Sunday, 6 December 2009

HOTEL AFRICA EL MOURADI

I was always told that the El Mouradi Africa was the best hotel in Tunis. And it may have been... 10 years ago. The 5 star hotel lacks what a real 5-star hotel can boast of: service. Reception staff are rather basic. Not that welcoming, probably due to the area character more than lack of training. It all starts in reception. The lighting is way old fashioned. The lifts have rather small doors and seem to go the way they want. I wonder if the would be able to cater for a wheel chair. The rooms seem abandoned to time. They are clean...ish. But very basic for this rating. One of the unbearable things for me was the air conditioned, that, once you left the room, started working even if it was off, so at you return, the room was... extremely hot. If you think that I am joking, look at the thermometer in my room one night. It was thanks to the fact that the window could be opened that I managed to get the temperature down. The views from the 18th floor where I was staying were good. The room had two small beds, even though I had asked for a big bed. As you can imagine, the cover and the blanket needed to be taken off... The bathroom was old fashioned, decorated in Arabic style, and could have been cleaner. Long hairs could be found in the bath, sink... which clearly were not mine. Even a little spider...
Breakfast was generous, but most things were repeated. Fruit was not fresh apart from the odd thing that didn't look that fresh. Plenty of bread and Tunisian cakes. There was a cook waiting for your order of eggs, or crêpes. There was also some typical fried pastry, but in the end, hardly anything to eat. Cheese seemed really dry. Pain au chocolate was... ok... Coffee, horrendous. Not really my cup of tea...
Internet was ridiculous. It did not open many websites, which in the end, it was frustrating. 10 Euro for the use for 24 hours... I had to go down to reception and tell the guys there that it was not working. Initially, it was due to some problem in the building, which then turned out to be that it was a general problem with internet in the country... and of course, I said that in this condition, I could not accept the service. So I was promised I would not be charged for it and was sent to the room to give them the password back. Surprisingly enough, the following day, the bill contemplated Internet used which I refused to pay, and eventually, got deducted from my bill.
God, was I happy to leave the hotel !!!
50, avenue Habib Bourguiba-B.P.73 ,
1001, Tunis Ville,
Tunisia
Téléphone : + 216 71 34 74 77
Fax : + 216 71 34 74 32Site

Sunday, 22 November 2009

HOTEL ZENIT SEVILLA

Zenit is a Spanish hotel chain that so far, is surprising me quite a lot. In Madrid, I have stayed in the Abeba, which was fairly good. In Barcelona, I stayed in Conde de Borrell; good, but not so happy with the breakfast. But I am here to talk about the Zenit Sevilla. It is located in the traditional district of Triana, well known for restaurants and fiesta. In fact, someone told me to avoid Triana if I wanted to sleep. Far from my reality. I got there, and the hotel was rather strange. You had to enter through a tunnel to an inside patio that gave you access to the main entrance. The staff at the desk were very nice. In fact, I asked for a big room, as I was staying there for a few days, and they gave me a bigger one. (My experience is that rooms in this hotels, tend to be rather small). The lift took us to the 4th (and last) floor. The corridor took me back to the medieval times. Really old fashioned furniture, lighting, decor in general. The room was at the end of the corridor. It was big all right. But again, more like a pseudo medieval castle than a 21st century hotel. The room had a little living room with a rather uncomfortable sofa.
The beds were comfortable, maybe too many layers, as Seville is never that cold. But as I always say, it is better to have too many and get them off than not to have enough. In terms of noise... I have to say it was really quiet. The first night someone rang on the telephone mistaken for another room, but appart from that, nothing else. Cleanliness is perfect.

The bathroom was fairly well equipped. The crisis has reduced considerable the little goodies the hotel used to offer.

TV Channels were not scarse. However, for foreigners, there weren't that many. TV was the old huge type, not a flat screen... And it was not that good placed to watch it from the bed. An important point for me is that WIFI is free of charge, so if you bring your laptop with you, you can surf the net as long as you want.

Breakfast was ok. Some fresh fruit, cereals, some cold meat, bread for toast... And only the last day, I was given some squashed tomato sauce and omelette. I was very disappointed about this. Also, the coffee was horrendous (not only in the hotel, but the whole city). I asked for some expresso and they told me the cafeteria was not open until 11, hence, the coffee machine was still not on. Good excuse.

