Accommodation in Bangkok : Feb 2013 Trip

Hi guysssss! So I just came back from my Bangkok trip from 21-25 Feb. Really had fun shopping! Although Mr.Mon had insufficient funds, but he was able to shop quite lavishly (and by mean shop lavishly, only at wholesale market la no branded things in his shopping lists :P)

Anyway...this time around we landed at Don Muang airport...no more at Suvarnabhumi. Originally planned to just take the taxi from airport to hotel since there were 7 of us (from past experiences the taxi fare divided by 4 or 3 person is still cheaper compared to paying the BTS for 4 or 3 person combined) but I dunno what got into us coz once we got out of the airport and saw the shuttle bus to Mo Chit BTS station we immediately and stupidly got onto the bus hahaha. The bus fare to Mo Chit was 30baht per person then BTS from Mo Chit to Sala Daeng (our hotel area) was 40baht per person. Total 70baht which if 4 person riding the taxi should have been cheaper and less hassle! Yeah since our taxi going back from hotel to airport on the last day was 220baht plus toll charges (you can tell the taxi driver not to use highway and save 45baht but only when its certain there will be no traffic jam okayyy)

So let's look at the hotel pics. We took the one I recommended in my previous post on Bangkok Hotel Recommendation, Take A Nap Hotel at Patpong area...

Reception area...

My room....which cost RM130 or 1300baht per nite for 3 person...

My friend's room which cost RM160 or 1600baht per nite for 3 person but can accommodate 4 person for RM200 or 2000baht per nite...

 

 Another friend's room for RM160 / 1600baht per night. Room for 2 person. I love this room!

 The best thing about this hotel is the provided breakfast buffet is HALAL.

Breakfast was ok with 1 main fried rice/noodles dish that changes everyday, 

fried eggs, sausages, toast bread with butter & jam and cornflakes and milk 

and coffee and tea and orange juice.

Eating area cum entertainment area...

The hotel is conveniently located just around 400meters from Sala Daeng BTS station, 200meters from Patpong nightlife and night market and there are 24hours Burger King, McDonalds and KFC also just around the area...

When telling the taxi driver just mention Suriwong, Patpong since not many (none from all the taxis I took hehe) know about this hotel. Go to the end where the Suriwong road meets Rama IV road. From that end its just a few steps to the hotel which is exactly on Rama IV road but since Rama IV road is a few kilometers long so its not practical to just mention Rama IV road when telling the taxi driver...

Anyways...I only have time to end here. Will put an entry soon on the Mr. Mon's Must Do in Bangkok...Till then...have a good day all. :)

Hotel website : http://www.takeanaphotel.com/


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Casa del Rio Melaka

Hi guyssss. Just a short entry on my trip to Malacca last month and to recommend the hotel I stayed at, Casa del Rio Hotel.... I have a friend who could get a special rate at this boutique hotel and so we went and spent a night there. The hotel was really nice and had one of the best location in Malacca. Just by the mouth of the Malacca river with great views of the sea and city and the river just down below. Price was quite expensive though, starting from RM488 in Agoda....so I only recommend if you are planning to spend your honeymoon or anniversary or special birthday celebration or 'yang sama waktu dengan nya lah' at this place.Or if you have the money please go aheadddd! :D

Literally meaning 'house near the river' in Spanish, Casa del Rio with its 66 rooms really gives that Spanish vibe which can be seen from the design of the hotel, the uneven wall plasters, the fountains and even the colour of the building makes the hotel look even more Spanish. The service was exceptionally good where during check-in, you sit at a gazebo and you will be served a welcome ginger and lemon sorbet in a bamboo tray with your name written with silver marker pen on a piece of leaf while they process your check-in. Then you will be escorted to your room while being explained on the facilities of the hotel. Once you enter the room you will notice that they do pay attention to the smallest details in the room from the small table clock on the side table to the delicate tile designs in the shower enclosure. A boutique hotel indeed.

Now lets see the pictures...

Upon entering the room.... Directly on my left is the walk-in wardrobe which has access to the bathroom.

Taken from the walk-in wardrobe area...

Shower area.

Taken from inside the bathroom...

Wall details...

Balcony...

View from balcony...By the way the infinity pool is at the rooftop of that left wing. Beautiful views from the pool.

Hotel website : http://www.casadelrio-melaka.com/


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Boracay, Philippines Trip 2012 : Part 2

Hi all.... let's continue where I left off....So after 1 night at Boat Station 2 near D'Mall we stayed at another hotel at Boat Station 1....

On our 2nd and 3rd nite in Boracay we stayed at Boat Station 1 @ Residencia Boracay. As mentioned Station 1 is where most of the luxury resorts are.... (Haha but not this though gotcha!) As you know, Mr.Mon wants it cheap so we looked for a nice hotel that's not too expensive in Station 1 and so we found this. This pic is the beach side entrance of the hotel.

This is the front entrance of Residencia Boracay. It's a nice hotel and we got quite cheap price this time since it was low season. (Its their monsoon season July-Oct where the sea is rough and it rains often) We were lucky though it did not rain everyday. Even if it rained it stopped after 1 hour.

The room at Residencia Boracay. Pretty decent. If I'm not mistaken we paid around RM70 per person per nite.

This is what I love which made me choose this hotel before going to Boracay. The beach lounge area. Just love it! (If you notice the bamboo structure at the end, that's the wind breaker to prepare for the monsoon season.)

The hotel from beach area. (This part is facing the beach and the other end facing the main road.

Love it!

The beach area of our hotel. Boat Station 1.

Facing our hotel.

Facing to the right of hotel...

Facing to the left of our hotel.

It's More Fun In The Philippines! :D

Walking to Willy's Rock just 400 metres from our hotel.

The scenery towards the beach of our hotel...

Love the views of the mountains at the back! (Just try to focus at the mountains and ignore us! :P)

Going back to jetty and by bus to Kalibo...

Ferry to and from the island of Boracay...

See you again soon Kalibo. I'll be back for sure. InsyaAllah... :)

So....guys just to recap...If you're planning to go to Boracay anytime soon...

1. Land in Caticlan Airport if you want to skip 1.5 hours of travel from Kalibo Airport to the jetty.
2. Ati Atihan Festival in Kalibo (Mardi Gras style) is on the 3rd week of January every year.
3. Boat Station 2 is the centre of Boracay where D'Mall is and has many restaurants, shops, bars.
4. Boat Station 1 is where the nicest beach is and where the high end accommodations are.
5. Try to avoid the Monsoon season which is from July - October. But accommodations and activities are cheapest during this season.
6. Use Southwest for your transportation to and from hotel. It's hassle free. http://www.southwesttoursboracay.com/
7. Change your money to Pesos before you leave for Boracay as not many money exchanger is available.
8. Go cliff jumping at ARIEL'S POINT! It's a must! We were not able since the sea was rough coz of the moonsoon.

Happy holidays guys! By the way I will be leaving to Bangkok (for the 5th time) this 21st Feb so will be putting an entry soon on Mr.Mon's Musts in Bangkok. :) Till next entry, adios....


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