Sleeping Beauties
More comfy than budget accommodation, cheaper than frive-star hotel chains, boutique hotels and resorts in Asia are on the rise. We have rounded up 10 chic places for travelers.
Move over, big boys, Small boutique hotels with special design themes and heritage values are becoming attractions
Small pleasuresLife! recommends boutique hotels in the region that will not burn a hole in your pocket.
BURASARI, PHUKETwww.burasari.com, tel: +66(0)-7629-2929
Where: Patong Beach, Phuket
What: 186 rooms. There are nine design themes, from romantic to artistic, from elegant northern Thai Lanna style with antiques and wood carvings to minimalist, airy contemporary style. Also, check out Floyd’s Brasserie, a restaurant owned by famous television chef Keith Floyd.
How much: From S$255 per room per night.
OLD BANGKOK INN
www.oldbangkokinn.com, tel: +662-629-1787
Where: Bangkok, Thailand
What: Combines Bangkok’s old-world charms with modern amenities. Personalised service is guaranteed, since there are only 10 rooms – four guest rooms, four loft rooms and two suites. Furnished with Thai golden teak, rooms boast heirloom furniture, some of which are even decorated with hand-painted porcelain. Located in Bangkok’s Ratanakosin Island, the historical and cultural quarters.
How much: From S$137
GOLDEN BUDDHA BEACH RESORTwww.goldenbuddharesort.com, tel: +66(0)-8-1892-2208
Where: Kho Phra Thong, Thailand
What: An eco-resort by the Andaman Sea, located on an unhabited 10km stretch of beach, a private bay on the island of Koh Phra Thong (Golden Buddha Island). Accommodation is in 25 beach houses that can take two or five people. They vary from simple one-bedroom beachfront houses to luxurious canopied lodges with beautiful views of the sea. Nature-lovers can check out one of the few remaining nesting sites for giant leather turtles in Thailand.
How much: From S$160
LAN KWAI FONG HOTELwww.lankwaifonghotel.com, tel: +852-3650-0299
Where: Kau U Fong, Hong Kong
What: An award-winning, Oriental-themed hotel occupying 33 floors of a building in a carefully conserved commercial and residential area. The hotel boasts 162 bedrooms and individually designed harbour view suites. Its location in the central business district means guests are minutes from dinning and entertainment hangouts.
How much: From S$287
HOTEL PURI MELAKAwww.hotelpuri.com, tel: +606-282-5588 or +65-6468-6154 (Singapore sales office)
Where: Malacca, Malaysia
What: Located in the heart of the old city of Malacca, it is surrounded by antique and bric-a-brac shops and only a stroll away fro the historical precinct. The beautiful hotel with an intricate façade is a restored Peranakan house, which once belonged to the family of philanthropist and rubber plantation owner Tan Kim Seng.
How much: S$50
AMBIENCE HOTEL, TAIPEIwww.ambiencehotel.com.tw, tel: +886-2-2541-0077
Where: Taipei, Taiwan
What: Ideal for those who want to stay away from the metropolitan bustle yet have easy access to the city. Located 10 to 15 minutes from the nearest subway, the all-white, 10-storey hotel has 60 avant-grade rooms decked out in designer furniture.
How much: From S$124 (promotional rate)
THE QUAYwww.thequayhotel, tel: +855-23=224-894
Where: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
What: An eco-friendly hotel that cuts back on carbon emissions. Features a futuristic décor and a great view of the Tonle Sap.
How much: From S$120 (promotional rate)
MANSION HOTELwww.chinamansionhotel.com, tel: 86-21-5403-9888
Where: Shanghai, China
What: It is one of Shanghai’s major historical villas, nestled in the heart of the old French Concession district. Designed by French architect Lafayette in 1932, the building boasts a graceful fusion of classic French and Asian architecture. It has 32 lavishly decorated rooms, each with its own individual design and layout.
How much: From S$235
THE TIDES, BORACAYwww.tidesboracay.com, tel: +632-725-3411
Where: Boracay, Philippines
What: A designer resort with a rooftop pool and sun-deck, the only one of its kind in Boracay. Rooms are spacious ad designed in clean lines and dark colors.
How much: From S$208
ANDON RYOKAN
www.andon.co.jp, tel: +81-3-3873-8611
Where: Tokyo, Japan
What: A back packer’s joint with a designer twist. This stylish five-storey steel building is modeled after a traditional Japanese lantern, with accommodation on the first to third floors.
