Coziest Hotel in Iceland

04 July 201730 September 2019 / yougotstampedbyd / Leave a comment

This is, without exaggeration, probably one of the best places we’ve stayed in our entire lives.

Yes, it’s true, Northern Comfort Apartments is now our most favorite place. Nope, it’s not a luxury hotel with a 24/7 room service and world-class facilities, BUT it is the coziest accommodation we’ve ever experienced! In fact, we thought of using their room layout for a future place of our own (although I would prefer a little more closet space 😅).

Superior ‘Cozy’ Studio

We were looking online for the best (yet still very much affordable) place to stay in Iceland, being that it was our first time there and we didn’t know what to expect, but the places we came across were above our budget and the more affordable ones didn’t have private bath. We were actually surprised to learn that most accommodations in Iceland featured bathroom-sharing. Of course, to have a private bath, you’d have to pay a little more — and it’s not just a few dollars we’re talking about here and quite a big difference.

So a month before our trip, we were lucky to find this place. Glad that I tried Expedia to see what other options they had as opposed to Agoda and Booking.com and it was a good decision. It’s probably destiny that we found this place in the end.

Queen bed perfect for couples visiting Iceland.

Northern Comfort Apartments Reykjavik has six 20 sqm. (210 sq ft) Superior Studios. Each room has a 40″ LCD TV with satellite channels (although a lot of the content was not in English) it would’ve been awesome to have at least one channel serving international movies.

These two chairs were very comfortable to sit on but most of the time, we used it for our bags and clothes like any self-respecting human being lol.

Best Kitchenette, ever!

Beats our own kitchen at home

One of the reasons why we enjoyed our stay here was because of this beautiful kitchenette. Though it was quite small, it was complete. They had everything! Coffee maker, kettle, utensils, glass bakeware, dishes, bowls, champagne glasses, wine glasses, shot glasses, big knives, small knives, a wine opener, a can opener, different ladles, pots, pans, a flashlight, extra batteries, extra bulbs… the works! It’s even more complete than our kitchen at home!😂

Our friends the fridge and dishwasher

A very big bonus (for us Asians, since we rarely have it in our homes) is this dishwasher! Man, you have no idea how happy we were to see this! Imagine washing dishes during winter! Yup we never had to do that. All we had to do was stick the dishes in this thing and turn it on. Such a great convenience. Dishwasher > washing dishes. All day, everyday.

Clean Bathroom with a Heater

Just look at how clean this bathroom is! Everything’s clean and dry. Every single day, they make sure the bathroom is spotless and I absolutely love that about this place.

There’s also a heater inside the bath so you don’t have to worry about wet clothes. You can just hang them up to dry on the heated towel rack. No excuse for you not to take a bath even during snow storms!😆

Such pretty lights that make the room extra cozy

5-star Service – better than a luxury hotel

We were actually surprised that when we arrived, there was no concierge/reception area. We probably did not read the instructions well before arriving but I guess they mentioned that we should get our room key from the welcome area. We tried looking for a person in-charge for like 3 minutes before realizing that there are envelopes with names and it’s where you can get the key and a welcome note. It was refreshing to find this kind of hotel which trusts people.

(We actually took photos of the welcome kit and more photos of the room for this blog review but unfortunately we couldn’t find copies of the photos. Would’ve been nice to have photos as reference.😔 )

Anyway, there was a time that we purposely placed the “do not disturb” sign for a day because we had a lot stuff, which we were not able to fix, so we were shy to have someone clean the room for us. The night we arrived from our day tour, we found a brown bag in front of the door with clean towels, hand towels, rag, paper towel, plastic bag, almost everything which you use daily. It was such a nice surprise for them to prepare it for us – something you will not experience in most hotels.

Icelandic Water – the best water in the world

Iceland is also energy efficient because they don’t use electric heaters to heat their water. Instead, Iceland “digs” for boiling water thousands of feet below the Earth’s surface through Geothermal Plants. All of Iceland’s water comes from deep springs and you drink the country’s luxurious water right from the tap.

We bought bottles of water then just refill it every time from the tap.

It’s known as the best water in the world. We didn’t believe it at first, but one taste of that pure Icelandic tap water and we instantly understood what all the fuss was about. We loved it so much we brought a bottle back home for us to compare.😄 Check out the recent article published by CNN: “The secret to Iceland’s happiness? It’s in the water”

Check out the coziest hotel, ever!

Northern Comfort Apartments

Skipholt 15, 105 Reykjavik

Northern.Comfort.Apartments@gmail.com

The Bed – Hat Yai, Thailand (Hotel Review)

03 March 201611 May 2019 / yougotstampedbyd / Leave a comment

The Bed is probably the chicest boutique hotel in Hat Yai, Thailand.

We were lucky to be one of the first hotel guests when it opened a few Chinese New Years ago. We checked possible hotels in Agoda and found this gem! We instantly booked it online. True enough when we arrived we were pleased with the room they gave us.

The charming “Hansel and Gretel” room.

It’s quite spacious and complete. It has its own phone, cable TV, mini bar (with snacks and drinks) and mini fridge.

The bathroom is also clean and tidy. Just don’t be surprised with the blinds from the bathroom. 😛

Mind you, the entrance and receiving area are also as beautiful as the rooms.

