Category Archives: Hotels

DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur

Posted on March 23, 2013 | 8 Comments

Tagged DoubleTree, hhonors, hilton, hotel, Kuala Lumpur, pictures, review

How to find really cheap hotels using Google

Posted on March 21, 2013 | 5 Comments

Pic: Search all hotels in Belgium at once using Google Hotel Finder!
Google Hotel Finder allows you to search hotels the Google way: a neat interface with some really cool sorting and filtering options. The first great find of the day: You can search all hotels in Belgium at once! (at least for now)

Pic: Use Google Hotel Finder to spot amazing hotel deals!
The search query above returns 2532 available hotels for a Sunday night stay in Belgium. If you apply the ‘Sort by Price Compared to Usual’ function, you can spot some really good deals. In this case Google Hotel Finder revealed the Park Inn by Radisson Leuven was available for just $46 (€37,50) which is indeed 50% less than the usual rate we see at this hotel.

Pic: Park Inn by Radisson Leuven for €37,50 via Booking.com (Mar 2013)
This makes Google Hotel Finder an awesome tool for Best Rate Guarantee claims! What other great hacks did you find using Google Hotel Finder? Please share them in the comments section of this blog post, thanks!

→ 5 Comments

Posted in Hotels

Tagged belgium, Best Price Guarantee, best rate, cheap, cheapest, deals, google, hotel finder, hotels

Park Hyatt Sydney

Posted on March 17, 2013 | 9 Comments

Fiji Trip Report Index
Introduction: Belgium to Fiji in 13 flights (26561 miles, 42746km)
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Grand Suite at Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur
Singapore Airlines First Class: The Private Room @ Changi Airport
Singapore Airlines First Class: SQ211 Singapore to Sydney B777-300A
Opera King room at Park Hyatt Sydney
Beachfront View room at InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa
Singapore Airlines Business Class: SQ232 Sydney to Singapore
Thai Airways First Class: Royal Orchid Spa, TG920 Bangkok to Frankfurt A380
Pic: Enjoying the rooftop Pool & Spa at Park Hyatt Sydney (Jan 2013)
The 15h long layover between my Singapore Airlines First Class flight and my Air New Zealand Business Class flight to Auckland, allowed me to experience the amazing Park Hyatt Sydney. Located at The Rocks, right next to the Sydney Harbour Bridge, offering stunning views on the Sydney Opera House, rooms don’t come cheap at Park Hyatt Sydney. For my stay on Saturday Jan 12, the best available rate was AUD820 (€654, $853). Luckily, there was a cheaper alternative: Hyatt Stay Certificates. Until a few weeks ago, it was possible to redeem Inspire certificates ($319) at Park Hyatt Sydney. Unfortunately, Hyatt introduced new certificate levels in January and now an Ultimate certificate ($461) is required for night at the Park Hyatt Sydney. It might still make sense to use Ultimate certificates at Park Hyatt Sydney, but redeeming 22K Hyatt Gold Passport points looks to be a better choice. Using an Inspire certificate which was $319 + $25 shipping, I paid $344 (€272) instead of the best available rate of $853 (€654).
Pic: Breakfast with Opera House view at Park Hyatt Sydney (Jan 2013)
Upon arrival at Sydney airport, Aron, an Australian friend who I hadn’t seen since 2004, drove me to the Park Hyatt. At check-in my room was upgrade from a City Harbour King to an Opera King. Unfortunately I didn’t have time to make pictures of the room, as Aron and his friends insisted to show me Sydney nightlife until early in the morning. From the numerous bars we visited, Palmer & Co was my favorite. As I only returned to the Park Hyatt around 6am, I didn’t get to use my room much, except for a refreshing shower. At least I got to enjoy the Australian sunrise from the Park Hyatt rooftop Spa & Pool with view on the Opera House, followed by a delicious complimentary breakfast as per Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond benefits. Before heading to the airport for my 12pm flight to Auckland, Aron showed me some of the parks surrounding the Sydney harbour. Thanks again for the great hospitality Aron & friends! Hope to be back soon! Bart-Lapers-at-Sydney-Harbour-Bridge
Pic: Bart Lapers at Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge (Jan 2013)

Pic: View from my Opera King room 241 at Park Hyatt Sydney (Jan 2013)

