Marriott Rotterdam

25 July 2017HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Hotelchain: Marriott
Location: Rotterdam – The Netherlands
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: marriott.com/…/rtmmn-rotterdam-marriott-hotel

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Convenient location

Located in one of the tallest buildings of Rotterdam, the Marriott Rotterdam is one the best hotels in the city. It used to be the Manhattan hotel but they recently (about one year ago) renovated the hotel and it is now a Marriott hotel.

Renovated Lobby Area (loved it!)

When I entered the hotel I was wowed by the stunning lobby area. It just looks amazing… A contemporary designed place where it is great to hang out, enjoying a drink and making new friends. I just love the place, it is all about connectivity in a friendly and luxurious environment. Pillars bar and restaurant is located here as well which I will tell you more about later!

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Five Star Accommodation

After a friendly and efficient check-in, I was ready to explore my beautiful executive room. Again, I was amazed by how different the rooms are now. The room was extremely large and absolutely stunning! The comfortable lounger was great for relaxing and surfing on my iPad, the large designer desk was excellent for doing some work and the best was among the most comfortable bed I have slept in. Marble bathroom both has bathtub and separate shower.

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Since I was staying in an executive room, I had access to the executive lounge located on one of the top floors. Here you can enjoy complimentary soft drinks, wine and light snacks (cheese, crackers, etc.) throughout the day. It actually is a pretty good deal to upgrade your room with access to the lounge. Views are outstanding and there’s a relaxed atmosphere. In the next upcoming months they are going to renovate this lounge as well which will make the place even more comfortable.

Pillars Restaurant

At night I had dinner at the Pillars restaurants and I must say that the food and service were excellent! It is not just an ordinary hotel restaurant… I noticed several non-hotel guests enjoying a delicious meal here. The menu is varied, from meat to fish, from healthy options to let’s say less healthy but yummie choices, it’s all there and prepared in an excellent way! As a starter I enjoyed the confit salmon with a gel of watercress, pickled cucumber ribbons and Ice Plant. The Caesar salad with grilled chicken, Parmesan cheese, croutons and Caesar dressing as a main course was delicious too! And a good dinner of course has to end with a yummie dessert.

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After all the eating and drinking, I was happy to find out that there’s a full sized fitness center at the Marriott Rotterdam.

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Breakfast is served on the first floor. The buffet style breakfast offers something for anyone. It is a very restaurant with the most comfortable chairs. A perfect start for the day and the surrounding views of Rotterdam makes it even more special!

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Marriott Rotterdam is a top notch five star property which I thoroughly enjoyed. Staff was very professional and kind, interior has been nicely updated and rooms are among the best rooms I stayed in while in Rotterdam! It is not one of those formal five star hotels, I felt at ease and was treated in a very kind yet professional way. If you are looking for a luxurious five star hotel in Rotterdam, this definitely is the place to be!

Hotel Des Galeries – Brussels

8 July 2017HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Location: Brussels – Belgium
Classification: 4 star hotel
Official website: hoteldesgaleries.be

One of the best locations in Brussels!

Situated in the one of the best spots of the city center of Brussels, hotel Des Galeries is one of a kind! This four star hotel is the best hotel in its category in Brussels I stayed at, let me tell you why…

First of all, you can’t beat the location. Of course, the hotel is located right at the famous Brussels gallerie du Roi, in the historic center of Brussels. The Grand-Place is only a 3 minute walk away and as soon as you leave the hotel you are in the middle of the famous Rue des Bouchers where tons of restaurants are waiting for you at very affordable rates! This luxurious boutique hotel has been built in 1847 and only has 23 rooms.

An upscale boutique hotel

What I appreciate about this hotel, is the fact that they combine modern and designer furniture with some traditional elements in the dining room. I read somewhere that hotel Des Galeries is a perfect ‘Instagram hotel’ and I can easily see why… I appreciated the elegant combination of modern/old and the artful play of colours and luxury fabrics.

Hotel Des Galeries has a small lobby area where I was welcomed with a biiiiig smile! Loved it!

Everything in the hotel is immaculately clean and decorated with style and charm. This is totally different than a big chain hotel, every room at hotel Des Galeries is different and unique.

