Novotel Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport Thailand

We know the Novotel Suvarnabhumi seven years now and found out about it only by accident. At the time we were on the way to Koh Samui, but our plane from Copenhagen had been delayed due to technical problems. We received a day room, courtesy of SAS, at the Novotel with free breakfast and lunch. We were impressed by the friendly staff and how beautiful the hotel looked. Ever since we have stayed there, we stay here too, when in Bangkok.
On this occasion we arrived via the Airport Train Link at Suvarnabhumi and took the underground walkway. It was well signed and took around 10 minutes.
We went to the check in desk. Since we had booked an executive room for one night before our flight home we were brought to the Business Center, which also contains the club lounge. Check in took a bit longer than expected, because a suitable room had to be found for us. The staff was always friendly, but very busy.
We were directed to our room, which was based in the same wing as the club lounge.
The rooms hadn't changed much since our last stay in 2009. Ours was large. The walls were dark blue and the furniture also dark. There was Thai modern art work and the room overlooked the pool.
We had a comfortable king sized bed, a writing desk, a chair and coffee table, a mini bar, wardrobe and cupboard. There was also a flat screen TV with local and international channels.
The medium sized bathroom had Novotel own branded amenities, separate bath tub and shower, a sink and toilet.
The shower was smaller than at the Four Seasons or Banyan Tree (please see also reviews), where we had stayed before. All was comfortable to use, though.
Beside the comfortable rooms, we actually enjoy the romance of the hotel and the convenient location to the airport.
All of the restaurants, the reception, the concierge, business center, Executive Club Lounge and some shops are located on the ground floor.
There are Sala Thai for Thai cuisine, The Square (24 hours open and international), Golden Village for Dim Sum and Cantonese, Kinsen (Japanese), the Atrium Terrace, Le Gourmet and Splash Pool Bar.
We went to Le Gourmet for desserts. It has been moved from the side of the stunning atrium to the center. All the cakes we had were wonderful as always. It's our favorite outlet.
The atrium has a lot of Thai features. The reception for example depicts an orchid. There are trees and a water feature. There was also an art exhibition on display, which we found interesting and the art could be bought at the art gallery in the lobby.
During previous stays we went to the pool, enjoyed drinks at the swim up bar, used the spa and visited the Thai Garden, which is a must. It's hidden and a bit difficult to find, but when there, it's tranquil and peaceful.
Kids are also catered for with a small play area in the lobby.
After our stroll through the Thai Garden we went to the Happy Hour at the Club Lounge. The lounge was modern and medium in size.
There was a good selection of hot and cold dishes and desserts.
The staff made also cocktails on request.
There was a small selection of wines and liquors. The red wine we had was very good.
After our savory choices we wanted to have some of the chocolate tartlets. Unfortunately they were finished already, but when we asked nicely we were told they would be back soon. Taking some other nice sweets we returned to our table. A member of staff approached us and apologized, advising that there weren't any chocolate tarts left after all. That was okay with us, but we were surprised when we received a small plate with other chocolate desserts (there were at least six) as an apology. Trying most of them we were really stuffed. To our next surprise somehow the staff had organized three chocolate tartlets for us. We appreciated what the employees did for us, but were in a bend. Being full already we couldn't let the employees down after they went to great length to please us, so we ate the tartlets. They were delicious and worth it.
Originally we had planned to have in room dining after the club lounge, but we had to forget that quickly.
Breakfast is available from 05.00 hours, which was just right for us, because we had an early start to catch our plane to London Gatwick.
The medium sized buffet was good and as all meals high quality. There was a wide choice of Asian and Western dishes, cold cuts, yogurt, cereals and much more.
Check out was done quickly and correctly.
We then took the free shuttle bus to the airport. It runs every ten to fifteen minutes, depending on the time of the day.
We love the Novotel Suvarnabhumi and will always stay there either after or before a flight.


©2014

Radisson Royal, Golden Lane, Dublin, Ireland

Normally before a flight from Dublin we stay at the Hilton Dublin Airport or the Holiday Inn Express. This time around our flight to Zurich didn't leave very early, so we were more flexible and decided after long discussions to take the Radisson BLU Royal Hotel, Golden Lane in the city center. We booked a rate that included dinner and breakfast.

