We stayed at Flamingo by the Beach Hotel, Penang which is located on the stretch of Tanjung Bungah beach. Can’t complain with the quality of the beach if you want a beach nearby the city and ease of traveling in and out of Batu Ferringhi which has nicer beach compared to Tanjung Bungah.

Did not really explore the whole hotel, but if you want a decent “new” hotel and nearby the city, this would be it. This is the view from the front entrance into the lobby.

The reception area large enough to handle a big group check-in or large crowd. The service by the reception staffs, just okay.

The lounge right opposite the lobby. See that Foosball table? Don’t even think of playing it. They balls are all gone hence, when you put your money in, no balls comes out. They are nice to refund my RM3.00 without hassle. Hope they get the new balls.

The pool may get very busy over the weekend with families spending their weekend there. Can chill on the beach chairs and sun bath all day long if you want. Pool bar offers good service, but they need to pay more attention to customers sitting just right outside the restaurant.

The hotel has 280 room capacity with 250 of them are deluxe rooms (hill view & sea view), 28 suites and 2 presidential suites (source). Room rates goes around RM 210 depending on the source you get them from.

I would say the room is big enough to fit in 4 person if you are 2 adults and 2 kids traveling together. Oh in the hotel, they got a Spa, Gaming Room (oh yeah!), Travel Agency and other facilities and outlets you can splurge your money on. If that is the more honest way to put it.

My hotel experience at Flamingo by the Beach Penang: 7/10
Comments:
I like the whole environment. Parking is free even for public and the most important thing is that the room is decent and bigger than usual for the price of RM 200++.

The hotel is located on Jalan Tanjung Bungah. See Google Maps.

Full hotel address:
Jalan Tanjung Bungah
Tanjong Bungah, Pulau Pinang 11200
Tel: +604-892-7111

Now, let me continue from my earlier Chiang Mai, Thailand sneak peak.

I’ve got lots of comments on how beautiful Chiang Mai is, base on the pictures I put up of course. I would say, it is beyond beautiful. It’s just bliss…

There is one reason why the pictures are so nice, it is because I’m staying 15KM away from the city. In comparison to KL, it is like from KL to Old Klang Road or Ampang.

The journey from the city to Veranda Chiang Mai, The High Resort is about 30minutes. This resort is just wonderful and bear in mind, what you are gonna see is listed as World’s Top New 140 Hotels by Conde Nast Traveler.

I’m gonna stop babbling and just do a quick tour of the hotel with you.

Veranda Chiang Mai is like a big maze, but because the resort has ample signage around you will not get lost in this beautiful resort.

This is the Entrance of Veranda Chiang Mai. Very good first impression.

This is the Main Lobby. Simple yet elegant. See how the reception blends with the environment?

The ever wonderful, helpful and hospitable staff of Veranda Chiang Mai. Makes you feel at home even though 3 hours away from Malaysia.

Restaurants in Veranda Chiang Mai. The Higher Room. Breakfast buffet.

Rabiang Cha Restaurant. Modern Thai restaurant with great outdoor dining experience. I don’t usually find this kind of setting elsewhere.

Meeting Facilities at Veranda Chiang Mai. Just nice for small group of 200 people. Good for private functions for corporate, friends and families.

Veranda Spa. Total Zen like environment. They had a buy one free one promo while I was there. Did not had a chance to visit.

Valley Deluxe Room. The lowest category room, yet still sophisticated.

Jacuzzi Pavilion Room. Balcony with sunken spa jacuzzi. This room is about THB 10000 per night, and that’s rack rate.

Plunge Pool Pavilion Room. Right below Jacuzzi Pavilion Room.

Presidential Pool Villa that comes with swimming pool and jacuzzi. It was occupied, hence only one exterior picture. When I make my millions, I will stay here. Definitely!

The swimming pool, paddy field and walkways at Veranda Chiang Mai, The High Resort. A lot of mixture of water and greens.

Veranda Chiang Mai is the perfect place for “me” time. Lot’s of place to hang out and relax besides the room itself. Plus, you can loan books, iPod and DVDs.

The small pavilion, Valley Deluxe Rooms, Fitness Room and Kids Club.

Okay. I’m done with pictures. So here’s my take on Veranda Chiang Mai.

I personally like this resort very much. It has all the sustainability features which blends into the surrounding nature plus with a lot of natural light being used, the resort saves energy. You don’t actually need air conditioning as it is quite cooling at night. During the day, it will be hot but it’s not humid.

The are abundance of activities at Veranda Chiang Mai to keep you occupied. As mentioned above, loan iPod, Books, Magazines or DVDs to kill time.

