Jun 8, 2015 |
Not Cheap and Far From Hua Hin
I know a lot of people who love Hua Hin but want to stay somewhere really quiet and out of the way. I’m not saying Hua Hin is noisy and congested like Bangkok because it’s not.
However, Pa Prai Villa at the Plantation is about a 35 minute drive from Hua Hin’s City Center. Which means if you choose to stay at Pa Prai you’re going to be surrounded by nature and lots of it. And it’s a decent option to stay there as jump point for a road trip to Khao Sam Roi Yod.
Pa Prai Villa is surrounded by a pineapple farm and hills…
Pa Prai is located on top of a hill, overlooking a massive pineapple farm near the front of the property. You can see just a little bit of the ocean ahead plus more hills. Behind the property is another hill. There is nothing around Pa Prai Villa. No 7-Elevens or any kind of shops at all. It’s pretty much a desolate location save for a few private homes.
Swimming pool and ahead is small guests reception area…
One big tip is if you choose to stay at Pa Prai Villa Plantation be sure to drop by convenience store and load up on snacks if you’ll be there for a little while.
Finding Pa Prai Villa can be a little difficult. There are signs along the road but not a lot. And if I wasn’t so familiar with the area I wouldn’t have found this place at all I think. As I mentioned this hotel is on top of a hill with partially paved roads.
When we did find the hotel there was a little slight difficulty getting in. There is a long narrow lane that leads down to the hotel reception area. We got halfway down and a pick up truck appeared right in front of us. It was a Mexican standoff as the other driver didn’t want to reverse and neither did I. Cooler heads prevailed and my wife just told me to back out.
I originally booked a deluxe room, but was upgraded to penthouse…
When we parked it was apparent there was a wedding taking place that night. The pool area had flowers, chairs and tables placed all around. A woman who appeared to be a wedding planner was running around checking things and giving workers instructions.
The hotel grounds is not that big so it was interesting to see how all the wedding set up would turn out.
Usually a room upgrade is a good thing… usually…
I had booked a deluxe room which flanked the swimming pool. But because there’s a wedding taking place during the night so they upgraded us to a penthouse. All the deluxe rooms are located on the ground level where the wedding would take place. So it would be noisy and that’s the reason why we got upgraded to the second floor penthouse suites. Score! Sweeeettttttt! Yahoooooo! But no.
There are only two penthouses at the Pa Prai Villa and we were given the Moree Suites. We were stoked. When we were first shown the room our jaws dropped. It was a huge massive living room. The master bedroom was located upstair and when we looked it we were floored. It’s a beautiful spacious room.
But after checking out the toilet we noticed a very distinct funk. It smelled like a massive turd backup except there were no turd in the toilet. And the longer we stayed there the more foul the smell got. It was really bad and becoming unbearable.
Kiri Suites at Pa Prai Villa with full kitchen…
So we told reception about the problem and they sent someone up to check it out. When the guy came he too noticed the problem. We told them we want to move and the hotel staff obliged without hesitation. They gave us keys to the other penthouse, the Kiri Suites.
Perfect space if you’ve got a lot of people but there’s only one bedroom…
Kiri Suites is a bit smaller than Moree but still big. Though the bedroom was much bigger and so was the bathroom with a full size jacuzzi. But that weird funk that was such a huge problem at Moree Suites was still present but not as bad. But we put up with it as best as we could and we knew the hotel staff felt sorry too.
My wife and I really appreciated the hotel staff, it’s not there fault and they did what they could to make up happy.
Huge bedroom at Kiri Suites…
But there was still another problem. I decided to give the jacuzzi a try. I filled it up with hot water and tried to start the jacuzzi but no bubbles. The controls were pretty simple and straightforward. I felt like calling up downstairs and ask them if it worked or not but did not bother. I didn’t mind a nice soak in hot water anyway.
Nice large bathroom but there was still a funny smell…
About 45 minutes later I got out and the tub started to drain the water. And sometime while watching television with my wife a huge pool of water ended up on the floor. As far as I could tell it came from the repair vent for the jacuzzi. So we called downstairs and a couple of guys came up to check it out. They took off the repair panel and the whole area underneath the jacuzzi was full of water.