The hotel is better located than thought. It is ideal when coming from the airport by Airlink. Get off at College Green/Dame Street stop, walk along Dame Street and turn left into South George Street, follow it until you come to Dunne’s Stores Head Quarters and 747 Travel opposite, turn right. This is Golden Lane. The hotel is a few more minutes away on the right hand side. Walking from the stop to the hotel takes approximately 10 minutes.

St. Patrick's Cathedral is also only about 5 minutes away.

The building is very modern. Originally we thought that the whole house belongs to the Radisson, but only the ground floor and one half of it are in fact the hotel. The other half contains offices.

We were impressed  by the contemporary and airy lobby. The reception was located to the left and check in is done at individual pots. The receptionist was friendly and quick.

During our stay the hotel was very busy with two weddings and a few business meetings. We spotted all two brides.

We enjoyed the chandelier and carpet, because it looked unusual. Interpreting the shape of the design the lightning could be snakes and the carpet a map.

The restaurant V' n V and the Sure Bar were located on the same level.

There were a small business center and meeting rooms on the first floor.

Our room was on the fifth floor overlooking apartments, St. Patrick's Cathedral and Christchurch.

We had a standard room and were happy about the generous size and the beautiful contemporary design. The colors were mostly brown, grey, white and black.

The King bed was comfortable as were the stylish chairs and writing desk.

The coffee table was multifunctional and could be used as another seating space - it was covered in leather - or as an ottoman for the chair.

There were two other marble topped tables and a large flat screen TV. The choice of TV channels was the only disappointment. There were only regional channels available. There wasn't even BBC World, which was the least I expected and Sky News isn't exactly our favorite. Officially there should have been RT, but unfortunately when choosing the channel it showed a black screen and nothing else, no matter when tuning in. Overall, there could be a better line-up of international TV channels here.

There was also a luggage rack and a wardrobe.

24 hour in room dining, coffee/tea making facilities and a mini bar were also available. The prices for the minibar were interesting, ranging between 1.59 Euro to 7.62 Euro (ca. 2.20 USD to 10.60 USD). There were the usual suspects like Coca Cola and Deep River Rock water. We liked the Butler's chocolate bar with Irish Cream filling. We can happily report it was very tasty.

The in room dining is suitable for Coeliac and vegetarians. For some dishes half portions were also an option. Prices were good appetizers started at 6.50 Euro (ca. 9 USD), sandwiches from 12 Euro (ca. 16.65 USD), mains from 12 Euro (ca. 16.65 USD) and desserts from 8.50 Euro (ca. 11.80 USD). Since we had dinner already arranged at the restaurant we didn't use in room dining.

Anyone in need of laundry can avail of that too. The laundry of a shirt costs for example 8 Euro (ca. 11.10 USD).

The bathroom was medium in size. The bath tub and shower were separate. There was a sink with enough storage space for our cosmetics. The amenities were a mix of Anne Semonine and a soap by This Works! Radisson's contract with Anne Semonine is expiring, so This Works! is replacing it. We know This Works! from another hotel. We liked it, so we weren't too surprised (having heard about the exchange) or had any issues with the new amenities. On the other side we are a bit sad to see Anne Semonine go, since we equally liked the quality, smell and effectiveness of the products.

The shower was great with a large rain shower head. The water pressure was strong and the temperature stable.

When placing our wake up call the member of staff offered to order a taxi for us as well. We refused, since we planned to take the Airlink to the airport.

At the V' n V restaurant our reservation was acknowledged and we were offered a choice of tables at the large windows.

Declan Dunne is the Executive Chef. The menu reflected the contemporary ambience of the hotel. Most of the ingredients are sourced locally.

We chose a glass of rose wine and an orange juice. Tap water was offered for free.

Our starters were a beetroot and cheese salad and nettle soup. Both were delicious and unusual.

As main course we both had the salmon and a side salad. The dish was rich, but light at the same time. It was tasteful and the presentation was well done. The salad was made with mixed leaves and tomatoes.

As dessert I had Cafe au lait parfait with dates and cinnamon sauce. It was finger licking good. My fiancé had the Orange and grapefruit Gratin, which was deemed also very tasty.

The staff was very busy with four other couples and a large group. Still the service didn't suffer. One of the three waiters was always on hand when we needed them.

There was also an open kitchen, and I enjoyed watching the chefs.

The meal was delightful, healthy and satisfying. Since a three course were included in our rate we only had to pay for our drinks and the side dish. We paid 25 Euro (ca. 34.65 USD) including tip.

