Hotel du Gouverneur - Bastia - Corsica

I visited this 4* hotel du Gouverneur in Bastia. It is the only 4* hotel in Bastia located on the citadel overlooking the old harbour.

 

The atmosphere in the hotel is luxurious. 

There is a hotelbar with a fireplace + a terrace overlooking the old harbor and the sea.

Rooms:

The rooms are spacious and well equiped with all facilities. 

The beds are large (200 X 200cm) and very soft.

Bathroom:

The bathroom is very large with 2 sinks.

There is several towels provided of a high quality. All bathrooms have a bath with shower.

 The toilet is always in the bathroom.

Breakfast:

The breakfast is served in buffet style but with a very high quality food. 

Breakfast costs €25 pp 

There is also the possibility to take a contental breakfast for €15 pp.

HINT: With a supplement of €5 the breakfast is served in the room or on your terrace.

Wellness:

The hotel has a big indoor pool with sauna & hammam. Unfortunately there is no daylight and it feels a bit strange.

Positive:

- location on the citadel overlooking the old harbour.

- very nice breakfast buffet

- several restaurants in the neighbourhood. 

Negative:

- carpets in all rooms

- no separate toilet

- expensive to stay here

General conclusion:

I would rate this 4* hotel du Gouverneur in Bastia 8/10 because of it's location and the large rooms. I would rate it 8,5 without the carpet and a separate toilet.

This is definitely a hotel for couples to enjoy 1 or 2 nights in the beautifull village of Bastia.

 

Hotel Nassau 4* - Breda / Netherlands

 The hotel Nassau is a brand new 4* deluxe hotel in the city centre of Breda that opened in May 2016. 

Hotel Nassau is situated at only 300m from the Main Square of Breda. The hotel is contructed next to a chapel, which also makes part of the hotel and functions as breakfastroom and event hall. 

Hotel Nassau is really a Unique hotel due to it's location, building and interior.

Rooms:

The rooms are spacious, well equiped and timeless. The beds are real Marriott beds, which means very large (kingsize 220 * 220) or 2 queen sizes (140*220).

The bed is very soft and comfortable with feather pillows, which I really enjoyed!

There is all different kinds of lights to make it romantic, but as well full of light when needed. There are plugs everywhere, a flat screen tv & Nespresso coffee machine + 1L of complimentary still water.

We had room nr 202. This room had no real view, but the posibility to get on the terrace which was inside the hotel.

Unfortunately there is a carpet in the rooms, but as the hotel is new, they're still clean.

Bathroom:

The bathroom is kind of in the room. On the left the toilet with milkglass door and on the right the rain shower with a very good pressure.

In the middle their is a sink with a make-up mirror, a very high quality hair dryer, tissue box and 2 big/ 2 normal/2 small hand towels & a floor towel for the walk-in shower.

The amenities are of a high quality too: bottle of soap, bar of soap, shampoo, conditioneer & body lotion.

There is a hair dryer of a very good quality! So no need to take your own.

Breakfast:

The breakfast is served in the back of the chapel. A great experience & view.

The breakfast is not the biggest i've seen, but really everything is there!

For this kind hotel it is a pitty coffee & tea  is not served on the tabel. But there are coffee machines provided with fresh beans. 

HINT: you can park for only €4 a day at a 10 min walk from the hotel. Parking called 'Gasthuisvelden'

Advantages:

- you can not find a more central located hotel in Breda.

- Brandnew & very Nice design

- very good equiped rooms with a soft & large (Marriott standard) bed!

- extraordinairy view on the chapel during breakfast

Disadvantages:

- not all rooms have a view on the city.

- breakfast is not as large as expected for a Marriott hotel and no table service 

Overall I would rate this hotel 8,5/10. All facilities are there, staff is friendly and it is a real Unique location!

Makadi Spa - Hurghada -Egypt

This 5* adult only hotel in Hurghada is called one of the best and most luxurious hotels in Hurghada. It is a recently build hotel and is part of the Red Sea hotel chain. 

Location:

The hotel is located directly at the beach with a promenade who connects with the 4 sister hotels. All guests of the makadi spa have access to all facilities of the other hotels, but not the other way around. The hotel looks really beautifull and you feel like you're in a movie decor. 

