“Hello Sir, good to see you again.” So said the doorman at the Ibis Soi 4 Sukhumvit hotel, a modest, comfortable and popular hotel in central Bangkok where I’ve stayed on three occasions in the past 18 months.
Yes, it’s part of the global Accor chain, but last week’s greeting (which came before I proffered any identifying paperwork) disproved the accepted wisdom that these places lack warmth and personal service.
Continue reading That familiar feeling: staying with brand-name hotels
As I’ve said before, I tend to choose brand-name hotels when I travel, because I figure there’ll be less hassle when I’m dealing with a reputable provider*.
One downside, though, is that many hotels in the same brand — and even across brands — tend to look and feel the same. Whether you’re in Brisbane or Barcelona, Singapore or Seattle, a hotel is a hotel is a hotel.
Continue reading All cities are different, yet so many hotels are the same
I once read an article about the apparently ridiculous “riders” that touring bands have in their contracts, such as asking for the red M&Ms to be excluded from the dressing-room snacks.
It turns out that they serve a function other than pandering to the ego or perceived power of the band members. And that reason can be useful to travellers.
Continue reading Is your travel provider really paying attention?
Ibis Styles on Macpherson
Singapore
June 2016
I chose to stay at this hotel for a very simple reason: it was the cheapest room I could find online among my preferred brands.
I was looking for a relaxing stay in a no-hassle place. I’d already chosen Singapore as my destination because of the excellent business-class deal I secured from Oman Air, and the knowledge that I’d be comfortable with my surroundings.
The Styles came in at about S$128 (US$95.50) a night for bed and breakfast. Continue reading Review: Ibis Styles, Singapore
