http://www.cityriver.com/ Cityriver Corporate Travel Blog Feed en kim@cityrivertravel.com.au Copyright 2012 2012-02-02T04:51:43+00:00 http://www.cityriver.com/blog/view/w-bali-seminyak-bali-indonesia http://www.cityriver.com/blog/view/w-bali-seminyak-bali-indonesia#When:04:51:43Z Length of stay: 5 nights (1bdrm Pool Villa) Overall: Hotel - Pure definition of European Chic. Immaculately presented. Immaculate service from check in to check out. Included breakfast options great - due to being in a villa, had two options for restaurants, both excellent. Choose anything from menu plus full buffet. Ice (?) bar beautiful, cocktails creative but a bit average, service was lacking (after one drink was servved, had to flag someone down for anything else we wanted, no anticipation on needs). Room - Unbelieveable. Private. Clean. Turn down service. Excellent pool with frangipani trees overhanging. High stone walls. Outside bed/couch lovely addition - Bose surround sound inside and out. Excellent amenities (shamp, cond, body wash, fash wash, mosq repellant, mouthwash, bath salts, body scrubber, body butter - all Bliss range. Many extras for purchase in the room: thongs, purple towels, water-proof camera, coconut face spray, munchie box. Next day calendar of events a great touch. Pros: Excellent rooms, excellent service, great food! Cant wait to go back. Con's: Expensive (would be nice if all amenities were included in the room rate), no outside shower with the pool. W BALI - Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia 2012-02-02T04:51:43+00:00 http://www.cityriver.com/blog/view/hyatt-regency-coolum-beach-sunshine-coast-queensland-australia http://www.cityriver.com/blog/view/hyatt-regency-coolum-beach-sunshine-coast-queensland-australia#When:06:13:28Z Length of stay: 3 nights Overall:  Stayed in a King room.  It is presented similar to a townhouse.   Spacious, very clean.    Lovely property overall.  Truly impressive staff – everyone was very knowledgeable on the property, amenities and all had a friendly, sunny demeanour.  Staff drive around in golf carts to pick you up and drop you off around the resort if you don’t feel like walking (and to help keep you from getting lost!).  The hotel hosted a Food and Wine event over the weekend which was absolutely wonderful!   The golf course is magnificent. Con's: The room furniture and curtains/rugs were a bit tired but clean and in good working order.  The sprawling property could be a bit overwhelming if you are there for a holiday and not to golf! W BALI - Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia 2012-01-31T06:13:28+00:00 http://www.cityriver.com/blog/view/fairmont-miramar-hotel-bungalows-santa-monica-california-usa http://www.cityriver.com/blog/view/fairmont-miramar-hotel-bungalows-santa-monica-california-usa#When:06:06:27Z Length of stay: 3 nights Overall: Upgraded to a private bungalow near the pool upon check in.  Check in staff were extremely professional and friendly.  Restaurant/food choices on site – all really good food and equally great service at all of them.   Room service was good, mini bar was very well stocked and the food arrived in a timely manner.   The Pool Side Bungalow was spacious and very private.  Huge sunken bathtub.  Very modern décor.  Service, restaurants, rooms, room service - all spectacular.  Excellent location for sightseeing and shopping, close to the beach. Con's:  Overall a rather expensive stay. W BALI - Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia 2012-01-31T06:06:27+00:00 http://www.cityriver.com/blog/view/ramada-bintang-kuta-bali-indonesia http://www.cityriver.com/blog/view/ramada-bintang-kuta-bali-indonesia#When:05:51:37Z Length of stay: 8 nights Overall: We were a group of 35 for 8 nights and this property was perfect. Close to everything, staff was sensational, rooms were great and could not fault the brilliant buffet breakfast. Sure a light refurb would be great, but everything really was so good right down to the pool bar! Definitely good value for every dollar spent! Con's:  Rooms need a refresh!   W BALI - Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia 2012-01-31T05:51:37+00:00 http://www.cityriver.com/blog/view/riu-palace-tropical-bay-negril-jamaica-wi http://www.cityriver.com/blog/view/riu-palace-tropical-bay-negril-jamaica-wi#When:05:40:30Z Length of stay: 5 nights Overall: Their service is fantastic, their rooms are lovely, the food is pretty good and the location is perfect. It was worth paying a bit extra and getting an Ocean Front as it was simply wonderful to sit out on our balcony and watch the sunset (and fall asleep during the day after a big swim!). truly can't beat the staff's service; simply wonderful. The all-inclusive is the best! Con's: The entertainment is okay; a little cheesy at times but hey, you're on vacation!  The food is very “westernized” – if you are looking to try good local food, you will need to venture off the resort property.  Beef patty and a Red Stripe! W BALI - Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia 2012-01-31T05:40:30+00:00 http://www.cityriver.com/blog/view/sandcastles-resort-ocho-rios-jamaica-wi http://www.cityriver.com/blog/view/sandcastles-resort-ocho-rios-jamaica-wi#When:05:27:40Z Length of stay: Booked for a week, ran out of this place after 2 nights! Overall:  Excellent location.  Restaurant was moderately good.  