Month: December 2015

25hours Hotel Berlin

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Hotelchain: 25hours
Location: Berlin – Germany
Classification: 4 star hotel
Official website: 25hours-hotels.com/de/bikini/home/home

The 25hours Bikini Hotel in Berlin is located in the west part of the city and is one of the most trendy hotels I have stayed at. Right opposite the Zoologischer Garten, the location is great. There’s a jungle and urban theme all over the hotel which makes the 25hours Hotel quite unique. The lobby is located on the 3rd floor, you first have to take an elevator before entering the lobby. Oh, I should mention the elevator! It is quite fun ‘riding’ the elevator … they’re quite dark and there are 2 screens featuring some cartoons and music, I loved it J And then you enter the lobby with a direct view of the Zoologischer Garten. There are hammocks everywhere and I almost felt I was in a jungle for a second.

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The reception staff was pretty nice… Actually, most staff members I met here were young. And I must say, there’s a young vibe all around this hotel. The rooms are special and not like an ‘ordinary’ hotel room. A small cute monkey will await you! The first room we saw had a hammock and offered a direct view of the Zoologischer Garten. We did move because I was traveling with my dad and we wanted 2 separate beds. The second room was very nice as well, decorated in urban style. Every room has an open bathroom with (rain)shower and separate toilet.

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For an additional charge (10 EUR) guests have access to the spa facilities located on the 9th floor. Again, very nicely decorated and you have a direct view of the Zoologischer Garten. Altough the fitness area was quite small, I was able to work out a bit. The panoramic sauna is quite nice and the place looked immaculately clean. Complimentary water is offered. After working out or spending some time in the sauna, relaxing in those comfy loungers feels soooooo good. It is the perfect place to relax after a full day of walking in Berlin! By the way, some rooms include bike rentals and guests can use a Mini to explore the city!

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At night, we went up to the top floor and had a look at the bar and restaurant. What a great place to hang out with friends and family! Offering stunning views of the Zoologischer Garten and great music, you will not get bored here! Prices were fair…

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We had to leave early the next morning and were not able to enjoy the breakfast. Instead, they offered us 2 breakfast bags which we enjoyed very much on our way to the airport! What a great service and most important … because we checked out at 3:45 AM … everything was done with a smile! A stay at the 25hours Bikini Hotel is highly recommended when staying in the west district of Berlin.

Waldorf Astoria Berlin

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Hotelchain: Waldorf Astoria
Location: Berlin – Germany
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: waldorfastoriaberlin.com

The Waldorf Astoria Berlin opened only 3 years ago and I was excited to visit the hotel! Located right opposite the Zoologischer Gartner, it is centrally located in the west part of Berlin. The building itself is quite spectacular.

The lobby of the Waldorf Astoria is grand and of course, the huge Waldorf clock is the eye-catcher here. The reception staff was friendly without being over the top. I would describe the style as business… I guess many guests staying here are on a business trip.

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The standard rooms of the Waldorf Astoria Berlin are of a good size. There was a king sized bed, nice sitting area and all the amenities one would expect in a Waldorf Astoria hotel: fluffy bathrobes, a Nespresso coffee machine and a fully stocked minibar. There was a nice working desk as well. The bathroom featured a single sink, separate bath tub and (rain)shower.

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Getting bored here will be difficult. The spa area is gorgeous! There’s an indoor pool, sauna and several treatment rooms. I had a look at the spa menu and prices are high, but I guess it is worth paying as everything looks very professional. I liked the soft and relaxing music playing all over the place.

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There are several dining options at the Waldorf Astoria Berlin. We had enjoyed an afternoon tea at the Library on the 15th floor. The view was outstanding! We were there during the festive season and could see the Christmas market on the Kurfürstendamm . The afternoon tea was nice, the tea was outstanding and we appreciated the freshly made finger sandwiches and pastries. The atmosphere was good and the Christmas music playing there made it an enjoyable experience.

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The Waldorf Astoria Berlin is a great hotel in a good location. I do recommend staying here when you are looking for a luxurious experience.

VdV Airport Hotel – Düsseldorf

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Hotelchain: Van der Valk
Location: Düsseldorf – Germany
Classification: 4 star superior
Official website: www.airporthotelduesseldorf.de/en

Located right at the airport of Düsseldorf, the airport hotel of the Van der Valk hotelgroup  is a four star superior hotel. The center of Düsseldorf is a 15 minute drive away, but I would recommend this hotel when you are looking for a hotel near the airport. They offer a complimentary shuttle service to the airport, by the way, which is very convenient.

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The lobby of the Van der Valk Airport hotel Düsseldorf is large and nicely decorated. A very nice lobby with several comfortable and cozy sitting areas. The reception staff was very professional and made us feel welcome.

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The room we stayed in was comfortable and had a good size. When I was at home, I called and asked if they could provide a topper mattress and when we arrived the bed was very soft indeed. I liked the large bathroom with separate tub and walk-in (rain)shower. There was a nice sitting with 2 comfy couches. Although, the room was of a 4 star standard, I didn’t like the coffee making facilities. No coffee machine here and I don’t really like to see instant coffee products. But all in all, a good room without being over the top.

