5 things to see in Hanoi (Vietnam)

Asia Trips & Tricks Vietnam

I visited Hanoi in April 2017 during my first business trip to Vietnam and Malaysia and I had just enough time to see & feel the city’s charm. Hanoi is very easy to explore, because most of the attractions are located around 2 lakes (both quite central), and the beauty of it is that you can rent a scooter and do it the way locals do – for tourists it might seem a bit chaotic, but it’s definitely exciting and memorable! Here are 5 things to see in Hanoi if you are visiting the city just for a day or two:

1. Old Quarter

The easiest way to start exploring Hanoi is to book a hotel in the Old Quarter and you can do everything on foot from there. The Old Quarter is the oldest part of the city and the pulse there is something you need to feel for yourself. The streets are narrow and full of traffic, with scooters running up and down all the time. Endless street food “restaurants” offer delicious local dishes (mostly noodles and rice with veggies, chicken or beef) and chopped tropical fruits. Architecture lovers will enjoy the signature on the buildings from the French colonialism era (like neo-gothic style Saint Joseph Cathedral), and others can bargain for some quality clothes or souvenirs in one of numerous stores throughout this busy area. You do know that a lot of clothes from famous brands are “made in Vietnam”, right? 😉

Tip: I stayed one night in Boutique Splendora Hotel which has a very good location overlooking St Joseph Cathedral. The staff there is super friendly and they serve splendid breakfast. Just keep in mind that the Old Quarter is a very busy area so you might be disturbed by street noise during the night.   

2. Hoan Kiem Lake

Old Quarter ends with this cute lake, known for a very small island in the middle. The island hosts an ancient structure, called Turtle Tower (Thap Rùa), which was built to honor the legend of Golden Turtle God and a magic sward. A walk around Hoan Kiem Lake (due to the legend also known as Sword Lake) will take you about 20 minutes and it is a must for everyone. The path around the lake is surrounded by well-maintained green parks with a lot of benches to sit on and watch people making selfies or laugh at the tourists trying to cross the street for the first time.

Near the northern shore of the lake lies Jade Island with Hanoi’s most visited temple – Ngoc Son Temple (Temple of the Jade Mountain) from 18th century. Jade Island is connected to the lakeshore by elegant red-painted wooden Huc Bridge.

Tip: You pay peanuts to see the temple but make sure your shoulders are covered. Unfortunately I didn’t do my homework so I could only see it from the outside (they didn’t even allow me to step on the bridge!).

3. Ba Đình Square 

Ba Dinh Square is the center of Ba Dinh district and offers several interesting buildings, as well as some nice green parks to sit in and hide from sunlight (unless you visit Hanoi during winter, when sun mostly stays behind the clouds). This is also the square where president Ho Chi Minh declared the independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam back in September 1945.

The square is located close to the West Lake – the biggest freshwater lake in Hanoi. It is quite empty during the day (with the exception of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum opening hours) but in the evenings it becomes a popular gathering place for locals who want to exercise or just hang out with friends. Some of the famous buildings around Ba Dingh Square are the yellow Presidential Palace and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the National Assembly Building which lays the opposite of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. The architecture of all these buildings is quite impressive so if you take your time to take some nice photos, you can easily spend a few hours here.

4. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

As I already mentioned above, the most impressive building in Ba Dinh Square is Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, which was built in the mid-seventies, in honor of the respected President Ho Chi Minh. The building is actually a part of Ho Chi Minh complex, which consists of the Mausoleum – spectacular granite building with the embalmed body of the iconic leader laying in a glass case, the garden with plants donated from all regions of Vietnam, and Ho Chi Minh Museum (admission 0.5$)- a elaborate description of Ho Chi Minh’s life, with 8 chronological topics.

The entrance to Ho Chi Minh mausoleum is free, as long as you dress and behave respectfully: no short skirts or tank tops, no photos, talking or finger-pointing, no hands in your pockets and no bags inside (you can put them in safe deposits before you get in). The only chance to see the the leader is through a moving line – visitors are not allowed to stop and look at the embalmed body for longer time. Keep in mind that the mausoleum is only open 5 days a week (closed Mondays and Fridays) from 7 to 11 am, so you can imagine the queue that forms there during those times.

