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[thehypetraveler]

Finally, I got the time & feel to do some blogging. I have lots of blog posts to write and I’m so behind time! Without further ado, let me start off with one of the most anticipated trips of the year… Paris, France.

Yes, my girlfriend and I finally decided to visit Paris in May. And immediately, the French capital has become one of my favourite European city! Paris is situated in northern central France, in a north-bending arc of the River Seine. It has an estimated population of 2 million residents and a whopping 40 million tourists in the year 2018!

We touched down at Paris Aéroport (Charles de Gaulle Airport) in the afternoon, and we took some time to figure our way to get to our hotel. We were told that the cheapest way to our hotel was by train, but we’re so tired, and just wanted to get to our hotel as soon as possible! So… We decided to take Le Bus Direct, which connects the Airport and multiple locations in the City Centre seamlessly.

The hotel I’ve chosen for our Paris Trip was La Clef Tour Eiffel Paris, which is pretty close to several attractions in Paris. You can read my hotel review on our stay at La Clef Tour Eiffel Paris here.

We had a quick rest in our hotel and went out for dinner at a nearby restaurant – Café Kléber. My girlfriend had Duck Confit, while I had the Flank Steak. It was a super delicious meal to mark the start of our Paris trip.

We headed over to the Arc de Triomphe after dinner. I’ve booked tickets in-advanced from Klook (which you should too, to save time & money), and we’re able to skip-the-line for purchasing tickets and head straight to the bag-check counter. The queue wasn’t very long and soon enough, we found ourselves walking up the numerous steps of stairs (284 steps) to the top of Arc de Triomphe.

On the top, you can clearly see the Eiffel Tower, La Defence, Montparnasse Tower and Basilique du Sacré-Cœur. The views of the avenues beneath us were spectacular too! I highly recommend visiting Arc de Triomphe during sunset, as the views are just WOW WOW WOW! (I think Paris has one of the best sunsets I’ve seen so far!)

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Our first day ended after visiting the Arc de Triomphe, as we were both tired from travelling around. Stay tuned to Day 2 of our Paris Trip!

  Travel blog backlogs... Presenting Paris Trip - Day 01 (Arrival + Arc de Triomphe) Finally, I got the time & feel to do some blogging. I have lots of blog posts to write and I'm so behind time!

[thehypetraveler]

I’ve been to Europe a couple of times (with my girlfriend) but has never stepped foot onto the City of Light or some say… the City of Love – Paris, France. Being unfamiliar with Paris, and I knew that Paris’s accommodations can be very expensive. So, after some searches on my new favourite hotel-booking site –  Trip.com, I’ve found us a 4.5-star hotel near Paris’s main touristy attractions – La Clef Tour Eiffel Paris.

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As you’ve guessed from the name of the hotel, it’s located near Eiffel Tower, it’s also walking distance to Arc de Triomphe and The Avenue des Champs-Élysées! The hotel is located on Avenue Kléber, and there’s a Metro station outside the hotel – Trocadéro. It’s super convenient!

The hotel is set in a 19th-century building designed by architect Ricardo Bofill, and the hotel lobby is neat, clean and modern! The hotel staffs are welcoming and friendly.

There are 7 different types of rooms/apartments which vary from 30sqm Classic Room to 108sqm Eiffel Tower Suite. Most rooms are equipped with LCD TV, central air-conditioning & heating with individually controlled thermostats, Nespresso coffee machine, microwave ovens and some are equipped with washing machines and a fully-equipped kitchenette.

The hotel is equipped with a Breakfast Room where daily buffet breakfast is held, a Gymnasium can also be found in the basement of the hotel. Carparks are available outside the hotel, but if I’m not wrong it’s with a charge. And not forgetting, there’s free Wi-Fi in the hotel premises.

I’ve booked ourselves a Classic Room but was given a free room upgrade by the friendly staffs, which is quite a delight for us! We arrived in the room with a bottle of water and a box of chocolates. The room is huge, modern, trendy and clean! Our room comes with a small balcony too, which is pretty dope! And what’s more, the hotel uses L’Occitane en Provence products for their toiletries! Life in this hotel room just makes me feel like lazing around on the bed, on in the bathtub!

