The Langham – London

17 December 2014HotelAdvisor 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.

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!

Lyric – Paris

16 December 2014HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

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

Centrally located in the center of Paris, this beautiful 4 star hotel made me feel very welcome! It’s in the heart of Paris but feels like your miles away once inside. The Lyric hotel is a small hotel offering great accommodation at affordable rates! Every staff member greeted us with a smile and served us with pleasure! By the way, the reception area has a little macarons store, they looked delicious!

We stayed in an executive room. I loved the décor, from the parquet floors to the drapes! Everything seemed “right”! Actually, the room was quite large for Paris’ standards. Bathroom had a sink and tub (with beautiful little led lights, loved it!) and there was a separate toilette. Every spot in the room was impeccably clean. Oh, I do need to mention this: the tv! One of the best televisions in a hotelroom I have ever seen J

The Lyric hotel offers a full wellness center with sauna, hammam and an indoor swimmingpool. It is so nice to relax here after a day in busy Paris. Everything is well maintained and towels are provided. There is a small fitness facility as well. The whole place is quite small, but all facilities are there. Not too many hotels in Paris have indoor pools, so this really is a bonus! Every room has bathrobes and slippers for him and for her.

The buffet style breakfast was good offering a small selection of several cheeses, eggs, bacon, etc. The coffee lady was very friendly and made sure we would get the right hot drinks. It was not a massive buffet, but that’s the thing I really appreciate about the Lyric hotel: everything is small, but personal. The intimate and cosy décor will please everyone.

The Lyric hotel is a good 4 star hotel in the center of Paris. I would definitely recommend this hotel because of the good service, wonderful decors and indoor pool.

Montcalm at the Brewery – London

15 October 2014HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Hotelchain: The Montcalm Lurury Hotels
Location: London – UK
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: http://www.themontcalmlondoncity.co.uk/

Situated in the city center of beautiful London, the Montcalm at the Brewery hotel is a very special place to stay at. The building is unique as it used to be a brewery and is a listing building that has been restored into a luxury five star hotel. As room numbers suggest, it’s a pretty large property with big rooms, a massive lobby, two restaurants and a small spa area. Upon arrival the hotel looked clean and tidy from outside and inside, the bellman was polite and welcoming.

The lobby at the Montcalm at the Brewery is very luxurious with a waterfall wall and historic high ceilings and the dark leather couches are classy. We got booked in quickly and efficiently.

Staff made us feel very welcome and gave us detailed information about the hotel and the surrounding areas. Although we arrived pretty early, our room was ready.

We stayed in a WOW suite and we were wowed when we saw the huge four-poster bed. We felt like a king and a queen J The room was very nicely decorated and spacious, the bathroom was very spotless, clean and well decked out with modern sink, bathtub and toilet. The rainshower head in the bathtub is a nice feature. Overall, the bathroom was very nicely finished! There is a huge window in the bathroom which can be controlled. The bed was very comfy and large enough for a good night’s stretching out and the pillows were so comfy. Other features are: ipod/iphone docking station, nespresso coffeemachine and individually controlled airconditioning.

The Montcalm at the Brewery has a small spa area in the basement of the hotel. Don’t expect a full service spa experience. Guests can use the hammam and sauna at no additional cost. There is also a (small) fitness facility. Everything looked pretty clean and well maintained.

There are two restaurants: The Chiswell Street Dining Rooms and The Jugged Hare. I didn’t try the Chiswell Street restaurant, but it seemed like a very classy and cosy place. Breakfast was served at the Jugged Hare. We loved the decoration! It truly feels like an English pub and the food was delicious with a large selection of hot and cold items.

The Montcalm at the Brewery is a luxury hotel in a good location. This hotel offers good quality rooms at an affordable rate. Level of service is outstanding and I recommend staying here when you’re in London.

Roomers – Frankfurt

15 October 2014HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Hotelchain: Design Hotels
Location: Frankfurt – Germany
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: http://www.roomers.eu/

Situated in the center of Frankfurt, the Roomers hotel is a fantastic 5 star design hotel. The building is quite modern and I absolutely love their lobby area. It is spacious and well designed with some special modern art work. While you check-in, you can enjoy a welcome drink (sparkling wine). Always a nice touch! The check-in procedure was fast and efficient and professional.

