Travel, Itineraries & Guides, Hotel Reviews
Concorde Hotel Singapore in Orchard Road has recently unveiled its newly renovated guestrooms. The refurbishment work done was quite extensive and covered not just the bedroom but also the bath areas. Elements such as the wallpapers, lightings and carpets were changed and certain amenities upgraded.
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Manila has seen a spur of luxury hotel openings as of late and while many of the newer properties are housed in casinos, the Shangri-La at the Fort Manila has quickly become a popular venue not just for hotel stays but also for weddings, banquets and dinners at one of its many food outlets. Opened in March 2016, the property offers a good peek of the brand’s current interpretation of luxury. Many of the chain’s properties in the region – which are easily identified through their grand lobbies – have been around for decades and it’s been a while since a new Shangri-la property opened in Southeast Asia.
Shangri-La the Fort Manila is located at an exciting area of Taguig, one of the component cities of Metropolitan Manila. The hotel is just within walking distance from the pedestrian-friendly High Street in Bonifacio Global City. The building where the Shangri-La at the Fort Manila is located is a mixed-use development consisting of a hotel, serviced apartments, condominium units, a massive sports center and a shopping mall. Little wonder then that the hotel is very popular for staycations despite being one of the priciest hotels in Manila.
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Located right in the heart of Marina Bay, the Marina Mandarin Singapore is one of the flagship properties of the Meritus Hotels and Resorts. Just steps away from Marina Square and Suntec City (two major shopping malls in Singapore), the 575-room hotel was built in 1987 and designed by John Portman. It boasts of a magnificent atrium – probably one of the most attractive in Singapore and certainly a feast to architecture buffs. I recall staying here some 9 years back and remember being pleasantly surprised by the his and her sinks found even at the entry-level rooms. Recently, I had another opportunity to check out the property – this time at a different room category.
the magnificent atrium of the marina mandarin singapore
My room for this particular stay was a Premier Room which is located within the 16th to the 19th floor of the hotel. Renovated a couple of years ago, it sported a contemporary and elegant look that differentiated it from the base level rooms of the hotel. The first thing you will notice as you enter the room is how bright it is. The color scheme is highly pleasing to the eyes – light and lacking of any garish décor. At the far end, you will also see a balcony which opens up to views of the City Hall area. The glass panels are actually floor-to-ceiling which also allows plenty of light to come in.
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Many are familiar with the ultra-luxury resort that is Capella Singapore in Sentosa. One of the top-rated hotels in the country, it’s also one of the more popular staycation options among Singaporeans (the rooms even at entry-level are huge). I have also written about this lush property previously, having stayed twice before in various room types. I highly enjoy the tranquil environment. If you fancy spending a weekend away from the crowds, you’re hard-pressed to find a venue that’s more conducive.
You can check out my review of the resort section of Capella Singapore here.
Not a lot of people are probably aware that Capella Singapore also has a serviced residences arm. With 62 suites, 10 penthouse units and 9 manors; The Club Residences – as the serviced apartments are called – actually comprises a significant proportion of the resort. Recently, I had an opportunity to check out this side of the property for two nights to see how it compares to other serviced residences in Singapore.
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The Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa exemplifies a compelling city getaway. A mere 45 minutes drive from bustling Cebu City, the resort’s white sand beaches and translucent waters can impress even the most jaded traveler. The property has been around for over twenty years and through refurbishments over the years, remains highly popular in the region for those seeking a great beach holiday. It was recently voted by CN Traveler as one of the best resorts in the world! The wonderful thing about this resort is that while it is located in a quieter side of Mactan, those yearning for the city life can easily hop on a cab and head to Cebu so you do get the best of both worlds here.
hotel lobby
From Singapore, there are several options to get here including via flights from Tigerair. From Mactan Cebu International Airport, the resort is roughly a 15 minute drive away. For this particular stay, we were billeted at the Ocean Wing which is housed in a separate building from the main wing and has its own lobby. Upon getting dropped off at the Ocean Wing driveway, we were immediately escorted to our sleeping quarters for in-room check-in.
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One of the most recognizable hotels in the Orchard Road stretch, the Concorde Hotel Singapore is the only property of the hospitality chain, HPL Hotels, in the country. The location of this mid-rise hotel, right between Dhoby Ghaut and Somerset MRT stations is highly central. A shopping mall is never too far away.
The 407-room hotel used to be the Le Meridien until HPL Hotels took over a few years back. The property is one of the few that still features an open atrium lobby – not exactly considered optimal in today’s space-deprived Singapore but most certainly a bright and airy alternative from what we see in newer venues.
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The Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre stands as one of the most centrally-located hotels in Singapore. Its location just behind the Centrepoint mall, within walking distance to the Orchard Road stretch, makes it highly popular among leisure travelers. It is one of the hotels I frequently recommend to friends from overseas whenever they ask for a mid-range option in Singapore. Likewise, it is one of the few hotels in the country that offer two double beds under the twin category which makes it easy for those traveling with kids.
I recently spent a night at this IHG property. Although I have been here a couple of times, this was actually my first time staying here. The hotel was renovated in 2009 – prior to that the property was known as the Holiday Inn Parkview. One defining feature of the hotel is its open atrium which used to look down to the lobby. After not being here for a while, I discovered that the atrium now houses the club lounge – but more on that later.
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Shinta Mani Angkor is a name that has been getting a lot of attention lately, even from those who have not been to Cambodia. For a 39-room boutique hotel, the property seems to be a lot bigger than it really is in terms of citations. This Siem Reap hotel designed by Bill Bensley had humble beginnings but has in recent years reaped countless awards by prestigious publications. It was ranked the #3 best hotel in the world by CNN in 2015. Conde Nast, Travel + Leisure and Tripadvisor have likewise bestowed accolades on the property throughout the years. During my trip to Siem Reap, I wanted to see exactly how a small hotel could possibly stand at the pinnacle of the hospitality scene. This led to my two night stay at Shinta Mani Angkor.
My most recent trip to Siem Reap came nine years after my previous one. In that span of time, the tourism industry in Cambodia has grown exponentially. The sheer number of accommodation choices became palpable as soon as I exited the airport and found myself at the waiting area. A number of drivers were gathered around holding placards containing the name of their respective properties. I spotted the name Shinta Mani from that crowd and waved to my driver who quickly escorted me to the hotel’s van.
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