Both during the day and in the evening you can go here for a snack, drink or even a dance if you like. The Central Market – another tourist spot – is also in close proximity to the hotel.

The train station is about a 10-minute walk from the hotel. And the airport is just under 15 minutes away by rental car or taxi. You can also take the bus to the airport. It takes about 20 minutes and conveniently departs right in front of the hotel.

Check out our YouTube channel, where you can find a nice video impression of this review of the Sofitel Adelaide. Did you know that you can view many more reviews , InsideLooks and trip reports on our YouTube channel? We frequently post new videos, so follow our channel to make sure you don’t miss out!

Suite Upgrade at the Sofitel Adelaide

The room was booked about a month before I arrived in Adelaide. As an ALL Accor Platinum member I was happy to use my ‘Suite Upgrade certificate’ at this hotel. Accor ALL Platinum members get two upgrade certificates per year. You can also earn additional upgrades when staying more often at Accor proporties.

The booking process works slightly different when you use the certificate. First, you need to log on to the Accor hotel booking website and indicate that you want to use your certificate. Then, you can select the suite you would like to book. The website will show the price as if it’s a regular room. I booked a Junior Suite with access to the Club Millésime lounge. The regular nightly rate for this suite is $AUD 645. With the certificate it is $AUD 295. This rate includes breakfast for two people.

Welcome at Sofitel Adelaide

It was about 1 PM when we arrived at the Sofitel Adelaide. Unfortunately, the room wasn’t ready yet, but there was good news too –  we had been upgraded from the Junior Suite to a Prestige Suite!

Because the room was not ready, we were offered the chance to wait at the Club Millésime. This is the hotel lounge on the 10th floor. You can have a beautiful view of the city while enjoying a snack and a drink. Later in this review about the Sofitel Adelaide I will share my experience with Club Millésime at this hotel.

The Prestige Suite

Sofitel Adelaide has 251 rooms and suites on 24 floors, including accessible rooms. The ‘standard’ room is a Deluxe Room. The Superior Room is slightly bigger and has more amenities. There’s also a Presidential Suite, as well as the Junior Suites and Prestige Suites. The Prestige Suite offers three separate areas spanning a total size of 57 m2.

Living Room

The first room you enter is the spacious living room. It has a beautiful view of the city and the Gulf of St. Vincent. Next to that, there is a large corner sofa with coffee tables and a dinner table with chairs. Opposite the sofa, a big TV is built into the wall. The tv offers both local and international channels. The audio and video quality are good and you can also stream from your own device if you want.

We also received a nice welcome gift in the living room. The gift consisted of a chocolate bar, a bowl of nuts and a bottle of Australian red wine, accompanied by a personal welcome note from the hotel staff. A nice gesture!

On the side of the living room there is a small cupboard with a range of food and drinks. Here you can also find the minibar, kettle and a Nespresso coffee machine. Mind that there is a price tag for anything from the minibar. Nespresso coffee, tea and bottled water are free of charge. You can ask housekeeping to restock if needed.

The living room also has a separate washroom that is accessible from the hallway. The washroom features a toilet, sink and big mirror. The room is decorated in white marble.

Bedroom

When you go through the sliding doors from the living room, you enter the bedroom of the Prestige Suite at the Sofitel Adelaide. This part of the Suite is slightly smaller than the living room, but has plenty of space for two guests. The space is divided into the main bedroom and a walk-in wardrobe. The sliding doors can be closed for extra privacy.

The comfortable king size bed is at the center of the room. The mattress is fantastic and the sheets actually feel wonderful. The bedding at the Sofitel is for sure of a very good quality, which you may expect of course given the nightly rate.

There are bedside tables with reading lights on both sides of the bed. The hotel installed sufficient power sockets in the wall, which is convenient for charging your mobile devices. You can find a control panel for the lighting, which can also be operated with a special tablet that is on one of the bedside tables.

Just like in the living room, you have a good view of the city here. Opposite the bed there is a TV, just like in the living room. The TV is neatly mounted into the wall and works the same as the other TV. You can also stream content from your own mobile devices.

Bathrobes and ironing facilities are also provided, as well as a safe and a hairdryer.

Bathroom

An oasis of white floor-to-ceiling marble meets you as soon as you open another sliding door. The toilet and shower cabin (with rain shower) offer a beautiful mosaic. These smaller areas are separated with a door on the left side of the bathroom.

The bathroom offers a wash area with a big mirror and plenty of luxury amenities.  On the other side you can find a free standing bath from which you also have a view of the city, especially in the evening you get some nice views.

Finally, there is a large cupboard under the sink. Here you can find towels and other small amenities such as a comb, razor or ear buds. There is also a Dyson hair dryer.

Comfort of the room

As you could read earlier in this review of the Sofitel Adelaide, I was pleasantly surprised with the upgrade to the Prestige Suite. This room on the 24th floor is very spacious and therefore offers an upgraded stay. The living room is perfect to start your morning with a cup of coffee in front of the TV, or to watch a movie in the evening. The suite is generally well furnished, although the hallway felt somewhat ‘empty’. It’s also good that there is an extra toilet, which is accessible from the living room.

The bedroom is equipped with a very comfortable bed. The sheets are not too warm and provide enough comfort. The tablet and control panel make it very easy operate the lighting and the TV. 

Finally, there is the beautiful and spacious bathroom. Equipped with both a shower and a bath, so you can choose whether you want to change quickly or, for example, enjoy the view from the bath while enjoying a book or a movie. All in all, this Prestige Suite at the Sofitel Adelaide is an excellent room that offers you everything you can wish for during your stay in Adelaide.

Wondering what you can do in and around Adelaide? Have a look at our Adelaide and around Trip Report on YouTube for some inspiration! Our recommendation: an exclusive chauffeur driven wine tour with Door to Door.

Facilities at the Sofitel Adelaide

As well as the rooms and suites that we covered in this review, there are also some other activities that you can do at the Sofitel Adelaide.

Club Millésime

The Sofitel Adelaide features a hotel lounge called Club Millésime. The lounge is located on the 10th floor. The lounge is accessible to guests staying in a Suite, or Luxury Room with lounge access. Accor ALL Platinum and Diamond members also get complementary access, regardless the room they stay in. The hotel lounge has its own reception for check-in and check-out.

The Club Millésime is open daily from 06:30 to 22:00 hrs. Breakfast is served from 07:00 to 10:00. There is a small self service buffet, but there is also a menu with hot and cold dishes. Personally, I think the selection of the buffet is a bit limited, but the menu items were very good. And you can also order multiple times – the service is very attentive.

