The Ardens Hotel, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

HOTEL RATING: 7/10

Greetings, my dearest readers! I'm back with a new blog post that'll be on one of my most fancied boutique hotels in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. This hotel is none other than The Ardens Hotel!

Overview

Let's start with the overview, shall we? The Ardens Hotel is a small luxury boutique hotel located at No.19, Jalan Austin Perdana 2/22, Johor Bahru, Malaysia. This hotel's location is in the middle of a semi-industrial area, so do expect it to be rather quiet especially at night. The closest shopping mall would be Aeon Tebrau City Shopping Centre which would be around a 5-minute drive away, and the Senai International Airport would be a half an hour's drive away. 

The Ardens Hotel

I checked-in this hotel on the 8th of January, 2016, and it was RM298.92 for a 2-night stay in their Grandeur Queen room. The price was inclusive of tax and service charge but excludes breakfast. 

The sitting area near the concierge, and yes, I promise you that it was candid

The Grandeur Queen room is a 14sqm room with only a choice of only a 1 double bed. This hotel states that they use quilt and feather pillows with soft beddings which would definitely give you a good night's rest. A 32" LED TV with Digital Ready System and USB port sits in front of the bed on the wall, and right beside the bed would be a small working desk. Below the desk, you'll be able to find a mini bar offering complimentary snacks and beverages like a bottle of Coke, Soya Bean, and a few small packets of peanuts and chocolates. It is indeed a small treat for all the guests staying there. A coffee & tea maker set and Wifi is provided as well. 

The Grandeur Queen room

The queen size bed and small work desk

The mini bar below the working desk

The Bathroom

One step into the Grandeur Queen's bathroom is all it took for me to fall in love. With 3 of my favorite colors in play and the simple floor to wall tiles, this bathroom will definitely be one of my to-use ideas for my future bathroom. Hahaha! Although this bathroom only comes with a rain shower, trust me, it is more than enough because the water pressure is on point. They do provide all the basic toiletries, but the highlight here would be their tea inspired bath amenities. A hair dryer, mugs and extra towels are all provided as well, and they are kept in the storage compartments below the basin area. How organised, right? A frosted glass wall divides the bathroom and the bedroom, so don't worry about getting peeked. Well, well, too bad for all you playful monkeys then ;)

The rain shower and toilet bowl

The frosted glass divider on the left

The basin area and storage compartments, and yes, that's me

The Ardens Hotel also provides self laundry facilities in the Convenient Room too! How cool is that? I mean, its cool if you know how to operate them. (I have friends who have never touched a washing machine before, so mind you). There is a washing machine, a dryer, and an iron and ironing board that you can use at any time of the day. A small packet of detergent powder can be bought at RM1 from the concierge and you're good to go.

The Convenient Room

You can wash, dry, and iron

This hotel also has its own restaurant called The Stag Bistronomy which can be seen from the entrance of the hotel and which sadly, I did not try. I absolutely love the layout and the theme. It is said to be of "Alice in the Wonderland" design, and I absolutely dig it.

 The Stag Bistronomy

This hotel is by far one of my favorite because of its interior and design. Although small, it sure has all the basic amenities that you'll need. There is nothing bad to write about this hotel except that it is slightly out of the way to any convenience store or shopping malls. This hotel would definitely be a no for those who wants to be near the city, but if your idea of a holiday is just to rest and relax, then this hotel would be ideal for you.

Facilities and Services include:

• 1 Restaurant On Site
• Front Desk Services- 24-hour Front Desk, Luggage Storage

Check-in time: From 2pm - 4pm

Check-out time: Until 12pm

I would definitely rate this hotel a 7/10 as the hotel is relatively new, meaning that everything would be in their best form. I absolutely love the hotel's decor, and I love the idea of having a guard who sits outside the entrance and is on duty 24/7. Safety first, right? Hahaha!  I hope this has helped you narrow down your options if you're looking for a place to stay around Johor Bahru, Malaysia! Till then. xx

Disclaimer: This write-up and the opinions shared are all mine. I was not paid to promote or to review this hotel whatsoever. All pictures provided are mine. 

