Hotel Review: Park City Hotel at Luzhou

Accommodation is always the most important part, next to transportation when one is on vacation. 

It does boil down to the matter of individual preference when it comes to this subject, as there are always options from simple home stay to hostels, inns or luxury resorts, depending on the travelers and of course, dictated by an assortment of factors, from budget to location, cleanliness, security, comfort, and the list goes on.

I am fine with any option, and typically in our case, it depends a lot on the location, cleanliness and definitely security. When it comes to Asian countries, the location is vital as typically lots of traveling is involved which translates to the easy and quick accessibility to the modes of transportations available.

Park City Hotel is a family of hotels located almost everywhere in Taipei (or around Taiwan), as we could see that there is a Park City Hotel in different districts. We selected the branch in Luzhou, which was recommended by Trip Advisor, as it is located in a quaint neighborhood where the St Ignatius High School is. In fact, along the MRT line that runs along this part of Taipei, there are three other schools which are in this district. (So I am pretty much running along the school's line, literally so, each day as I take the train to and from the hotel).

With the MRT station and the location right above the St Ignatius plaza (the hotel is right inside this shopping complex; though not a huge one), there is no wonder that this is an extremely popular hotel among foreign and local tourists.

St Ignatius Plaza is located in the same building, and the MRT station is just literally underneath the hotel (take the elevator to the Ground Floor or the B2 for direct access to the station).
Located in the district of Luzhou, this area is termed as the new Taipei, as while it is away from the hustle and bustle of the busy metropolis, the area is still lively with the schools and her own local attractions making it a town of her own. Furthermore, the easy access to the main city of Taipei or getting around adds to all the attractions of Luzhou.
It is for this convenience factor that placed the above mentioned hotel in the recommendations of Trip Advisor.



The Hotel Lobby and a view of the outdoor patio of the cafeteria in the background


The hotel is a combination of both homey and business-like ambiance as contemporary art dominates the design of the hotel's interior, seen evident in the pragmatic furniture settings in the lobby's waiting area. In fact, to the left of the hotel, heading to the elevators to the rooms, there is a working area equipped with desks and magazines, and of course, free internet access.

Elevators
There are two elevators;
1)Access to St Ignatius Plaza - Hotel lobby is located at 6th Floor
2)Access to the guest rooms 

Access to Guest Rooms
The access to the guest rooms (from Level 7 onwards) are strictly monitored with the access cards activation at the sensor installed inside the elevators; promising tight security and a privacy to the guests staying in this hotel, not to mention a peace of mind.
I always look forward to the security features provided by the hotel, which adds to that appeal when staying on my vacation. After all, there is no such thing as being too safe, don't you think?

Hotel Rooms


The rooms are fashionably contemporary and gives that mixed feeling of business and leisure together (having stayed for business trips most of the time), but I can't say I am not liking the rooms which were designed with practicality in mind and at the same time, the clean and no-nonsense colors and placement of the furnitures just makes it really comfortable.
I won't say that the room is homey, to be exact, but it is really, orderly and systematic, in its own sense.

I am a fan of simple and fuss free contemporary designs, and I must say the hotel meets my requirements. In fact, I actually liked staying in this hotel, because it just feels like home to me.
While many may find it a little too business-like to a certain extent, at the same time, I find its clean designs is appealing to my tastes.



The open concept of the bathroom, with the glass window overlooking the bathtub where the slides are automated reminds me of the business hotels which I used to stay at frequently.


Basic amenities are provided and neatly placed within a black box on the counter from the entrance into the room.
Body and Hand lotion
Comb
Hand Soap/Bath Soap
Toothbrush and toothpaste kit
Shaving Kit with razor and cream
Shower Cap
Cotton Pads and Cotton Buds


Mini Bar Counter (All complimentary items, as there is nothing in the fridge)
It is interesting to note that the fridge is left vacant for the guests to fully utilize during their stay and it makes perfect sense, as there is a mall below the hotel, and just right beside the hotel is a 7-11.

Two bottles of complimentary mineral/drinking water
Coffee
Long Jing Tea
Green Tea



I loved how the hotel went to the extent of welcoming their guests with a plate of fruits and with knife and fork prepared on the coffee table.
It is this little touch which sets them apart and away from the other hotels, and I love how the hotel pampered the guests (yes, I like being pampered!)


