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Regalodge Hotel Ipoh Malaysia : A quick review and Introduction of the BASIC factor
During our recent visit to Ipoh Malaysia, we stayed at the Regalodge Hotel Ipoh and this post will give a quick review / overview of our stay.
But first, we want to reveal for the first time – the BASIC Factor. An assessment criteria that Kate and I have devised for hotels that we’ll be staying in, in the future.
So you must be wondering, what exactly is the BASIC factor?
BASIC Factor for 2bearbear.com Hotel Reviews
The BASIC factor refers to different aspects of the hotel which we think (note : “we” refers to the opinions of the 2bearbears) are important during our stay. It may be a little quirky, but these are things that we feel are what makes a good stay, GREAT!
Do note also that for all factors, there will either be a score of 0, 0.5 or 1. Hence, the maximum point a hotel can get based on the BASIC factor, would be 5.
B – Bathroom. To make a stay excellent, a good bathroom and thus a bathtub is necessary. 0.5 will be granted to a room with a clean bathroom and 1 to a room with bathtub (and has to be clean and working!).
A – Ambience. This factor is relatively subjective in nature. In general, if there are no negative vibes, the hotel receives 0.5. If the vibe is good (i.e. it can be quaint, boutique, sporty, trendy, classy, luxurious, opulence etc.), the hotel receives a score of 1.
S – Service. For us, friendly service with an eye for detail will make your stay that much more wonderful. Hotels with good service receives 0.5 while excellent and impeccable service receives a score of 1.
I – Infinity Pool. To clarify, it need not be “infinity pool” per se. As long as there’s a swimming pool, the hotel receives 0.5. An excellent pool (pool with a view, sky pool, infinity pool, huge pools) receives a score of 1.
C – Comfort. It is important for guests to feel rested after their stay and this is attributed very much to the comfort of their stay. A clean and decent room affords 0.5 while an extremely comfortable stay (beds that makes you want to lie in it after check-out timing) affords a score of 1.
And with the introduction of the BASIC factor for hotel assessments, we’re gonna introduce the Regalodge Hotel in Ipoh Malaysia!
Regalodge Hotel Ipoh Malaysia Review
We chose Regalodge because of its close proximity to the historic buildings of Ipoh, walking distance to great food joints as well as the relatively good reviews of the hotel at Agoda.com
Regalodge Ipoh Superior Room
Our overall stay at the Regalodge Ipoh was pleasant though we found the room to be a little small. Hence, the overall BASIC factor score for Regalodge Hotel Ipoh is…2.5
B – 1. Bathroom comes equipped with a bathtub.
A – 0.5. Inviting room and general atmosphere at the hotel. No “wow” factor though.
S – 0.5. Service was normal. Met with a little delay at the reception while checking in but was met with smiles at that.
I – 0. No swimming pool at the hotel though there’s a spa pool if you visit Regal Spa.
C – 0.5. Room is small but comfortable.
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Thinking of checking out this hotel? Fret not! We have arranged for the best hotel deals at Regalodge Hotel Ipoh Malaysia right here!
Riverview Hotel Sunday Brunch @ River Garden Coffee House
Riverview Hotel’s Sunday Brunch was where we enjoyed a leisurely Sunday afternoon with our family. We chose the Sunday Brunch at Riverview Hotel’s River Garden because
1. Selection of Food. The Sunday Brunch at Riverview Hotel has a wide variety of cuisine available. Beside the usual international buffet, there would be a “twist” at each promotion of Sunday Brunch at Riverview Hotel. During our last visit to Riverview Hotel’s Sunday Brunch, it was a BBQ and Beer Brunch which included the popular Erdinger Beer. This time, the promotion included free flow of moscato or prosecco as well as freshly shucked oysters!
Sunday Brunch at Riverview Hotel River Garden Coffee House
2. Location. The River Garden Coffee House has a central location by the Singapore River. After your meal, you can continue to have drinks by the river (al fresco style) and watch people strolling/jogging along the river. Kids would be playing and boats passing by as well. Accompanied by your family as everyone enjoys this view? Priceless.
Riverview Hotel Sunday Brunch
What we had at the Riverview Hotel Sunday Brunch
According to our nephew (the one who brought you this awesome review of Harris Hotel Batam), “everything is so good!”. He was spot on!
The prawns were fresh and succulent while the snow crab was sweet and delicious. Oysters were freshly shucked and were perfect with a tinge of lemon and tobasco! You can see how huge and fresh the oysters were. Comparable to the $100++ Sunday Brunches that we’ve tried. The only difference is that they only have 1 choice of oysters. But one good variety is enough to get us hooked 🙂 The minus for seafood was that the chili crabs were not fresh. In local terms, “nua nua” (meaning soft). Not a good description for crabs and prawns.
Another plus to this Sunday Brunch at Riverview Hotel is the durian pengat! This we did not notice at our last visit. Again, this durian pengat is comparable to the famous durian pengat at Swissotel Merchant Court’s Ellenborough Market Cafe – with all the edible bits of the durian. So good, that we had 2 bowls full – each.