After a good night’s rest and a punctual wake up call we made our way to breakfast.

The buffet was large, fresh and appetizing. There was a wide choice of cold cuts, smoked salmon, smoothies, yogurts, Bircher Berner Muesli, fresh fruits and fruit salad, bread and much more. Another guest wanted to have an omelette. The request was fulfilled with a smile.

Our favorites were the Bircher Berner Muesli and the berry smoothie.

Check out was pleasant and quick.

Would we recommend the Radisson Royal, Golden Lane? Definitely. The reasons?

The Staff is very friendly and attentive.

The dinner and breakfast were excellent.

The lead in room is large, design driven, but comfortable and detailed, like small cushions in different colors or a painting that looks like a photograph.

It's quirky and creative.

The location is great. On the one side far enough from the hustle and bustle; on the other side near enough to reach all major attractions in Dublin by foot.


©2014

Hilton Dublin Airport, Ireland

Before our flight to Brussels we stayed at the Hilton Dublin Airport.

This one is just a short review about the changes since our last stay. You can always check out an extensive review I wrote last year.

We took the shuttle bus from the airport to the hotel. Unfortunately the journey was not as pleasant as usual, because there was a rowdy group of Finns on board, who drank alcohol and were very loud. The driver reminded them that alcohol consumption on the shuttle was not allowed.

It helped for a bit, but then the bottle made the round again. 

We were glad when we arrived at the Hilton. While the shuttle bus to the hotel is free, from the hotel to the airport costs however 2 Euros per person, be aware of this and must be booked at check-in for your departure.

Check in was pleasant and quick. As returning guests we were warmly welcomed and explained what was new.
Our room was located on the 4th floor and overlooking the opposite apartment complex.

All rooms are refreshed now and have the Serenity bed, which is a Hilton standard.

Our amenity as gold members of the Hilton Honors program had changed to the better. There were two Doorman jars, one with gummi sweets and the other with salted nuts as well as two bottles of water.

We also received a free drinks voucher for two.

Major changes had taken place at the Burnell's Bar & Restaurant. Instead of serving two menus, there is only one, and guests can choose their own seating without waiting for a waiter at the restaurant.

The menu has changed for the better too. There are more healthy options. We had for example a melon medley with Greek yogurt, which was light, refreshing and delicious as a starter. Our main courses were pasta in spicy tomato sauce and vegetables and Pasta with chicken and pesto. My pasta was overcooked, but the sauce had a nice kick and the vegetables were plentiful. Each dish was tasty. We also used our voucher. It was a choice between beer and wine, would be nice when at least Baileys would be included, so there is room to expand this offer. We chose two glasses of red wine and a large bottle of water.

The staff was busy, but very friendly and efficient.

Overall the Hilton Dublin Airport has much improved and is now a solid 4 star. We are going to return soon, when we have an early flight again and are looking forward to our stay.

©2013

Hotel Heritage Bruges, Belgium

Since we had been already numerous times to Brussels we decided around two weeks before flying there to change our hotel and go to Bruges instead.

Making up our mind where to stay was fairly easy. While a lot of Small Luxury Hotel Group members were available we had our heart set on the Hotel Heritage - Relais & Chateaux - based on our excellent experiences at Le Saint Paul in St. Paul de Vence and A Quinta da Auga in Santiago de Compostela (Please see review.) only a month before.

We were also happy because the hotel had a restaurant, which the others didn't.

We took a slow train from Brussels International Airport to Bruges. We bought the tickets online and achieved a good deal with a weekend rate and paid 67.60 Euro (ca. 89 USD) for two in First Class. Of course there is also the option to take one of the express trains, which should take around an hour, but it means also changing trains, which we didn't want to do.

There was some track work going on and another train developed a problem in front of us, so the around two and a half hour journey turned into around three. It wasn't a problem for us. We had time and already bought something to eat and drink at the airport. We knew there wouldn't be any service on the train due to a journey years earlier from Brussels to Luxembourg, where we were left three hours without being able to buy anything. So we learned from our earlier experiences.

First class means more space and quiet.

At Bruges train station we took a taxi to the hotel. It took maybe ten minutes and cost 7 Euro flat (ca. 9.25 USD).

If you prefer public transport, there is also a bus going to the West Flanders Library, which is the nearest stop for the Hotel Heritage. We didn't use it, so we can't comment on the cost.