From 15:00 to 16:00 hrs. the lounge serves ‘Le Goûter’ – kind of like a French version of an English afternoon tea. While enjoying a cup of coffee or tea you get a selection of sweet and savory snacks. The quality is very good, although it sometimes took a long time before the coffee and tea were refilled.

In the evening, there is the ‘L’Apéro’ from 17:00 to 19:00 hrs. The lounge offers a choice local Australian wines, accompanied by some savory snacks. The Sofitel also has its own Prosecco.

I think the amenities and service of the lounge is very good. The dishes change daily, so there is variety even if you stay in the hotel for a longer period of time.

In addition to these facilities, there is also the possibility to freshen up. Separate toilet and shower rooms are available in the back of the lounge.

Restaurants and bars

On the 9th floor of the Sofitel Adelaide you can find Sofitel Breakfast and Garçon Blue. Here you can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can order from the menu, but there’s also a wide range of breakfast items at the breakfast buffet. My made to order dish wasn’t prepared well, but the restaurant staff served me a new one.

In the afternoon, I also enjoyed a luxurious lunch at the Garçon Blue restaurant. Check out the video below for an impression of the restaurant.

On the ground floor of the hotel you can find Déjà Vu Champagne Bar. You would expect champagne, but it is actually more a kind of coffee shop. During the day you can also order a coffee with a snack. In the evening you can go here for other snacks and drinks.

Wellness and exercise

For guests who like to stay fit during their stay, there is also plenty to do. There is a beautiful swimming pool, a sauna and a large fitness room.

The pool on the 5th floor is not very big, but fortunately it was quiet at the time of my visit. You can get a pool towel at the entrance. The fitness room is located on floor up and it very big. The hotel also provides towels and cooled water.

Photos Review Sofitel Adelaide – Australia: InsideFlyer

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Location in New York

Planning a trip to New York City can be a little daunting if you think about all the many hotel options. This time, I was in the market for a centrally located hotel near Times Square. Even with such a specific area to stay, there’s still a lot to choose from. However, InsideFlyer got the opportunity to stay at the M Social Hotel Times Square New York and in this review you can read all about it.

The hotel is located in the heart of the city, just next to Times Square. Iconic Times Square is a year round ‘must visit’ for many tourists. The amazing buildings, big ad screens and neon lights make it a sight you will not forget any time soon.

M Social Hotel is located on 226 West 52nd Street, just around the corner of Broadway and only a couple of minutes by foot from Times Square. Central Park, MoMo, Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall are also close by. In the area you can also find hotel brands such as Sheraton, citizenM, Riu Plaza, Crowne Plaza and Hilton Garden Inn.

If you’re flying in from New York JFK Airport (JFK) or New York Newark Airport (EWR) then it will take you about one hour to reach the hotel by public transport. A taxi ride is also possible, which may take somewhere between 45 to 80 minutes depending the infamous New York City traffic.

Don’t feel like reading the review of the M Social Times Square New York City, or short on time? Don’t worry! Just check out the video impression on our YouTube channel. You can also find many other hotel, airport lounge and flight reviews here. Don’t forget to like and subscribe, so you won’t miss out on our new videos!

On a side note, some time ago this 480 room hotel was operated by Accor Hotels under the Novotel brand. However, during the pandemic it closed down, and after a takeover and renovation it’s now fully operated by Millennium Hotels & Resorts using the M Social brand.

Check-in at the M Social Hotel

When I arrived at the hotel in the early afternoon it was fairly quiet. The ground floor is used for baggage storage and here you can take the elevator up to reception. The reception and check-in area are located on the 5th floor.

I was kindly greeted by the employee at the reception desk. It’s quite a big open area with lots of cosy seats and big windows. On the same floor I also saw a games area and a bar.

After handing over my ID and reservation confirmation, the employee checked if my room was ready. As this stay is offered by M Social to InsideFlyer, I didn’t need to make any payment. Normally, I would use my American Express Platinum card, as it includes extensive travel insurance and you never know when that can be of use.

After a bit of explanation about the hotel facilities, the employee handed over the room key and then I was off to the 21st floor! Before entering the elevator, I noticed a piece of art showcasing the area around the hotel in a very nice way:

The Room: Social Superior Hudson River View

The elevator took me up to the 21st floor and the room was easy to find. My Social Superior room claimed to have views of the Hudson River, so I was very curious about the view of course.

When I stepped into the room it immediately felt quite spacious. That’s really a plus considering some of the small hotel rooms I’ve seen in New York. It’s also great to have enough space to open my suitcase after a long trip. When entering the room there was a wardrobe on the left and on the right you could access the bathroom. In the wardrobe there was an iron and ironing board, bathrobes and a hairdryer.

When entering the actual room, there was a cupboard on the left. Here you can find some cups, a fridge and a small safe. This hotel unfortunately does not offer any free bottles water and there’s also no kettle to make coffee or tea.

The large kingsize bed took up most of the space in the room. I recognize the outer headboard from some of the Novotel hotels I’ve stayed before, though the inner part has been refreshed with a yellow M Social headboard. The mattress was very comfortable and the blankets were also good, although I felt a bit warm during the night. The bed has four pillows in total, two per person. On both sides of the bed you can find a small stand with a reading light. On the left there was an alarm clock that also let’s you charge your smartphone wirelessly – a nice detail.

Opposite the bed, there was a big wall-mounted tv with local and international tv channels. The desk below the tv offered a bigger reading light, some power outlets and a phone to make calls for room service and reception.

The sofa was located in front of the window, which had a nice view of the area, New Jersey and the Hudson River!

The bathroom

In the bathroom you immediately notice the big mirror with integrated lighting. The wash area is on the small side here, but there are enough towels in different sizes. You also get a small Five Wits soap bar. On the other side there is a big walk-in shower, separated by a glass wall. In the shower there is both a hand and rain shower. The hotel offers C.O. Bigelow shampoo and shower gel, and Five Wits conditioner in refillable bottles. Finally, there is of course a toilet.

Comfort of the Social Superior Hudson River View room

A hotel room can look nice in videos and pictures, but it’s hard to judge the comfort of a room like that.

First of all, the 25 sqm. size of the room is very good for the area. The room is also designed to have sufficient space for storage and opening your suitcase.

It’s a pity there’s no coffee machine or kettle. This basic amenity does make a hotel room more comfortable facility wise, I would say. After my long trip from Amsterdam, I was quite tired and could fall asleep easily, but I noted some noise coming from the air-conditioning system, which may be irritating to some. The soundproofing of the rooms was good – I never heard any noise from the other rooms or hallway.

The room has sufficient power outlets with American plugs. The lighting is also good and easy to switch on and off.

Facilities at the M Social Hotel Times Square New York

Let’s also have a look at the facilities that this M Social hotel offers.