Here’s another area where you’ll be happy to lounge around…

Reading area with candy-colored chairs. Totally love this room!

If you plan to go to this southern part of Thailand, why not try staying at The Bed?

THE BED URBAN CHIC STAY

Address: 116/1 Supasarnrangsan Rd, Hat Yai, Hat Yai District, Songkhla 90110, Thailand

Phone: +66 74 237 679

Directions: Located on Supasarn Rangsan Rd. Just opposite CHUE CHANG Cafeteria near J AEAD Herbal drink

Stamped by,

D ❤

The Henry: Cebu’s Hidden Gem

29 November 201411 May 2019 / yougotstampedbyd / 3 Comments

Cebu is a foodie’s dream destination.

The quality of the cuisine combined with the sheer amount of it is simply amazing. The city just does absolutely everything, in the best possible way imaginable. Looking for a place to stay while you’re there? There are a handful of places you can choose from, but we found one that truly stands out.

It’s a place where the highest levels of relaxation and chic, modern artistry meet comfortably in the middle.

Location

Situated near Banilad Town Center and just 5-10 minutes away from Cebu Business Park which harbours Ayala Center, The Henry sits comfortably just off the main road, hidden from the bustling streets and placed inconspicuously in a quiet corner of the metro. Beside it is arguably the best spa experience on the island, and since the hotel is located smack dab in the middle of the city, it’s easy to get to and from virtually anywhere.

Room Quality

Room quality is one of the most important things to consider when choosing accommodations. Staying in Cebu is no exception. The Henry boasts a distinct harmony between form and function. The room designs are both modern in its concept and comfortable to the core. They are huge (really huge) rooms with loads of space. We got to try out the Big Room (smallest one) and the Extra-Large Room.

The Henry’s BIG Room. We were supposed to get the X-LARGE room but it wasn’t ready yet and they were kind enough to let us take this room first so we could rest while waiting to be transferred.

This is the X-Large room! Notice the insane amount of space they give you to relax in. Complete with a comfy couch in front of a flat screen TV.

The rooms are intricately designed with each element carefully thought out and turned into works of art. The walls are painted with murals, the lighting is unique and modern and there are a myriad of different trappings that all add to the feeling that you are being whisked away to another place.

Room Inclusions and Facilities

Even their most modest offering boasts a decent living space with an oversized king bed matched with pillows that feel like absolute heaven. Their much bigger Extra-Large Room is equipped with a 2-piece sofa set and a feathered rug placed right in front of the 32-inch flat screen LCD for some tube surfing.

The toilets are equipped with rainforest showers and hot water, and you get your typical set of towels (hand and body), toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo and conditioner). Both rooms have a mini bar stocked with the usual cold beers and sodas.

This little red guy is the first thing you’ll see when you enter the hotel. We arrived around 4 in the morning and had an early check-in.

Works of art line the hotel corridors. It’s like walking through an art gallery all the way to your room.

The mini-library offers some interesting reads you can lose yourself in. Pick your poison.

A Work of Art

Everything about The Henry screams unconventional. Works of art line its walls. The end result is an experience quite like no other. It’s as if you are literally living inside an art museum. There’s a mini-library available for you to pick up a book you fancy and lose yourself in some obscure corner. Whatever the purpose of your visit to the hotel, The Henry makes sure you are absolutely comfortable, every step of the way.

There’s just no shortage of beauty within The Henry’s walls. It’s like a being awake inside a dream that you never want to end. Needless to say, our stay at The Henry was a memorable one.

Room Service

Much in line with The Henry’s top-notch service which we’re absolutely raving about, Room Service is just as equally satisfying. The entire staff is very responsive and kind in handling requests. They are prompt in their timing and make sure that your rooms are properly made up every day.

You won’t find the usual buffet line for breakfast however, as The Henry serves set meals for early morning grub – which has its advantages, not the least of which is higher quality food. Buffet breakfasts are usually in place for you to load up on bland and tasteless carbs getting ready for a big day of touring. The Henry’s breakfast boasts class cuisine, placing emphasis on quality versus quantity.

Crispy fried Bangus with spiced vinegar, scrambled eggs and garlic rice – a Filipino classic.

Americano. Slices of toasts with Strawberry jam and fresh butter. Strips of bacon with scrambled eggs.

The Verdict

They say a hotel is only as good as the type of service it delivers – then this is where The Henry truly shines. Everyone – from the security guards, to the front desk, to the cleaners – all displayed genuine helpfulness and attentiveness. They did their jobs with smiles on their faces from as soon as we stepped into the lobby to when we checked out.

This type of service really goes a long way in making people feel welcome. The Henry, although already a beautiful hotel on its own, increased its value tenfold with the amazing top-notch service they provided. Whatever you need, the staff will be there to attend to it. If you need a cab, they’ll go get a cab; a bottle of water, just ask; if you need anything at all, they’ll do their absolute best to grant your wishes.

It’s befuddling why not all establishments strive to provide service the way The Henry does. For all its inherent beauty and grandeur, the way The Henry goes to great lengths to see to it that their guests are satisfied with their stay is the real beauty of the place.