TravelCommentator

Category: Reviews

* Review / Cities & Towns / Destinations / Places

Zaanse Schans, Netherlands

An afternoon trip to Zaanse Schans to see the windmills. Not the best day for us as it was grey and windy, not unusual for the Netherlands at the time of year, autumn. It would’ve been nice if we had blue skies with the wind to run the windmills. Best time to visit is in spring (April) when the tulips are normally in bloom. This will add colour to any view. Getting to Zaanse Schans is easy from Amsterdam. We caught the train from Amsterdam Sloterdijk where we were staying but you could easily do it from Amsterdam Centraal. It takes approximately 15 minutes from Sloterdijk to the Zaandijk Zaanse Schans railway station. Then a short walk of approximately 20 minutes to the historical...

* Review / Trains / Transport

Train: Schiphol to Amsterdam Sloterdijk

Efficient, Inexpensive Airport to City and Country Service Very efficient and inexpensive way to travel to and from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. The station is located under Terminal 1. Access to the train platforms are by escalators from the Arrivals concourse. For information there’s a small kiosk next to the Meeting Point Red and White sculpture. Make your enquiries there regarding which public transport ticket will suit your stay best. The NS Ticket office is opposite the kiosk and you can buy tickets for travel all over the Netherlands. We chose a 3-day ticket for Amsterdam and its surrounds that could be used on all forms of public transport. Remember to check-in and check-out every time you board and alight (trains, trams etc.). We stayed...

* Review / Accommodation

Meininger Amsterdam City West Sloterdijk

Good Modern Hotel in Prime Transport Location If you want handy public transport and don’t mind a sterile location – not in the heart of older more charming Amsterdam but in modern office surrounds – the Meininger Amsterdam West is in the perfect spot. Coming and going to Schiphol Airport, getting around Amsterdam or the surrounding countryside is easy from Sloterdijk. I chose Meininger for this reason, its location. Sloterdijk Station is a short walk (about 150 metres) from the hotel. Two stops from the airport and one stop to Amsterdam Centraal. We visited Zaanse Schans, Haarlem, Den Haag (The Hague) and Rotterdam by train from here. If we had more time we would’ve visited Utrecht and a few other places. Outside the station...

* Review / Accommodation

Hotel Grand Pacific Singapore

Quick Relaxing Stopover This is my fourth visit to this hotel, this time just for a one-night stopover before heading to Europe. Also this time with my family. When I booked I actually made a terrible mistake and got the date wrong. Only finding out when we arrived. They were also fully booked. Luckily though after sorting a few things out they found two rooms for us. The only drawback, I had to pay extra, $SGD160 for the rooms. I wasn’t planing to spend that extra money on accommodation but it was a small price to pay for my error. I didn’t want to go looking for another hotel just after arriving with luggage and family in tow, especially after I had already mucked...

* Review / Chauffeur & Taxi Services / Transport

Adelaide Metropolitan Chauffeurs

Reliable Airport Transfers This is a chauffeur service I use regularly to and from Adelaide International Airport. I’ve always had reliable and efficient service, whether with Peter, the owner, or any of the drivers he’s sent when he is busy or booked. Peter and the chauffeurs are courteous and well-presented. Their vehicles comfortable and spotless. Some cars will have an entertainment system with monitors on the rear of the front seats. Great for keeping the younger ones entertained. Peter’s Chrysler has a Harman Kardon system with 19 speakers throughout the interior giving surround sound when videos are played on the front screen. Pricing is reasonable considering the quality of the service, point to point. Definitely the best way to start and finish your journey...

* Review / Lounges

KrisFlyer Gold Lounge Terminal 3, Changi Airport

Acceptable But Needs Refurbishment Singapore Airline’s lounge for KrisFlyer Elite Gold and Star Alliance Gold members. The KrisFlyer Gold Lounge in Terminal 3 is located on Level 3 above the shopping concourse between Emigration/Passport Control and Gates A1-A8. It is a very popular lounge and can get crowded at times. My suggestion? Be aware of the departures schedule and plan ahead, especially when there are several flights into Asia on A380s. The service is OK. The food is acceptable, but can become boring if you use this lounge regularly. Also considering the amount of people you’ll have to be lucky to time new servings of hot food. There are sandwiches, small cakes and nibbles as well. Coffee and tea and plenty of soft drinks,...

* Review / Shopping

Plaza Singapura, Singapore

Moderately Priced Shopping Mall One of my favourite malls in Singapore. Plaza Singapura is located at the eastern end of Orchard Road, Singapore’s famous shopping strip. Easily reached by bus and MRT, the mall sits atop of Dhoby Ghaut MRT station. Escalators from the platforms take you to the basement floor of the mall, but if you’ve never been before make sure to read the signs carefully as Dhoby Ghaut is a major interchange for three MRT lines, North South Line (red), North East Line (purple) and Circle Line (yellow). I usually come from Bras Basah on the Circle Line, a one station hop to the terminus and a short escalator ride to the entrance of the food court on the basement floor. Still...

* Review / Eatery

Pizza Express Kornhill Plaza, Hong Kong

Great Pizza: Price, Quality and Service Happened to come across this place while I was enjoying a ride on the Hong Kong tramway. Had seen it on my way to Shau Kei Wan and then on the way back I thought I should give this pizzeria restaurant a try. It was already about 3pm, a late lunch. I managed to get their midday special, an entrée and a main. I originally only wanted a pizza and a drink, however the waitress pointed out that if I wanted, it came together with an entrée. So on her kind advice I decided on the minestrone and a giardiniera pizza. To drink a pot of hot tea with lemon. As I make my own pizzas at home...

