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Burj Al Arab (Dubai)
by catsholiday Burj Al Arab afternoon tea - Dubai The exchange rate when we were there was AED 5.6 to £1 While we were in Dubai we decided to splash out and booked to go and have afternoon tea at the Burj Al Arab. The World's first 7 star hotel: The Burj Al Arab which means Arabian Tower is a stunning hotel in the shape ... of a dhows' sail. It sits on its own artificial island just off Jumeirah beach and is connected to the mainland by a narrow causeway. Not sure if it still is but it was the second tallest hotel building in the world but despite its size it only has 202 rooms on 28 hotel floors. It is one of Dubai's iconic images and because of this we felt we had to go inside to have a look. It is known as 'The world's first 7* hotel 'despite the fact that it is actually 5* but the prices to stay at the hotel are pretty high so we were going to have to get in there by some other method. Opportunities to see inside: Stay at the hotel. Looking in line this was not an option Bed and Breakfast Prices: Low Season 2011 £3,151 per person, per week. No chance as that is the price of a full holiday for two weeks somewhere else. Options for the Skyview bar: At 200 meters above sea level the "Skyview Bar" was where we wanted to go and the options were for pre- and post- dinner drinks or afternoon teas. According to law in Dubai, children below 21yrs old are not permitted in the bar and the dress code is strictly smart casual so no beach clothes, T shirts or flip flops allowed. It is also vital to make an early reservation. You can enjoy afternoon tea daily except Fridays. You can enjoy : Regular Afternoon Tea: AED 250.00 per person (Subject to changes) between 15.00hrs-17.00hrs Indulgent Afternoon Tea: AED 395.00 per person (Subject to changes) between 15.00hrs-17.00hrs Cocktail packages daily except Fridays from 19.00hrs to 22.30hrs - Cover charge AED 250.00 per person before you spend any money on actual drinks Options for Sahn Eddar: There were other options for afternoon tea in the Sahn Eddar which is located on the First Floor. This did not appeal nearly so much as there was no view and not the opportunity to see beyond the front door of the hotel either. The dress code is the same smart casual no trainers or jeans and once again reservations are essential. Mid-morning Breakfast: AED 220.00 per person from 09.00hrs-10.30hrs Regular Afternoon Tea: AED 250.00 per person (Subject to changes) between 15.00hrs-18.00hrs Indulgent Afternoon Tea: AED 375.00 per person (Subject to changes) between 15.00hrs-18.00hrs. If you had children then this would be the only option for Afternoon tea as children are not allowed in the Skyview Bar but in this restaurant they are welcomed and for children between 3- 11 years it is Half Price, younger than 3 are free. Decision made: We booked for the AED 395 Ultimate Afternoon tea in the Skyview Bar as we wanted the view and the experience of being in the suspended skyview bar to enjoy our sumptuous meal. So on the day we turned up in our smart casual clothes in a taxi from the Dubai Mall. As we approached the hotel we were stopped at the gate at the land end of the causeway and asked to show our reservation confirmation. Once they had confirmed that we were booked in the taxi the drive us across the causeway to just in front of the hotel. We only had our basic taxi but there were some very small Rolls Royces and Mercedes parked on either side. We hopped out and were welcomed by the doorman who opened the door for us. Inside the Burj: The lobby was the oddest place as it was swarming with visitors like us and was decorated in the most lurid blue and gold. The hotel is hollow up the middle and as you look up the gaudiness continues in the same blue red and gold colours. It was really totally over the top and not actually that attractive in my view. However we went over the reception desk and explained that we were booked into the Skyview bar for 4pm. The gentleman politely explained that we would not be allowed up there until that time but we were welcome to go and look around the gift shop or go up to the first floor area to sit and wait. The Gift Shop: This visit didn't take long as there was nothing there of any interest. Postcards of the hotel were £5 each and little Burj Al Arab models were £30 plus. Other than that there were really expensive clothes and some books. That used about five minutes so we decided to venture up the escalator to the first floor. Up we go: As we went up the escalator we looked down at the fountain or large waterfall which flowed into the reception area. On the right of the hotel there was a very tall aquarium going from below ground level up to the first floor with beautiful tropical fish swimming calmly around. Once up on the first floor we were able to see the Sahn Eddar and people enjoying their afternoon teas in there. I am so pleased we opted for the Skyview Bar because this was a bit like being in a bird cage with everyone looking in at you. There were a lot of low tables with comfortable sofas around so we settled ourselves in one while I managed to use my iphone to log on and check in on line for our flight the next day which was free in the hotel, an added bonus as internet on the ship was really expensive. Once we had waited the ten minutes, checked in for our flight and had a good look around on this floor. We spent some time observing some children playing near the fountains having enjoyed their meal. We were able to enjoy this as we had no children of our own to keep an eye on so we were not worried if they did something naughty! We then made our way along the highly gilded central area towards the very gold lift doors at the end of the corridor. Up we go yet again: This lift was glass