Metropole Bangkok is an elegant hotel located within Thonglor, a popular and higher-end area of Bangkok. With only a 10 minute drive to the BTS sky train accessibility to all of the popular suburbs and is simple. The hotel was absolutely beautiful! Very classical and luxurious with a modern twist. At the Metropole you see a lot of checked tiles, spiralling staircases and historical Thai artwork of Bangkok over the years. It's a very slick and clean hotel too the which makes it an idyllic place to stay.
The apartment room we stayed in had everything you could have possibly need without taking up too much space or not providing enough space. There was a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and small living area. The kitchen had a microwave, a stove and all of the required cooking utensils which gave you the option to cook your own meals. A washing machine and iron were also in the room and for your convenience there was also a laundry service. The facilities at Metropole included a gym, pool, restaurant and spa. The gym at Metropole overlooked the beautiful aqua pool. Surrounding the pool were stunning lush, green vines the which hung down from the walls as you swam passed. Chow just next door was metropoles connecting restaurant with various choices available and a two breakfast packs. The hotels spa was an absolute stand out and we could not speak more highly of it - you must go! (Check out our blog post about our experience The design of this hotel was a massive standout for our stay, it was a place in which you would have to experience for yourself as words would not sum up the originality and unique design of the complex. From check-in to check-out we had not one bad thing to say about this hotel. We think this complex caters perfectly for couples, friends or individuals on business trip. With an elegant touch the moment you walk into Metropole you feel like a Queen. Overall: 4.5/5
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As soon as we pulled up to Manathai We knew that our time here was going to be amazing! We were greeted by the most generous staff members who, after our smooth checking in process Showed us to our suite. The door unlocked and we were wowed Immediately - this room was incredible!
The suite was elegantly designed and styled with a white, blue and green colour scheme. Its walls held up Thai artwork and the tables were filled with Thai ornaments. Surrounding the room were white panelled doors which led you to tiny balconies all revealing their own individually decorated flower beds - it felt as though we were in France! The bedroom and living area were both interconnected and this meant you could completely open up / divide the room using the glass sliding doors (perfect for if someone wanted to sleep and the other wanted to stay up watching TV). The bathroom in the suite was gorgeous! It was made up of marble tiles and had a huge bath which overlooked the entire room when the white shutters were opened. We were lucky to have clear blue skies on the days we stayed at Manathai. Due to the marvellous weather we spent the majority of our time by the beach / pool soaking up the sunshine. The beach is Immediately across the road where Manathai's facilities continue on. Here, there are one of two pools, the gym, kids club and the Waterline restaurant (1 of 4 Restaurants at Manathai). We ate our dinner at this restaurant which was beautifully lit up and right on the beach front. After a relaxing day we were treated with a 60 minute aroma massage at the spa resorts which was divine! Following this we went for a short walk to Lamai beach the which is one of Koh Samui's most popular beaches. Along this beach there are ample beach clubs and on Sundays Lamai has huge markets, the which you must go to! It was perfect once we had finished her to Easily walk back to the resort without needing to spend money on a taxi. After a sleep we did not want to end we made our way to breakfast. Take note all Aussie travellers ... Manathai Koh Samui has vegemite in their breakfast buffet! Our stay at Manathai Koh Samui was something we never wanted to be over. The resort had it all: the rooms, the facilities, the location and most kind staff members. Rating: 4.5 Located on a peaceful island not far from Krabi (Koh Lanta) is a resort named Crown Lanta. The resort showcases stunning panoramic views of both the steep mountains and the sparkling ocean. Crown Lanta is far less populated with tourists than most islands and this creates the ultimate tropical getaway.