I really enjoyed myself during my stay! So if you are visiting Paris soon, I would highly recommend staying at La Clef Tour Eiffel Paris. (Non-sponsored post)

Do remember to make your hotel booking through Trip.com to get the best rates, and to use Shopback to get some cash back on your purchases!

Hotel Review: La Clef Tour Eiffel Paris I've been to Europe a couple of times (with my girlfriend) but has never stepped foot onto the City of Light…

[thehypetraveler]

Silkair Launches Flights from Singapore to Busan, South Korea

New way to fly to South Korea! It's the Plane to Busan, with Silkair! Read more here:

Wanna travel to South Korea? Want to get a cheaper alternative to fly to South Korea? Now you can with Silkair latest edition to its destination – Busan.

On 1st May, Silkair launched the first non-stop flight from Singapore Changi Airport to Busan Gimhae International Airport, in South Korea. Silkair is the only airline that flies to Busan on a regular basis, 4 times per week(departing from SG on…

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[thehypetraveler]

Just came back from my first overseas trip to Ho Chi Minh City! So it’s time for my quick hotel review about the Authentic Vietnam 4-stars Hotel that I’ve stayed – Grand Hotel Saigon.

Grand Hotel Saigon is one of the oldest hotels in Ho Chi Minh City since 1930, with the hotel being restored in 1997. It’s located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, within District 1, which means getting around the city centre is easy and convenient. For example, the hotel is 10 – 15 minutes walking distance to Saigon Skydeck, Saigon Centre, Ben Thanh Market etc.

Grand Hotel Saigon has one of the most impressive traditional French facades in Ho Chi Minh City, where signs of the French architectural can be seen. The hotel has 2 wings – the original old Ancient Wing and the newer Luxury Wing. There’s a total of 251 rooms and suites within the hotel. From the rooms in Luxury Wing, be amazed by the fabulous view of either Saigon River (river view) or Bitexco Financial Tower (city view). Those who love to enjoy touches of history should pay a bit more and book a room/suite in the Ancient Wing.

Upon arrival at the hotel, I was welcomed and greeted by the friendly staffs who proceed to help me with check-in. I’ve been checked into the 12th floor of Luxury Wing’s Premium Deluxe room (with a room size of 32-meter square).

The view from the room was not bad, the room was clean with a little touch of history remains on its furnishing. The bed was comfy and big! One big plus about staying in Grand Hotel Saigon is that you will receive fresh fruits service daily for free! You will also be entitled to 2 complimentary small bottles of water. The toilet was not bad, with a bathtub on one side and a rain shower on the other.

A few bad points I felt could be improved on was that the hotel corridor lightings were rather dim and not sure why but there are cigarettes smell every morning along the corridor. (Not sure whether is the hotel a non-smoking hotel, to be honest.)

I’ve got free buffet breakfast bundled with my stay. Breakfast was served on the second floor of the hotel. There was a table full of bread, cooked dishes, fruits, drinks and a counter that prepare eggs and local Vietnamese breakfast (including Pho, Rice Vermicelli etc). Overall, I felt that the breakfast was not very special, guess it was just alright, no much complains!

Grand Saigon Hotel has several amenities including Fitness Centre, Swimming Pool, Hair Salon, Spa & Massage Centre, Casino and some dining options (including a rooftop eating area/bar). Hotel guests will be entitled to 10% off on food when you dine in any of the restaurants within the hotel.

Checking-out was also smooth, and the hotel has prepared a complimentary limousine service to get me to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for my flight back to Singapore. It’s really nice for the hotel to arrange that for me! Overall, I felt that the hotel was alright, no many surprises. But the location of the hotel was really good, it’s walking distance to a lot of the attractions within District 1. Hotel staffs are friendly and are good at English.

