Showing posts with label Marriott Bonvoy Hotels. Show all posts

Friday, January 03, 2020

Fairfield by Marriott Bintulu Paragon

(NOTE: This is NOT a paid review)

If you are a frequent guest at Marriott, you would probably know that Marriott Bonvoy has several brands under their chain to cater to diverse range of travelers. Whether your purpose of travel is leisure or business, short-term or long-term stays, the chain has more than 30 hotel brands for everyone to meet whatever travel style all over the world. Their brands are categorized as Classic brands (Classic Luxury, Classic Premium, Classic Select and Classic Longer Stays) and for those looking for more distinctive experience, the Distinctive brands (Distinctive Luxury, Distinctive Premium, Distinctive Select and Distinctive Longer Stays). Then, there’s the ultimate category - Collections (Autograph Collections, Design Hotels and Tribute Portfolio).

As an avid traveler with a penchant for hotel staycations, I have had the opportunity to sample several of the brands under Marriott Bonvoy ranging from the lifestyle hotels such as Aloft KL and Westin KL, to resort stays at Marriott (Miri Marriott & Mulu Marriott), to the versatile business/leisure hotel namely Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu (where the best hospitality is), Renaissance KL, Four Points by Sheraton Kuching (which is now closed) and lastly the premium Autograph Collection (The Andaman Langkawi).

Naturally, when Marriott Bonvoy announced they are opening their first Fairfield brand in Malaysia close to home in Bintulu, I was looking forward to book a stay for a Fairfield experience. Online lookup reveals that the Fairfield brand promises comfort at great value, suitable for business or travelers looking for overnight stay with no-frills amenities.

The opportunity came earlier when my sister invited us to stay at Fairfield by Marriott Bintulu Paragon on the first night the hotel was officiated. Suffice to say, this is an chance not to be missed!

Dubbed by Marriott website as a business hotel, Fairfield by Marriott Bintulu Paragon is the first international 4-star hotel in Bintulu. The 9-storey hotel offers 238 rooms with modern designs and three room categories - Standard (King/Twin), Executive and Presidential Suite.

Below are some of the room photos that I captured since the apps / website has yet to upload photos of the brand new hotel at the time of my stay:

The emblazoned signage at the hotel entrance

My kids excitedly looking for our room

Standard King room

The shower area separated from the toilet with glass doors

Open concept clothes rack

Being a new establishment, I know it is not fair to put a rating on this hotel. Nevertheless, I could share with readers some of my experience:

1. The room is very clean with contemporary design. Beige colors consistently applied throughout the hotel room design invites the feeling of relaxation where business travelers can look forward to peace of mind after a tiring day in meetings.

2. Minimalism is the new in-thing: Do expect basic amenities only provided in the bathroom (you can get cotton buds, shower cap, facial tissues, body lotion etc. from the adjacent Paragon Shopping Mall if you need those items) The hotel however provides toothbrush, while shower gels and shampoo are from dispensers installed on the wall in the shower area. Complimentary coffee and tea are also available.

3. Each room comes with iron/ironing board and a hairdryer.

4. Nevertheless, I couldn’t help feeling disappointed with the major attraction of this hotel - the bed itself. For a 4-star hotel, the bed linen and the bed mattress fall short of expectations. I am not even comparing Fairfield with Westin (famous for their Heavenly® Bed), but I did not expect that hotels e.g. Plaza Premium Lounge to beat a Marriott brand when it comes to comfortable sleep experience (which is important for a business traveler).

As the hotel was newly launched, Marriott is launching a promotion for hotel stay at discounted rate and complimentary buffet breakfast for two at Kava, their all-day dining area. The breakfast options are decent too, suitable for time-pressed business guests to kick-off their day without being too overwhelming.

I sampled the local delicacy, Laksa Sarawak and noted that the laksa is well-seasoned and the spiciness is just right. The buffet breakfast also features other local cuisines such as nasi lemak, fried noodles, beef rendang, continental porridge and cut fruits, as well as international cuisine (salads, assortment of breads and jams, cereal and the popular egg station).

Bright and spacious dining area that can seat 173 guests comfortably

Salad, bread and jam station

Local fruits

My kids immediately made a beeline for the cereal counter

My verdict, the hotel is perfect for business travelers and for people like me who are looking to add more Marriott nights to maintain my Silver Marriott Bonvoy membership without having to go out of town. For honeymooners and staycationers? Better look elsewhere unless you are willing to pay the hefty price tag for the Presidential Suite.