Our room was a deluxe room and it sure was luxurious. Rooms at the Roomers hotel are not the usual hotel bedrooms. They are sexy, dark and hyper modern. The open bathroom has one of the best showers I have ever had. Toilet was separate with another sink. The bed was very comfortable and I loved the comfy lounge chair.

The spa area at the Roomers hotel is very classy and spacious offering the most fantastic facilities which will make you feel like you were reborn. From the large jacuzzi (with a great view) to the hot and wet sauna… from the relax areas to the (water)massage beds (without extra charge)… I enjoyed every minute when I was there. Be sure to check it out when you’re there! Fitness center (with a view!) looked amazing too, by the way!

The next morning we had breakfast. It was a large buffet with both hot and cold items. Everything was of a good quality! I especially liked the smoothies and chocolate croissants. They were so yummie! Service was very friendly and efficient.

All in all, Roomers Frankfurt is a top 5 star hotel. It surely is one the finest hotels Frankfurt has to offers! I really recommend staying here, because their rates are fair and include access to the spa area.

The Greenwich – NYC

29 August 2014HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Location: New York – USA
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: http://www.thegreenwichhotel.com

If you are looking for an exclusive and unique 5 star hotel in New York, the Greenwich is where you have to be! Part of the “Leading hotels of the world”, someone could expect something! This hotel was built a few years ago (oh, Robert De Niro is co-owner, by the way), but they did a great job and the hotel now has this old school look. Very impressive! You actually don’t have the feeling that this is a high class 5 star hotel from the outside, but as soon as you enter the Greenwich Hotel you will be amazed! For most people “checking in” is something that “has to be done”, but to me it is very important and they did a great job at the Greenwich! It was a very personal yet professional approach; they made us feel welcome!

We couldn’t believe our eyes when we entered the deluxe Greenwich room. It was so nicely decorated and it was so spacious! Every detail was perfect: wooden floors, books, the most comfy couch ever and even a large basket filled with candies, chocolate, cookies, etc. Even the non-alcoholic beverages in the minibar are included in the rate. The bathroom is as unique as the room itself, featuring a rain-shower. The comfort of the room was of a 5 star level and it kind of made me feel like home!

Other things I really like about this hotel is the spa area with (large) indoor swimming pool. They used some 250 year old wood and bamboo which makes this place even more special. It is not just a small dip pool, it is large enough for lap swims. There is also a sauna and hammam which can be used at no additional cost. The fitness center is located next to the spa area and is a very large space with lots of professional equipment. Personal trainers are on site as well (additional fee applies).

The Greenwich Hotel even has a private courtyard. What a beautiful and peaceful place in this busy city! It really is unique and reserved for guests only! The garden is tiled with trees from Italy and you can relax in comfortable garden furniture. After our wonderful night we had breakfast here. Food was of a good quality and there were plenty of dishes to choose from.

We rented two Greenwich bikes (for free!) and explored the neighborhood. They gave us a map and recommendations. We loved it! And yes, this hotel is beautiful and luxurious but the one thing I like the most about the Greenwich is the service they offer. Every single staff member greeted us with a smile and everyone seemed to be enjoying their working time at the hotel. I was very impressed by this and can’t say enough good things about the Greenwich Hotel. Everyone visiting New York and looking for a special place to stay should stay at this hotel! I can’t wait to stay there again!

Hotel Giraffe – New York

29 August 2014HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Hotelchain: Library hotel collection
Location: New York – USA
Classification: 4 star hotel
Official website: http://www.hotelgiraffe.com

Rated as one of the top 5 hotels in New York City, we knew this was going to be a great experience and it was … As soon as we arrived at the hotel, we were greeted by a very friendly, yet not too formal, bellman. He kindly asked my name and guided me to the reception. Check-in was very efficient and we did get some clear information about the hotel such as the free non alcoholic drinks during the day, wine and cheese reception and their rooftop bar. We also received a map of the city and were surprised by how central this hotel is located.

