Nostalgic Experience Stay at the Albert Court Village Hotel

Forget Marina Bay Sands Hotel, forget the infamous Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Orchard Road. The Albert Court Village Hotel offers you a totally different experience in Singapore. The hotel offers an architectural fusion between East and West with warm Peranakan heritage settings. As a boutique hotel, one can experience the nostalgic past with a European boutique charm. Without further ado, let the photos do the talking about my experience.

The Albert Court Village Hotel Entrance offers you Colonial Peranakan feeling even from the entrance itself

The Interior

Wooden Village Interior Design

even the elevator itself is captivating

The orchids are for real and the hall is filled with nice soothing potpourri scent

The Room

very cosy twin bedroom.The management did a good decision to maintain its peranakan/colonial genuineness  by installing an 'old' ceiling fan while utilising wooden floor instead of carpet

The Cafetaria

I would say the cafeteria is the best part among other Albert Court Village Hotel attraction. The food's great accompanied by nice view and coffee shop interior 

Location: At the heart of Little India of Rochor Road and Orchard Road shopping centre are only a 10 minutes walk away

Amenities: Genuine free Wifi, and coffee making facilities with clean bathroom

Fun: Offers a nostalgic feeling which is rare for any visitors

Recommended mid range affordable 4 Star hotel in the heart of Singapore 

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Hostel Review: Hotel Kawase Tokyo and Capsule (ホテルカワセ)

On my final week of my supposedly stay in Tokyo, Japan, I managed to find a cheap and affordable capsule hotel which is situated in the vicinity of Asakusa Temple. My 2nd capsule hotel experience in Japan, after the Skyspa Yokohama, This hotel gave me a totally different experience. I would like to share my experience and thus review this hotel as well.

Compare to the capsule bed in Skyspa Yokohama, the bed in Kawase was very cosy and spacious..I really love it..though the equipment inside is old, it's not a big deal, more so provided the retro feeling. Alarm clocks could be set with ample of space for your belongings.

My 'room' was on the top side and you've got yourself a curtain and i got a 'nice' number 328.

a mini locker for everyone

Overview of the capsule room. Old models of capsule room

Public Washing Area for your toothbrushing and face washing activity. A decent area for me. There is also a small public bath (Sento - 銭湯)

(from top left clockwise: Refrigerator for your own perusal, coffee and beer vending machine, washing machine and dryer (minimal payment), free green tea making machine and microwave)

Not included in the photo: Free kitchen, rice cooker and coffee at the common room.

Tooth paste and shaver dispensing machine..NO..this is an antique!

The Common Room

Cafe-like common room

Sorry for the little mess from my laptops and cameras and bags...the common room is also HD Satellite TV ready and free Wifi with cosy sofa...ahhh...最高だったな！！

In my very own personal opinion during any travellers' stay in a hostel, the most important feature is the common room whereby we can get to socialise with other international travellers. And　I feel that of all the common rooms in other hostels I have visited, Hotel Kawase provides the best common room. 

Of course we would need fun travelers to rev up the mood. I get to make new and really fun friends during my stay here. From left: a guy from Hong Kong (sorry that I've forgotten your name), Simon from Sweden!, Me from Malaysia, Atilla from Holland/Turkey) You guys made this a very memorable stay!!!

Summary Review

Available room type: Private single and double bed, capsule type hotel

Price: Starting from 1500 yen (during promotional period)

Location: At the heart of cultural Asakusa, subways are easily accessible to other parts in Tokyo

Amenities: Great Wifi, great common room, clean open bath and private bath, great coffee and tea!

Fun: Staff are polite and friendly (I guessed it's a family owned accommodation), and of course with fun travellers, the common is the best so far!

Rating: My very first 5 out of 5 rating for cheap affordable value for money accommodation + FUN! I will definitely return to this place again..

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Accommodation Review: Skyspa Yokohama

On the miracle and eventful year of 2011, I finally get to visit Japan for the 7th time in 5 years in a row. This time for the very first time, I took Air Asia to Japan since the landing airport is at Haneda International Airport which makes it convenient for me. Since the only available flight from KLIA-LCCT only starts from afternoon, I arrived at Haneda International Airport at about 10pm Japan time. Due to night time arrival, access to train transportation to the place I'm supposed to go, Kanazawa Hakkei, my Professor recommended me to stay in a nearby hotel. Yes! That's my very first capsule hotel experience at the Skyspa Yokohama.