Want authentic Vietnam? Want something classic yet modern and contemporary? Read my blog on my hotel review about Hotel Grand Saigon! Just came back from my first overseas trip to Ho Chi Minh City! So it's time for my quick hotel review about the Authentic Vietnam 4-stars Hotel that I've stayed - …

[thehypetraveler]

Flying direct from destination A to destination B may be too tedious for some, or maybe it’s cheaper to have a stopover/layover in between your departure and arrival country. But which airport should you have a layover at? Here are the world’s 5 best airports for a layover! (Below rankings are obtained from TIME & Culture Trip – in no particular order)

SINGAPORE CHANGI AIRPORT – SINGAPORE

Singapore Changi Airport has been the Number 1 airport in the world for years and won over 400 awards. With the opening of Jewel Changi Airport, having a layover in Changi Airport is gonna be better! You will be amazed by the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, a Shaw movie theatre, tons of sumptuous yummy food outlets (e.g. A&W, Shake Shack, Burger & Lobster, Lady M) and the World’s first Pokemon Center (outside of Japan) here in Jewel Changi.

Other than the addition of Jewel Changi, the airport also features tons of art installations, the world’s first butterfly garden in an airport (in Terminal 3), an indoor slide (in Terminal 3), rooftop pool etc. For a long layover, Changi Airport also organises a free 2.5 hours tour of the city! Having a layover in Singapore Changi Airport will definitely keep you occupied from the time you arrived till the moment you depart.

Image from Google

Image from Google

Image from Google

MUNICH AIRPORT – GERMANY

Munich Airport, situated in Germany is a great layover destination for travellers heading to explore Europe, especially during the Christmas season! Where the airport is transformed into a German Christmas market, decked with an ice skating rink and carousel for kids to enjoy. In the summertime, prepare to surf your way while waiting for your next flight at the airport. There are classes for kids and adult beginner surfing lessons each day and then open sessions where the experts carve up the 1.5-metre wall of water.

For normal days, visitors can head to the Visitors Park (free-entry) to explore the fascinating and multi-faceted world of the airport. From the top of Visitors Hill, visitors can watch planes coming in for a landing or accelerating down the runway to take off. Similarly to Singapore Changi Airport, Munich Airport is packed with retail shops to fulfil your shopping wishes with about 150 shops available, with a supermarket opening till midnight.

Image from Google

Image from Google

Image from Google

SEOUL INCHEON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – SOUTH KOREA

The world of K-pop and Kimchi. Having a layover at Incheon International Airport will give travellers a taste of Korea through cultural performances and an impressive museum. There’s a movie theatre that features Korean hits, a year-round indoor ice skating rink and an 18-hole putting course on top of 7 gardens to keep you occupied during your layover time in Korea.

Love to see Korea for a bit during your layover? The airport offers free tours of nearby local spots with duration varies from a 1 hour trip to a nearby local beach to 5-6 hours shopping or temple/palace tour. There are tons of free showers, massage chairs and mini gardens in the airport, and tons of tantalizing shops around!

Image from Google

Image from Google

Image from Google

AMSTERDAM AIRPORT SCHIPHOL – THE NETHERLANDS

Situated in the land of windmills and Heineken beers. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is another awesome airport to layover to further your travel to other parts of Europe, especially if you’re flying with KLM. Amsterdam Schiphol has tons of shopping opportunities around the airport.

There are art exhibits, thousands of books and a traditional Dutch cafe, an indoor park complete with the sound of chirping birds and even a viewing terrace for the aviation geeks in the airport. Do also spend some time visiting the free Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Museum at the airport. As for kids, learn more about science with 9 interactive exhibits at NEMO at Schiphol, situated right beside Rijksmuseum.

Image from Google

Image from Google

Image from Google

DUBAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE)

The base for Emirates airline, situated at the largest city in the UAE – Dubai. Within the airport terminals, prepare to shop till you drop, eat till your tummies explode! What else is there? You could spend some time and treat yourself to the spa, stroll in the Zen Garden or pamper yourself in the Health Club with massages and manicure services.

But what makes having a layover in Dubai special and spectacular, is outside of the airport – in the city of Dubai. Where mini-tours from the airport will bring you to the tallest building in the World – The Burj Khalifa, the photogenic sail shape hotel – Burj Al Arab, and even shop even more in the largest mall – The Dubai Mall.