Parc Sovereign- Albert St, Singapore

HOTEL RATING: 6/10

Hello, my dear readers! I hope you've been well and have been looking forward to my next blog post. Well, I'm back with a new post and like what the title says, I'll be talking about another hotel in Singapore. Yes, I'm pretty frequent there, I know. And yes, it's expensive if you're converting your currency from a lower one like the Malaysian Ringgit. Urgh. Thinking about the depreciation of the Malaysian Ringgit makes me want to just curl up into a ball and die. Oh well, let's just skip all that and head on to the overview of this hotel now, shall we?

Well, well, this hotel has 2 branches, one at Albert St, and the other at Tyrwhitt Road, Kallang. The one I decided to stay at was the one at Albert St, and so, here goes. 

Overview

Parc Sovereign is a mid-tier class hotel located along 175 Albert St Singapore, directly opposite of Lasalle College of the Arts. This hotel is about a 10-minute walk from the Bugis MRT station (East West Line a.k.a Green Line), a 25-minute drive from Changi International Airport, and a 10-minute walk from the newly opened Rochor MRT station (DownTown Line a.k.a Blue Line). This hotel is convenient and easily accessible. Not bad, eh? 

Parc Sovereign on Albert St.

So, I checked in this hotel on the 24th of December, 2015. It was 238SGD for a 2 night stay in their Superior Double Room, and the price was inclusive of tax and service charge, which would mean that it would be RM714 after converting the currency to MYR at a 3.00 high. 

The Superior Double Room

The Superior Double Room or Twin Room is a 14 m² room with a choice of either 1 full bed or 2 twin bed. The room looked like the one shown below, and I was lucky to have gotten a room which overlooked the pool area. And right in front of the bed, you'll have a flat-screen TV and a vanity table with a large mirror in front of it. You could take it as a work table if you want too, just that everytime you look up, you'd be pretty much staring at your face. Hahaha! A mini bar, a safe, a coffee & tea maker, and WiFi is provided as well. 

The Superior Double Room

The Bathroom

The bathroom comes with a standing shower and a basic set of toiletries. There's honestly nothing much to shout about compared to all my previous bathroom posts, but well, its clean, and that's all that really matters, no? Just imagine a hotel bathroom with Cockroaches and stained mirrors. Oh God. Its horrifying enough to be thinking about it, what more the thought of being in that situation. 

The bathroom

Facilities and Services include:

• Outdoor Pool
• Playground 
• Fitness Center
• Front Desk Services- 24-hour Front Desk, Baggage Storage

Check-in time: From 3pm

Check-out time: Until 12pm

 I would rate this hotel a 6/10 because of the accessibility and the friendly staff, and I would come back to stay if I'm around that area. I do hope that this has helped you narrow down your options if you're looking for an affordable place to stay around Singapore that is close to the town and city. Till then. xx

Disclaimer: This write-up and the opinions shared are all mine. I was not paid to promote or to review this hotel whatsoever. All pictures provided are not mine as they have been taken from the web.

GLOW Hotel Penang, Malaysia

HOTEL RATING: 8.5/10

Hello, my dear readers! Today, I'll be touching a little on Penang, and of course, not forgetting to review about my stay in GLOW Hotel Penang, Malaysia. I would say that it'll be quite a lengthy post, but hey, a little reading never killed anyone, did it? Well, here goes nothing!

Ahhh, Penang. Anyone who has been there will definitely know what this small state has to offer. But if you don't, then read on to have an idea about this growing state which has become a thriving tourist destination over the years.

What, When, Where, Why Penang?

Penang, also known as Pulau Pinang or The Pearl of Orient, and its capital being George Town, is a state in Malaysia located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia, by the Strait of Malacca. Penang is not only one of the most popular travel destinations in Asia, but it is definitely an old-world charm as this state retained its traditions and heritage buildings, making George Town worthy enough to be fêted as one of Malaysia's UNESCO World Heritage Sites in July, 2008.