I am glad we picked this hotel, and had no regrets at all; despite it being slightly higher on the price compared to the other options we could have had as the hotel was rated 4-stars.
The hotel compensated with the other facilities they offered at the price:
Gym 
Laundry room (you could utilize the washing machines and dryers available in the laundry room to do free laundry, lightening that need to pack so many clothes while traveling)
Free Internet Access (Wi-Fi)
Television
Hair Dryer
Free Breakfast at the cafeteria


With awesome views from my window, I am more than happy to call this my home for my entire stay in Taiwan~





Overall review:
Hotel Ranking: ☆☆☆☆
Location: Good
Accessibility to Transportation/Other Location: Good
Facilities: Good
Amenities: Good
Cleanliness: Above Average
Service: Above Average (this is no Marriott or Hilton, but the warm touch by the hotel staff who greets and bows when they meet you at hallways just speaks more than hospitality)
Security: Good
Price: MYR300 onwards (On the higher side)
Food: Good
Overall: Good

I would recommend this hotel if you are planning to stay in Taipei, or getting around Taipei as the direct access to the restaurants, convenience stores and of course, the MRT station just makes it the ideal location for travelers.

Hotel Review: The Gardens Hotels and Residences

The Gardens Hotels and Residences is part of the CHM hotels group; and is part of the trilogy hotels under the group located in the strategic location of the Mid Valley City.
A luxury hotel located right next to the elegant settings of new and exclusive Gardens Mall, this hotel is a favorite among the business travelers and also the enthusiastic tourists looking for a good location in the midst of the hectic metropolitan city of Kuala Lumpur.
There is plenty to offer from this hotel; from the strategic location to the 5-star ranking and the comfortable environment within the premises, one can only enter and leave without feeling like they have left home at all.

This became my second resident when I was taking short business trips to the city; and though I was a local myself, the hotel made it all welcoming and with the comforts (or luxuries) of home, sometimes I wished I did not have to rush off to meetings or back to the other site for work.
The Deluxe rooms were just welcoming, with the neatly made king-sized bed plopped in front of the flat screen television perched on top of a long and wide working table with drawers and a swivel chair, it was a combination of business and a little peek of leisure all in one.

Mainly serving business travelers, the design of the hotel rooms were more suited for work yet at the same time not compromising the comforts of home in that little aspect.



The design was well thought of; with ample space for moving around and there were sufficient lighting in the room; and there were side tables next to the bed with most of the switches available should one make themselves comfortable in bed.
There is also a telephone beside the bed, with a notepad and a pen, while on the other side of the bed is a digital alarm clock to serve its purpose of waking the busy workers to get to their business destinations on time after a long day at work.



Interior design was simple and kept to a minimum; which was good, for me, as I prefer minimalist style which makes it easier to unwind and relax, or get quickly down to business.

The bathrooms were also designed to be spacious; though it may not be the same depending on the type of rooms or the location of the rooms due to the building space itself. However, in general, I can say, based on my personal experiences after being a regular here, that most of the bathrooms will make even the claustrophobic happy with the amount of space and contemporary design.



One of the key criteria to rating a hotel's rank is the facilities and of course, the availability of the amenities for the comforts of the guests.



While some hotels have failed to live up to their expectations, I was impressed at the details which ran through the thoughtful minds of this hotel where they have provided almost everything to make the guests feel at home.
Shaving kit, toothbrush kit, vanity kit with cotton buds, shower caps, lotion, shampoo, bath gel, hand soap, face soap, hand towels, floor mats, face towels, bath towels, hair dryer, weighing scale, sewing kit, tissue box are all available in the room without having to call for housekeeping or paying anything extra.
This truly captured my heart, and I must say it was a job well done by the team at this hotel.

In some of the rooms, there are even dedicated dressing tables within the bathroom or next to the bathroom itself. I loved the thought of a dressing table as it was more convenient for me to make myself up on a proper dressing table rather than standing inside the bathroom (well, that's the conventional me!)



Glimpse of a room in a corner location



After a few visits, I was starting to be a regular at this hotel and I was surprised by the warm greetings by the hotel staff who could remember me.
I was even treated to goodies as part of the returning guests/loyalty rewards programme, and a special and kind gesture was the surprise goodies box I received in my room :-)



Thank you, I enjoyed my stay.

For more information, you can check out their website.
While the hotel rooms were comfortable, the breakfast buffet at The Spread, located on the 6th Floor of the hotel, serving international style buffet every morning from as early as 6.00am until 10.00am.

Security was also well-maintained, with the installation of CCTVs around the premises, and the controlled entries to the hotel rooms via access cards at the elevators.
Everything is automated and the design of the hotel is conceptualized to ensure the comfort and ease of mind of their guests, while keeping up with the modern technology.

I will share another post to review their other type of room soon...

The Gardens Residences, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City, 59200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Tel: +603-2268 1188

Review: Pangkor Laut Resort

Pangkor Laut Resort was planned as a prequel to our sweet honeymoon shortly after our wedding, as hubby wanted a short escapade to relax after our wedding planning.
He had always wanted to come to Pangkor Laut Resort as he had read that this is one of the most popular honeymoon destinations among the foreigners from the west due to its exclusivity.

