Hotel Sablon – Bruges

7 December 2019HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

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Location: Bruges – Belgium
Classification: 4 star hotel
Official website: hotelsablon.be

We all know Bruges has many luxury hotels. Many of them in the traditional style of Bruges. Hotel Sablon is somehow different. Hotel Sablon has been operated as a hotel since 1597. It actually was the first hotel in Bruges and still is operating as a hotel today. I had high expectations, but still was totally blown away by this property. Having stayed at many high end properties in Bruges, this hotel was beyond words and I can’t say enough good things about this place.

First of all, the location is amazing. Right in the city center of Bruges and within walking distance to the major attractions of this beautiful city. Still you are in a private boutique hotel with all the luxury amenities one could wish for. The small inner garden before you enter the hotel is a hidden gem.

Once I stepped in, I was greeted by the most accommodating staff who made me feel at ease right from the first second. Guests are treated like royalty here and nothing is asked for too much here. The personal approach is highly appreciated and one of the key factors of Hotel Sablon.The lobby kind of feels like a big living room with comfortable couches and an open fire place. I immediately noticed the sweet corner with complimentary sweets and refreshments. Be sure to have one yourself, I loved it 🙂

After check-in it was time to explore our room. I stayed in one of their Mansion Suites and again I was very satisfied. The room had a great size. No standard furniture here, all items (and I mean every item/product/…) is of such a high quality. I fell at home here which is unique. The room had a nice cozy sitting area with the most comfortable couch. The bed was to die for. Some interesting art work can be found in each room which is always a nice touch.

Bathroom is very luxurious featuring an oversized bath tub and a fantastic walk-in shower. There are plenty of luxury Moooi toiletries. Not only do they look great, they smell amazing too! The lighted marble sink definitely is they eye catcher of the bathroom. It certainly gives the extra luxurious feeling.

The Loft Suite on the top floor is one of a kind. Actually, it is the most beautiful room in Bruges I have seen so far. Very stylish, contemporary and ultra luxurious.

Breakfast at Hotel Sablon is something to look forward to. The breakfast room is one of a kind, decorated with style and eye for details. The buffet consists of freshly made products which are of a great quality. A lot of healthy options too! But also omelets, fried eggs, etc. everything is possible and again, service is provided – each time with a smile.

It is all about service at Hotel Sablon. The staff is among the most professional and accommodating I have ever experienced in Bruges. As said before, after spending so many nights at so many luxurious hotels, it is great to still be impressed by hotels like Hotel Sablon.

NH Collection Antwerp Centre

24 November 2019HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Hotelchain: NH Collection
Location: Antwerp – Belgium
Classification: 4 star hotel
Official website: nh-collection.com/…/nh-collection-antwerp-centre

Situated in a very interesting spot in Antwerp, the brand new NH Hotel Antwerp Centre only opened a few months ago. The hotel is located only a few steps from the famous Antwerp Zoo and also from Central Station, one of world’s most beautiful train stations. Also, the large shopping street Meir is reachable in just minutes.

As I entered the NH Hotel Antwerp Centre, I was welcomed by very friendly front desk staff. Service here is always with a smile which is absolutely pleasant. The lobby area is pretty large and I loved the decoration: quite trendy, but not over the top… It is classy with a modern touch, just the way I like it! Sleek and chic yet cosy is how I would describe it. Although the hotel was almost fully booked at the time I was there, you wouldn’t tell as there is this absolutely relaxed atmosphere throughout the entire hotel. A big eye catcher of NH Collection Antwerp Centre is the urban jungle, a beautiful inner garden. Just beautiful!

I stayed in one of their Premium rooms and was impressed with the room! It was very nicely laid out with wooden floor and a queen bed and Nespresso coffee machine. The room also came with a large working desk which was pretty convenient as I needed to do some work. All rooms come with high speed internet. The view from the room was stunning!

The large and trendy bathrooms are equipped with a very good rainshower. As usual, fancy NH Collection toiletries are provided including the hand cream which smells amazing!

NH Collection Antwerp Centre offers a fitness center. Although not too big, it does offer all the facilities for a great work out including towels and complimentary water. The entire place was very clean and well maintained.

After a wonderful night’s sleep (I was spoiled as they have wonderful mattresses in each room) we had breakfast. The buffet style breakfast was excellent with lots of options to choose from. Local specialties such as the famous Belgian waffles and bread pudding can not be missed!

