Showing posts with label Accommodation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Accommodation. Show all posts

3 Best Beach Hotels at Kota Kinabalu

Other than the well-known Mount Kinabalu, it is known for its bustling markets, modern boardwalk, beaches and waterfront Kota Kinabalu City Mosque. There are quite a number of famous beachfront hotel in Kota Kinabalu which I personally love it.

Address: Jalan Aru, Tanjung Aru, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa is a 5 stars beachfront hotel. The resort is just a 10 minutes drive from the Kota Kinabalu downtown and airport. The Poring Hot Springs is just a 30 minutes drive from the resort as well. The most attractive point about this resort is that all the rooms come with balcony and it has either sea view or Mount Kinabalu view. 

The resort offers a 9-hole pitch and putt golf course, and table tennis. Bicycle rentals, as well as a jogging path, are on site. Bay and deep-sea fishing and banana boat rides are available. The resort can assist with scuba diving, snorkeling, jet skiing and water skiing, parasailing, and windsurfing as well.


Rest and Relax at Yorke Peninsula


Yorke Peninsula is a peninsula located north-west and west of Adelaide in South Australia. It has laidback lifestyle feeling and you will get to see people fishing, surfing and picnic. It is an ideal place to take a break from the hectic work or an ideal place for retirement. Driving around Yorke Peninsula, you will see retirement village and elderly sitting in their garden reading newspaper. It is such a peaceful town.



Read More on What you can do or see at Yorke Peninsula

As Yorke Peninsula is surrounded by the coastline, most of the hotels or motels are situated near the sea. The view is awesome. During our period of stay at Yorke Peninsula, we stayed at two different hotels or motels. They are not luxurious but they are  definitely value for money, clean and well maintain.

1.  Wallaroo Marina Apartments
Address: 11 Heritage Drive Wallaroo SA

There are a lot of private residential and yachts at this area. It is a peaceful, and relaxing town. Really an ideal place for retirement.











When we step into Wallaroo Marina Apartments, nothing special caught our attention. It seems like any other hotel we stayed. However, what surprise us was when we pull open the curtain in the room, the sea view. Booking a room with sea view has always been expensive in most countries. Hence, never did we thought that we can enjoy the sea view in Australia.

3 Minsu (民宿) in Yilan You will Love It

Minsu (民宿) in Taiwan is getting more popular among tourist. You get to stay in a nicely decorated room. Most importantly, each minsu (民宿) is uniquely design and usually come with a theme, It give a different feel to the holiday. Minsu (民宿) is very well maintained and clean as well.

In Yilan (宜蘭), there are quite a number of minsu. Do give it a try should you visit Yilan.

1. Jane Castle Yilan Minsu
The name itself tells the theme of the minsu which is the castle.




2. Song Minsu 松之野
Song Minsu is a home minsu that is beautifully decorated into different theme rooms. Kids will definitely love it.

  

3. Sealuv Homestay (真情非凡行館 )
The name of the minsu itself tells you the theme is related to the sea. It has a cosy and relaxing feel.








5 Highly Recommended Temple Lodging in Koyasan

Should anyone visit Mount Koya (Koyasan) do spend at least a night at one of the temple. Koayasan is well-known for its temple lodging. You get to stay in the temple with the monk and attend their morning prayer. You will be amazed that the temple lodging provides a well facilitated pace to stay.

5 highly recommended temple lodging in Koyasan:

1. Henjoko-in
How to get there?
From Koyasan Station on the Nankai Koya Line: Take the bus bound for Okunoin or Ichinohashi. Get off at Renge-dani; the lodging is an approxmiately one-minute walk from there.

2. Daienin
How to get there?
From Namba Station (Nankai Railway Koya Line: Take the Nankai Railway Koya Line bound for Gokurakubashi and get off at Gokurakubashi Station (approx. 100 min). Then take the cable car bound for Koyasan and get off at Koyasan Station (approc. 5 mi). Take the bus bound for Okunoin and get off at Odawara-dori Bus Stop (approx. 15 min). About 1 min on foot from there.
By Car: Exit the Hanwa Expressway at Mihara-kita IC and continue along Route 371, 24, 370, and then 480 (about 80 km/approx. 120 min).

3. Fudou-in
How to get there?
From Nankai Dentetsu Koya-san Station: 10 mins. by taxi


How to get there?
From Gokurakubashi Station on the Nankai Railway Koya Line: Take the cable car to Koyasan Station. From there it is a ten-minute bus ride to the Keisatsusho-mae stop, and one minute-walk from the bus stop. From Mihara-Kita IC: An approximately 70-kilometer drive.


5. Jimyo-in
How to get there?
From Nankai Koya Line Gokurakubashi Station, immediate access to Cable Car Nankai Koya Line bound for Koyasan: 10 mins by Cable Car Nankai Koya Line bound for Koyasan, From Koyasan Station: 15 mins by Nankai bus from Koyasan Station-mae bound for Okunoin, From Renge-dani 1 min on foot.



