Marriott Cologne

31 March 2015HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

The Marriott Cologne is one of the finest 5 star hotels in town! I stayed here with my sister for just 1 night and really enjoyed the hotel in this beautiful city. The hotel is located in the center of Cologne within walking distance of the major sightseeing spots. The cathedral is only a 5 minute walk and all the shops are nearby.

The reception area is quite spacious and is elegantly decorated. The front desk staff was very friendly and accommodating! Everything was done with a smile and check-in went smoothly. They will give you all the information you need without being “over the top”. I really liked the different seating areas and bars.

We stayed in an executive room which gave us access to the executive lounge. The room itself was a very large room with a very comfortable lounge chair. The bathroom had a tub, toilet and single sink. Slippers and bathrobes are available. The toiletries were of a good quality. Everything in the room was clean and well maintained. There was so much space that we could bring the whole family! Oh, and the beds were great!

The thing I liked most about the Marriott Cologne was their Executive Lounge! One of the nicest I have ever seen with a great selection of snacks, candies and non-alcoholic beverages. During the evening, free cocktails and spirits are offered at no additional charge. In fact, I saw a lot of people having “dinner” at the lounge! There are indeed lots of yummie food options!

We had dinner at their restaurant, a French Brasserie. Although it is decorated in a totally different style, we liked the decoration. It kind of felt we were in a ski resort J The food was of a good quality and staff was great!

Before we were going to bed, we visited the (small) spa area. It is located on one of the lower floors. The fitness area is large! Lots of working-out options. They also have a bio and a traditional sauna. Again, everything was really clean and well maintained.

The next morning we had breakfast. It was a buffet style breakfast and loved every bite! The Marriott Cologne is a great 5 star hotel in a very good location. I do recommend paying a little bit extra for the Executive Lounge, you won’t be disappointed!

Park Plaza Amsterdam Airport – Schiphol

27 February 2015HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Hotelchain: Park Plaza
Location: Amsterdam – Schiphol
Classification: 4 star hotel
Official website: http://www.parkplaza.com/lijnden-hotel-nl-1175-rm/netairp

The Park Plaza Amsterdam Airport is a large and luxurious 4 star hotel located near Schiphol. It is a very large hotel but they make you feel at home as soon as you enter! It offers free shuttle service from/to the airport of Schiphol.

The reception area is very spacious and nicely decorated. I especially loved the cozy open fire place near the bar.

I found the check-in very efficient and friendly. Everything was done with a smile!

We stayed in an executive room which was pretty large. It even had a little couch. The spacious bathroom had a large shower, single sink and toilet. Our room had a view of the little lake in front of the hotel. All the furniture in the room was well kept. The bed was of a good quality and we both had a good night’s sleep.

The Park Plaza Amsterdam Airport offers a full fitness center and spa area. Although I did not use their facilities, I did went down to have a look at the place. I would love to relax in the sauna and/or steam room after a long flight! And the spa looked so clean… Bathrobes and slippers are provided in the room.

Guests staying in an executive room have access to the executive lounge located on the main floor. To be honest, it was one of the nicest executive lounges I have ever seen! It felt trendy, yet warm especially with the open fireplace in the middle of the lounge. It even has a private “living room” with the most comfortable couches and a large television. Guests can enjoy complimentary alcoholic + non-alcoholic drinks and light snacks. I do recommend to upgrade to an executive room, it is well worth the extra money!

At night, we had dinner at their restaurant. Before we went to dinner we had a few pre-dinner cocktails which we enjoyed thoroughly. Dinner itself was maybe the best surprise of our stay at the Park Plaza Amsterdam Airport! The quality of the food was of a very high standard and we loved every single bite. The products the chef used were fresh and he certainly did a great job! Service was very good too, not too stiff, not too casual.

I do recommend staying at the Park Plaza Amsterdam Airport. It is a great hotel of a very good quality in a very convenient location!

AlpenPalace hotel – San Giovanni/South Tyrol

25 February 2015HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Location: San Giovanni/South Tyrol – Italy
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: http://www.alpenpalace.com

How to start describing this hidden jewel in the South of Tyrol, Italy, at the heart of the Ahrntal Valley?

We already knew from the beginning this would be a vacation to never forget.

The lobby is spacious and has a warm yet trendy feeling. Everything is designed with character and the overall feeling is very luxurious. The staff welcomed us on a very professional yet friendly way, making us feel at home immediately.

Before going to our room we sat down and enjoyed a cocktail, taking in all impressions like e.g. the beautifully designed bar, the fire place, the warm interior etc.