On the 5th floor, you can find the restaurant and bar called ‘Beast & Butterflies’. Here you can enjoy a nice meal or a drink at the bar.

I had a great American Breakfast at the restaurant in the morning, which was served between 7 and 11 AM. The breakfast offers yoghurt and cereals, bagels and some cold and hot dishes. If you don’t have breakfast included, you can book it at a rate of $ 27 (before tax) per person.

As mentioned earlier, the 5th floor also offers a games room and an area to see some sports on the tv. There’s plenty of seating, so it’s also a good area to relax and enjoy the company of your fellow travelers. Every floor has an ice machine.

On the same floor, there is also a nice outside terrace and bar with a great view of Times Square. Here you can also have a drink and a meal. On some nights the hotel organizes live music here.

The fitness center is located on a lower floor. It’s quite well equipped with different types of fitness equipment. Here you also have a view on Times Square.

Finally, you can find a souvenir shop and computer corner opposite the reception desk.

Frequent traveler benefits: MyMillennium

We wouldn’t be InsideFlyer if we don’t discuss the frequent traveler benefits in this review of the M Social Hotel Times Square New York. As mentioned, M Social is part of Millennium Hotels. The loyalty program is called MyMillennium. It’s free to join and you can collect points and elite night credits.

Staying 10 or more nights in a year earns you ‘Prestige’ status. Members with this status earn more points on stays. They get a welcome amenity and a room upgrade (if available and applicable). You can read more about the MyMillennium program here.

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Location in Singapore

The Hotel Indigo Singapore is located in the Katong area in eastern Singapore, on East Cost Road. As well as the modern design, you will also find some references to the former Joo Chiat building and the local Peranakan culture. These design details can be seen in the communal areas, as well as the hotel rooms.

Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong is only a fifteen minute taxi drive from Singapore-Changi Airport. Normally such a ride is about 20 Singapore Dollars (SGD), so currently around $14 USD. 

Public transport in Singapore is excellent, so you can also take the metro (MRT) or bus. Bus 36 stops near the hotel and will only cost you a few dollars, but the trip takes about 45 minutes. The time it takes to go from the hotel to the city center is about the same as the time from the airport to the hotel.

The Indigo Hotel is situated in the same building as the Holiday Inn Express Singapore Katong, but each hotel has its own tower. Both the Hotel Indigo and Holiday Inn Express are a member of the IHG One Rewards loyalty program. IHG has quite a number hotels in Singapore. For instance the luxury InterContinental Singapore and InterContinental Robertson Quay. But also the newly opened VOCO Orchard Singapore and seven Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels.

On our YouTube channel you can find a video review of the Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong. Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more reviews, InsideLooks and trip reports. We post new content every week.

Reception

After my arrival from Perth in Singapore, I took the bus to the hotel. When I arrived there, the doorman directly approached me to take my luggage. I was directed to the stylish reception area and offered a welcome drink. A fresh iced latte is always a good idea in sweaty Singapore!

Without exception at IHG hotels, I am thanked for my loyalty as an IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite member. I also got a welcome gift of 600 points. After I’ve handed over the passports, I showed my reservation in the IHG app. Because of the online check-in, all formalities were done quickly. The only thing I needed to do was pay the security deposit. I did this with my American Express Flying Blue Platinum Card, but the hotel also accepts Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club and China Union Pay. After check-in, the agent escorted me to the room and my luggage was brought up soon after.

The Room: King Standard Heritage View With Bath

The Indigo Hotel in Katong has 131 rooms, divided over sixteen floors. All rooms are 30 square meters, but there are different types of rooms. The Standard Room features a regular bathroom with walk-in shower and a kingsize bed (King Bed room) or two separate beds (2 Twin Beds room). The Heritage View rooms can be found on the higher floors and are available with a kingsize bed or two separate beds.

The Heritage Rooms have upgraded amenities, such as a Nespresso coffee machine. There is one other type of Heritage Room, this room also includes a bath. The Heritage Rooms are about 10% more expensive than the Standard Rooms. And the Heritage Room with a bath is 20% more expensive than the Standard Rooms. During check-in I got a King Standard Heritage View Room With Bath, a nice upgrade as I expected to get a Standard Room.

When you enter the room there is a small hallway. Directly on the left you can find a small toilet with wash area. On the right there is a big wardrobe with some drawers. Here you also find a hair dryer and a laundry bag. Unfortunately, there’s no luggage rack.

Further into the room there’s a small sofa with a stool. On the wall you can find two power plugs and a light switch. On the other side there is a china cabinet with a kettle and Nespresso coffee machine. There are also three small jars with candies. A well equipped coffee corner in my opinion.

The big kingsize bed can be found in the center of the room. On both sides there’s a small bedside table with a reading light and light switches. On the left side of the bed you can find a telephone for calls to the reception and room service, but also national and international calls (at a charge). Next to that, there’s a small alarm clock. Opposite the bed a big flatscreen tv is mounted to the wall. Unfortunately, this hotel room does not have a desk.

I have to say the design of the hotel really honors its surrounding neighborhood. This is for instance visible on the nice wall sketch. The lighting in the ceiling is also very well done. More details can be found in the small coffee table that has a top showing a famous Singaporean board game. And the coffee corner is nicely decorated with traditional china plates. All of this really makes it a cosy room, without ‘overdoing it’.

The bathroom

In the Heritage Room, the bathroom can be found in the back. Here you immediately see a big round white bath. On the left side there’s a wash basin with plenty of amenities from the Australian brand Biology Smart. In the bathroom there are also two Indigo water bottles that you can borrow during your stay. They are also available for purchase in the small shop on the ground floor.

As you may expect there are lots of towels available in different sizes. Just around the corner you find a good size walk-in rain shower with Biology Smart amenities. The bathroom can be fully separated from the main bedroom using a sliding door for extra privacy. Talking about privacy: the view from the room is really great, but don’t forget to close the curtains when using the bathroom.

The size of the bath makes the bathroom slightly small. That’s probably also the reasons that there is no toilet in the bathroom. You can find the toilet in the small hallway at the entrance of the room.

Room comfort

In this review of the Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong we also discuss the comfort of the room, as sometimes the details really matter to make a stay stand out from the rest. Although the rooms are a good size, I disliked the fact that the toilet is separated from the bathroom, but that’s a personal thing perhaps. The quality of the amenities however is very good, as are the materials and finishing of the room. The bed is also high quality and comfortable.

The room is sound proof, so you won’t hear any noise coming from the hallway or from outside. The Singapore heat can be quite a thing, even in hotels. But here I experienced a comfortable temperature throughout my stay – so climate control is on point!

Any requests to the reception desk were handled swiftly and adequately. The service of the restaurant, bar and pool were also quite good.

