Hotel-Restaurant zum Ochsen
Hotel Restaurant-zum-ochsen
Monday, March 30, 2015
Monday, March 16, 2015
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Romantic Pension Albrecht near Neuschwanstein Castle
April, 8th 2015, I visited Neuschwanstein Castle
I have selected the following pension:
Romantic-pension-albrecht
We reached the pension at 3:30pm. Nobody was there. You have to read carefully the checkin time 4:00pm to 8:00pm.
I have selected the following pension:
Romantic-pension-albrecht
We reached the pension at 3:30pm. Nobody was there. You have to read carefully the checkin time 4:00pm to 8:00pm.
Then we decided not to wait and go to visit the castle before checkin.
Then we came back at 7:00 pm for the checkin. The owner is very friendly. The room is spacious with a balcony from where you can see the castle, high on the hill.
We got the room number 3. The bed was very comfy, and we had a good rest.
Breakfast was all setup when we came down at 7:45am. A mix of hams, cheeses and saucisson, hard boil egg, good bread, served with orange juice and coffee was waiting for us!
I definitely recommend this place!
Ps: this pension is located at 100 m from the castle carpark, this will save you the 6 euros of parking!
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
IBIS Hotel*** Bencoolen - Singapore
Visited in September 2012
My Rating
Comfort yes
Interior Design Ugly
Size Small
Sleep Ok
Wifi yes, but i think they charged for it
TV Channels Ok
Bed Quality Ok
Clean yes
Noise horrible if nearby neighbors open their mouths
Swimming Pool none
Swimming Pool none
Before this hotel, I stayed a couple of times in Novotel Clark Quay, but for a weird reason, Novotel decided on that week to charge as much as a 5 star hotel, which was definitely not justified.
Ibis is nearby Bugis, a pretty vibrant area. The subway station is at 8 mins walk.
Ibis is nearby Bugis, a pretty vibrant area. The subway station is at 8 mins walk.
Check-in
It was smooth and fast. Staff are professional.The room
The room is absolutely UGLY; the TV is very small; looks pathetic but it has a comfortable bed, it is clean and you can even shower!
The noise
Oh gosh! the noise... I got the impression to put more rooms per floor, they have reduced the thickness of the wall.I stayed 2 nights in this hotel. It was 2 stressful nights:
Would I recommend this hotel?
No. Look at this joke of the day:
SGD 396.58158.00
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Limited rooms available!
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Normal price SGD 306.58 !!!!! ha ha ha ha ha, ha ha ha ha ha ROFL Have they ever counted the number of stars attached to their name?
Booking
Don't want lah... No I won't give you the link; if you want to book, click on the Agoda main link on top of this page and search for the hotel ;-)Wednesday, February 4, 2015
V Hotel**** Lavender - Singapore
Visited in July 2014
My Rating
The Hotel
Not an easy task to find a proper hotel around Lavender. Then I decided to try V Hotel Lavender.4 Star hotel ... ah ah ah ... ROFL! 3 Star and a half is probably the best you can give it! So the rest of the review will assume it is a 3 1/2 star
Check-in
Cold, impersonal style "I don't care who you are, just take your keys"During the checking, i knew something was wrong, but I could not figure what it was. keep reading....
The Room
Plenty of them ... 90 rooms per floor. Be ready to wait for at least 5 minutes to get a lift (among the 4 per floor) at breakfast time!The room furnishing looks very cheap.
Nothing in the fridge.
The bathroom is ridiculously small.
The corridor and the rooms give you an impression to be in a flat!
Did I say 3 1/2 star? At that moment, I would have given 2 stars!
The TV is working, the bed comfortable, the room is clean and the WIFI is working very well!
It's getting back its third star
Facilities
The Gym is very small for 90 rooms per floor over 10 floors. Grand total of 2 runners and 1 weight multi-purpose. Still, I was able to find it empty. so ...The swimming is not bad, but never take the sun; the water is super-cold :(
The restaurant, not belonging to the hotel (you cannot charge to the room) serves good food and the staff are very friendly).
