Updates!

Dear all,

I will be 'updating' my food post under my instagram @funhideout since it allows me to update on- the-go and I can tag the location too! Easier for you to locate the venue, so do follow me!

As for the travel posts, I will also update in the instagram and perhaps include the details in the blog. Well, unless I'm travelling with tour group.. which I'm going to for my coming trip to Finland! So look out for my Northern Lights pictures! 

I'm a noob in photography ~ that's why I'm using point & shoot camera; but we were told by the tour agency that we need to bring a camera that can manually adjust shutter, aperture and ISO so I'm bringing my sony alpha 5100. I bought it long ago but I dun really know how to use it which is such a shame. Hopefully, I can pick up the skill in Finland. =p

If you are interested in my past itineraries, feel free to drop me an email or a comment in the instagram. I will try to reply asap!

With that, happy holidays to all!! 




Ritz Carlton Staycation 2016

 
I got an offer from Marriott Vacation Club for a 2D1N stayacation at Ritz Carlton @$199 nett, and so I grabbed! What other time would I have the chance to stay at Ritz Carlton which easily cost $500++ per night? In return, we got to spend 1 hour for the sales talk... ok lah, that was nothing for the experience. It's probably my one and only chance since I am too niao to spend so much for a hotel stay. Keke

And you know what, I chose the National Day preview day with the Kallang view, which meant I got to watch the preview fireworks in the comfort of my room! Cool deal right?

Oh well, we topped up $250 for the Club room privilege, so we still spent close to $500 (normal club room costs about $700++). But there are 5 culinary presentations each day at the Club Room with free flow of champagne, wine, and other alcoholic drinks.  So hor, it is $125 per pax for 5 buffets and alcohol, worth it?  I'm trying to 'justify' my spending... =p
We stayed at level 32!
All the rooms are super big at 51sqm. That is ridiculous! It's about the size of a 1 or 2 room condo nowadays lor! 
The signature octagon panel bathroom view.
Our view from the room.

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The 5 culinary presentations include:

Breakfast: 7am to 11am
Midday Snacks: 1130am to 2pm
Afternoon Tea: 230pm to 430pm
Hors d'oeurvres and Cocktails: 5pm to 8pm
Desserts and Cordials: 830pm to 1030pm

Before I bomb you with the photos, just wanna share a tiny bad experience at the Club Room. We were not told during the email confirmation that no slippers are allowed at the Club Room until we were physically there. My hubby got to drive home to get proper shoes... *roll eyes*

The staff were not rude or what... but I'm just wondering, if I'm a tourist with only slippers, am I expected to go and buy new shoes to access the Club Room? Perhaps it's better for the hotel to inform any dress code in the email confirmation. 

 
Club Room @ 32 Level
Behold... the 'golden gateway' to endless food and drink....Keke

Afternoon Tea
 

Champagne anymore?
You can ask for the high tea tier set too; they were fully reserved when I realised it.... =(  I thought they were just for display initially..

Hors d'oeurvres and Cocktails

The Club Room is only accessible for guests below 12 years old between 7am to 6pm. So for family group with kids, you have 'one golden hour' to grab 'dinner'!
The hokkien mee was really good, moist and tasty! I asked for a half portion to conserve tummy space for other stuff... but eventually, I ordered for another half portion because it was so good! 
 
 


Made myself lychee coctail; perfect alcoholic drink for ladies and the sweet tooth.
If that is not enough, how about wine dispenser.... My first time seeing such thing, really a drinker heaven... Hubby said the port was nice!

Desserts and Cordials

We didnt eat much by now coz too full..imagine eating every other 2hours...not easy feat lor..
View from the room....

Not bad pictures after massive editing... I can never take very nice firework photos, it's the best I can liao..

Breakfast
The congee was very tasty, with lots of prawns...
'Ang Mo' breakfast..
Flatlay effort...

Midday Snacks

An hour after breakfast, it was time for lunch.. told you we kept eating.
Warm station..
And more prawns... 
 

Die die also must drink again before we left the hotel... oh by the way, you can do your checkout at Level 32 reception, so you can check out at 12pm and continue to stay at the Club Room for your lunch ya..

I think this is quite a boliao post with just lots of food photos but that was what we did the whole time we were at Ritz Carlton... Oh well, if you are considering getting a Club Room, at least I hope this post will be meaningful to you! ;p  

Hotel Jen Lavender Spa Staycation 16


It's my birthday month, so we started off the celebration with a staycation! And because my bdae collided with the FI event, we can never book a hotel on the actual day without incurring exorbitant prices, so ya, early celebration which also mean more celebrations... lol.

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Hotel Jen Tanglin is refurnished from the ex-Traders Hotel, and is under the Shangri La's hotel chain. I really adored the decorations with its earthly tones. giving its guests a warm and cozy experience. 

We booked this Lavender Spa Staycation package (expires by end Sep 16) which comes with club privileges as well. 


Sounds like a good deal right? But hor, I didnt get the shower cream, eye serum, hand cream, day cream and leg gel. Instead, soap bar, facial wash, facial mask and foot cream were given instead. All in sample sachets. *Shrugged*
 
The room is really pretty and smelled really nice! Inspired me to spray my own bedroom with lavender essential oil. Keke  
The 'gifts'

 Bathroom without bath tub, so no bubble bath lor..
 Cozy corner
Hello! ( see the hanging rack)
 Love, Live, Laugh (ignore the ugly background)
View from our room. 

The previous picture will be nicer if we were directly above the swimming pool lor. 
 Gold chrome pendant lights #renogoals
 
Nice gesture! So dont forget to 'ransack' the fridge if you are staying here. 

Club Privilege

For staycation, I prefer to opt for one with club privileges since it means all meals 'settled'. ^_^
There is three timings for the club lounge ~ breakfast, afternoon tea and evening canapes. It opens 24 hours, and stay-in guests can pop by for coffee, tea and cookies using the hotel room card anytime other than the three time-slots. Oh, there is maggi mee for the night owls as well. =)
Afternoon Tea offers scones and soup.
Evening spread includes dim sum, cheese and soup as well. Erm, probably not enuff to make up as a dinner bah. There's also red/white wines as well as beers offered.
 

Breakfast offers the usual cereals and whatnots. 

I was a tad disappointed with the spread and was particularly expecting for more for the weekend brunch. End up it's just extended hours. The spread was far cry from the other blogs that I read on Hotel Jen in 2015. I guess, the spread has shrunk over the last one year? 

Overall, I think the room is really nice. Food quality was nice too, just that the spread is quite limited. Oh boy, I think I was 'spoiled' by Ritz Carlton. 

Till the next post for Ritz Carlton Staycation.... Happy Holiday! ^_^