The map of Malaysia with Penang on the left corner

Before the name Penang or Pulau Pinang was given, it was called "Ping-lang-yu”- Isle of the Betel Nut, and was discovered by Chinese voyages in the 15th century when the island was first charted. Around the 14th century, European merchants set foot on Penang. The first ones were the Portuguese, and it was not till the year 1595 that the Dutch arrived in Southeast Asia, followed by the English after some time. Steeped in history, “Penang” was born when English captain Francis Light persuaded the Sultan of Kedah to cede Pulau Pinang to the British East India Company. In 1786, Light landed on what is known as the scenic esplanade today. Local folklore tells of how he fired gold coins into the dense jungle to persuade and motivate his men to clear the area up, making the construction of Georgetown possible, and 14 years later, the Sultan of Kedah further ceded a strip of land on the mainland across the channel to a very credible Light.

Why is Penang one of the most popular travel destinations in Asia, you might ask? Well, let's see. To me, Penang is really all about the food and architecture. From the rich history of Penang, to the Penang Bridge that is ranked the longest bridge in Asia, to the hawker stalls along Gurney Drive, and then to the streets of Penang that are adorned with murals, Penang will not disappoint you. Feeling Penang yet? No? Then read on!

If you're enthusiastic about architecture, then Penang would be the place for you to wander around. From the colonial buildings, to the old Chinese settlements, to the pre-Second World War shophouses, this historic city is an example of well-preserved heritage buildings that you just wouldn't want to miss!

The pre-Second World War shophouses

The century-old Clan Jetties are considered as the last bastion of the old Chinese settlement

Penang is also a food haven. Food, food, food. Who says no to them? Hahaha! Even if you're on a strict diet, I'm pretty sure that it can get really tempting at times. So, what are some of the must try street food in Penang? Well, they're all in the picture below! Just walk along the famous Chulia Streets in George Town, or the hawker stalls along Gurney drive, and I'm pretty sure you wouldn't regret burping incessantly. From Rojak Pasembur, Assam Laksa, Char Kway Teow, Laksa Lemak, Popiah to Cendol, you'd be craving for more!

The best of Penang's street food

Overview

And finally, without further ado, I'll be reviewing about my stay in GLOW Hotel, Penang, Malaysia! Phewww. It really is one hell of a long post, isn't it? Hahaha! 

And as usual, I'll start with the overview on the place. So, GLOW Penang is a relatively new contemporary hotel that originated from Bangkok, Thailand. It is situated at 101, Jalan Macalister, George Town, Penang, and it is pretty much surrounded by many hawker stalls, convenient shops and restaurants. This hotel is within a 5-minute drive away to Gurney Drive, and a 20-minute drive to the Penang International Airport.

GLOW by Zinc

I checked-in on the 27th of December, 2015, as a short family getaway. Since there was 4 of us, we decided to take the Family Quad Superior Room. It was RM932 for 2 nights inclusive of tax, service charge, and breakfast buffet for 4. It was a pretty reasonable price considering the fact that it was still a peak season. From a small pool to a basic gym, to a small private meeting room and a dining room, to a bar, and then to an on-site parking, this rather small hotel has all the facilities that you will need. 

GLOW Penang's lobby

The Family Quad Superior Room

The Family Quad Superior Room is a 32m² adjoining room that comes with a Queen size bed in one room, and 2 single beds in the other. Both rooms are equally spacious with comfortable bedding, and both comes with their own bathrooms! Three cheers to that! A flat-screen TV, a small open wardrobe, a safe, and of course, WiFi is provided.

Queen size bed in the first room

2 single beds in the second room

The Bathroom

The picture below is the bathroom. This hotel is extremely generous with their toiletries as there are bottles of shower gel, shampoo and hand soap rather than the typical hotel toiletries that comes in small tubes. Bath towels, face towels, hand towels, and a floor mat are also provided. Such efficiency, eh? And oh, not to mention the amazing water pressure in the shower. So really, there isn't anything that's lacking in here. Hahaha!

The bathroom with its vibrant tiled wall

Restaurant On Site- Zest Cafe

This is the Zest Cafe where we had our breakfast buffet. It's a pretty small dining area and the food selection was okay. It's basically a typical hotel breakfast where there are fruits, bread and a few choices of jam, cereals, porridge, fried rice, fried mee, sausages, scrambled eggs, coffee and tea and fruit juices to choose from. The staff do replenish the food but stops after 9:30am, so do come early for seats and hot food!