The Love Nest

I stayed in one of their luxurious duplex suites. It was room “number 38” and it is reachable by a small private bridge which connects the two buildings. Loved it! It felt like a studio to me and was amazed by how beautiful this room was. I was told that they call it their ‘Love Nest’ and it truly is. The suite had a great size (45 m²) and upstairs there’s a beautiful bathroom with bath tub and separate walk-in shower. When you go down, you will reach a very beautiful and cosy bedroom with adjoining sitting area. The wooden ceilings add an extra romantic touch to the room. Normally I do not spend a lot of time in the room, but here I could spend a whole day. The cracking sounds when you walk around on the wooden floor, the amazing views over the rooftops and the displayed books made me feel relax and actually ‘at home’ which is truly unique.

Restaurant Le Comptoir

Downstairs there’s a full service restaurant Le Comptoir des Galeries, headed by the Michelin star Chef Julien Burlat. Unfortunately, when I was there the restaurant was closed but I’m sure that they serve the best food in a unique setting.

Breakfast is served from 7am-10:30am and although it wasn’t the largest buffet I have seen, the products they offer are fresh and of a good quality. The small buffet consists of cereals, some pastries and several cheeses. I loved the freshly squeezed orange juice and salmon.

With only 23 rooms, they are able to provide a very personal approach and service. Every staff member I met was very friendly and accommodating. Nothing is asked for too much. That makes the hotel Des Galeries so unique and unforgettable. Highly recommended for a comfortable getaway to beautiful Brussels! I loved every second of my stay here!

Kempinski Villa Rothschild

6 July 2017HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Hotelchain: Kempinski
Location: Frankfurt – Germany
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: kempinski.com/…frankfurt/villa-rothschild

Built between 1888 and 1894, Villa Rotschild Kempinski is world’s smallest Kempinski hotel with only 22 elegant rooms. This glorious five star boutique hotel has a great history. It was built as a summer residence for the family Rothschild and after World War II, it became the heart of economic and politic reconstruction of Western Germany. The decisive contracts for the funding of the Federal Republic of Germany were signed here. How cool is that? I just love to stay at places with a story behind…

Location

Villa Rothschild Kempinski is located near Frankfurt (reachable within 30 minutes) in a large private 10 hectare park. I actually had the feeling of staying in Scotland for some reason. When I saw the hotel after we entered the gate, I was just amazed. It is like a fairytale hotel with such a great charm.

Fairytale rooms

This boutique hotel (or let’s call it Villa) has art surprises waiting for you behind every corner. As soon as I checked in, I couldn’t wait to see my room… Words cannot describe how beautiful the room was. It was decorated with charm and style. With red tones, it felt warm and intimate. And the best thing about the room was the large balcony with the best view over the gardens and surrounding areas. The spectacular view let you easily forget that you are actually near busy Frankfurt. Bathroom featured double sinks and large walk-in shower.

A private park …

They have about 80 weddings per year and I can easily see why. You cannot ask for a more romantic setting then here at Kempinski Villa Rothschild. The park is just stunning and walking around is so relaxing. Birds everywhere… Oh, and do not forget to walk to the Donjon of Castle Falkenstein which is a 30 minute uphill walk in the wood. We did walk to the small castle during sunset, kind of scary but so much fun 🙂

Delicious cuisine

Villa Rothschild Kempinski will be opening a new fancy restaurant in the near future which I will write about later. This time, we had dinner at Tizian’s bar. The newly appointed chef prepared a wonderful and exclusive dinner for us. The chef knows how to combine ingredients and added extra touches to each dish, pretty impressive. I’m sure that this restaurant will be a new culinary highlight in the region as soon as it is opened. From the smoked salmon, to the fried monkfish with wild garlic risotto, glaced cherry tomatoes and beurre blanc (I loooooooved this one…..) and the sautéed fillet of beef with thyme jus… every single bite was divine. Sommelier was also very knowledgeable about each wine.

Guests staying at Villa Rothschild Kempinski can make use of the spa facilities (outdoor pool, fitness club and several saunas) of the neighboring Falkenstein Grand Kempinski which is only 1,5 kilometer away. A short 5 minute drive with their comfortable shuttle (Range Rover!) will take you there.