A lot of people told us that it was not worth it to spend our honeymoon in Malaysia, as with the prices we are paying, we could have gone on an overseas trip, to probably places like Taiwan, Hong Kong or even Australia.
However, we still proceeded to this as hubby had projects on hand and unable to take long leaves, we looked forward to a short but sweet escapade locally.
Furthermore, our country is a rather popular tourist destination and with so much natural beauty surrounding us, what better way to start our marriage if not on an exclusive and private island like Pangkor Laut Resort, which is an award-winning and highly ranked in the world?


We didn't make a mistake, as we, especially me, was pleasantly surprised by the warm welcome of the resort the minute we arrived at Lumut jetty.

Everything that you could think of, it was thought of by the resort as well and basically, I won't be wrong to say that we did not have to lift a finger to do anything on our own at Pangkor Laut Resort.

From the luggages to the speedboat to the checking in, it was all handled by the resort with so much professionalism that they already made us feel at ease immediately!


The lovely view of and from the resort is just simply stunning, and spells tranquility and peace in one's mind; an ideal picture of a perfect relaxing vacation.


Despite being an island of its own and away from mainland, there is still no need to fear of pirates or unwanted company as the resort had everything under their hands and guests like us just feel safe and secure all the time.


The remarkable part about this resort is its surroundings of a 2 million year old rainforest; which lends it the natural environment and mystery required.

Most of the facilities here are surrounded by the natural environment; and even the spa and the bathrooms are just built right in the middle of the forests!

Despite the natural surroundings, that did not stop the little touches of design to enhance the comfort of their guests; for instance the little pebbled path for walking for the guests.


Bathrooms by the beach are not your typical public toilets, mind you!


Take a step into them and you feel like you are transported into luxury!

Everything was just so aromatherapy-like that you are constantly reminded of your lovely breakaway from the city life.


At the same time, taking note of the nature's environment around them, the resort does its best not to strip the place of its natural resources and yet, considering the comfort of their guests, they provided facilities and little touches that took care of every need of the guests.
They provide shuttle service for their guests, shuttle stops, phone booths, bathrooms, etc.


At the beach (Emerald Bay) area, they even provided towels and chilled mineral water for the guests lazing by the beach!
There is even a pot at the shuttle station with water for one to wash the sand away from their feet.

(I love the touch of using a coconut husk; very environmental and natural, as a tool to ladle the water from the pot)

One need not worry about the bad weather as the shuttle will take you to the nearest point before dropping you off near your villas.
Also, there are two umbrellas provided in every room, but if you forget to bring them, there are always umbrellas everywhere!


There are pavilions for you to rest, and for book lovers like me, they also have libraries; one at the main reception and another one near the spa village area.


I loved how they made the reading areas so comfortable and cosy!


I am sure by now, that you are certain that my review of this place is a positive one; if not uplifting!

I truly enjoyed the natural beauty of this place which gave me the much needed peace of mind, and the top notched services and hospitality makes my stay even more memorable.
I am already looking forward to my next visit here, and it was a very reluctant departure on my last day.

I am truly happy with the first part of my honeymoon, albeit a short one, and it has made the first part of my marriage a very sweet one :-)

I would definitely recommend this award-winning place to newly weds, or honeymooners or couples looking for a romantic retreat;)

If you do not believe me, well, let their awards and testimonials convince you.

Disclaimer: I am not paid nor hired by Pangkor Laut Resort to write this review, as it was done purely based on my own opinions and experiences and am not speaking for the majority.

Avilion Resort & Spa - Facilities

Being a prominent resort, Avilion definitely boasts of her impeccable facilities as well.
Swimming pool is always on most of the hotels/resorts list

Avilion has a swimming pool which is wonderfully landscaped and can be viewed from the buildings


Besides the view, the pools also provided an excellent avenue for the guests to spend their leisure time and relax by the poolside.







There is also a separate pool for the children


There is another pool located near the village of the water chalets



Avilion is also famous for her spa facilities (that's why it's called Avilion Resort & Spa)



The spa is located near the water chalets and is open until 9pm at night.
Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to try out the spa.






There are also water rafts available for rafting in the sea (I think you will need to arrange with the hotel for obvious safety reasons)


There are observation decks around the resort, with the lazy deckchairs beckoning to interested onlookers, tempting with the peaceful sounds of the waves


There is also a domestic farm/zoo for the children to play/look at the rabbits, chickens and occasionally, the proud peacock would make her appearance too.


Lounges or relaxation rooms


Ballrooms and restaurants



Walkways and paths for walking everywhere, and they are lighted at nights too!


The restrooms are designed with comfort in mind; besides the contemporary and quirky mix too =)






Ladies and Gentlemen, stay tune for more on Avilion...