NH Collection Antwerp Centre is a trendy and classy four star hotel in a great spot. The rooms are very stylish and offer the comfort you would expect from a high class hotel like this. Although it has 186 rooms, it kind of felt like staying in a boutique style hotel. Whether it is for business or leisure, you can’t go wrong by staying here. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay here and I truly believe it is one of the better hotels in beautiful Antwerp.

Corsendonk Turnova

15 November 2019HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Hotelchain: Corsendonk Hotels
Location: Turnhout – Belgium
Classification: 4 star hotel
Official website: corsendonkhotels.com/…/corsendonk-turnova

Located in a very interesting and convenient spot, Turnhout’s newest luxury hotel Corsendonk Turnova is rated as one of the best hotels in the area. It is a brand new four star hotel and offers only the best of the best! From the moment we arrived untill the time we left, we felt great. The staff is just wonderful and will do their upmost best to serve you in a fantastic way.

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Upon arrival, everything is explained in a friendly yet professional way. The lobby is stylish and trendy decorated. There are several cozy sitting areas where it is great to hang out and talk about the everyday’s life. Our keys were handed in just seconds before we headed to our wonderful room.

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The suite we stayed in had a great size and is comfortably appointed. I enjoy the daylight and appreciated the floor to ceiling windows. Standard amenities are a Nespresso coffee machine, HD television and a safe. The suite also had a portable Bose speaker which was a nice touch. Plenty of sockets in the room as well which is rarely the case at most hotels! Loved it! There was also a separate toilet.

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I especially liked the bathroom which featured a wonderful free standing bath tub. I enjoyed some me time in the evening in this tub and loved every second. The bathroom was also appointed with a large walk-in (rain)shower and double sinks. Fancy Rituals toiletries are provided in each room. Every spot in our suite was spotlesly clean.

A true highlight of Corsendonk Turnova is the Spa Area. When I was in Turnhout it was pretty cold and it was absolutely amazing to relax in the spa after a day spent in the cold. The spa is opened all day long. There’s a traditional sauna, an infra-red sauna and water experience walk where 4 several showers gave me an unique experience. Hot and cold water and even scents add even more exceptional feelings through the entire body. I loved it. An adjoining relax area with the two most comfortable lounge chairs are the perfect spot to unwind. I read a book afterwards, closed my eyes and enjoyed the very relaxing music. It was the perfect way to end my day.

The next morning we had breakfast in the restaurant downstairs. It is a buffet style breakfast offering only fresh products. We sat down and the very accommodating staff immediately wished us a very good morning. The food was delicious and I appreciated the mix of sweet and salt. There’s just something for everybody. Some highlights were the ‘make your own waffles’ and freshly squeezed orange juice. Complimentary sparkling wine is offered as well. Make sure to add breakfast to your booking, you will not be disappointed!

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Our stay at the Corsendonk Turnova was wonderful and I can easily understand why it is rated as one of the best hotels in the area. From the personal approach to the comfortable rooms and amazing breakfast, Corsendonk Turnova is top notch and I highly recommend to stay at this hotel when you are in the area of Turnhout, whether it is for leisure or business.

NH Collection Barbizon Palace

31 October 2019HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Hotelchain: NH Collection
Location: Amsterdam – Netherlands
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: nh-hotels.nl/…/nh-collection-amsterdam-barbizon-palace

NH Collection Barbizon Palace is a top notch five star hotel and is rated as one of the best hotels in the city! This was my first experience with NH Collection hotels and it didn’t disappoint. I had the best time! The location in Amsterdam is perfect, right across the central train station… near the city center so you can reach the center by foot in just minutes. Excellent!

Right from the beginning we were greeted by the check-in staff and our keys were handed in just seconds. As soon as I saw the stunning lobby area, I knew that NH Collection Barbizon Palace is a high class five star property. The hotel consists of 19 buildings dated from the 17^th century. There are a total of 274 rooms and although it is a pretty large hotel, they do treat each guest as a royal. Speaking of rooms, they renovated all of their guestrooms and several other parts of the hotel. The 15^th century chapel is now their conference center. Pretty impressive.