Not feeling enthusiastic to visit the outside? And want to just rest… There are also plenty of sleep pods available within the huge airport!

Image from Google

Image from Google

Image from Google

World's 5 Best Airports For Layover. Which are they? Read more to know! Flying direct from destination A to destination B may be too tedious for some, or maybe it's cheaper to have a stopover/layover in between your departure and arrival country.

[thehypetraveler]

Just realized that I have forgotten to upload my hotel review on Tribe Perth that I’ve stayed during my trip to Perth. So here is it!

Tribe Perth is located near to King’s Park in West Perth, which is a 5 minutes drive to the city centre. The hotel has a rather modern unique exterior if you think that The hotel looks like some metal shipping containers stacked up together? You are pretty quite darn right!

Upon entering the hotel, it’s like you’re entering a fashion designer’s boutique store. The open-plan contemporary hotel lobby has a seating area opposite the front desk that’s filled with sofas of different textures. The hotel lobby is filled with eye-catching Instagrammable decor. Checking into the hotel was swift and enjoyable, all thanks to the friendly staffs! They also kindly assisted me with the parking arrangement within the hotel compound.

I have to admit that the hotel room isn’t as huge as what I expected (only 18 square metres), but it’s modern, minimalist and functional, with all the things that you will need! There aren’t many spaces for your luggage in the room, but it turned out that the bed was higher to accommodate your luggage to be placed below. There are a 40-inch Smart TV, free WiFi, free minibar and Nespresso coffee machine in the room too. The toilet isn’t huge too but it’s functional and comes with rain shower and Kevin Murphy hair and body care products. And… to add on, I love the floor to ceiling window a lot!

I did not book any breakfast from the hotel during my stay as I wanted to try out breakfast in the city centre, but other reviews did mention that the breakfast spread was right on point and is very tasty! So you might consider during your stay in Tribe Perth!

Overall, I felt that this hotel is perfect for holidaymakers, it’s affordable, it’s quiet and it’s within close proximity to the city centre. Since self-driving in Perth is quite common and having a secured-carpark within the hotel component is definitely a plus point (but do note that availability is limited, pre-booking is required). The hotel is modern, fresh and the staffs and very approachable and friendly, which made my stay a very enjoyable one!

Do look up Tribe Perth during your search for accommodation on your next trip to Perth!

Hotel Review: Tribe Perth - Size doesn't matter in a modern, contemporary comfy boutique hotel. Read more here: Just realized that I have forgotten to upload my hotel review on Tribe Perth that I've stayed during my trip to Perth.

[thehypetraveler]

Singapore Public Holidays for 2020

Singapore Public Holidays for 2020. Time to start planning!

It’s only April 2019, but it’s never too early to strategise your annual leaves and plan for a dream holiday trip in the year 2020. We have 7 long weekends in 2020 too, so… Start planning!

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[thehypetraveler]

The City of Bath, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also one of UK’s most visited beautiful cities. Bath is a popular day-trip destination from either London. The city of Bath can be easily reached by rail from Central London, that only takes about 40 minutes! You can visit Bath with day-tour groups, but I think it’s cheaper and better to visit the city on your own, as the city is easy to navigate around.

So let’s get started on what I did in the beautiful city of Bath during my trip over last winter.

Roman Baths

This is the first attraction I went right upon arrival in Bath. This is a very popular tourist attraction in Bath, and also in South West England, so as you expected, queues can get very long. I would highly recommend you to book your tickets online prior to your visit! The Roman Baths are built here by the Romans during their invasion into Britain thousands of years ago, after knowing the hot springs bubbled up from the Earth. Visiting the Roman Baths is the best way to understand the history of Bath, where the entire self-guided audio tour will take approximately an hour plus.

After your tour of the Roman Baths, you could dine in The Pump Room Restaurant, situated right beside the Roman Baths. They are open from breakfast to afternoon tea.