Lastly, we sneaked a peek at the choice of moscato and prosecco at the Sunday Brunch. We realised that the River Garden Coffee House did not scrimp on their selection and had the Cascine Prosecco and Brown Brothers Moscato on their list. We’ve enjoyed several champagne brunches and we realised that the Cascine Prosecco has a relatively close taste to some selection of champagnes. Hence, if you’re not really into differentiating between champagnes and prosecco, the Sunday Brunch at Riverview Hotel is definitely a great buffet at a great price!
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If we had no budget to adhere to, the Raffles Hotel Sunday Buffet Brunch at the Bar and Billiard Room would be our top pick for Sunday Brunch in Singapore. However, as budget conscious Singaporeans, we’d definitely visit the Riverview Hotel Sunday Brunch for its quality, variety, fresh oysters and great selection of moscato and prosecco!
The Sunday Brunch Buffet at Riverview Hotel costs $48.80++ for adults and $22.80++ for kids. ANZ, Citibank, DBS, POSB and UOB Cardholders get to enjoy 15% discount on Sunday Brunch prices. CIMB Cardholders enjoy 17% discount on Sunday Brunch prices.
Turkey Travel Day 3 : Visit to Ephesus / Turkish Bath and Hot Springs of Lycus River Hotel Pamukkale
On day 3 of our Turkey travels with Chan Brothers, we visited a leather shop (complete with front row seats to a fashion show!), the Roman Ephesus of Turkey as well as the hot springs of Lycus River Hotel in Pamukkale!
Turkey Travel to Ephesus and Pamukkale (First Stop : Silvio Leather Fashion Show)
After a hearty breakfast, we went around Coastlight Hotel to take some shots before we headed to our first stop – Silvio Leather showroom!
At the showroom, we were given some apple tea before we were treated to a fashion show – front row seats no less! Of course, these were amateur models but we were rather impressed by this young male model who really strutted his stuff down the runway. During the fashion show, we were shown the latest and trendiest leather jackets. Some had amazing prints and most were reversible. Silvio Leather also claimed that they produce for international brands such as Burberry and Polo Ralph Lauren…
During the fashion show, members of the audience were also invited to take part and model some of the leather jackets. This brought much laughter to our tour group and we especially enjoyed the samba dance at the end of the show!
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After the fashion show, you’d be led to the second level where the expensive leather jackets are. These leather jackets produced by Silvio Leather averages about USD1000 (AFTER special discounts). We were quite taken back by the price as these were non-branded leather jackets. But for cheaper leather jackets, you can proceed to the first level where there are off-season leather jackets that averages about USD200. If you have not purchased anything by now, you’d be led to a small leather shop next door that sells leather shoes and bags averaging about USD100. Yes, hold out and you’ll get better deals.
Tip : You have to be strong and resist the temptation of buying a leather jacket! Imagine the number of branded bags you can buy with USD1000 – 2!
House of Virgin Mary & Ruins of Roman Ephesus in Turkey
Leaving the Silvio Leather showroom, we headed to the House of Virgin Mary. As it was still drizzling, we only had a shortened visit here. At this attraction, there’s a baptism pool near the House of Virgin Mary, the house itself (where you can’t take any photos within), a fountain to draw water (so bring along an empty bottle) and of course the area where you could leave a wish to Virgin Mary herself!
Remember to bring your own note and mechanism to tie it if you want your wish to come true!
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Then came the highlight of the day, our visit to the Roman Ephesus of Turkey!
There are 2 stories related to Ephesus
Story 1 – An Oracle
In the first story, it was said that in the 7th century, a prince of Athens received an oracle where he would build a city if a fish, wild boar and fire appeared simultaneously. One day, he saw someone doing some grilled fish and a wild boar ran over that BBQ. He saw it as a sign and built the city of Ephesus.
Story 2 – Amazonian Women
In the Anatolian version of the story, Ephesus was simply built by the Amazon warrior women.
If you take a look at one of the pictures below (the one with Medusa), you would see these 2 stories depicted on the columns of that structure.
You may know that the world-renowned brand, Nike is named after the goddess of Victory Nike. But did you know that if you look closely at her skirt, you’ll be able to identify the most familiar logo world-wide, the swoosh.
Can you see it?
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Leaving the city centre of Ephesus, you’ll be on a main street that leads to the Library of Ephesus. Take a shot from here. Unfortunately, it was raining during this time 🙁
Enis (our guide for Chan Brother’s Turkey Trip), told us about this special stone that has a picture of a left foot, heart, face of a woman and rectangle carved on it. According to his analysis of this piece of stone, he was able to tell that there’s a brothel right next to it. How?
He said, “If you are having an empty heart and have a large left foot, you can find a pretty woman right ahead. Don’t forget to bring your credit card!” Haha!
Tip : Besides the library, the other prominent structure is the theatre of Ephesus. The best spot to take a panoramic view of the theatre (as shown above) is between the pine trees before you exit to the market and souvenir shops.
Facilities of Lycus River Hotel Pamukkale
To end off the evening, we arrived early at Lycus River Hotel of Pamukkale. Pamukkale refers to cotton castle, a formation of calcium carbonate that seems to form a “cotton castle” in the middle of a hill. Before we were to head to Pamukkale the next morning, we had a good rest at Lycus River Hotel!