So the guys gathered a bunch of towels and mopped up the water. That was it. There was nothing else they could do since it was night time. And I wasn’t planning on taking another dip anyway. Lucky my wife prefers showers.
But the wedding was starting and we could see it all from the balcony that overlooked the swimming pool area. It was a bit noisy and the festivities went on until about 1am but we weren’t complaining. It was nice to experience another happy couples wedding. After all we just got married earlier that same year.
No buffets at Pa Prai Villa only set menus…
After waking up in the morning it’s time to check out what’s for breakfast. I wasn’t surprise to see that Pa Prai Villa does not have a breakfast buffet setup. They don’t get a lot of guests and if they cooked up too much food it’ll probably end up in the trash.
Even with the big wedding party there were plenty of seats left for guests. I ordered their American breakfast set of scrambled eggs and bacon. And my wife ordered the Thai breakfast set which was rice porridge with pork. There’s also plenty of bread, cereal, granola, yogurt and fruit to go around too.
Nice little area to sit and relax near the swimming pool…
There’s nothing else around the area so if you’re not heading out it’s probably best to fill up. Though I do know Pa Prai has has a lunch menu. But to be honest, it’s probably best to simply drive out and find a restaurant. There are many near the beach about a 20 minute drive away.
The Good and The Bad
What I like about Pa Prai Villa is it’s really private and secluded. Needless to say, you need to have a car. Or I suppose if you choose to stay there you can have a driver drop you off and pick you back up when you check out. There are many private car services for hire in Hua Hin.
And the bad… well, it’s secluded. There is nothing else in the immediate area but sand, rocks and a dirt road. I walked around a bit to take a look and saw nothing of interest. I know when people think of Hua Hin they think of beaches. So if that’s what you want Pa Prai isn’t the place you’d want to stay.
Another negative about Pa Prai is I believe it’s overpriced. They charge more then a hotel right in Hua Hin’s city center charges. I paid about $80USD for a deluxe room. However, while doing some current price checking for this post I noticed they have 50% discounts. $40USD sounds about right for their deluxe rooms
There are Pool Villa’s on the property too. My wife and I saw them going through the driveway. I took a quick glance and saw that the villa’s had private small private swimming pools. There are about 8 or so villas.
If we ever do decide to stay at Pa Prai again in the in the future I’ll probably book the 1 bedroom pool villas as long as I can find a good deal.
Read guests’ reviews and find discounts for Pa Prai Villa at the Plantation. (Note: On Agoda.com this hotel is rated at 4 stars. Personally I think it’s more of a 2 star hotel.)
Jun 3, 2015 |
Last December my wife and I made a trip over to Hong Kong. Since I hadn’t been over in Macao for a long while I figured a visit is long over due. This was sort of a Christmas holiday getaway so hotels were a more on the pricey side this time of year.
But it’s okay. A good treat once in awhile is good. I chose the Sheraton Hotel located in an area called Cotai Central. This area is on the island section of Macao, not on the peninsula. There’s an airport not far away though we took the ferry boat from Hong Kong.
The Sheraton Macao is rated as a 5 star hotel, built in 2012. No surprise at all really as it’s one of the most well known chain hotels in the world. And my wife and I were excited to go check it out. I’ve heard Macao had really changed a lot since many big named hotels and casinos have moved in.
When we arrived at the hotel via the free shuttle bus near the Macao Ferry Terminal I saw this huge massive building the driver was pulling into. I soon realized when I got in that there were in fact there were 2 other hotels besides the Sheraton.
There’s the Conrad Hotel which is located in the middle. Then there’s the Holiday Inn located on the east wing and the Sheraton Cotai is on the left wing. This huge massive complex houses restaurants and tons and tons of shops, particularly jewelry shops and other high end luxury item boutiques. Funny thing is I don’t see people inside those shops. I really wonder how they make money.
The line was a little bit long as there were many guests but checking in was quick so the line moved pretty fast.