→ 9 Comments

Posted in Hotels, trip reports

Tagged australia, certificate, harbour bridge, hotel, hyatt, opera house, park hyatt, pictures, pool, review, rooftop, spa, sydney

InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa

Posted on March 10, 2013 | 9 Comments

Fiji Trip Report Index
Introduction: Belgium to Fiji in 13 flights (26561 miles, 42746km)
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Grand Suite at Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur
Singapore Airlines First Class: The Private Room @ Changi Airport
Singapore Airlines First Class: SQ211 Singapore to Sydney B777-300A
Opera King room at Park Hyatt Sydney
Beachfront View room at InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa
Singapore Airlines Business Class: SQ232 Sydney to Singapore
Thai Airways First Class: Royal Orchid Spa, TG920 Bangkok to Frankfurt A380

Pic: Club Infinity Pool at InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa (Jan 2013)
The InterContinental Fiji Resort Map includes Restaurants & Bars and practical Fiji travel advice. The InterContinental Fiji Concierge Guide includes info on how to get around, where to eat, drink, shop and what to discover more at Fiji.

Pic: Beachfront room 1114 at InterContinental Fiji Natadola Bay (Jan 2013)
Instead of paying FJD920 (€394, $514) per night for a Garden View room, I used the Priority Club Points + Cash trick to book my 4 night stay at InterContinental Fiji. At 30K points per night, this resulted in $210 (€161) room rate. Upon arrival at 11am I was told my Garden View room wasn’t ready yet, despite my Royal Ambassador status which guarantees 8am check-in, and no room upgrade would be given as I was staying on points. When inquiring about my other Royal Ambassador benefits, the front desk agent responded he wasn’t sure and had to check. As my Garden View room would only be ready by 2pm, I was suggested to wait at the Kama Lounge. The bartender provided me with the cocktail menu and offered me a complementary drink to ease the wait. After 15 minutes, the bartender still hadn’t returned to take my order so I asked him what was going on. He told me his supervisor had informed him the complimentary drinks policy had changed and I would actually have to pay for my drink. My stay at IC Fiji was off to a bad start… room wouldn’t be upgraded, front desk didn’t know if RA benefits applied or not (previous IC Fiji trip reports suggested they did including room upgrades) and a complimentary drink had to be paid for. In this kind of situations I turn to Twitter to express my malcontent, which in many cases results in a satisfying solution. I tweeted @IHGCare and @InterConFiji and expressed my frustration. Soon after, I was informed my Beachfront View room was ready, courtesy of the InterContinental Fiji marketing department. For the Royal Ambassador benefits, local management confirmed they didn’t apply on point stays as per IHG Ambassador T&C.

Pic: Bedroom of Beachfront room 1114 at InterContinental Fiji (Jan 2013)

Pic: InterContinental Fiji – Beachfront room 1114 Terrace with Cleopatra Bath

Pure Fiji Bathroom Amenities at InterContinental Fiji Natadola Bay (Jan 2013)

Pic: InterContinental Fiji Resort & Spa – Beachfront View Rooms 11xx
Pic: InterContinental Fiji Resort & Spa – Natadola Bay Beach (Jan 2013)

Pic: Breakfast at Sanasana Restaurant, InterContinental Fiji (Jan 2013)

Pic: InterContinental Fiji Resort – Main Infinity Adults Only Pool (Jan 2013)

Pic: Dedon Nestrest at Club InterContinental Fiji Inifinity Pool (Jan 2013)

Pic: Wedding Chapel at InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa (Jan 2013)

Pic: InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa – Indigenous band (Jan 2013)

Pic: Entrance InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa at night (Jan 2013)

Pic: Nighttime at Club InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa (Jan 2013)

Pic: Sunset at Infinity Pool Club InterContinental Fiji (Jan 2013)

→ 9 Comments

Posted in Hotels, trip reports

Tagged beachfront, club, fiji, hotel, infinity pool, intercontinental, natadola, pictures, priority club, resort, review, room, royal ambassador, view

Grand Suite at Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur

Posted on February 25, 2013 | 9 Comments

→ 9 Comments

Posted in Hotels, trip reports

Tagged breakfast, gold passport, grand hyatt, hotel, Kuala Lumpur, lunch, luxury, Malaysia, pictures, restaurant, suite, thirty8, upgrade