Tips: The mausoleum might be closed occasionally for maintenance so check its opening hours before your visit. The exhibit signs are not in English, so you might consider taking a tour guide in English to understand everything better.

5. Tran Quoc Pagoda

The oldest pagoda in Hanoi lies in the south east part of West Lake and you can reach it by crossing the Thanh Nien road (or bridge – whatever you want to call it). Tran Quoc Pagoda is over 1500 years old and it is famous for its lively scenery and sacred sanctuary. It is designed according to strict rules of Buddhist architecture with high »layered« towers and three main houses in sunny yellow colors.

Tran Quoc Pagoda is also a small museum of priceless antiques like worshiping statues in the front house. The one which is most outstanding is the statue Thich ca thap niet ban, also considered as the most beautiful statue of Vietnam.

Tips: If you want a great view of the West Lake and Tran Quoc Pagoda druing your stay you might want to check Pan Pacific Hanoi hotel – I stayed there my second night and I enjoyed it very much. The entrance to Tran Quoc Pagoda is free. Keep in mind that respectful clothes are to be worn here as well (although no one was there to haunt you like they did in Jade Island). Also try to avoid visiting Vietnamese temples during feast days – which is every 1st and 15th day of the lunar calendar month.

Hanoi is a charmer and a must for all Asia lovers. If you have more time during your visit, you can choose between several other sights to see here. And you are welcome to visit my Facebook album. for more Hanoi photos. Enjoy! 🙂

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Hotel review: Fraser Place (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Asia Hotel reviews

When you go to Kuala Lumpur for the first time, you obviously want to stay near Petronas Towers, or better yet, with a view of the famous twins. I was in the city for 3 days on business and since I had one whole day off for sightseeing, I wanted to have a perfect location to reach the towers on foot and hop on a tourist bus to see the rest of the city. I checked a number of hotels and in the end I chose Fraser Place due to very good reviews, good location, rooftop pool and quite a reasonable price.  

Location

First of all let me explain there are 2 Fraser hotels in KL – the one I stayed in has 4 stars and is a bit closer to the twins (can’t blame a girl for trying to save her feet, right?). The other one, called Fraser Residence, is a 5 star hotel and has slightly better customer reviews, but is also a bit more expensive.

Fraser Place is not a typical hotel, it is actually connected with several buildings and restaurants, and that is quite awesome because you can order room service from any of them. It is located in a very busy area so getting there and away in rush hours is a headache. But this goes for the whole KLCC area. It is about 800 meters away from Petronas towers and the good news is that the bus station (KL hop on hop off and GO KL city buss) is literally just around the corner.

Rooms

Rooms are fantastic. My view was not as fabulous as the one from the pool but still impressive enough to get the feeling how small you actually are. But windows are big and rooms are bright and spacious.

The fanciest thing for me was the glass window in the bathroom which makes you see the rest of the room. And vice versa. So basically you can see your significant other taking a shower without getting wet 😉

Perks like free coffee and tea, rich choice of toiletries, bathtubs and slippers are there to make your stay even more comfortable. On top of that you get the whole kitchen with full equipment so you can be your own chef if you want.

Breakfast and dining

Well, don’t be your own chef, because the food is Kuala Lumpur is very good. Breakfast choice in Fraser place was rich and the dining room is charming. For dinner you can choose some of the already mentioned restaurants (I think they have Japanese, Italian and a Steakhouse), or order room service.  I ordered from Italian and it was yummy! The prices are quite high though.