We booked a deluxe room which are 42 square meters big…
I booked a deluxe room and it was quite spacious. No surprise that the rooms are modern in design with a panel to control the lights in the room by the bed. There’s a big work desk and a nice small sofa on a corner. Internet access was free with both Wi-Fi and LAN connection, both are fast. Guests have access to Wi-Fi internet access all around the Sheraton’s property which was handy.
A view outside or room window…
I forgot which room we got but it was pretty high up. I was hoping for a room with a view of the main road but instead we got the backside. With all the progress going on in Macao I wouldn’t be surprised in a few years there will be buildings taking up all those vacant spaces.
Nice shower and tub…
Behold, the porcelain throne…
As the deluxe room is 42 square meters it’s a big room. Bathroom has a separate shower stall and a bathtub and on the other side is the toilet all by its lonesome self.
When we booked our room it also included breakfast. And Sheraton buffet breakfasts are legendary. Because there are a large volume of guests Sheraton Macao you’ll get breakfast vouchers for either Xin an Asian theme restaurant or Bene which I’m guessing Italian themed restaurant. We got the breakfast vouchers for Xin.
A nice traditional Chinese breakfast at Xin, one of Sheratons restaurants…
At Xin you’ll find Asian fare for breakfast such as congee, steam rice rolls and even egg noodles with wonton. But you’ll also find Western styled breakfast too like scrambled eggs, bacon, waffles and so on.
But we also wanted to check out Bene too. So my wife and I decided to just try and see if we can get in and we did with no problem. Because we already saw that Bene was a much larger restaurant the morning before when we had breakfast at Xin.
Bene Restaurant at has a lot of western style grub…
Bene definitely had more choices as it was a bigger restaurant. So much food. So little time. I did my best to sample a little of everything as a I could and paid the price dearly. I could barely walk out of the place. Luckily we did a lot of walking around while in Hong Kong as well as Macao to burn off all those extra calories.
No need to walk outside as most of the buildings in Central Cotai are connected via one bridge…
And there are a lot of places to walk around in Cotai Central. For example you can walk across the road via a walkway connecting the Sheraton, Conrad and Holiday Inn hotels to the Venetian and Four Seasons.
The Venetian at Central Cotai…
At the Venetian there’s a man made canal with gondolas passing by. And lining the canal area heaps of shops selling luxury handbags, clothes and accessories. My wife did a little bit of shopping herself and I as usual had to carry the bags.
Very nice fitness center at the Sheraton Macao…
Our stay was quite enjoyable at the Sheraton Macao. It truly is a 5 star hotel from the super friendly staff to the quality of the rooms and guest amenities. As a guest you get access to some top notch facilities too. I used the gym with some very good equipment but because it was December and the weather was cool I didn’t have a chance to check out their awesome huge swimming pools.
Read guests reviews and find discounts for Sheraton Macao Hotel.
May 31, 2015 |
Recently my wife and I went over for a little getaway over at Koh Samet. The first island I went to since I first got back State side. And I must say after freezing my butt for a few months in NYC, thawing my ass out on nice soft sand of Koh Samet was mighty nice. Here’s a quick guide on getting to Koh Samet for a refresher.
This time we chose to stay at the 3.5 star rated Vongdeuan Resort. It is situated on the southern crescent tip of Vongduean beach. They claim to be the second biggest resort on Samet and maybe they are. For me, it was the low season and the price was just about right for what I was willing to pay for a place to stay close to the beach.
Ao Vongdeuan (Ao means beach in Thai) is quite a nice stretch of beach…
I booked 3 nights which cost me around $93USD per night. But I booked a beach house villa which wasn’t exactly on the beach but near enough. Though it is one of three cottage type rooms just yards away from it. Otherwise if you book the other room types it’s a bit further inland but the rates are cheaper. My wife and I are beach bums so getting a place closest to the beach for us was a top priority.
Also remember upon check you have to leave a 1000THB deposit. Remember to get a receipt. Once you check out you must present that receipt to get your deposit back so remember to keep that piece of paper in a safe place.
