I didn’t think anything would be able to top our free night at the Park Hyatt this summer, but I admit, I was quite impressed with the Hilton. I’ve never stayed at a Hilton hotel before. The only reason I stayed there this summer was because I was heading to Toronto with a couple of girlfriends and we wanted a nice five-star hotel to bunk down in.

I bid on a downtown Toronto hotel on Priceline and that’s where I was placed. So I guess I have Priceline to thank for a great stay in Toronto and for turning me on to Hilton Hotels.

Our room was great, the service was impeccable, and I loved my stay there. I really enjoyed the modern ambiance of the hotel. The lobby was huge with lots of wood, glass, beautiful lights and tasteful decorations that really made the whole area feel very welcoming.

We were all impressed with the scenic elevator. We whisked our way to the top floor for a great view of downtown Toronto. After we viewed downtown Toronto from a birds-eye view, we headed out into the streets. The location of the Hilton is ultra-convenient. Toronto’s main attractions: the CN Tower, the entertainment, fashion, theater, and financial districts, even the Four Seasons Center of Performing Arts are all within walking distance.

Our room was tastefully decorated with large, comfortable beds and extra dark blinds that plunge the room into darkness when it’s time to sleep. Personal grooming products by L’Occitane made us feel quite extravagant.

We were really impressed with the indoor/outdoor pool. Located on the 2^nd floor, the pool overlooks University Street and there are lots of lounge chairs and plush towels for sunbathing.

The only thing I wasn’t impressed with was the $15 fee for Wi-Fi. However, I found out later that if I had presented my HHonors VIP card, I could have enjoyed complimentary Wi-Fi and access to the Executive Lounge. Ah, well.

All in all, though, we enjoyed our stay at the Hilton. I’d definitely consider staying there again.

The Hilton Hotel in Downtown Toronto, Canada is a post from: Lay Your Head Here

© 2009-2010 Lay Your Head Here

Travelers who find themselves in Puerto Princesa on either business or pleasure will surely find the mid-range accommodations at the Legend good value for their money. The hotel is located in the heart of Puerto Princesa, providing an ideal jump-off for various adventures in and around the city proper.

This hotel is full of special touches and homey comforts that will make any traveler feel at ease. The Atrium is an especially nice touch. This compact alley leads into the heart of the hotel, where guests gather to read and enjoy a cold drink. The swimming pool is also tastefully decorated. A rock wall adds charm to the enclosed area. There’s also a nice lounge area for patio events such as pool-side dining.

The Legend Palawan: Malvar Street, Puerto Princesa, Palawan Philippines

The Legend, Puerto Princesa, Philippines is a post from: Lay Your Head Here

© 2009-2010 Lay Your Head Here

OUR RATING: 1/10

Despite being number seven on Priceline’s list of best accommodations in Manila, the Manila Pavilion and Casino was a huge disappointment. If you’re going to spend $72 a night on a hotel, spend an extra $20 and book yourself a room at a well-known hotel chain. The Manila Pavilion is nowhere near being a 4-star standard hotel.

Our room on the 19^th floor was in a dark, wood-paneled corridor that smelled as much of smoke as it did of dust. The room was nasty. Threadbare carpets, uneven furniture that was obviously bottom of the barrel, a bedspread that was as distasteful to look at as it was to sleep on, moldy bathroom fixtures, and an odd smell that was vaguely suggestive of old cheese. We’ve stayed in $8US rooms that were cleaner and better equipped than our room at the Manila Pavilion.

Our disgust with the room was so great that we went down to the front desk to see if we could move. We found out we could upgrade to a room in the new wing of the hotel for an extra $12US. The new wing, however, wasn’t much better than the old wing. We didn’t find the staff helpful at all. We were reluctant to try out the hotel restaurant, and we were frisked going in and out of the hotel.

You wouldn’t be getting any complaints from us if the room had been under $20US, but $72US is a steep price to pay for such shabby accommodations. If you’re staying in Manila, the Manila Pavilion and Casino is one establishment you’ll want to give a miss.