Pool and fitness

Ah, the rooftop infinity pool with the view of skyscrapers! And not just any skyscrapers – the KL Tower! It is really fantastic, especially in the evening if you are lucky with the pink colors of the sunset. The pool is just about the right size to have a good swim and you can enjoy in the sunbeds later. Fraser Place also has fitness but I never used it. Sightseeing in tropical heat was exhausting enough 😉

Anda’s rate: 9.5 from 10

Bottom line: Fraser Place is a very good choice for business travelers and those who want a bit of luxury in the heart of the city at a descent price. I am not giving it a perfect 10 because I didn’t get the view of the twins. Even though the view of KL tower was quite impressive 😉

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Hotel review: House Spacapan – Špacapanova hiša (Komen, Slovenia)

Europe Hotel reviews Slovenia

Slovenia’s Karst region is known for its culinary delights, especially for its autochthonous red wine Teran and air-dried ham, called Prsut (Pršut). There are many guesthouses spread throughout the region, however the best ones are often booked far in advance during the season, from late May to early September. House Spacapan (originally in Slovene language: Špacapanova hiša) is known for its hospitality and culinary reputation so we chose to stay there during one of our “Slovenia weekend-escapes”.

Location

Guest house Spacapan is located in a small Karst town Komen, very close to the beautiful Stanjel castle which is “a must” visit for all architecture and nature lovers. Komen is really small and since Spacapan restaurant lies practically on the main road, you cannot miss it. They have a small parking space in the backyard, but you can also find some parking spots across the street (in case you run into a busy weekend).

Rooms

Spacapan house has only 5 rooms and they are all equipped in comfortable rustic style. The one we stayed in was not particularly spacious, but it was enough for what we needed. The bathroom had a massage shower and that can come handy, especially if you are cruising through the Karst region on a bicycle and need some additional relaxation. Rooms have a small TV and offer complimentary wifi.

Wine cellar

This is something you definitely need to see. Spacapan cellar is a truly unique “underground” experience and its ambient makes you want to spend an evening or two just tasting their wines and local food. They even air-dry their own “pršut” (you can see some fine pieces of meat hanging from the ceiling), and we were told this drying process can take up to 4 years. No wonder it tastes like heaven!

The Spacapan cellar is also a very good place to rent for some special occasions like weddings, birthday parties or some other memorable events.

Restaurant

Breakfast is served in the restaurant in the ground floor which is also pleasantly furnished in rustic style. A handful of “diplomas” on the walls testify to the quality and hospitality of the main chef, Mrs Ada Spacapan, who has also been given a “Golden spoon” – Slovene culinary award. And if the other food is as good as our breakfast was, I can only say that you will be in culinary heaven. We were offered several choices of cheese and salami – all local and natural. Mrs Ada also served her home-made marmelades and everything tasted fantastic… in fact I still drool like a dog when I think of that phenomenal slices of pršut. Also the bread was made fresh that morning, and we were so full of everything that we didn’t even want desserts.

Anda’s rate: 8 from 10

Bottom line: I would recommend House Spacapan to foodies and wine lovers, as well as guests who are passing by Komen and need a place to stay for a night or two. I cannot imagine what anyone could do in Komen longer than that (unless you take it as your accommodation point and cruise around Karst and Coast region of Slovenia). Our experience was very pleasant, but since the apartments are officially rated 4 stars, I am giving them an 8 – some upgrades like bigger TV or complimentary tea/coffee makers would be nice. It is a pity that the rooms don’t have balconies where you could relax in the evening and breathe in the air, filled with the pleasant smell of pršut, making you crave for that “one more bite”.

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Hotel review: Pi Athens hotel (Athens, Greece)

Greece Hotel reviews

Every time I visit Athens, I hesitate between staying somewhere in the city center, or away from all the hustle and bustle. And every time I fall for Acropolis view. This is also what Hotel Pi Athens was promising, so I asked the hotel manager to get a room with the view. I got the view and I also got a fantastic room which was close to perfection.

Location

Hotel Pi Athens is very new, so not a lot of taxi drivers know it. But don’t worry they all use GPS, as well as do Uber drivers (by the way the drive to the airport will cost you around 30€ with Uber and a fixed rate 38€ with regular taxi). The hotel location is very convenient – literally a few steps away from the Panathenaic Stadium and across the main street from the National Gardens where you can have a relaxing walk or jogging in the evening. It is also convenient if you want to take Hop on Hop off bus, which stops at the entrance of National Gardens. If you are coming with rental car, they offer a free parking space just a few meters away.  