We arrived at around 2 PM. Official check in time is 3 PM and since there are only twenty rooms and four suites (the former living quarters of the owners), we weren't able to check in immediately and were asked to come back in an hour and our room would be ready. I was able to store my rucksack until our return.

At our return the room was ready. We were handed our key card and accompanied to our room, where my rucksack was already waiting for me, and explained the features. We asked if we could have a late check out at noon the next day - normally check out is at 11.00 hours, so a bit too early for us. It was granted with a smile and re-assurance it was no problem at all. Afterwards we were left alone.

We had booked a Superior Room - the only room type available to book online. Superior Rooms are one step up from the entrance category rooms. Our room was on the third floor and overlooked the roofs of Bruges and the theatre. We were very happy about it since we had requested one on the higher floors. The hotel has four storeys. The fourth floor contains the suites, so we had the highest floor possible.

The room was medium sized and lavish, but had everything one could ever wish for. The main colors were red, gold and dark brown. There were three classic paintings - one a still life, the other two depicting ladies. When booking I had told my better half, that I wished we would have a room with a portrait painting over the bed, so it was also fulfilled.

There was a writing desk, a coffee table with fruit basket and sweets, a handwritten welcome note from Isabelle Creytens (owner of the Heritage together with her husband Johan), two chairs, a large bed, night stands, a wardrobe and a small shelf containing the Nespresso machine, capsules, tea, cups and a Bose wave radio with Bose remote control.

On the writing desk was an IPad. The Hotel Heritage was the first to offer one on every room in Europe.

There were also information about the hotel and Bruges, Intelligent Live magazines, writing paper, a hotel branded pen and three Relais & Chateaux guides in German, French and English.

The ambience TV was placed over the writing desk/storage space for luggage. The channel choice was a delight. It had all the important international channels, a lot from the UK, like BBC1 and 2, but also regional ones.

The Nilson luxury bed was very comfortable. It was made up in a way so it looked like one large mattress. Instead there were two. It wasn't an issue for us to have twin beds instead of a queen/king. It was hard to get out of bed. We also liked the night light function and air conditioning, which was working fast and reliable. The large crystal chandelier in the room was a prominent feature in the room and was fitting with the ambience. Another unique feature was the two old fashioned looking telephones, but they were modern with a digital display.

The marbled bathroom with granite floor was smaller, but offered everything, with toilet, bath tub/rain shower head combination, sink and a cupboard to store the towels and an additional roll of toilet paper and hairdryer.

There was a double set of Durance toiletries.

The bath tub was very comfortable, and the water pressure of the rainfall shower good.

The hotel has a fabled history. The cellar for example dates back to the 13th or 14th century, where the fitness center is located. We went there to check it out - not to do sports, though. The cross rib vault is worth seeing. We also liked the palm and flowers.

Officially the building was mentioned for the first time in 1390 and was called the Vaulte House. In the 16th century a member of the city council lived with his family there. Later it was an inn. In 1706 Pieter Jessens, a prosecutor and notary bought the house. It stayed in the possession of the family for about seventy six years. It was then owned by Lievin de la Villette de la Haymade. He was also a council, played an important role at the Noble Brotherhood of the Holy Blood and had a busy social life.

It was also a bank and fell into a state of disrepair before Johan and Isabelle Creytens bought the house and opened it as a hotel in 1993. Then it was called the Hansa Hotel. When the hotel rooms were renovated in 2003 the owners thought Hansa Hotel wasn't suitable anymore and changed it to Hotel Heritage, to reflect the age and importance of the building.

The Hotel Heritage has a bar Le Magnum, lounge and restaurant Le Mystique. Koenraad Steenkiste is the head chef, while Brecht is the Maitre D'.

We had a really outstanding dinner at Le Mystique and are very grateful we received a table at very short notice.

Breakfast was a highlight the next morning. It wasn't included in our rate, but we had budgeted it in at 24 Euro per person (ca. 32 USD). The information was available on the hotel's website and the Relais & Chateaux guide.

The coffee and tea were served by a waitress, the rest of the breakfast buffet style. There were champagne included, grapefruit and orange juice, milk, water, cold cuts, cheese, yogurt, chocolate pudding, scrambled eggs, smoked salmon and other smoked fish, a wide bread selection, berries and much more. The price was reasonable and everything was of very high quality and fresh.

Le Mystique spreads over two rooms. It is classic designed and a mix between understated and lavish. Especially interesting are the doors. They date back to 1869. We enjoyed also the chandeliers and ceiling murals.