As you would expect of a five star hotel, turn down service was provided. We had a great night’s sleep in the villa and were awakened with a yummie cappuccino.

Breakfast is served downstairs at Tizian’s bar (if you are lucky, pick the seats near the large window – views are breathtaking). Breakfast was of a high quality, I loved the room where the buffet is presented, it feels like royalty when you are looking for which yoghurt you are going to pick :). The Nutella filled pancaked made me feel as a child again – I was so happy with them 🙂

I cannot say enough good things about this place. Villa Rothschild Kempinski is a top notch five star hotel with a great history. They are doing an excellent job by maintaining the tradition of the Villa. I would call this a fairytale high class hideaway near Frankfurt which I thoroughly recommend!

Falkenstein Grand Kempinski

6 July 2017HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Hotelchain: Kempinski
Location: Frankfurt – Germany
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: kempinski.com/…rankfurt/falkenstein-grand

Falkenstein Grand Kempinski is a very exclusive five star hotel near Frankfurt. In 1909 it was a military sanatorium and later became a hospital. Today it is a gracious hotel that offers all the facilities of a high class hotel. From the moment I entered the hotel, I felt home.

Location

Location truly is spectacular. Falkenstein Grand Kempinski is located on a hill in a small village called Königstein. I was blown away when I saw the garden with the most amazing views over the skyline of Frankfurt. Especially at night, the view is gorgeous, I could sit outside looking out all night long.

The center of Frankfurt is reachable in about 30 minutes. As mentioned, Königstein is a small village with a relaxing atmosphere. No busy roads here. Nice thing to know: the hotel has a free on-site parking.

Wonderful rooms

Falkenstein Grand Kempinski has 112 luxuriously appointed rooms. I was surprised to see how large the room was. There was a cozy couch and large wooden desk (excellent for doing some work). The king sized bed was enormous! Marbled bathroom had double sinks and lovely walk-in (rain)shower. I loved the decoration, since this hotel has its history, I appreciated the fact that they respect the more traditional look of the entire hotel. True, rooms aren’t the most modern rooms, but all of them are classy and comfortably appointed.

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What I liked most about the room was the view from our large balcony. Falkenstein Grand Kempinski is located in a large park and most of the rooms face the green surrounding areas, just beautiful and oh so peaceful.

Top notch restaurant

The onsite restaurant Landgut Falkenstein is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We had dinner here and as the weather was really sweet, we were seated outside on the beautiful terrace with panoramic views. After some delicious cocktails, we were ready to experience the kitchen. The chef didn’t disappoint us, in fact we were pleasantly surprised with each dish. We started with a summer salad with vine-ripened tomatoes and scallops, followed by Atlantic halibut with (yummie!) apricot-chanterelle vegetables and puree of baby peas. The braised beef roulade with red onion jam, glazed carrots and brioche dumplings as a main course made me feel in heaven. And no dinner without a dessert J We thoroughly enjoyed a duet of chocolate and passionfruit with fruit ragout. On top of that, it came with lime sorbet. One word: heaven!

Relaxing Spa Facilities

It would be pretty difficult (let’s say, impossible) to get bored at Falkenstein Grand Kempinski! Their Ascara Fitness and Spa Club is a must visit while staying here! I must say I have experienced one of the best spa treatments in my life! The therapist was very talented and handled my neck issues in a very good way! Just what I needed … (I wish I lived closer to Frankfurt!) Book a treatment here, you won’t be disappointed!

The large fitness club is great too. All staff members I met were the most accommodating and caring people one could wish for. They gave me detailed information about the equipment. Sauna and relaxation rooms are available as well at no additional charges.

Another cool thing I like about this hotel are the tunnels. The tunnels connect all the separate buildings (the hotel has 7 different buildings/villa’s) which are connected with the tunnels. From the spa area, you can walk through the tunnel to the other spa area which is located in the main building. From here, you have access to the all-year-opened outdoor pool. As all of you know, I love pools and I was very pleased with this one. An indoor jacuzzi and two sauna’s are available too. I appreciated the fact that everything was very well maintained.