Restaurants:

There are in total more then 20 restaurants which you have access to. Most of them are a la carte restaurant, which you have to reserve upfront. Attention, the a la carte restaurants do not offer free drinks! 

The restaurants are distributed in the different resorts and the shopping mall, which is an artificial gathering of small shops including some restaurants you can also enjoy for free. (really nice)

Bars:

There are plenty of bars in the hotels which you can enjoy. Also around the pool there are bars and there is a service around the pool. But you have to tip them to make sure they come by regularly... The disadvantage of the different bars is the fact they all have different opening hours and you have to learn them by heart. 

The all incl cocktails are only local alcohols and the juices used are very sweet. The advantage is that soft drinks come out of bottels, but they are Pepsi (as a Belgium Guy i'm more in to coca-cola ;-))

Pools:

There is 4 big pools in the hotel. Currently only 2 where operational and I have been informed all tiles will be renovated. The closest pool to the beach is great with a waterfall going down to the pool underneath. Everything is vlezend on a daily base!

Room:

We had an upgrade to a junior suite overlooking the pool and the beach on the 3rd floor. It was a very large room with dressing, separate toilet, living room and a large balcony.

The room was very clean. Minibar is refilled with soft drinks daily and included in the all inclusive formula. 

Bathroom:

The bathroom was set up in 3 parts:

1 middle part with 2 sinks, a medium quality hair dryer & a make-up mirror.

The soap, shampoo, hair- & bodylotion are not smelling really attractive, which is a pitty for a spa hotel. There are 2 big and 2 small towels per person + 1 mat for the shower. The quality is good, but not really soft.

The 2nd part of the bathroom is with a glass door (blended out) with awalk-in shower and a bath. There is a small rain shower and the bath is created out of little tiles (which makes the bath like a box with straight walls, which is not comfortable to take a bath). 

The 3rd part is the toilet with glass door and a lower sink to clean yourself after toilet use.

Advantages:

- the adults only is a real advantage to enjoy your holidays without he noise of kids around the pool and also the fact there is no animators pushing you to play with them

- it is a beautifull hotel, especially in the evening with all the lights!

- the buffets are extensive and of a very high quality, especially for egypt.

- the rooms are very modern & Well equiped, esp. the dressing room is much appreciated.

- soft drinks come out of bottels

Disadvantages:

- different bars with spread opening hours - the evening bar is in a corner without any view while the other bars with top locations overlooking the Pools & beach are closed or not offering the all incl drinks...(but you have to pay)

- upselling of everything gives you the feeling you pay dubble! We've already paid for the all incl., if staff memberd always try to sell you cocktails to be paid in the bars, ask to drink schnaps after diner,.. You really feel uncomfortable as you never know when the bill Will arrive.

- the plastic glasses around the pool are not anymore in a good condition, which gives the idea not to be very clean.

- drinks in the poolbars are not comes during Some momemts of the day, this means staff members only fill the fridges when they are empty..

Hotel Tauern Spa 4*+ Kaprun

This 4*+ luxury hotel is situated in Kaprun. It's been opened in 2010 and is a very modern and big complex out of the city centre of Kaprun (3 min drive).

Wellness

This hotel is connected to the big Tauern Spa wellness of Kaprun (with > 2000m2 of wellness area), which is one of the biggest in Europe.

All guests do have free acces to the Tauern Spa wellness area, but next to that they also have acces to the private wellness area of the hotel (if you want to avoid the crowd) which is also spacious and well equiped.

The masterpiece of this hotel is definitely the rooftop pool with Panoramic view over the mountain and its glass bottom. 

You can really see people swimming from the ground floor (and the other way around) as it's floating above the floor.

This is such a great experience!

Rooms

Breakfast

Restaurant

I can not rate the restaurant, as I did not have dinner.

In general I would give this hotel a rating of 9/10. This as it is still looks new, clean and it's such a great wellness experience. Definitely one of my top 10 hotels!

The Jane - 2* restaurant - Antwerp

I went to the Jane 2* Michelin restaurant in Antwerp on a tuesday evening.

The restaurant is in a pedestrian area, so you can better book te private parking space upfront.

As Every day the restaurant was fully booked. The building is of a unique design. Desadvantage is the noise due to the fact there is not that much furniture in the space.

We took the 7-course menu which is really good value for money. A wide variety of dishes for 110eur pp. 