We were then guided to our room the “AlpenPalace Suite ” and our first impression was confirmed. The beautiful room was spacious, warm, comfortable and elegant. It felt more like a luxurious apartment than a hotel room. There is a living area where you can relax in the sofa or at the table. You then have a separate bedroom with a luxurious bed and with plenty of closet space. There are two flat screens in the room and on top of that we also had two(!) spacious balconies with beautiful views on the mountains.

The bathroom has a luxurious whirlpool, a shower and a separate toilet with bidet. There even was a TV in the bathroom. Everything was spotlessly clean!

And just when we thought things couldn’t get better, we went to spa. Never did we see such a luxurious spa. The facilities they offer here are beyond your wildest dreams: an indoor pool, an outdoor pool, an outdoor whirlpool, a traditional sauna, an herbal sauna, a steam bath and much more. Truly one of the best spa’s you can find! You could easily spend your days here and never leave the hotel.

Besides the above mentioned facilities you can also enjoy some wonderful treatments from very professional staff (a must do!!!). They even have a sauna “master”.

The AlpenPalace is located between two ski areas, Klausberg and Speikboden where every type of skier can find something (from beginner to professional) and where the views are just amazing. Kindly find the map of the ski area below.

Knipsel

Ski pass rates are reasonably priced here! Oh, do try the „Alpine Coaster“ – The coaster hurtles down for 1,800 metres, travelling at speeds of up to 40 kilometres per hour. The ski area of Klausberg has:

7 cable cars from 1,050 to 2,510 m above sea level
30 kilometersof ski runs: 14 km blue runs, 12 km red runs, 4 km black runs
Absolute certainty of snow as a result of extensive snowmaking facilities

For more information, do visit their website: http://www.kronplatz.com/en/klausberg.

The hotel offers a free shuttle to and from the slopes. Just give them a call at what time you want to leave or get back. Very well organized!

Skiing is however not the only thing this area has to offer. Walking in the summer, mountain biking, golf, etc … You could easily spend weeks here and never get bored (especially not with that spa).

The dinner & breakfast at AlpenPalace are of very high quality. You can see that they spend a lot of time in working out the menus and love working with local products. Also one of the main assets here is the professional and very friendly staff. They will guide you through the menu and suggest very good & local wines.

I can already say that we will return to his home away from home to enjoy all the luxury it has to offer and I highly recommend for you to do the same!

Hotel Da Vinci – Paris

24 February 2015HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Location: Paris– France
Classification: 4 star hotel
Official website: http://www.hoteldavinciparis.com

I have been to Paris several times and stayed in several hotels, but the hotel Da Vinci was by far the best experience I have had so far! First of all: location, location, location! It is perfectly positioned right in the most interesting part of Paris. When you leave the hotel, you will see the Louvre museum. It really is just a 7 minute walk. Also, musee d’Orsay is only an 8 minute walk. You don’t want to wait a few hours before you finally could enter the museums? No problem! They sell museum tickets at the reception so no queuing needed!

But it’s not only the location that makes this hotel so special, also the decoration and service are of a high level. The hotel Da Vinci is an upper class 4 four boutique hotel with only 24 rooms, named after the leading figures of the Quattrocento. The hotel recently opened (June, 2014) and is one of the best boutique hotels in the city, without doubt!

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 decorations and references to the Da Vinci theme.

Our room 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. I also liked the wooden ceilings. They decoration team did a great job and although the room was not too large, it had enough space for the both of us.

Another highlight of the hotel Da Vinci is the little spa area. It is located in the basement of the hotel and has a small dip pool with jet streams. It felt so relaxing after a busy day in hectic Paris! The best thing about it, is that you could reserve the spa area just for you… They will bring you the key 5 minutes before and the place is all yours, without an extra charge! Bathrobes + slippers are provided in every room.

In the morning, a great breakfast buffet with many options began our day more than satisfied. It is reasonably priced. If you are into buffets, you could also choose for the continental breakfast or a Parisian breakfast with several options.

We hated to leave the hotel Da Vinci but look forward again to our special Paris getaway..

Hilton Brussels Grand Place – Brussels

24 February 2015HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Hotelchain: Hilton
Location: Brussels – Belgium
Classification: 4 star hotel
Official website: http://www.placeshilton.com/brussels-grand-place

Located in the heart of Brussels, the recently opened Hilton Brussels Grand Place is a beautiful 4 star hotel within walking distance of all the major attractions. The hotel is located next to the Grand Place and the central train station is right opposite which is very convenient.