Rooms

I was escorted to my room on the 4th floor (the highest one) which dazzled me by the interior and architecture immediately. Of course I looked at the photos on the internet prior to my reservation but I thought they were rendered, so the modern and spacious design was a real pleasant surprise. Everything is in one space so you can see the bathtub from your bed. Kinky 😉 Only the toilet is discretely hidden behind the wall (with closed doors of course). The bed is comfortable, facing a flat screen TV which is rising from the floor. The room also offers a small fridge, complimentary bottled water and coffee/tea maker.

Now it’s time to come to that “close to perfection” moment. A big issue for me was the AC which blows directly onto your bed, and I can’t imagine how this works in the summer. I was in Athens in May and it was already hot, but I could sleep with my windows open so this cooled the room to a perfect temperature during the night. But during the day the room was boiling, so the only way to cool it was to run the AC and risk a headache from the fan. It would help if you could get an extra room key card to put in the charger when leaving the room. I didn’t bother asking as I only spent 2 nights there.

Hotel grounds

The minute you enter the hotel you realize it will be something special. There are two small spaces to relax in the reception, as well as a small terrace in the rooftop with a couple of sunbeds to rest in the evening while watching sunset over Acropolis. Honestly, the view cannot be compared to the one I witnessed in Athens Gate hotel because the hill is not so close, but if you are in Athens for the first time, it will do just fine. 

Breakfast space is again very open and modern – you can see that details were very carefully selected. The breakfast itself was at first a small disappointment for me, as I am used to rich choice of foods in 4 star hotels. But if you consider that hotel only has 6 rooms, it is logical they can’t indulge all tastes – it would be lavish to waste foods. And I totally support that. The choice of crunchy bread, delicious cheese and salami, on top of fresh made omelet, accompanied with freshly squeezed orange juice was more than I ever eat at home, so I honestly can’t complain.

Anda’s rate: 8,5 from 10

Bottom line: Pi Athens hotel is a true boutique gem close to the city center but still conveniently hidden in a quiet residential area, away from the busy streets of Athens. The owner is very friendly and helpful, cleaning services are fantastic and if you are used to heavy AC during summer, this is definitely a place to stay in. During winter I’d give it a 9 😉

 

 

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Antigua – the land of sea and sun

Caribbean Destinations

When it comes to Caribbean islands, I have visited Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos, Cuba, Bahamas, Puerto Rico and Playa del Carmen in Mexico. Antigua is a bit less known but can easily match all famous Caribbean destinations. A beautiful and lush nature, stunning beaches, friendly and easy going people, very low crime rate and a diversity of vacation packages for different tastes and wallets, should make every wanderlust want to visit Antigua as soon as possible.

Fast facts

The country is officially named Antigua and Barbuda, after two major islands which are also the only ones inhabited (apart from around 50 smaller ones which surround them). The capital St John’s lies in Antigua and the country has an estimated population of around 90.000 inhabitants. Antigua and Barbuda was under the British rule until 1981, that’s why English is the official language, however understanding their local dialect is sometimes quite a challenge.

The official currency is East Caribbean Dollar, but US dollars are accepted almost everywhere. Of course, if you are willing to accept “daily mood” exchange rates 😉 The prices in more prestigious locations are sometimes crazy high but you can find some decent stores and places to eat as well. Imported products are expensive, and so is coffee. We never paid less than $4.5 for a small cappuccino (and by small, I mean really small, like Italian espresso).

Perfect climate year round

Antigua lies in the south-east part of Caribbean which makes it attractive to visit all year round. June, July and August are the hottest months, while the temperature in January falls down to an average of 25°C – so still warm enough for those who want to escape from cold continental winters. Winter months are the driest, but at the same time quite windy, which makes them attractive for kiters and surfers. If you want a crystal clear and waveless water, the locals recommend to visit Antigua in the spring, while the autumn months are more wet. And last but not the least, you will be happy to hear that the sea temperature never falls under 26°C 🙂

Getting there

If you arrive from Europe, the easiest answer to how to get to Antigua lies in finding direct flights from Frankfurt or London (probably those are not the only options, but I am from Slovenia so Frankfurt was the best choice). Don’t be surprised if you land in Dominican republic first, because airlines sometimes make small stopovers to pick up or drop down other passengers. The other option of visiting Antigua is on a cruise, which means you will anchor in St Jonh’s and get a few hours to spend on the island. In my opinion cruise is not a best option for getting to know Antigua – especially since St John’s isn’t much of a sight for sore eyes. If you are offered some trips by the ship staff – take them!