We stayed in a very spacious one bedroom suite and absolutely loved it! One nice detail: I loved the room key featuring a giraffe . As you enter the room, you will see a very cozy living area. After a full day in this hectic city, there is no better place than relaxing in those cozy couches. The bedroom is very large and has a very soft bed with plenty of pillows to choose from. The bathroom has a bathtub, single sink and a toilet. Bathrobes, an iPod-dock and espresso machine are there for your comfort. This room felt like a city apartment to us; it was so nicely decorated and had details we really liked such as books about giraffes, nice fresh flowers, etc.

The rooftop bar is something special, it feels like an oasis in busy NY. Although quite small, there are wooden benches and chairs and they were playing loungy music. There is also a large giraffe (of course!) and we did like the amount of plants and flowers. The cocktails we had were very good and not too expensive.

During the day and night, complimentary drinks (water, juices, coffee, etc.) are offered to the guests. Very nice! Also, the cookies and fresh fruit were appreciated! Breakfast is included in the rate too. Although it is a small buffet, they do offer fresh fruit, some pastries, cereals, bagels, etc. Service again was very nice and always with a smile.

When you are visiting New York, do consider staying at the Giraffe Hotel: great rooms at an affordable rate, breakfast is always included and the location is central. Would love to stay here again next time i’m in NYC!

The Benjamin – NYC

29 August 2014HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Location: New York – USA
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: http://www.thebenjamin.com

p>When you book a suite in the Benjamin hotel, you could just walk out of the door and be close to the action! The Benjamin, an executive suite hotel, is located very centrally in New York City. Times Squares, Broadway, 5th avenue, Central park, Grand central station … everything is closeby.

Most hotels use over the top colors, but the Benjamin has a fun and warm design. As soon as we entered the hotel, both of us commented on how stylish the decor was. Not only modern but also classy. Check-in went promptly and we were ready to explore our 1 bedroom suite. The suite was very large and had a sitting area, working desk and even a small kitchen. The bedroom had the most comfortable kingsize bed with 9 (I know …) pillows! The have this special sleep program “rest & renew”… Guests can choose from many kinds of pillows. The pillow menu is arranged by sleeper type (side sleeper, back, stomach, etc.). They even have sleeping masks (they DO work!). The (small) bathroom had a tub, sink and toilet.

For the rate, the rooms are of a very good quality and size! When I showed the pictures to my friends they were all like: “oh wow, you stayed in a presidential suite”. And yes, they do look great!

The Benjamin hotel offers a large fitness center which can be used for free. The equipment looked great and there were plenty of fresh towels. Also a fridge with fresh fruit and water is available for the guests. Next to the fitness center is the wellness spa where guests can relax and enjoy several salon treatments including manicure, pedicure, etc.

After a busy day, sleeping in their kingbed was like heaven! So big, so soft and lots of pillows! ☺ I even had a waterfilled pillow and slept like a baby! They should introduce a sleep program like this in every hotel!

There is a restaurant “The National” offering great dishes at affordable rates! I didn’t eat there, but i liked the decoration and atmosphere of the restaurant.

Service at the Benjamin was top-notch: very efficient and friendly! At check-out, i asked for another sleeping mask which I used on the plane back home ☺ The Benjamin is a great hotel offering very spacious rooms at an affordable rate! Highly recommended!

The Mainport Design hotel – Rotterdam

25 July 2014HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Chain: Design/Inntel hotels
Location: Rotterdam – The Netherlands
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: http://www.mainporthotel.com

I always wanted to visit the Mainport Design hotel in Rotterdam because i heard great things about it. The Mainport hotel did not disappoint (at all!). First of all, the location is great: right at the mainport of Rotterdam. You can’t miss the modern black building when you are closeby. The Mainport hotel offers Valet Parking to their guests, always a bonus! The reception area is bright and gives a good first impression. Check-in went smoothly and the lady behind the desk was very professional and efficient. She handed us our roomkeys and showed us the elevators.

We stayed in a Waterfront Spa room which (surprisingly ;-)) had a fantastic view on the harbour. It was a very large room (approximately 44 m2) and the huge jacuzzi was definitely the highlight of the room with a diameter of 1,70 meter. We then noticed the XL Kingsized bed. 3 people could easily sleep in this bed, without doubt! Other features: a comfy couch, a beautiful desk and an Illy coffee machine. You could even relax in your private Finnish sauna in the bathroom. The large rainshower works perfect and is very useful after the sauna session. The mirror tv is a plus too. This truly is what a spa room should be. The decor is modern, but without being too “cold”. Please note the pinguins on the wall. Would I decorate my home like that, no … but in this hotel it is just perfect!