You can visit a nearby Elephant Sanctuary and also Buddhist temple to spend time with the local monks and to see how they go about their daily life.

Liking it already? Wait no more. Book your trip now! Check out Veranda Chiang Mai’s Special Packages and Promotions page for special deals.

Resort Details:

Veranda Chiang Mai : The High Resort
192 Moo2 Banpong Hangdong Chiangmai
Thailand 50230
Tel: 053365007 Fax: 053 365 362
rsvn-chiangmai(at)verandaresortandspa(dot)com
GPS 18.45.14.44 N / 98.53.19.60 E.

You can also make your bookings with me of course if you want. Just e-mail me at travel(at)yapthomas(dot)com

Wow, this is a long post. I’ve got a video but I shall leave that for later.

But this time, just a short one to let you see where I stayed in Surabaya.

I stayed at this very beautiful 4 star hotel called Novotel Surabaya. It’s location is not too far away from the city. Just about 15 minutes from the main city area.

I’ve got the room at a very special deal. No prize to guess why. I’m the best ever travel consultant you can ever find! Some special skills needed and I’m not gonna teach you!

The security was very tight due the Jakarta bombing on the same morning. It was very traumatic you know! You are gonna travel and there is bombing in Indonesia. Though Surabaya is far away from Jakarta, but still…!!!

I’m gonna walk you through the “holiday resort in the city”. Well, Novotel Surabaya has a lot of hotel facilities which we were unfortunate enough not to be able to enjoy. We had a very kind and great host in Surabaya to bring us out to see Surabaya instead of getting stuck in the hotel. Thank you, Alain (if you are reading this).

That’s what you see when you enter the lobby and then below would be the reception and the area around it.

Then we have the surroundings of the hotel around the pool area and the environment as well. Staying here in the city, does make you feel like you are staying far away from the city. Usually resort hotels are located further from the city.

Now, move on to our 2 bedroom apartment suite. This was the first apartment suite that was given to us. Not really spacious and the master bedroom was twin bed instead of double bed. They look the same but the bottom picture would be the master bedroom.

We asked to change and we got a better unit. More spacious unit where the master bedroom was changed to a double bed. That’s when Pamsong did the Pamsong “failed” jump.

The 2 bedroom suite comes with a kitchen, living hall with basic facilities and of course both the master and secondary rooms comes with attached bathroom. Plus, it’s a two storey suite hence the staircase up to the master bedroom.

Average night stay in Novotel Surabaya would be from about RM 300++ per night in a deluxe room. For the two night stay, we paid RM 740 and it’s a 2 bedroom apartment suite. Divided by 3 people, it’s like cheap lor!

You can’t book the 2 bedroom apartment via the online booking tool but you can always book through an agent (like myself) or write in to the hotel via email (contacts below).

Novotel Surabaya Hotel & Suites
Jalan Ngagel 173-175
60246 SURABAYA
INDONESIA
Tel (+62)31/5018900
Fax (+62)31/5019175
E-mail reservation@novotelsurabaya.com
Location:

Actually, quite a long post lah… Okays.. time to switch to my working mode.

Next, I would show you my Day 2 adventure in Surabaya… FUN!

I need to really find time to get all my trip photos done.

Okay, back to the topic! This is Pam Song testing the spring of the bed. So nice right got a queen size bed all by herself! Hmmpphh!! It’s about time to say “Thank You, Thomas”, Pam!

Onward to the video! :p

Yes we got a superb apartment hotel which I bet the pictures would speak for itself. Speaking of which I still haven’t get the pictures yet. ROAR!

Okay… time to head back to fishing and work… tazz…

So, I contacted one of my friend who is working with Marriott in Malaysia and he helped me connect to a special deal with Courtyard by Marriott, Bangkok.

Earlier last year, I’ve embarked on a training program by Marriott International. It is called the Hotel Excellence program.

This program enables me to understand and sell Marriott brands better. There are five tiers of lodging and they are Luxury, Quality/Upscale, Moderate, Economy and Extended Stay. Courtyard by Marriott falls under the Moderate category. Let me show you the brands under Marriott…

Quite the comprehensive right? Click on either one to read more about each brand.

Before I continue, DO YOU KNOW.. that the Chairman and CEO of Marriott International Bill Marriott has been blogging since January 2007..?? Read Bill Marriott’s Blog.

So yeah. I got myself a place at Courtyard by Marriott, Bangkok and I got it at a very nice offer because I a embarked on this program and thanks to my friend also lah… See, the benefit of a travel agent! Muahahaha

Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok to me is designed to be a very contemporary yet elegant business hotel located right smacked in central Bangkok with attractions and shopping complexes nearby. It is just nearby the Ratchadamri BTS SkyTrain if you would like to take the train elsewhere and the hotel provides free tuk-tuk transfer to Ratchadamri BTS SkyTrain station.