One of the Thai style houses at Vongdeuan Resort…
And I think one of the best features of Vongdeuan Resort is that all the rooms are small little houses. They have modern cottages and Thai style houses with nice terrace space to sit outside. And that’s great because every guests has their own space to stretch out and relax.
Our villa was about 40 square meters including bathroom…
As I mentioned I booked a beach house villa. There are only 2 of these types of villas so if you want to stay in one you probably have to book in advance. I made my reservation about a month beforehand without knowing there were so few so I got lucky I suppose. But then again it was the low season.
A quick tip: If you’re lucky enough to book a beach villa when you check in ask for B1, you’ll get a better view of the beach from your terrace or window. I stayed in B2 which was behind B1 which was close but had lesser view of the beach. Might as well get the villa with a better view – after all it’s the same price.
Forgot to take photos of the bathroom which was spacious and clean too…
And the room was clean though the mattress was just a tad bit hard for my taste. But that didn’t matter because after a full day of sightseeing and eating I could sleep on a bed of rocks like a baby.
Ao Vongdeuan is one of the nicest beaches on Koh Samet. The sand is very soft and the water is clean and clear like most of the beaches on the island. You’re not going to find a problem getting something to eat nearly every resort has a restaurant serving Thai and Western food.
Sometimes you just feel like a pork chop…
My wife and I sampled a bit of both. And according to her the Thai food is not so great. And we have tried several Thai dishes at several other resorts on Vongdeuan beach except Vongdeuan Resort. But to me the Western style food which I had a lot of was not so bad but the prices are not cheap.
Fresh fried fish with tamarind sauce. This was one of the best Thai dish we had on the beach…
I had some pizza and burgers over at Tom’s Pizza which wasn’t too bad. But again, it’s not cheap as is most food served on the beach is expensive. That pork chop dish pictured about cost me 450THB about $13.50USD based on current exchange rate.
You can find cheaper food but you have to get out of the resort area which requires renting a scooter which cost 500THB a day at a vendor near Vongdeuan Resort or you get out to the road and flag down a passing songthaew (truck taxi).
Breakfast served at an outdoor setting from 7am until 10:30am…
Breakfast is included in the rate so I guess if you’re on sort of a budget you can save some money there. But you’ll be eating the same stuff over and over as they don’t change their buffet breakfast choices at all. Not that I’m complaining. I pretty much eat the same stuff every morning in Bangkok anyways.
The Good and the Bad
I like Vongdeuan Resort because I really enjoyed my stay. Now I’m not really too picky about anywhere I stay as long as it’s clean. And it is. However one night there was a power outage twice. That might be out of the resort’s responsibility so no big problem. But of all the times I’ve been to Samet this was the first I’ve ever experienced.
A nice lady at the reception desk. Wish more of the resort staff were like her…
However, to me the resort staff, not all of course, though a few my wife and I have come across could perhaps just be a little more polite. We’re not asking anyway to kiss our asses or bend over backwards. But at least look alive and cheer up when speaking to guests. This didn’t just occur once but a couple of times in separate days.
Be sure to hold onto your ticket. They’ll collect your ticket on the ferry boat…
This skiff will take you to a ferry boat off shore…
Vongdeuan Resort offers guests free pick up from Ban Phe pier and drop off on the waters of Vongduean beach. So don’t wear your best pant and shoes, you’ll get wet up to possibly your knees. Off course they’ll get as near to the beach as possible and they’ll carry your bags too.
A big ferry boat with plenty of seats back to Ban Phe pier…
They’ll also take you back to the Ban Phe pier the same way too after check out. Which is always why it’s good to find a hotel that provides free ferry boat transport and there are quite a few in Koh Samet that do. But there is a schedule so keep that in mind.
Vongdeuan Resort Ferry Pick Up and Drop Off Schedule (as of May 2015)
- From Ban Phe Pier: 10:00am and 1:30PM
- From Vongdeuan Resort to Ban Phe Pier: 8:30am and 11:30am
Note that even though the ferry boat is scheduled to leave Vongduean Resort at 8:30am and 11:30am because they load guests’ luggage first there could be 30 minute or longer delay.