* Review / Transport

Hong Kong Tramways (Ding Ding)

Iconic Tram Experience Probably the best way to see the bustling city of Hong Kong on the cheap. The flat fares per ride are: adult $HKD2.30, children (3 to 12 years) $HKD1.20 and Seniors (65 years and over) $1.10. Boarding of trams is always done at the rear, leaving and paying done at the front. If paying by cash leave the correct fare in the coin box. The driver does not carry change. Otherwise scan an Octopus Card (reloadable transport card). Two staircases, one behind the driver and the other at the back get you to the enclosed top level. Seats are in wood with no cushioning. They can be hard on the bottom if you do the whole trip from one end to...

* Review / Eatery

Food Republic, Bras Basah Road, Singapore

Good Moderately Priced Food for the Occasional Visit This particular Food Republic is not overly large and can get crowded at meal times, especially during lunch when many locals and students pop in. It’s also not the cheapest as you can get similar food at hawker centres and other less flashy food courts for several (Singapore) dollars less and even at half price. But if you find yourself on Bras Basah Road and don’t feel like walking too far, Food Republic is still a fine place to eat. It is clean and the service is relatively quick. There’s a good selection of cuisines: Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and the food caters to most eaters: vegetarian, duck, pork, beef, seafood, rice, noodles, dumplings, soups, fruit juices,...

* Review / Places

Hong Kong Heritage Museum

Chinese Culture & Art. Worth a Visit! Anyone who loves culture, art, design, etc., should give this place a visit, whether the exhibitions are permanent or temporary, free or paid. I visited during March 2017 and was fortunate enough to catch the Bruce Lee special exhibition: Bruce Lee: Kung Fu-Art-Life. Been a fan of his work as a martial artist, actor and person. A real insight into his life seeing the exhibits and the documentary “The Brilliant Life of Bruce Lee” screened in the theatre. Also the other exhibitions of Chinese, Cantonese and Hong Kong culture, history, art, design and fashion. Here below are several images from the exhibition on paintings adapted from Jin Yong’s Novels. Time wise, give yourself at least 3 to...

* Review / Accommodation

Hotel Grand Pacific Singapore

Good Choice Mid-range Hotel My third stay at this well located hotel in the heart of Bugis. This time for one night only. Like in my previous visits the staff were attentive and courteous, at check-in, check-out and when I had any questions that needed answered. The room 617, a Deluxe Twin, at the rear of the building faces the Royal at Queens Hotel. These rooms a reasonably spacious, like all the rooms in the Grand Pacific. Bed mattress was firm and comfortable. Sheets looked clean. Bathroom on the aged side, door, grout, fixtures, etc., but in general clean. The chunky furniture, as in my previous visit, is dated, but as I’m used to them now they don’t worry me. On level 5 there...

* Review / Accommodation

Ibis Hong Kong Central & Sheung Wan

Good Hotel Let Down by Laundry Overall had a good experience. The location of the hotel is easy to get to thanks to the free Airport Express Hotel Shuttles from Hong Kong Central. Other forms of transport all close by, tramway, buses and MTR at Sheung Wan. Everything is not far, including places to eat and drink, etc., like Soho nearby. So no dramas getting to places either walking or using public transport. The reception is on the fifth floor. Check-in and check-out was done very efficiently. Polite and attentive staff at reception and at the bar and restaurant on the sixth floor. Only had one meal there and it was good, as was the ample buffet breakfast every morning. One improvement perhaps, the...

* Review / Places

Hong Kong Island Skyline

Asia’s World City Lights Up The skyline can be viewed from many angles at different times of day. Perfect on a beautiful sunny day, better still at sunrise or sunset, but the best time to view the Hong Kong Island skyline is in the evening when the Symphony of Lights show comes on. The show starts every evening at 8pm. Vantage points can get very crowded so best to get in early. The laser light show and led lights, accompanied by music, can be seen and heard from the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and viewed from the Avenue of Stars and the great vantage point of the indoor observation deck of the International Commerce Centre (ICC) in Kowloon. If lucky enough when there’s low...

* Review / Transport

Airport Express Hong Kong

Unbeatable Transport Option HKIA The number one transport option in and out of HKIA. The Airport Express is part of Hong Kong’s superb MTR network, arguably one of the best mass transport systems anywhere. From HKIA trains operate every 10 minutes between 05:54 and 23:28 and 12 minutes thereafter until 00:48. Running on separate tracks to the rest of the network the service is direct and fast, taking 14 minutes to Tsing Yi (New Territories), 22 minutes to Kowloon and 24 minutes to Central on Hong Kong Island. The ride in modern, fully air conditioned carriages is comfortable. Complimentary WiFi and two ample luggage racks in the middle portion of carriages round off the amenities. At Kowloon and Central stations MTR runs free shuttle...

* Review / Trains / Transport

Hong Kong MTR

Quick, Efficient World Class Mass Rapid Transport The quickest, most reliable and efficient mode of transport in Hong Kong. The MTR is arguably one the best mass rapid transport systems in the world. Covering Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories, you’ll travel in a safe environment and in clean air conditioned carriages. Popular with tourists and the local commuters, the MTR is best avoided in the peak hour rushes. Plan your sightseeing, dining and other activities with this in mind. Another piece of advice if you are not practical with the stations and their exits, which are marked alphabetically, download the location and station layouts from the MTR website. Or, check the Hong Kong Street Directory and Google Maps. Best of all,...