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Where I Stayed: Paradise Bay Resort – Hawaii

Written by James Clark on June 7, 2011 · Leave a Comment

The last time I came to Hawaii I stayed the entire time in Waikiki, so on this trip when I was offered the chance to stay on the windward side of Oahu, I gladly took up the offer to stay somewhere different.

Paradise Bay Resort is located near Kaneohe, about a third of the way up the east coast of the island. To get to Kaneohe you pass through the Nu’uanu Pali Tunnels, and on this side of the island the pace changes considerably.

I stayed in the water front suite looking out over Kaneohe Bay. The resort is listed as a hotel, but technically it could also be a B&B as there is a free breakfast buffet. It could also be classified as a vacation rental, as the suites are self contained units with kitchens.

[Paradise Bay Resort - Hawaii]

After seeing where Paradise Bay was on the map, my original plan was to use this as a base to explore the rest of the island. Once I arrived that plan went out the window. I’m not a sit on the beach and read a book all day kind of guy, but give me a balcony with a view and fast wi-fi and I could linger all day. That’s what I did.

[My office at Paradise Bay Resort]

I had planned to get the bus to Waimea Bay, which the bus nearby runs to. There was a slight drizzle for most of my stay, so I decided to enjoy the view instead. That was my excuse anyway. From my room you can see the Ko’olau Mountains, and the only noise I could hear was the sound of water lapping at the balconies edge and the occasional chicken.

While I was chilling out, most of the other guests were here for the water sport activities. Kaneohe Bay is the largest sheltered body of water in the Hawaiian Islands which makes it a popular area for kayaking and kiteboarding.

I asked a friend of mine who has lived in Waikiki for 15 years if he had heard of this hotel. He wasn’t even aware there were hotels on the windward side. That it is out of the way, for me, made it part of its charm.

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I stayed as a guest of Paradise Bay Resort – opinions, experiences and photos are my own.
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Categories: Where I Stayed - Tags: hawaii, hotels, oahu, usa

Where I Stayed: New King Guesthouse, Delhi – India

Written by James Clark on April 7, 2011 · 3 Comments

When arriving at a new place late at night I like to have my accommodation booked in advance, and this was the case for my trip to Delhi. I stayed at the New King Guesthouse, which I picked for its location, the airport pick up service and most importantly, free wifi.

The booking description said there was wifi in the lobby. I got wifi in my room, so that was a bonus.

I have been warned that guesthouses with wifi in India is not common. I have been spoiled with internet in Southeast Asia, where even the most basic of guesthouses come with wifi as standard.

For that reason I want to give this guesthouse a mention, in the hope that guesthouse across the sub-continent realise what a great benefit it is to provide inroom wifi access. *dreams on*.

I also wanted to mention this guesthouse if only to show the room I stayed in. Introducing… the Austin Powers Suite:

[Austin Powers Suite - yeah baby, yeah!]

The guesthouse is in Paharganj, where the biggest cluster of cheap guesthouses are in Delhi, making it popular for backpackers. It is close to New Delhi train station, which is a ten minute walk to Connaught Place, the heart of New Delhi.

Thankfully they had a airport pickup option, as I may never have found the place. It is tucked away down an un-named lane off the busy market road.

The rate was 350 INR per night ($7.90 USD) and I booked the New King Guesthouse online at Hostelbookers.

Categories: Where I Stayed - Tags: accommodation, delhi, free wifi, india

Where I Stayed: Marina Bay Sands – Singapore

Written by James Clark on January 11, 2011 · 13 Comments

I pass through Singapore at least once a year as it is such a convenient travel hub. Over the last couple of years I have been wondering, “what is that thing being built at Marina Bay?”. The answer is the Marina Bay Sands.

[Marina Bay Sands view from Merlion Park]

This was my first trip to Singapore since its completion, and I was invited to stay for the night to have a look around for myself. I accepted the invitation.

The hotel is one part of an integrated resort, which includes a casino, shopping mall, theatre and convention centre.

James at Marina Bay Sands
[At Marina Bay Sands]

The hotel looks across Marina Bay and has an unobstructed view of Singapore’s financial district skyline. The hotel accommodation is five star luxury at its best, with 40 inch TV’s, automatic curtains and luxurious beds that make you to never want to get out of bed again.