Hotel facilities

This Indigo has several good facilities to offer, like a hotel restaurant, swimming pool and meeting rooms. These will also be briefly addressed in this review of the Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong.

The hotel restaurant, Baba Chews Bar & Eatery, offers all day dining. The restaurant serves a breakfast buffet (and a la carte breakfast) in the morning. Later in the day you can also have lunch or dinner there. There’s also a terrace to sit outside if you want. The restaurant is situated in a separate building next to the hotel, but is easily accessible via the pavilion next to the reception. There is also a Starbucks cafe in the same building.

As mentioned before, there is a nice pavilion next to the reception. The pavilion features a business center and a small self service shop called ‘Mama Stall’. Next to that, you can find an exposition of the traditional clothing that the people in this area used to wear.

The highlight of the hotel is definitely the infinity pool and bar on the top floor. The view from the room is great, but the top floor offers an even better overview of the surrounding Katong area, with its traditional houses and shops. The Indigo hotel has quite a big pool and green terrace on the top floor. There are also some showers, toilets and a changing room. At the pool you can find some seats to relax and enjoy the pool and view!

Next to the pool, there is a well equipped fitness center with big windows to also enjoy the view during a workout. The equipment is modern and in good shape.

The hotel has two meeting rooms, designed to fit in the rest of the hotel furnishings.

The hotel does not allow guests with pets. On the outside terrace however you are welcome to take your dog.

Breakfast and lunch

Breakfast is served daily at Baba Chews Bar & Eatery. When I entered the restaurant I was greeted by one of the friendly servers, seated at a nice table for two, and offered a choice of hot or cold drinks – including the famous TWG Tea.

There is a breakfast buffet at the back of the restaurant. Here you can find several kinds of bread and sweet pastries. Next to that, you can get fresh fruit, cereals and yoghurt. The choice of fresh fruit juices is also quite good. However, there is more than just the buffet.

It is also possible to order from the breakfast menu through the QR code on the table. The restaurant offers both a Western style and Asian style menu. The ‘Western’ food options include fluffy buttermilk pancakes, Belgian waffles and a classic Egg’s Benedict. The Asian menu offers Chinese dumplings, nasi goreng, gyoza and Singaporean Laksa soup. The menu is updated regularly and all dishes are included in the breakfast. So I have to say the breakfast offer is really quite good.

After breakfast, it’s time for a walk around the Katong neighborhood. And there’s quite a lot to see and do. You can for instance walk to the Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple and the Peranakan Houses. But you can also just stroll along East Katong Road. The area is well-known for its traditional shopfronts and houses.

Fancy going to the beach? That’s also easily possible –  it is only a 10 minute walk to East Coast Beach. The walk around the area was great. It also shows that Singapore has more to offer than just the city center.

When we returned to the hotel it was time for lunch. We decided to have it at Baba Chews, where we also had our breakfast. For lunch, there’s a modern Asian-European menu with culinary classics from the west and the east. Just like in the morning, the service was very attentive.

The waiter recommended the chili crab with tagliatelle and the salmon skewers with laksa sauce. We added grilled asparagus with truffle and Parmesan cheese. For drinks, we went for the famous Singapore Sling cocktail. The dishes arrived in no-time and tasted very good. Also, the side dishes were done quite well. I really liked the way the restaurant combines tastes from the west and the east.

Conclusion

My stay at Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong was very good – in particular, the service and facilities stood out. The restaurant was great for both breakfast and lunch, though you are never short of good dining options in Singapore!

The rooftop infinity pool and bar is a real highlight, especially if you compare this hotel’s rates with similar alternatives.

Source of all pictures in this Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong review: InsideFlyer Netherlands – Christian 

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Review of the Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah

The resort is located on the outer edge of the Palm Jumeirah, so unlike other hotels in the area, it is very quiet and offers the best view of the palm itself, the skyline of Dubai Downtown and Dubai Marina.

From Dubai Airport, it takes between 30 and 45 minutes by taxi to get to the hotel, depending on the traffic. If you want to drive from the Waldorf Astoria to the marina or the Mall of the Emirates, you should allow around 15 to 20 minutes. Downtown Dubai and the Dubai Mall can be reached in around 25 minutes.

We arrived at the Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah around noon and were greeted immediately by the friendly employees of the resort. As a guest with access to the Pearl Club, the hotel’s club lounge, you are taken directly to the fifth floor, where check-in takes place in a relaxed atmosphere at the lounge. With a cool drink, the formalities are taken care of and an overview of the resort and the Pearl Club services are given. We immediately noticed how warm the employees were and how much they responded to individual requests.

Pearl Club Suite at the Waldorf Astoria The Palm Jumeirah

The Pearl Club Suites at the Waldorf Astoria Palm Jumeirah extend over a total of 100 square meters of living space, which is divided into two rooms and a large terrace. The suite is comfortably designed and local design elements are combined with the standard ‘luxury hotel’ style. With a desk and a large seating area, the living room offers more than enough space to relax and work.

The bedroom is similar in size to the living room. Apart from the very comfortable Waldorf Astoria king size bed, the highlight here is definitely the large marble bathroom.

The terrace extends along the entire suite and offers a very beautiful view of the resort’s pool and beach, as well as the Palm Jumeirah and the skyline of the Dubai Marina in the background. It is equipped with a sun lounger and a comfortable seating area.

Particularly noteworthy is the housekeeping, which was extremely attentive and precise. Every day, among other things, a new surprise of towel art was waiting in the room.

While this suite has a view of the Palm Jumeirah and the Marina skyline, the rooms on the other side of the building have a beautiful view of the Burj Al Arab and the skyline of Dubai in the background.

Pool & beach

The Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah impresses with a large outdoor area. Here you will find two different pools, a 200 meter long beach and Palm Avenue, a pool bar and a restaurant.

There is a large pool for all guests, as well as a separate adults-only pool.

The employees at the pool and on Palm Avenue were very attentive  – constantly ensuring that a fresh ice bucket with free water is available on every occupied lounger, etc.

There is a QR code on each lounger that can be used to access the Palm Avenues snack and drink menu. If, for once, there are no employees nearby, you can also place your order digitally and have the charge applied to your room – a very practical solution that many hotels can use as an example.

Pearl Club Lounge

Guests staying in a Pearl Club Room or Suite have access to the Pearl Club Lounge, which is located on the fifth floor. The lounge offers a large area to relax with sofas and armchairs as well as a dining area with tables. There is also a terrace, which is a wonderful place, especially in the not-so-hot months. Here you can enjoy a drink or two in peace and enjoy the view.

From 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., breakfast is offered in the Club Lounge, with freshly prepared egg dishes such as Eggs Benedict, a large selection from a cold buffet and more. Guests can find even more choices in the Mezzerie restaurant, but we decided to use the Club Lounge as our breakfast location.