Verdict: 7/10

Sunday, December 10, 2017

Aloft KL Sentral

During my last business trip to KL, I decided to find check in a hotel which is in close proximity to KL Sentral as I had an early morning flight to catch on my last day of the trip. My friend recommended me to try Aloft KL Sentral, which is part of the Starwood brand. The hotel is situated across the street from KLIA Express departure entrance, which is super convenient for early morning travellers.

I was looking forward to try out SPG Keyless feature which is available at Aloft KL Sentral. Instead of access card, guests can use their smartphone to unlock their door.

Checking in took some time due to long queue of people checking in / checking out. I noted that the reception desk's circular layout was not very systematic and something the hotel management could look into.

There were some hiccups at the reception counter i.e. registering my mobile device as the access card which took some time for the staff to do so. Similarly, when I decided to settle my bill the night before I checked out so that I could leave early in the morning, I found myself locked out of my room and had to approach the counter again to get my keys re-activated. Hope the hotel management could look into smoothing the entire customer experience during my next visit.

Going back to the access card, as soon as I reached my room, I wasted no time to test the apps to unlock my room. Perhaps I was not familiar with it, or genuinely due to technical inefficiency, the system could not recognize my iPhone and I had to unlock using the access card given to me. However when I tried it several hours later, I was able to unlock my door using my phone only to find that it didn't work the next time I tried. So it was a hit-and-miss experience for me.

I was assigned a 355-square feet Loft Twin Room, which featured urban and casual contemporary design. Sassy Lat-inspired art depicting Malaysian character adorned the wall, while natural lighting is a-plenty in the room thanks to an extra-large window on one side of the room. I spent some time gazing down at the wide road below my room, at the bustling traffic and hurried people going about their lives not knowing a stranger watching them from their room.

To summarize, these are the plus points of the hotel from my own experience:

1. The location - very close to KL Sentral, save the hassle of waking up too early unnecessarily to catch the first ERL train to KLIA.

2. Non-smoking room policy - since the hotel is family-friendly, all the rooms are smoking-free.

3. Breakfast - They have menu to cater to even the fussiest little eater. I was sorry my kids were not travelling with me to enjoy their buffet spread.

4. Kids' amenities - They do provide things like baby bathtub, Camp Aloft (Ikea tent) and other things to cater to the young guests.

5. Wifi - Internet connection is excellent.

The not-so-good experiences which I felt that the hotel management could easily resolve through proper training / developing standard operating procedures:

1. Housekeeping - Shampoo / shower gel does not come in those tiny bottles, but in those wall-mounted container. However, body shampoo was not re-stocked after the last guest left so I was forced to use shampoo instead :(

2. Reception - could be faster.

3. Laundry services - they returned my laundry quite late that I had to call to check the status.

As for the rest, you could refer to the captions beneath the photos that I took of the hotel room that I stayed in:

The room can accommodate 2 adults and 2 kids but it would be a bit cramp at full capacity.

The room decor is ultra-urban, with only practical fittings furnished.

Guests can stock up on their snacks of choice from re:fuel station at ground floor (no, it's not free).

Don't fret if you forgot to bring your phone / power bank charger. You can borrow from the hotel, but a deposit is required which will be returned to you upon checking out.

Thankfully, we are not required to go downstairs to get a cup of coffee / tea

The spacious bathroom with separate shower / toilet on one side, and the cloth cabinet on the other side

Guests are encouraged to sing in the shower (love the purple tiles on the wall)

The cabinet's mirror sliding door hides amenities such as a mini-safe, hairdryer and towels

Standard toiletries are provided in the room

The sink has plenty of space to put your own toiletries / makeup kits

Rating: 7/10

Monday, September 04, 2017

Le Meridien Putrajaya (Suite Room)

The Le Meridien brand needs no introduction. The latest addition to their chain in Kuala Lumpur is Le Meridien Putrajaya which is adjacent to IOI Mall Putrajaya.

I had stayed in this hotel before and reviewed their ultra modern Signature room. However, our latest stay at this hotel was a lucky one as we were upgraded to their suite room at no extra cost (we checked the price later and noted that the price is more than RM1000 per night).