While I appreciated having a luxury king size bed, I was equally impressed with the reading couch. Getting horizontal on a couch and reading a book is a wonderful way to relax, and if I had time I would have lay down on this all day. As it was I was Singapore for just over 24 hours, and I had much work to do. Plus there was another couch I need to look at, on the roof.

[King size bed and reading couch -both very hard to get out of]

Amidst all the trimmings of 5 star luxury, the stand out highlight of this hotel is the pool. This is not some puddle of water tucked away in a sweaty little room on the second foor. The pool is on the roof. All three roofs. And then some.

This is the most ridiculous swiming pool I have ever seen.

[Marina Bay Sands pool lounge chairs]

That spaceship parked on the roof of the hotel is the SkyPark, which is 340m-long. 67 of those metres overhangs the north tower, making it the world’s largest public cantilevered platform. The showpeice of the SkyPark is the 150m infinity swimming pool.

There is a night club and bar at the SkyPark, which is open to the public, but only hotel guests can swim in the pool.

I thought that I might get some vertigo in the pool, but I didn’t feel that at all, even swimming up next to the edge.

The SkyPark is 191 metres above the ground and it felt a few degrees cooler up there, though that might have been the wind blowing off all that water.

[Marina Bay Sands swimming pool]

I love this pool. I had every intention of having a morning swim and then heading over to Little India for a lunch time curry. I ended up lingering for longer than I planned, so I missed my curry. I figured that I’m not going to be staying in such luxury on my next trip to Singapore, so the curry will have to wait until next time. I think I made the right choice.

From a design point of view I find this hotel fascinating. The cantilevered deck is an engineering marvel. I like looking up at it from the ground as it looks like a zeppelin is parked on the roof. Related trivia: did you know that the tower on the Empire State Building was built to dock airships? In the end they scrapped the idea of making it a port for dirigibles (love that word) as it was too windy that high up.

[A zeppelin lands on the roof of the Marina Bay Sands]

Marina Bay is reclaimed land and there is more construction going on in the area. There is a metro line being built nearby, and behind the hotel the Gardens by the Bay is nearing completion. It will be interesting to see how the area looks once everything is completed.

Search and compare rates for Marina Bay Sands Hotel Singapore.

Note: James stayed as a guest of Marina Bay Sands.

Categories: Where I Stayed - Tags: casino, hotel, singapore

Where I Stayed: Tune Hotels – Kuala Lumpur (the low-cost airline of budget hotels)

Written by James Clark on September 17, 2009 · 3 Comments

Tune Hotels.com is a budget hotel chain from Malaysia. This hotel group is connected to AirAsia, so it has a similar pay for what you use pricing system like a low cost airline. It is similar to easyHotel, which is related to easyJet.

[Tune Hotel - Kuala Lumpur]

Just like a low cost airline, the price you pay depends on when you book the room. The earlier you book the cheaper the room will be. There are also the occasional crazy special offers such as rooms for 1 MYR. The best chance to get such a deal is by registering for the email newsletter.

I stayed at the Downtown KL. It’s close to the Tuanku Monorail station, which terminates at KL Sentral LRT station for airport connections.

The rooms are clean and modern, and I was surprised at how much space was in the room. I had imagined it might have been a small box, like some kind of luxury flop house.

The beds are quality as well. The beds are advertised as:

High quality King Coil spring matress beds with pillows, pillowcases, bed sheets and 250-thread count duvets.

After sleeping on some soggy guesthouse matresses I really noticed the difference here.

[Tune Hotel Bed]

When booking your room you can select optional extras such as:

Air Conditioning
Towel Rental + Free Essentials toiletries kit
Wireless Internet Access
Breakfast
Hairdryers

and that old favourite of the low cost airlines: Travel insurance.

Each room has a ceiling fan, which I prefer over air conditioning anyway. I didn’t buy any extras when I booked, but I did end up buying internet credit when I was there.

