Hotel

TRAVEL | HONG KONG | Disney Explorers Lodge / February 13, 2018 by Jenn Chan

When does Hong Kong feel like Cancun? Or Bali? Or Phuket? When you walk beside an epic pool, framed by the ocean in a carnival-like, jubilant atmosphere. I, like countless others, have happily been indoctrinated with Disney everything from a young age. Sunday dinner in the formal dining room watching the classics and feeling like you're in centre of the universe. Where else would anyone want to be? The 8 year-old mind cannot fathom it!

Regardless of your age the finishes and the sheer magnitude of the Disney Explorers Lodge will suffice for even the most amenity-crazed traveller. Pools, a spa, a gym, restaurants and a gargantuan lobby that stretches 50-60 feet into the air allowing for, during our visit, one of the larger Christmas trees I've been privy to, greet you as you enter.

Our room was lovely! Very modern and... wait for it... Disney-themed everything right down to the shampoo and conditioner! Two queen beds dominate the space and views across Discovery Bay and its iconic Plaza draw the eye out and the room immediately feels even bigger and fills with light and vibrancy. Outside our window a seawall offers paved walking and biking paths and cyclists, kayakers and murmuring families peddle, paddle, laugh and skip as they pass. The bathroom is very modern and spa-like and the toilet is housed separate from the sink and vanity to allow for families and couples to share the room without issue. We prepared ourselves a few coffees and watched as a family scrambled around the Disney surfboard feature in the gardens below our window. Caffeinated and bubbling with Mickey Mouse energy we set out.

The Chart Room Café was our first stop for some food and view over the gardens. Being after noon and being that I was on vacation I indulged in an icy cold Heineken and enjoyed a quick bite as children raced around the tables in feverish games of unofficial tag; the excitement builds as you watch them! A quick walk around the gardens to admire the landscape architecture, curse the pool's inactivity due to the season and an even quicker daydream about its potential and it's off to the Park. THE Park! The Happiest Place on Earth! I'm going to Disneyland!

Words: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan

Travel: The Sukhothai Bangkok / August 21, 2017 by Jenn Chan

Sukothai is roughly translated as the 'Dawn of Happiness' and Thailand is known as 'The Land of Smiles'. Bangkok I did not want to Google to save myself from similar keywords leading me down a rabbit hole, but I can attest to its vibrancy. Each day of the two weeks I was in Bangkok I'd jump on my 125cc Honda PCX, a beautiful, powerful beast, and navigate the streets of Thailand's capital amidst a glut of scooters that flow along like logs in a river in packs of 20-30 through stop sign-less streets. Retreating to The Sukothai Bangkok each night and relaxing in their palatial, very Thai suites was like a lake in the desert!

You enter the Sukothai through a glistening lobby with rich woods, stones and ceilings high enough to accommodate giraffes. Standing on one another's shoulders. On our way to the room, that we did not yet know was so incredible, we passed windows that offered glimpses into the private courtyard pond, secluded from the public by each of the four wings of the hotel that border it. The doors open and a smile passes your face that won't fade until after you've left days later. The bathroom, spa room really, is almost as big as the adjacent bedroom and seating area. A very useful desk space bookends the lounging area and a pair of love seats face each other and look upon the tv and its sophisticated entertainment options. A lazy Susan under the tv swivels the flat screen towards a very comfortable bed and ornately carved wood shutters slide into place over the windows and provides a very cozy, dark sleeping space.

The service at the Sukothai is fantastic! Sincere smiles and humble bows were gratefully reciprocated, pillows and ice were delivered to the room hastily and appreciation for gratifies was clearly heartfelt. If you take care of your employees they will take care of your customers and Sukothai gets this right! The food, as one would expect from the grandeur of the property, was fresh and plentiful. Certainly an option for anyone and we will certainly return once repairs to the pool are complete. I'm told the space is lovely so please drop us a line at JennChanPhotography.com and let us know your experiences! The Sukothai is a beautiful place to stay whether you're in Bangkok for business or pleasure and I wholeheartedly recommend it!

