I Wander

Travel, Itineraries & Guides, Hotel Reviews

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Hotel Review: The Bale Phnom Penh – Unique Modernist Resort By the River

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The Bale Phnom Penh opened in 2018 as the first property of the boutique resort chain Lifestyle Retreats outside of Bali, Indonesia. The 18-suite stunner  is located some 15 kilometers from Phnom Penh’s city center, an easy 20 minute drive but feels like a world away with its placid and zen-like ambiance. I have been to Phnom Penh 4 times and have witnessed how this city has grown over the years. To date, there’s probably no other property like it not just in Phnom Penh but in all of Cambodia.

To get to The Bale Phnom Penh from the airport requires nearly an hour’s drive as the airport is located in the opposite side of the city. It’s a scenic journey along the outskirts where one can appreciate a bit of rural life juxtaposed with the burgeoning skyline of Phnom Penh in the distance.

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Hotel Review: Amari Johor Bahru – Best Hotel in JB’s Buzzing CBD

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The relatively new Amari Johor Bahru occupies one of the best locations for those crossing the causeway to the Malaysian city for the weekend. Within walking distance to JB Sentral train station as well as the checkpoint, inhouse guests can literally monitor the flow of traffic coming in and out of Singapore from the air conditioned comfort of the hotel.

As I have not been to Johor Bahru for a long while (my last visit was more than 4 years ago where I stayed at what is now the Hotel Jen Nusajaya Puteri Harbour), I decided to make this short getaway to the city across the border.

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Hotel Review: Dusit Thani Manila – A Slice of Bangkok in the Philippines

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The building where the current Dusit Thani Manila now stands has had a notable history where hotels in Manila are concerned. Originally opened in 1976 as the Manila Garden Hotel from the building spree that occurred for the IMF Convention then, the property later became Hotel Nikko Manila Garden and was acquired by the Dusit Thani Group in 1995. As it stands, the Dusit Thani Manila is one of the first (if not the first) Dusit Thani hotel outside Thailand and as such, the property has an undeniable Thai flair.

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Cycling in Eastern Singapore – From Katong to East Coast Park

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My full day of cycling did not exactly start out as planned. I woke up witnessing heavy rain outside my window, with puddles accumulating around the sidewalks. The weather may have been a perfect excuse to just stay indoors but rather than canceling my plans altogether, I brought out the Brompton bicycle that I had loaned and proceeded to hail a cab. The bike’s manageable size and weight as well as its foldability makes it rather suited to situations like these when I can choose to bring it inside a car and head to a part of town I’d like to explore for leisure.

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Sky Premium – Exclusive Membership Club Launched in Singapore

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Sky Premium is an exclusive membership programme officially launched on 23rd August 2018. Think of it as a luxurious version of the typical discount or privilege programme. With Sky Premium, members can access around 200 establishments spread across categories like travel, wine and dine, shopping and wellness. Through the online portal, members can enjoy unique perks and there is even an option to buy products from Sky Premium’s online store. Membership in this programme costs S$1,200 per year with the actual membership card coming with 1 gram of 24k gold.

Merchants under Sky Premium’s Travel pillar include Banyan Tree Group, Antarctica XXI and White Sharks Project. Under the Wine & Dine, merchants include BAM!, The Lighthouse and Peach Blossom.

Specific examples of privileges include:

  • Complimentary platinum membership to Emporium Shokuhin
  • At BAM! restaurant, members have access to the best table in the house with personal greetings from the head chef, free exclusive drink and amuse bouche for each guest dining
  • At Spa Infinity, members get to enjoy beauty and wellness services at members-exclusive prices

Aside from the website, members can access the perks and privileges of Sky Premium anywhere using their mobile phones through the app. There will also be a monthly newsletter with the latest happenings, promotions as well as new merchants being added to the programme.

Members can also clinch invites to exclusive, closed-door events. These include masterclasses and prestigious members’ parties like cruise-ship soirees, fashion shows and more. Other than this, there is also the ability to earn points through bookings and reservations generated through the Sky Premium platform.

Editor’s Note: Singapore has quite a number of consumer-oriented membership programmes that have become successful over the years and Sky Premium is perhaps the most prominent one so far that specifically targets the well-heeled. Some of the food and dining privileges look interesting but the website provides scant details so far of the travel-related benefits. It would be good to know what these are eventually. Then again, one would probably have to be among the privileged few to find out.

Buffet at Beach Road Kitchen, JW Marriott Singapore South Beach

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Beach Road Kitchen, the all-day dining restaurant of JW Marriott Singapore, does not immediately occur as a hotel dining concept. The venue has its own entrance off the restaurant row in South Beach, with an elegant facade and floor-to-ceiling windows that reveal just what’s inside. This is where hotel guests have their breakfast. Outside of these hours, Beach Road Kitchen attracts a steadily growing clientele made up mostly of residents looking for the latest buffet concepts.

Recently during my stay at the JW Marriott Singapore, I got to check out exactly what Beach Road Kitchen has to offer. A sign by the entrance shows the prices for different timings and at first, it may seem like another one of those usual hotel buffets. However, after having my dinner there, I must say that there are quite a number of differentiating factors here compared to other buffets in Singapore.

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The Most Exclusive & Prestigious Credit Cards in Singapore

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Credit cards have come a long way from their original purpose – which is essentially to enable people to purchase goods sans the cash. Over the years, credit cards have become associated with rewards and particularly miles redemptions – which in turn has led to a breed of miles enthusiasts.

Like most financial products, credit cards come in tiers and there are a number in Singapore reserved for the very few. The most exclusive ones boast of features such as an endless credit limit, elite status in loyalty programmes and even the usage of a personal assistant. Many of the benefits are admittedly travel-oriented. Since there aren’t a whole lot of details about these ultra elite and exclusive credit cards, I decided to compile a list here for reference. An overwhelming majority of us probably won’t qualify but it is free to dream after all.

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