Tuesday, 11 November 2014

The Westin Chosun Seoul - April 2014

 

Seoul is the capital of South Korea which is a rather mountainous region and is now famous for Samsung, Gangnam Style and plastic surgery.

We were here for the cherry blossoms and some shopping. 

Incidentally, the FIFA world cup was at the hotel during our stay!


Why choose this hotel?

The Chosun Hotel is one of the premium hotels in Seoul and the oldest apparently. I believe it was rebuilt.

The hotel is celebrating its 100 anniversary this year.

The location of the hotel is great, and is within walking distance to many attractions as well as many metro stations on different lines.
Traveling to various tourist spots were so easy!


The hotel is next to a minor attraction too!

The Management

Starwood!

Getting to the Hotel

We arrived at Incheon Airport which is actually quite far away and there is a direct bus which stops at the hotel.

Fast, safe and convenient!

The Hotel

There was no sign of its age and the lobby was clean and spacious.


The check-in was a little hidden in the corner providing perhaps a bit more privacy.

The corridors were a little dark for my liking.


The Rooms

We were given a deluxe room at first which was really small. However, hotels are rather expensive in Seoul.
The room is about 40sqm/440sqft which actually isn't too bad.


 The bathroom was rather small and had a tub with a shower as reflected in the mirror.

We could see the temple beside the hotel from the room.

We were then upgraded to a Junior Suite and it looked much bigger (60sqm/650sqft) . However I do feel some space was wasted for the 'locker room' and doorway.





Westin's Heavenly Bed is of course delightful, providing a good sleep!

I love Nepresso machines!

The amenities in the bathroom is the most complete of any hotel I have experienced.

The Food and Drinks

We had lounge access and the lounge was located at the top floors with a good view.

The evening cocktail spread was relatively good for range but excellent for quality!



Otherwise, cookies and drinks were available throughout the day.
There was also a space for internet use which was rather hidden and great for privacy.

We had breakfast daily at Aria which really played classical music and operatic arias (which was to my liking).

The range was really good and there was slight variation to the food offered daily.

Service was excellent and getting attention was easy. Food was replenished readily and quickly.









There was also a Japanese restaurant next the the lounge which we didn't try.


Neither did we go to the lobby bar.

The Pool And Gym

Sadly the  pool was closed during my stay, but it looks magnificent!

There was an area to relax which was shared with the spa.


The gym was truly a gem! Perhaps that is why many Korean men are so buff!

Gigantic space and many machines and weights!




The Service

I must emphasize the service is excellent!

Our luggage was taken the moment we reached and everyone was so polite. The bellboy even refused tips!

A box of macaroons was waiting for us in the room as a gift.


The staff are very well-dressed and good looking as well!



 

The Spa

No visits to the spa, as there are way too many things to do in Seoul for our first time there!

In Summary 

The location is great, the service is excellent, food is good and the rooms are nice.

The downside? Probably the room rates during high season.

A great place to stay for a first visit to Seoul definitely!

Tuesday, 4 November 2014

Intercontinental Bangkok - February 2014


Bangkok is one of the most popular cities in the world!

Friendly people, affordable food, great massages, gorgeous hotels, I can go on and on!

The main problem could be the political situation and there will be a small section on that in this entry.

Why choose this hotel?

Well, the location is rather good, near to the BTS station and Central World shopping centre.

Not too strong a recommendation considering the many hotels in Bangkok!

The Management

 The (famous) IHG group of course!

Getting to the Hotel

Taxis are the way to go! Except in times of political unrest.
For the newbies, always request for the meter (and hope it's not a "fixed" one!)

Otherwise the airport link/express is quite ok, the Phaya Thai link being better as the connection to the Chidlom (alternatively spelt Chit Lom) BTS is smoother.

However, this trip we had to walk 200m to the hotel due to the protests. Not too pleasant to say the least.

The Hotel

This is a beautiful hotel! The huge chandeliers adorning the lobby, the grand staircase and the friendly staff!



The front desk is right in the centre of the lobby and cannot be missed!

The corridors are well lit and decorated.

The Rooms

We were put in a Club Room and it was spacious despite being a basic room. The usual Intercon decor was evident.


The TV set was one of the largest in a hotel room ever!
My carry-on bag was simply dwarfed in the same picture below.

Massive bathroom for a basic room noted.



The view from the room was not too great, but that's not important at all!


The Food and Drinks

 We had lounge access during our stay and Intercon lounges are really impressive!


Offerings at the lounge were definitely of high quality.



Breakfast at the lounge was excellent and you can order off a menu too.
However, I really do not recommend the steak.







The Pool And Gym

The pool is nice enough but unremarkable.

The gym is rather big but is open to external memberships. Thus it can be crowded in the day.



The Service

The service is very good to excellent, although not extraordinary. I do think it is very hard for the Bangkok to improve upon the excellent service. Until I stayed at the Grand Hyatt at Erawan (which is nearby!), but that would be another entry later.

For those in IHG rewards, I got a bear as a gift as an Intercon Ambassador.

 


The Bangkok Protests

We visited after the protests started and somewhat stabilized. My Thai friends were essential in assuring us everything was still under control, but to avoid crowds where possible.

Some of the streets were closed and there were tents on the road.





Central World was closed during our stay!


In Summary

The rates for this hotel is rather high considering the multitude of good hotels in Bangkok.
There is nothing too fanciful either.
The best part is possibly the lounge.
Nothing negative to comment, so that's great in a roundabout way.

Perhaps, my expectations have evolved with each hotel stay. 


Happy Travels to my readers!

Best Regards!