Singapore | The GrandPlaza Parkroyal | 18/7/2005

Location: Singapore

The GrandPlaza Parkroyal
10 Coleman Street, Singapore 179809

Got the Orchid Deluxe Room this time at S$170++ per night. This happens to be my company's "regular" corporate hotel, so it's a place I am very familiar with.

I have always been reserved a room at the Orchid Club Floor so check-in is done at the 10th floor. Most of the time this is very convenient because you do not have to wait in line with half the population of Singapore. However, coming in at night when there is less staff on duty, it could be a hassle. You see - the lifts are controlled by coded cards, so you can't like waltz in and go to the top floor to check yourself in. You have to be escorted up.

OK, I shouldn't complain. Being here always makes me very relaxed, cause I know things would work. No worries about power plugs, broadband always works, there would be good channels on TV etc.

Overall the room is very brightly lit, as can be seen from the photos. Study table is medium size with two power plugs at the table level (very convenient, see pics). You can control most of the light switches from your bed. The pillows are nice and soft. And there's a nice plate of fruits for snacks at night - and not forgetting the candy on the pillow ;)

The shower is also good. Water temperature can be controlled easily and there's also a bath tub if you want to soak in it.

Breakfast is on the 9th Floor. I always find the food of high quality (they serve veal sausages), but the choices limited. Then again, I am always in a hurry to go out, this serves me just fine.

Location wise, it is well within walking distance (under 5 minutes) of the MRT station and Funan IT Mall.

Overall Ratings: 8.5/10

Hong Kong | Harbour Plaza Metropolis | 15/7/2005

Location: Hong Kong

Harbour Plaza Metropolis
Metropolis Drive, Hunghom, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Got a Superior One Bedroom Suite that overlooks the Victoria Harbour. Comes with it's own living room and kichenette. Costs about HKD 800++

The room is well furnished and the view is great. Room is brightly lit but unfortunately there's no "centralized" lighting control, so if you have switched on all the lights....you have to walk over to switched all of them off one by one before you go to bed.

Study table is neat and suitably sized. There is an extension cord with extra power outlets. Broadband internet is blazingly fast.

Location wise, it is situated next to the Hunghom KCR station so getting around isn't a problem. In fact it was my American colleague who guided the taxi driver to the hotel by just asking him to drive to the train station.

Unfortunately I wasn't feeling too well when I flew in from Bangkok, so wasn't really in the mood to "enjoy" the atmosphere. The hotel was situated above the Metropolis shopping complex, but have a slight fever so I just bought some bread to eat in the room before hitting the sack :(

Hope to come back for more next time around.

Overall ratings: 9/10

Bangkok | Swissotel Le Concorde | 10/7/2005

Location: Bangkok

Swissotel Le Concorde
204 Ratchadapisek Road, Huay Kwang, Bangkok 10320,Thailand

As you can see, it's a big comfortable room with a big bathroom and shower. Unfortunately there weren't enough power plugs - had to remove the table light plug to plug in my notebook which left me working in the dark....yes, the room is dim enough for romantic settings but totally too dark to be working at night. Gave me a big headache!

Also very difficult to get the right temperature for the shower. Either too hot or too cold.

Here are my ratings (for things that are important to me as a business traveller):

Coffee & Tea facilities: Fair

Shower: Fair. Large bathroom let down by poor shower.

Bed: Good

TV Channels: Standard

Study Table: Poor lighting, not enought power points

Internet connection: Broadband. Very expensive at 580++ Baht per 24 hours. No other choice for purchasing.

Overall Room environment: Good

Breakfast: Rushed through most of my breakfast ;) but those that I had was good.

Location: Good (as in not in the city centre)

Overall rating: 7.0 / 10 Come here for a holiday, not for work.

Location: Bangkok
















More to come later....

Singapore | Sheraton Towers| 3/7/2005

Location: Singapore

Sheraton Towers

The bed with the best pillows so far...for me.
























Of course this is Sheraton at S$190++ per night so everything is above average.

Here are my ratings (for things that are important to me as a business traveller):
Coffee & Tea facilities: Good variety of tea bags and nescafe coffee.
Shower: Pros are the temperature for shower and bath where you don't need to adjust between hot and cold. Cons are the baths come only fixed shower head.
Bed: Excellent with superb pillows (refer to above)
TV Channels: Standard international news etc; does not have AXN or HBO.
Study Table: Pros, reasonable sized and easy to work with. Comes with extension cord with multiple powerpoints (very thoughtful). Cons, glass surface unsuitable for my computer mouse.
Internet connection: Broadband with cable provided. Charges by hours/days/weeks (3-7 days = 1 week)
Overall Room environment: Very comfortable with nice deco. My room looked out onto Scotts Road.
Breakfast: Standard fare that I rate highly, however choice was rather limited.
Location: Very close to Orchard Road, so there's lots of choice for meals and shopping if necessary. Very close to Newton MRT. Cons, slightly difficult to get taxi despite it's central location because according to one cab driver, they do not like the doorman of the hotel which may not choose them to pickup the customer sometimes.
Overall rating: 8.5 / 10



Very tired today, so I would blog more about this incredible place later.