Hotel Reviews

Scandic Grand Central

scandic grand

Welcome to Scandic Grand Central! This is the hotel we stayed at over the weekend. This historical building is located in the centre of the Swedish capital, less than 5 minutes walk from the Central Station and all shopping sites. The 391-room hotel which opened in 2011 is the stylish flagship of Scandic Hotels, a Swedish brand with more than 150 properties across Northern Europe. The rooms have so much character and the comfortable beds offered a good nights sleep. I really loved the music quotes on the walls all across the hotel, the atmosphere made it feel like a home away from home. I always judge hotels by their toiletries and Scandic Grand offers shampoo, conditioner and soap from the Face Stockholm brand which is one of my favourites. The breakfast buffet was delightful, giving you a taste of the Swedish cuisine. If you book in advance you can get really amazing rates for this hotel. Me and my friends were really happy with our stay and I truly recommend this hotel if you’re planning to visit Stockholm.

Thursday 18th October 2012 | Leave a comment | Category: Hotel Reviews, Travel | Tags: Face Stockholm, hotel, Hotel review, review, rooms, Scandic Grand Central, Stockholm, sweden

A wonderful stay – Mabely Grand

I’ve had all kinds of experiences in hotels, some good others not so good. Our experience in Zakynthos was so amazing that I decided to thank the Hotel we stayed at with this post.

During our week on the Greek island we stayed at 5 star hotel Mabely Grand. It’s located in the north of the island far from the crowds. What I found interesting was that many of the guests were Greek which says a lot about the hotel. The Greek guests told us that Mabely is known as one the best hotels in the country, so no wonder it’s scored a massive 96% on Tripadvisor.

When we arrived to the hotel we were greeted by the beautiful Giota who was really friendly and helpful throughout our stay. I was so impressed by the grand lobby, it was like inside a palace but still so comfortable that you wanted to sit yourself down on one of the comfortable chairs or sofas and put your feet up. This hotel is ideal for those who seek peace and relaxation. If you want to experience bars and clubs you will need to rent a car or catch a taxi. Mabely has a view of olive groves and the sea beyond that.

It has around 100 rooms so it never gets too busy. There are two large swimming pools and suits with private pools. We were staying in a large suit which was very comfortable with a view of the Ionian sea. What we noticed during our stay is that there’s nothing the staff at Mabely won’t do for their guests. Anything you need you ask for it and they will make sure you have it.

I really recommend to opt for the all inclusive if you stay at this hotel because the food is unbelievably good. Unlike most hotels we’ve stayed at in the mediterranean the food never got repetitive at Mabely. Every single day we had new dishes served for lunch and dinner. The Chef takes great pride in his food and often comes out to talk to the guests and explain what’s being served and even sharing recipes. I am crazy about Greek food so I really enjoyed every meal. We were very impressed by the restaurant manager Vasilis whose looks were a hot topic for discussion amongst the guests. Many say he looks just like Al Pacino but I’m convinced he is Robert De Niro’s twin brother. This man is the most hard-working one I have ever met. Breakfast, lunch and dinner he was there making sure all guests were happy and everything was running smoothly. We especially liked the Greek nights he arranged with wonderful live music.

The hotel lobby has an elegant bar where you can sit and chat away with the charming barman George who enjoys his days on the beach and nights at Mabely. He mixes some wonderful cocktails and is a delightful figure to talk to.

Zakynthos

At the end of our stay we tried to think of something we were not pleased with and could no think of anything. Now that’s a first- especially for me. We are already planning our return. I want to Thank the staff at Mabely Grand who showed us wonderful hospitality and made our stay a comfortable and happy one. Mabely is Grand indeed!

Wednesday 3rd August 2011 | 7 comments | Category: Holiday bliss, Hotel Reviews, Travel | Tags: experience, fantastic, Greece, hotel, Hotel review, Mabely Grand, review, Sante, Travel, zakynthos

Istanbul

My lovelies,

I’m back from Istanbul. Been in a sleep coma for the past 24 hours. We worked about 13 hours each day and didn’t get more than 3-4 hours sleep per night. My friend Natalie flew over from Moscow to see me and after work we would meet up, order dinner, and chat until late.

Istanbul was just as magical as I could remember with incredible historical sites. My friend Mehrnaz who lives there was such a great host and took me around on the first day I arrived and showed me different parts of the city. On our last day she took me and Natalie to the Topkapi Palace museum and later shopping. Women in Istanbul sure know how to dress and the shopping is almost better than London with all the brands you could think of as well fantastic Turkish designers. I’m already planning a long weekend in Istanbul with my girls- this time no work, just pleasure.

I stayed at a fantastic modern hotel called Gezi Bosphorus located at the heart of the city at Taksim district. I was really impressed by the comfortable room, the Bosphorus view and amazing breakfast. The staff is really friendly and helpful. I would definitely goback there amd probably will in spring for a Istanbul trip with my girls.