The hotel was far from the buzz from the Cathedral side Sta. Cruz district, but well situated for some Triana restaurants... and just a few minutes walk from Sta. Cruz district... It all depends on what your plans are... but this hotel is, without any special expectation, a good hotel, specially for families and business people.

Pagés del Corro, 90
41010 Sevilla (España)
Tlf.+34 95 434 74 34
Fax+34 95 434 27 07

Friday, 23 October 2009

RAMADA HOTEL SEOUL

According to its web, the Ramada Hotel Seoul was renovated in February 2004, although the bellboy who brought my suitcase to the room, told me the room had been recently refurbished, so... everything was new.

The hotel is in the heart of Kangnam business area, Samsung-dong, within a short walk of COEX. Location is good for business, but far away from the city centre. It is close, however, to a main road where there are plenty of shops...

My first experience was not positive. I arrived at 2.30 pm, and was told the room was STILL not ready. But they sent me to the Executive Room to have a complementary drink and some nibbles... which made my wait really short and bearable.

Staff was extremely helpful and all spoke good English. If you go to Seoul and you need to get a taxi, you need to have as much information in the local language as possible. So the extremely helpful lady in the Executive Room wrote for me the addresses I needed to visit for work.

I wanted to be adventurous and catch the Underground, but I though that with so little people speaking English, and the underground being a bit confusing to get to, (7 minute walk from Seolleung Station, Subway Line 2 or 10 minute walk from Gangnam-gu Office Station, Subway Line 7) I would probably have some problems... So opted for taxi.

The bellboy told me the room had been recently renovated, therefore everything was new. The bed was comfortable, flat TV, the bathroom well equipped. Big towels, soaps, tissues, complementary water... Even the reservation I had included free broadband Internet connection. The room was really quiet, despite the fact that there were construction works just opposite the hotel. It even had a PC available in the room, so you need not take your laptop... (but I used my own...), specially having no mobile phone. The band used in the country is still not compatible with our system...

Like with many hotels in Seoul, the Ramada has a Limousine KAL Bus shuttle (3B) that takes you from the Airport to the hotel in about 75 minutes, and drops you just outside the hotel. It costs 14000 one way and on the way back to the airport, you can get it in the same place, although it takes you to the Intercontinental hotels (COEX) prior to heading to the airport.

I would go back, without any doubt.

RAMADA HOTEL SEOUL
112-5 Samsung-dong,
Kangnam-ku,
135-090 Seoul,
South Korea
Tel: 82-2-6202-2000 Fax: 82-2-6202-2001

CARLTON HOTEL SINGAPORE

It is clearly a no-way-they-are-going-to-see-me-again-there hotel. Was I glad to get away!!!
A stop over in Singapore, with Singapore Airlines took me to this Carlton Hotel, in the Raffles area of the city. The first thing is that is undergoing expansion works, therefore, there was no reception in the ground floor. Staff were waiting for you in the entrance to take you to the provisional Reception Desk on the 6th floor... This was the beginning of the nightmare. The concierge took control of my luggage, while I got to reception. I was promised it would be sent to my room later.

