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.

'INSPIRE ROMANCE' STAYCATION AT GLENMARIE HOTEL & GOLF RESORT

Rest, repast and a romantic 2 days/1 night staycation in a Junior Suite. Since our last vacay was over three years ago, we caved and succumbed to Glenmarie Hotel & Golf Resort’s Inspire Romance Package, heading to the hotel for a brief fling.

Upon our arrival at the 260-room Glenmarie Hotel with its award-winning golf fairway, we were delighted check-in was smooth and efficiently handled. The towering columns and water features within the lobby area are evocative of a resort.

 

Entering the Junior Suite assigned to us, the lovely decorations adorning our King-size bed: a pair of beautiful ‘swans’ folded using towels and rose petals artistically arranged to form the words ‘I love you’ left us completely smitten. Now such Instagrammable moments had to be recorded for posterity and we left the decorations untouched until bedtime.

There was also a welcome gift platter of delicious chocolates which we savoured while lounging in the comfort of our suite. Complimentary water, coffee/tea-making facilities were provided so we felt quite at home enjoying these creature comforts.

Our suite looked out to the golfing greens – the tranquil landscape edged by prolific greenery proved a nice change when we snuggled into the comfy chaise lounge for reading or just to relax. The in-room WiFi is easily accessible and fast.

Later we went for a quick dip in the pool. Being a weekday, we had the whole place to ourselves.

The highlight of our 'Inspired Romance' staycation was the four-course dinner, served in the privacy of our suite. Right on the dot, the room service team member arrived with our chosen selection at the appointed time.

Such an indulgence we rarely had the privilege to enjoy so it was a memorable experience. The food was surprisingly up to expectations too.

 

After sipping our complimentary mocktails, we sampled our starters of Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken, and Cream of Mushroom with Truffle Oil. Both portions were generous enough for hubby and myself to share and swap. The salad was agreeable whilst the soup proved a tad too rich for our liking.

Both the Grilled Australian Ribeye Steak with Seasonal Buttered Vegetables and Fries, and Pan-fried Salmon Fillet with Creamy Dill Sauce and Seasonal Buttered Vegetables were on-point. Again, portions were hearty and we had to pace ourselves before we could proceed to sample dessert.

Dining in-room proved advantageous as there was no time limit, unlike restaurant dining. You could dawdle over the starter or the main course as long as you like. We spent some time snapping photos of the dishes so the luxury of enjoying dinner at an unhurried pace was a nice change.

Wrapping up our evening on a high note was the classic treat of Bread & Butter Pudding with Vanilla Sauce complemented by Fresh Fruit Platter. Admittedly, both of us shall cherish this romantic dining experience as one to remember.

After a good night’s sleep, we trooped downstairs to Kites Restaurant for our complimentary buffet breakfast for two. We ate our fill from the ample spread of pastries, noodles, rice, fruits, dim sum, eggs, bread, etc served.

The 'Inspire Romance' Package (from RM496 nett) is available for stay-in dates until 30 June 2022, so hurry and reserve your dates now! It's a lovely escapade for couples who need to escape their daily routine just for a day, to rekindle their spark of romantic passion.

For more information and reservations, call Glenmarie Hotel & Golf Resort, tel: 03-7802 5200 or email:reservations@glenmarie.com.my