We were welcomed to Crown Lanta with a chilled, traditional drink and cold towels before being escorted to our room. Modern, slick and spacious it consisted of all the essentials for a relaxing holiday: a comfortable bed, bathroom, couch, outdoor dining and outdoor lounges. Sliding glass doors opened up to reveal a huge shared lap pool which when followed lead you to a bar and lots of sunbeds. On our first night we relaxed at the resorts’ reggae bar where we sipped on cocktails and had a bite to eat. The reggae bar had a great vibe not to mention we were able to sit in cosy, cushioned rooms or tree houses overlooking the most stunning sunsets. Numerous facilities, free of charge equipment (bikes, kayaks and snorkelling gear) and a travel desk all contributed towards ensuring our days were jam-packed with lots of exciting activities. The facilities at Crown Lanta consisted of 2 restaurants, 1 cafe, the reggae bar, a gym, 2 swimming pools and the infinity spa. The Peak restaurant was where we ate our delicious breakfast buffets each morning whilst taking in the panoramic view of both the mountains and the ocean. On our final night at Crown Lanta we made a reservation at the cliff restaurant where we indulged in a seafood BBQ buffet. It was a beautifully arranged buffet with twinkling fairy lights scaling the trees and soft acoustic music blending into the background. There were tables and tables filled with freshly prepared meals and ingredients and whilst this buffet was labelled "seafood BBQ" it was not solely seafood. The foods ranged from Thai cuisine to Mexican and everything else in between. The resorts' chefs were all on show and using ingredients we selected they would whip up a delicious dish - so quick and fascinating to see. Our experience at Crown Lanta was filled with the perfect combination of adventure and relaxation. We explored beaches, markets and tourist attractions as well as lounged around by the pool soaking up the sunshine, not to mention we ate some fantastic food! Rating: 4.5 Koh Samui’s well-kept secret, 'The Nest' is a private and luxurious group of villas tucked away just off of the main road. With just a 2 minute walk to the beach, a 4 minute drive to the Big Buddha and a heap of restaurants in between you are guaranteed to be right amongst the action.
When we first arrived at The Nest we were greeted by both Charlie and his wife (the owners) who showed us all around the area. The Nest is a well-designed group of villas all of which surround one gorgeous main pool. Each villa was a comfortable size and included a bedroom, wardrobe, bathroom, mini bar, TV and desk. In the morning we would step outside our room where we enjoyed a delicious poolside breakfast. Our breakfasts were an assortment of croissants, cereals, fruit, juice and coffee – all of the good stuff! The location of The Nest was absolutely perfect. Being down a small side street off the main road we were able to appreciate the peace and quiet as well as the hype of the main road. On this road there were restaurants, convenience stores and of course the beach! Also, only a 4 minute drive away from The Nest is Koh Samui’s Big Buddha which we highly recommend you visit! The views here are absolutely picturesque plus it’s so close from the villa! Charlie and his wife also kindly informed us of the go-to restaurants in the area which were both delicious and affordable. They also provided us with suggestions regarding what to do during the day and night and how exactly to get there. We spent one of our days exploring the island where we visited the fisherman’s village (less than a 10 minutes’ drive away). Here there were endless shops, markets and great restaurants which were right on the beach front! Our stay at The Nest was certainly well enjoyed! We were able to appreciate some downtime whilst also exploring the island with little taxis/tuk tuks needed. The owners were both so lovely and it was great to receive guidance from Koh Samui experts. Overall we rate our stay at The Nest a 3.5/5. Kaleane Villas, located in the quiet of Krabi creates the ultimate, peaceful getaway. Built on stilts within a lake and also at the beach front this is the perfect location for all people!
The villa we had the pleasure of staying in was named Issara (one of the Kaleane villas) and it was architecturally fascinating! Issara is built on stilts within a lake filled with beautiful lily pads and ravenous fish. Through winding mangroves you can see The Andaman Sea as the villa is built on the beach front too. Within the Andaman Sea there is a direct view of various different Islands which are simply picture perfect. We were lucky to have one incredible sunset during our stay and with the mangroves, the ocean, islands and this stunning sunset you could imagine just how breath-taking the view was. Issara sleeps up to 8 people and contains four bedrooms each with their own bathroom, a kitchen with drinking water (rare), a living area, an outdoor dining area, a stunning spacious pool with spa and a large grass area. The styling of the villa was modern and also included a Thai twist, particularly in the kitchen/living area. The walls in this huge room were a stunning yellow colour which made the room pop plus the inclusion of wood within the detailing reinforced that you were in fact in Thailand. An amazing attribute of Kaleane Villas was the peacefulness you felt due to the isolated location. You could lay on a sunbed by the pool with the warm sun on your face, listening to the breeze within the trees and the waves rolling to shore. Kaleane Villas contrast from accommodation in Aonang, and whilst there is not much distance in between them (this is good for island hopping) all the loudness and chaos is removed. A basket with brochures and