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There are 2 main things that you should try at Lycus River Hotel in Pamukkale…
1. Thermal Pool (aka hot springs). There’s a hot spring that you must check out at Lycus River Hotel. Remember to bring your swim wear! The thermal pool also leads outdoors and it was especially enjoyable to be soaking in the thermal pool during the winter season. Just like what you see on Japan Hour – winter onsen!
2. Turkish Bath. Originally, we were discouraged from taking the Turkish bath due to poor reviews from previous groups. Nonetheless, we still gave it a go. How can you go Turkey and not try a Turkish Bath right? It costs us 85TL (or $50SGD) and it was the best $ spent during the trip! The Turkish lady would scrub you first (you’d be in your undies or swim trunks) and then lay the softest and warmest coat of foam blanket over you.
Pure Bliss…
To form the foam (some tongue twister for you), the lady would trap some bath foam on a towel and swing it from side to side. This motion catches air within the towel and forms the foam which she would later squeeze upon you.
This would be followed by some gentle massages around the whole body (front and back) before washing you clean. No contortion, man-handling type of bath as they say.
One word from Tom : SHIOK!
From Kate : Because my Turkish lady had GIGANTIC boobs, as she massaged my arms, her boobs would rub repeatedly over my face! I think the Turkish lady enjoyed the bath more than I did…Boo Hoo.
After the enjoyable and relaxing sessions at the thermal pool and Turkish bath, we went for the dinner buffet where there was also a live band playing traditional Turkish music. Some Turkish folks also went forward to dance during dinner. Our favourite for dinner was the beef patty as well as making wraps using fresh lettuce.
Together with some members of the group, we had post-dinner drinks at the beautiful lobby lounge and chat till we were tired before we turned in for the night.
Itinerary of Turkey Travel Day 3: Coastlight Hotel to House of Virgin Mary, Ephesus and to Lycus River Hotel Pamukkale
0815 : Depart from Coastlight hotel to Silvio Leather showroom
0845 : Arrival at Silvio Leather showroom
1000 : Departure from Silvio Leather showroom to House of Virgin Mary
1015 : Arrival at House of Virgin Mary
1045 : Depart for Ephesus
1230 : Departure from Ephesus to Pamukkale
1500 : Break at Turkish delight stopover
1630 : Arrival at Lycus River Hotel @ Pamukkale
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Related posts
This post is part of our 10 Days 7 Nights Turkey travel with Chan Brothers. Below, you can find other relevant posts covered during this trip.
Turkey Trip Day 1 : Singapore to Istanbul and Ferry to Canakkale
Turkey Travel Day 2 : Visiting the Trojan Horse of Troy and Ancient City of Pergamon
Turkey Travel Day 3 : Visit to Ephesus / Turkish Bath and Hot Springs of Lycus River Hotel Pamukkale
Turkey Trip Day 4 : Pamukkale Cotton Castle and Journey to Cappadocia!
Hot Air Balloon Flight in Cappadocia with Royal Balloon : Turkey Travel Day 6!
Mall of Istanbul (MOI) : Shopping Eating and Relaxing on Day 8 of Turkey Trip!
Find out more about day 4 of our Chan Brother’s Turkey travel where we’ll visit the traventines of Pamukkale (Cotton Castle)!
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A Letter to Jen (Hotel Jen Orchardgateway Staycation)…
Dear Jen,
Thank you for hosting us at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway, one of the many hotels that you own all over the world. We thoroughly enjoyed the staycation at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway and we’re so glad that we got to experience, first hand, your hospitality over the weekend 🙂
What we enjoyed about Hotel Jen Orchardgateway
1. Relaxing in the comfort of your room
What we really love about your room is not only the view of the city (including Marina Bay Sands) but really the comfort within. Why didn’t you tell us that you had such a comfortable bed and a fantastic choice of channels on TV? We actually spent hours just lazing in bed, catching up on movies and watching “live” soccer…ah…
2. Great service from your staff
Jen Jen Jen, you have kept your “secret weapon” unknown to us haven’t you? We experienced great service all around the hotel! Upon arrival, we were promptly whisked away to our room by Kate and we were checked-in AT OUR ROOM! There were also all-round smiles everywhere we went. Looooved the great service from your staff at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway!
3. Breathtaking views from Rooftop Pool
Video of pool deck at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway
When you showed us the pictures taken from your rooftop pool at Hotel Jen, we thought you had them photoshopped. Never did we realise that the views were really so awesome! Coupled with tropical drinks such as Sangria and Mojito, holidays had just begun!
4. Cute little surprise
Thanks for the cute little surprise arranged for us while Kate and I were soaking up the sun at the rooftop pool. We enjoyed the fruits before heading back up for chilling hours at the Club Lounge. Love your handwriting by the way 😉
5. Chilling hours at your Club Lounge
See the two ladies seated in the first photo? That is the best seat in the Club Lounge. That was also where we enjoyed chilling hours as well. Views were great and we especially enjoyed the generous servings of sashimi. But we would have loved to try your specialty cocktail Jen1509. Remember to serve it the next time during your chilling hours k?
