Showing posts with label vacations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vacations. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

RELAXING YEAR-END GETAWAY AT AMARI SPICE PENANG


A splendid haven to revel in. The Executive Lounge on level 25 of Amari SPICE Penang is not only a serene breakfast spot but also a great place to get some work done anytime of the day.
The team on duty is courteous and friendly, quick to attend to your every need; from serving breakfast to whipping up an evening cocktail, they’re ever-ready to lend a hand.
 
This time we stayed in an Executive Deluxe room which accorded us access to the Executive Lounge. We love lounging by the floor-to-ceiling windows where expansive views of the nearby golf course and the park adjacent to the SPICE Convention Centre and SPICE Arena are visible.
 
We were stoked to find an in-room coffee machine in addition to the regular kettle for tea-making. In addition to complimentary Penang tau sar pneah (mung bean biscuits) and nutmeg sweets, we discovered the mini bar stocked with water and soft drinks were on the house.
The smart workspace with international plug-points and Wi-Fi proved to be a boon when I needed to tackle some work. For a spot of reading, the cushy chaise lounge with ottoman was perfect.
 
As Executive level guests, we have the luxury of enjoying breakfast at Amaya Food Gallery or ordering our choice of complimentary breakfast in the Exec Lounge. We barely needed to lift a finger as the team pampered us at every turn; plying us with coffee and tea and serving our choice of breakfast.
Whether it’s Nasi Lemak and Fried Kway Teow to Welsh Rarebit and Breakfast Egg Set, guests can order from the a la carte selection listed.

Out of curiosity, I had Welsh Rarebit – basically a sandwich of rye bread with Cheddar cheese, fried egg, Worcestershire sauce, mustard and salad. Simple but I liked it. My hubby’s Boat Noodles passed muster.

Laid out on the counter are assorted cold cuts, cheese, cereals, dried fruit and nuts, fresh fruit slices, French pastries and condiments: butter, jams, honeycomb, etc for toast. Bottled juices, detox water, yoghurt and muesli are found in the chiller.

Opened from 6.30 am to 10.30 pm, light refreshments are served throughout the day. From 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm, you can order classic cocktails and creative mocktails, house pouring wine and selected liquor drinks to complement hors d’oeuvres whilst enjoying the view at dusk from the lounge.

Other privileges for Executive level guests include private check-in and check-out services, complimentary pressing of 3 garments on arrival and complimentary meeting room use (maximum 2 hours, subject to prior booking and availability).
Dinner at the spacious Amaya Food Gallery, the all-day dining restaurant on Level 4, also made our stay truly memorable. During our visit, Amari SPICE Penang hosted Thai chefs from its sister hotel in Bangkok for a promotional stint so the dinner buffet highlighted a myriad of delicious Thai specialities.
Among the tempting dishes we tried were stir-fried glass noodles with prawns, miang kham (wild betel leaves with condiments), som tam salad, mee krob, seafood tom yam, green curry, Thai iced tea, ‘crying tiger’ grilled beef with chilli dip and tom yam fried rice.
The hotel location is also strategic. Just a short drive away, we enjoyed watching the sunrise and went for a nice morning walk along Karpal Singh Drive, visited the Chew Jetty and as usual, went to eat our fill of local food.

Local life is best experienced at Chowrasta market and its surrounding environs: there’s a wet market, lots of mom-and-pop shops around the vicinity, hawker’s stalls and street-side vendors selling household stuff, casual wear, footwear and toys.    

   
For the year-end school and festive holidays, Amari SPICE Penang has been all decked up with pretty decor and a special 'gingerbread house' selling festive goodies. If you're keen to bring your family for a staycation, Amari SPICE Penang currently has some great packages online:

https://www.amari.com/penang/special-offers/hotel-packages

For reservations at Amari SPICE Penang, tel: 04 683 1188. Address: 2 Persiaran Mahsuri, Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang.

Thursday, October 21, 2021

3 TIPS ON PLANNING YOUR HOLIDAY


“Travelling allows you to become so many different versions of yourself” 
– Anonymous

Perhaps that’s the reason why we love to travel. Our wanderlust is hard to tamp down and having our freedom restricted is possibly one of the greatest challenges we have to endure during the prolonged MCO period.

Now that Federal Territory and Selangor have transitioned into National Recovery (NRP) Phase 4, most of us are grateful we can once again travel domestically without restraint while practising the new normal SOPs stipulated.

In this aspect, we Malaysians are truly fortunate as we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing the type of holidays we prefer. Whether we plan to head for the beach or up to the hills, opt for a city staycation or escape to the bucolic countryside, the length and breadth of Peninsular Malaysia alone offers limitless possibilities. We have not even touched on the myriad wonders that beckon from East Malaysia.


No savvy traveller these days can afford to leave home without doing some homework aka research. The secret to a great holiday is to plan ahead. Start with these 3 tips in mind:

·       Your Budget

While everyone would love to holiday in the lap of luxury, let’s get real. It’s best to be realistic and set a budget for your holiday. Take into account how much you plan to spend on accommodation, transportation (flights, car rental, train tickets, etc), food & drinks, sightseeing and recreational activities, and personal spending money (gifts and souvenirs). Remember to set aside a small emergency fund.

·       Your Needs

     The needs of a solo traveller differ great greatly from those of a couple, a group of singletons, and those of a family with small children. If you are the holiday planner, then a reliable online portal such as Hotel in Kuala Lumpur is a boon in determining your holiday needs i.e. What kind of accommodation do you need? Would child-friendly accommodation or hotels with a swimming pool be a priority? Traveloka has plenty of useful tips and resources to help make your holiday planning a breeze.