Turndown service is provided every night. The good-night-tissue was a nice touch and unseen at any hotel.

The next morning, I had one of the best wake-up calls I have ever experienced! After the call, a heard a gentle knock-knock on the door and the very friendly lady brought us some nice cappuccino’s. We enjoyed them while sitting outside with the amazing view. What a great way to start our day!

Yummie breakfast

Breakfast is served at Landgut Falkenstein and I couldn’t have asked for more… The buffet is something to look forward to. Every product is fresh and of a good quality. Also, do not forget to try their à la carte options! They are excellent in preparing the eggs exactly the way you want and I definitely should highlight the bacon which was the best bacon I have eaten at any hotel! Oh, and the waffles with vanilla sauce are a must try!

Falkenstein Grand Kempinski is one of a kind, I love everything about this hotel… from the most comfortable rooms to the best staff making my stay truly unforgettable! Can’t wait to return to this wonderful hotel!

Kempinski Mall of the Emirates – Dubai

18 June 2017HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

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Hotelchain: Kempinski
Location: Dubai – UAE
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: kempinski.com/…dubai/mall-of-the-emirates

Since I am a huge Kempinski fan, I had to explore Kempinski Mall of the Emirates, one of the top rated hotels in Dubai! Sun or snow? Kempinski Mall of the Emirates has it all 🙂

Location

The hotel is located between business bay and Dubai Marina and offers stunning Burj Al Arab views. Although the hotel has been here for a few years, it looks brand new. Dubai Marina and Burj Khalifa are reachable with the metro within just minutes. On top of that, Kempinski Mall of the Emirates is directly connected to the Mall of the Emirates. We went shopping and entering the mall without going outside (it was so hot!) was very convenient for us!

Lobby area is gorgeous, they used a lot of marble and everything has been decorated in a very stylish way. We were welcomed and everything we needed to know about the hotel and its facilities were told in a kind way.

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The rooms

Kempinski Mall of the Emirates is a pretty large hotel offering 393 rooms and suites including 15 chalets with views over the indoor Ski Dubai.

We stayed in grand deluxe rooms and luxurious they really are. I actually wouldn’t call it just a room, but a junior suite instead. The way they combined all the furniture is just amazing. There’s a small dining/living area with the most comfortable couches. The separate bedroom is luxurious featuring a king sized bed. Marble bathroom both has bath tub and shower. Loved the room, I could easily spend a week here.

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I did visit the three bedroom chalet which blew me away! While it was almost 40 degrees outside, it was so cool to see snow while looking through the windows. Did you know, by the way, that there logo represents the combination of snow and sun? The chalets are designed in mountain style and definitely have the WoW-factor.

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Pool area

The pool area at Kempinski Mall of the Emirates is the best place to hang out after a busy day in Dubai. It felt like a small paradise with two large pools and the most comfortable loungers one could wish for. Pool service was great. Complimentary water is offered during the day.

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The spa

For total relaxation, the Spa area is the place to be! I experienced the Thai Compress Massage and the therapist did an excellent job. This long lasting treatment began with a 40 minute aromatherapy massage (I had to choose my favorite scent, loved it!) followed by a blissful Thai herbal compress massage. How could one be not relaxed after 75 minutes of pure relaxation? My sister experienced the 75 minutes luminous “C” & “Sea” facial mask treatment and enjoyed every second! Her skin was pampered and protected with high tech medically formulated Vitamin C. This facial hydrates, nourishes and protects the skin with its vitamin enriched, anti-oxidant formulation. It would rate the facilities with five stars!

Restaurants/bars

One of the things l like most of Kempinski Mall of the Emirates is their Tapas restaurant Salero Tapas & Bodega. Honestly, I have eaten at many Dubai restaurants, but this lunch was the best I have ever experienced at any place in Dubai. We ordered several small tapas and each of them were delicious. From the patatas bravas to the Cantabrian anchovies, from the homemade chicken and mushroom croquettes to their signature paella, every bite was divine. Go check out yourself, you will love it! I love the food sharing concept and will be back, that’s for sure!