Reception staff was hardly helpful. In fact, after 3 weeks in Asia, where by politeness, everyone says yes to anything that comes out of your mouth, staff here, were the "NO" Type. They put me in a twin room. I asked to get a big bed instead. No... Hotel is full... As if... The conversations were as if I was talking to trainees. They were all extremely young, I suppose cheaper to pay and there was no one who seemed to be the senior.
I asked if they could add points to my frequent flyer card, as advertised in a panel in the reception. No, the booking has been done via a travel agent
They told me that breakfast was not included... When my reservation clearly stated the price included breakfast... "No... reservation is done without breakfast".
I was given the key and sent to the 11th floor. But my key didn't work, so back to the 6th floor to get it fixed. New key given and back to the 11th. This time, I was lucky. It worked. My room was 1116, next to the lifts, so the "Cliiiiiing" of the lift arriving was noticeable all the time. My room, was facing the works, therefore, it was noisy, as the windows, clearly were not properly isolated. In fact, you could even get the noise of the planes taking off...
As my suitcase didn't arrive, I decided to go to get something to eat. On my return, about 1 hour and a half later, my suitcase was STILL NOT THERE... I had to call the concierge to ask for it...
The room was rather basic. The carpet looked really old, slightly dirty, and there were no sleepers available, so, I was a bit concerned to walk barefooted. Asia tends to offer complementary water... Over here, not even a "mirage" of it.
I had a shower and when going to get dry, noticed that the towels were unpleasantly stinking, as if they had been washed with dirty water and got dry. That made me go and complain, yet again.
They key kept not working, which made me quite worked up about it, having to go to reception to complain and complain. In the end, they came to my room with me "to show me I didn't know how to use a magnetic key". It worked for them...
The cleaner came in the morning, asking me if she could come in and do the room. I told her I was leaving that afternoon, and she said... "It's ok; I can do it for you, if you want". I said... help yourself. Strange... Nothing to complain about... (1st thing).
If you wanted to stay in, you had an old TV with some TV stations, most of them Chinese and the odd one European and English speaking. Unlike most hotels, if you wanted to see a movie, there was no free movie channel (HBO, Star, AXN...) that normally are available. Over in the "generous" (not) Carlton, you had to pay to watch a movie. Not even MTV or similar was available.
From the window, I could see the swimming pool and its floor was way far from being clean...
The worst part of it is that it wasn't cheap and I was staying there on a Stop-over from Singapore Airlines. Clearly, this airline would really have to reconsider whether to allow this hotel to be somehow related to them. Very poor image they are giving. Maybe it is also a sign that Singapore Airlines could be changing?

76 Bras Basah Road
189558 - Singapore
Tel: +65 6338-8333

Wednesday, 21 October 2009

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

Wednesday, 30 September 2009

LE MERIDIEN, IN NEW DELHI

I have always been uneasy with Le Meridien. I have been in a few and there are always details that let you down. Fortunately, my experience in Delhi was very positive. It even had a swimming pool, that is very unusual and I didn't have the chance to try it...

First of all, as in good hotels in India, you need to get through a security control. If you arrive on a taxi, private car or even, the hotel shuttle from the airport, your vehicle is inspected at the gate. You reach the entrance and your luggage and bags are scanned. At the end of the day, security should always be an issue and you should not complain about it.

Reception staff, extremely nice. I really appreciate all the information they gave me, and of course, the fact that I was given a non-smoking room and a king-size bed. (I hate little beds against the wall).

The room was quite cosy. Enough space for the bed, the worktable and the little lounge area. Bathroom was good. At least, for me. I have to say that I love showers and I am not so keen on baths... so I suppose that those looking for a bath would not be so happy. Of course, the bathroom was full of little bits and bobs usual in this type of hotels.

Two complementary bottles of water are offered, something that you appreciate as water... would probably give you tummy problems... or not. But I am not going to take the risk. Also, a bowl with fruit, also, complementary.

The bed was comfortable, although, I was a bit hot in the room. It had air-conditioned but I don't like to sleep with it. But everything, bearable.

A flat TV with zillions of channels to choose from. Of course, I appreciated the availability of TVE. Also, a few Movie channels in English.

Breakfast was offered in the ground floor, in the ONE restaurant. It is a buffet with plenty of food to chose from, from Indian, to continental and, of course, fried eggs, omelettes... are done freshly on sight. Espresso coffee had additional charge..., which I thought it was a bit mean... but of course, that is their choice. For one person, they have a long table where they sat us. It was a good chance to talk to people from different nationalities as well as local. It also gives you the chance to see how other nationalities behave.

The building was over 25 years, but it may have been refurbished recently, as you would think it was recently opened. Very modern, and an impressive look of the panoramic lifts of the inside of the hotel.

LE MERIDIEN NEW DELHI
Windsor Place
New Delhi,
India
Phone: +91 (11) 23710101

Sunday, 20 September 2009

HOLIDAY INN SANDTON RIVONIA ROAD

It's a new hotel in the Sandton Area, within walking dstance from Mandela Square and just opposite a small shopping mall full with restaurants too. The hotel has pleasant staff that always asks you how you are, but they are not very good with resolving matters.Check in is at 2pm, so those arriving early in the morning (normal for European flights) have to wait until the rooms are done. In Africa, time seems to go so slow... which is no good for westerners, which it makes you crazy and impotent. Customer service seems to have disappeared. Apparently, you can ask for a reservation to have the room ready at that time, but that is something that travel agents back home may not know. In the meantime, the shopping mall opposite offers some food and drinks that make the wait more pleasant. Of course, you can also use the hotel facilities, but my principles didn't allow me.Finally, when you reach your room, I have to say the room was big, comfortable bed, big bathroom too. I missed a nice shower, though.