flyers regarding trips to various islands was available and the staff were more than happy to help organise these too! Each morning we woke to a beautifully prepared breakfast within our villas kitchen prepared by staff. We were served eggs, pancakes, orange juice – all of the good stuff! For any other meals we headed to the restaurant just across the road or an alternative was to walk down the road to the local village where they had ingredients for you to cook your own meals. As you are amongst nature you come across the usual creatures such as geckos which you see everywhere within Thailand – just something to be mindful of. Kaleane was a wonderful tropical getaway and was the perfect space to relax within. The location of Issara was peaceful and away from the loud of Aonang not to mention, it was lovely to be surrounded by both a lake and the sea – something we had never seen before! Rating: 4 Aleenta Phuket Resort & Spa Aleenta Phuket Resort & Spa, a destination for many well-known celebrities offers a high class and luxurious experience. With a flawless design, endless facilities and a beach right at your fingertips Aleenta is perfect for a quick getaway, a wedding and everything in between. A complete contrast from the chaotic and almost jungle-like vegetation we passed on the drive to the resort we arrived at the ultimate hidden gem. The whole resort provides you with the feeling of privacy and the perfect amount of isolation. Escorted by cheerful and friendly staff we entered our ‘grand deluxe pool villa’… aka paradise. These doors led us through to the most beautifully coloured aqua pool, alongside an outdoor lounge and eating area. In order to get indoors a key card was required and there was also 24 hour security at the resort for that extra reassurance. Unlocking this door brought us to the most elegantly styled bedroom. High ceilings, modern décor, and the most unbelievably comfortable bed! Waiting for us were fresh tropical fruits, a bottle of red wine and a gift from the resorts’ very own shop! We received a tour around the resort by a lovely staff member where we saw all the different styled villas, suites and facilities available. Each suite/villa differed to the other, catering to different sized demographics e.g. couples, families etc. but they were all beautifully styled and shared common themes.
Aleenta has a long list of facilities and activities available which make the isolation of the resort not at all an issue. The facilities available include a spa, gym, restaurants, library, kids club and main pools. The resorts’ spa is phenomenal and has a never-ending list of unique treatments. Some of these include: Chromotherapy Baths (helps cure diseases), an Oxygen Therapy Room with Aquarium Tanks and a Jetlag Recovery room, and this is only 3 out of an entire list! Activities at Aleenta can be a combination of recreational and non-recreational and are definitely worth looking into during your stay! Some these include yoga, Muay Thai and Thai cooking classes – there’s something for everyone. Each morning we indulged in a delicious breakfast buffet (one of our favourites for sure) at the beach front restaurant which was consistently stunning! At night we had a selection of two different restaurants: one consisted of all Thai foods and the other had a variation – all the food was excellent. Aleenta Phuket is literally perfect! The architecture and decor, the facilities, the activities, the beach access – perfect! Celebrity or not you are definitely treated like one. Rating: 5 stars Aonang Cliff Beach Resort is located within one of the most popular towns of Krabi and consists of both breath-taking views and excellent services.
Our room at Aonang Cliff Beach Resort was located all the way up on the eighth floor and was absolutely gorgeous! Modern, white and with a pop of colour, not to mention a spectacular view off of our balcony which showed enormous cliffs and the dazzling beach. Beyond impressed with our room we soon found out that this was only the beginning. This resort itself was huge and consisted of endless different facilities such as infinity pools, 3 restaurants, the infinity spa and a gym! The main infinity pool was absolutely stunning and overlooked the most magical cliffs as well as Aonang Beach! Surrounding the pool was comfortable sun beds under umbrellas right next to a bar, and if this wasn’t enough there were also in water tanning beds ensuring you kept cool whilst tanning (heaven). During our stay we didn’t have time to try all three restaurants but what we did try was definitely impressive. For dinner one night we indulged in a buffet which had everything! We ate traditional Thai cuisine, curries, pasta, salads, fruit, cake, ice cream and this is just what WE ate… there was an endless list of foods to choose from! We left this divine dinner with the fullest and happiest bellies imaginable! We were lucky enough to receive a 60 minute aroma massage at the infinity spa where we were beyond pampered – recommend highly! Any unwanted knots were carefully removed, our backs were cracked with permission and on departure we were given some delicious ginger tea! One of the best massages we’ve had and we left feeling so cleansed. One of many perks of this resort was the ease of accessibility to shops, restaurants, the beach and other islands. During our stay we were able to easily island hop as we were so close to the beach front where taxi boats are available. The staff members at this resort were organised, kind and carried out their jobs thoroughly. We would return from a quick (and delicious) breakfast buffet with a fully tidied room and along the way pass many smiling faces. Rating: 4.5/5 Alisea Boutique Hotel is an affordable hotel which thrives off of its prime location.