Where to stay

If you want a hassle free vacation, you can chose from quite a few all-inclusive hotels, but none of them are cheap. The closest “mid budget” option is Jolly Beach Resort & Spa – the biggest resort in Antigua, which is located on one of the most popular beaches in the West coast. We decided to rent a car for the whole vacation, so we were considering different options of accommodation, but in the end we chose Jolly Beach because of the convenient location and comfort. If your wallet is deep enough, you have some very fancy “adult only” options, but I advise you to check their locations first – they are not always directly on the beach and sometimes it will take you quite a share of walking to finally get that swim in the ocean.

If you are on a tight budget and don’t care so much for the comfort (after all you probably won’t come to Antigua to lie in a hotel room, right?), you can chose from reasonably priced and quite decent options for around $60 – 80 (price per double bedroom). You can search for the hotels and bungalows in Antigua on Booking.com – click here to get a 15€ discount for your next booking. And if you want to make your own meals, you can visit the supermarket in Jolly Harbour marina – they have a very good offer of fresh and healthy foods, as well as some cosmetics, supplements and medicines. Other stores throughout the island are mostly stocked with cans and snacks – and can be quite pricey, depending on the location.

Getting around

The best way to see and feel the island is by hiring a car and taking it easy. And I mean really easy, because renting a car in Antigua is anything but a piece of cake. You will find most of the major car rental offices in the Airport, and the prices are not crazy high – although I do recommend you to book your car in advance, especially during peak periods in order to avoid any alst minute surprises.

The hard part comes after you get your car keys. First of all, they drive on the left (British rule, remember?) and if you are not an experienced driver, you should think twice about doing it… The second problem are the roads, which are pretty much all in a very bad shape. Sometimes the halls in them are so big that you can easily get a flat tire, lose your wheel cover… or the wheel itself.

For those who are not so adventurous, the safest and easiest way to explore the island is to book a trip in your hotel or with some local agency. You probably won’t see as much as you would if you were your own boss, nevertheless I strongly advise you to get your butt off that sunbed and experience life beyond your beer-beach routine 😉

Exploring Antigua

The total area of Antigua is about 280 square kilometers, with about 21 km distance from west to east coast, which makes the island perfect to explore within a few days. You will soon discover that Antigua offers so much more than “just” fabulous beaches!

First of all, Antigua is full of small forts and lookouts, which were once used by the British military to defend the island in the event of attacks (though none of them ever really happened). Today these forts are more or less in ruins, however they make great attractions to visit – especially since most of them are free to see. Fort Barrington was my favorite, together with Shirley Heights lookout, which is a must for everyone who wants to see the picture postcard view of Antigua.

If you are into hiking, Antigua offers some nice trails, with the Lookout Trail being one of the most popular ones. It can either be approached from the top of Shirley Heights lookout, or from the bottom – just up the road from Freeman’s Bay, which is a bit more challenging. If you are thinking of visiting the island’s highest point Mount Obama, I suggest you read my post about 5 things you shouldn’t do in Antigua, and decide for yourself if you want to do it or not.

The capital St John’s is not so typical Caribbean town – I don’t know exactly why but I didn’t like it at all. Maybe because we couldn’t find any decent coffee spot (which in my book means Italian cappuccino with a sea view) or perhaps because there simply aren’t many things to see there in terms of architecture or history. St John’s cathedral is a beauty, but that’s about it. If you want to shop some souvenirs or feel the capital’s pulse, take a few hours and enjoy the tranquility, but if you are an experienced traveler, you might as well skip it, as there are many other more interesting spots waiting for you. To see my proposal of 5 things to see in Antigua, click here. 