Most staff was friendly enough. Con's: You know it's bad when you find yourself in an internet cafe desperate to find somewhere else to stay in the middle of your holiday!  This is very basic accommodation.  The bedroom door would only open halfway as it was blocked by the hardest bed I have ever known.  Plastic furniture in the livingroom. Staff on an individual level are very friendly, however they do not work well as a team. Several phone calls to get anything needed and no one knew what the other had done, what had been said etc. We went a whole day without towels. Six phone calls & 7 hours later, STILL no towels. We finally got a housekeeper with major attitude who came up only to argue... and still didn't bring towels. Next day, no hot water This was one of many incidents over 3 days before we finally threw in the towel (or lack thereof haha) and checked out. W BALI - Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia 2012-01-31T05:27:40+00:00 http://www.cityriver.com/blog/view/punthill-north-shore-hotel-serviced-apartments-sydney-australia http://www.cityriver.com/blog/view/punthill-north-shore-hotel-serviced-apartments-sydney-australia#When:05:18:35Z Length of stay: 4 nights Overall: Recent renovations in the lobby and restaurant were obvious and looked nice.  Room was clean. Con's: Very unfriendly staff.  Cramped rooms that urgently need a refurb.  The so-called “Business Centre” was ONE computer that barely worked and staff did not know how to fix it.  Room service is only offered for a couple of hours in the evening and only a few options from which to choose.  Water went hot and cold throughout every shower. W BALI - Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia 2012-01-31T05:18:35+00:00 http://www.cityriver.com/blog/view/four-seasons-shanghai-china http://www.cityriver.com/blog/view/four-seasons-shanghai-china#When:05:02:29Z Length of stay: 9 nights Overall: Stayed for a week with 370 other travel agents for a conference. Hotel staff is exceptionally professional and very eager to assist where possible. Room service food is pretty good. There are quite a few great places to eat around there that are ridiculously cheap in comparison. The rooms are very clean.  Bed was EXTREMELY comfortable as was the shower. Very quiet - couldn't hear anything in the hallways or other rooms at all. Get everything you can out of the Concierge - they really are a huge help in this city where finding a lot of English speaking people can be a challenge. Con’s: Very expensive room service.  Buffet breakfast was a waste of money for the lack of selection.  Could do with a refurb. W BALI - Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia 2012-01-31T05:02:29+00:00 http://www.cityriver.com/blog/view/crown-towers-melbourne-australia http://www.cityriver.com/blog/view/crown-towers-melbourne-australia#When:03:43:35Z Length of stay: 4 nights Overall: Check in staff was highly professional throughout. There are so many things to do without leaving the premises! Excellent location for shopping and restaurants. I was originally booked in a Premier room, which was fantastic. Standard configuration, however the room facilities were immaculate and very modern. After one night, the TV's wouldn't work and they moved me into the only other room type they had available - 2 bedroom suite. I will most certainly say that I have not ever stayed in a room quite like it!  Absolutely MUST try the restaurant Nobu. Make sure you make a reservation! Con’s: None! W BALI - Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia 2012-01-31T03:43:35+00:00 http://www.cityriver.com/blog/view/traders-hotel-kuala-lumpur-malaysia http://www.cityriver.com/blog/view/traders-hotel-kuala-lumpur-malaysia#When:03:30:25Z Length of stay: 5 nights Overall:  Because of the length of my stay I really got a good feel for all aspects of this hotel. Stunning rooms... attentive staff.... brilliant location... amazing food in the restaurants!  Ensure you spend a little extra and get a Club Room. This gives you free food and beverages (even boozy ones!) periodically throughout the day. Was worth every penny in so many ways.  Make sure you also make a reservation for an evening upstairs at Skybar for one of the booths at the window.  Amazing! Con's: Cocktails are a bit pricey at Skybar but they are fantastic! W BALI - Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia 2012-01-31T03:30:25+00:00 http://www.cityriver.com/blog/view/the-langham-melbourne-australia http://www.cityriver.com/blog/view/the-langham-melbourne-australia#When:03:22:49Z Length of stay: 3 nights Overall: Excellent service once in the rooms. Lovely, well presented hotel; a place an older person would certainly want to stay. Con’s: Check in staff a little stiff – Not a very warm welcome.  Rooms need a refurb.  More of an antique décor rather than modern.  Waited a very long time for room service. W BALI - Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia 2012-01-31T03:22:49+00:00 http://www.cityriver.com/blog/view/fairmont-singapore http://www.cityriver.com/blog/view/fairmont-singapore#When:03:12:27Z Length of stay: 3 nights Overall:: Beautifully presented; impressive entrance, extremely professional and attentive staff and my room was perfect. Couldn't fault the location as I walked almost everywhere. Con’s: Small (but very modern) bathroom. W BALI - Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia 2012-01-31T03:12:27+00:00