We were welcomed with a spacious bedroom consisting of both a double and single bed. A winding, wooden staircase led us up to the second story which was a perfect chill out spot. Onwards from this area was a big, golden door which opened up to reveal the balcony. A big bath tub was placed on top of the balcony and no matter what time of the day this was the perfect spot to admire lush Aonang. The hotel itself had a large infinity pool which was surrounded by tanning beds, umbrellas and a bar! Also just a level up was Alisea’s own spa facilities available under booking. The main restaurant of the hotel is located on the ground floor and specialises in Italian foods. It also offers an extended list of wines which has been made all over the world! In the mornings this restaurant transforms into a breakfast buffet with plenty of options to indulge in. The helpful staff let us know of Alisea’s own private beach club and their free shuttle buses takes you directly there. Unfortunately due our short stay we ran out of time to visit and from what we heard we definitely missed out there! Due to the hotels prime location accessibility to markets, restaurants and the beach was simple and this was certainly a highlight! All of these were within walking distance so it removed the added expense of transport. Overall our experience at Alisea was short but sweet! Alisea is an affordable choice of accommodation in a central location with helpful staff. Rating: 4/5 The Place Luxury Boutique Villas are the perfect holiday destination, particularly for couples and honeymooners. Located in the heights of Koh Tao you can see both the beach, the sunset and the mountains all at once.
We were lucky enough to experience the luxury of two different styled villas over the space of four nights. Both villas shared similar designs but each had their own different perk. The first villa was named the ‘Luxury Pool Villa’ and it certainly lived up to the name. When entering the private villa we were faced with a panoramic view of Sairee beach which was surrounded by huge mountains. An infinity pool was situated in the most ideal spot to soak up the sun and enjoy the spectacular view. Our villa was perfect in size and included a kitchen with a small living area, a bedroom and a bathroom. We noticed that the staff have made a conscious effort to not only focus on the large details but also the smaller ones. An example of this was that in all villas they have their own drinking taps and we were yet to find this anywhere else. The bathroom was spacious and certainly had a real outdoor vibe with lots of plants and natural light. The second villa was the honeymoon suite and it included the only red love heart pool in the world! Just imagine relaxing in a love heart pool with your partner whilst sipping on champagne and admiring the sunset…could there be anything more romantic? The staff were very helpful during our stay and offered great advice when required. They let us know of endless great activities and where to safely do these which was a big tick. We were also told of the free bikes available at The Place which we found we used regularly to explore the island. We received a phone to use during our stay which assisted us with cheaper taxis and takeaway foods! The Place was extremely hard to fault and the only real critique we have is that the occasional creepy crawlies would venture into our villa. However, the staff have managed this as well as they can by providing all the repellents but nature still has a way of ending up indoors. Rating: 4.8 A La Cigale is a group of villas located within the ‘jungle’ of Koh Tao. The outdoor-themed bungalows showcase stunning views of the island and are just a short 5 minute walk to the beach front.
The property we had a pleasure of staying in was quirky and architecturally inspiring! During the construction of A La Cigale the owner made a conscious effort to keep and include as many original, natural resources for building as possible, and so the property literally brings the outdoors in. We were welcomed to our villa which had a spacious kitchen but also 2 large boulders peeking through the walls. On the kitchen table were two fresh coconuts waiting as well as a thoughtfully picked-out hamper including staples such as eggs and bread which were restocked regularly. The bathroom was both indoor and outdoor with creeping vines and pebbled pathways leading to the shower and other bathroom facilities. Stone steps scaling the side of our villa led us to a rooftop which had tanning beds and also a small hut which sheltered a table and chairs for an outdoor eating option. A La Cigale provides a very relaxed and laidback vibe with the inclusion of a hammock on the balcony and in some cases an outdoor swing too. Rustic pathways connect the villas to one another and also guide you to a cute café. This café specialises in breakfasts and is run by the kindest staff! It is approximately a 20 minute walk to the popular tourist destination Sairee Beach where you find all your restaurants, clothing stores and recreational activities. This walk is easily do-able however, if you’re not up for it on any particular day A La Cigale staff provide you with a mobile phone plus sim plus credit and a list of numbers to call for services such a taxis (and takeaway foods). The distance between the hype of Sairee beach and A La Cigale creates a refreshingly isolated feeling when at the villa. The only real negative of A La Cigale is that you often find various animals in and around your villa. These are mostly just small geckos but you can come across the occasional larger lizard, spider or even squirrel too. Whilst these can sometimes be a shock in our opinion it definitely adds to the experience and created many laughs but it’s certainly something to be mindful of if this isn’t your type of environment. Rating: 4.5 |