During the day there are non-alcoholic drinks and coffee specialities. Tip: Definitely try the iced cappuccino – this is prepared absolutely superbly. Afternoon tea is served from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. with various sandwiches, salads and sweet delicacies.

The Evening Cocktail Hour(s) takes place from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. In addition to beer, wine and sparkling wine, there is a large selection of freshly mixed long drinks and cocktails. There is also a buffet with numerous fresh salads, hummus, sandwiches and canapés. There is also a soup and a warm snack.

Service was excellent in the Pearl Club Lounge too – combining professionalism with genuine charm.

The post What Is Staying At The Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah Resort Like? – Full Review appeared first on InsideFlyer.

The Hilton, as the name implies, is on the banks of the creek which splits the two old parts of Dubai – Deira and Bur Dubai. It was one of the first international chain hotels in the city, so it’s a tad dated. I was curious to see if the surcharge over the Garden Inn was worth it.

A version of this article first appeared on InsideFlyer.nl

Hilton Dubai Creek

Our stay was off to a good start a couple of days prior to arrival. The Guest Relations Manager contacted us, requesting our planned arrival time and any preferences we may have. Subsequently, the reservation was upgraded from a normal Twin room to a Twin Executive Room, based on our Hilton Honors Gold status.

After arriving from Düsseldorf with Emirates, it was only a short taxi drive to the hotel where we arrived around half past midnight. At the reception, the formalities were quickly taken care off. All Hilton Honors benefits, such as free breakfast, upgrade, wifi and also executive lounge access were offered pro-actively. We were also offered a welcome drink or extra bottle of water. All in all a very pleasant check-in experience!

Once in the room, we had a nice view of the Dhow wharf as we requested. Both the room and the bathroom were quite spacious, but dated. In particular, there was a lack of conveniently located power outlets. Next to the twin beds, there was a large desk and two seats. A plate of fruit, Arabic sweets and welcome letter were already placed on the desk.

The bathroom had quite a special design, with a glass/stainless steel sink. The shower area was large, but not in the best condition. Amenities were by Crabtree & Evelyn.

Breakfast is served in Glasshouse Restaurant. The Executive Lounge does not offer breakfast. The restaurant was quite small, and the selection limited compared to some other Dubai (Hilton) hotels. The service was very attentive though.

The Executive Lounge is located on the Mezzanine floor. At the end of the afternoon, there is a cocktail hour with snacks and alcoholic beverages. However due to our late arrival and early departure, we did not make use of this. During the day, coffee, tea and soft drinks are readily available. Also some cookies and fruit are offered. Interestingly enough, the lounge doors were always open without anyone checking if visitors have access. If the outside weather is not too hot, you can also sit on the terrace.

On the rooftop, there is also a modest pool. Not nice enough to hang out all day, but the view of Downtown Dubai, the Frame and the Burj Khalifa was great.

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Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts is relatively small hotel brand operating in Sri Lanka and the Maldives. They currently have three hotels in Colombo, including the five-star Cinnamon Grand Colombo. I have dined at a few of the many restaurants at this property before, but this is my first stay at the hotel.

Location

The Cinnamon Grand is the largest of the Cinnamon hotels in Colombo. It has more than 500 rooms and suites spread across multiple buildings. The hotel is located Galle Road in walking distance of Galle Face, the Seema Malakaya Temple and various bars, restaurants, shopping malls and other hotels.

Personally, I prefer the location of this hotel over Mövenpick.

Travel time to and from the airport is 45 – 60 minutes by car.

First impressions

After going through security check at the entrance we find our self in a nice and spacious hotel lobby. The interior is elegant and luxurious, but the place still has a relaxed atmosphere.

We arrive at hotel at 11 in the morning. At the reception, we are informed that our room are ready for check-in. Since we have booked executive rooms, we are told to wait for a butler who will take us to the executive floors and check us in at the lounge.

Check-in is fast and efficient, and we get comprehensive information of the facilities of our rooms and the hotel.

Executive Room

The Executive rooms are located on the 8^th to 10^th floor of the main building. My room has a view of Galle Road and the roof top pool of the building where the spa and fitness center are located.

The room is approximately 350 square feet and looks clean and fresh, and is furnished with a king size bed, a sofa and a desk. On the right hand when you enter the room, there’s coffee machine and a fully stocked minibar.

As a welcoming gift I receive a fruit platter and a bottle of red wine.

WiFi works well by Sri Lankan standards, with speeds from 5 – 10 Mbps. The desk also has a network outlet as well two USB outlets for charging. I was able to use the electrical outlets without an adaptor.

The bathroom is quite specious and has a separate shower and bathtub. If you have forgotten your toiletries at home, there’s no need to worry. The bathroom is fully equipped with the essential amenities.

Food and beverage at Cinnamon Grand Colombo

The Cinnamon Grand Colombo have a total of 18 restaurant, cafes and bars. Here you will find food from all corners of the world, finer pastries and well-crafted drinks, wine and beer.

As you probably won’t have time to do them all during your stay, I’d like to highlight the Chinese restaurant Tao as one of my absolute favorites.

Room service is excellent with a comprehensive menu put together from the many restaurant offerings of the hotel. Prices are fair and delivery is usually quick.

The only real disappointment would be the noodles restaurants, which is also the breakfast restaurant at Cinnamon Grand. It was cramped and noisy, both during breakfast and in the evening. Thankfully, you can enjoy a nice breakfast at the lounge as an executive guest.

Executive Lounge

The Cinnamon Grand Colombo has a nice executive lounge on the 8^th floor overlooking the backyard pool area and the city.

The lounge serves a great buffet for breakfast and high tea. Happy hour is from 6pm to 8pm with free drinks and decent buffet. Snacks are available on request until midnight. There’s very little you miss out on by having your breakfast here, rather than the Noodles restaurant.

The amazing lounge staff offers great service, making sure your glass is never empty. Don’t be surprised if Mr. Saldin will remember your preferred drinks already after the first evening.

Amenities

The Cinnamon Grand Colombo offers two swimming pools. The backyard pool with the Breeze Bar right next to it is by far the most beautiful.

The largest and best equipped fitness center is also open to members who are not staying at the hotel and can be quite busy during peak hours. There’s also a smaller fitness center in the main building. It’s not as well equipped as the big one, but at least you don’t have to fight for the equipment.

The hotel also has two tennis courts. The staff can even arrange for someone to play with you if you’re traveling solo.

Asagna Spa is located in the same building as the main fitness center. Spa treatments are slightly more expensive than what you can find outside of the hotel. Nevertheless, it’s still quite inexpensive.