How much: From S$134
Reference: Life! The Straits Times, Tuesday, January 20 2009
Travel tips: www.travel.aez20now.com
More comfy than budget accommodation, cheaper than frive-star hotel chains, boutique hotels and resorts in Asia are on the rise. We have rounded up 10 chic places for travelers.
Move over, big boys, Small boutique hotels with special design themes and heritage values are becoming attractions
Small pleasuresLife! recommends boutique hotels in the region that will not burn a hole in your pocket.
BURASARI, PHUKETwww.burasari.com, tel: +66(0)-7629-2929
Where: Patong Beach, Phuket
What: 186 rooms. There are nine design themes, from romantic to artistic, from elegant northern Thai Lanna style with antiques and wood carvings to minimalist, airy contemporary style. Also, check out Floyd’s Brasserie, a restaurant owned by famous television chef Keith Floyd.
How much: From S$255 per room per night.
OLD BANGKOK INN
www.oldbangkokinn.com, tel: +662-629-1787
Where: Bangkok, Thailand
What: Combines Bangkok’s old-world charms with modern amenities. Personalised service is guaranteed, since there are only 10 rooms – four guest rooms, four loft rooms and two suites. Furnished with Thai golden teak, rooms boast heirloom furniture, some of which are even decorated with hand-painted porcelain. Located in Bangkok’s Ratanakosin Island, the historical and cultural quarters.
How much: From S$137
GOLDEN BUDDHA BEACH RESORTwww.goldenbuddharesort.com, tel: +66(0)-8-1892-2208
Where: Kho Phra Thong, Thailand
What: An eco-resort by the Andaman Sea, located on an unhabited 10km stretch of beach, a private bay on the island of Koh Phra Thong (Golden Buddha Island). Accommodation is in 25 beach houses that can take two or five people. They vary from simple one-bedroom beachfront houses to luxurious canopied lodges with beautiful views of the sea. Nature-lovers can check out one of the few remaining nesting sites for giant leather turtles in Thailand.
How much: From S$160
LAN KWAI FONG HOTELwww.lankwaifonghotel.com, tel: +852-3650-0299
Where: Kau U Fong, Hong Kong
What: An award-winning, Oriental-themed hotel occupying 33 floors of a building in a carefully conserved commercial and residential area. The hotel boasts 162 bedrooms and individually designed harbour view suites. Its location in the central business district means guests are minutes from dinning and entertainment hangouts.
How much: From S$287
HOTEL PURI MELAKAwww.hotelpuri.com, tel: +606-282-5588 or +65-6468-6154 (Singapore sales office)
Where: Malacca, Malaysia
What: Located in the heart of the old city of Malacca, it is surrounded by antique and bric-a-brac shops and only a stroll away fro the historical precinct. The beautiful hotel with an intricate façade is a restored Peranakan house, which once belonged to the family of philanthropist and rubber plantation owner Tan Kim Seng.
How much: S$50
AMBIENCE HOTEL, TAIPEIwww.ambiencehotel.com.tw, tel: +886-2-2541-0077
Where: Taipei, Taiwan
What: Ideal for those who want to stay away from the metropolitan bustle yet have easy access to the city. Located 10 to 15 minutes from the nearest subway, the all-white, 10-storey hotel has 60 avant-grade rooms decked out in designer furniture.
How much: From S$124 (promotional rate)
THE QUAYwww.thequayhotel, tel: +855-23=224-894
Where: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
What: An eco-friendly hotel that cuts back on carbon emissions. Features a futuristic décor and a great view of the Tonle Sap.
How much: From S$120 (promotional rate)
MANSION HOTELwww.chinamansionhotel.com, tel: 86-21-5403-9888
Where: Shanghai, China
What: It is one of Shanghai’s major historical villas, nestled in the heart of the old French Concession district. Designed by French architect Lafayette in 1932, the building boasts a graceful fusion of classic French and Asian architecture. It has 32 lavishly decorated rooms, each with its own individual design and layout.
How much: From S$235
THE TIDES, BORACAYwww.tidesboracay.com, tel: +632-725-3411
Where: Boracay, Philippines
What: A designer resort with a rooftop pool and sun-deck, the only one of its kind in Boracay. Rooms are spacious ad designed in clean lines and dark colors.
How much: From S$208
ANDON RYOKAN
www.andon.co.jp, tel: +81-3-3873-8611
Where: Tokyo, Japan
What: A back packer’s joint with a designer twist. This stylish five-storey steel building is modeled after a traditional Japanese lantern, with accommodation on the first to third floors.
How much: From S$134
Reference: Life! The Straits Times, Tuesday, January 20 2009
Travel tips: www.travel.aez20now.com
