[Accommodation review] Chalet Bel Air, Wengen, Switzerland

Chalet Bel Air (Wengen)

Website to book: Airbnb

Cost: around $95 pax / night. It might seems expensive but it's one of the cheaper accommodation at Lauterbrunnen / Jungfrau area.

Location:  Wengen, near the Wengen train station.

Size of accommodation: A private room and shared area

Accommodates: 2

Location: 3.5/5. It is 5 mins away from the Wengen Train Station. There's Coop (super mart), pub and souvenir stores around in the small town. Wengen is one of the two stations you will need to be at if you want to go up to Jungfrau. Thus, the location is very strategic. In addition, as it's on the mountain, even if it's summer, it's not hot. The view from the accommodation is rather nice as well.  

Cleanliness: 1/5. What's with the bed bugs, hair on the bed, messy rooms, and dirty pots and pans? It might be an one-off event because there's a lot of positive comments on his page. But the Korean couple and us were very put off by what we saw.

Host(s): Didn't see the host. His friend came to fix the things after we feed back to him.

Design: 4/5. See pictures above. Looks nice if not for the cleanliness.

Facilities: wifi, you can use the kitchen to cook your stuff. There is microwave (that the owner's friend brought over on the last night when we were leaving).

Security: You're given a set of code to the main door after the reservation is confirmed. And you can lock your room's door. There's a security camera at the living room. There's another room where other tourists (may or may not) stay.

Additional comments:

• I think there's a pub/restaurant below, so it is a bit noisy, but still bearable. There's a long flight of stairs and no lift.
• Neighbours seems friendly.
• I would recommend staying in Wengen if you're going to Jungfrau. You can observe the weather and buy the tickets in the wee morning at the station. The scenery and environment of the small car-free town is so nice. It really feels like a holiday, away from the hustle and bustle.
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Disclaimer: this post is not sponsored. The above is entirely my personal opinion.

[Accommodation review] VI VADI HOTEL downtown munich, Munich, Germany

VI VADI HOTEL downtown munich, Munich, Germany

Website to book: Agoda and many other hotel booking websites

Cost: Comfort Twin Room with Garden View (there's no garden view!!!), no breakfast -60/pax/night

Location:  Marsstreet 6-10, Maxvorstadt, Munich, Germany 80335

Size of accommodation: 25 sq m

Accommodates: 2

Location: 3/5. It's rather near the Munich Main Station, again good for travelers who have luggage and are transiting via the main station (to other nearby countries). However, it is also at the red light district, though the other side of the station seems to be where the actions are at. There's a lot of smokers around the district. In general, we still feel rather safe. 

Cleanliness: 3/5. 

Host(s): Don't expect much.

Design: 3/5. standard hotel room.

Facilities: wifi is slow in Germany in general. There's no fan and no air-con in the room, and the lift is very slow.

Security: As written under location

Additional comments:

• The so-called garden is a small backyard with some potted plants (?) and grass. There's no view at all. But at least it's not facing the road. We asked the receptionists where's the garden and they laughed
• There's no fan and aircon. at night you'll need to open the window for ventilation.

Disclaimer: this post is not sponsored. The above is entirely my personal opinion.

[Accomodation Review] Intercityhotel Berlin Hauptbahnhof, Berlin, Germany

Intercityhotel Berlin Hauptbahnhof

Website to book: Agoda  and many other hotel booking websites. Agoda gave the cheapest rate when we book that time.

Cost: Standard Double Advance Purchase including City Travel Card (no breakfast) - around SGD$60+/pax / night

Location:  5 Katharina-Paulus-Str., Tiergarten, Berlin, Germany 10557

Size of accommodation: 20 sq m

Accommodates: 2

Location: 4/5. It is just a building away from the Berlin Main Station, it is best for travelers with luggage and will be taking train to other parts of Germany. The station is a huge shopping mall itself, when the weather is not good, you can just stay in the station to shop the day away. Thee's also a 24-hr pharmacy in the station. Even if the hotel is not in the vicinity of the attractions i.e. museum island, the free city ticket during our stay made up for it.  

Cleanliness: 5/5.

Host(s): Rather unfriendly receptionists

Design: 3/5. Standard hotel room, but it's clean and comfy.

Facilities: wifi (Germany's wifi/data in general is quite bad, so don't expect much)

Security: Just 5 mins walk away from Berlin Hbf, in general is quite ok. 

Disclaimer: this post is not sponsored. The above is entirely my personal opinion.

[Accommodation review] Budacco @ Pratunum, Bangkok, Thailand

Budacco @ Pratunum, Bangkok, Thailand

Website to book: Agoda (http://www.agoda.com/en-sg/budacco-hotel/hotel/bangkok-th.html) and many other hotel booking websites

Cost: deluxe with breakfast – around $55 per night

Location:  122/44-46 Ratchaprarop Rd, Thanon - Phayathai, Ratchathewi , Pratunam, Bangkok, Thailand 10400

Size of accommodation: A hotel room

Accommodates: 2

Location: 3.5/5. It is in Pratunum, near to Baiyoke Sky hotel. We spent nearly half an hour circling Pratunum to find the hotel. Turns out that we need to walk to the hotel as it’s in an alley. Taxi uncle only knows about Baiyoke Sky, it’s better that you just alight at Baiyoke Sky and walk over. There’s lots of shops in the vicinity, massage and vegetarian restaurant just few steps away (literally). It is a main road away from Platinum.

Cleanliness: 4/5.

Host(s): Friendly Thais!

Design: 3.5/5. Simple colored coded rooms. It can be awkward for friends as the bathroom door was half translucent.