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We had dinner at Olea with a Levantine cuisine. Again, the food was amazing and service was top notch. I loved the decoration and set up of this restaurant. There’s an open kitchen so you can actually see the chefs preparing your food. We enjoyed several mezze and the Arabian mixed grill. El Homos and Fatoush which are seasonal fresh vegetables marinated with sumac were so good. The mixed grill with lamb kebabs, lamb kofta, shish tawook and lamb chops were among the best I have experienced. The chef definitely knows how to please the guests. What a wonderful night we had in a unique setting!

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After a great night (the beds are among the best I have slept in!) we had breakfast which is served at Olea. Again, I can’t imagine a better breakfast buffet. So many healthy options. They even prepared a fresh smoothie for me with the ingredients I selected myself. Don’t worry, there are less healthy but yummie other choices too such as freshly made pastries etc.

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We were sad to leave! Kempinski Mall of the Emirates is a top notch five star property! The fancy rooms and high end restaurants will please anyone! I would return in a heartbeat!

Gstaad Palace

18 June 2017HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Location: Gstaad – Switzerland
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: palace.ch

Gstaad Palace probably is one of the most luxurious hotels in Europe and I can’t say enough good things about this place. First of all, Gstaad is a famous ski resort in Switzerland and definitely one of the most attractive holiday regions in the Swiss Alps for luxurious getaways. It has several ultra luxurious five star properties and the town itself is a very cozy and trendy place with a lot of high end boutiques and shops.

Gstaad Palace is one of the leading hotels of the world and I can easily see why … Right from the moment I stepped in, I felt the grandeur of this place. The lobby are is just stunning and although this hotel has been open for over a hundred years, it is totally up to date and offers the most comfortable rooms and facilities one could wish for. There are pictures all over the hotel which represent the history of the hotel.

I was welcomed with a big smile and the front desk staff told us everything we needed to know about the hotel. Our keys were handed in just seconds and I couldn’t wait any longer to explore our beautiful deluxe room. One of the staff members took us to our room, located on the 3^rd floor. Even walking through the hallways is an experience and made me feel like royalty 🙂

We stayed in a deluxe room with a south view and I must say the view was just amazing… The weather was just beautiful and the surrounding mountains are magical. The room itself was just great and was decorated with high quality materials. All of the mountain style rooms are of a true five star (plus!) level featuring a comfortable couch, working desk and a heavenly bed. At 46m², it had a great size and a small balcony with a table and two chairs to enjoy the views. Bathroom featured double sinks, separate (rain)shower and an oversized tub. Once again, everything in the room was very well maintained (the rooms are made up twice a day) and I was in love with the overall interior designs.

After inspecting the room, I went down to explore the entire palace! Right next to the check-in area is a large bar / lobby with open plan fire place. At night, they play live music and everybody was dressed up. I couldn’t imagine any more magical place to enjoy an aperitif before enjoying the most wonderful dinner.

Gstaad Palace has five restaurants. The first night we had dinner at Gildo’s Ristorante, their Italian restaurant. The food was outstanding! I thoroughly enjoyed the salmon as a starter and the sea bass as a main course. As you would expect, the staff was Italian and I actually had the feeling of being in Italy for a few times. Loved the atmosphere here! There’s always room for desert, and I enjoyed every single bite of my apfelstrudel … A must try!

After a wonderful night I was ready to explore the slopes of Gstaad. Gstaad Palace offers a complimentary shuttle service to/from the slopes. It even has a ski shop within the hotel which was very practical for us to rent our ski equipment. I love the fact that the hotel arranges everything for you: ski passes, etc. so there’s no need to queue at counters near the slopes, etc. Very convenient! The ski area itself is pretty large and well connected. The weather was beautiful, I couldn’t stop making pictures of the surrounding areas.

After a day of skiing, it was time to relax! Gstaad Palace has a fantastic wellness area. This is the place to be after a day in the mountains. It has a large indoor pool, a large outdoor jacuzzi and several relaxing areas. The comfortable couches around the fireplace were my favorite. I also enjoyed the sauna and steam room which are separated for males/females. In summer, an olympic outdoor pool is available as well as a few tennis courts.

