ELYSÉE PALACE IN NICE

I got a taxi to the hotel from the airport, and it set me back 38 Euros for a trip that could have lasted, maximum 8 minutes. This is not the hotel fault, but it would help if a transfer was organised. It's only a few meters away from the Legendary Negresco, on the side of the Boulevard des Anglais, within a short walk to the main centre part of the city. I guess you can use the bus from the airport too, route 98, if you know where to get off.

Checking in was ok. No problem at all. It is a Four Points by Sheraton. The hotel looks ok, and the interior seems to have been renovated lately.

Internet was free of charge but needed a password that I could barely read from the front desk guy's handwriting.

I got room 704, on the top floor. It was supposed to be a room with beach view... but it was only sideways.

The room had been renovated lately. A bit plasticky, specially for the chair, the bedside tables and lamps. It tried to be stylish... but I suppose it is not mine. The closet didn't have doors. Instead, it had curtains. There was a clear excess of curtains in the room.

Room was quiet, and the bed comfortable, which at the end of the day, it is what you need.

The bathroom had a bath, and plenty of toiletries.

Breakfast was on the ground floor, and had some fruit, cold meats, scrambled eggs, hot meats, and pastry. Coffee was "industrial" American coffee... and basically, the choice was so, so.

Checking out was also good.

The hotel is good, a bit plasticky all around, but for Nice, it is good value for money.

HÔTEL ELYSEE PALACE
59 promenade des anglais /Entrée Rue Honoré SAUVAN
06000 NICE -
Téléphone : + 33 (0)4 93 97 90 90
Fax : +33 (0)4 93 44 50 40
e-mail : reservation@elyseepalace.com

FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON PANAMA

The Four Points Sheraton Panama is well located in the financial centre of Panama City. Checking in was a bit slow, as we were in a group and it was clearly short staffed, even with them expecting us and having part of the check in process prepared.

The room I got was on the 8th floor (801) and was quite big. Old fashioned furniture but clean. The big flat TV screen was the only new item in the room. There was also a living room area and a work table, but as you can see, all decorated with a rather clasical style.

Wireless Internet is available, at a fee, and it doesn't stand out for being extremely fast. It was free in the reception, which really annoys me. What sort of service is that for customers, specially to members of the Starwood preferred? Not that happy about that.

Being on the 8th floor and trying to get up or down in one of the 3 lifts was also rather slow. And I know it is for security reasons, but it is rather annoying to have to use the room card to be able to use the lift. Security? Maybe not so, as you could select any floor with one same card .

The queen bed was comfortable, with several pillows. Air con was extremely noisy, so, I switched it on only when I was not in. The room itself was quiet.

The bathroom area was divided into two. The sink area, without any door, and hosted the mini bar, fridge, coffee machine and hair dryer. Strange combination, as they had saved on an additional piece of furniture. Very strange for this hotel category.

Toiletries were available but very scarce. No shaving kit nor toothbrush. Also, no gown nor slippers. There were 3 sets of towels, that after the first night, became only two.

Breakfast was also weak. Fruit was excellent but little choice of savoury. Juice was natural, but highly watered. And omelettes were available, but just by chance I knew about it, as they were not publicised.

The Breakfast room is on the same level as the swimming pool. Rather small for a full hotel, but seems that no one uses it, at least at the times when I was in the hotel.


FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON PANAMA
Calle 53, Marbella y Ave 5A B Sur
Panama City, 832-0239
Panamá
Tel +507 (2) 65-3636

SHERATON TAIPEI

The Sheraton Taipei is a very good 5 star hotel. Welcome is extremely friendly and efficient. Rooms spacious. There are up to 9 restaurants (Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, French...) to choose from. Although breakfast buffet has wide choice, but oriented mainly to the Asian...

Location is good. Only 5 minutes walk from Central Station, where you can get the Taiwanese High Speed train. And... if you don'r feel like walking you can get the MRT to the station... o to the 101 proximity... The station is... just there.

While the corridors are rather dimmed, the rooms are very tastefully decorated. Flat TV in the room, (my reservation included free broadband), a very comfortable bed, little livingroom, comlementary water and fruit in the room... The bathroom included all sorts of bits and bobs... Funnily, the bathroom was very modern decorated, whereas the room was a bit more classic.

I requested an early call in the morning... and they were on time. I hate when the call me 10 minutes earlier than what I say. As I say... staff really efficient and helpful.

I recommend this hotel, without any doubt.

SHERATON TAIPEI HOTEL
No.12, Zhongxiao East Rd. Sec.1,
Taipei 100,
Taiwan, Republic of China
Email: sheraton@sheraton-taipei.com
Tel +886-2-23215511
Fax +886-2-23944240

SHERATON ZAGREB

Sheraton Zagreb is a new hotel in the old part of the city. Well communicated, it lies next to a shopping mall and at short walking distance from the main square and the old town.

It is new, and if you get there with the starwood card, they put you on a special floor.

The room was spacious, the bed comfortable, free Internet, something that I also value. Bathroom was spacious too. The shower was really good. Also the soaps smelt well. I have to say I am a bit particular with smells, and certain soaps are... ARG!!!

Breakfast was good... One day the fruit was a bit... unripe, but the rest of the days, it was good. Wide selection of fruit... CHEESE... of course, omelletes or fried eggs, cakes,... nutella (I couldn't help a serving... or two) and nice bread... :=)

The hall was also quite big, which allows enough space for meetings.

The negative part was the staff. I am sorry, but I was not treated properly. Check in desk staff were quite unpreasant, straight to the point, with little time for you. You felt like you were one tin of lentils in the supermarket cash desk, after the lettuce and before the coke... Also, room service was a bit... sloppy. Called for dinner... and had to call back after an hour, because no dinner came... and they told me that the change of shift was the problem... Unnaceptable.

I think Sheraton should really look into these type of attitudes, that really make you choose this hotel or another one.


SHERATON ZAGREB
Kneza Borne 2
Zagreb 10000
Croatia
Phone: +385 (1) 455 3535
Fax: +385 (1) 455 3035

THE WESTIN GRANDE SUKHUMVIT IN BANGKOK

It may be one of the nicest hotels I hve visited recently. The Westin Grande had a very cosy room, nice bed, (maybe too many layers of sheets, but something needs to be subject of complaint...) very well furnised bathroom (loved the shower), nice choice of food for breakfast (lovely banana cake) ... What else can one ask for? And I was in a standard room. I can't imagine what an Executive Deluxe room could offer the guest. The decor was actually quite modern and made you feel at home.

Staff? Well, if you know Thai people, you will know that they are wellknown for their kindness and willing to help all the time.

Negative things? Well, from the street, you needed to get a lift to the 7th floor to get to the Hall and then, another lift to get to rooms. Also, Internet connection was not free... You would expect that for that amount of money, it could be inclusive.

The Westin Grande Sukhumvit Bangkok
259 Sukhumvit
Bangkok
Thailand
Phone: +66 2207 8000