on the outside so we had an excellent view of the palm island as we went up. Once we arrived at the Skyview bar floor we were greeted by some girls at the reception desk who asked us our name and then explained that we were a little early so would have to wait until our table was ready and then we would be escorted in. This area was also very heavily gold and ornately decorated with strange, almost tube like corridors leading from two sides. The Skyview Bar: When our name was called we were greeted by our waitress who escorted us down one of these 'tubes' into the skyview bar. Our table was right by the window with a view of the Jumeirah Beach hotel and then onto the city of Dubai. At the time we were there i do believe we had the best view because the sun was starting to go down and this meant people on the other side had a very hazy view of the Palm. We could just about see 'The World' islands but it was difficult to know which was which from here. The bar was very modern with glass and black predominating. It was very light as all the exterior walls were glass in order to fully appreciate the splendid view. We were handed a menu and had the various courses explained to us. We could choose either Bucks Fizz or champagne which was poured out in a very unusual way with the waitresses arm extended up high. The tea experience: We started with a tiny bowl with a few select berries and a blob of cream. This was followed by a slice of roast lamb with a lentil and chutney sort of mix on top. A palette cleanser followed this which was strange but I am not a fan of palette cleansers they always taste a little odd to me. At this stage were each brought our pot of tea, I had a smoky one similar to Lapsang Souchong, while my husband selected a date tea. The date tea was actually delicious, not sweet but with a creamy hint of sweetness which was lovely. The sandwiches and cakes arrived on a cake stand in the shape of the Burj al Arab. On the top level was a plate of multi coloured sandwiches, white, brown, yellow (saffron?) and a sort of orange/red ( tomato?) with different fillings from egg to crab and cucumber. The next level down had tiny brioches and mini French breads with fillings. Going down another level you find tiny squares of fruit cake and carrot cake, four fingers of shortbread and two crème brules. The very bottom plate had a selection of tiny but perfect cakes including one with gold leaf. My only gripe was that there was only one of each of these so I had to cut them all in half! Another separate plate arrived with scones, jam and cream before finally the waitress came around with a huge tray of petit fours from which you could choose only one which was disappointing. The food was delicious, beautifully presented and there was more than enough for us. We did notice that there was a lady sitting alone next to us and she had the same amount of food as e had on our cake stand all to herself which seems a bit stupid as there was no way she would be able to eat it all and so it would be wasted. Sadly all good things come to an end: After we had finished there was absolutely no pressure to leave. We did get up and take some photos from other parts of the room as did other people. The staff were very pleasant and efficient but not overly friendly but that was probably because they were pretty busy. We went out down the tube to the reception area when I decided I needed the toilet which was back down the tube and just near where we were sitting. The toilet area was luxurious, clean, and neat, smelled lovely and had nice soap, real tiny towels and hand cream too. It was well worth the visit to experience. Down to earth again: So down we went in the left with the golden doors and as we went down we enjoyed our last views of the palm island. We walked back through the main hotel down the escalator beside the giant aquarium and into the lobby. Back to reality: Once we were back outside we took the opportunity to take a few more photos around the outside and then we just started to walk across the causeway when we noticed a taxi leaving the hotel so we hailed it and that was the end of our Birj al Arab experience. Would I recommend this afternoon tea experience? Yes, whole heartedly it was quite expensive but as it is the kind of thing you only do once in your life. This was our anniversary and Valentine treat to each other so a nice romantic tea for two and well worth every dirham. Thanks for reading. This review may be posted on other sites under my same user name. ©Catsholiday Read the complete review |
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Marriott Resort and Spa Bangkok (Thailand)
by London_Reviewer I've managed to wrangle 3 stays in this Marriot Resort and Spa over the last 3 years, and can whole heartedly recommend it. But beware, if you are not careful it will eat your entire holiday budget before you know it. Located on the outskirts of the city the hotel is tucked away and very peaceful, this does however mean that ... if you want to enjoy Bangkok it can a little way away from the big attractions. It was well served by a free shuttle boat that runs you the nearest sky train station. The boat has lots of nice little touches like a cold towel and free water which is very welcome. The hotel is built round a large pool, although this can get very busy during peak times. The bars and restaurants are top draw, but you really do pay top European prices per head especially on wine (beer is reasonably priced) and also on beef dishes. They have a spa as you would expect, but if you cross the road there is a couple of small private massage and facial spas that have a much more local feel, and as a result cost about 5% of what the Marriott charges. By eating, drinking and have treatments away from this hotel you can have the best of both worlds. Having said that they do have a chocolate café, which as you can guess sells everything chocolate related, I found it very hard to convince my wife that deep fried crickets (a common road side dish) were more appetizing than an entire chocolate café. Overall it's a great hotel, but it isn't really for the 1st time visitor as you are away from the action. Make sure you shop around as there are some great deals to be had in terms of price. Read the complete review |