Hotels/Apartments in Osaka (Less than $100 per night)

1. Hotel Luna Sakuranomiya
Address: 1-13-4, Nakanocho, Miyakojima-ku, Osaka Castle, Osaka, Japan 534-0027
Hotel Luna Sakuranomiya has a excellent location. It is situated just 3 km from the city center. A standard room cost about USD $88.

Address: Room 1003, 3 Chome−1−8, Bakurōmachi, Chūō-ku, Namba, Osaka, Japan 541-0059
A perfect location for shopping lover. Apartment is located at Shinsaibashi. A studio apartment cost about USD $94

Address: La Seine Shinsaibashihigashi 2 Chome−2−10 Shimanouchi, Chūō-ku,, Namba, Osaka, Japan 542-0082
A one room apartment cost about USD $87


 

Address: Kyowasangyo Building, 4 Chome−3−11 Ueshio, Tennoji, Osaka, Japan 543-0002
A one bedroom apartment cost about USD $94


Address: 5-13 Shinmachi, Sakai-ku, Sakai-shi, Sakai, Osaka, Japan 590-0079
One standard room cost about USD $91



Ways to Save on Hotel Cost for Holiday

When planing for a holiday, cost factor will be one of the important consideration for most people in general. Other than finding cheap air ticket, saving on hotel cost is important as well. Finding a good deal for hotel is important as it can helps to save a good amount of money.

Below are some of the ways to save on hotel cost for the holiday.

1. Sign up with the booking sites
It is worth signing up with the booking sites such as AgodaHotel.com or Booking.com etc as a lot of booking sites has the rewards program. Different booking sites will have different rewards program. Hence, it is good to sign up with a few to get the best deal for your holiday.

Whenever you book through Agoda, you will be earning rewards points. You can accumulate the rewards points and redeem the points to lower the cost of the hotel.

Agoda Elite Member Rewards:
Award Level Points Redeemed Saving (US Dollars)
1 12,500 25
2 15,000 30
3 20,000 40
4 25,000 50
5 30,000 60


For Hotel.com, the rewards program will be whenever you book 10 nights of hotel stays you will get 1 night for free. It is a good deal should you be going for a long holiday.
Hotels.com Rewards: Stay 10 nights, earn 1 night free with over 100,000 eligible hotels worldwide! Plus, unlock secret members-only prices. Register now - it's free!

The other advantage of signing up with booking sites is that you will be informed via email of any promotion. This prevent you from missing out any good deal.

One important key to take note is that there might be expiry to the reward. Hence, do take note of the expiry date. Make full use of it before it expire.

2. Credit Card Promotion
A lot of banks tie up their perks with the booking sites. One of the common booking site is Agoda. Banks such as Citibank, UOB and ANZ, actually tie up with Agoda. For example, should you booking the hotel via Agoda UOB and use you UOB credit card to pay for the hotel, you will get 5% - 8% discount upon payment.

3. Hotel Price Comparison Site
Before booking the hotels for you holiday, it is important to do a price comparison between the different booking sites. As different booking site may have different promotion, thus it is important to compare to make sure that you get the best deal.

In the past, we will need to go to each booking sites and compare. However, now we do not need to do so. There are sites such as Trivago which can do that for you. Trivago searches through over 900,000 hotel deals, from 250+ booking sites and hotel chains at once. It provide you with the prices from various booking sites at a glance.



4. Mobile Deal
Booking of hotels is easy nowadays. You can book through your smart phone anytime anywhere. As such, a lot of booking site has mobile deal should you book through your smart phone. You will be surprise that the mobile can be really attractive and personally I have book through the mobile quite a few times.




Memorable Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) Trip - Part One (Hotel)

Kota Kinabalu is the state capital of Sabah. It is a well-known and a popular holiday destination as well. Kota Kinabalu is well-known for its foods, sea sports and trekking. Never lack of activities to do in Kota Kinabalu.

I went to Kota Kinabalu a few years back and it was a memorable one till date. It was a short flight from Singapore, approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes flight. Before heading to Kota Kinabalu, I have the impression that Kota Kinabalu international airport should be small as it is not a very big city. However, taken by surprise, it was big and clean. There are quite a number of eateries as well. You can easily grab a cab from the airport to the hotel as well. There is no need for airport transfer I would say.





I have chosen Le Meridian Kota Kinabalu for my 2 nights of stays. For a five stars hotel with excellent rating, it only cost about SGD $170 per night. Personally, I would think it is value for money. The breakfast buffet has a good spread. They serve international breakfast such as egg, bread, ham, salad bar and of course hot food such as fried noodle, rice, veg etc.

Le Meridian is located at  Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens, Sinsuran, Central Business District, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia 88000. The hotel faces the sea and opposite the hotel is a big fish market which is very active in the evening till late in the night. It is within walking distance to commercial district. There are Oceanus Waterfall malls (a shopping mall for shopping and food), night markets and lots of spa or massage nearby. The hotel staffs are friendly and helpful as well. It has been a good experience.