Besides the great rooms, this hotel has a lot of other facilities such as the spa area. They call it “Spa Heaven” and they did chose the right name. It is located on the 8th floor and offers fantastic panoramic views over the city. There is a fitness center with good equipment, a Finnish sauna and hammam. At “Club H2O”(directly connected with the hotel spa on the 8th floor) there is another (small) fitness room, sauna, hammam and a swimmingpool. The whole place is very clean and has a “relaxing” feeling, but I should mention that the water in the pool is pretty cold though…

At night, we had dinner at “Down under” after enjoying our yummie mojito’s in the cocktailbar “At the rocks”. The quality of the food was good and the prices were fair. Service was good, staff was very friendly and we didn’t had to wait too long before our courses were served.

The next day we had breakfast: a buffet with a large selection of cold and hot items. Sparkling wine is always a plus. The eggs are prepared by the chef just like the way you want them to be prepared. All guests were politely and courteously greeted with a smile.

The Mainport Design hotel deserves its 5 star rating. It has a lot to offer and everything is done with a smile. I would happily return!

The Augustine – Prague

16 July 2014HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Location: Prague – Czech Replublic
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: http://www.augustinehotel.com/

Located in the center of Prague, the Augustine hotel (part of the Leading Hotels of the World) is a luxury 5 star hotel surrounded by the Wallenstein Gardens. On your way to the hotel, it is pretty difficult to find this hidden jewel but as soon as you enter the gate, you can feel this true classy feeling. The bellman will park your car and leads you to the reception area where the professional staff meets you. They gave us a glass of prosecco which is always appreciated.

This hotel contains of 7 buildings including a 13th century monastery and brewery that once was home to the friars of Saint Augustine. I was impressed by how they mixed the original buildings with a modern touch. The hallways throughout the hotel are wide and large and everything is impeccably clean.

Our room, which was a standardroom, was of a 5 star level. It was nicely decorated with a lounge chair, a very comfortable bed and had a large wardrobe. The marble bathroom had a heating floor (so we didn’t need to wear slippers, great!) and had a bathtub with rainshower head. Again, everything was clean and well maintained. Some items reflect the hotel’s monastic history such as a little statue of a monk in the bathroom and books about the history of the hotel on the bedside tables.

We visited the hotel suites as well, so for those looking for even more luxury, do take a look at the pictures below. The suites at the Augustine hotel are spectacular and imense. They are like penthouses within the hotel with seperate bedrooms, dining areas, several bathrooms, meeting rooms and some even have kitchens. Of course, they do come with a price… ☺

Guests of the Augustine can relax at the Spa area. Although not too large, it offers a Finnish sauna, a hammam and a relaxing area. The fitness room is quite large and has very good equipment.

The next day we had breakfast in the “Elegantes Restaurant” and was one of the best breakfasts we have ever had! There is a buffet offering quality products, but I also loved the à la carte items. The service was very professional and friendly as it should be in a hotel of this class.
Besides this restaurant, the Augustine also has 2 bars: one brewery style bar where you can taste their beer (do try it, it is quite yummie!) and the 1889 bar which is situated in the monastery’s hall with views on to one of the formale garden squares.

Great hotel in a good location with a great service! Highly recommended!

Me, myself and I

19 May 2014HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Having a passion for hotels and exploring new cultures. Giving advice to future guests is invaluable. In this blog, I will be writing reviews about quality hotels and I will be adding some pictures and videos. I will comment on the overall atmosphere, the architecture and the interior. A hotel is more than just a room to stay in: amenities such as the bar, the restaurant and the spa services are equally important. Everyone has their own opinion, but I will provide you with an objective impression to give you a general and clear idea of what is awaiting you.

Enjoy reading and travelling!

Christophe Delcroix

Christophe.Delcroix@gmail.com

Hotel Advisor Consultant

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The Langham – London

Lyric – Paris

Montcalm at the Brewery – London

Roomers – Frankfurt

The Greenwich – NYC

Hotel Giraffe – New York

The Benjamin – NYC

The Mainport Design hotel – Rotterdam

The Augustine – Prague

Me, myself and I