As most of you know, I love spa treatments and experienced one of their signature treatments, Jardin des Monts Energising massage . The 50 minutes that followed were pure relaxation. I must say it was one the best massages I ever experienced! It’s not a traditional massage, beside the most wonderful hands of the therapist, she also used smooth wooden rollers which made me feel so relaxed… I never experienced such a treatment and loved every second!

After all the relaxation, it was time to explore another restaurant at Gstaad Palace. Since we were in Switzerland, we had to try La Fromagerie. There’s an interesting story about this place. During World War II, the hotel housed treasures: owing to its isolated location on the upper mountainside, the Swiss government hid a large portion of the country’s gold reserves in a two-storey bunker. Today it is a restaurant with Swiss specialties. The cheese champagne fondue and raclette were amazing… Definitely worth a visit while you’re staying at Gstaad Palace, you won’t regret 🙂

The next morning we had breakfast again at the Le Grand Restaurant where we enjoyed another gourmet breakfast. There’s a large buffet with fresh ingredients and lots of fruit. There are also several à la carte options. I should highlight the Laurent Perrier champagne… is there a better way to start your day?

I was sad to leave, but was smiling all the way back to Belgium … Gstaad Palace is a top notch hotel and is one of the better five star properties I have experienced. From the service, friendliness of the staff to the delicious food and gorgeous interiors … Gstaad Palace has it all and is one of a kind. I recommend everyone to stay here at least once in your life!

Banks Mansion Amsterdam

18 June 2017HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Hotelchain: Carlton
Location: Amsterdam – The Netherlands
Classification: 4 star hotel
Official website: banksmansion.com

Banks Mansion is rated as one of the best four star hotels in Amsterdam and I can easily see why! This small boutique hotel has everything for a comfortable stay in the middle of the city!

Location

You really can’t beat the location. Banks Mansion is located near the Herengracht. This is the area where all the shops and restaurants are. All major sights are within walking distance. Very convenient! For example, the flower market is just a few steps away and the Anne Frank House is only one mile away. Of all the hotels I stayed at in Amsterdam, Banks Mansion has one of the best locations I have experienced!

Banks Mansion isn’t one of the large hotels, I talked with several guests of different nationalities and they all appreciated the fact that this hotel feels like a ‘local’ hotel and not like a ‘large chain’ hotel. Pretty interesting and very true, the hotel feels pretty easy going and there’s this cool vibe around the place which you feel as soon as you enter. Banks Mansion is an all inclusive hotel which I will tell you more about later!

Front desk staff was very accommodating and welcomed us with a smile! They gave us some brief information about their living room and facilities.

The rooms

The room we stayed in was comfortable and although it was not large, it had all the amenities I would expect from a four star hotel. Some things I liked: Nespresso coffee machine, comfy couch to hang out and play with your Ipad and the comfortable queen sized bed. Every room offers a complimentary mini bar with soft drinks, water and beer. Also gin, whisky and cognac are provided for every guest at no additional charge. Loved it! Bathroom was spotlessly clean and featured walk-in shower.

The living room

The lobby area at Banks Mansion is called the living room. Part of their all inclusive formula are the complimentary drinks and light bites 24 hrs. That is right, there’s a free bar downstairs where guests can enjoy their favorite drinks. I was pretty surprised that they offer a lot of alcoholic drinks as well. Do not miss their wine & cheese buffet from 5pm – 7pm. This is why I love Banks Mansion so much… Guests come downstairs and enjoy meeting and chatting with their fellow travelers. We met several guests and it was interesting to talk to them while enjoying several drinks and snacks!

Restaurant

Do note that there’s no on site restaurant at Banks Mansion. However, there’s a full American breakfast buffet included in the rate. The overall quality of the food and service was outstanding! I also appreciated the omelet and pancake station where the chef prepares your egg the way you want it.

Banks Mansion is a top notch hotel in the center of Amsterdam. Staff is excellent and nothing is asked for too much. I love their concept and am sure that it will please anyone! Highly recommended for a comfortable stay in Amsterdam!