I saved the beach part for last as this is something that deserves its own chapter. Antigua has 365 beaches, one for each day in the year. And don’t worry, not all of them are the same – there is something for every taste. If you are, like me, fond of white sandy beaches and turquoise ocean, you definitely need to visit Valley Church beach and Darkwood beach, which are very close to the already mentioned Jolly beach. Then there is a very popular and thus a bit more crowded (if the word crowd can at all be used in Antigua) Long Bay beach with colorful wooden cottages, used by beach vendors for selling souvenirs and drinks.

If you want more privacy you can escape to Hermitage bay, Hawksbill bay or Galley bay (they are all semi-private, or at least parts of them are for hotel guests only), and if you want to enjoy the long walks along the ocean, go for Halfmoon or Rendezvous bay. Kiters and surfers will find their waves on Jabberwock beach, while yachts and boat lovers will enjoy the views in Galleon and Pigeon beach in English Harbour.

Antigua is indeed a perfect little paradise, with very reasonable prices for travelers who are ready to do some homework, and on the other hand a luxury retreat for those who want to enjoy private Caribbean vacation in exclusive places. If you are still not convinced of its beauty, check my Facebook photo album. For me it was love at first sight. And I just might visit Antigua again soon!

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5 things to see in Antigua

Caribbean Trips & Tricks

Despite the fact that this lovely Caribbean island is relatively small and is mostly known for its gorgeous beaches, Antigua offers much more – thanks to its history and diversity of the area. Even if you are visiting the island for only a week, I suggest you take one of the trips, offered by local agencies, or – even better – hire a car and explore the island by yourself. Besides the beaches, I can suggest you these 5 things to see in Antigua:

  • Fort Barrington

This small fort is located on the top of the hill, rising above the beautiful Deep bay. You can only access it on foot and it will take you about 20 minutes of average walk in flip flops to reach the top. For an easier hike rather wear some sneakers, as it does get slippery from time to time. On the top of you will be rewarded with jaw-dropping views: from white sandy Deep bay beach and 50 shades of blue Caribbean sea, across lush valleys and hills, all the way to the capital St John’s which you will recognize by large cruise ships, anchored in the marina. Don’t forget a bottle of water!

  • Shirley Heights

The most typical picture postcard from Antigua is taken from Shirley Heights, overlooking the English Harbour – a beautiful bay full of white boats and yachts, surrounded with small bays and sandy beaches. For this view you’ll need to drive to the Shirley Heights National park (8$ per person entrance fee), which is well worth visiting. The park itself is actually a plateau with an old fort which also offers some great south-coast views, ending with Shirley Heights Lookout on the west side. Just before the lookout you will find a small property where you can see a 15-minute movie about Antigua’s history (they play it in a complete dark and in a very chilled space, which is quite refreshing) – the movie is included in the fee, and so is the entrance to a smaller park called Nelson’s Dockyard, which lies in the bay below.

  • Stingray City

Stingray City is a property which offers boat trips to the ocean, where you can swim with stingrays. It is quite popular tourist activity so I recommend you to book it in advance (they only do 3 trips per day) and ask if they are expecting any crowds (cruise ships can bring masses of people, which is really a pain in the ass). The trip costs 50$ per person and it includes a welcome drink, short educative introduction and snorkeling mask. Try not to bring too much stuff with you as you will have to leave it in the car (take only a camera and perhaps a towel). The boat ride takes about 10 minutes, and it stops in the middle of the ocean, above a small turquoise surface where stingrays hang out. You will be escorted by the trained guides who catch them and offer you opportunities to take pictures. It is quite nice, but not as adrenaline as you might think from the tourist reviews 😉

  • Devil’s Bridge

Thousands of years of angry ocean hitting the rocky coast of eastern Antigua have made this natural bridge an exciting sightseeing spot. Devil’s Bridge is located near Indian Town Point, east of Willikies. The area around the arch features several naturally made  blowholes  which shoot up water with the help of the waves from Atlantic Ocean. The bridge itself doesn’t have any real function, but it does offer quite an adrenalin walk, with high chances of getting you wet.