Words: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan

Travel: Park Hyatt Siem Reap, Cambodia / June 28, 2017 by Jenn Chan

Siem Reap is the best city in Southeast Asia! City might be a bit of a stretch as it really feels more like a resort town teeming with cottage goers buying nicknacks and applying sunscreen. The people are kind, the streets are clean and the temples, oh the temples, are an absolutely world class attraction!

We were lucky to call the Park Hyatt Siem Reap home for a week. We really do feel lucky to have chosen the hotel, from the dozens and dozens available, and made some genuine friendships with the staff there. From Minh's warm welcome and her company at a lovely afternoon tea to Mey's humble, cheerful service in the dining room to the many, many security guards who minded my motorbike and were eager to spend 5 minutes chatting about life and Cambodia.

In terms of luxury accommodations in Siem Reap you are deciding between the Park Hyatt and the Grand Hotel d'Angkor. We visited both properties and so I can be certain when I make this assertion; the Park Hyatt is the premier hotel in Siem Reap! Nestled halfway between the hedonistic Pub Street and packed Market Street it boasts the best location, in my opinion, of any hotel in the downtown core. Hedonistic is a monicker that might scare off some, but I mean it with reverence and adoration. A strip of bars, massage parlours and restaurants where the wares are only limited by your imagination. 'Happy pizza' parlours are dotted throughout where it is possible to order a 'happy' ham and pineapple pizza and receive a pie with a delicious crust, fresh toppings and a smattering of marijuana whose taste is undetectable, but whose effect is undeniably serene. It's perfectly legal in Siem Reap and when in Rome...

The lobby of the Park Hyatt is a lavish, cylindrical space which goes all the way up to the top floor, the third, and ends with the Hyatt's signature steeple which can be seen for miles. Whisked into the Living Room, a grand space with towering bookshelves and capped by an amazing bar, we were welcomed and offered some history on the property and Siem Reap. Sitting and absorbing the environment a sense of calm envelopes you. As you walk out into the courtyard the huge banyan tree surrounded by a big fountain shines with the light of the sun and invites you to wade into its shallow waters. But you mustn't. There are two actual pools after all.

Our suite was incredible! You walk into a wood on wood on wood oasis with a modern twist. The Italian marble in the washroom, the grand, lavish, incredible washroom, looks as expensive as it does refined. The mattress was like a fluffy cloud, a very fluffy cloud, and you could nestle in there for hours, days, weeks or years without feeling like you're missing any part of the human experience. Combine that with the large living room, adequate kitchenette and spacious walk in closet and I would live there. Full stop.

I will not, I refuse to, play favourites with the pools. The first floor salt water pool has its merits. On second thought I will play favourites; the second floor indoor/ outdoor pool is amazing! Large and warm and boasting several jetted alcoves, a bridge and a nearby bar it is a top notch oasis. It is a tie with the first floor dining area replete with swinging tables, large beds suspended from chains, in terms of opulence and comfort!

The food at the Park Hyatt is amazing! We were blessed to enjoy breakfast everyday, best eggs Benedict of my life, but we also indulged in the age old British tradition of high tea. Being the typical white guy with typical white guy tastes I partook in the Signature high tea set while Jenn ventured into the Thai tea set waters. Tea and crumpets and sandwiches and deliciousness. Jenn's tier seemed a bit more adventurous and I almost envied her curry this and that until I got to my pastry layer. I love carbs. My energy level loves carbs. My belly hates carbs, but he's a jerk anyway! Indulge in afternoon tea at the Park Hyatt! Having tried both high tea offerings from the two top Siem Reap hotels I can say, without hesitation, that the Hyatt's is no less than five times better!

When you tell locals, the poor yet incredibly congenial Cambodians I grew to love, that you're staying at the Park Hyatt they gasp and shift their gaze. Local Siem Reap hostels, which cost close to pennies, are the preferred accommodation for people who look like me: young, Caucasian males. I dress like those people. I act like those people. I crave the same Cambodian experience as those people, but I am privileged to stay in properties like the Park Hyatt. Siem Reap is, as I mentioned, the best town in Southeast Asia and if you don't make it there to visit after reading this you will feel cheated. If and when you go check out the Park Hyatt. You will not regret it.