Booking

The room was booked through Expedia and the average rate was around $160 USD. For this stay I was rewarded a total of 2,728 Expedia Rewards Points.

The Cinnamon Grand Colombo Hotel

I really enjoyed my stay at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo. The location is great in my opinion and the hotel has all amenities required for longer stays. The rooms are clean, fresh and well-equipped and the executive lounge is very good. You get great value and food, drinks and other services are reasonably priced.

Photos by the auther unless otherwise specified. Cover photo by Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts.

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The Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers is the ideal hotel for a stay in Ho Chi Minh City – I was recently in this vibrant metropolis and was able to find the perfect home base for exploring the city at the Sheraton Saigon.

The Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers

Location, location, location – that best describes the location of the Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers! Located right in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, the hotel is the perfect starting point to explore the (in my opinion, completely underestimated) city. Most of the city’s sights can be reached within 10 minutes on foot, and there are also many delicious restaurants, bars and cafés near the hotel.

For Platinum members of Marriott Bonvoy, check-in takes place in the Sheraton Club Lounge. We were checked in by the friendly and helpful club manager who informed us about a very nice upgrade to an executive suite.

Executive Suite at the Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers

Our Executive Suite upgrade delighted us in all respects: not only did it offer more than enough space for us with over 60 square meters, it had also been recently renovated.

Light colours dominate the suite, mixed with bright pictures on the walls. The new design, which is inspired by the lotus flower, combines classic local elements with modern, international interior design and technology.

As of January 2020, 376 of the 494 rooms at the Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers have already been renovated and offer the new design.

The heart of the suite is the spacious living room with a comfortable seating area and a desk. A very beautifully arranged welcome amenity was already waiting for us, with sweet treats and white wine. During the following days, the hotel surprised us every evening with a little something in the room, be it as a sweet bedtime treat or a small nightcap in the form of gin and tonic.

From the living room, you enter into the cozy bedroom with a very comfortable bed. A dressing room leads to the bathroom, which has both a shower and a bathtub.

Breakfast at the Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers

Breakfast is served daily until 10:30 in the Saigon Café at the Sheraton Saigon Hotel. There is a large selection of hot and cold dishes – both Western and Asian. We particularly like the idea of the ‘donut wall’ in combination with the fresh Vietnamese coffee. However, the fresh omelettes, which are cooked to perfection, are also highly recommended. The service was always very attentive and courteous.

Pro tip: You have to ask specifically for freshly squeezed orange juice at the juice station, only regular juice is on the counter.

Sheraton Club Lounge

On the 5th floor of the hotel is the very spacious Club Lounge, to which you have access as a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum (or higher elite) guest, or if you have booked a Club room. The lounge impresses with plenty of space – there are various seating options for relaxing, working and eating. If you want to sit quietly, you will find the perfect place in the gallery on the 1st floor of the lounge.

Coffee, drinks and snacks are available throughout the day in the lounge. In the morning, breakfast is served in the lounge – similar to the restaurant, but with less variety. Afternoon tea can be enjoyed between 14:00 and 16:30, before the evening happy hour is laid out between 17:00 and 20:00. In addition to beer and wine, there are also spirits and hot and cold snacks. You can also choose from a small menu with three freshly prepared dishes every day.

Wine bar

If you are looking for the perfect sunset spot in Ho Chi Minh City, you will also find it at the Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers. On the 23rd floor of the hotel is Wine Bar – a great rooftop bar that not only offers a great view of the city, but is also protected by a roof in the event of rain. The drinks are delicious and there is even a happy hour between 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm, where you only pay around 7 euros for a cocktail.

Swimming Pool

The hotel pool, like the Club Lounge, is on the fifth floor. Here you can do your laps in peace and relax afterwards on a lounger – maybe with a drink.

More Hotel Reviews? Find them here.

A version of this article first appeared on InsideFlyer Germany.

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I have stayed several times at Conrad Istanbul Bosphorus, which is a fantastic hotel, but sometimes it is fun to try something new as well. On this trip I decided to try Hilton Istanbul Maslak. The hotel has recently undergone renovation and looked great from the pictures on the hotel website. The price was also very reasonable compared to other properties.

Location

The hotel is located in Maslak, which is one of the main business districts of Istanbul. With none of Istanbul’s most famous tourist attractions nearby, the Hilton Istanbul Maslak may not be an obvious first choice for leisure travelers. Nevertheless, the hotel is fairly close to the new airport and public transport for exploring the city. If you’re visiting for shopping or soccer, you will find several high-end shopping malls and Turk Telekom Arena, the home ground of Süper Lig Soccer club Galatasaray, located in the area.

Check-in and first impressions

Hilton Istanbul Maslak’s hotel lobby looks both fresh and luxurious, with lots of space, high ceilings and interior warm tones, dark wood and granita in the details.

I arrived at the hotel in the evening and there is no line at check-in counter. I had booked a King Executive Corner Room for this stay and since the agent who seemed a bit inexperienced didn’t say anything, I ask if there is a room upgrade for me as a Hilton Honors Diamond member. After consulting with the manager on duty, he tells me that there is indeed a one-bedroom suite available for me.

I receive a key card and get a quick summary of the hotel’s facilities, before I head to my room.

King One Bedroom Suite

The room interior is in the same style as the rest of the hotel interior, with warm tones and dark wood. The lighting of the room still makes the room feel bright, fresh and modern.

According to the website description the room is 775 square feet. The living room is furnished with a large three-seater sofa that can be converted into a bed, a larger table, two chairs and a smaller coffee table. The room is spacious and feels in no way over-furnished. Over the minibar there is a Nespresso coffee machines and a kettle, a selection tea and coffee, mugs, glasses and complimentary bottled water. The electrical outlets are international and also provide USB power, which eliminates the need for adapters entirely.

The bedroom has a king bed with a very comfortable Suite Dreams mattress from Serta. The room is also furnished with a desk, a chair and coffee table, and an additional TV. The wardrobes and dressers provide ample storage space.

The bathroom has two sinks and a separate shower and bathtub. If you have forgotten your own toiletries at home, a full range of complimentary body hygiene og toiletry supplies are provided for you. The bathroom has a separate WC room with an additional sink.

WiFi worked seamlessly both in the room and the rest of the hotel during the entire stay.

Food and beverage

As a Hilton Honors Diamond member, you can choose between having breakfast in the lounge or in the Zaxi Restaurant. Since I love a good breakfast and the hotel was not particularly crowded, there was no reason to settle for the lounge breakfast, as the restaurant offers a much more extensive selection.

The breakfast was very good and being accompanied by live harp music makes it even better. Harp music for breakfast was a new experience for me but is something I definitely could get used to. I also had a great dinner at the same restaurant.