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The Premium room we stayed in was very comfortable and luxuriously appointed. I just loved it and as said before, they are totally up to date as they were all renovated recently. From the high ceilings to the bathrooms, everything felt right. The beds are amazing… and I was happy to be able to relax in the comfortable chair after a full day of shopping in Amsterdam. The Nespresso machine and comfortable bath robes were appreciated. They seem to be cleaning here all day long and our room has been maintained in an excellent way! A nice touch: they provide complimentary hand cream, how cool is that? Never seen at any hotel so far. I must also highlight the upscale NH Collection toiletries.

I did visit some other rooms as well and all looked very nice. I loved the wooden beams in some of the rooms. They’re gorgeous!

On the lower floor, there’s a health club which is accessible at no additional charges. The large fitness center is great for a work out and why not relax in their wellness center? That is right, next to the gym is a beautiful area designed for ultimate relaxation. The sauna and steam room are a treat, especially now when the weather starts to cool down.

Another highlight of our stay was our dinner at Restaurant Vermeer. Rated with one Michelin Star and 18 (!) Gault Millau points, this restaurant only offers the best of the best. From the moment we entered until we left, everything was absolutely stunning. The décor is contemporary yet elegant with fun twists and interesting art work. Service was top notch. Not too formal, yet professional. And the food was to die for. Each course they served was divine. Head Chef – Chris Naylor – selected the best ingredients to make sure each dish is delicious. From the Mackerel with ginger (this was the first time I ate this combination and I loved loved loved it) to the Pike-perch which came with black Tuscan kale. It was all perfectly prepared and served with style. The wild duck as a main course was the best I’ve ever had. Again, I must also highlight the good service we received during the night and the excellent wine selection.

A dinner at Restaurant Vermeer isn’t just an ordinary restaurant visit, it is an experience. Make sure to book your table upfront as it seems to be pretty busy here all year long.

After a wonderful night, we were hungry again 😊 And trust me, breakfast at NH Collection Barbizon Palace is something to look forward to. The large buffet has something to offer for anyone. Even the kids have their own small breakfast area filled with products they all love. I particularly liked the asparagus, avocado and large selection of pastries. They even offer sparkling wine at no additional charge.

No wonder NH Collection Barbizon Palace is rated among the best hotels in the city. I highly recommend staying here… Rooms are large and luxurious, food is outstanding, the sauna and steam room are relaxing after a day in busy Amsterdam and most importantly, the staff is wonderful! Thumbs up, NH Collection Barbizon Palace!

Hotel D – Geneva

29 September 2019HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Hotelchain: Diana Hotel Collection
Location: Geneva – Switzerland
Classification: 4 star hotel
Official website: hoteld-geneva.ch

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I have been to Geneva several times and stayed in several hotels, but hotel D was definitely one of the best experiences I have had so far! First of all: location! It is perfectly positioned right in an interesting part of Geneva. When you leave the hotel, you will see the grand fountain from a distance which is probably the most famous attraction in Geneva. It really is just a 7 minute walk before you reach Leman Lake. Also, other all other attractions are nearby. I always take to train from the airport to the center and the main train station is only a few steps away. Very convenient! A big bonus: hotel D offers complimentary transport tickets to the guests which are useable in the city. Very nice gesture!

But it’s not only the location that makes this hotel so special, also the decoration and service are of a high level. Hotel D is an upper class 4 four boutique hotel with only 57 rooms. That’s why they are able to offer personalized service. Right from the moment I entered the hotel, I was pleasantly surprised.

The staff is so friendly and welcoming- always hospitable and asking if we needed anything- always smiling and ready to help. The décor is beautiful with fancy decorations. Hotel D was designed by famous interior designer Sybille de Margerie.

The suite I stayed in was beautifully decorated with a gorgeous bathroom, nice wooden floors and a large bed. The room was impeccably clean. It felt like we were the first guests of the room. The decoration team did a great job here. It really is all about the details. The comfortable couches were great to relax and unwind. The walk-in closet was a treat! A Nespresso machine is available as well as unlimited access to Press Reader.

The highlight of the suite was the most amazing bathroom one could wish for with a gorgeous free standing bath tub offering panoramic views. Each bathroom is provided with L’Occitane toiletries, love them. I should also mention that the shower was one of the best showers I have ever experienced. The gigantic rain shower head is mind blowing as are the views from this bathroom. I loved to watch the ‘Jet d’Eau’ from up here, one of world’s most famous fountains.