The hotel used to be “Le Méridien” but it has been renovated almost completely and truly is a full 4 star hotel with excellent service. One really appreciated part of staying at the Hilton Brussels Grand Place is the lobby area. It is just beautiful… It is spacious, very clean and luxurious with comfortable sofas. Check-in went smoothly and front desk staff were very friendly. Actually, from arrival to departure the staff are pleasant and helpful. Everything was done with a smile.

The rooms are as advertised with comfortable super kingsize (or twin) beds and feather pillows (bonus point). We didn’t hear anything from the outside and had a good night’s sleep. Furthermore, the more had a large flatscreen television, large desk and a little couch. Bathroom was very large featuring a separate (rain)shower and bath tub. The room was very clean. We stayed in an executive room and had access to the executive lounge where we enjoyed soft drinks, snacks, pastries, salads, beer, wine, etc. they are all included in the rate so you get a lot for your money!

The bar (next to the lobby) is a cozy place where it is fun to hang out. When staying in the executive rooms, some drinks are included.

We had dinner in the restaurant later that night and enjoyed it very much! It is really reasonably priced and we were impressed by the overall quality of the food. Service was excellent!

Breakfast consists of juices, tea/coffee, cereals, fruit, pastries and toast. Also hot items were available. Eggs, sausages, bacon, etc. We all found this really great way to start the day. Oh, and if you are into working out when you wake up, a full fitness center is available for guests at no additional cost.

The Hilton Brussels Grand Place is one of the top hotels in Brussels and you can’t go wrong when booking a nice room in this excellent hotel!

The Langham – London

5 February 2015HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Hotelchain: Langham hotels
Location: London – UK
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: http://london.langhamhotels.co.uk

I have travelled all over the world and have found the Langham London to be one of the most exquisite boutique grand hotels in my experience. The Langham London is a historic 5 star hotel and is well located on the famous Regent street. Regent’s Park is only a few steps away. We were welcomed by a very courteous bellman who parked our car and escorted us into the beautiful lobby. I immediately realized why this is one of the top rated hotels in London. It is actually the place to be for all kinds of celebrities visiting this beautiful city. Further, we were greeted by an exceptionally great front desk staff. Check-in went smoothly and the staff were just extremely professional, going to extraordinary lengths to make everybody’s stay pleasurable. They even remember your names.

All the guestrooms at the Langham are unique and very tastefully decorated. It’s all about the details and to be honest, the bed was one the best I have ever experienced! It felt like sleeping on a cloud, it was so soft… The bathroom was quite spacious, featuring a separate tub and shower, large sink and separate toilet. Toiletries were amazing! The room was opulent and charming at the same time, perfectly appointed and completely functional. I loved the 2 comfy couches and large desk. I had a few requests and everyone, from housekeeping to room service or the food and beverage servers, makes it their goal to treat all their guests like VIPs.

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It would be very difficult to get bored at the Langham London as it offers a fully equipped hotel gym and fitness facilities and we did relax at the spa area. We tried everything: the vitality pool, salt sauna and steam room. One nice detail I had never seen before: a swimwear dryer. The relaxing areas are just beautiful. There is a large swimming pool as well, but unfortunately it was closed so I cannot comment on that. Everything was very clean.

The next day we had breakfast at the Palm Court. The breakfast selection and service were amazing and they had my favorite fruit, muffins and excellent coffee. The large buffet was leisurely and good with great hot food choices. All in all, an excellent breakfast that set us up for the day. It is quite expensive though, but I do recommend a bed and breakfast rate as it is quite an experience having breakfast in such a special place. We also had a drink at the Artesian, voted “World’s best bar 2014” by Drinks International. Their other restaurant “Roux at The Landau” looked amazing too, but we didn’t eat there so I can’t comment on the food. I did talk with guests who ate there and they all loved the food.

The Langham London is a destination hotel for those travelers that are looking for a truly wonderful experience! This grand hotel and its staff exceeds customer service in every possible way!

The Ampersand – London

3 February 2015HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Location: London – UK
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: http://www.ampersandhotel.com/

The Ampersand hotel is a very stylish and centrally located 5 star hotel in London, ideal for a 2 day visit with my mother. I had high expectations before arrival and I’m glad to say that during our stay these expectations were exceeded across all areas of the hotel. The location of the hotel in south Kensington was ideal. The underground station is just a few steps from the hotel.

The reception area is bright and very stylish. When you enter the (small) lobby you will feel that this really is what every boutique hotel should be like. And you’ll experience this boutique sense all over the hotel. Every single inch of the hotel is just beautiful…

We had a superior room which was, although not too big, quiet and well appointed. The beds were most comfortable and we both got a good sleep. Overall, the room was well kept and maintained. The music theme throughout the room was fun. The bathroom was impeccably clean and had a tub, sink and toilet. We loved the little rubber baby duck!