When you returned in the evening, the room was extremely hot. As you need to take the card off the electricity activator as you leave the room, aircon doesn’t work, so... It feels a bit uncomfortable. And I visited in September, still winter in the area, so I wonder how it will be when summertime arrives...

Breakfast is good. Cereals, fresh fruit and in syrup (that coincides with that fresh one and one cannot think other than it was the previous day's re utilised) cheese, bacon, sausages, and a cook that will make a nice omelette or fried eggs for you. Filter coffee. If you want espresso, you need to pay for it. Toast, you need to ask, because the waiters will not ask you whether you want some.

Checking out is also complicated. Slow, understaffed and the ones in charge, with little knowledge of what they need to do, as they disappear behind the door behind the counter constantly... But they are nice.

Mixed opinions about the hotel, but will give it a pass.

HOLIDAY INN SANDTON RIVONIA ROAD
123 Rivonia Road,
Sandton, 2146
SOUTHAFRICA

Sunday, 30 August 2009

MERCURE MONT SAINT MICHEL

The Mercure Mont St. Michel Hotel is, as you can tell from its name, near the Mont St Michel, in Brittany or Normandy... I believe it is just in the limit between both. Of course, if you are in the region, it is a must to visit the Abbey. Some people prefer to stay over in the mount, but hotels tend to be rather more pricy. When you see that Mercure has a hotel in the area (not in the mount, but just across the water, then you say... Fantastic!

But fantasy finishes there. The hotel is, however, rather basic for similar Mercure hotels. It's ok but lacks little details... It's clean; it's spacious... but... I don't know... It is not a Mercure. Bathroom is really small. A single bottle of soap and shampoo and little towels!!! We were given a double bedroom in the Annex building, which one thinks it will be more modern. There was no lift to it... so, luggage needed to be pulled upstairs... Thank god the room was quiet and the bed comfy.

The car park is free, strange for this type of hotels, especially in a tourist area. Prices of the minibar, I am not sure, but I guess they were expensive. Just opposite, you can find a supermarket open till 20.00 if I remember well, that has a wide offer, for a fraction of the price... Also, restaurants are available around the hotel, but I guess they will all be as good or as bad as each other.

Breakfast is about 8.50 for a buffet breakfast in the restaurant. Not bad breakfast, but... not excellent.

Overall, the stay was good. Nothing exciting but fine. Nothing to complain about, but nothing to boast about... one of those stays that leaves you... indifferent.

However, if you stay there, there is a must. Walk from the hotel to the abbey at dusk. Beautiful.

MERCURE MONT SAINT MICHEL
Route du Mont Saint Michel BP 8
50170 LE MONT SAINT MICHEL
FRANCETel : (+33) 2/33601418 -
Fax : (+33)2/33603928 -

Sunday, 16 August 2009

PREMIERE CLASSE, CHEAP FRANCE, BUT... WHY MORE?

The Premiére Classe network is very extended in France. They are extremely basic hotels for up to 3 people, (double bed + 1 bunk bed) and a basic buffet for 4.50 Euro, as an extra if you want it. More basic, it can't be. They are normally hotels out of the centre, in industrial estates or shopping areas, but always within easy reach from the motorways. And they are all the same, so, no surprises... well, sometimes there are little ones. It seems it is a structure they can take anywhere... so you are not fooled by the pictures. That's that. They are ideal if you are travelling around and you want to avoid getting in the city centre... As you can see from the picture, where can you sleep for 43 Euro? Not many places... If you book it in advance, you may even get it cheaper... Sometimes, there will be no receptionist... so... you go the the check in machine,... and you check yourself in...
Please note that rooms have their one TINY sink, toilet and shower, soap is provided, TV (mainly French channels and if you are lucky, you can get some international channels, but that must be when you have been extraordinarily good boy)... some have air-conditioning and normally, WI-FI is free of charge in the rooms. Also, free car parking. However, don't expect a lift... there isn't one, so if you are sleeping on the second floor... just think that you will have to do some exercise to go to bed...
Not many frills... but at the end of the day, it has a comfortable bed, it's clean... and you only go there... to sleep after all.
Check the one near you...

Saturday, 4 July 2009

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