Funky looking Zest Cafe

Facilities and Services include:

• 1 Restaurant On Site
• Room Service
• Small Outdoor Swimming Pool
• Fitness Center
• Front Desk Services- 24-hour Front Desk, Baggage Storage

Check-in time: From 3pm

Check-out time: Until 12pm

 I would rate this hotel an 8.5/10 as it is relatively new, meaning that everything would be in their best form, the hotel's decor and concept is very unlike the rest too as this hotel is really all about the vibrancy, the rooms are spacious and inviting, and this hotel is easily accessible and close to many eateries and places of interest. Oh, it is worth noting that the covered car park spaces are very limited so if it's full when you're there, the only option would be parking by the roadside which is a risky thing to do. Don't forget to use parking coupons or you'll be fined! I hope this has helped you narrow down your options if you're looking for a place to stay around Penang, Malaysia! Till then. xx

Disclaimer: This write-up and the opinions shared are all mine. I was not paid to promote or to review this hotel whatsoever. All pictures posted in this post are not mine as they have been taken from the web.

Furama RiverFront Hotel, Singapore

HOTEL RATING: 7/10

Hello, my dear readers! (If I even have any.) I'm back with a new blog post, so sit back, read up, and do feel free to drop any comments at the bottom of this post! 

Overview

Today, I'll be talking about the Furama RiverFront Hotel in Singapore, and here's an overview of the place. So, this hotel is apparently a 4-star hotel that is an example of traditional architecture that was opened in 1973, and was then fully restored in 2008. It is situated on 405 Havelock Road, Singapore, and it is a 15-minute walk from the Chinatown MRT Station (North East Line a.k.a Purple Line). When walking in to the hotel lobby, you will be greeted by beautiful marble columns and a souvenir shop that is located in the hotel lobby itself.

The Furama RiverFront Hotel, Singapore

The entrance to the hotel lobby, and the souvenir shop's on your right

So, I checked-in at this grand looking hotel on the 10th of October, 2015.

It was 316SGD for a 2 night stay in their Superior Room, and the price was inclusive of tax and service charge, which would mean that it would be RM942 after converting the currency to MYR at a 2.98 high. 

The Superior Room

The Superior Room or Double Room is a 30sqm room with a choice of either 2 single beds, or a double bed. The room looks exactly like the one shown below, and I got the room that overlooked the city. It was a pretty good view, I'd say. And right in front of the bed on the table is a flat-screen TV and a work desk that has ample space for you to do your work. A mini bar, a safe, a coffee & tea maker, and WiFi is provided as well. 

The Superior Room

  

A picture of me still in bed, and the work desk

The Bathroom

The Superior Room's bathroom surprisingly came with not only a standing shower, but a bathtub as well. A beautiful set of toiletries and a hair dryer is also provided on the spacious basin area. Since were's talking about spacious basin areas, hands down if you know someone who likes displaying all their toiletries on the counter, because I sure do know a few. Hahaha! 

The beautiful toiletries provided that I just couldn't get over how pretty they were

The bathroom equipped with a standing shower and basin area

Below is a short video that I took of the room. It was actually supposed to be a Snapchat video for a friend of mine, but I thought that sharing it here would be a good idea as well to let you guys know what to expect from the place. 

A short video of the room

Facilities and Services include:

• 2 Restaurants On Site
• Sun Deck
• Swimming Pool
• Hot Tub/ Jacuzzi 
• Fitness Center
• Airport Shuttle Service
• Front Desk Services- 24-hour Front Desk, Baggage Storage

Check-in time: From 2pm

Check-out time: Until 12pm

 I would rate this hotel a 7/10 because this hotel's location seems to be a little out of the way to many places, and the hotel's website could be updated with more pictures and information as it was a really pleasant surprise when I opened the door to the room because it was not at all like what I has pictured in mind based on the website. But apart from that, the concierge and the door keeper was really friendly and helpful. I hope this post has helped you narrow down your options if you're looking for a place to stay around Singapore! Till then. xx

Disclaimer: This write-up and the opinions shared are all mine. I was not paid to promote or to review this hotel whatsoever. 4 pictures posted in this post are not mine as they have been taken from the web.