I must note each room – not only the suites – at Hotel D are luxuriously appointed and decorated with high quality materials.

Hotel D offers a Fitness Studio with the latest Technology Equipment. I was impressed with the high tech equipment and was happy to hear the studio is opened 24 hrs.

In the morning, a great breakfast buffet with many options began our day more than satisfied. Again, the breakfast area is beautifully decorated. The buffet has plenty of fresh products. A must try is their Bircher muesli and the cheeses (you are in Switzerland right? 😊 ). Service was top notch and nothing was asked for too much.

We hated to leave Hotel D but look forward again to our special getaway in beautiful Geneva! From the gorgeous decors to the most wonderful staff, I loved it all! Highly recommended!

Warwick Brussels

19 September 2019HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Hotelchain: Warwick
Location: Brussels – Belgium
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: warwickhotels.com/warwick-brussels

Warwick Brussels is a top notch five star hotel right in the city center of Brussels. You really can’t beat its location as it is close to the most important and interesting attractions in Brussels. It is a classic five star property and soon as I entered the hotel, I felt at home.

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After an efficient check-in, I went upstairs and explored our amazing Signature Executive Suite. At 50m², the suite had a great size and had all the amenities I expect from a high end hotel. The room actually felt like a small apartment with a separate living and sleeping area. The two televisions were very convenient as well. Warwick Brussels has a high comfort and service level. Turn down service was provided every night. As said before, I appreciated the overall style of the room, it had all the amenities one could ask for.

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The marble bathroom was to die for, it had a separate bath tub and shower unit. All premium deluxe rooms and suites offer premium Bulgari toiletries (a big plus!!).

Be sure to check out the fitness facility. It is located on -1, right behind the reception desk. I did a work out and relaxed in the sauna afterwards. I was in Brussels for some shopping and it was great to relax in the sauna after a hectic day. For me, cleanliness is very important. At Warwick Brussels every inch was spotlessly clean.

After the shopping, working out and relaxing it was time to check out the on-site restaurant Chutney’s. This Victorian styled restaurant kind of made me feel like an upscale Irish pub offers great food and excellent service. I am told that this is one of the favorite restaurants in Brussels and I can easily see why. We thoroughly enjoyed one of their signature dishes: Trio Belge … this dish contains three typical Belgian specialties such as a huge meat ball from Liège, beef carbonade and vol au vent. Of course, the Belgian fries are served with this dish as well. Make sure you book a table here right when you check in as I can imagine it can get pretty busy here especially during the weekends.

We also enjoyed some after dinner drinks at the Secret Rooftop bar. This bar offers amazing views over the center of Brussels. Do try one the cocktails, they are delicious!

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After a great night in the most wonderful bed, it was time for breakfast. Breakfast at Warwick Brussels is served at the Salon Grand Place. The buffet style breakfast is good and offers a good variety. I especially liked the old fashioned homemade bread pudding… again a Belgian specialty.

Warwick Brussels is one of the better hotels in Brussels. It offers comfortable accommodations with a five star service. You can have the most luxurious building, but without a terrific staff it is not working. At Warwick, each staff member approached and served me in a very professional way without being over the top. I could be myself and I loved it. Together with its prime locations, it is one of my favorite picks in Brussels! Highly recommended and I can’t wait to explore more Warwick properties in the future!

Hotel De Castillion – Bruges

12 September 2019HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Hotelchain: Small Elegant Hotels
Location: Bruges – Belgium
Classification: 4 star deluxe
Official website: castillion.be

Hotel De Castillion is a top notch four star boutique hotel located in the center of Bruges. You can’t beat the location. All the main attractions in this gorgeous city are within walking distance. The surrounding areas are just gorgeous: small authentic streets, carriages, etc. I immediately fell in love with the hotel when I saw the building. It was built in the 16^th century and it used to be a residence of Bruges’ 15^th bishop. A fun fact: a part of the hotel is a listed heritage site.

Although this family owned and managed hotel is located in the center of Bruges. When I entered the hotel I appreciated the peaceful and quiet atmosphere.

Hotel De Castillion is very stylish and cozy decorated. The intimate reception area just beautiful and gives an excellent first impression of the hotel: luxurious chandeliers, high end furniture and most importantly: I was welcomed by the most friendly manager. This is Belgian hospitality and I love it! He gave me a map of Bruges which was very useful and I was surprised the map was designed for the hotel. So this is not a standard map of Bruges, no, at Hotel De Castillion you will receive a city map with pictures of the hotel, the hotel location and several walks.