Upon arrival, we check into the hotel and the hotel General Manager, Mr. Nicholas Tse came to great us. During our stay Mr. Nicholas offered us usage of WiFi for free while he also gave us complimentary breakfast. Unfortunately, we didn’t take a picture with Mr. Nicholas. But I’m sure there will be another time I’m going to Bangkok and I’m definitely going to stay at Courtyard by Marriott.

The Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok has 314 spacious rooms and 2 suites with King Size/Double beds. All rooms are equipped with 32-inch LCD flat-screen TV which comes with Cable/Satellite TV. They also have coffee/tea making facilities and the other usual amenities like in-room safe (which can fit laptops), minibar, telephone and wireless high-speed internet access. You will love the room. Look!

Being a business hotel, Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok has 2 function rooms which can be divided into 5 meeting rooms. Each meeting room comes equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment, video conferencing facilities and most importantly wireless high-speed internet. Download meetings information.

Let me run you through the other facilities that Courtyard by Marriott has.

The award winning MoMo Cafe…

The simple yet well equipped gym…

The Mood, in-house spa outlet…

The swimming pool…

I enjoyed my stay here at Courtyard by Marriott and the price per night is starting from Thai Bath 4499 per room per night without breakfast. That’s not too bad of a price for such a nice hotel at such a convenient location. If you want breakfast, top up another Thai Bath 500. If you do go to Bangkok on business, why not give it a check. You will definitely not regret it.

Next… Taken tuk-tuk to Ratchadamri and I’m exploring Bangkok already!!

More pictures of hotel here.

Hotel Information & Map

Courtyard® by Marriott® Bangkok
155/1 Soi Mahadlekluang 1, Rajdamri Road Bangkok, 10330 Thailand
* Phone: 66 2 690 1888
* Fax : 66 2 690 1899
* Sales: 66 2 656 7700 ext. 4360

Click to enlarge.

You can also make your bookings with me if you want.
Send your booking enquiries to travel [at] yapthomas [dot] com

Pictures thanks to Dale and Wingz.

How often you will get a personal letter from hotel General Manager?

Oh.. another note.. I think I saw President Obama in Bangkok!!!

…

I AM SERIOUS!!

…

Don’t Believe…

…

I no lie you wan lor…

Muahahhaha

Okay. Dinner time!! BYE

I’m so gonna commission a designer to get this done. Anyone willing to design one for me?

I am now blogging while YapMobil is being tenderly taken care of…
I’m all prep up to go Nuffnang Music Bash tonight… Wheeee

I had two encounters last a moment ago.
But, let me just share with you on one first.

It was a chat with Ring without the O.  -_-

10:17 PM me: i asked my friend

he say Cosmos Hotel

10:19 PM Ring: okay

10:21 PM me: very.. centrally located

Ring: rate>

10:24 PM me: 105USD

10:25 PM Ring: got any love hotel?

love hotel a lot cheaper

me: wtf!

what is love hotel?

hahaha

10:26 PM Ring: lol

basically

its for people to

argh nevermind.

me: hahahah

ok ok

i got it..

Ring: lol

me: i tot it’s a name of the hotel

hahaha

10:27 PM i don’t know any wei… hahah

let’s see what google tells us

http://www.google.com.my/search?hl=en&q=taipei+love+hotels&btnG=Search&meta=

hahah

The funny thing about the conversation is just how she gave up explaining the meaning of “Love Hotel”.

10:26 PM Ring: lol

basically

its for people to

argh nevermind.

The “argh nevermind.” hahahaha….

Never have I came to know that, the commonly known “kai tau” in Canton is also known as “Love Hotel” in English. Learn more about Love Hotel.

A love hotel (ラブホテル ,rabu hoteru^?) is a type of short-stay hotel found in Japan operated primarily for the purpose of allowing couples privacy to have sexual intercourse. Similar establishments also exist in other East Asian countries and regions such as South Korea^[1], Taiwan and Hong Kong. The same concept also exists in Central America, particularly in Guatemala and Mexico, where they are called “autohotels”.^[2]

Japan. Hmm… Now I know where she got the term from.

Pardon my innocence but it is just that, it didn’t hit me instantly what Love Hotel means. I wonder what will the reception would ask if any couple checks in? Maybe this scenario will happen…

Door bell rings and a couple walks in.

“Hi, you both wants to get jiggy?” Ask the reception.

The couple nods while giggling to themselves. She is holding his arm scared he will run away.

The receptionist then ask, “How long?”

The couple then points to the chart on the table. They chose the “Timeless” package, took their room key and walk upstairs.