I have mentioned most of the amenities available in this hotel before, so I would not waste your time to go through them again. So enjoy photos of the elegant suite room at Le Meridien Putrajaya below:

Ample space in the bedroom which probably can accommodate two other king beds. Love the oversized standing mirror next to the bed

The sitting room provides some privacy to the bedroom should there be visitors coming over. A four-seat dining table sits next to the sitting area

Bathroom in the suite room is bigger than the signature room, but offers same amenities as the latter

Ultra modern bathroom

Ok, perhaps the suite room has more toiletries than the signature room's bathroom. I think the mouth wash is not available in the signature room

So much space in the suite room which makes my kids super happy (and reluctant to leave afterwards)

So how do you stand a chance to get free upgrades like us? Simply sign up as SPG (Starwood Preferred Guest) to enjoy amazing benefits including free night awards and room upgrades at any of Starwood Hotels:

Courtesy of starwoodhotels.com

I have to say that Le Meridien sure knows how to reward their guests :)

Rating: 10/10

Sunday, January 15, 2017

Mulu Marriott Resort & Spa

As a person who was born and bred in Sarawak, I was quite embarrassed whenever non-Sarawakians asked me if I had been to Mulu. After all, it is just an hour's flight from Miri, and Miri is just next door to Bintulu.

So for our 10th anniversary last month, we decided to get acquainted with Mulu. And there is no better way to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary other than kick back in style and experience luxury stay-cation at Mulu Marriott Resort & Spa.

When we arrived at Mulu Airport, we were immediately whisked away to the resort on a charming open-window tourist bus complimentary from Mulu Marriott. Our Mulu adventure had begun!

We were greeted by friendly staff who handed us cold drinks and towels to freshen up after our early morning flight. There was a little bit of a glitch with the credit card terminal at the resort, but the lady staff quickly assured us that it was no trouble at all since our booking was made via Booking.com (I was initially quite worried because I didn't bring sufficient cash to cover for hotel bills should there be any problem with the credit card charge).

While I was preoccupied with checking in, our kids were entertained with a complimentary colouring book and kit that came in Marriott pouch bag. How thoughtful of them!

After we checked in, we were accompanied to our room which was just a 100m away from the lobby. The lush forest surrounding the resort gave away a sense of calm and serenity, as we prepared to get disconnected from the rest of the world (there is no Wi-Fi available in all rooms, while mobile network is also limited). We truly felt that we were on vacation at this point.

Stepping into the room, we couldn't help but marvel at the ornate room that we called our home for a couple of days afterwards. Nothing is spared to go 'au naturel' with the resort surroundings in the interior of the room, from the furnishings that are accented with 'belian' (local hardwood), to the carefully orchestrated hues of natural colours used in the room. The result? A handsome, modernly-furnished room that deserved the five-star rating of the resort.

Deluxe Riverside room

When it comes to amenities, everything that is offered at a five-star resort in the heart of a city is also available in Mulu Marriott Resort & Spa. We loved the modern coffee machine to unwind, and the refreshing rain shower in the bathroom after a hard day exploring the famous Mulu caves.

The view from the other side

Love the simplicity of the bathroom design.

Soak up in warm bath after a long day discovering Mulu rainforest, or freshen up under the rain shower before going off on the next adventure. Both are available.

Tea (and coffee) making facilities.

All rooms are appointed with a private balcony overlooking Melinau river or the rainforest

Early morning stroll view. The resort is designed in the style of Sarawak's longhouses, elevated on 15-foot stilts and connected by suspended walkway

I would also highly recommend those going to stay at Mulu Marriott Resort & Spa to sign up room package with breakfast. Although their breakfast spread is rather limited (don't expect to see egg station here), the food is marvellous. Probably we survived the long walks and tiring climbs in the caves thanks to hearty breakfasts we took here.

The beautiful high ceiling lent Marriott Cafe a spacious feel

And what is a resort stay without sampling the spa? After 2 days of adventure in Mulu National Park, a 2-hour spa session at the famous Mandara Spa helped me to restore my energy and of course, rubbed off muscle soreness.

Mandara Spa

The reading room, where guests could also use the computer here to print their boarding pass for the return journey

The lounge area where guests could relax and use the Wi-Fi facility, which we didn't use because we loved our room more.

All in all, Mulu Marriott Resort & Spa is definitely worth our time and money. The facilities, surrounding and hospitality of the staff deserved nothing but praises from us. We certainly look forward to be their guests again in the near future.

Verdict: 10/10

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Le Meridien Putrajaya

Fancy staying at a 5-star hotel which is adjacent to a shopping mall without breaking the bank? Then hop over to Le Meridien Putrajaya for an enjoyable stay-cation. The hotel which is part of the Starwood Hotels & Resorts chain opened its doors this year, offering 353 modern rooms to cater to various groups of guests.

I was delighted to find myself with the opportunity to experience this brand new hotel recently when I had to attend a meeting in KL. The warm hospitality of the staff greeted me first thing as the concierge opened the cab door for me. Checking in was hassle-free and I was pleased to be given my preferred room which is near the elevator.

