Archive for the country »Accommodation Reviews «

Dec
05
22-4, 1Ga Daechangdong Jung-Gu Busan, South Korea

Staff were friendly and helpful, didn’t speak a lot of English, but spoke fluent Japanese. Rooms were clean and spacious (bed in the single room was actually a semi-double bed). Location was great, about 5 minutes walk from the ferry terminal, and a 10 minute walk to the main train station. Fantastic and cheap Korean Barbeque restaurant up the road (ask the staff). Free internet and breakfast were a great plus.

Details
Prices: 55,000 KRW (single with private bathroom)
Features: Air conditioning/heating, private bath/toilet, lobby with tables etc to meet people, free internet (cable in room, computers in lobby), free breakfast (Japanese/Korean), note that whilst shampoo, towels etc are provided, toothbrushes & razors are not, as it is illegal to provide these disposable items in South Korea (there is a vending machine that sells them however).
Website: www.toyoko-inn.com/e_hotel/00178/index.html
Address: 22-4, 1Ga Daechangdong Jung-Gu Busan, South Korea
Directions: From the ferry terminal: turn left and head out to the main road. At the gate, if you look straight ahead, you will be able to see the hotel. Turn left and go past the customs house etc until you hit the main road. Turn right onto the main road, and walk for about 5 minutes, Tokyo Inn will be on your left. From Busan Train station: exit the station, and turn left on the main road. Continue walking down this main road for about 10 minutes, Toyoko Inn will be on your right.
Oct
04
5-16 Dobashi, Naka, Hiroshima, Japan (広島市中区土橋町5-16)

We found the staff at the hostel to be very friendly, and willing to help us find our way around. The hostel was very close to the peace park, tram stops etc. The twin that we stayed in was a traditional Japanese room (tatami mats, futons etc). Plenty of food options nearby as well, including a great place that does Hiroshima okonomiyaki (the staff at the hostel directed us to it).

Details
Prices: 5600 JPY (twin in a traditional Japanese tatami room)
Features: Linen (no towels), air conditioning, shared bath/toilet, common areas with TV/DVD player, kitchen, rooftop garden area, internet (free, wifi)
Website: hiroshima.j-hoppers.com
Address: 5-16 Dobashi, Naka, Hiroshima, Japan (広島市中区土橋町5-16)
Directions: From Hiroshima Station, go out the South Exit and walk to the tram station, which is just in front. Take the tram line (No.2 or No.6) and get off at Dobashi station (about 20 minutes). Walk straight down the street with the train (to the south) and turn left at the 2nd traffic signal. Turn the first right (at a small meat shop) and the next left (at a small laundry shop), J-Hoppers is on the left.
Sep
25
1 Ayala Avenue, Makati, Luzon 1226, Philippines

We stayed here for a few days on a stopover, and enjoyed ourselves despite the typhoon that arrived on our second day.

The staff were quick and pleasant – we ordered room service a few times and were impressed with the speed that it reached us. The hotel was in a great location: close to the airport and close to the malls – a 1 minute walk to the closest (Glorietta) malls and from there most malls interconnect though walk ways. We were able to borrow huge umbrellas from the concierge when the typhoon hit, we just had to give our room details. The onsite spa was fantastic, we had a number of massages and treatments and our room was large and clean.

On the other hand, the buffet breakfast incredibly expensive (not included in the room rate), however there is a small restaurant opposite the hotel that does a buffet breakfast for less than a quarter of the price. Internet was available in the room, however it was expensive and slow.

We booked through their website direct, with a fantastic deal, so it was well worth the money. We completely enjoyed being pampered for a few days!

Details
Prices: 4,413 PHP inc taxes (twin)
Features: Internet (paid, cable), breakfast (2000 PHP), toilet/bath in room, television, air conditioning, attached restaurants, pool, spa onsite
Website: www.ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental/en/gb/locations/manila
Address: 1 Ayala Avenue, Makati, Luzon 1226, Philippines
Aug
06
5-4-15 Katakasu, Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan (福岡県福岡市博多区堅粕5-4-15)

This was the cheapest hotel we could find in Fukuoka, and believe me, we looked.

Rooms were spacious and clean – we stayed in two different twins whilst here. The first one was larger, with a small couch. The second was a little smaller, but without the couch it was actually more spacious. Both had tv’s, aircon and private bathrooms (small tub/shower and toilet). On the fourth floor there is a large (traditional) bathroom that you can lock, so you can have a shower in a larger room. Free wireless internet.

The checkin staff didn’t speak much English, but was more than willing to help us, and made checkin very smooth. Also helped us book another room. Attached to the hotel is a great Korean/Filipino restaurant with a Pirate theme – fantastic food, and the guy there spoke great English (we managed to get vegetarian food, a reasonably hard feat in Japan).

Details
Prices: 3,900 JPY (single), 7000 JPY (twin)
Features: Internet (free, wireless), breakfast (500 JPY), toilet/bath in room, television, air conditioning, attached restaurant
Website: www.h7.dion.ne.jp/~world-b/
Address: 5-4-15 Katakasu, Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan (福岡県福岡市博多区堅粕5-4-15)
Directions: Hotel is about a 10-15minute walk from Hakata station. To get there, take the Chikushi exit, walk to the main road, turn left. Walk for a block, until the next main intersection, then cross the road and continue to the right. You will cross over a large river. Turn left at the main intersection past the river. Continue on this road for a couple of minutes, you will see the hotel on the left hand side (with the pirate restaurant).
Apr
15
No.951 Shilong Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200237, China (中国上海市石龙路951号)

This hotels main redeeming feature is that it is extremely close to the South Railway station (about 5 mins by taxi). Prices includes breakfast and the room price is quite reasonable. There are good options for dinner nearby and the room has free broadband internet (the cable is in the drawer).

However, the beds were really hard. Really really hard. The breakfast wasn’t so good – toast wasn’t hot, there was no juice or cold water (there was hot orange tang), some of the dishes were ok, but most were just mediocre. Breakfast was served on the 8th floor, to get there, you had to take the elevator to the 7th floor, then walk a flight of steps to the 8th floor, not suitable for someone who has trouble walking. The wiring in the rooms was bad – when you sat on the bed, the lamp flickered on and off, scary! In the middle of the night, someone tried to enter our room, they had a card that worked, all that stopped them was the bar that we put across the door from our side.

Overall? It’s really close to the train station, so if you’re coming in really late/leaving really early, it’s an ok option, but the beds were hard, the wiring scary, and the overall feel of the place not too clean. Plus the incident with someone trying to break in to the room left an unpleasant feeling.

Details
Prices: 268 CNY (double)
Features: Internet (free, cable), breakfast (included), toilet/bath in room, television, air conditioning, attached restaurant
Website: www.sathotel.com/001chs/ejituanjeishao.html
Address: No.951 Shilong Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200237, China (中国上海市石龙路951号)