JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai At Tomorrow Square – A Review By Punam Mohandas The JW Marriott Tomorrow Square is without doubt one of the most impressive towers dominating the immediate city landscape and is the eighth tallest building in Shanghai. At 285metres, it is a sleek, vertical tower, which culminates in four sharp-edged, perpendicular triangles…
CHAR, Hotel Indigo Shanghai on the Bund – A Review By Punam Mohandas Rooftop Steakhouse and Bar The Indigo brand is the more contemporary, funky offering from the InterContinental (IHG) Group. The Hotel Indigo Shanghai on the Bund lives up to this image and how, with some novel and very modern sculptures and artwork in…
River Drunk, Wanda Reign on the Bund, Shanghai – A Review By Punam Mohandas The Art of Chinese Fine Dining To begin this food review, one must needs trace one’s footsteps from the utterly magnificent lobby – a humungous, square expanse of marbled space, featuring one large painting of a Chinese scene in a riot…
The Kunlun Jing An – A Review By Punam Mohandas To begin this review, one would have to begin with the genesis of the property. For the past thirty years since its inception, this hotel had been the erstwhile Hilton Jing An. However, the state-owned parent company now wanted a more intrinsic Chinese presence hitherto…
Amari Hua Hin – A Review By Punam Mohandas The Amari Hua Hin does not have a very prepossessing façade, however, the interiors are cool and refreshing. The lobby is an oblong-shaped room, done up in white and deep blue that somehow gives out a very welcoming vibe. An overhanging decoration in red, supposed to…
So Sofitel Bangkok – A Review By Punam Mohandas Six years into its opening, the So Sofitel Bangkok can still be considered a relatively new property. The hotel prides itself on its bold approach to design and indeed, offers a funky, contemporary look effortlessly that is quite a delight to behold. There are actually two…
Banyan Tree Bangkok – A Review By Punam Mohandas The Banyan Tree Bangkok has long maintained its stand as one of the city’s leading luxury hotels. With 327-keys and 61 floors, one might be forgiven for thinking this would be just another impersonal city hotel but instead, the Banyan Tree Bangkok brings to its patrons…
Vivanta by Taj Bentota – A Review By Punam Mohandas The Vivanta by Taj Bentota is a stately colonial style building set over nine acres, with manicured lawns and quiet woods that are flanked by the sea. There is a railway line running close to the hotel and the whistle of the engine against the…
Vivanta by Taj – Coral Reef – A Review By Punam Mohandas Vivanta by Taj – Coral Reef is located on the small, private island of Hembadhu in the North Male atoll and is a one hour ride by speedboat from the airport. One alights at the hotel’s jetty and spirits are instantly revived by the…
Taj Exotica Resort & Spa Maldives – A Review By Punam Mohandas Don’t be fooled by the rustic surroundings amid placid waters of the clearest aquamarine. In spite of the Enid Blyton-ish Enchanted Woods feeling, the Taj Exotica Maldives is one of the most upscale properties of the Taj Group, with premium room fitments and every…
Mandarin Oriental Bangkok – A Review By Punam Mohandas Often referred to as the Grande Dame of Bangkok, the Mandarin Oriental is now an impressive (for a city hotel) 142-years old! The absolutely spectacular original façade, dating back to 1876, has been carefully preserved by successive general managers. Colonial in style, it is white with pale…
Vivanta By Taj – President, Mumbai – A Review By Punam Mohandas One somehow feels an almost indescribable sense of welcome and homecoming on alighting at a Taj property and so it is with the Vivanta by Taj – President. One of the oldest hotels in Mumbai, the President was started in 1972, following which…