  • Jolly Harbour

Jolly Harbour is a very popular place because of it’s long white sandy beach and the biggest all-inclusive resort in Antigua. Jolly Harbour marina offers some very fine places for dining, shopping and watching sunsets. If you are craving for some fresh groceries, you will be happy to hear that marina includes a quite large supermarket (I believe it is the only one in the island), called Epicurean Fine Foods & Pharmacy, which offers a variety of junk and healthy foods, dairy products, as well as some basic medicines and cosmetics. Very handy if you are visiting Antigua on a budget!

Click here for more information about my Antigua experience, check my Facebook photo album and some tips, about what you shouldn’t do in there 😉

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Hotel Review: Tor Hotel Geneve (Geneva, Switzerland)

Europe Hotel reviews

I have visited Geneva for the third year in a row due to Vitafoods food supplements and ingredients trade show where our company regularly exhibits. The accommodations in Geneva are expensive as hell so we usually stayed in France, which is actually just a few miles away across the border. This year we decided it was about time we saw Geneva lake so I booked Tor Hotel Geneve, which was kind of reasonably priced and very well rated.

Location

Tor Hotel Geneve is located in the very heart of the city, just 5 minutes’ walk away from Cornavin railway station and Geneva lake is just around the corner. Since all the streets in the near vicinity look alike the easiest way to find it from a distance is to spot the English Church of the Holy Trinity which is located literally across the street from the hotel.

As a hotel guest you are entitled to receive a complimentary Geneva Transport Card, which allows you to use the whole public transportation system of Geneva for free. The card includes buses, trams, trains and yellow taxi-boats. This is actually the only thing I like about Geneva.

Rooms

Tor Hotel Geneve is situated in an old building, and the whole interior kind of fits in this oldish atmosphere. Rooms are quite spacious – I stayed in a double room with a nice view facing the church. I was never bothered by the noise from street or the church bell (I am not sure if it ever rings), however my room was opposite of the kitchen so I was woken up every morning by a strong smell of coffee. Unfortunately the coffee doesn’t cook itself so I had to cover my ears with a pillow in order to avoid the noise from the kitchen. If I wasn’t so tired, I would have definitely asked to be transferred to another room but the pillow somehow provided a good solution to get me back to sleep. Speaking of sleeping, the bed was very good and pillows were the softest ever. Honestly, this was the first time I actually considered stealing one.

Bathroom was very basic, but again just what you need for a short stay. TV was working perfect and I got to watch Real Madrid entering the finals of Champions League against Atletico. That was probably one of the reasons I didn’t complain about the noise from the kitchen in the morning 😉 Wi-fi was on the contrary not working very well – it completely failed one night but they somehow fixed it next day. Not sure if that was accidentally or comes as a common practice…

Reception and staff

Reception is located on the 3rd floor, which is kind of unusual and inconvenient, especially since you don’t know that in the beginning. I mean is it really so hard to put a sign “reception in the 3rd floor” to avoid the confusion?

Staff at the reception is kind and speaks rather good English (I have to say that since Geneva lies in the French speaking part of Switzerland… and you know how French people are with foreign languages 😛 ). The space is comfy with red sofas and almost makes you feel like you are in someone’s living room.

What is also kind of strange is the fact that they serve breakfast in your room. You just tell the receptionist what you’d like to have at the check in and when you’d like it. But having breakfast served in your room is actually very convenient since you don’t have to get dressed and put your face on until you are completely ready. The choice is very basic (boiled egg (one!), banana, yogurt, 2 toasts, croissant, marmalade and a small slice of cheese, accompanied with coffee/tea and an orange juice). If you order everything you will be fine.

Anda’s rate: 7 of 10

Bottom line: If you consider the cost of accommodation in Geneva, especially in peak periods, Tor Hotel Geneve is a very reasonable pick. You can reach Palexpo (the exhibition venue at the Airport) with the bus in about 20 minutes – for free. However, for this price (we paid over 200€ per night!) I could get an all inclusive room in a 4 star hotel with sea view in almost any of Caribbean destinations. But this is Switzerland and for some strange reason people are still paying the big bucks to stay there.

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