Hilton Istanbul Maslak also has two bars. The Lobby Bar and Zaxi Bar in the Zaxi Restaurant.

Executive Lounge

The Executive Lounge is located on the top floor of the hotel and offers great views of the city. The lounge is spacious with ample seating and offers a decent selection of food and drinks.

The lounge also offers several desks and workstations, printing service and a meeting room.

Amenities

Hilton Istanbul Maslak is also a great choice if you want to care for your body during your stay. The hotel’s wellness spa offers traditional hammam, indoor pool and relaxing treatments. There is also a well-equipped fitness center and two squash courts.

The hotel also offers a free shuttle service to Istinye Park Shopping Centre.

Hilton Honors

Hilton Honors can be quite generous with bonus points during promotions. You get 10 base points for every dollar you spend, and you also get a 100% bonus as a Diamond member. During my stay Hilton Honors also had a double points promotion, which gave me a 200% bonus in total. As a Diamond member you also get 1.000 bonus points per stay as a MyWay Hotel Benefit at Hilton Hotels & Resorts.

Price and booking

I booked my stay directly at the Hilton Istanbul Maslak website at an average rate of €177 (~$196 USD) including taxes and fees.

This review was originally published on InsideFlyer.no.

Cover photo: Hilton

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Hilton Honors is my primary hotel loyalty programme and it regularly offers lucrative promotions, allowing one to rack up lots of points relatively quickly. I had saved a good amount of Honors points that I wanted to use for a nice hotel and the Waldorf Astoria Ras al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates has long been on my bucket list. It is regarded as one of the best chain hotels in the UAE in its class, and certainly in Ras al Khaimah.

This location is also had my preference over the Waldorf on The Palm in Dubai because it was a much more expansive resort. Furthermore, it was cheaper on my travel dates (generally Ras al Khaimah is cheaper than Dubai anyway due to its lower taxes). For 59k Hilton Honors points per night, we booked three nights at the Waldorf Astoria Ras al Khaimah.

Waldorf Astoria Ras al Khaimah – Location

The hotel is located in the Al Hamra area in the Emirate of Ras al Khaimah (RAK), about a one hour drive from Dubai International Airport, depending on traffic. This is a leisure oriented area where the Ritz Carlton, Hilton Al Hamra Resort and Al Hamra Village & Beach Resort are situated too. The city itself is a further 30km North, so you would have to rely on the facilities of the hotels or take a taxi.

The small Al Hamra Mall is within walking distance and offers some shops, cafes, restaurants, food-court and a supermarket. Contrary to Dubai, it is possible to buy alcohol in RAK without a license. Next to the hotel is the 18-hole Al Hamra Golf Club.

Hotel – Entrance

The hotel complex can be seen from afar. It truly is an impressive building and was built on the order of the sheikh of the Emirate. It is supposed to represent a palace. Besides the Waldorf, there are also residences in the same building.

Through a driveway, you arrive at the tall entrance. Here, our bags were swiftly received by the staff.

Upon entry, the signature clocktower, a feature in every Waldorf Astoria, immediately struck the eye. The clock in RAK is the most expensive of all Waldorf hotels worldwide – something that they don’t like to admit in neighbouring Dubai ;).

We proceeded to the reception where there was a small wait. Since we required a room with twin beds, an upgrade to the next category, a junior suite, was not possible. Therefore we received the same category room we booked: a Family Classic Room. The rooms are categorised according to the view in this hotel, and not necessarily the size. Hence we got a larger room, but officially in the same category. The base rooms start at 56 m2 which is already excellent. By virtue of our Hilton Honors Gold status we also received daily breakfast for two in the restaurant and free wifi. The receptionist also handed us a brochure with that month’s activities of the restaurants and entertainment as well as a map of the resort.

A couple of days before your stay, you are assigned a personal concierge at Waldorf Astoria hotels, who contacts you by email or calls on the day of arrival. The concierge can assist with special requests and reservations for the restaurants for instance. After the check-in formalities, our concierge escorted us to our room on the 7th floor.

Family Classic Room

In the room, she briefly showed us around. Immediately to the right after the entrance is the beautiful, black-marble bathroom. The bathroom was very spacious with a separate walk-in shower, bath, toilet and two sinks. Amenities were from Salvatore Ferragamo.

To the left in the hallway, opposite the bathroom, was the dressing room with luggage rack, closet and safe.

And then came the rest of the room… Wow! I was thoroughly impressed by the space and decoration. From the pictures online, I got the impression that the interior might be too classic and old-fashioned. However the interior was chic, light and in excellent condition. Normally I would find antlers as lighting fixture hideous, but in this room it just worked.

On the left were the two large, comfortable beds.

Opposite the beds was a large TV on the dresser which divided the room in two areas. On the other side was the seating section with a couch, some chairs and a second TV. There also was a separate desk.

The room was equipped with a Nespresso machine and kettle. There was no shortage of bottled water. I counted 12 and they were replenished during each service round! The minibar was well stocked as expected.

Next to the desk was the entry to the L-shaped balcony which featured two chairs. There was partial sea view but mostly you could see the pool area around the corner. It didn’t matter too much during our stay as it was way to hot to sit on the balcony!

Junior Suite

During my stay I also got the opportunity to have a look in one of the junior suites. As mentioned, the rooms are categorised based on the view and not the surface area. To be honest our classic room seemed larger due to the fact it was not in a rectangular shape, but the junior suite did boast a direct sea view.

Pool, beach and resort

The Waldorf is a true beach resort. The outside area, one floor below the lobby, was very large and expansive. Directly adjacent to the hotel was the (temperature controlled) main pool with plenty of sunbeds and (free) cabanas in the shade.

Very convenient, and also sustainable, were the drinking stations located around the pool. Instead of plastic, single-use bottles you could fill a hard cup with cooled (infused) water and ice cubes. This was definitely necessary in October with the, still relatively high, temperature. The hotel can save a lot of waste through this initiative.

At this pool, the pool  bar was also located. It was noticeable that this is a family-oriented resort – especially during the holiday season, there were lots of young kids. The pool was not very quiet and sometimes filled with inflatable toys.

Further down the resort is an adult-only infinity pool. Next to this pool, the Siddharta Lounge was just opened – a sort of beach club. Instead of children screaming, you’ll have to endure loud music here . There are also free cabanas but otherwise there isn’t a lot of shade. Therefore we only used the main pool.

All outside areas in the garden were clean and well maintained.

And then there was the very nice, and wide, 350m long beach.

Restaurants, cafes and bars

There are plenty food & beverage outlets throughout the hotel. As can be expected at a hotel of this calibre, they don’t come cheap, but the quality is very good.