After I received my room key, I couldn’t wait to explore this unique boutique hotel. Walking around in the hotel feels like walking around in a small castle. The authentic atmosphere throughout the hotel is impressive and much appreciated.

Room 103 I stayed in was absolutely stunning! What a great fairytale room this was! The wooden floors and grand chandelier add extra coziness. The room had all the facilities I expect from a four star hotel such as the Nespresso coffee machine, a very comfortable bed and a cozy sitting area with comfortable couches. This is how every room in Bruges should look like. Loved it!

Bathroom was spacious and featured a bathtub with shower. Fluffy towels and high end toiletries are available as well.

Hotel De Castillion has a total of 20 rooms. As a small hotel they can offer a very personal service. It feels like a home away from home where you are treated as a royal. Speaking of rooms, there are several room types. The room I stayed in is a deluxe room. I did visit some other rooms such as the classic room and junior suites. I must admit that each room I saw was different but all were ultra luxurious and decorated with the best materials and with an eye for attention.

There is a nice stylish bar and golden art deco salon where you can also order snacks. The salon is a must visit when you stay at Hotel De Castillion. You will love the design!

After a wonderful night in my romantic room (still in love with that room…), I was ready for breakfast. Having breakfast at Hotel De Castillion is something to look forward to! It is served in the unique and historic cellar. The buffet is very large and the overall quality of the food is outstanding. Salmon, fresh fruit, etc. It is all there.

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Hotel Castillion is definitely the place to stay when you are looking for an ultra stylish boutique hotel right in the center of Bruges. Check it out yourself and experience the Castillion experience! Highly recommended for a romantic getaway!

Cruise review: MSC Meraviglia

18 May 2019HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Cruiseline: MSC Cruises
Ship: MSC Meraviglia
Itinerary: Mediterranean
For bookings: msccruises.com

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Most of you know I LOVE cruise ships… Cruising is definitely my favorite way to explore new destinations in a glamorous environment. MSC Cruises launched in 1988 and what began with one ship has now grown into a magnificent fleet of 15 ships. It is actually one the fastest growing cruise companies in the industry.

I explored and experienced one their newest ships, the MSC Meraviglia. This ship was launched in June 2017 and is one of the largest cruise ships in the world. Trust me, she’s huge with a capacity of 4,500 passengers and 1,536 crew members. There are 15 glamorous passenger decks offering the most luxurious facilities one could wish for. I immediately fell in love with the interior design of the MSC Meraviglia. MSC is known for its glitter and glamour finishing and that’s how it should be on a cruise ship. The eye catcher on Deck 6 is the Galleria Meraviglia with a magnificent digital ceiling: a LED screen with gorgeous images and videos that change depending on the time of the day. It is really spectacular. As you walk through this promenade, you will pass the Infinity Atrium. I see why they call it the Infinity Atrium as there are mirror on the ceilings. As usual at most MSC cruise ships, the Swarovski Crystal Staircase is a must!

Let me tell you something more about the cabins. MSC offers inside cabins, ocean view cabins and balcony cabins. The balcony cabin we stayed in was absolutely amazing and very spacious. Actually, one the largest balcony cabins Ive ever stayed in. The king sized bed was among the best as well. No small couch here, but a full sized comfortable couch which was excellent for relaxing and reading a book. The balcony had a good size too with high quality furniture. There was a big interactive tv with several channels that we enjoyed. I can tell that a lot of thought has gone into the design and lay out of the cabins. What I appreciate is that each cabin has a minibar, even insides. Also, the touch panels to control the bedside lights were great! Another feature I like is the switch controlled ‘Do Not Disturb’ and ‘Make Up My Room’ signs. There’s a double wardrobe in the cabin which was large enough to store your luggage and clothes.

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The bathroom has a large shower with glass doors, a footrest which is ideal for leg shaving. There also a clothes wire for drying laundry. There are no toiletries provided, but there’s shampoo and soap available in fixed dispensers. The single sink has a great design and there’s a convenient cupboard with shelves. Do note that MSC sells its cruises by “experience” rather than cabin types. For example, the standard experience is called Fantastica which offers a classic cruise experience. The next level is Bella which offers a complimentary room service, etc.