6. Fresh Seafood Buffet at Makan@Jen
When you told us that you were taking us to a seafood buffet dinner, we thought that it would be an international buffet with some doses of seafood. WE WERE SO WRONG! Your seafood buffet was A SEAFOOD BUFFET with doses of other meats. At every turn, we saw seafood, seafood and more seafood! But what really impressed us was that they were all really fresh. When we peeled the shell off the snow crab, the meat all stayed together (unlike some famous international buffet) and revealed itself as one huge chunky piece! Moreover, the baked lobster? Mmmm….so so so succulent!
Thank you for having us seated right opposite the lobsters as well. We were always the first on scene when the batches of lobsters were served! A secret to be kept between us ;P
7. Pedestrian Night at Orchard Road
Jack and Rai performing “With A Little Help From My Friends” by The Beatles
Did we mention that Hotel Jen Orchardgateway has an excellent location? It is right by Orchard Road, Singapore’s premier shopping belt! But the highlight during our staycation was being able to watch Jack and Rai perform “live”! You didn’t arrange this experience just for us did you?
8. Breakfast at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway
We love that you start your breakfast early at 6:30am. Sunrise over breakfast is just magnifique! Do help us thank your awesome chefs for those beautifully poached eggs. Will eggs benedict be on the cards the next time we visit?
9. Free rental of bamboo bicycles
We love this nice little touch of extending free rental of these eco-friend bamboo bicycles for all guests. Using bicycles to navigate around the city is definitely a great touch. We love it especially that there’s no time restrictions. Jen, you’re so smart!
10. Hi-Tea at Lounge@Jen
Chilling at Lounge@Jen is a relaxing experience altogether. Classy yet casual. A perfect place for friends to chillax. You and I both know the secret location where the best views are…shh…let’s meet there some time ok?
How to get to Hotel Jen Orchardgateway
Yes, we remember that Hotel Jen Orchardgateway is located at 277 Orchard Rd, 238858. Thanks for providing us complimentary parking and reminding us to enter the hotel via Somerset Road (not Orchard Road). Of course we parked at level 8 as you have recommended because that lift has only 3 buttons – Level 1, 8 and 10.
We wanted to just take the MRT as well because it is just as convenient by alighting at Somerset MRT. Just a short walk from 313 Somerset.
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Jen,
Thanks for an awesome staycation at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway! So great to have a friend like you!
Be our BFF k?
XOXO!!
Tom and Kate,
2bearbear.com
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Check out some of the other Singapore Staycations that we’ve done!
City
Rendezvous Hotel Singapore : Staycation In The Heart Of The Art District!
Raffles Hotel Staycation Singapore : Relax & Rejuvenate!
Orchard Road
Mandarin Orchard Singapore Staycation Review: Best Views From “Top Of The M” Meritus Club Lounge!
Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel Staycation: A Post-COVID Review
Novotel Singapore On Stevens Staycation: An Urban Oasis
A Letter To Jen (Hotel Jen Orchardgateway Staycation)…
Quincy Hotel Qool Weekend Staycation : Singapore’s ALL-IN Staycation!
National Day Staycation At The Regent Singapore – A Four Seasons Hotel!
Chinatown
The Clan Hotel Staycation Review: Sky Gym and Sky Pool Views That Mesmerise!
AMOY Hotel Singapore : Why You Should Stay Here During Your Next Visit
Marina Bay
The Fullerton Hotel Singapore Staycation: The Complete Review
Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel Harbour Studio Staycation!
Ritz Carlton Singapore Staycation: Simply Shiok!
Clarke Quay
Swissotel Merchant Court Executive Room Staycation : Right In The Heart Of Clarke Quay!
Bugis
Mercure Singapore Bugis Staycation: Executive Loft Room Review!
Novena
Oasia Hotel Staycation Review!
Katong
Grand Mercure Roxy Singapore Staycation : The Studio Suite!
Uniquely Singapore Staycation At Village Hotel Katong!
Downtown East
D’Resort @ Downtown East : A Perfect Staycation For The Entire Family!
Changi
Village Hotel Changi Staycation : Rediscover The Gems Of Singapore!
Sentosa
The Ultimate Family Staycation At Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa!
Amara Sanctuary Resort Staycation Singapore Sentosa 2 Bedroom (BR) Villa With Plunge (Private) Pool
Harris Hotel Batam Center : By 2bearbear’s Youngest Reviewer!
Harris Hotel Batam Center was visited by one young aspiring blogger – Ken. Known simply as Ken, he is only 8 years old this year. Ken stayed for 2 nights at Harris Hotel Batam Center and here is his version of the review…
Getting to Harris Hotel Batam Center
From Singapore Cruise Centre, Singapore to Batam Centre Ferry Terminal, Batam Island. (When we exited the ferry terminal, they always ask us for taxi). 5 to 10 minutes walk to Harris Hotel Batam Centre.
Things to note
1. Check in is at 2:00pm Batam time GMT +7. Check out time is at 12pm GMT +7.
2. The hotel staff is very friendly and they also have a welcome drink! It tastes like lemongrass.
3. Getting to the Ferry Terminal and the Megamall opposite is very difficult.
Used Batam Fast Operator. Got seasick on the way 🙁
About Harris Hotel Batam Center
(Hotel Room Service Number is 0). Hotel room very clean. Swimming pool at hotel has sea view, 1.15m tall (Note from Tom : I think he’s referring to the depth of the pool).