There you go, the story of a Love Hotel. hahaha

Oh wells, the kind of place some travelers will stay just to save some money. Not to say I’m any different also as I practically stayed in a “Love Hotel” too, while I was in Perth.

Finding internet in Perth is not cheap. Like seriously. The cheapest I can get is $3.00 per hour. Here at where I am staying, it is $4 per hour. The longer you buy, the cheaper it gets.

Let me start the whole Perth update on where I stayed throughout my duration in Perth. It is The Old Swan Barracks. It is situated in Northbridge on Francis Street. Click for Map.

used to be a real barrack…

Now, why I choose to stay here initially is because, they are recognized and they have good review online. Staying somewhere we have not stayed before, it all depends on reviews. I wanted to choose Perth YHA as our accommodation, but decided instead because the review says that train runs behind the hostel and it can get quite noisy. Furthermore, The Old Swan Barracks is very accessible and not too far away from the city.

The Old Swan Barracks (OSB) is huge! They have three floors and they have all the facilities one need for a long term stay. The most happening place at OSB is the common area. They have a bar, big screen, flat screen LCD tv, dining area, pool tables, computers and space, large space.

they show Simpsons every morning…

the pool tables…

Above is how it looks like during a typical day, but when the sun sets, it is when the fun begins. Every guests will be here and outsiders will come over for a nice drink at the bar while watching the soccer matches played on the big screen.

the bar…

the big screen…

They have a common kitchen, where you can make your daily fix for your stomach. It opens from morning till 11pm and they have chiller and storage cupboards should you need to use them. If they would have allowed guest to enter later than 11pm, I would have made roti canai there already!

messy kitchen…

dry storage…

the chiller…

OSB also have washing and dryer facilities, which you have to pay of course. $3 for washing and $1 for 20seconds of dryer usage. The dryer also a little bit faulty, the one far left. Wasted $3 and when the dryer stops, the cloths are still wet. Grrrr….

washing machines…

the dryers…

Unless you want to save some money, you can use the backyard to hang and dry your cloths. If not, while waiting for your cloths to dry, you can play some cards.

the backyard…

playing this card game call “asshole”…

Want to see the rooms? Come let me show you. OSB offers many type of room configurations, from 4 share dorm to 12 share dorm. Jun mentioned that we should take the 4 share dorm to minimize our sharing with other people. That didn’t happen. I will touch on that later.

hahahhaha…

Family Share…

See the difference in the above two pictures? The double bunkers room is where Jun and Rue assigned to and the one below with one queen bed is where I was assigned to. I took the lower bunker in that Family Room.

Now, the rant starts here. You see, I did a reservation on Hostel World and got my first two nights booked at The Old Swan Barracks. When we arrive to check-in, the receptionist told us that we have to be split into two rooms. Reason why? They are fully booked throughout the week. Now, that sucks isn’t it?

So, I didn’t throw my tantrum yet, and accepted as it is. Besides, I’m the one who is staying in another room and I am fine with it as it is a backpackers experience. If Rue an Jun didn’t come with me, I will be staying alone anyways. I had to stay with two Irish guys with their partners. Yes partners found while they were there. Jun and Rue had to stay with one Korean and British.

We kept on extending our stay as our days pass until my 5th and 6th night, I was told that I will be moved to another room. So WTH right? I can’t do much but to accept it. The room they move me into smells strange, so I asked the Irish guys if I can keep on staying with them in the same previous room. They are okay with it.

Why I have to move when the initial room can actually stay 4 pax? They have one bunker bed and a queen size. The two Irish guy agrees to sleep on the queen as they are buddies while the new roomie from New Zealand can take the upper bunker. Reason was, the computer system blocked one pax and they can’t reverse that. How dumb. Argghhhh…

That’s not the worst, Jun and Rue have to be moved into another room for their 6th night. Where? To a six sharing room and I tell you, that room was a mess. This is purely a mistake by the night reception who didn’t extend the night as I have told him too. It seems also that the night and morning shift reception staff don’t communicate much. I don’t know. It seems to me only. How’s the six sharing room? Come, I show you.

uuuurrgghhhh…

Crazy mess it was, Jun decided to get outta of this place and enjoy a night like a royalty would. Where? Soon to be told… Soon to be told…

One lesson to be learnt about staying at Backpackers is to block your room in advance to avoid any inconveniences. By saying block I mean, pay up in advance. If you are the kind of person who is indecisive on what’s going on the next day, too bad, all backpackers run on NO REFUND policy.

Oh wells… what an experience at The Old Swan Barracks.

Wow!!

That’s a really good bargain eh?

Should I say “Wooottt!!” or “Uuurrghhh” ?