Manila Pavilion and Casino, Manila, Philippines is a post from: Lay Your Head Here

© 2009-2010 Lay Your Head Here

The Galle Face Hotel

I stumbled onto the platform at sunrise at Colombo station after dizzy and naseous after a 12 hour train ride from Trincomalee.  It had been an unpleasant trip, sleepless on a hard seat winding ponderously through the dark and now presumably-guerrilla free jungles of the Sri Lanka Night.

Colombo was a city I’d never visited and about which I knew next to nothing.  I knew the name of one hotel, the Galle Face, from  a biography I’d once read about Arthur C. Clarke, the Science Fiction writer who had called the hotel home. Though I suspected it would be above my budget, I was too tired to care. I threw my knapsack in the back of a rickshaw and muttered Galle Face.

A distinguished gentleman

Despite my unwashed and slightly dazed appearance, I was treated like royalty from the moment I arrived.  This is how it was done I suppose in the days of the Raj, and at the Galle Face at least, the Raj has yet to end.

“Would you like to check in immediately, sir?  Never mind that it’s only six thirty AM. They’ll be no extra fee. Your day begins now, sir, and ends upon checkout at noon tomorrow sir, or later, should you wish.”

After checking in, I was led up the grand staircase to my room on the second floor, whose high ceilings made air conditioning superfluous (though a/c was, of course, available). I took a long bath in a claw-foot tub that, in contrast to the small tubs found in hotels in East Asia, was almost too long. Afterwards I collapsed in my bed, comforters white as a cloud and soft as an angel’s kiss.

In the afternoon I had high tea in the first floor restaurant after a long swim in the Galle Face’s salt water pool,  Invigorated, I headed out to explore Colombo before returning to the Gale Face for the evening. And while  I can’t claim to have seen Mr. Clarke’s ghost wandering the halls of Colombo’s Galle Face Hotel, I believe I saw him oh-so briefly, from the corner of my eye at sundown. He was sitting on the sea wall and looking out over the Indian Ocean, gin & tonic in hand and note pad in his lap.

Bust of Arthur C. Clarke

The Galle Face Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka

http://www.gallefacehotel.com/

Galle Face Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka is a post from: Lay Your Head Here

© 2009-2010 Lay Your Head Here

The Riverstar Hotel

Centrally located on Sithowath Quay, the Riverstar Hotel in Phnom Penh offers reasonably priced budget accommodations with a great view of the Ton le Sap River. Major sightseeing attractions such as the Silver Pagoda, the National Museum and the Royal Palace are all within walking distance of this hotel/restaurant.

We especially liked being right on the riverside. In addition to the river view, we had access to sidewalk cafes and restaurants. The entire area is a hub of activity and we enjoyed topping each day off with a long, lazy stroll along the river.

The Riverstar café is a great place to lounge and enjoy a cocktail. Open from 6am – 11:30pm, the café offers a wide selection of international cuisines, including Khmer, Chinese, Western and Thai dishes.

Traveler’s note: We arrived at the Riverstar unexpectedly and ended up getting the only room left,  located in the bowels of the basement. Although we were disappointed with our room the first night – it had no windows – the front-desk staff give us a great price on the room. They moved us to a top-level room the next day. We barely spent any time in our room, and despite the lack of windows that first night, we got a good sleep. Live and learn, I say. That’s what you get when you don’t book ahead and it’s the middle of Khmer New Year!

Rooms are basic and clean, costing between $18 and $35US. The staff are friendly and helpful. Internet service is available.

Booking tip: Receive free pickup from the airport and 20% off your room rate if you made a reservation in advance.

Address:

Building #185, Street 118 corner with Sisowath Boulevard, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.Tel: (855) 23 991 450 / 990 501 / 3

E-mail: reservation@riverstarhotel.com

River Star Hotel, Phnom Penh, Cambodia is a post from: Lay Your Head Here

© 2009-2010 Lay Your Head Here

HALI HOTEL, ISTANBUL is a post from: Lay Your Head Here

© 2009-2010 Lay Your Head Here