What I enjoyed in Batam
Megamall has A&W, J.Co and other shops.
1. Did foot reflexology at Johnny Andrean for 42,000Rupiah ($4.50 SGD) per person. Hair wash and blow dry for 45,000Rupiah per person at UG floor. (Note from Tom : Foot Reflexology at 8 years old?! He really knows how to enjoy this Ken)
2. Lunch at Black Canyon Coffee Cafe. Cookies ‘n’ cream frappe costs 33,000Rupiah at Ground Floor.
3. Next it’s time to play at Time Zone! 1 card costs 100,000Rupiah ($10.70 SGD) with stored value of 175,000Rupiah. The best game was the car racing game. I played it for 7-9 times!!! But beware, there is a gambling game called Deal or No Deal!!! At 1st floor…
4. Movies at Cinema XXI are priced at 25,000Rupiah ($2.70 SGD) for Mon to Thur and 30,000Rupiah ($3.20 SGD) for Fri to Sun. Caught 2 movies in 3 days. Big Hero 6 and Penguins of Madagascar, 2 of the latest movies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Note from Tom : This was the actual number of exclamation marks used by Ken – All 19 of them. No kidding!). After movies, I finished the remaining Rupiah in the game card 🙁
5. Bought back 2 dozens of J.Co Doughnut for 115,000Rupiah. Yummilicious!
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Hope you have enjoyed Ken’s review of Harris Hotel Batam Center and his coverage of Batam during his 3 days stay!
Eastern & Oriental Hotel : Penang’s Grand Old Dame
Eastern & Oriental Hotel (also known affectionately as the E&O Hotel) is Penang’s most iconic hotel. Founded by the Sarkies brothers (who also founded Raffles Hotel in Singapore and the Strand in Yangon) in 1885, it was also known as “the Premier Hotel East of the Suez” due to its sea-front lawn spanning in excess of 800 feet and the hot and cold running water (yup, it was a symbol of luxury in those days). Thanks to the great folks of E&O Hotel (a huge shout-out to Eileen!), we were hosted to 2 nights stay at the Victory Annexe Studio Suite right here at the iconic Eastern & Oriental Hotel, Penang!
As we were heading towards E&O from Rasa Sayang, we popped by Lone Pine Hotel (also under the management of E&O) for a complimentary transfer.
We alighted at the heritage wing of the E&O and sure enough, the colonial and classy feel of the hotel dawned upon us as we entered the lobby…
After a prompt check-in at the Victory Annexe (too prompt in a sense that we were not formally introduced to the facilities of the hotel), we were shown to our lift. Walking along a hugely spacious corridor at level 8, we arrived at our suite…
Eastern and Oriental Hotel Penang (E&O Hotel) Victory Annexe Studio Suite
As we entered the suite, the decoration and layout exuberated the classy vibe as we’ve had experienced at the Raffles Hotel Singapore. Our first gasp came as we laid eyes upon the bath tub…as the centre-piece of the entire suite, it is both functional and yet can be seen as a piece of art. The clawfoot bath tub, accompanied by a huge full length mirror, is certainly a lavish touch to the overall decoration of the suite.
There are also 2 wash basins for the lady and gentleman. How do we know that? The toiletries supplied at each basin was different. One has the shaver while the other has the shower cap. A cute little touch there 😉
As with all 5 stars / luxury class hotels, the beds are always inviting. At the Victory Annexe Studio Suite, you’ll get a writer’s desk as well as pool and sea view at your own private balcony…
Video Tour of Victory Annexe Studio Suite, E&O Hotel
Eastern and Oriental Hotel Penang (E&O Hotel) Facilities
Swimming Pool
Both the Victory Annexe as well as the Heritage Wing have swimming pools of their own and guests are allowed to visit either of the swimming pools. We loved the Victory Annexe swimming pool (not only because of its proximity – ie walk less) but also because of the splendid views that it offers of the sea and the Malaysia Peninsula.
Gym
The E&O Hotel is currently in the midst of adding a spa to its premise (yay!). However, it’s business as usual at the gym and yes, it also has sea views as you work out on one of these treadmills.
Planter’s Lounge
Guests staying at the Victory Annexe also have complimentary access to the Planter’s Lounge. Coffee and Tea are available throughout the day while cocktail hours are from 6pm to 7pm daily. Do note that the Planter’s Lounge is NOT A CLUB. This means that it is essentially an area for guests to relax or have meetings. Hence, depending on the crowd, you may or may not be served when you visit the lounge. The other strange thing that we noticed was that there’s no signature cocktails served during cocktail hours (we ordered the E&O Sling at the pool). You would have to concoct your own cocktails with the given liquor and drinks 😉
Marvelous Views in and around E&O Hotel Penang
Eastern and Oriental Hotel Penang (E&O Hotel) Breakfast at Sarkies
Breakfast at Sarkies starts from 6:30am to 10:30am while breakfast at Planter’s Lounge ends slightly later at 11am. There’s a good spread and variety of breakfast at Sarkies that ranges from asian (indian, japanese and malaysian) to western (patries, toasts and eggs). But for us, it was the overall experience of dining outdoors at the verandah, overlooking peninsula Malaysia and sipping over a nice cuppa while browsing the day’s news. Heavenly!
