A WEIL OF A GOOD TIME IN IPOH (PART 1)

Our recent staycation at WEIL Hotel, located next to Ipoh Parade Shopping Mall, proves Ipoh is very much on every travel hipster ‘must visit’ list. Be it within the hotel or out in town, the capital of this Silver State is fast gaining a reputation for its good local food.

 

Thanks to the generosity and courtesy of WEIL Hotel, our weekend staycation was thoroughly enjoyable from the get-go. For the uninitiated, the hotel name is a reversal of the owner’s surname – Liew – the family behind Malaysia’s famous Pagoda brand groundnuts.

This is our second stay at WEIL Hotel but I’m happy to note the 313-room property still appears as immaculate as ever and has established itself as a notable special events/weddings venue in this neck of the woods.

Flaunting soaring high ceiling with modern circular light fittings, the spacious lobby has clusters of cosy armchairs, ottomans and two-seater lounges that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also evoke a convivial welcome for every guest who steps in.

After a hassle-free and quick check-in, we spent some time lolling around in our tastefully furnished Premier room: neutral wood, sand, white and grey tones coupled with unfussy clean lines made us feel right at home instantly.

Later, we slept like logs, snugly tucked into the pristine white linen-covered bed laid with fluffy pillows. There’s plenty of space on the in-room elongated table top to keep our personal knick-knacks – the generous space is a boon for biz travellers who need to work.

Besides a two-seater sofa, we couldn’t resist nestling in the comfy chaise reading lounge; perfect for avid bookworms like moi. We also helped ourselves to the complimentary canned soft drinks and packets of Pagoda nuts provided. The little courtesies were in addition to our in-room coffee/tea-making facilities and comp bottled water.

My fave space is the glazed white tile, warmly lit bathroom with its dark marble-topped vanity area, walk-in rain shower cubicle and a standalone bath tub. Subtle luxe touches like fluffy towels and premium toiletries add to its allure.

Another plus point here is the handy smartphone – a complimentary guest amenity offering free connectivity, localised travel-centric and visitor-friendly content, relevant services and in-destination offers.

Facilities such as function rooms and a Ballroom are available on-site. I’d recommend heading up to the Rooftop Infinity Pool for a dip and a panoramic view of Ipoh. Fitness bunnies will find the in-house gym adequate for basic workout routines.

A canopied patio furnished with weather-proof outdoor mock cane-weave chaise lounges, and pool deck chairs make the poolside a relaxing haven for guests to while time away after their swimming and recreation session.

WEIL Hotel probably ranks as Ipoh’s best hotel at the moment. Its strategic location and comprehensive facilities make it a preferred choice for discerning travellers, for personal or business purpose.

Coming Up – Part 2: Wine, Dine & Party Options at WEIL

For reservations and more information, call tel: +6 05 - 2082 228. WEIL HOTEL IPOH is located at 292, Jalan Sultan Idris Shah, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.

GLORIOUS GENTING STAYCATION AT GLORIA RESIDENCES

I love sunrise. The breaking of dawn is a surreal moment and a dramatic cloud-wreathed one when viewed from the balcony of our room at Gloria Residences, in the cool climes of Genting Highlands surely ranks as one of life’s best experiences.

Our recent staycation at Gloria Residences Ion Delemen Genting Highlands was an eye-opening albeit enjoyable experience. Managed by Gloria Hotels & Resorts from China, the two blocks of premium serviced apartments were only opened last December.

Personally, I rather like its location — just 9 minutes' drive away from the frenetic hustle-bustle of First World Plaza and the hoopla surrounding it. Being away from the madding crowd, the 332-unit Gloria Residences together with its nearby sister hotels are more tranquil, nestled among green hills some 6,000 feet above sea level.  

 

The check-in process was smooth and efficiently handled by the team on duty. Beside the reception counter is Hot Spot, a convenient coffee bar cum snack counter to cater to guests who want to grab a drink and food to go.

 

Our weekend accommodation was in the 2-bedroom Family Suite. The furnishing is simple, practical, sleek and linear: shiny tiled floors complemented by blond wood and white trimmed furnishing make the apartment spacious and bright. The master bedroom has a King bed and en-suite toilet/shower, whilst the second room is set with a Queen bed and an upper bunk bed. We slept like logs thanks to the comfy, cushy beds and fluffy duvet. The in-room Wifi speed proved easily accessible once we logged in.

 

A secondary toilet/shower room is by the entrance door. In addition, there's a kitchenette and countertop adjoining a living area with sofa seating and a balcony complete the unit. We adore the little welcome touches like the artistically folded towels and complimentary Asian drinks, bottled water as well as coffee/tea making facilities in the suite.

 

From the balcony, the scenic view is breathtaking – ours accorded glimpses of the green mountainside and some parts of First World Genting. Constantly changing banks of clouds, the intermittent sun and rising mist add a surreal feel albeit refreshing cool climate to the dramatic landscape.

 

Category of rooms available at Gloria Residences include Deluxe, 1-bedroom Suite, 2-bedroom Suite/Executive Suite with kitchenette, and 3-bedroom Executive Suite in addition to our 2-bedroom Family Suite.

EAT AT HOME

Meals are served at Home Restaurant on Level 1, Tower Jade. The weekend buffet breakfast (7am-11am) offers a decent selection of local and Asian fare. Nasi lemak, scrambled and fried eggs, noodles, congee, cereals, bread, fruits, French toast, pan-fried dumplings, chilled juices and hot beverages are some of the regular items served. On weekdays, guests will partake a semi-buffet with a choice of main for brekkie.

 

On Friday & Saturday evenings, the Hotpot Porridge Buffet (RM28 nett per adult, RM20 nett per child) left us replete. You can select your choice of fish balls, veggies, beancurd and complementing ingredients from the spread laid out. Supplementary servings of shellfish and sliced meat (RM9/portion)  are also available. The plain rice porridge base easily absorbed all the appetising flavours from whatever ingredients added to it.

 

The chef on duty will cook pot stickers, radish cake and spring onion pancakes (jian bing) on request. Also on the menu are fried rice, omelette and salted vegetables to accompany the porridge hotpot.

 

 

 

You can also ask for satay and grilled chicken wings for additional substance. Assorted pickles, fresh fruits and tong sui complete the selection.

 

 

 

Lunch (11am-3pm) is a la carte with a compact menu of main meals (think fried rice with vegetable curry & fried chicken and other one-dish fare). Also try the assortment of dim sum made by a Guangzhou chef such as steamed prawn dumplings, and pan-fried buns with minced chicken. All passed the taste test.

 

 

Not to worry, other dining options are available nearby. Connected through the Sky Garden walkway, you’d find Kembali Kitchen, Tavern in the Sky and Hugo’s among others to tease your tastebuds.

 

Rest and recreation activities include a fitness centre and a heated indoor swimming pool. The children’s pool even has an overhead water feature. A children’s playground, an enclosed ball pit and arcade games should keep the young ones occupied.

 

 

More distractions up at First World Plaza are accessible via the property’s shuttle service scheduled on an hourly basis. Transfers to various points up at Genting Highlands and nearby areas can also be arranged on request.

 

For corporate and special events, the spacious Ballroom over at Grand Ion Delemen Hotel is ample for banquet of 35 tables with a huge screen.

For reservations, please call Gloria Residences Ion Delemen, tel: +6 03-64333 888 (24 hours) or KL +6 03- 8064 3390 (8.30am-6pm). Address: Jalan Ion Delemen 1, Ion Park, Genting Highlands, Pahang. Official website:  https://www.gloriahotels.com/hotel.do?id=104&lg=1