The staff was friendly and accommodating. They always had time for a chat and were genuinely interested in our well being.

The hotel is kept immaculate. There are flowers everywhere in different colors.

Guests can also buy the bath amenities, hotel branded umbrellas or in house made jams.

There is one elevator and a steep staircase. It's not recommended to use the stairs if you have vertigo.

We loved how warm the staff was, the atmosphere of the hotel and the little details, like a note at turn down wishing a good night or a card in the morning providing the weather forecast.

It felt again like visiting a good friend's or family member's home.

Would we stay here again? Definitely. The location is ideal, giving you both easy access on foot to the romantic canals of Bruges and the Grote Market. The staff and cuisine are a delight and the rooms gorgeous and comfortable.

©2013

Gallery Hotel Art, Florence, Italy

We arrived with Volainbus / shuttle Bus from the Airport to the Florence Train Station and bought a return ticket, which cost 10 Euro per person (ca. 13.40 USD). The driver was so nice to give us directions to the Gallery Hotel Art.

The Gallery Hotel Art belongs to Salvatore Ferragamo's Lungarno Collection. This and having been the first design hotel in Italy were the reasons we choose this hotel.

The hotel has the ideal location, just steps away from the Ponte Vecchio, in a very quiet side street. The building was formerly a work shop for Salvatore Ferragamo.

The hotel was easy to find. The lobby looked like an art gallery and had an exhibition about bicycle racing going on.

Check in was friendly and quick.

Our rate included breakfast, free internet access, free entrance to the Ferragamo Museum and an upgrade at check in, if available. We were lucky and were upgraded.

We were accompanied by the bell captain to our room on the fourth floor, who also took our suitcase.

He gave us a quick room description. Then we were alone.

The room was large with twin beds pushed together, two chairs in front of the beds, a writing desk and a cupboard, containing the mini bar and storage space.

There was also a small hallway with a large wardrobe including safe.

The bathroom was medium in size. There was a double sink, weighing scale, toilet and bidet and a bath tub with shower combination.

The amenities were Salvatore Ferragamo Tuscan Soul.

The color scheme was brown, beige, black and white.

24 hour room service was also available.

We loved the details, like artwork depicting Florentine landmarks or that the leather handles to open the wardrobe were also made by Salvatore Ferragamo craftsmen.

We could see the part of the Ponte Vecchio from our window or looking in the next door apartments.

Everything in the room was comfortable.

There was also the biography of Salvatore Ferragamo and a Lungarno Collection magazine.

TV channels available were mostly regional but all important international channels were also there. Some channels also allowed changing the language by pressing a button via remote control. We watched one evening Bag of Bones with Pierce Brosnan on Italian TV using this service.

Breakfast was something to look forward to. We could have had breakfast at the Continentale or the Lungarno Hotel, but choose to have it at the Gallery Hotel Art, because we wanted to have a surprise element when returning to Florence and staying at one of the others within the Lungarno Collection.

Breakfast was served at the Hotel's lounge which can be seen as extension of the Fusion Restaurant and Bar. It was divided into different areas, insuring that the people flow was manageable. There were some hot items like bacon, scrambled eggs and turkey sausages, cold cuts, different types of cheese, fruits, cereal and much more. My favorite was the rice tart, but most of the days it was finished by the time we arrived. So if you want to have them better come early. All other items were replenished frequently.

The juice choice was good too. We loved the detox juice and the energizer, but there were peach, pear and orange juice available.

Other hot items, like omelets or pancakes could be ordered a la carte. They were charged extra. One of us had pancakes, and they were delicious. The cost was 6 Euro, ca. 8 USD.

One evening we also had dinner at the restaurant. It was fantastic and included 2 cocktails, a bottle of water, two main courses and two desserts. It came in at 78 Euro (ca. 104.40 USD).

All the staff was very friendly and attentive.

One example was the maid. On our first night the twin beds were pushed together, our preference. The next day, when the room was made up, the beds were separated. Before going to bed we pushed them together. The following morning the maid took note of what we liked and the beds stayed the way we preferred it for the rest of the stay.

Check out came too quickly. It was efficient and fast.

©2013

Hotel Porta Fira

When we planned our European tour we tried to find a way from Santiago de Compostela to Florence. There were no direct flights, and with a connection it would have meant we would arrive very late in Florence.