There is so much to do on board of the MSC Meraviglia. As mentioned before, there are 15 (!) passenger decks. On Deck 5 I loved the infinity bar. This modern bar is the perfect place for people watching which is always fun, right? Oh by the way, drinks are not included in the fare, but I do recommend to buy a drinks package as it is great value for money. We paid 206 EUR per person for the Easy Package which includes unlimited consumption of selected drinks priced up to 6 EUR. There’s a good selection of spirits, wine, cocktails, mocktails, soft drinks and juices available. Also bottled water and classic hot drinks are included in all bars and restaurants, excluding specialty restaurants. I do like the all inclusive feeling without having to worry about the final bill at the end of the cruise. With a drinks package you know exactly what you will spend on board regarding drinks.

I would call Deck 6 the heart of the ship as it is home to the Galleria Meraviglia with the LED ceiling. Here you can shop and dine as you walk by many beautiful shops and dining venues. Also, make sure to visit the Jean-Philippe Chocolate store! The chocolate masterpieces they show are incredible (and I’m sure they taste pretty good as well!).

Plaza Meraviglia is the small shopping area of MSC Meraviglia with watches and sunglasses, perfumes and cosmetics and a mini hall. Here you can also find the MSC Excursions desk where you can book your shore excursions. The MSC shop is the place to buy souvenirs. Right across this gift shops, there’s Fashion Jewellery.

If you walk through the Galleria Meraviglia to the front of the shop, you will enter Broadway Theatre. A spectacular theatre where passengers can enjoy shows each night. In terms of entertainment, MSC is one of my favorite! Behind every corner, there’s something new waiting for you. I like to get entertained! There’s so much to do on this ship… I’ve found the quality of the shows excellent, especially Virtual, a resolutely contemporary show for today’s generation. Do note that you must book to attend a show. You can book any time up to 10 minutes before show time very conveniently through the MSC For Me app which I will tell you more about later. Speaking about shows, MSC works together with Cirque Du Soleil. That is right, for the first time ever, Cirque Du Soleil is at sea and they designed a special theatre on board the MSC Meraviglia. There are two 40-minute productions – Sonor and Viaggio – for you to enjoy at a small surcharge. We paid 15 EUR per person for each show and this includes a cocktail. I liked both shows, but found Sonor a little bit better as the special effects during this show were stunning.

Also during the day, there is so much to do. There are quizzes, dance classes, games, etc. all over the ship.

I should also highlight the Polar Aqua Park on Deck 19. It is the best water park at sea I have ever seen with 3 great water slides and the Himalayan Bridge which was very fun and actually a bit scary too. All activities are included in the rate. Very cool! Kids will have the time of their life here (and not only kids!). There are large outdoor pools available, Atmosphere Pool and Bamboo Pool, on deck 15. If the weather is bad, they will cover the Bamboo pool with a sliding roof, turning it into an indoor pool.

If you want to relax and unwind, make sure to visit the MSC Aurea Spa. This beautiful area is the place to visit when you want to come at ease. For a cruise ship, this spa center is huge offering several kinds of saunas and steam rooms. Do note that access is not included so you need to pay extra to make use of those facilities.

MSC is known for their family facilities. On Deck 18 you will find the kids clubs. That is right, there are several clubs on this ship especially built for kids. It is safe to leave your children here since there’s a reception and kids can’t just leave this area. They divided the clubs based on ages. There’s the Baby Club Chicco, Mini Club Lego, Junior Club Lego, Doremi Studio and the Young and Teen Club. This is also the place where you will find Sportplex, a place to play soccer, basketball, etc. Very cool!

Cruising is also about dining. There are many restaurants on board the MSC Meraviglia. Not all the restaurants are included in the fares. There are 5 specialty restaurants which cost extra. I did not make use of them as I found the food and service in the main restaurants to be really good. Beside the main restaurants, there’s also the huge Marketplace buffet on deck 15 with endless choices of freshly prepared food. The quality of the food was excellent and since this place is so huge, we never found any problem finding a table. The Marketplace buffet was our favorite place to have lunch. At night, we had dinner at L’Olive Doree. The food was just amazing! Each night, a delicious three course menu will be served. I’ve found the overall quality of the food pretty good and it all tasted fresh. Service was great too.

