Saturday, April 22, 2017

The Everly Putrajaya

Morning flight can be a hassle to some people but if you have small children, it can escalate to a nightmare. We once missed our early morning flight and from that day, we tried to avoid early flights unless necessary.

But if we must travel early, then we normally booked a hotel that is within short distance to the airport. That is why I think The Everly Putrajaya is a hotel you might want to consider if you are looking for a transit hotel:

#1: Its location - only 20km away from KLIA

On-site airport hotels can be pricey so why not consider a hotel that is a little bit further but still a short distance away? Everly Putrajaya Hotel is just 25-mins drive to KLIA. In the morning with little traffic, you can reach the airport within just 20 mins. Be sure to call a taxi in advance or ask the hotel to book a taxi for you.

#2: Within walking distance to Alamanda Shopping Centre

Adjacent to the hotel, there is a decent shopping mall that you could bring your kids to. There are plenty of F&B outlets and establishment such as Parkson, Aeon Big and Cold Storage. The mall has plenty to offer to travellers waiting for the flight the next day, from dining, to fashion outlets and many more.

#3: Value for money transit hotel

While I like splurging on hotel stays if I am on stay-cation trips, I tend to look for value-for-money hotel when I am on transit stay. Why pay for more when you just need a bed to rest and shower to freshen up before your next trip? You can get a room for below RM200 per night if it is during off-season.

So with those reasons, we stayed at The Everly Putrajaya the night before we flew back to Bintulu during our last trip to KL. We booked a Deluxe Room at the Non-Smoking floor as shown in the photos below:

All Deluxe rooms are accorded with spacious twin beds, a lounge sofa, flat screen tv with satellite channels and work table

I love the fresh and vibrant look and feel of the hotel room. The feature and side wall is given a coat of pastel green paint to complement the carpet, with matching floral decor frames adorning the wall.

Simple yet modern decor

A view of the TV and work desk

Toiletries

It gives me peace of mind to have an affordable transit place to spend the night before your early morning flight the next day. The hotel is new and modern, and the rooms are clean and decent (perhaps a bit crowded with two adults and two kids in the 25 square metres room). So, I highly recommend The Everly Putrajaya for travellers looking for a comfortable place to rest for the night.

Rating: 7/10

Sunday, April 16, 2017

Airbnb: NEO Damansara

Hello! What a busy time I had since my last post, that I had a few reviews lined up but never got around to post about it!

Anyway, remember my previous post about using Airbnb to book an apartment in Osaka? Well, since we had a positive experience with AirBnB, we decided to save up on hotel stays and booked a studio apartment during our visit to Kidzania KL back in January.

So, if you are looking for a decent stay within walking distance to Kidzania in Mutiara Damansara, then I would recommend NEO Damansara. It is barely 1km away from The Curve so it was not such a long walk for our family including our 4-year old daughter.

Below are photos of the studio apartment that we booked:

A Queen-size bed is provided, and there is even extra mattress and quilt in the wardrobe for additional guests

Mini kitchen with double door fridge, a kitchenette, a microwave and electric kettle. Cutleries are available in limited quantity

Washing machine is also provided, but you need to buy your own detergent

The bathroom has hot shower. Toiletries are also provided.

My review:
Pros:

Very near to The Curve / Kidzania / Ikea / IPC (less than 1 km away)
Check in was a breeze, with the security personnel informed of our arrival ahead of time and the padlock number given to us prior to our arrival.
The apartment size is ideal for two to three adult guests or young family of four.
A convenient store, a mamak restaurant and even a clinic are available at the property. Super convenient.
The apartment is clean and basic, suitable with the price.
Complete amenities including a tv, sofa, ceiling fan and aircond on top of the above that I mentioned.
Check out was also a breeze.

Cons:

The bed mattress is not exactly hotel standard. You could feel yourself sinking into the mattress.
The extra mattress has stains.
The aircond needs servicing, but it does get the room cool after several hours. You can opt to switch on the ceiling fan too.

Overall, it was a satisfactory place to stay for the money we paid.

Rating: 5/10

Saturday, April 01, 2017

Love is...

...when your heart ceases to beat on its own, my heart carries the beats for you.

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

Monday, January 09, 2017

Pullman Miri Waterfront

December is my favourite month because we normally make plans to travel during this special month. The best part of travel is getting to sample hotels and our latest try-out is none other than Pullman Miri Waterfront.

The latest addition to hotel industry in Miri, Pullman Miri Waterfront is certainly giving other hotels a run for their money. Strategically located in the heart of Miri town, the hotel is easily accessible by public transport, 5 minutes away from major shopping centres and 15 minutes away from Miri Airport.

The hotel offers 328 tastefully decorated rooms that overlooks the ocean and river below. The deluxe room that we booked is equipped with modern amenities that cater to the needs of well-connected travelers such as complimentary Wi-Fi in the room and USB charging ports.

What is a stay-cation without sampling the hotel's breakfast spread? While not comparable to Marriott Miri's lavish buffet breakfast, Pullman Miri's buffet choice is not too bad either. Local cuisines such as rice porridge set, laksa Sarawak, mee rebus and roti canai compete with intercontinental menu (choices of egg-based breakfast, bread and butter, cereal, fresh salad and many more). What a perfect way to start our morning.

Subtle colors of beige and grey with a touch of pale green promote chill and relaxing atmosphere in the room

Entertainment comes in the form of 42-inch LED smart TV with satellite channels

Bathroom is equipped with a bathtub, incorporating minimal yet stylish design

Signature Pullman toiletries

Other hotel amenities include steam iron, ironing board, bathrobe and many more

Forgot to bring your charger? Fret not, just plug in the USB cable to charge your devices

A stylish remote control holder