How to get to Eastern and Oriental Hotel Penang (E&O Hotel)
Eastern and Oriental Hotel Penang (E&O Hotel) is located at 10 Farquhar Street, Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia. From Penang International Airport it takes about 20 minutes (15 USD) by taxi and about 10 minutes (15RM) by trishaw from Komtar. If you’re taking a bus from Penang International Airport to Komtar, it takes about 30 minutes (3RM) by taking buses 102 and 401.
To sum up, we take a look at our BASIC FACTOR and the score for Eastern and Oriental Hotel Penang, is a 4.5!
B – 1. Clawfoot bath tub. Need we say more?
A – 1. Classy, lavish, luxurious and colonial. All the factors of a heritage hotel.
S – 0.5. Like we said, checking-in was a little too “prompt”. More information could have been given at the reception.
I – 1. Splendid views from the infinity pool. Great place to chillax.
C – 1. Comfortable bed and pillows for a good night’s rest 🙂
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**Special thanks to Eileen for making our staycation at Eastern and Oriental Hotel possible!
Click here for the best rates at Eastern and Oriental Hotel Penang!
Hard Rock Hotel Penang : Have a rocking good time!
Hard Rock Hotel Penang was our hotel of choice when we visited the Batu Ferringhi area of Penang. Thanks to the great folks at Hard Rock Penang, we were hosted to a one night stay at the Seaview Studio Suite with access to the Kings Club Lounge!
Hard Rock Hotel and Hard Rock Cafe Penang
Hard Rock Hotel Penang from the swimming pool
Receptionists welcoming us to a rocking good time at Hard Rock Penang
Hard Rock Hotel Penang Seaview Studio Suite
As members of the Kings Club Lounge, we had an exclusive check in there while we enjoyed some light refreshments. After getting our key card, we were eager to explore our Seaview Studio Suite!
Checking in at Kings Club Lounge Hard Rock Penang
As we entered into our room, “Oohs” and “Wows” started to sound from the both of us! We were particularly impressed with the size of the room, the huge bath tub as well as the awesome views from the balcony! From the balcony, you’ll be able to enjoy views of the swimming pool as well as the beach right next to the hotel…
Unbelievable views from Hard Rock Hotel Penang Seaview Studio Suite
Seaview Studio Suite Hard Rock Penang
Another view of the Seaview Studio Suite at Hard Rock Hotel Penang
Inviting sofa that affords sea views in comfort
2bearbears comfortably in king-sized bed of Hard Rock Penang Hotel
A little pantry area complete with a sink, oven and fridge
Toiletries at Hard Rock Hotel Penang
Luxurious bath tub in Seaview Studio Suite Hard Rock Hotel
Lyrics to Wonderful Tonight. Or is it? Read the lyrics carefully! It’s actually a message to conserve water!
There’s another thing which we enjoyed in-room…COMPLIMENTARY MOVIES! We caught 2 movies while we’re here; It’s Complicated starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, and Steve Martin and Up in the Air starring George Clooney. Catching up on movies that we’ve not seen? Awesome!
Video tour of Hard Rock Hotel Penang’s Seaview Studio Suite
Hard Rock Hotel Penang Facilities
After checking out our stay at the Seaview Studio Suite, we decided to see what facilities Hard Rock Hotel Penang has to offer…
1. Rock Spa Penang
Our therapists at Rock Spa Penang
Outdoor treatment villas at Rock Spa Penang
Outdoor shower and tub for private villa spa
Indoor treatment rooms at Rock Spa Penang
The Rock Spa in Penang has won several accolades including the 5 stars rating by the Ministry of Culture Malaysia & Tourism – one of only two spas with this award in Penang. Kate enjoyed a Hard Rock massage at the Rock Spa (1 hour for 170RM) and indeed it lived up to its name as one of the most relaxing experiences in Penang.
2. Hard Rock Hotel Penang Swimming Pool
Kate at “beach” part of the pool with a sandy bottom
Fun water slides for the kids
Swimming pool at Hard Rock Hotel Penang
The swimming pool at Hard Rock Hotel Penang is one of the largest hotel swimming pools we’ve been to (second to only MGM in Las Vegas). There are 2 lap pools right in front of the lagoon deluxe rooms. A water slide , fun play area for the kids as well as the center stage pool. It was actually quite fun to swim from one end of the pool to the other. But you would have to get out and re-enter at certain parts of the pool in order to do so.
3. Kings Club Lounge
Kings Club Lounge Hard Rock Penang
View of the swimming pool from Kings Club Lounge
Savoury dishes during cocktail hours at Kings Club Lounge
Mini Tortilla Handroll
Rice paper roll with mango salsa
Mini crab cakes
Carrot cake , butter cakes and strawberry tart from Kings Club Lounge
2bearbear enjoying cocktail hour at Kings Club Lounge Hard Rock Penang
Kings Club Lounge privileges are only extended to guests stay at the Kings Club Seaview, Seaview Studio Suite, Rock Star Suite and Kings Suite. Guests may also enjoy these privileges at an additional RM150++ per room per night and RM75++ for the third guest.