Cruising is not only about the ship, the ports we visited were beautiful. We had such a nice itinerary and visited Italy (Genua and Rom), Malta, Sicily (Palermo), Spain (Barcelona) and France (Marseille). That’s the main advantage of a cruise. You can visit so many places. You can book your excursions via MSC or just go off the ship and explore the area on your own which we did most of the time. It’s always nice though when you get back on the ship. It almost feels like coming home 😊

By the way, make sure to download the MSC For Me app when you cruise with MSC. It is so convenient to navigate and see what’s going on. You can even see the menus and book your seats for shows. You can actually chat with your fellow passengers and keep in touch. All you need to do is log in on the on board wifi system. The use of the MSC For Me app is free and a must have while you are on board.

MSC Meraviglia is new ship with tons of facilities and endless dining options. The service on board was great. Our cabin steward was very nice and nothing was asked for too much. The whole ship is maintained very well and was spotlessly clean. Make sure to check it out yourself, you will love it! We had the time of our lives on this jewel! Can’t wait to sail on her again!

Guarda Golf – Crans Montana

4 May 2019HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Location: Crans-Montana – Switzerland
Classification: 5 star hotel superior
Official website: guardagolf.com

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Guarda Golf hotel & residences is a top notch five star hotel in Crans-Montana. Making part of Swiss Deluxe Hotels and The Leading Hotels of the World, my expectations were high and were met in every single way! We arrived during their winter opening weekend and I was blown away as soon as I entered this gorgeous place! I always like mountain style interiors when staying in the Alps and the warm and cozy interiors definitely gave me the mountain feelings. Guarda Golf hotel & residences is not an ultra modern design hotel, but a very stylish, elegant and luxurious appointed place instead. The traditional wooden décors and furniture are all beautiful.

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The most friendly and professional check-in staff greeted us with a smile and gave us some useful information about the hotel and the village. I loved the personal approach and I immediately noticed the high service level. The hotel has ‘only’ 23 rooms which is why guests are treated as royalty here. From this winter, they added 7 huge suite apartments, each with a lot of space to move (225m²!). Also new is the new private 15-seat cinema which is accessible at no additional charge. I should definitely mention that a lot of other services are included in the rates too such as complimentary valet (underground)parking, a limousine service within Crans Montana and each day you’ll receive a newspaper upon request.

The rooms at Guarda Golf hotel & residences are glorious, spacious and elegantly appointed. The dark wood made it even more romantic. Our room had a gorgeous king sized bed and the most comfortable sitting area with two comfortable couches. The oversized desk was perfect for doing some work and internet speed was excellent! By the way, each room comes with a minibar with complimentary soft drinks.

The balcony had picture perfect views over the surrounding areas. Beautiful!

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The luxurious bathroom featured a bathtub and an excellent shower! Water pressure was superb and 2 people could easily fit in! As most of you know, I’m a true fan of Bulgari toiletries and was happy to find out they provide those here!

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Enough things to do here! A must visit is the spa area! This is THE place to relax and unwind after a day in the mountains. It is just gorgeous. The indoor pool has a good size and water temperature is excellent! I felt great in the large sauna and steam room as it was freezing outside!

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They offer a large spa menu with several beauty treatments to choose from. I enjoyed a relaxing massage which was given by a talented spa therapist. She did an excellent job and made me feel reborn after the treatment. She was very knowledgeable about the products and took my preferences about the medium/soft pressure which I requested in mind. Loved every single minute of this wonderful beauty treatment. They’re real professionals here and the entire spa area is maintained in an excellent way! They use Eva.j products which is a Swiss-made line of products using only the best, biological ingredients, certified for Swiss pharmaceuticals.

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Guarda Golf hotel & residences is located near a 18 holes golf course, called Severiano Ballesteros. As it was the start of the winter season, we weren’t able to play golf, but they do offer an indoor golf facility as well. Very cool!

The ski slopes are only a short drive from the hotel. We took advantage of the wonderful complimentary limousine service and they took us to the slopes in their brand new Mercedes. The ski area at Crans Montana is stunning. With 23 lifts and 140 km of ski slopes, this is a perfect place to enjoy several days of winter fun. I was happy to find out there are many blue and red slopes as I’m not a fan of black slopes. What I liked about this ski area is that it is not over crowded. We never had to wait at the lifts and the whole area is connected in a very convenient way.