Accents at InterContinental Dubai Marina

12 June 2017HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Restaurant: Accents
Hotel: InterContinental Dubai Marina
Website: ihg.com/…ls/nl/nl/dubai/dxbpl/hoteldetail

Accents

My sister and I were shopping in the mall and after all the shopping we were hungry and decided to try out Accents at the InterContinental Dubai Marina… And we were not disappointed! I would rate Accents as one of the best restaurants in the area. Location is excellent as the hotel is located in the middle of Dubai Marina. At arrival, the friendly staff asked us if we wanted to dine in- or outside. It was dark already and opted to enjoy the stunning outdoor views. I immediately noticed how well maintained this place is. It all looked brand new and smelled amazing.

The most accommodating waiter asked us what we wanted to drink and I asked if they have any non-alcoholic cocktails and boy – they definitely have them! Honestly, one of the best Virgin Mojito I have ever tried. It was just delicious and so refreshing! My sister is a pinacolada fan and thoroughly enjoyed hers. We don’t drink alcohol frequently and it is always nice to see that a place offers a good selection of non-alcoholic versions of the usual cocktails. What a great start of our evening 🙂

The food itself was just delicious. As a starter I tried their raw mango salad and absolutely loved it! The salad came with grilled chicken, peanuts, a lovely tapenade and balsamic caviar. It was not too large so excellent as a starter! For the main course I thoroughly enjoyed the corn fed chicken breast. The home made croquets and mushroom puree were to die for! I could eat this every day 🙂 And of course, every great dinner should be finished with a delicious dessert. And since I am a chocolate lover, I enjoyed their chocolate dessert which came with some caramel and peanuts. Loved it!

Accent at InterContinental Dubai Marina is a top notch restaurant with a great ambiance and excellent service. Highly recommended if you’re looking for a perfect lunch or dinner with one of the best views one could wish for! Loved it!

Airline review: Emirates

12 June 2017HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

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Recently i flew from Brussels to Dubai with Emirates. They are currently one of my favorite airlines to fly with. Let me tell you why …

The flight staff are amazing! They are genuinely happy and friendly. They seem to be continually offering you a service, but not obtrusively.
They think of things before you do. Like , offering you a drink, more food, collecting your rubbish, taking away your tray! No sitting with an annoying tray blocking your exit from your seat or restricting your movement for hours! They even remember what you drink. They warned me that my food choice could be spicy and if I was ok with that. Pretty amazing.

The long flight was enjoyable and I caught up on some great movies and slept well. Did you know that they even entertain kids while flying? That is so cool. They take polaroid pictures and girls can even put on the cool hats of the flight attendants.

Economy Class: Great seats with plenty of space. The economy seats were among the best economy seats I have experienced at any airline. Every seat has its own personal screen with on demand movies and music. They even provide sleeping masks, ear plugs and a pillow for each passenger. From the moment you step in, you’ll be pampered with hot towels, welcome drinks and ice cream.

Emirates Economy Class - Alles Over Dubai - De Nederlandse reisgids over Dubai

Business Class: Business Class seats are pretty amazing. The oversized seats are among the best you could wish for. Cabin crew was outstanding. Each of them did their upmost best to serve the passengers in an excellent way. They even prepared the bed as we had an early morning flight. Maybe that was the best things about this flight, being able to actually catch a sleep on those flat-bed seats. Food was excellent and of course even more delicious compared to the economy class. Business seats on Emirates flight even have their personal minibar and oversized entertainment screen.

Emirates A380 Business Class Review - Lounge, Seats, Dining, Amenities

Emirates Business Class Amenity kit is amazing and I was happily surprised to find out that they provide Bulgari products. As most of you know, I truly am a huge fan of Bulgari products… Love the smell and overall quality of the product. The fragrance is packaged in a box, while the lotion and after-shave balms came slotted in the side mesh pockets on the inside wall of the wash bag. It also contains a dental kit that now comes in a reusable case. Finally, they also substituted the deodorant stick with a spray. The small Bulgari leather bag is yours. Love it!

I must also highlight the Business Class bathroom. It truly sets the tone when it comes to style when they even offer a classy bathroom high up in the air. The first class bathroom even has its own shower!