Guests can enjoy the afternoon tea as well as daily cocktail hour (1 hour only) from 6pm to 7pm while enjoying the sun setting over the horizon…ah…
4. Hard Rock Cafe Penang
Live performance at Hard Rock Cafe Penang
Close up shot of Band Deviate
Nachos with grilled chicken (RM48) with a jug of draft beer (RM68) at Hard Rock Cafe Penang
As the sun sets over the horizon, the Hard Rock Cafe Penang comes to life with its nightly live performances! We enjoyed the performance by the band Deviate who were able to play songs upon request. In addition, the singers NEVER referred to any books, showing that they memorised ALL the lyrics by heart! These guys are really professional! Remember to request for “Smooth” by Carlos Santana!
5. Other facilities and things to do at Hard Rock Hotel Penang
Pool facing Body Rock Gym at Hard Rock Hotel Penang
Lil’ Rock Kids Club
Teens can also hang out at the Tabu Teens Club while ladies can spot a new hair-do at the Glamour Hair Salon. For the die hard rock fans, there are memorabilia located throughout the hotel. You can also choose to go home with a city-tee with a visit to any of the THREE Rock shops located at the premise.
As a guest, you are also given the a code to download songs from the online music store. You can also choose to play on any of the 12 fender guitars for free – well a deposit of 5000RM is required before you can lay your hands one of those beauties 😉
Last but not least, there are many beach activities such as banana boat ride, para-sailing, jet skiing and even horse-back riding available right at the beach front. Strangely, the sand in front of the Hard Rock Penang is really fine and comparable to that in Surfer’s Paradise Gold Coast. Hence, a walk along the beach should be in place 😉
Hard Rock Hotel Penang Breakfast
Breakfast at Hard Rock Hotel Penang
More options for breakfast at Hard Rock Penang
Yummy lamb curry with prata and murtabak
Healthy selection of fruits and vegetables
2bearbears with rice and noodles which were not bad
How to get to Hard Rock Hotel Penang
Rapid Penang Bus 102 from Penang International Airport to Hard Rock Hotel Penang
From the Penang international airport, we took bus 102 to Hard Rock Penang. The ride costs 4RM per person and takes between 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on the traffic.
Hard Rock Hotel Penang is located at Batu Ferringhi Beach, 11100 Penang, Malaysia
To sum up, we take a look at our BASIC FACTOR and the score for Hard Rock Hotel Penang, is a 5!
B – 1. Bath tub in the Seaview Studio Suite was HUGE!
A – 1. Hard Rock Hotel Penang certainly lives up to the HR vibe right from the start of our stay
S – 1. Service was good at Kings Club Lounge and at breakfast.
I – 1. One of the largest pools we’ve been to. Had fun exploring it!
C – 1. Bed was firm and the pillow was comfortable yet thick enough. One of our best nights rest at a hotel!
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**Special thanks to Sheryn and Karen for making our staycation at Hard Rock Hotel Penang possible!
Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel Harbour Studio Staycation!
Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel’s Harbour Studio not only offers a fantastic view over the Marina Bay, but during the National Day period, it also offers fantastic vantage points for…you’ve guessed it! Fireworks! The harbour facing rooms (Harbour Studio, Skyline Suite, Harbour Suite and Presidential Suite) of the Pan Pacific Singapore Hotels offers breathtaking views of the Marina Bay including views of attractions such as the Esplanade, Helix Bridge and the Merlion!
Thanks to the great folks at Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel, we were hosted to a staycation at the Pacific Harbour Studio room and boy was it an awesome staycation!
Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel Harbour Studio Staycation
The Harbour Studio Room of the Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel is one of the latest addition to the hotel after the recent renovation works. The room is modern, slick and have upgraded amenities to meet the needs of sophisticated travellers today…
Video Tour of Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel Harbour Studio
Video Tour of Pan Pacific Singapore City Suites (where we stayed during our previous visit)
As you can see from the video, this is one of the rooms with unblocked views of the Marina Bay Floating Platform (room 32xx) and the Marina Bay itself.
Also, if you’re staying above level 22, you’ll be able to take the Pan Pacific Hotel Singapore’s Bubble Lift and enjoy splendid views overlooking Singapore!
But the best part of the room was of course the fireworks! Just for you our readers, we recorded this awesome (“everything is awesome…”) fireworks display…you may even hear us singing the National Day Songs in the background as well! Enjoy!
