TravelCommentator

Monthly Archive: November 2016

* Review / Transport

Singapore Airlines SQ365/SQ366

Good Consistent Service on Older Metal Singapore Airlines is my go to airline for travel to Rome FCO. I fly there with SIA once or twice a year and they have never let me down. Their cabin service in Economy has always been top notch and consistent. On this route: Singapore, Rome and vice versa they fly the Boeing 777-200ER. One of the older planes in their fleet. The B777 holds up reasonably well considering the seats and in-flight entertainment system (IFE) have seen better days. The seats are on the hard side (but compensated by using the cushion supplied) but are roomy in regards to width, pitch and configuration, which is the classic 3-3-3. SIA and a handful of other airlines still use...

* Review / Places

Parco Archeologico di Ostia Antica

An Almost Forgotten Roman Gem It’s a pity if one misses the opportunity to visit Ostia Antica. It’s very different from the Roman Forum, Palatine and the other ancient sites in central Rome. Here among the old ruins of the port of imperial Rome one can sense the way people lived and how they worked and traded the commodities that kept Rome alive. The site requires at least a whole afternoon, about 4 to 6 hours. Best piece of advice is to wear good comfortable walking or hiking shoes as a lot of the terrain is hard and rough. Getting there is easy. From central Rome go by Metro to Piramide station and then change to the Roma-Lido train at Porta San Paolo station....

* Review / Places / Shopping

Orchard Road Singapore

Shopaholic’s Paradise & More When I’m in Singapore, three or four times a year (latest October and November 2016), I cannot miss a visit to Orchard Road, the shopping mecca of the city state. My personal favourites are Plaza Singapura, ION Orchard and Takashimaya. Been to others too, like the high-end Paragon and the seemingly rundown low-end Lucky Plaza. Every time I visit I find time to discover something new. Three words of advice for first timers. One, try to score a map of some of the bigger centres like ION Orchard. If you don’t, you’ll lose your bearings. These places are like labyrinths (or worse still rabbit warrens). Two, you won’t see everything in one day. You’ll need to come back at some...

* Review / Trains / Transport

Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (SMRT)

Best Way to Travel in Singers What can you add to the many superlative reviews of one of the best (if not the best) mass rapid transport system in the world. The only complaints you may hear will come from the locals who want less crowded, better aircon and better carriages, etc. Which would be the normal reaction from locals anywhere. I visit Singapore regularly and yes there may be times when it is overcrowded (peak hours) and the aircon struggles with packed people, but I think many would agree it is the best way to get around Singapore. Most if not all the main attractions, hotels and shopping malls are in close reach of a MRT station. So are Changi Airport and the...

* Review / Accommodation

Kennedy Hotel Rome

Mixed Bag: Good Location, Bad Room A well positioned hotel close to Termini Railway Station. My reason for staying here was so that I was close to the station arriving from Tuscany on the Frecciarossa and leaving on the Leonardo Express to Fiumicino Airport. I have mixed feelings about this place. It’s position, price, breakfast and staff are all fine. It was the location of my room that didn’t satisfy me. Mind you I booked when the hotel was basically full so had no option, still I have to be frank. I was given room number 10. It’s on the first floor next to the stairs and lift. It is also probably the closest to the downstairs lobby. That in itself isn’t the problem....

* Review / Accommodation

Hotel Royal at Newton Singapore

Older Hotel Better Than Expected A hotel with an undeserved negative reputation. One of Singapore’s oldest at 45 years old. I was transiting Singapore and was allocated this hotel as part of my package with Singapore Airlines. Stayed mid November 2016 between 7am and 8:30pm and can only comment on my room and the service from the staff. I did not have breakfast as that was not part of my stay. The room was on the fifteenth floor, 1512. A nice large room. I was truly impressed considering I was only transiting. The bed was Queen size and very comfortable. The bathroom clean. Hot water was instantaneous. There was coffee and tea making facilities, large flat screen TV and a small fridge. I was...

* Review / Accommodation

Hotel Grand Pacific Singapore

Old, Tired but a Winner for Price, Staff, Food and Location Located on Victoria Street in the Bras Basah district and just south of Bugis between the MRT Stations of Bras Basah and Bugis, the hotel is in walking distance of food outlets, shopping malls and cultural centres. In Victoria, Albert and Queen Streets, restaurants, eateries and hawker centres. Shopping in Bugis Village, and malls Bugis Plus, Bugis Junction and Raffles City. For arts, heritage and culture, the Singapore Art Museum, National Museum of Singapore and the National Library. Also at one block away the iconic Raffles Hotel and Long Bar, famous for the original Singapore Sling cocktail. This was my second stay at the Grand Pacific. Previously visiting in mid-June 2015 while in...

* Review / Accommodation

Hotel Corona Rome

Still a Good Hotel After Third Time My third time at Hotel Corona, staying eight nights at the end of October and early November 2016. I booked direct and was given room 512 and had WiFi included. The room is on the fifth floor and faces the internal courtyard. It’s the same size as the single in my previous visits but with a larger bed. The only real drawback I found was the location of the bedside powerpoint. It wasn’t above one of the bedside cabinets like in the Single room but above the bed mattress on the side where the built-in wardrobe was positioned. This meant smartphones and tablets had to sit on the mattress when recharging. A bit awkward. WiFi worked well...

* Review / Eatery

Pizzeria Mediterranea Rome

Great Sliced Takeway Pizza! Had takeaway pizza here three or four times while staying at Hotel Corona in Via Napoli. Some of the best in Rome and well priced. Recommended not just by me but also by the stall holders from the street market in Via Cesare Balbo, round the corner. The pizzeria is located at Via Agostino Depretis, 76. Not far from Santa Maria Maggiore, one of Rome’s four major basilicas and just down from the Viminale. Update: been here again and again. Well at least once every time I’m in Rome either staying round the corner at Hotel Corona or if I’m passing through. My family has also had pizza here and no complaints. Drinks are also well priced. In fact they...