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Hotel Thanh Lich (Hue, Vietnam)
by Essexgirl2006 Our first impressions of this hotel in Hue, a former capital of Vietnam, were good and fortunately remained so. The glass fronted reception was entered after walking up a few steps. The desk was over at the right and the staff were generally helpful, giving directions and arranging taxis. To the left of the reception area was comfy ... seating. There were two internet terminals to the right of the desk, but neither were working when we tried to use them. You can leave valuables behind the desk at the hotel in their safe, and they will change money here. When we arrived we were greeted with a cool drink and refreshing towelette. The rooms are towards the back of the hotel to the left of the desk. At the time we were staying the lift was out of order and porters helped everyone carry their bags to their room. We were on the first floor, by the stairs, so it was not a problem for us. We didn't here any noise from the corridor and our room looked over the side of the hotel onto a low roof. View aside; this was definitely one of the nicer rooms we stayed in whilst in Vietnam. As we walked in there was a large lacquer coffee table and four chairs to the left with a tea set (no tea, coffee or kettle was provided however), with an overhead light. We had a single and double bed in the room, the bed was large and comfortable, and presented nicely with cushions and runners. There was also a wardrobe and drawer unit and central controls for the TV and lights by the bed. The controls didn't seem to match their description, but we managed to work them out. The room also had an air conditioner which was operated by a remote control and was effective. There was also a fridge with mini-bar. The bathroom had a shower over the bath, large sink with vanity area and lavatory. The lighting was a bit erratic in the bathroom with one light flickering or sometimes not coming on. As we were only there one night this wasn't a huge problem. The bedside lights were quite low in the main room (I have noticed this quite a bit in Vietnam) so not easy to read, you need the main light on. The light over the lacquered chairs and table was much better for reading but you needed a cushion or pillow as they were quite hard. The restaurant was on the fifth floor, so we had quite a walk up the stairs in the morning with the lift being out. The restaurant area had windows down each side giving lovely views over the city. There was also a rooftop patio area to one side. Breakfast was of a very similar standard to all others we have had in Vietnam with a mixture of hot and cold dishes. Most hot dishes were Vietnamese, plus they did some chips but didn't keep them in the hot serving dishes, but left them out on plates. They did also offer an egg/omelette bar as well as a number of cold dishes such as cold meats, cheeses as well as breads, cereals and fruit. The selection was quite extensive for a hotel of this size (approx 32 rooms). The décor of the restaurant area was very attractive with all the chairs covered in fabric with ties around the back like you see at wedding receptions. I believe the restaurant is also open in the evening but we had no call to use it. There is also a small kidney shaped pool just beyond the restaurant area. I saw no other leisure facilities. They offered a laundry service but I did not need to use this. The hotel in located quite centrally to most attractions in the city. The main one would be the ancient Imperial City across the river. This is walkable but we used a taxi which was quite cheap and returned by cyclo (rickshaw - hire them for an hour for VND100,000 per person (US$5 or £3.30)). We also got taxis to a restaurant as nothing seemed to be as close as it looked on the map - most taxi fairs will be around US$1 in the city centre. The hotel was selected by our tour operator and we were pleased with the choice. Although not every one got such a large room as us, I think other members in our party liked the hotel also. There were a few niggles that needed ironing out however, such as the unworking lift, internet and flickering lights. However it the hotel was well maintained as far as decoration was concerned, clean and provided a very good breakfast. The price was included in our package but I believe the rack rate was US$30 for our room in this three star hotel. Should I return to Hue, I would certainly consider this again if I was on the same budget. Next door is a small local café offering quick, cheap meals, cycle hire and tours. We found them helpful and friendly and enjoyed the tour we took with them to the local countryside. They will also organise a packed lunch for you should you require anything like that to take on any tours or onward journeys. We were leaving by train at 2pm so utilised this for our journey - roll, drink, banana and hard boiled egg. All ingredients were wrapped individually so if you didn't like something you could leave it out, they even included salt and pepper. You could also get Pringles or crisps there and it was all very reasonable. Overall, this is a very good three star hotel, that just needed a little more attaention to detail. Read the complete review |
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