 There are two types of capsule which are the side and front entrance 

My capsule room which is from the front entrance. The room is not so spacious. Amenities includes LCD TV and radio with some adult vids channel

What's special in this capsule hotel is the oxygen treatment for better sleeping quality

 Huge public area with individual TV screens whereby you can get to choose your own movie channel.

Summary of Review:

Available room type: Capsule type hotel

Price: Starting from approx. 3000 yen (cheaper price if reservation is made through their website)

Location: Great location at Yokohama Station

Amenities: No free wifi but a small common are for internet surfing, common room for rest, free water but no free drinks such as coffee and tea.

Open bath (銭湯): Great spacious open bath area. This place is highly recommended for those who wanted an open bath relaxation. Bathing materials (towels, shower cream, shavers etc are provided free of charge)

Fun: Staff are polite and friendly but too formal and no socializing common place. 

This capsule is suitable for business-like person who wish for an affordable stay with quiet atmosphere and relaxation. Overall rating, I would like to give a 4 out 5 due to the great open bath area.

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Red Nose Hostel of the Old Riga, Latvia

The very first city I have visited at the Eastern Europe is Riga, Latvia. As my own experience goes by, the very first accommodation will leave either a good or bad experience forever. And yes! I really miss this hostel I have stayed during my four day trip in Riga, Latvia. It's the Red Nose Hostel. A newly opened hostel situated in the middle of the UNESCO City of Riga, Latvia, this hostel offers room starting from 10Ls.

The front of the hostel in which you will be able to identify its trademark man with a red nose

The Red Nose Hostel from far

Colorful old clothes hanging atop is just at the front of the hostel's entrance

One of the few bed rooms available in Red Nose Hostel accompanied with beautiful red blankets to keep your nose from getting red :D

Shared toilets are new and very clean. Shower gels are provided in the toilet.

Kitchen is also provided at your own convenience

 My Review of Red Nose Hostel:

Bathroom Amenities: 

Shower gel is provided for free of charge but towels will be provided for a small sum of money. It would be great if towels are provided for free :D

Internet Wifi: Free high speed internet provided which is very convenient.

Location: 

Strategic location in the middle of UNESCO Old City of Riga, convenient for sight-seeing tour of Riga. Free and very reliable tour advice are provided by young and friendly staff.

The rooms are very clean and the whole buildings are perfectly insulated. Very comfortable stay indeed. 

Overall, I would like to give Red Nose Hostel a rating of 4.5/5 and it is highly recommended for anyone who wants an affordable and yet comfortable stay in Riga, Latvia.

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Daisetsuzan Shirakabaso Youth Hostel

A hostel review for the accommodation in the year 2007 during the trip in the post of Volcano and Caldera Lakes in the Daisetsuzan National Park. 

This Youth Hostel was situated very nearby to the Daisetsuzan National Park. One of the first accommodation I had lived in Hokkaido, it was a pleasant experience. Amenities and facilities are perfect but before further reviewing, let's take a look at the photograph which might be a better proof. Well pictures paint thousands of words

The youth hostel and log cabin by the side..

One of the standard shared rooms in the hostel..nice and clean

And here's the Log Cabin, for the ladies of the group..

the living room of the log cabin

The ladder up to the 2nd floor..it's so purely log cabin..

One of the few bedrooms and..

the toilet fully automatic though it's a little narrow

and some of the food. This was my dinner served at that time.

Not only the internal are beautiful, the external are also very nature as well.

Nice cool streams

My most favourite shot for this post.

And that's me in front of the Youth Hostel.

Overall I would like to give Daisetsuzan Shirakabaso a rating of 4.5/5, for its great experience, courteous host, cleanliness, amenities and facilities (Free WiFi provided), as well as great natural onsen at the back of the hostel. Sorry no photos for the onsen as there were guests dipping in the pool at that time. Otherwise I would have taken some photos .

I will DEFINITELY return to this lodge again in my next visit.

For bookings, please contact them at this email: shirakabaso@ai.wakwak.com

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