My husband and I booked our room at the Seoul COEX Intercontinental Hotel, South Korea on points that we accumulated on a recent trip to China. I have mixed feelings about the Intercontinental. If you’re looking for a swanky hotel that will cater to your every need in style and include all the modern conveniences you could ever need, than the Seoul COEX Intercontinental is your hotel.

The COEX is part of the World Trade Center Seoul, so you can expect well appointed rooms, impeccable groundskeeping and a polished interior. The lobby is decorated in rich brown and purple tones with giant velvet art-deco sofas in and giant bowed hanging lamps that cast a luminous light on each little nook; it’s an inviting space that naturally welcomes a person to sit and relax. I tested it out one evening when I nabbed one of those sofas to myself and curled up with Kindle, and it was just as relaxing as I thought it would be. A short walk away, guests have access to the COEX Mall, which boasts more than 200 shops, dozens of eateries, an aquarium, and a 16-screen theatre. You could spend an entire weekend completely entertained at the COEX Intercontinental and never find an excuse to leave if you so choose.

On the other hand, there were a number of things that came up during our stay there that were rather surprising to us, especially since the Seoul COEX Intercontinental Hotel, South Korea is supposed to be one of the top hotels in Seoul.

For one, there was a lot of drilling going on in our section of the hotel as well. The noise was certainly noticeable, and neither my husband or I could stand the idea of paying a couple hundred dollars a night for a room and being expected to deal with construction noise. Had I been a paying customer, I would’ve been furious.

Our room was much smaller than we expected, but then again, we live in Asia and we should know that a large hotel room is somewhat of a rarity in cities like Taipei, Japan and Seoul. The hotel bathroom products also weren’t anything special, and I hate to admit that this is something that I take into consideration when I’m staying at a fancy hotel. I tend to remember the hotels that offer nice bath products like L’Occitane and Aveda, especially if I get to take home samples!

We thought the food in the executive lounge lacked flavor and variety, and we were not the only guests who noticed this. The couple sitting next to us one evening complained about the tough, chewy bread that had been served to us. Management dealt with the complaints effectively and brought in fresh bread, but the fact that they had served stale food certainly was a real let-down.

What really upset me about the COEX, however, was their policy on covering tattoos within the gym and pool facilities. No exceptions were made for anyone with a tattoo, although the hotel does provide a cover-up sticker. We weren’t given this information at the time of our booking, nor did we see it on anywhere on the website or on our hotel documentation. I’ve never even stayed at a hotel that requires guests to cover their tattoos, and at first I thought it was some weird Korean law, but I looked and it isn’t. It’s a private rule enforced by the hotel, but to what end, I have no idea. What I do know is that had we known this before we booked our room, we wouldn’t have opted to stay there as John and I are both big fans of hotel spa facilities.

So, we’re back to a rating again, and I’m going to give the COEX a 6 out of 10 for a luxury hotel. It loses big points for being overly expensive. I didn’t feel like the hotel lived up to its price tag and I wouldn’t stay there again.

Seoul COEX Intercontinental Hotel, South Korea is a post from: Lay Your Head Here

© 2009-2010 Lay Your Head Here

I recently had the opportunity to travel Sandbanks, a small piece of land that projects out into the English Channel at Poole in Dorset, England. Dubbed as Britain’s “Palm Beach”, this beautiful piece of land is ranked fourth in the world for having the highest land value. The area has some of the most exclusive homesteads in England, while its waters are widely used for water sports, yachting and sailing.

Sandbanks has three hotels, one of which is the Haven Hotel, constructed in 1887. The Haven was built on the site of another hotel called the North Haven Inn. It was the first hotel to be built in the Sandbanks in 1838. It is historically important for being the first hotel to have a wireless transmitter in 1899. Guglielmo Marconi carried out some of his first wireless telegraphy experiments from the Haven, and today, the hotel pays homage to Marconi with its Marconi Lounge, in which photographs and information on these experiments is on display. The Haven was purchased in 1976 by the hotel chain FJB Hotels.

The hotel reminded me of an old-style resort hotel with beautiful furnishings and decor. I thought the history behind the hotel lent it a certain ambience that could not be missed, but having stayed there once, I wouldn’t recommend staying there again.

The room price far exceeds the services that we received there. We had booked a room with two twin beds and when we arrived, we realized that we would have to move the furniture around on our own. The shower in our room didn’t work properly and despite our complaints, it was never fixed and we had cold showers for most of the weekend. The hotel obviously uses its name and place in history to charge outrageous sums of money for meals and snacks. I was quite surprised to see that La Roche restaurant is a critically acclaimed restaurant with two AA red Rosettesa for the sixteenth year in succession. I think the restaurant depends a bit too much on those awards speaking for themselves, as I found the food overpriced and not particularly tasty. Nevertheless, the location is stunning and the beautiful daytime and evening views certainly helped to take the edge off of my disappointment over the quality of the food.