·       Your Itinerary

Plan ahead and determine the type of holiday you want. Would it be a laidback, laze by the pool kind of vacay or would it be an activity-filled one with lots of sightseeing and shopping thrown in?


A holiday is also a chance to pursue your leisure interests or do something different from your daily life. Is it time for you to unleash the spirit of discovery and learn more about mother nature through hiking and nature walks? Perhaps you yearn to fly high and conquer the sky through paragliding or swim with the fishes by learning to snorkel or scuba-dive?


It goes without saying planning for a solo traveller is easier than planning a holiday for a group of friends with different interests or a family with small children or teenagers. 


In such instances, you may want to rely on a fun getaway with a flexible itinerary at a family-friendly resort such as Grand Lexis Port Dickson where the young and old can enjoy the best of both worlds. The whole family can expect a splashing time in the private pool within the privacy of their own suite, or proceed to engage in the myriad outdoor activities offered by the resort.


More adventurous souls may prefer an adrenalin-fuelled itinerary with hiking, paragliding, kayaking, or river-rafting as the highlight. Bear in mind though some of your intended holiday activities may have a set limit on the number of participants and advance booking required so it pays to plan ahead.



Whatever type of you have in mind, just remember online resources abound at your fingertips. Traveloka has plenty to offer: useful tips on travel planning, price comparisons on accommodation, things to do, etc. 
After all, the journey of your holiday planning begins with a single step. Do it now!

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

SAIL AWAY SUCCESS ANTICIPATED FOR ROYAL CARIBBEAN QUANTUM OF THE SEAS


Imagine a huge hotel, shopping mall and entertainment city all rolled into one. Royal Caribbean Quantum of the Seas is the world's smart ship with an under-stated opulent interior. At 1,141 feet long with 16 decks and an international crew of 1,500, it can accommodate 4,905 guests.
 
Being the cruise newbies we are, the sleek, refined interior adorned with modern accents: glass artworks, arty installations and ambient lighting left an indelible impression.
 
Designer boutiques and epicurean dining venues like Jamie’s Italian restaurant amplify the sense of sophistication. We proceeded to Two70, a theatre-style entertainment and activity space for the welcome address by Royal Caribbean’s Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Angie Stephen.
 
In her opening remarks, Stephen said Royal Caribbean International will be celebrating its 50th global anniversary by rolling out a 5-year deployment in Southeast Asia, from November 2019 up to 2024.
“The deployment starts with Quantum of the Seas, one of Asia’s largest and most revolutionary cruise ships after her multi-million dollar refurbishment. The ship is slated to make a record-breaking 55 calls to Malaysia during its upcoming 2020-2021 season, starting October next year.”
L to R: Elya Marini Darmin, Deputy President of the Klang Municipal Council; Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari, Selangor State Exco, Tourism Selangor; Angie Stephen, Managing Director, APAC, Royal Caribbean; Syed Jaaffar Syed Mohamed, General Manager, Boustead Cruise Center and Captain Sindre Borsheim, Master of Quantum of the Seas
Lauding the cruise-friendly infrastructure of Malaysia and the pertinent roles played by the government including local municipal councils, port authorities and tourism stakeholders, Stephen said, “Royal Caribbean will bring 430,000 tourists to Malaysia in the next two years. Quantum of the Seas will be Asia’s largest cruise ship to call in at Port Klang since Kuala Lumpur and Penang’s vast array of gastronomic, cultural and shopping options remain popular with our guests on board.”
She continued, “Cruising holiday is fast gaining popularity amongst Malaysians and the numbers have grown significantly from the time Royal Caribbean started some 11 years ago. Malaysia is one of our fastest-growing markets and Royal Caribbean cruises have everything that appeals to different generations. For the MICE business, we offer customised cruising experiences.”
 
Stephen said while Royal Caribbean incorporates cutting-edge technology to streamline some of its services and facilities on-board, she emphasised it won’t replace their battalion of personnel as the human touch is the key factor in ensuring Royal Caribbean guests enjoy their cruise experience.
 
 
 
 
 
 
After savouring a simple, delicious lunch at the American Icon Grill restaurant, we toured the new facilities: FlowRider, RipCord by iFly, Bionic Bar, an escape room and glow-in-the-dark laser tag on board the Quantum of the Seas.
 
 
 
 
 
It’s easy to be caught up in the palpable excitement, especially when we witnessed how AI is used to power the robotic ‘mixologists’ at the Bionic Bar. Laughter, convivial conversations and happy recreational bustle bore testament of a great time the holidaymakers were having.
 
 
We also took turns to be whisked up high, to admire the surrounding panoramic views from the ‘North Star’ observation capsule. Raised up to 300 ft above sea level, the breathtaking scenery glimpsed from high above was unforgettable.




The hi-tech entertainment facilities inside the ‘Two70’ venue also set the stage for live performances and whimsical large-screen projections.
Different sized pools, rock climbing wall, various shopping and entertainment options, in addition to themed dining outlets will keep the ship’s multi-generational cruise passengers fully occupied. Tour itineraries for whistle-stop ports of call can also be booked on board.
 
 
 

 
 
For more information, visit Royal Caribbean's official website: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/sgp/en?country=SGP or https://www.facebook.com/RCCMY/

 

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