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On the top floor of the Van der Valk airporthotel, there’s a large spa area with panoramic saunas and a very nice steam room. It was really nice chilling out in the comfortable relaxing area of the hotel. We didn’t find bathrobes in the room, but just had to call the reception and within a few minutes they were happy to bring us some cozy bathrobes… later we found out that there were plenty of robes and extra towels at the spa area which was appreciated!

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There’s a full service restaurant here and prices are reasonable. We had breakfast here the next morning and were very pleased with the buffet! Plenty of choice such as several kinds of bread, cereals, etc. Freshly made eggs were appreciated! All in all, a very nice breakfast!

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The Van der Valk airporthotel in Düsseldorf is a nice 4 star hotel right at the airport. I recommend staying here when you are flying from Düsseldorf. Don’t forget to check interesting “Stay, park and fly” arrangements at their website!

The Grosvenor House – Dubai

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Hotelchain: Luxury Collection
Location: Dubai – UAE
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: http://www.grosvenorhouse-dubai.com/

The Grosvenor House is rated as one of the best hotels in Dubai… So I definitely had to experience this hotel myself and was impressed! Entering the Grosvenor House Dubai is entering a world full of luxury and perfection.

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The main reception area is very large and luxurious decorated. I appreciated the fresh flowers all over the place and the most friendly staff one could wish for! The location is great, I love the Dubai Marina area. It is so relaxing here, I like the lay down and leisure atmosphere. Oh, and the twisted tower next to the hotel is impressive! Check-in went smoothly and the reception staff explained us everything we needed to know about the hotel.

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The Grosvenor House has 2 large hotel towers and guests can choose from many different room categories. We stayed in one of their very large 2 bedroom residence apartments. The room was huge (105 m²) and had all the amenities of a 5 star hotel! There even was a spacious kitchen with washing machine, dish washer, etc. The living area had 2 of the most comfortable couches and a dining area. The 2 bedrooms were amazing with very comfortable beds and plenty of pillows. Every bedroom has its own bathroom. Actually, the 2 bedrooms were both full hotel rooms each with television, safe, bath robes, etc.  The rooms were very well maintained. I did had a few requests and every time I took the phone and dialed “0”, someone answered the phone within a second, very impressive. Fun thing you should know is that they offer complimentary shoe shine service. Just drop your shoes in the shoe bag, dial “0” and within 15 minutes your shoes will be returned to your room, clean. It seemed like I had a new pair of shoes J

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There are a lot of facilities at the Grosvenor House and do know that they offer free shuttle service to either their sister property “Royal Meridien” or the “Mall of the Emirates”. Guests staying here can enjoy the facilities at the Royal Meridien Hotel which is located only 5 minutes from the Grosvenor House, especially the complimentary use of the beach is interesting. The Grosvenor House itself has a lot to offer as well: 2 large swimming pools, a full fitness center and the most beautiful spa area I have ever seen in a hotel. Their spa area B’attitude is located on the 4th floor and I was blown away when the elevator opened. It is so large and beautifully decorated. Even if you are over stressed, you will relax here. The staff was very accommodating and will made me feel at ease in seconds. This is the place to unwind and enjoy a treatment. I thoroughly enjoyed my 60 min massage here. First I was asked to fill in a small form asking me which parts of my body the therapist should (not) focus on and some questions about my health conditions. The 60 minutes that followed were pure relaxation. The therapist I had, did a great job and fulfilled the requests I filled in before. He even gave me some personal advice after the treatment since he felt some stiffness in my neck and shoulders.

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There are several dining options. From a buffet style restaurant to gastronomic à la carte restaurants, the Grosvenor House Dubai has it all. We had dinner at Toro Toro, a South American restaurant with mainly meat dishes. There was a cool and young vibe around the place which I liked very much. The menu was outstanding and there are many dishes to choose from. I had an Australian steak and it truly was the best steak I have ever eaten, I loved every single bite. The dessert was delicious as well… I did visit other restaurants as well, all I can say is that every single place in this hotel looks stunning! Especially the Siddharta bar by Buddha Bar at the pool was to die for! The drinks and food they serve here are of a very high standard as well and again the service top notch. You really don’t have to leave the Grosvenor House if you are hungry or thirsty, there’s something for everyone here!

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After all the eating and drinking, I went to gym which is located on a spa floor. Again, very beautiful located with a view out of the palm. I could see the Atlantis hotel while I was working out. The quality of the fitness equipment was outstanding with the most up to date features you could wish for.

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The next morning we had breakfast and I am not lying when I am telling you that this was one of the best and most complete breakfasts I have ever had! The choices are endless and the quality of the food is outstanding! They offer sushi, several south Asian, north American and eastern dishes. There even is a sweet station with different kinds of pancakes, pies, etc.

The Grosvenor House definitely deserves its good reputation! It is a classy 5 star hotel with the most professional staff. Very impressive and highly recommended when in Dubai!