The fitness area is great and free bottled water is offered. Most fitness rooms I have been to, were way too hot, but here it was just perfect. The games room and library were very fun too! Although we did not eat in the main restaurant during the evening, we did enjoy the breakfast! Very tasty!

The staff deserve a special mention for their courtesy, service and attention to every possible request. Nothing was any trouble to them.

The Ampersand is a very good luxury hotel in London. You won’t be disappointed when you book this hotel for your next trip to beautiful London!

Pullman Cocagne – Eindhoven

1 February 2015HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Hotelchain: Pullman hotels
Location: Eindhoven – The Netherlands
Classification: 4 star hotel
Official website: http://www.pullmanhotels.com/gb/hotel-5374-pullman-eindhoven-cocagne/index.shtml

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. 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 man who checked us in was very professional and made us feel welcome! He gave us all the information we needed about the area and the hotel. They even have little chocolates waiting for you when you arrive at the hotel, very nice touch which I really liked.
The superior 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.

The thing I like most 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!

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. Oh, and do check their website often for great deals! Highly recommended!

The Dominican – Brussels

21 January 2015HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Hotelchain: Carlton hotels
Location: Brussels – Belgium
Classification: 4 star hotel
Official website: http://www.thedominican.be/

The Dominican hotel is a luxury 4 star boutique hotel in the center of Brussels. I am in love with the building, it is so beautiful! As soon as you enter the Dominican, you will know what I mean! It is all about details here. The reception area is nice and comfy, check-in went smoothly was done by a very friendly lady.

Not one room is the same at the Dominican which makes this hotel unique. Our superior room was not too large, but had everything we needed. It had the most comfy bed, a little desk and chair. The Nespresso machine was a nice touch. The bathroom had a tub, single sink and toilet. Everything in the room was really clean. Oh, I almost forgot: there is a good wifi connection (throughout the hotel, by the way!).

The fitness center of the hotel is located on one of the top floors and offers good equipment. It is nice to work out after a working day and then to relax in the sauna and/or hammam. One thing I have never seen in a hotel: a boxing room with boxing gears, etc. As mentioned before, the hotel offers a small wellness area with one sauna and a hammam. Everything in the place was very clean. There are 2 large showers too which is pretty convenient after working out. If you are not into sports or wellness, do have a drink at the bar. It is decorated just beautiful and again, service was good!

The next day we had breakfast at their restaurant. The breakfast was really good with some à la carte items. I thought the food was of a good quality and everything we wanted was done with a smile.

The Dominican is a luxury hotel with great amenities. I do recommend staying there when you are in Brussels.

The Peninsula – Paris

17 December 2014HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Hotelchain: Peninsula hotels
Location: Paris – France
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: http://paris.peninsula.com/

Where to start? As you enter the recently opened Peninsula hotel in Paris, you will be amazed by the wonderful and light lobby area. It is absolutely stunning from the spacious front desk to the dancing crystal leaves. Front desk staff is very professional and will do anything to make your stay unforgettable! The Peninsula Paris is located in a late 19th century classic Haussmanian building, which first opened as one of Paris’s most luxurious “grand hotels” in 1908. It has the perfect location right in the center of Paris:
literally 1 minute walk to the Arc de Triomphe and to “des champs elysees”.

All rooms are equipped with the latest technology without being “over the top”. The rooms come with a control customised interactive digital control tablets. I like the fact you can still “feel” the history of this grand hotel. Oh please notice the view of the Arc de Triomphe from the room! The bed was like an XXXL kingsized bed. The design of the rooms is perfect with neutral colours and accents.

You will never get bored at the Peninsula, the SPA area is one of the nicest I have ever seen featuring a large indoor pool, jacuzzi tubs and a few luxurious treatment rooms. Sauna, steam rooms and a full fitness center (with professional trainers!) are available for guests as well.

Hungry or thirsty after your workout? No problem! The Peninsula offers a few options: L’Oiseau Blanc and Lili are both top class restaurants with both stunning decors and menus. Do visit those places, they both are unique and L’Oiseau Blanc has a very exclusive rooftop bar with amazing views of the Eiffel Tower. You can even see Montmartre!

We had the Peninsula’s famed Afternoon Tea in The Lobby accompanied by live music. All pastries of the “Bûche de Noël” were created by Pastry Chef Julien Alvarez. Believe me, it was just perfect!

The Peninsula Paris is a top class 5 star hotel which I would thoroughly recommend!

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