Empire Hotel, Subang Jaya, Malaysia

HOTEL RATING: 8/10

Greetings, my dear readers! Today, I'll be reviewing about my stay at Empire Hotel, Subang! So, I've stayed in this hotel for a couple of times now since the middle of last year and I've never been disappointed, or at least, not yet. Hahaha!

Overview

Well, here's a little overview of the place. Empire Hotel is a boutique hotel located in the shopping mall itself called the Empire Shopping Gallery. It is in the business district of Subang Jaya, and to be more precise, it is situated at Jalan SS16/1, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor. It is about an 8 to 10-minute walk from the nearby Subang Jaya train station which is a big plus point if you plan to head down to the busy streets of Kuala Lumpur.

Empire Shopping Gallery, Subang Jaya

For all 3 times that I've stayed in Empire Hotel, I stayed in their Premier Essential and the price ranged from RM210-RM280 per night, excluding taxes and breakfast. Do keep in mind that the rate fluctuates especially during the weekends and during peak periods, so be smart and survey the dates that the rates are at its lowest, and of course, the deals that the hotel, or some websites have to offer. 

The Premier Essential Double or Twin Room
The Premier Essential is a 34m² room and it looks exactly like the one in the picture below except that all 3 times that I've checked-in, there was never once a vase of flowers. So do take note. Of all my stays there, I never once had a view. My room was always facing either the back of some building, or a wall. Hahaha! You can opt for either a twin-sharing bed or a single King size bed. Empire Hotel states that they use exclusive spring mattresses which I'm not really used to as my bed at home is much more cushy compared to their spring mattresses. But really, it's all personal preference. Right in front of the bed on the wall is a 32" Samsung LCD TV, and of course, WiFi is provided.

The Premier Essential King size bed

Work Desk and Wardrobe Area

The picture below is the work desk and wardrobe area. It really is spacious and hella comfortable. (I rushed an assignment there once at 2am. Yay to being a last minute kind of person.) You can also do your ironing here as an iron & ironing board is provided. A safe box, mini bar, and coffee & tea maker is also provided and they're all organized and kept in their own compartments in the wardrobe. Ahhhh, it does make life easier, you know? Oh, they do provide a bathrobe and a slipper too. Yes, just one each so do request for another one if you need to use them.

Work desk and wardrobe area 

The Bathroom 

This is the bathroom. They do provide toiletries and enough towels so fret not. A mini hair dryer is also provided but it is the kind where it's fastened on the wall. For all Premier Essential rooms, only a standing shower is provided, and a frosted glass wall divides the bathroom and the bedroom, so don't worry about getting peeked from the bedroom. But, but, but, what you should know is that I realized that the doors to the bathroom do NOT have a lock. No locks. Nada. Just a wooden sliding door. So if you're staying with friends or anyone, then really, it's all about your trust game. Hahaha!

The spacious bathroom with frosted glass walls

Facilities and Services include:

• 2 Restaurants On Site
• In Room Dining
• Swimming Pool
• Fitness Center
• Airport Shuttle Services
• Front Desk Services- 24-hour Front Desk, Baggage Storage

Check-in time: From 2pm

Check-out time: Until 12pm

Daily housekeeping will start at 2pm, but if you're still in the room at that time, you can always call to arrange for them to come later but preferably before 6pm as housekeeping ends at that time. I would definitely rate this hotel an 8/10 as not only the rooms are inviting, but the staffs are all friendly too, and this hotel is easily accessible and close to many eateries. I hope this has helped you narrow down your options if you're looking for a place to stay around Subang Jaya, Malaysia! Till then. xx

Disclaimer: This write-up and the opinions shared are all mine. I was not paid to promote or to review this hotel whatsoever. All pictures posted in this post are not mine as they have been taken from the web.

Welcome To A Diary Of A Hodophile!

Hi! My name's Tasha Chin, and I'm the one running this humble blog. It was a really spontaneous idea to start one, hence, most of the picture's especially the ones dated back to last year will be retrieved from some websites here and there. But what I can assure you is that those pictures that I'll be sharing will be exactly like the one I've stayed in, or have been to. I cross my heart, and hope to die. Hahaha! Do feel free to drop your comments down below, or ask about things that I'd be more than happy to tell you about. 

Stay tuned! xx