I like Vongdeuan Resort. I don’t have any major complaints about it at all and according to most reviews they are popular. As for the resort staff it’s not a big deal at all either. Who’s knows maybe they’re just tired. Though there are plenty of other resorts to check out on Koh Samet that I am interested in checking out when I go back.
Read reviews and find discounts for Vongdeuan Resort in Koh Samet.
May 6, 2015 |
My wife and I traveled to Singapore last year to checkout Universal Studios Singapore. And we stayed at the BIG hotel located in the Bugis district. It’s a great area with many shops, restaurants and markets including a building full of hawker stands Singapore is so famous for.
Bugis Junction in downtown Singapore…
BIG hotel public area has plenty of space to lounge around and about…
The deluxe room we stayed in at BIG hotel Singapore…
One of the best mattress I’ve had the honor of sleeping on…
Lots of channels to keep you entertained…
BIG hotel’s breakfast buffet…
I mentioned already that breakfast was included in the room rate. To be honest their breakfast is not the greatest. You’ve got very few choices, some bread, some eggs, chicken franks, fruits and not much anything else. It’s just that if a hotel charges $150USD I think BIG hotel can do a little better. Okay, maybe a lot better. But overall, I still like BIG hotel and the next time I swing back into Singapore I’d probably stay there again.
Read reviews and find discounts for BIG Hotel Singapore.
May 5, 2015 |
APA branded hotels are a familiar sight all over Japan. It’s yet another one of those short transit business hotels that are also very popular for travelers who don’t need a posh room nor services. This time around my wife and I stayed at the APA Hotel in the Itabashi ward of metropolitan Tokyo.
Though this hotel is in a very quiet neighborhood there is a JR train station just a short 3 minute walk from the hotel doors. From there you can hop on the train and in 2 stops you’re in all the action of the Shinjuku district.
Itabashi JR Station – Only a short 3 minute walk to APA Tokyo Itabashi Hotel…
So like a lot of 2 or 3 star business hotels in Japan the APA Itabashi is a basic no frills hotel. Services are always good in my opinion in any Japanese hotel. Hotel staff are always friendly and quick to assist guests. But this hotel has no swimming pool or gym which is common for the types of hotels. There is free Wi-Fi which to me is way more important.
A little late night snack near Itabashi JR station…
I mentioned that Itabashi area is very quiet. It’s mostly a residential area. But there are many restaurants. We arrived late at night and after we checked in at the APA Itabashi we walked a few minutes out to the main road just opposite Itabashi JR station and found a ramen restaurant. I forgot to take a pics of the restaurant. If you’re in front of the train station just look straight and you should find it. So if you’ve arrived to the hotel around 9pm and everything else is closed go give them a try. There is a McDonald’s near the station too and as I recall opened pretty late.
There’s also an Italian restaurant right across from the hotel. They serve large servings of all kinds of spaghetti and decent pizza. It’s a lively restaurant with super friendly staff. My wife and I were there during Halloween and we played some sort of guess the weight of the pumpkin game. We lost. But we still got a piece of candy. It was a really fun place with good grub. I took pics but because the interior was very dark the shots came out poorly.
APA Hotel Tokyo Itabashi Ekimae – This is the small double room I booked…
So the rooms at the APA Itabashi are small. Okay, that’s not a shocker. It’s not a complaint as I am quite used to it. Their small double bed rooms are 12 square meters. It is what it is because most hotels in Japan in the $125 and under price range cost that much. There’s a small desk with a wide screen TV that nearly takes up the entire table space. A small fridge plus a hot water kettle with bags of Japanese green tea. And our room is clean. Though the bed sagged in the middle but my wife and I still slept fine. Sightseeing and walking around exploring is the best sleep medicine.
Door in the middle leads to the bathroom with a shower/bath tub…
The last time I stayed at this hotel was back in October 2013. I booked the room through Agoda and paid $120USD per night. But I just checked Agoda as I wrote this post and saw pics of the APA Itabashi and noticed that the hotel looks renovated. The hotel lobby looked totally different than the time I was last there. And just doing a random price check saw that a small double bed room cost around $90USD for the month of July with taxes included. Too bad I’m not planning on going to Tokyo then.