Words: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan

Travel: Mövenpick Resorts Bangtao Beach, Phuket, Thailand / May 29, 2017 by Jenn Chan

Mövenpick is named for the German word for seagull, Möwe, the w pronounced like a v, and the skillful way it 'picks' its food out of mid air. Originally a restaurant specializing in upscale food quickly and at reasonable prices when Mövenpick expanded into the hotel world they brought those same philosophies with them. The Mövenpick property at Bangtao Beach is special. A collection of luxurious villas and rooms surrounding a beautiful Infiniti pool with views stretching out over the gorgeous Andaman Sea.

As we entered our 2 bedroom villa, with its private pool and gourmet kitchen, we are struck by the blue glimmer of the sea as we look out over the pool. The living room is spacious and modern and flows well with the adjoining kitchen and dining area. The master bedroom has a very serene feeling looking out over lush vegetation and our private patio dining table. The ensuite is very spa-like and our hosts had a bath drawn for us with fragrant, local flowers swimming in it!

The grounds are lovely, quiet and very private. The pool forms the central mustering point and smiling guests flock to cool down and relax in the poolside cabanas. Families mix with couples on a romantic retreat and singles posted up at the swim up bar. Bangtao is the part of Phuket where relaxation isn't only encouraged it's unavoidable.

Travelling as much as I do I have become adept at spotting the differences between good resorts and great ones. Some properties have luxurious accommodations, but their staff lack training or grace. Some places you stay are dirty or outdated, but the food is good and the staff friendly. Mövenpick Bangtao has beautiful rooms, excellent, long tenured staff, and their food is fresh and the ingredients are high quality; the trifecta! From the breakfast buffet where there will no doubt be options to please everyone to the incredible Palm Restaurant Mövenpic's gastronomy roots are evident.

The Palm Cuisine Restaurant at Mövenpick takes great pride in their Thai food! We were in for a treat when we made reservations and left the menu up to the Chef. It started with Meang kham, an ages old Thai tradition. Wild betel leaves wrap a mixture of peanut, lime, dried shrimp, ginger, shallots and Thai chillis all covered in a shrimp-based, sweet and salty sauce. The heat from the chilies melds with the sweet and salty sauce and offer a stark contrast to the lime and ginger. Very delicious!

Prawn cakes arrived next smelling like a slice of heaven deep fried! Crispy brown on the outside and packed with prawn goodness inside. It comes with a lovely plum sauce with just the right sweetness to compliment the delicious cakes. This appetizer is a very solid 8.5/10!

Poe Tack is a seafood hot and sour soup loaded with seafood. Loaded. Alongside it came the Pla Sam Rod, a Snapper fillet in sweet and sour sauce. I have had some bad experiences with hot and sour soup. Some too hot and some too sour. Some tasted like sweat. Yes, sweat. The Palm's offering hits a good balance and it is full of plump and delicious seafood; fish, mussels and gigantic prawns that look like they could sink a ship. The Snapper tastes like it was pulled from the waters that lie some 200 feet away and recently. Fresh, tender and delicious.

Khao Neaw Ma Muang is a mango, sticky rice, coconut milk and sesame seed concoction. Jenn devoured hers and found the mango to be "soft and yummy". She then devoured mine as I slept, jet lagged, on the crook of my arm at the table. Not my finest moment. In all we both loved at our experience at the Palm and recommend it without hesitation!

If you're travelling to Phuket treat yourself to a few nights away from the craziness that is Patong Beach, the tourist trap of the island, and unwind in Bangtao. One of the longest beaches on the island and strikes a good balance between resort living and local flair. Mövenpick is an excellent choice to take it all in and you will see why they win countless awards for their hospitality and are rated in the top 10% of luxury, 5-star resorts worldwide!