[Tune Hotel Bathroom]

Categories: Where I Stayed - Tags: accommodation, hotels, kuala lumpur, malaysia

Where I Stayed: Hotel de Foucauld, Marrakech – Morocco

Written by James Clark on November 28, 2008 · Leave a Comment

Morocco is an excellent budget travel destination if you have just come from Europe. The hotels at the cheap end of the scale tend to be old places with ecclectic flair. I have found that the best places to stay are either in the Ville Nouvelle (the “new” town areas that were built by the French) or on the edge of the Medina’s. The cheapest budget hotels are often in the Medina’s, but I found it is not worth the hassle of carting your bags in those areas and trying to find your way around the narrow streets.

In Marrakech I split my time between the new and old areas. In the old area I found a hotel on a main street near the Medina, the Hotel de Foucauld. This room was 220 Dirham ($25 US).

[Hotel de Foucauld]

It is your typical budget hotel with lots of beautiful tile work throughout the hotel, and unusual room layouts.

[Hotel de Foucauld Bedroom]

My room had an ensuite bathroom so high up you could call it a mezzanine bathroom.

[Hotel de Foucauld Bathroom]

Categories: Where I Stayed - Tags: hotel, marrakech, morocco

Where I Stayed: Hotel Biarritz, Tangier – Morocco

Written by James Clark on November 18, 2008 · Leave a Comment

I spent the night in Tangier, which not many visitors seem to do. There was definitely a distinct lack of tourism here. Most visitors skip Tangier and head to the train station for the Marrakech Express.

[City of Tangier]

Tangier certainly has a reputation that precedes itself so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I knew the touts at the port gates were legendary so I was braced for an onslaught when I stepped off the ferry.

I was surprised then that I wasn’t hassled once. I was staying in a pension about 15 minutes walk away and I only got one taxi offer in that whole time. It seems the city really has cleaned up the tout situation.

I stayed at a Pension called the Hotel Biarritz. A room with a bathroom costs 150 Dirham (about $18 US)

[Hotel Biarritz]

Pensions aren’t usually bookable online, so you have to wing it when you arrive and hope there are rooms available when you get there. I love these old places with the tiling and decor that looks like it hasn’t changed since the 40′s.

[Hotel Biarritz Stairs]

Categories: Where I Stayed - Tags: hotel, morocco, tangier

Where I Stayed: Kooyk Hotel – Amsterdam

Written by James Clark on November 23, 2007 · Leave a Comment

I end my Benelux railpass in Amsterdam, from where I make my way back to London. I have found a great budget hotel near Leidseplein, Kooyk Hotel. I’ve had such a bad run of dirty and cramped hostels in my previous visits to Amsterdam, so I have been looking out for a basic guesthouse instead.

[Hotel Kooyk]

Categories: Where I Stayed - Tags: amsterdam, hotel, netherlands

Where I Stayed: Botel Maastricht

Written by James Clark on November 9, 2007 · Leave a Comment

A different budget accommodation option in Maastricht is the Botel Maastricht.

[Botel Maastricht]

This boat hotel has basic single rooms with shared bathroom for €33. The river is tame and the boat is well docked so the only time you feel you are on a boat is when a barge would go past, and the boat would gently rock. I heard ducks outside my porthole as well as I drifted off to sleep. A beautiful way to go to sleep.

[Botel view at breakfast]

Categories: Where I Stayed - Tags: boat, hotel, maastricht, netherlands

Where I Stayed: easyHotel London

Written by James Clark on June 28, 2007 · Leave a Comment

I’m always interested to see what Stelios is going to do next with the easy.com brand. So when the easyHotel started in 2005 I knew I would have to try it out one day.

The easyHotel is touted as being the cheapest hotel in London. Rooms start at £25. It is important to note that this is a no frills hotel, just as easyjet is a no frills airlines. If you understand that the hotel is a cheap and comfortable place to sleep for the night then you will be fine.

The rooms are small. Very small! The bed takes up the length of the room and then there is a small pace to the door with the bathroom next to that. If you have large bags you will find yourself dancing around the bags on the limited floor space.

I stayed at the easyHotel located in Victoria where all the cheap (for London) bed and breakfasts are clustered. It is certainly the cleanest budget place I’ve ever stayed at in this area. The matresses at easyHotel are great too.

[easyHotel Hallway]