I like this hotel a lot. Taking a stroll through a cool October night through the hotel’s neighborhood was nice. And because the train station was so near we could hit a lot of the major tourists destinations easily. APA Itabashi is easily one of the easiest hotel for me to recommend to anyone looking to visit Tokyo.
(Just a quick note. APA hotels are all over so be sure you have the right address for the hotel. The first night we arrived in Tokyo we checked in at the wrong hotel called APA Ikebukro. A total rookie mistake. It was a $10USD mistake since we had to hop on a taxi to take us to APA Itabashi which was only a 5 minute taxi ride.)
Read reviews and find discounts for APA Hotel Tokyo Itabashi Ekimae.
Apr 30, 2015 |
Hotel Sunroute Higashi is located in Shinjuku district of Tokyo. Like a lot of hotels in Tokyo a Metro subway line or JR East train station is not far away. This is one of the reasons why I chose to stay at this hotel. And also, it’s one of the most affordable business classed hotels that I know of.
And the area is quite nice as well. A Korea Town is located just five minutes walk due east from the hotel. Plus you can walk to the main hub of Shinjuku station and passing many high end shops and restaurants along Yasukuni-Dori Avenue in about 25 minutes.
And if you love those little tiny Japanese bars with colorful patrons then you might want to check out Golden Gai that is about a 10 minute stroll too. Golden Gai isn’t exactly a red light district. But if a red light district is exactly what you’re looking for then head over to Kabukicho, about a 20 minute walk east or just north of Shinjuku train station.
Also from Hotel Sunroute’s doors you can walk south along Meji-Dori Avenue and reach beautiful Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in around 30 to 40 minutes. And from there I’ve even walked down to famed Harajuku fashion district and Meiji Shrine in 20 minutes.
You can hit up a lot of popular sites and attractions in the area without stepping foot on a train if you’ve got the time. Of all the times I’ve visited these places the weather was always perfect and beautiful. Which just makes it better when you’re out and about exploring.
Hotel Sunroute is one of the biggest hotels in the area with about 300 rooms. And like any other 3 star business classed hotels in central Tokyo this hotel is basic, meaning no gym or swimming pool. Though there are a couple of computers for guests to use in the lobby.
But the hotel provides guests with free in room Wi-Fi internet access. Plus there’s even a cable for LAN laptop hookup.
The room that I stayed in was clean and even though the hotel was built in 2007 I think the rooms must’ve gone through a renovation process because it looked modern and up to date. One thing I really like though is the mattress. It was so comfortable I slept like a log.
A lot of hotels I’ve stayed in Tokyo have beds that are way too soft. It’s not a big mattress though but it’s just enough for two people because the room I booked was a semi-double.
And like any other typical Japanese hotel the rooms are small because they are meant for travelers on a short trip for business. So for tourists a semi double room could bit tight if you’ve got lots of luggage. Though if you can book a room with two twin beds you get a slightly larger space.
The bathroom is small and tight too but just like the rest of the room modern and clean. There is a small bathtub but even a 6 foot guy like me could fit inside as long as I tucked my legs a bit.
I’ve stayed at this hotel a couple of times, especially when I come across some good deals. The lowest I’ve paid per night was about $118USD per night in March. Not really cheap but considering it’s Tokyo it’s not super expensive either.
I really like this hotel a lot because the immediate area is quiet but you’ll still be near restaurants and convenience stores to grab food and drinks.
Here’s What’s Around Hotel Sunroute Higashi Shinjuku Hotel
- Higashi-Shinjuku Subway Station (located right under the hotel with an entrance on the south entrance of hotel).
- Golden Gai – A very popular spot with private bars. But you can find some bars welcoming foreign visitors.
- Korea Town – Lots of Korean restaurants.
- Kabukicho – Shinjuku’s red light district.
- Isetan Department Store – Just a 20 minute walk south. Get to the basement food level by 7pm for excellent sushi sold at a discount.
Find discounts and read reviews for Hotel Sunroute Higashi Shinjuku.