Words: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan

Staycation at Trump Vancouver / May 18, 2017 by Jenn Chan

Gazing up at the $275 million Holborn Group built, Trump branded, twisted tower of glass and steel it is difficult to fathom the sheer scale of such a large project. Where do you even start to build such a behemoth? Who do you hire? How long will it adorn the majestic Vancouver skyline? Where did all that money go? When you walk in it is immediately apparent where the money has gone; details. Marble, crystal and dark woods everywhere. Custom made furniture, floor to ceiling windows and 180 eclectic pieces of art by local Vancouver artist Miriam Aroeste commissioned specifically for the tower. This is luxury.

Our staycation experience starts long before we enter the doors to our sensational hotel room. It starts with service. Bobby Bissessar is a prime example of someone you want to be customer facing if you run a luxury hotel, a Fortune 500 company or even a hotdog stand. The term people person gets thrown around a lot in this day and age. It equates to someone who genuinely likes people; who is humble, affable and accommodating and Bobby is all these things and more! As the Marketing and Leisure Sales Manager he is our point of contact and we are grateful for his professionalism and friendship.

Open the door to any hotel room in the tower and you will be awed by its modern features and beautiful design, but open the door to an Executive King Suite and prepare to pick your jaw up off the floor! An immense tv sits at the foot of a heavenly soft yet supportive king sized bed with an enormous, white leather headboard. Sizing things up I estimated the headboard alone to be worth upwards of $10,000; details. A well appointed desk sits adjacent and Jenn spends a lot of time there editing these beautiful photos you see above. Just beyond that is the bathroom that wouldn't look out of place in a high end spa. A stately, standalone tub dominates one corner and, to the right, double sinks precede an all glass shower with a luxurious rain head. With a push of a button all the blinds close for privacy. The balcony, one of the iconic oval outcroppings on the tower, is spacious and has a very comfortable patio couch which offers a nice peekaboo view of the Vancouver Yacht Club and beautiful, supernatural Stanley Park. Staying at Trump will make you feel pampered and ready to explore the splendour that is Vancouver!

Fresh Bottled Water & Chocolate Truffles

Trump Champagne & Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Words: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan

Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Seattle / May 4, 2017 by Jenn Chan

Like a scene from a Disney fairytale a smiling valet, in a gleaming uniform, was smiling at my door within moments of pulling into the regal Fairmont Olympic Hotel in beautiful downtown Seattle. "Good afternoon, sir, welcome to the Fairmont Olympic, may I help you with your bags?" "Yes, thank you very much!" And we're off!

The first thing that strikes you as you enter the Fairmont Olympic lobby is the incredible, seemingly 5 mile long, rug that dominates the centre of the opulent lobby. A two story space, resplendent with giant chandeliers and 1920's luxury, that still satisfies modern notions of taste, high end style and comfort. The domed roof gives the space a real sense of vastness and I spent many pit stops between activities enjoying quiet time and taking it all in.

Service. It's the reason a burger at a 5 diamond restaurant costs $50 and at Five Guys, where they make one hell of a good burger, one will set you back $10. That and Grey Poupon, but I digress... The beaming face I was greeted with at the reception desk is the Grey Poupon of the service industry! The booking is in order, credit card info taken, recommendations on activities are given and we're off to the 10th floor and our king executive suite!

I've recently invested in a very expensive California King bed with a NASA-eque, technologically advanced mattress and Fairmont, true to form, boasts comfort that rivals that to which I have become accustomed! Tasteful greys and whites mix with accents of sunshine yellow and the room and its accoutrements are modern, warm and inviting. Everything you would expect in a property dreamed up by the Seattle Chamber of Commerce to bring a world class hotel to Seattle following WWI. The Italian Renaissance structure was completed in 1924 and dubbed "The Olympic" after the Seattle Times held a contest to name it. Its elegant, castle-like design has made it a Seattle landmark and it was designated as such under the National Registry of Historic Places in 1979.

The gym is modern and functional, the spa is prestigious yet affordable and the glass domed pool and hot tub is an oasis in the middle of the concrete jungle. If you're visiting Seattle I would highly recommend the Fairmont Olympic for its service, comfort and value!

Words: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan