Next Hotel - Melbourne's latest swanky 5 star accommodation

Bar area. The Barrel Room - the hotel's own wood-ageing program for spirits, cocktails and herbal liquors 

The Club Lounge

Staircase to La Madonna Restaurant Level 3

Opened in 2021, this 24 storey hotel is situated on Little Bourke Street between Russell and Exhibition Streets, close to Chinatown and the theatre precinct. During the pandemic, any hotels are closing or modifying their club lounges (e.g. no buffet areas, self-serve beverages). Thankfully this hotel is bucking the trend. 

Reception area Level 2

The weirdest place in Vietnam - Bana Hills French Village

Fifty minutes by car from Danang, Vietnam is the SunWorld's Bana Hills theme park and French Village (containing five Mercure hotels). The park is reached by an amazing cable car system.
As the mountain is 1487 metres above sea level, the weather can vary drastically. It can be 10-15 degrees Celsius cooler in French Village. When the mountain top is covered in mist, the mock-French buildings look more convincing and definitely atmospheric.
Daytrippers swarm into the park by 9 a.m.. The main attractions being the eye-popping "Golden Bridge", the four level indoor amusement park and the Instagrammable French Village.

In 2020 another large hotel (MGallery) and a castle complex will be opened.

Tip: Cable car ride/entrance to park costs 728,000 VND (about US$32), but if you stay overnight the admission is only 450,000 VND (about US$20).

The entrance at the top of the cable car station, looking suspiciously like Universal Studios theme park entrance

The fog-shrouded French Village from Hotel De Nice

A mini-Notre Dame

Fantasy Park (inspired by the writings of Jules Verne)

Hotel pool

The crowds disappear by nightfall.

Hotel de Lyon

The Golden Bridge - go early morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds

Temples and pagoda on the mountain summit

St Denis mock-cathedral

One of the longest cable car rides in the world

MGallery Legacy Yen Tu - an amazing hotel that noone knows about

Although it's been open for a year, hardly anyone knows about it.
The Accor-managed hotel is less than 3 hours' drive from Hanoi, slightly closer to Halong Bay. Located at the foot of the sacred Yen Tu mountain.
Designed by Bill Bensley (who seems to be the go-to guy if you want an iconic hotel/resort), modelled on a 13th century Vietnamese palace, this hotel is part resort, part work of art, part theatrical set piece. Everything is larger than life. The colours are bold - yellows, reds and purples. Elegant stone work, massive timber beams, vivid murals, over-sized pottery and marble pieces make this hotel a destination in itself. Just visiting the toilet or shower is an experience.
On the weekend, as Yen Tu Mountain is a sacred Buddhist site, crowds of Vietnamese make the pilgrimage. I am assuming once the Spa wing of the hotel is completed in 2020, the place will have more guests.

The pool area, but where is everyone?

Yen Tu Mountain from the hotel grounds

Walkway linking the foyer, bar, restaurant and ballroom

Soaring ceilings in the lounge bar

A corridor in one of the guest room wings

Junior Suites feature an open air brass bath, the huge timber sliding doors are operated by a decorative pulley system 

Resembling a Moscow subway station, this is another hotel corridor

No television, just admire the room (internet is fast though)

Perhaps the most elegant wheelchair access ramp?

Toilet overlooks a brick lightwell

Restaurant urinals

The first cable car station is a 15 minute walk or a complimentary e-trolley ride from the hotel.

The world's best Ibis Hotel? Ibis Saigon Airport

This hotel ticks all the boxes.
Free shuttle from/to the airport (or you can walk it if you travel light and don't mind tackling the traffic), funky decor, delicious and comprehensive buffet breakfast in the bistro, rooftop bar, pool and recreation rooms, quiet rooms and cheap tariff.

Lobby with shuttle bus outside

Killer Vietnamese breakfast or eggs to order

Rooftop lap pool with runway views

Some rooms have kitchenettes - hotplates and microwave

Review of "The Hub" Hotel (Clarion Hotels), Oslo

The Hub, a newly refurbished hotel just across the road from Oslo's Cental Station, has a stunning elevator lobby. The facade is a huge LED screen with a water/ice sound and light show. A fun way to wait for a lift (elevator).

Digital "smart elevators"

Ask for a view towards the Oslo Fjord and Opera House. Buffet breakfast is a highlight - one of Oslo's best. If you have an early train, request a breakfast take away bag.

Central location, across the road from shopping malls and station

P.S. The bear mounted on the wall (in some rooms) is cute too.

Which is the best Sofitel in Sydney? Sofitel Wentworth vs Sofitel Darling Harbour

Sofitel Darling Harbour was opened late in 2017. The Wentworth was opened late 1966. It is basically style over substance with these two Sofitels.
Although the new Sofitel is architecturally impressive, Sofitel Wentworth is the classier establishment - better service, food/beverage and location.

Sofitel Darling Harbour 
PROS

• 35 storeys (although floor 13 and 14 left out)
• 50 metres from the Light Rail stop (Convention Centre)
• 5 minute walk to public ferry terminal (Pyrmont)
• Infinity pool with views over Darling Harbour

CONS

• If your room faces north or east (meaning the view rooms, at an extra cost), it is very hot. We stayed in winter, also. The air conditioning temperature is set too high and is motion-activated, stay still for 60 minutes - it switches off. Hence you can wake up to a sauna in your room.
• Low floors (10 or below) can have views of car parks and surrounding buildings (south or east facing rooms).
• Lighting system in the room is 'all or nothing'. There is no indirect lighting. The overly bright nightlight in the bathroom would keep any person (sleeping on the bathroom side of the bed) awake, unless he/she wears a blindfold.
• If you are staying in the club lounge (Club Millesime is $150 extra, unless you have Accor Platinum status), expect tiny pours of wine by the staff (almost wine tasting size). If a beer is poured for you, the stubby isn't even emptied, so you get 3/4 of a glass. Go figure.

Sofitel Wentworth

PROS

• Exceptional service, better trained staff.
• 5 minute walk from Circular Quay (ferry, train, light rail, Opera House, The Rocks)
• 5 minute walk to Botanical Gardens
• 10 minute walk to Pitt Street Mall
• Club Sofitel staff pour a wine or a beer as you would yourself at home. Better range of evening cocktails/canapes.
• Quality of food superior to Sofitel Darling Harbour, in restaurant as well as in the club.
• First 3 levels of rooms facing courtyard have opening doors (Juliet balcony) - a boon for smokers.

CONS

• No spectacular views
• Because it is a 60's hotel, shower over bath in standard rooms (most of hotel rooms).
• Standard rooms are small (under 30 sq metres).

N-E view from Club lounge on level 35 (Sofitel Darling Harbour). The vaulted ceiling is spectacular.

The view is dazzling (automatic blinds are activated to shield some of the sun).

Club Sofitel at the Wentworth (Level 5)

Afternoon tea at the Wentworth (Club Sofitel)

Bagan accommodation Unbeatable location and value - Thande Hotel in Old Bagan

View from outdoor bar - sunset 

Buffet breakfast under the giant Acacia trees - river views

5 minutes' walk from the hotel, climb a temple for the sunrise

Pool and spa area - perfect for cooling off after morning touring

We stayed in a very comfortable Superior Bungalow (Garden view). No need to pay double the rate for a River view room (they face west so you cannot sit outside - too hot in the afernoon). The killer view is in the outdoor bar and restaurant under shady trees. Agoda price was lower than hotel website.
Rooms spotless, comfy beds, excellent toiletries for a 3 star hotel, even gowns in the room. The location is unbeatable. Free wifi.
Buffet breakfast catered for all. Dinner meals around from US$10. Five minutes walk to Uncle Lay's Restaurant (Delicious meals from $AUD2.50, $1 Rum Sour, $2 beer!). A torch is available at Reception for night walks.
You can hire e-bikes from hotel or down the road (a bit cheaper). ATM on site. You can pay in US$ (no change given so do your maths) or kyat or credit card. Great to relax by the attractive pool after a morning of touring. Loved watching the squirrels from our private verandah.
Just be wary of the foot of the bed. My wife and I knocked our feet on the exposed wooden edges.

New Sofitel City Centre, Singapore - Review

Accor's newest hotel in Singapore opened in October 2017. Singapore now has three Sofitels: the funky, boutique style Sofitel So; Sofitel Sentosa (resort style) and now the 20 floor Sofitel City Centre, sitting half in the business district and half in Chinatown.

PROS
* The hotel is located above Tanjong Pagar MRT (which has direct access to Changi Airport rail line).
* Interesting locale - heritage area
* Adjoining huge Virgin Active Gym

CONS
* Lacks the wow-factor that Sofitel is renowned for.
* Small Club Lounge, seems cramped. Self-serve wine gizmo dispenses room temperature white wine???
* Many of the staff are overly friendly rather than professional.

Magnificently restored shophouses, 2 minutes walk from the hotel

Expansive pool/spa area. Rooftop 30 metre infinity pool. Limited shaded areas.

Old meets new

Opt for the Chinatown shophouses view (rather than pool/skyscaper view), no direct sunlight in your room throughout the day.

Barrel-aged cocktails in 1864 Bar

Racines restaurant

Every room gets a Smartphone with free calls and data. Great for ordering sightseeing tickets at discounted prices.

Club Lounge (Club Millesime) adjoints the pool area. The lounge is quite small compared to other hotel lounges.

Afternoon Tea at Club Millesime