Would I recommend it?
The Sultan (review on this blog) is at 400 meters; but it does not have swimming pool and gym).It is a balance between facilities and charm/class.
If you HAVE TO stay in lavender, then YES I recommend it. I would prefer to walk further and stay at the Sultan.
I booked it at S$189 incl tax, which I think is overpriced to sleep in a flat with swimming pool.
Booking
Click here:V hotel Lavender with Agoda
Thursday, January 29, 2015
BIG Hotel**** - Singapore
Visited in June and August 2014
My Rating
Comfort OKInterior Design Modern & optimized
Size Very Small
Sleep OK
Wifi OK
TV Channels OK
Bed Quality OK
Clean Yes
Noise silent
Swimming Pool none
Breakfast Good the 2nd time, disgusting the first time
View Forget about it
The name BIG is probably after the reception, because nothing else is big here. The hotel is on the modern style and the rooms have been smartly designed to put everything in the minimum sqf space.
XXX: Where do you stay?
Me: at the BIG hotel?
XXX: Which big hotel?
Me: There is only one BIG hotel in Singapore?
XXX: euh uhm ... how big is it?
this is where you just think sh.. and you start clarifying ...
Apart from this little problem, at 5mins from Bugis, it is a brand new and comfortable hotel for S$ 140, breakfast included.
The room
As mentioned, it is very small; actually, it cannot be smaller!The room is the length of the bed. It is a long room; as long as the distance bed+desk+shower+toilet.
But it is well designed, and you may wonder why it should be bigger...
The Gym and the Swimming pool
Unlike the name, the Gym is very small, and there is no swimming pool.Taxi Stand
I never mentioned it for any other hotel. Just one very useful tip here. The taxi stand is at the 1st floor, inside the carpark, and you will never see a cab unless you request it from the reception, at the ground floor!!!Forget about it: Exit the hotel, turn left, cross the road; there is a BIG taxi stand at 75 meters.
Would I recommend it?
Single travelers, this is a place for you.Where can you book it?
You can click on the link below:Tuesday, January 27, 2015
The Sultan Hotel**** - Singapore
Visited between Aug to Sept 2014
If I remember well, it is 9 shop lots merged together and entirely renovated to make this beautiful hotel, I stay 3 times in this hotel, but ...
All very nice; each of them a bit different, probably to avoid the regular client to get bored. They look new or very well maintained.
But, why did I change 3 times rooms in 3 stays?
First time, the hotel management asked me to change because they had to repair the mal-functioning aircond.
Second and Third time I asked to change because on the Wednesday night, the very quite jazz club turns into a night-club, stopping the music around 1:30AM, which makes the 1st floor room very noisy.
So if you stay on the Wednesday night, ask for ground floor room.
My Rating
Comfort yes
Interior Design Classic
Size medium
Sleep Good
Wifi Good for computer, tabs may have problem in
some rooms
some rooms
TV Channels Large choice
Bed Quality Good
Clean yes
Noise only on Wednesday @1st floor room
The Sultan hotel... I felt in love for this hotel at the moment I saw it. If you do not mind the absence of gym and swimming pool, at SGD 150++ including breakfast, it is a very good deal. If I remember well, it is 9 shop lots merged together and entirely renovated to make this beautiful hotel, I stay 3 times in this hotel, but ...
The room
I visited quite a lot of rooms here, because they changed me room 3 times. So I visited 6 rooms.All very nice; each of them a bit different, probably to avoid the regular client to get bored. They look new or very well maintained.
But, why did I change 3 times rooms in 3 stays?
First time, the hotel management asked me to change because they had to repair the mal-functioning aircond.
Second and Third time I asked to change because on the Wednesday night, the very quite jazz club turns into a night-club, stopping the music around 1:30AM, which makes the 1st floor room very noisy.
So if you stay on the Wednesday night, ask for ground floor room.
Check-in
Quick and courteous.
The gym and the swimming pool
No gym, No swimming pool
The restaurant
I only had my breakfast. Simple, but satisfying, except for the coffee :(
Would I recommend this hotel?
Yes, indeed. Charming hotel @ 2 mins from Arab Street, where you have great choice of restaurants for dinner.I recommend it!
Monday, January 26, 2015
Tune Hotel***, Taiping, Perak, Malaysia
Visited in December 2014
My Rating
Comfort OK
Interior Design modern / Ikea
Size Medium
Sleep OK
Wifi Very Bad
TV Channels OK
Bed Quality OK
Clean Yes
Noise it depends on whether the apartment block behind has a pary
Swimming Pool none
Swimming Pool none
Breakfast haven't tried. Plenty of coffee shops around
View there is one, indeed...
Try to tell your friend or family that you're staying a Tune Hotel, and now let's bet on the kind of answers they will give you- yerrrr, the one cheap cheap where you have to pay for the aircond
- ah ya, how much hein? once you have add the tv, the aircond and the hotwater?
I would have had proposal - surely- the same reaction few years back, but it is not true anymore!
And you know what? I'm going back in the same hotel for Chinese New Year 2015!
The Price
Like the ad. says, the price is from MYR 88++ per nightThis include the VIP package ;-) Aircond, Hot water, TV and slow & annoying WIFI! Well, then what is the difference with a "normal" hotel?
None, except this hotel is NEW!
Click on the Agoda link at the top of this page and look for Taiping. Most of the hotels you will find are either miserable or have a very bad service.
The room
Medium size with a comfortable bed; not 5 star bed, but comfortable. The small aircond is perfectly sized for the room.
The bathroom is small, but there is a shower, toilet, sink and hairdryer!
The Gym and the Swimming pool
not anywhere near
Would I recommend it?
If you want to visit Taiping, this is the hotel you have to stay.Where can you book it?
You can click on the link below:Tune in Taiping
Friday, January 23, 2015
Lost Paradise Resort, Batu Ferringhi, Penang, Malaysia ***
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Gallery Hotel**** - Singapore
Visited on October 2014
My Rating
Comfort yes
Interior Design forgettable
Size Medium
Sleep Well
Wifi Ok
TV Channels Ok
Bed Quality Normal
Clean yes
Noise yes
Swimming Pool Ok
Swimming Pool Ok
I decided to try this hotel because the design was pretty interesting on this picture, and it was opposite a bus station leading straight to CBD.
I booked this hotel at S$162++ per night for a two single bed room.
You have to know that this photographer is actually very good and the hotel does not really look like this.
If you read TripAdvisor, you will see that lots of people complain about the fact it is necessary to take 2 separate lifts to reach your room from the lift lobby. It is very fast. Forget about it. It's really not a problem.
The room
The room is normal. nothing bad nothing good; the bed was somewhat comfortable.The Gym
The way to the Gym is just very tiring ... you have to go to 5th floor, end of corridor go to swimming pool, take the stairs to go down, exit to reach a little bridge and go down some more ...yo man, you haven't start your workout, you're already tired ... what a weird architecture!
Apart from this long complain, let's admit it, the gym room is pretty big!
The Location
The location is far from any MRT; for the bus to business district, exit the hotel, cross the river take 186... this is pretty convenient.Would I recommend this hotel?
No. It's actually not bad, it's just for the same price, there is so much better...
Booking
What booking? I said no!Ok, if you really want to book, click on the link below:
Gallery via Agoda
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Grand Mercure Roxy Hotel **** - Singapore
Visited in November 2012
My Rating
Comfort yes
Interior Design Oldish
Size Large
Sleep Ok
Wifi Slow
TV Channels did not use ... sorry
Bed Quality Oldish
Clean yes
Noise silent
Swimming Pool Nice! yes we can swim in it.
Swimming Pool Nice! yes we can swim in it.
It's all about priorities. I came to Singapore for 1 full day meeting, arriving at night before from the Airport and leaving on day 2 by an early morning flight.
Then, I decided to book this hotel because it is at 8 mins from the airport, and provide a shuttle service.
The ambiance is always more or less the same in the Grand Mercure(s) and this one remind me so much one of them in Bangkok!
Big rooms, looks like they are 30 years old and nothing has been changed since day 1.
It is clean, old but well maintained. I was obliged to call the reception for them to change the 30 years old batteries from the 30 years old remote.
It is in the middle of nowhere, but I did not care; my priority was NEAR THE AIRPORT.
At the date I'm writing this review, the room is around S$ 190, which is actually quite expensive taking into account that there is nothing around, but I believe is it what you have to pay for airport proximity.
- Area: Location: East Coast / Katong
Big PLUS
As you can see on the picture, this hotel has a very decent swimming pool, which is not often the case for a 4 star hotel!
Would I recommend this hotel?
If you want to be near the airport ONLY.
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Carlton Hotel ***** - Singapore
Visited in November 2013
My Rating
Comfort yes
Interior Design Modern
Size Large
Sleep Very Good!
Wifi Good
TV Channels Large choice
Bed Quality Wonderful
Clean yes
Noise What noise???
Probably the best Business Hotel/Price value in Singapore. Clean, class and modern design. It does not have the charm of some of the other hotels I have reviewed, but if you like this kind of hotel and you got a budget slightly higher than S$200, don't look further.
Very private, very silent, yet it is facing Chijmes and Raffles City Center. How lovely if you decided to go for shopping or a beer expedition.
But of course, I stayed at this hotel before to take the challenge of staying at below S$200. I booked it @ around S$ 220++ per night, which is very reasonable for a modest 5*.
Check-in
I don't know the reason for this strange phenomena, but more stars the hotels have, longer is the check-in. It is like obliging you to witness their service level. Asking you to verify the information, to sign here and there. To complete the missing information.
The room
The room is big, clean, not newly renovated, but you feel the 5*. Giant bed, desk, flat screen displaying the welcome message with the annoying music, which obliges you to focus on finding the remote control to switch it of. I'm pretty sure you have done this before.
The gym
A real gym with multiple runners, weight machines.
The restaurant
According to Singaporeans, there is one of the best Chinese restaurant in this hotel. Please leave your comments, I haven't tried it.
Would I recommend this hotel?
If as a business traveler, you feel staying in a business hotel and 5* is a must, stay here, it is a very good value for money. I liked it.
Booking
Click the link below:Monday, January 19, 2015
Naumi Liora Hotel **** - Singapore
Visited in December 2014
My Rating
Comfort yes
Interior Design Warm
Size medium-small
Sleep Good!
Wifi Good most of the time
TV Channels so so
Bed Quality Some may find it a bit hard, but there are tons of pillows
Clean yes
Noise Outside noise ok, a bit noisy from the corridor
I find business hotels very boring; then I always try to find hotel with a bit of charm or colonial touch.
Naumi Liora Hotel gives you this feeling. On top of it, it is located in a pretty vibrant street with numbers of good restaurants.
Address:
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55 Keong Saik Road 089158
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Area / City / Country:
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Chinatown / Tiong
Bahru/Singapore/Singapore
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I booked it @ S$ 193 per night; at the date I'm writing this review, it is cheaper.
The hotel is setup in a merged shop lots at the boarder of China Town, which is at 5 mins walk. It looks pretty new and refined with its wooden floor and beams.
Just be careful; since this houses were not built to be an hotel, there are some rooms without windows;
At first, I didn't want to book it, but anyway, even when you have a window in most of the hotels, you cannot open it. So, what's the difference. And in fact, you forget about it. Even better, you enjoy the silence, still in a vibrant environment.
Of course, if you have a noisy careless human in the corridor, everyone will hear him!