National Day Parade Fireworks as seen from Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel Harbour Studio Room
Pacific Club Privileges @ Pan Pacific Singapore
In addition to the panoramic 360 degrees view of Singapore, the Pacific Club extends the following privileges to Pacific Club Guests…
– Champagne breakfast at Pacific Club or buffet breakfast at Edge, from 6:00am to 10:30am or in-room dining breakfast at your leisure
– Afternoon tea from 3:00pm to 5:00pm
– Sunset cocktails and canapés from 6:00pm to 8:00pm
– 24-hour club service
– Late check-out until 2:00pm
Use of Pacific Club private dining rooms with prior reservation
– 50% savings on secretarial services at the Pacific Centre
You’ll note from the above information that THERE’S CHAMPAGNE SERVED FOR BREAKFAST AT THE PACIFIC CLUB!! (Did we raised our voice a little there?). The other interesting thing to note is that the Pacific Club is one of the few hotel lounges in Singapore that extends the club service for 24 hours. A great gesture by the hotel 🙂
Afternoon Tea from 3pm to 5pm
After our swim at the pool, we headed to the Pacific Club for afternoon tea at about 4pm. Once we entered the club at the 38th level, we realised that the club is slightly different from the club lounges of the other hotels. As we stepped out of the lift, we were promptly greeted by the staff with huge smiles and echoing sounds of “welcome”. It was as if we had known each other for the longest time and the staff were welcoming us back to the club once again…
Rafael, the club manager accentuated this “life” of the club with his outgoing personality and warm hospitality. He then asked if it was our first time at the club and unreservedly gave us a quick tour of the premise (all these time, not knowing that we were hosted to a stay at the Pan Pacific Singapore! Talk about great service…)
There were ample seats at the Pacific Club which were tastefully decorated and laid out. In addition to the splendid views over the marina bay, you can also enjoy sun rise AND sun set from the Pacific Club as well. For those who prefer a little bit of privacy, there are 2 private dining rooms that can be made available with prior arrangements.
As for the afternoon tea…
Sunset cocktail from 6pm to 8pm
The sunset cocktail at the Pacific Club is aptly named because of its splendid views of the sunset over the horizon in the direction of Swissotel Singapore. After the afternoon tea, we continued to “chope” our spot and played some scrabble until the cocktail commenced. The alcoholic choices available during cocktails include international and in-house cocktails, beers, wines and champagnes!
At about 6:45pm, we witnessed the fly past of the National Flag…
After seeing this manoeuvre “live” from the Pacific Club, we realised our low our helicopters actually flew and what risks they were actually subjected to. At one point, we thought that they were REALLY close to the buildings as they headed towards the floating platform.
Kudos to our Airforce chaps for making this difficult feat seem so easy!
After Breakfast at Edge Restaurant
After breakfast at Edge the next morning, we headed back to the Pacific Club to have our daily coffee fix and enjoyed a lazy Sunday morning with the Sunday Times! Gourmet coffee, views of the Marina Bay and the Sunday Times? Ah…
Breakfast at Edge Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel
The breakfast at Edge was the usual international buffet breakfast…
Just to let you in on a little secret, the Edge serves Eggs Benedict for breakfast!
The thing is, this item is not shown on the menu and you will have to tell the chef that you would like “Eggs Benedict”. The funny thing was, once you ordered it, others having seen it, would follow suit (who wouldnt right?!). So the chef would try to pass to you in the fastest possible manner before anyone can ask “what was that?!”
Facilities and Amenities in Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel
Besides the Pacific Club (which we strongly recommend for a fantastic staycation experience), Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel also offers facilities of a 5 stars hotel, including…
Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel Pacific Market
Before we left, we enjoyed a simple lunch at the Pacific Marketplace…
The Pacific Marketplace also recently launched the SuperMuffin! When you think of muffins, you’d usually think of the sweet ones like chocolate and banana muffins right? The SuperMuffin is an innovative series of savoury muffins that was actually interestingly good. We tried the Ms Piggy (Char Siew with Salted Egg) SuperMuffin and were surprised by the unique taste. Although at $7++, it was a tad on the expensive side, we still think it is worth A try…(note the emphasis on “A”) Other choices include Chicken Run, succulent chicken wok-fried with garlic chives and Shaoxing Wine; Minotaur, classic Braised oxtail; Hulk, a decadent blend of Mushroom, Cream and Cheese; and Krrish, curry potatoes with a medley of Indian spices.
We also tried the Chicken Not Little sandwich with Pacific Cobb Salad at $17++
For something that is a little lower in price, the cupcakes goes for $4++ while the croissants goes for $3++. These prices are quite reasonable considering that the Pacific Marketplace is located within the hotel and may be possibly cheaper than some artisanal cafes…
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To sum up, we take a look at our BASIC FACTOR and the score for Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel, is a 4.5!
B – 1. Huge and modern bath tub with TV views and views of the Marina Bay Skyline. Shiok!
A – 1. In terms of ambience, you’ll feel the touch of class as you enter into the lobby surrounded with the uniquely designed individual pods.
S – 1. Service was prompt and individualised , especially when you enter the Pacific Club!
I – 0.5. One of the largest pools in the Marina Bay Area. You can compare by taking the bubble lifts of the Pan Pacific Hotel which overlooks the pools of several hotels nearby.
C – 1. Bed was firm, large and comfy. Views of the Marina Bay as you sleep? Marvellous!
All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed our staycation at the Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel! Do check out our visit to the Long Long Lunch at Edge as well!
** Special thanks to Cheryl, Wen Xian and the PPS Team for hosting us to an unforgettable stay at the Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel!
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