Emirates Refreshes Its A380 First, Business & Economy Class Cabins

Flying with Emirates was fun! We took off and landed on time, every time. Staff was very professional, efficient and nothing was asked for too much! Their planes are of a very good standard, even the economy seats are excellent and the business seats do add extra comfort and luxury. Do check their website on frequently to book the best deals at emirates.com.

Westin Al Habtoor City – Dubai

1 June 2017HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Hotelchain: Westin
Location: Dubai – UAE
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: westindubaialhabtoorcity.com

wes3818ex-212133-The Westin Dubai Al Habtoor City exterior - Dubai Water

The Westin Dubai Al Habtoor City is one of the newest five star properties of Dubai and I was really excited to explore this beautiful property. Al Habtoor City is a huge project in Dubai with three world-class five star hotels. World-famous designers did an excellent job working together with architects on the three hotels (St. Regis Dubai, W Dubai and Westin Al Habtoor City) in a totally new neighbourhood representing famous hospitality brands.

The location

Westin Al Habtoor City is the perfect hotel for both leisure and business travelers. You really can’t beat the location, Burj Khalifa is only a 10 minute taxi drive away. Dubai Marina can be reached in 15 minutes. Love the location of the hotel! As said before, there are three hotels within the same building, Westin Al Habtoor City is the largest of the three and is located in a huge 41-storey tower. This actually is the second Westin hotel in Dubai, the other Westin is a beach resort near Dubai Marina.

Entering Westin Al Habtoor City is entering a world full of luxury and eye for details. I was pretty impressed when I entered the hotel, all the marble and friendliness of the staff made a good first impression. A big smile and asking how we are doing made us feel welcome. The hotel is extremely well kept, the staff is courteous – even when they’re dealing with other guests.

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Rooms

The hotel is huge and has 1004 rooms and suites. I stayed in a room on one of the top floors and loved every inch! As usual, the Westin Heavenly Bed was outstanding and really comfortable! The view was breathtaking, we had a full Business Bay view and could see Burj Khalifa – it was such a treat to wake up with such a stunning view!

Bathroom is luxurious featuring an amazing free standing bath tub, separate walk-in shower and toilet.

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Pool area

The pool area at Westin Al Habtoor City is not finished yet, they will be opening their pools in the coming months. I did saw some pictures and it will be beautiful. For now, guests can use the pools at W and St. Regis. Once again, so convenient that all three hotels are connected so you don’t have to leave the hotel to make use of the pools.

The Spa

Westin’s Heavenly Spa is a haven of tranquility inspired by traditional practices used in Asian cultures. The place is huge and luxuriously appointed. This is definitely the place to unwind after a busy day or stressful moments. I experienced their signature massage and I can honestly say that it was one of the best treatments I had in Dubai. The therapist was an expert and did such an excellent job that I felt reborn after the treatment. He applied the right amount of pressure for my liking. Loved it! Highly recommend to book a treatment here, you won’t be sorry!

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Restaurants/bars

Currently, there are five operating restaurants at Westin Al Habtoor City. I had lunch at Seasonal Tastes and both my sister and I were blown away when we saw the buffet! Westin promotes a healthy life style and we can tell … the buffet consisted of a varied spread of healthy food and a lot of vegetables. I loved their soups! The restaurant itself is just stunning. Very spacious and marble everywhere.

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At night we had dinner at Cook Hall, an American themed restaurant. First of all, I was pleasantly surprised when I entered the restaurant. You wouldn’t tell that you’re still within the same building as Cook Hall is totally different when it comes to design. I was (and still am!) in love with the overall décor and atmosphere. We had such an amazing night here! We started with one of their signature cocktails and then tried the “Dribbler”, a mega Wagyu burger with a molten cheese bap, maple-glazed onion, veal bacon, mashed toms and a friend hen’s egg. On the side I tried their cheesy fries! Trust me, I enjoyed every single bite… Dinner or lunch at Cook Hall is a must! Food is delicious and service is top notch!

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Westin Al Habtoor City is a top notch five star hotel with all the facilities one could wish for. I had high expectations but still was blown away. Loved my stay and hope to return soon…

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