On the lobby level there is the Lexington Grill, specialising in steak. This restaurant was named the best steakhouse in the Middle East and is based on a classic New York steakhouse.

UMI serves (on some days freshly flown in from Tokyo) fish, sushi and teppanyaki. Those wanting to taste Middle Eastern cuisine can head to Marjan which also has a great view, being located on one of the highest floor.

Qasr al Bahar is the buffet restaurant where breakfast is served. This venue was surprisingly modest in size. There is both indoor and outdoor seating. The selection during breakfast wasn’t enormous, but the quality was excellent. Especially the coffee, juices and bakery were better than usual in hotels.

Guests on a half-board package also dine here. We had dinner here once and, as with the breakfast, the selection may not have been the largest but the quality was up there. There are various live cooking stations and the chefs were willing to prepare other dishes on request. In general, the service was also very good. Everything was cleared quickly and the staff repeatedly asked if everything was okay. There were some moments though when the restaurant was completely full, and people had to wait to get a table.

During the day, Azure serves Italian dishes on the terrace, in the restaurant or poolside.

In the lobby, the Peacock Alley is the place for afternoon tea or an evening cocktail. Camelia is a tea lounge which also has outdoor seating.

Le Diwan specialises in shisha and 17Squared serves cocktails and other alcoholic beverages.

Facilities

The hotel of course has a spa, located on the ground floor next to the pool.

Furthermore, there is business centre, gym and various shops. In addition to the golf course nearby, the hotel has some tennis courts. Then there is a kids club. There are also daily activities such as a movie night and falconry show on the beach. During the evening there is live music in the various bars, ranging from piano and jazz in the lobby to a DJ in the Siddharta Lounge.

Service

During my entire stay I was positively surprised by the service. At every step, the staff went the extra mile compared to many other five-star hotels I’ve stayed at.  At the pool, the attendant does not just hand you the towel – instead they escort you to your desired spot and make up the sunbed. During the afternoon, staff went around with ice popsicles. In the restaurant they recognised us by name and only asked for the room number on the first day. The service during breakfast and dinner was fast and on point. Even if we were only away for on hour to have dinner, the room had been serviced for turndown, including a date on the pillow.

For reservations you could contact your personal concierge, or through the Hilton Honors app you could message the front desk. This way, late check-out was fixed without leaving the pool.

All in all the service at the Waldorf, at almost all touchpoints, was noticeably friendlier, more pro-active and extensive than other five-star resorts I have stayed at.

A version of this article was first published on InsideFlyer.nl

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Redemption

With tax, the rate for our desired dates were about $250 a night. We booked for the end of May which is peak season for Antelope Canyon. Regardless, I think that’s a bit pricey for a 3 star Hyatt Place!

I thought 12,000 World of Hyatt Points wasn’t a bad use, as I’d be getting value of over 2 cents per point! We ended up booking two nights to explore Antelope Canyon + Horseshoe Bend.

Arrival at the Hyatt Place Page/Lake Powell

We booked two rooms, and were quickly checked in by Marques. He assigned us 2 rooms next to each other on the 3rd floor but they, unfortunately, had a very depressing view of the parking lot and apartment complex across.

We walked around the property and found a nice fire pit overlooking the red rocks.

We went back to the front desk to see if we could get a room on the view side of the property. Josh told us to come back in the morning and we could switch to rooms with a view for our 2nd night. He said that as a Discoverist member from World of Hyatt, we are eligible for a complimentary view upgrade.

The next morning, Suzanne was at the front desk and gladly switched us to rooms with views just a few doors down from our original room. Suzanne was super nice and one of the nicest front desk agents I’ve encountered in my years of travel! Additionally, she let us know that we were supposed to receive two water bottles per room due to our Discoverist status. She was shocked we didn’t get it at check in so she gave us 4 bottles. In addition, she also gave us a card to claim water bottles at the little sundries store before we checked out.

The Room

The room is quite spacious, featuring two queen sized beds as well as a full size sofa that could turn into a sofabed. For a Hyatt Place, I thought the furnishings in the room were of fairly good quality. The beds and pillows were pretty comfortable for a good nights rest. I was very happy to see that the AC unit wasn’t a wall unit attached to the window, which most hotels of this caliber offer.

The view from the 2nd room, was much better.

A mini fridge was provided in the room. Additionally, tea and coffee were available. Ice machines were located on each floor as well as laundry facilities.

The bathroom offered shampoo and conditioner, but no body lotion which annoyed me! I asked housekeeping for lotion and they did provide me with a bottle thankfully.

The Hyatt Place showcases its low-end attributes in the shower. The shower fixtures are quite cheap and the water pipe was literally falling apart from the wall already in our first room. Thankfully, the second room was a bit better.

Weather Issues

Unfortunately, the day before our Lower Antelope Canyon tour, it rained quite a bit and there was still a chance of rain on the day of our tour. So, we were notified the evening before our tour that we were cancelled. Apparently, Lower Antelope Canyon tours get canceled more often than the others as water from miles away flows into the canyon.

All the tours of Upper + Lower Antelope Canyon were sold out the following day. But not to worry! We booked a tour of Antelope Canyon X, and it turned out to be great! You get a feeling of both Lower + Upper Antelope Canyon as you get to see both the A shape, and V shaped canyons.

Amenities

There’s a small fitness center on the first floor, as well as an outdoor pool!

Breakfast

Breakfast was served from 6:30am to 9am on the weekdays during our stay. It was a decent buffet spread, with some fresh fruit, breads, eggs and potatoes. They also offered bacon on our first night and ham on the second night.

The bacon was really good! Also, they used real mugs and silverware which was a nice sight to see as typical hotels of this caliber use plastic cutlery and paper cups.

Dining

We ended up eating dinner one night in the lobby bar, and it was pretty decent. The carnitas tacos were my favorite. The bar is open til about midnight every night. It’s nice to have food options when staying in a small town!

Late Checkout

With Discoverist status, it says you can extend your stay until 2PM upon request (subject to availability at some locations). My Antelope Canyon tour ended at 12 PM (normal checkout), and I thought it would be nice to come back to the room and freshen up. So, I asked for 2PM checkout and Suzanne said it would be no problem. Awesome!

The Verdict

Overall, the Hyatt Place Page/Lake Powell was a very comfortable place to stay while visiting Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. It is probably one of the best options in the Page, AZ area (unless you can fork over 2k+ a night for the beautiful Amangiri nearby #BucketList). If my travels ever bring me back to the area I will definitely consider staying here again!

Have you stayed at the Hyatt Place Page/Lake Powell before or visited Antelope Canyon and the surrounding area? Comment below!

Happy travels,

Ty

Have any questions? Comment below or email me at takeofftotravel@gmail.com. You can also view all my other posts here! Thanks for stopping by!

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