All in all, I would not stay here again. At $160GBP ($252USD) per night, I would rather spend my money elsewhere.

The Haven Hotel, Sandbanks at Poole in Dorset, England is a post from: Lay Your Head Here

© 2009-2010 Lay Your Head Here

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

Luck has been with me this summer. I enjoyed my first free one-night stay at the elegant Park Hyatt on 4 Avenue Road in downtown Toronto with my girlfriends.

My stay at the Hyatt was provided through a two-night hotel giveaway on Uptake travel ezine. I actually won two free nights, so John and I will be using our other night at the Hyatt in Calgary. John and I are both BIG fans of the Hyatt and we have stayed there often on our travels, so winning a two-night giveaway has been a huge bonus for us.Stay tuned for my update on our next free night at the Hyatt in Calgary.

We couldn’t have asked for a nicer hotel to begin our journey in Toronto with. The service was impeccable, and the understated elegance of the hotel lobby had an immediate calming effect. From our very first steps into the Hyatt’s intimate and refined sanctuary in the heart of one of Canada’s busiest cities, we knew we were in for a real treat.

From signature restaurants to famous pieces of art and luxurious guest rooms, the Park Hyatt is designed to impress the most discerning traveler. We were suitably impressed with almost every aspect of our stay.
Another bonus that we were unaware of until our arrival is The Stillwater Spa, which is known as Ontario’s number one spa experience. What bliss! The prices were almost double what we found elsewhere, but I can’t complain too much given what was on offer.

We also love the beds at the Hyatt. A person would be hard-pressed not to find sleep in these rooms, which seemingly meet every detail needed for a good night’s sleep.

The only thing that we found missing from the hotel was a swimming pool. And while I loved every minute of my experience there, I admit that a swimming pool is usually a deciding factor for me when choosing a hotel, and for this reason, I probably wouldn’t go back.

The Park Hyatt, Toronto 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

EDITOR’S CHOICE FOR LUXURY BOUTIQUE HOTELS

OUR RATING 10/10

The “Raffles” experience is one of THE things to do in Singapore. After all, nothing says luxury in Singapore like an overnight stay at one of the most famous hotels in the world.

However, there’s another five-star luxury boutique hotel that deserves an equal amount of recognition for its luxuriousness, elegance and quality of customer service.

The Fullerton Hotel is our choice for luxury accommodations in Singapore. We recently came back from a long weekend in Singapore, and highly recommend staying there if you are looking for a weekend of hedonistic pleasure. The hotel offers shopping boutiques, a beautiful roof-top infinity pool, a relaxing Asian spa and a fully equipped fitness center. It’s also conveniently located in Singapore’s business district and close to some great shopping districts. This world-class boutique hotel is unique for a number of reasons. It combines neo-classical architecture with its elegant décor and furnishings, and it provides a level of service that is second to none. It’s no small wonder that the Fullerton Hotel Singapore has won major travel awards such as the Condé Nast Traveler Gold List award.

Overlooking the Singapore River, this five-star boutique hotel occupies one of the most picturesque locations in the heart of Singapore. Each of its 400 rooms and suites provide a stunning panorama of the atrium courtyard, downtown Singapore’s skyline, the Singapore River promenade or Marina Bay.

The Fullerton has a rich heritage. Building construction was completed in 1928 and originally housed five tenants, including the General Post Office and the Singapore Club (now the Singapore Town Club). In 1997 the building was converted into a hotel and it opened for business in 2001. The  neo-classical columns and high-ceiling verandas, which are defining features of this incredible building, have all been retained. The lighthouse, which was once used to guide ships into the port, has been renovated into a restaurant and serves gourmet cuisine.

Enjoy a meal at any of the superb restaurants in the hotel or spend the evening relaxing in the Post Bar with a Singapore Sling. The hotel’s famous chocolate buffet is a decadent treat and shouldn’t be missed. We particularly enjoyed the extensive buffet breakfast by the riverfront at the Town restaurant each morning. This was included with our room.

The rooms are spacious and beautiful. The beds are huge, and can be tailor-made for your sleeping pleasure. As we were checking in, we were told to call down to Housekeeping if we required an extra mattress pad. There was even a list of pillows to choose from. We also really enjoyed the rain shower, which was one of the best we’ve had.

At night, this trendy district of Singapore is well-known for its entertainment and stunning night life. Fine dining, charming pubs, and open air patios and clubs are all located right next to the water. We enjoyed a romantic stroll along the promenade every night.

The Fullerton Singapore is a perfect choice for guests who demand the very highest standards. I promise, you won’t be disappointed.

The Fullerton Hotel, 1 Fullerton Square, Singapore (00 65 6733 8388)

THE FULLERTON HOTEL – SINGAPORE is a post from: Lay Your Head Here

© 2009-2010 Lay Your Head Here