InterContinental Moorea Resort and Spa

Posted on December 24, 2012 | 7 Comments

French Polynesia Trip Report Index
Tahiti and Bora Bora – Flights & Airfares
Hilton Frankfurt Airport
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport (Terminal 1, Departure Area B)
InterContinental Resort Tahiti
InterContinental Bora Bora Resort and Thalasso Spa
The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort (site inspection)
InterContinental Resort and Spa Moorea

Pic: Golf Cart at Entrance InterContinental Moorea Resort and Spa (Sep 2012)

Pic: Main Swimming Pool at InterContinental Moorea Resort & Spa (Sep 2012)
There are 4 InterContinental properties in French Polynesia: Tahiti, Moorea, Le Moana Bora Bora and Thalasso Bora Bora. All are managed by the same owner. Detailed information on each of these resorts is available in PDF format: Resort Specifications, Rooms, Bungalows and Villas + Transfers

Pic: Lagoon at InterContinental Moorea Resort and Spa (Sep 2012)
After my 5 night stay at the amazing InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa, I returned to Papeete with Air Tahiti. The crossing to Moorea took half an hour with the Aremiti 5 ferry. The fare was XPF3000 (€25) round trip.
The Papeete Port building is brand new (opened March 2012) and has ticket offices which open +-1,5 hour before departure. No need to buy tickets in advance, only car space is limited and might require upfront reservation.
You can leave your luggage (lock it!) in a metal container which is put on the ferry using a forklift. My private shuttle from Moorea Vaiare Pier booked via IC Bora Bora was XPF4500 (€37), on return I used a shared shuttle service which was only XPF1000 (€8).

Pic: Standard Overwater Bungalow at InterContinental Moorea (Sep 2012)
The InterContinental Moorea Resort & Spa has 144 deluxe rooms and junior suite bungalows:
• 48 Lanai rooms
• 1 Lanai suite
• 17 Standard Beach Bungalows
• 17 Garden Pool Bungalows with a private swimming pool
• 11 Premium Beach Bungalows wide open ocean view
• 21 Standard Overwater Bungalows
• 29 Premium Overwater Bungalows with wide open ocean view
All bungalows have the same layout and interior. Garden bungalows feature plunge pools, beach bungalows have direct access to the beach and overwater bungalows direct access to the lagoon.

Pic: Bungalow types – InterContinental Moorea Resort and Spa Map
Instead of spending XPF109,734 ($1214) to book a Lanai room for 3 nights, I used 90K Priority Club points (value $540). As Royal Ambassador, I was upgraded to Standard Beach Bungalow 412. RA benefits were honored on my points stay including free internet and complimentary minibar.

Pic: Living Room of Bungalow 412 at InterContinental Moorea (Sep 2012)
Pic: Bedroom of Bungalow 412 at InterContinental Moorea (Sep 2012)

Pic: Welcome amenity InterContinental Moorea Resort and Spa (Sep 2012)
Pic: Royal Ambassador complimentary mini-bar IC Moorea (Sep 2012)
Pic: Hammock at InterContinental Moorea Resort and Spa (Sep 2012)
Pic: Flowers at InterContinental Moorea Resort and Spa (Sep 2012)
Breakfast was served at the “Fare Nui” restaurant. As usual in French Polynesia, it was rather expensive: Continental breakfast XPF3035 (€25) and American breakfast XPF3701 (€30) Fare Nui also served dinner. Other options were all day dining “Fare Hana” and the new swim up bar Motu One.

Pic: Rainbow at Overwater Bungalow InterContinental Moorea (Sep 2012)
As I didn’t have a car or motorcycle to navigate around the island, I booked a 4X4 WD Inner Island Roto Nui Tour (XPF5500) via the InterContinental Moorea Concierge. I found Moorea to be a nice island, but in my opinion Bora Bora is way more superior. If you’re traveling to French Polynesia and only have time to visit one island, Bora Bora should be your choice!
Pic: Belvedere lookout ATV tour at Moorea, French Polynesia (Sep 2012)
Pic: View from Magic Mountain Moorea, French Polynesia (Sep 2012)