We didn't want to arrive close to midnight in a city we've never been before. We decided to break up the flights. We bought a Vueling ticket to Barcelona and another one for the following day from Barcelona to Florence.

That meant we needed a hotel for our roughly 19 hours in Barcelona. After a long discussion we thought we had found the right hotel with the Renaissance. It is located in Hospitalet de Llobregat, a suburb, between the airport and Barcelona.

Shortly before booking we decided to have a closer look again. We spied the Hotel Porta Fira, belonging to Hoteles Santos of Spain and after that it was a done deal. We believed it was more interesting and better suitable for us.

The location is similar to the Renaissance - in fact our room faced it, from accross the road.

The Porta Fira hotel's architect was Toyo Ito. The building is covered in red tubes and shaped like a lotus flower. It won in 2010 best skyscraper in the world by Emporis.

From the airport we took the bus 46 to Amadeu Torner - tickets were 2 Euro (ca. 2.70 USD) per person one way.

The Hotel Porta Fira is around 50 to 100 m from the stop.

We admired the building before checking in. It looked really great. The lobby was large. Check in was only staffed with one person.

Our check in was fast, professional and efficient. Since there was only one member of staff, she was very busy and was asked even while we were dealing with the formalities for maps.

To the left of the reception were the bar and restaurant and the elevators, to the right meeting rooms.

We had booked a Privilege Room including breakfast. It was located on the higher floors and offered stunning views. The facade tubes were cut, so that they were undisturbed.

The color scheme was black, white and red.

There was a king sized bed with a bench in front, a stylish writing desk and chair - it wasn't comfortable -, a sofa that looked uncomfortable, but was the whole opposite, large storage space, wooden floors and a white carpet.

The TV offered a wide choice of international channels, including Arirang South Korea and Bloomberg. The mini bar was well stocked with the usual items and priced according to staying in Barcelona.

The bathroom concept was unusual. The double sinks were placed in the bed room, while there was a separate one for the toilet and bidet and another one for the bathroom.

The bathroom was a typical Japanese wet shower.

The amenities were Porta Fira own branded, there was also a comb provided.

There is also 24 hour room service available.

We already knew that the restaurant was unsuitable for our needs, so we went to Gran Via 2, a shopping center just ten minutes walk away and had dinner at Sottovoce and it was very good.

The next morning we had breakfast at the restaurant. The facade tubes continued inside. The buffet offered everything including melon juice, cold cuts, bread, cheese, salad, hot items and much more. The quality was good and we enjoyed it very much.

After breakfast it was already time for check out.

We were sad to leave, because the stay was too short.

Check out was quick. The only cost incurred was the city tax of 1.98 Euro (ca. 2.65 USD).

Of course we are going to return, but would like to stay longer and test the bar.

©2013

A Quinta da Auga, Relais & Chateaux

We had a total of 5 nights in Santiago de Compostela. Thinking we would be quite busy while staying at the AC Palacio del Carmen (see review) we decided to spend the last two relaxing a bit outside of the city at the A Quinta da Auga, Relais & Chateaux. This was our second Relais & Chateaux property. Based on only good experiences with Le St. Paul at St. Paul de Vence, France, we thought it was time to check out another one, this time in Spain.

The A Quinta da Auga dates back to 1792. Originally it was built by Jacobo Perez Villamarin as a paper factory, but it was also used to produce wool clothing, ice and beer. It fell into disrepair until Lorenzo Garcia and his family bought the estate. The architect carrying out the restoration and renovation project was Luisa Garcia Gil.

We took a taxi from the AC to the A Quinta da Auga and paid around 8 Euro (ca. 10.70 USD). The journey took maybe 10 minutes.

It was around 12.30 hours when we arrived. Unfortunately we weren't able to check in early and were advised to come back at 15.00 hours, when the official check in time was and our room would be ready.

We explored the area and checked out where the bus stop for the Number 8 bus into town was. It wasn't easy to spot, because it was at the end of the road and only a no parking sign indicated it. We later saw a bus stopping there.

Having done that we decided to go back to the hotel and have lunch.

We had Ice tea, hot chocolate, cappuccino, ham and cheese sandwiches and watermelon gazpacho.