Walking down from the fish market, there are a stretch of restaurants. There are a good variety of food for you to choose. The restaurants all are sea facing. A perfect evening dinning place with your loves one. And you will be able to have a sunset view as well.




Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu


Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu
Just 4.9 mi (7.8 km) from the airport, Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu puts you within a 10-minute drive of Sabah State Mosque and Likas Stadium. Guests can indulge in spa services, and Latest Recipe, one of 4 restaurants, serves international cuisine and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 2 bars/lounges and an outdoor pool are other highlights at this luxurious hotel, and rooms offer 24-hour room service and flat-screen TVs.


The other two hotels or resorts which I would personally recommend are Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa and The Pacific Sutera. Both are five stars beachfront resorts. It has excellent sea view.

The Pacific Sutera

The Pacific Sutera Hotel The Pacific Sutera Hotel
The Pacific Sutera Hotel offers a private beach where you can enjoy the shade from a beach umbrella, plus you'll be within a 10-minute drive of Sabah State Mosque. 3 outdoor pools provide a splash of fun, while guests in the mood for pampering can visit the spa to indulge in massages, facials, and aromatherapy. Silk Garden, one of 2 restaurants, serves Chinese cuisine and is open for lunch and dinner. A golf course and a marina are other highlights, and rooms at this luxurious hotel offer up nice touches like bathrobes and slippers.



Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa
Shangri La's Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa Shangri La's Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa
Location. Situated on a Kota Kinabalu beach, this 5-star Malaysia luxury resort is a 10-minute drive from Sabah State Museum and a 15-minute drive from Sabah State Mosque. Poring Hot Springs is 30 minutes away. Resort Features. Looking out over the South China Sea, Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa features views of the islands off Borneo's northern coast. The resort offers 4 restaurants, a private sandy beach with direct access, and 2 swimming pools situated in 25 acres of gardens. CHI The Spa provides Asian-influenced treatments in 8 spa villas on Pulau Bayu, the resort's private island. An open yoga pavilion features a deck extending out over the water. A health club and fitness facilities 9-hole mini golf course and 4 tennis courts are on site. The staff can arrange activities such as deep-sea fishing, banana boat rides, and scuba diving. Airport transfers are also available (surcharge). A Kids Club, playground and wading pool are also available, as well as 11 meeting rooms and wired Internet access (surcharge). A buffet breakfast is available (surcharge). Guestrooms. Shangri La's Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa offers 492 guestrooms, all renovated in 2007. With a nod to Borneo's heritage, rooms include rich textures and fabrics cherry, teak, ebony, and coconut woods and mother-of-pearl and tobacco artwork. Rooms feature balconies, mountain or sea views, LCD televisions, and complimentary high-speed Internet access. Bathrooms offer separate showers and soaking tubs. Suites offer separate sitting rooms and wraparound balconies.

3 Highly Recommended Hotels In Bali cost less than SGD $150 per night

Whenever Mr Teddy and I go for holiday, we will be excited over the hotels we are going to stay. There are a few considerations we will look at before booking the hotel/resort.
List of considerations:
1. Cost (We will look for the most value for money hotel/resort. We usually book the hotel which is less than SGD $150 per night)
2. Location (Finding a resort with a good location will enable us to cut down on transportation cost)
3. Hotel/resort facilities
4. Hotel reviews (We will check out the hotel review in Tripadvisor before booking to ensure the hotel/resort we are going to stay reliable, clean etc.)





List of our recommended hotel/resort:

1. Mantra Sakala Resort & Beach Club
Address: Jalan Pratama No. 95, Tanjung Benoa, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia

  • Situated right at the end of Tanjung Benoa
  • Average room price per night approximately about SGD $110. (You may upgrade to a suite with only cost about SGD $140 per night)
  • The suite room size is about 62 sqm. A living room. a dinning corner, a bedroom and a toilet with a clean bathtub. 
  • Coffee lover like us will fall in love with the capsule coffee machine in the suite. The resort provide Illies capsule coffee. The aroma of the coffee is so good. 
  • A large swimming pool. You can swim freely without the worries to knock onto someone.
  • The resort is beach front meant for sea sport activities.
  • Walking distance to restaurants







2. IZE Hotel Seminyak
Address: Kayu Aya Road, No. 68, Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia 80361
  • The location of the hotel is excellent. It is situated at the prime district of Seminyak. Tones of restaurants right in front of the hotel. That is the beauty of staying there.
  • The hotel is clean and room size approximately 40 sqm.
  • Average room price is about SGD $110 for a standard room.
  • The hotel also provide room with jacuzzi bathtub. Average price per night is about SGD $140
  • Walking distance to the beach. Walking time about 5-10 minutes

3. Astana Batubelig Villa
Address: Jl. Batubelig No.28, Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia 80361

  • Average one bedroom villa cost approximately $150 per night during promotion. A good catch during promotion
  • It is clean, provide free shuttle service to Seminyak Square, Legian etc. 
  • Private pool
  • A comfortable villa to laze