Facilities: wifi at lobby. Breakfast buffet.

Security: There’s security guards, they will help us flag taxi and take down the taxi plate number. He will also tell the taxi uncle that we were his guests, and he was watching over us. Although the hotel is in alley, but don’t worry, the alley was not deep.

Additional comments:

• Breakfast was good but same everyday
• It’s a hotel frequented by Singaporeans. On our last day (Sunday), then entire breakfast area was filled by Singaporeans.

Disclaimer: this post is not sponsored. The above is entirely my personal opinion.

[Accommodation review] Condominium @ Penang Times Square, Georgetown, Penang

Condominium @ Penang Times Square, Georgetown, Penang 

Website to book: Airbnb (https://www.airbnb.com.sg/rooms/3918092)

Cost: around $120 SGD per night

Location:  Times Square Penang, Georgetown, Penang

Size of accommodation: A condominium

Accommodates: 4

Location: 5/5. Easy to locate as it’s just above Penang Times Square. It is also near the Komtar bus interchange (5-10mins walk) and heritage site. If it’s raining and you do not wish to go out, no worries, there’s some food outlets in the shopping mall.

Cleanliness: 3.5/5. We found some things the previous tenants left behind on the living room’s sofa. Floor is not squeaky clean. The quantities of things like tissues are little. Bedrooms are very clean though. But hey, no service fee!

Host(s): A very presentable lady. She speaks good English and chatted with us. She was also very helpful to find out things for us.

Design: 3.5/5. A minimalistic design.

Facilities: wifi, full kitchen facilities, air-con, tv..etc. Some DVDS are also provided. The tv does not have cable channels. Buy your own breakfast.

Security: You will have the key to the apartment. There’s security post and 2 doors that you need to tap your card to access the condo.

Additional comments:

• Try the food near the location (opposite Penang Times Square there’s a small road that lead to a number of hawker centres). The hawker foods are better than the raved ones at the heritage site!!!
• Apparently the condo is one of the high value apartments in Georgetown. Taxi uncles exclaimed how expensive it was when we told them where we stayed.
• There’s a minimart facing the security post outside the condo. The things are of normal price. You can buy snacks or toiletries there.
• Many of the residents are expats.

Disclaimer: this post is not sponsored. The above is entirely my personal opinion.

[Accommodation review] Worlang Guest House @ Jeju, Korea

Worlang Guest House @ Jeju, Korea

Website to book: Airbnb (https://www.airbnb.com.sg/rooms/783988)

Cost: around $85 SGD per night

Location:  Wollang-ro 6-gil, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

Size of accommodation: A room. We had the one at the attic. The common areas and bathrooms were shared.

Accommodates: 2.

Location: It was not easy to find. Good point is that it’s near airport (especially when you have an early flight), supermart and food outlets. Since we were driven around in Jeju most of the time, I can't give the rating for this.

Cleanliness: 5/5. Superbly squeaky clean floor in my room. Even the common bathroom was very clean!

Host(s): Basic English. The manager (?) was not around when we arrived. So we were a a lost, standing in the common room. One of the tenants (he was a university student at Jeju who was renting the room on a long term basis) helped us call him. The host helpfully explained things to us despite a little language barrier.

Design: 4.5/5. See picture. It was representative of what I saw.

Facilities: wifi, full kitchen facilities, air-con, tv..etc. There’s cereal and milk for breakfast in the common refrigerator.

Security: You have a key to your own room. They will leave clean towel at your door if it’s locked.

Additional comments:

• Near a supermart which was great. You can try their local fruits and stuff.
• Staircase to the attic room is very narrow.
• You can encounter different travellers in this house. Once, while we were chatting at the common area, an American couple just opened their door and greeted us :)
• There’s a 24 hours self-service coin laundry just below the guesthouse
• We didn't realize the check-out time was at 11am and stayed for a bit more. The host did not chase us away and allowed us to have our food in peace

Disclaimer: this post is not sponsored. The above is entirely my personal opinion.

[Accommodation review] PigFlySeoul @ Seoul, Korea

PigFlySeoul @ Seoul, Korea

Website to book: http://www.pigflyseoul.com/

Cost: 110,000KRW per night for twins room. Pay by cash when you arrive.

Location: 121-816, Magellan 21 Building #608 Donggyo-Dong, Mapo-Gu, Seoul, Korea

Size of accommodation: Whole apartment.

Accommodates: 2.

Location: 5/5. Walking distance to Hongik University station. The location of the station is very centralized (to Gimpo airport, Express Bus terminal which is a must-go…etc.). However, taking the lift up to the admin office and apartment was a little inconvenient. One lift only serves the odd floors; another only serves the even floors.

Cleanliness: 4/5. Sofa was a little dirty. Bed and kitchen utensils are clean.

Host(s): Very friendly and speaks English. They will email you after you booked on your approximate arrival time. You can take the opportunity to enquire things that you are not sure.

Design: 4/5 (sofa was too hard)

Facilities: wifi, full kitchen facilities, air-con, tv, air-dryer..etc. No breakfast.

Security: Door lock is digital number lock which you set your own password. But of course they have the master key.

Additional comments:

• You can hear the traffic at night (i.e. motorcycle sped past at times). However, it is still manageable with an ear plug for light-sleeper (like me).
• You can leave your luggage at their admin office if you are going to somewhere else (i.e. Jeju) and will return to stay, or just go out for a last minute shopping after you check out. This, in my opinion, is a very good service.
• Seems to be cheaper when you book at their website. And you can pay when you arrive.
• Their dog was very cute and seemed to have separation anxiety from its owner.

Disclaimer: this post is not sponsored. The above is entirely my personal opinion.