When we had settled the bill (ca. 25 Euro or ca. 33.40 USD) our room was ready. We were offered an upgrade for 90 Euro (ca. 120 USD) per night to a suite. We didn't take it up, because we were quite happy with our room. It was 10 square meters larger than the standard room at the AC Palacio del Carmen. We received a room at the top floor (5th). It was a mansard room with a window built into the roof and views over the garden and neighborhood. The room was sparsely furnished with a traditional writing desk, two chairs and comfortable twin beds. It was large, but didn't look too empty. We felt immediately at home.

There were wooden floors; the mini bar was free with local water, two bottles of Coca Cola, one orange Fanta and one lemon Fanta. It was restocked daily.

The flat screen TV was small, but moving the chairs from under the window nearer to the TV solved the problem. The only English speaking channel was BBC World.

Storage space in the wardrobe was good. There was also a safe unlike at the AC.

The air condition was centrally operated and sometimes made the room slightly too hot. It didn't bother us too much or we simply opened the window.

The tapestry was interesting. It depicted what life was like in earlier days.

The bathroom was large with a bathtub/shower combination, Relais & Chateaux Ylang Ylang amenities, a bidet, toilet and sink. The bath tub was comfortable and the water pressure was good.

The hotel has a restaurant called Filigrana, a social lounge and the Q Cafe. There is also a new wing with fitness center, hydrothermal facilities including swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool, sauna, ice fountain and steam bath. There is also a spa, offering facials, massages, body treatments, manicure, pedicure, hair care and yoga lessons. Massage treatments start from 30 minutes and cost 40 Euro (ca. 53.40 USD) to 90 minutes for 115 Euro (ca. 153.35 USD).

There are also packages available ranging from 110 minutes to 5 days.

Use of the Flotarium costs 22 Euro for 20 minutes (ca. 29.40 USD); yoga lessons start at 90 Euro (ca. 120 USD) for 90 minutes.

We enjoyed spending time on our room, going to the Q Cafe or walking in the grounds.

The gardens were very beautiful. There were different flowers, fountains tinkling and a waterfall. The hotel recommends also walks ranging from twenty to forty five minutes.

The hotel was detailed. The social lounge had old photographs of what the hotel looked like before the renovation, which famous guests had visited and other artwork. Each seating area was different with plush sofas, comfortable armchairs and an open fire.

Another detail were flowers and plants in the bedroom and bathroom or that the flowers and the outdoor chairs were in matching colors - an intense red.

There were nooks and crannies to explore on every floor and art work everywhere.

Even the elevators look not functional. They have prints depicting the paper making process.

Since we had time I choose a 30 minutes deep tissue massage.

The spa was airy and light. The original building and the new wing are connected indoors, so there is no reason to go outside. The staff was very friendly and concerned if the treatment had been to my liking. The changing room was empty and I had my own locker, containing a bath robe, panty and slippers. There were also showers and toilets.

The treatment was relaxing and eased my tensions. This massage didn't make me as sore as previous ones. It was as good, though.

At the Q Cafe we tried different smoothies and juices, local wine and coffee liquor, pasta salad, peppers filled with cod, frozen yogurt and raspberries, Santiago Cake and much more.

Breakfast was served buffet style every day at the Filigrana Restaurant. It was small, but had everything one could need from cold cuts and smoked salmon to cheese to yogurt, fruit salad, scrambled eggs - other egg dishes could be made a la carte -, pastries and much more. The space was a bit small and when it was busy, it could get tight. Restocking wasn't an issue. There was only one juice - orange. The flavor was outstanding and everyone had at least two glasses. The salmon was the softest I've ever had.

We had a funny incident with Housekeeping. It was afternoon. We had returned from our walk and saw that the maids were on our floor making up rooms. They hadn't arrived at our room, so we were prepared for their visit. The maid knocked, shouted something in Spanish and opened the door immediately. If we had been in an indiscriminating situation it could have gotten embarrassing, so the young lady was a bit surprised somebody was on the room. She asked a colleague to help her. The room was cleaned and the bed was made very quickly.

All the staff encountered was friendly, efficient and warm.

Way too soon we had to leave for our next destination Barcelona.

Check out was done quickly, a taxi was ordered for us and the "bible" - the 2013 Relais & Chateaux catalogue in English was given to us as a good bye present. On the room we only had the actual version in Spanish, so this was a nice touch.
Donations to UNICEF are also encouraged.

We can recommend the A Quinta da Auga to couples and families with older children, who are looking for a quirky property that is romantic and off the beaten track with personalized services and attentive staff.

We are missing the property already and are definitely going to return, when we are in the area.

©2013