Hint 1.:

Do not take the wine formula, but better chose your favorite wine. They do not serve that much wine and serve 5 glasses of wine over the 7 course menu for 60eur pp. 

Hint 2: 

Ask for a table along the walls. There is 3 types of tables: 

1. Low tables in the middle which are uncomfortable for big people

2. High tables and high seats at the entrance of the restaurant

3. Normal tables and chairs along the walls.

There is also a large wooden table in front of the kitchen up to 10 persons.

Conclusion: this restaurant is not the typical Michelin restaurant but a trendy place with great food. 

Hotel Sternen - pfaffikon/ Switzerland

This 3* hotel Sternen is situated in the village of pfaffikon. This village is a real business village full of offices along the ZuricherSee. 

I'm staying in this hotel regularly as this is the cheapest hotel which is close to my office and the company is chosing this for me.

The hotel is very familiar and the women is really doing everything in this small hotel. She's rather frustrated I think, but once you get to know her she sometimes smiles. But do not expect the biggest hospitality. 

The room

Most of the rooms have been renovated, but are rather small but clean.

The beds are of a high quality with soft pillows. I've seen some rooms and there is none comparable.

Bathroom

The bathroom in my room (nr 9 I always take) is small but totally new with a spacious shower and glas doors (I know Some bathrooms still have curtains).

The biggest advantage are the bath products of Babor. They really taste delicious. There is a sink with a hair dryer (not very strong, so if necessary you can better take your own).

Breakfast

The breakfast is a disappointment into my opinion. It is really 2 slices of bread, 1 croissant and 1 brioche with 2 cups of jam, 2 pieces of cheese and some meat if you ask for it. This is served with a coffee and a glass of orange juice (not fresh).

HINT: Be aware this hotel is at the main road of the village, so in the morning there is a lot of traffic. So you can better ask for a hotelroom in the back.

As we all know Switzerland is expensive, so for the price you get a comfortable bed and a small breakfast. So I would rate this hotel a 6/10 because of the cleanliness and the quality of the beds.

Hotel Schiff Pfaffikon SZ Switzerland

This 4* hotel is situated directly at the ZuricherSee in Pfaffikon SZ at a 7 min. walk from the railway station. It has absolutely the best location in town when you're so lucky to have a room with a view on the lake. But also because it is in a calm corner away from the traffic, train and church bells.

The staff is very friendly and helpfull!

Rooms:

The rooms are rather small for a 4* hotel, definitetly the single rooms which actualiteit have just a single bed. So whenever you reserve a single room, ask for a double bedded room for single occupancy. Every room is different and as there is a mail building and a guesthouse (right next door), there is a wide variety of rooms and views. I was lucky to have a room with 2 windows overlooking the lake. There are wooden floors in the room (which make a lot of noise actually)

The matrasses in this hotel are typically Swiss which means they're very thin. Therefor i've asked for an extra Duvet and put 2 matrasses on top of each other (HINT). 

Bathroom:

The bathroom is rather small. In my room there was a small shower (in fact a bit to small - was unable to wash my feet). The pressure in the shower is really good!

There is liquid soap in a dispenser and 3 towels per person (1 very small towel, 1 handtowel and 1 big towel) and 1 floor carpet.

There is a small hairdryer, but with a poor quality.

Breakfast:

The breakfast is served in a buffet in the restaurant part overlooking the lake. This is great to wake up. There is a small selectie of cheese, meat, 3 kinds of bread, booked eggs, muesli, 2 kinds of yoghurt, Nutella, jam, honey and Some pieces of fruit. There is orange juice, apel juice and water provided. Coffee/ tea are served on the table.

Restaurant:

Restaurant is partly overlooking the lake and serves food of a high quality. There is a wide selection which you can chose from.

Advantages:

- location of the hotel on the lake (perfect for an evening walk)

- hospitality of the staff

- wine bar directly in the hotel

- restaurant with terrace overlooking the lake / with a good food quality.

Disadvantages:

- matrasses way to thin + low beds (but are planned to be replaced after summer 16)

- small showers (depends on the room you're in)

I would rate this 4* hotel 7/10 in general This as the average rate is about 140CHF per night incl breakfast and for this price I would expect more comfort in the rooms. For the location, hospitality and food I really appreciate this hotel.