Just be careful; since this houses were not built to be an hotel, there are some rooms without windows;
At first, I didn't want to book it, but anyway, even when you have a window in most of the hotels, you cannot open it. So, what's the difference. And in fact, you forget about it. Even better, you enjoy the silence, still in a vibrant environment.
Of course, if you have a noisy careless human in the corridor, everyone will hear him!
Check-in
Fast check-in with a warm welcome from the staff
The room
I booked the queen size bed - no window.
Just right for 1 person or a couple. No desk, but after a full day @ your desk, do you really want to restart the same game when you reach your hotel room?
Depending on the floor/room WIFI is either fast or slow. Your luck!
Depending on the floor/room WIFI is either fast or slow. Your luck!
The rooms are pretty new. I stayed twice in this hotel. In one of the rooms there was ants. That annoyed my when i saw them, but then we reach a common agreement not to bother each other. The other room was antsless (sorry dear British friend, I love to invent new words)
The gym
Very small, full of mirrors trying to extend the room, but there is a limit to magic interior design, but it's enough since no one is using it.
The restaurant
no restaurant; just open the door of the hotel and you will find plenty of them.
Would I recommend this hotel?
Price varies a lot, depending on the period.
Charm / Location / Price make it attractive; then YES, go for it!
Charm / Location / Price make it attractive; then YES, go for it!
Booking
Click the link below:Sunday, January 18, 2015
Hotel Re Pearl's Hill ****, Singapore
Visited in December 2014
My Rating
Comfort yes
Interior Design not really
Size small
Sleep Good!
Wifi Good!
TV Channels Good!
Bed Quality Good enough
Clean yes
Noise silent
I got a personal rule as a business traveler:
I would not ask my company to pay more than I can personally afford for an hotel in business trip.
Four years ago, I was staying in Singapore for around S$ 280 per night, and I saw to price of the hotels climbing vertically and decided to strike (normal .. I'm French) on 5* hotels and some of the 4* who believe being 5*.
Four years ago, I was staying in Singapore for around S$ 280 per night, and I saw to price of the hotels climbing vertically and decided to strike (normal .. I'm French) on 5* hotels and some of the 4* who believe being 5*.
This Hotel Re was a decision i took while I was in great protest spirit against price hike.
The hotel is non-smoking
Address:
I booked it @ S$ 122 per night, which is far below my allowance for the following reasons:
- It got a car park and from time to time I'm driving from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, and it is difficult to find hotel with true free car park, not limited by low height. I got a big 4x4 and lots of Singaporean car parks are only designed for Ferraris.
- It is at 5 minutes green walk from the subway station "Outram Park" on the green line bringing you to the CBD - Central Business District
- It is facing China town, which has numerous gems in term of restaurants
Now you know the reasons, let's talk about the hotel by itself
Check-in
a fast check-in with a smile
- Since there is no restaurant around at less than 5 mins; they give you a 50% voucher to eat at the hotel restaurant.
The room
I booked the Deluxe Room
It is small, but well designed; the WIFI is working, the TV is big enough for the room and there are enough channels to watch from (including TV5 monde for the Frenchies ;-)
I booked a queen bed and i got a queen bed, which was surprising, as most of the hotels are always trying to fake upgrades to give you 2 twins, thing that I HATE.
Last and most important thing: It is QUIET.
The gym
Hey hey ... what to say? 1 runner, 1 multi-purpose weight machine cramped into a ridiculous small room without any interior design effort to make it look bigger.
The restaurant
Don't expect to be successful with a date in this restaurant, but honestly the food was pretty good for the price in an open on reception concept restaurant without pretension.
Would I recommend this hotel?
At S$ 122 per night, I think it is a good deal. I slept very well, and yes I would recommend it.
Enjoy your stay, and please comment here if you agree/disagree with this review
PS: Don't forget to visit their bar to use their 50% voucher on house wine; it is visually impressive ;-)
Booking
Click the link below:
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