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Back to the hotel, as you would expect from a hotel of this class, they offer several gourmet dining options for their guests. The first night we had dinner at the Guarda Golf Lounge with a more international all round cuisine. As we arrived pretty late in the evening and since we were a bit tired, we enjoyed a more casual dinner. The food here was to die for and service was top notch! A must try is their crème brulee! The most beautiful crème brulee I have ever seen. Period!

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Mizuki by Kakinuma is their fine dining restaurant and is one of the better restaurants in Crans-Montana. We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner here the second night. This restaurant offers an authentic Japanese cuisine in a unique setting. The décor is stylish and the panoramic views over the mountains is fantastic! The food really is out of this world and each plate was like a picture. As a starter we just had to try the suhi and we loved every single bite. For the main course we enjoyed a traditional hot pot called Marmite Sukiyaki with thin slices of beef and a selection of fresh vegetables in a sweet and salty soy bouillon, served with a raw egg on the side.

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Guarda Golf hotel & residences recently underwent expansion works which are completed this week and I just had to see the new expansions myself! They added 7 luxury three-bedrooms suite apartments – and trust me, I wouldn’t just call them apartments but presidential suites instead, a library, private dining space, an adults and children’s games room, a cigar lounge and a private cinema honoring the legendary James Bond actor who used to be a loyal guest for many years. Let me share some pictures!

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As you read, I really liked our stay at Guarda Golf hotel & residences. From the moment I stepped in to the moment I checked out, we enjoyed every single minute here and we can’t wait to return to this jewel in the Swiss Alps! Five stars all the way!

Pullman Eindhoven Cocagne

31 March 2019HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Hotelchain: Pullman hotels
Location: Eindhoven – The Netherlands
Classification: 4 star superior hotel
Official website: pullman-eindhoven-cocagne.com

Knipsel

The Pullman Cocagne in Eindhoven has become one of my favorite hotels in the area! You will soon read why…

The reception area is bright and spacious and gives a great first impression of the hotel.

Once again, for most people check-in is something that just “has to be done” and that’s it. To me, it is more than just that and they did a great job at the Pullman in Eindhoven! The young woman who checked us in was very professional and made us feel welcome! She gave us all the information we needed about the area and the hotel. We received a handy map of the city and its surrounding areas for us to explore.

The deluxe room we stayed in was very spacious and definitely of a 4 star level. It had a queen bed, a nice desk with a comfy chair and a large and very comfortable lounge chair. The bathroom had a large window which is somehow blinded. It had a very comfortable rainshower, single (but large) sink and a toilet. The toiletries are of a very good quality! Every superior room has a Nespresso coffee machine and 2 free bottles of water. Bathrobes and slippers are provided too.

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Be sure to reserve your table at Vestdijk 47, Pullman’s onsite restaurant. First of all: this is a very ‘Instragramable’ place. The interior design is just wonderful, I couldn’t stop taking pictures here. But most importantly, the food and service are top notch! I was pleasantly surprised by the high level of standard they offer here. We thoroughly enjoyed a delicious 3 course meal with accompanied wine pairing. Mark Leenders is the head chef and definitely knows how to combine ingredients and flavors.

We started with king crab with marinated radish, marshmallow of apple, grapefruit, kalamansi gel and merengue yogurt. As a main course, we enjoyed a pickled rump cap which came with a sweet potato cream and green asparagus. The dessert – always a must! – was a mousse of orange, Lemon curd, dried cumquat and honey and thyme ice cream. Heaven!

The thing I really appreciated about this hotel is the Spa area. It has absolutely everything you would expect of a real wellness center: a large fitness center, a traditional finnish sauna, an infra-red sauna, experience showers and a large indoor pool. Come on, what is more relaxing than a nice swim after a busy working/shopping day? That’s right, Eindhoven is a very nice city with lots of shops!

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The décor throughout the hotel is contemporary, modern and very stylish! We had a drink at the bar and loved the couches (and the drinks, of course!).

Breakfast was of a very good quality! There are several hot/cold items and service at the restaurant was of a high level. Every staff member we met in the hotel (on all levels) were very friendly and everything was done with pleasure.

I am in love with the Pullman Cocagne Eindhoven. Not only for the rooms, but also for the great facilities and excellent restaurant. Oh, and do check their website often for great deals! Highly recommended!

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