Stepping into the hotel room, you couldn't help but notice the ultra-clean air inside. The room is spacious without being too bare, and the lighting is cozy without being too dim. I fell in love with the room instantly.

Welcome to Le Meridien Putrajaya

The very cozy king size bed with premium bed sheet covers to send you off to a good dream

Ergonomic chair at the working desk guarantees that you could work for hours comfortably

The room is tastefully decorated with contemporary furniture and vibrant colors that exude elegance and modern haute. I couldn't help but wish I had this kind of bedroom sanctuary to retreat to every day after work. A 50-inch plasma TV adorned the wall opposite the king-size bed for those who loves to lie in while surfing the satellite channels. WiFi is available throughout the hotel without additional charge.

The modern bathroom done in shades of black, chrome and red

While the toiletries are not exactly designer brand, this doesn't deter me from enjoying a luxurious bath and catching up on some reading, all the while surrounded by the fresh scent of the shower gel. My only peeve with the bathtub is it takes forever to fill it up only to find myself in half-empty bathtub a short while later as the drain stopper doesn't stop the water from seeping through.

Love the spacious bathtub with ample room on its sides and end to keep your book / tablet / phone for those who prefers to read while enjoying a luxurious soak

Complimentary beverages available for the late-nights coffee while working / early morning tea after waking up from a relaxing slumber

After my meeting ended, I had some time to explore the IOI Shopping Mall which is connected to the hotel and are just within steps. I found it extremely convenient as the shopping mall offers plenty of dining options for guests who want to have something other than hotel food.

IOI Shopping Mall is just walking distance away

Walking past these aesthetic decor to the hotel lobby from the shopping mall

It is not that the hotel food is not good, in fact I found the breakfast spread decent and worth the money. I had my usual stay-cation menu - American breakfast (omelette, with grilled beef streaks, sausages, grilled tomato and baked beans) and also got to savour the local delicacies (nasi lemak, Chinese porridge, roti pratha, as well as breakfast pastries).

The exterior of Latest Recipe restaurant

The interior of the restaurant

Glimmering new hotel lobby

Being a new hotel, I could understand that there are bound to be some hitches here and there. My bathroom mat for example was not replenished the next day. However, other than that small flaw, the rest of the stay was perfect and enjoyable.

Le Meridien Putrajaya is currently offering opening rate from RM360 (RM300 for corporate rate) for their signature room which comes with signature breakfast at Latest Recipe which lasts until 30 November this year. My only regret was not being able to bring my kids to enjoy this hotel while their promotional rate still run.

Verdict: 9/10

Sunday, April 03, 2016

Vistana Hotel Kuala Lumpur

Hello peeps!

By this time, you all know that I'm a sucker for hotel stays, right? Well, this post is no exception so bear with me.

This time around, I had a training at Vistana Hotel which is within walking distance from Titiwangsa LRT Station. The room rate is about RM250++ so it wasn't that bad.

The hotel caters mostly to business travellers since many training programs are conducted here. I am happy to say that checking in was a breeze and done under 10 minutes, and then we were on our way to our room.

Th room appears to be dark but cozy. We had to switch on all the lights in the room to make it look brighter. The decor is pretty much standard with rich brown feature wall and the rest of the furniture as expected in a standard hotel room.

We got a queen-sized bed with really comfy pillows

Brown seems to be the dominant color

A plasma TV enclosed in a tv cabinet

Standard choice of instant coffee and tea

There's a mini fridge provided without beverages

The bathroom has been done in modern contemporary style with clean edges. The lighting behind the vanity mirror lends the bathroom a brighter look. Sadly, no bathtub is installed in the bathroom, although a glass partition separates the toilet and the shower area.

The spacious sink area

Shower area comes with hand-held shower and a rain shower

Simple toiletries are provided consisting of a shower cap and toothbrush/toothpaste

Our room comes with buffet breakfast for two. Although the options are not as grand a five-star hotel (or even 4-star for that matter), the choice are pretty decent (with the staple nasi lemak on the menu, pancakes, bread and jam, fried rice, eggs station, and a few other selections).

Overall, it wasn't a bad experience, although hardly worth shouting out for. It meets the expectation without the wow factor, so maybe they ought to think of a way to really stand out from other hotels within its category.

What I like about the hotel is its proximity to an LRT station, and the warm smiles worn by their staff whenever we saw them. Other than that, everything about it falls back and is very much forgettable.

Verdict: 8/10

Update 2023: Vistana Hotel has since been re-branded as AC Hotel which is now part of the Marriott Bonvoy hotels.