South East Asian Hotel Experiences - 2022

I stayed at 11 different hotels in Singapore, Thailand, Langkawi and Bali over a period of 40 days and 40 nights ranging from a single night to a week. Some common observations that most of the South-East Asian hotels share…

Pros

Definitely superior in terms of luxuriousness, friendlier staff and their eagerness to please the guests than North American counterparts even within the same chain.

Whether electronically or manually operated, there is always a bidet in the bathroom. I believe this is the most hygienic way of cleansing oneself of daily abulations on the throne!

For guests with extra privileges, the food menu is wide and varied. All offer international food aka North American and local specialties. The maxim – “You get what you paid for” proves especially true. Even those in a budget hotel outranks those in North America. Some executive suites serve teatime and dinner food.

Another thing I love about South-East Asia is showering in soft water - makes my hair and skin super soft.  The water in Los Angeles is super hard! The only thing that prevents me living here is the oppressive tropical heat and humidity.  I take Mediterranean climate of Los Angeles anytime since living in a Mediterranean country would require me to learn a foreign language.

Cons

Most share a basic bathroom design flaw. The ledge to the shower door is too low and when the shower door is swung open, the floor mat is swept away. One has to be mindful of slippage when coming out of the showers. To make matters worse, in some hotels, there is a gap where the door hinges are. Water will splatter through and onto the rest of the bathroom floor during shower and the floor mat will be soaked thoroughly. I pity the housekeepers! A simple and cost effective solution is to have the gap sealed up with some plastic laminate.

Location of toilet flushers. Most of them are located behind the toilet. They are most convenient to use when one is standing but when seated, it is most inconvenient to turn one’s torso 180 degrees to get the flushing going. On the high end of the spectrum of bidets, are the electronic versions that warms the toilet seat and turns on the bathroom lights. Even a hand operated one is most hygienic to use.

All hotels offer buffet styles. One should not - Never eat things like dumplings, eggs of any style except hard boiled ones, seafood, pancakes, waffles, bread etc., unless custom made. Either they becomes cold and soggy or be overcooked after due to food warmers and then become mushy. Of course, even with the best quality of food served becomes boring after awhile when the menu’s repeated cycle starts anew. Hence the only reason to move to other hotels.

The following are the hotels I stayed in chronological order. They are judged on the rooms, comfort of the bed, bathroom facilities and their complimentary food, if available. As for the hotel staff, I am sure they are always friendly with a perfunctory smile. After all, it is their job to ensure that guests feel welcomed. What I am looking for is that something extra that any sincerity generated is genuinely felt, warmed the cockles of my heart and out of my expectation.

The Crown Plaza Hotel in Jewel, Singapore

The Holiday Inn Express, Orchard Road, Singapore

Westin, Langkawi 23 Aug – 25 Aug, 2 nights

Renaissance, Bangkok

Hilton, Singapore aka The Mandarin Hotel

Grand Hyatt, Singapore

Courtyard Marriott, Bali

Conrad Hotel, Singapore

JW Marriott

Conrad Hotel, Bangkok

Novotel Airport Hotel, Bangkok

Wednesday, 23 November 2022