Bath Abbey

Right in front of the Roman Baths is another magnificent piece of architecture – The Bath Abbey. It was built in the 7th century and was being rebuilt twice in the 12th and 16th centuries, with major restoration work being done in 1860. There are a total of 52 windows (that is 80% of the wall-space). Entrance fee is free, but a small donation is appreciated.

Pulteney Bridge

Pulteney Bridge crosses the River Avon, was completed in 1774. This 45-meter long bridge was often photographed together with the weir below it. This bridge is located close to the City Centre, a short 5-minute walking distance from the Bath Abbey. This is one of the nice-looking bridges, that are pretty well preserved.

No. 1 Royal Crescent

Bath is famous for its Georgian crescents, 15 minutes walk from the Bath Abbey will bring you to No. 1 Royal Crescent, where magnificently curved rows of apartments were housed. They are built between 1767 and 1774, and is one of the best spots to take some nice Instagrammable shots!

The Circus

Bath has another circular row of apartments, which is a short-walkable distance from No. 1 Royal Crescent, but for The Circus, it’s actually literally a circle with 3 entrances, with a small park with seats in the middle of the loop. This row of apartments was completed in 1768.

Sally Lunn’s Eating House

The final place I’ve visited was the oldest house in Bath – Sally Lunn’s Eating House (home of the world famous Sally Lunn Bun), it’s tucked in a corner near to Bath Abbey. The house was built in 1482, which was one of the oldest houses in Bath. Upon stepping in, you can feel the ‘back-in-time’, traditional feel. The buns were great and the vibes were lovely, the staffs were friendly and approachable! You could also make a visit to their small museum below the shop after you’ve dined in.

So… Here you go, these are the attractions that I’ve been on my day-trip to the beautiful city of Bath. Love the architecture here, and love the food! Hope this helps in your planning for your next trip to Bath!

My Day-Trip to Bath, UK. Read more here: The City of Bath, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also one of UK's most visited beautiful cities.

[thehypetraveler]

So… You’ve decided to visit Ireland for your upcoming holiday trip? First thing first, you will have to decide where to make your base, either the city of Belfast in Northern Ireland or the capital of the Republic of Ireland – Dublin.

Belfast and Dublin are about 168km apart, and driving would take you about 2 hours. I’ve decided to make my base in Belfast to have a road trip along Causeway Coastal Route.

Belfast is Northern Ireland’s capital, it was also the birthplace of the RMS Titanic! It’s the largest city in Northern Ireland and second-largest on the island of Ireland. Belfast was a popular port in the 19th century, where it played an important role during the Industrial Revolution and one of the key industry in Belfast’s port is shipbuilding where it houses the Harland And Woff shipyard, which built the RMS Titanic.

Belfast has 2 commercial airports – Belfast International Airport (serves domestic, European & International flights) and George Best Belfast City Airport (serves domestic & European flights). I flew KLM into George Best Belfast City Airport, and after collecting my rental car, a drive to the city centre took us only about 20 minutes.

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Image from Google

Image from Google

So back to the main point of today’s blog… What the top 10 to-see in Belfast? (You may ask) Read on to know more!

1. Titanic Belfast

You must (I say again) MUST visit the Titanic Belfast! I meant what else would you be doing in Belfast if you don’t visit the museum that showcases the history, the voyage, the ship, and the horror accident of RMS Titanic. This eight-storey building provides 12,000 square metres of space. The centrepiece is a series of interpretive galleries exploring aspects of the building, design, sinking and legacy of Titanic.

2. Belfast City Hall

This iconic building can’t be missed, as it stands in the city centre. It first opened its door in 1906 and is Belfast’s civic building. There are free public tours (3 times a day) led by an experienced guide for you to understand more about the building and explore some of its finest features.

3. SS Nomadic

SS Nomadic is widely known as the Titanic’s sister ship. It’s the last remaining White Star Line ship, which was used to transfer passengers and mail between RMS Titanic & RMS Olympic. SS Nomadic is now on display in the Titanic Quarter, opposite Titanic Belfast building. With four major decks on SS Nomadic, walking on it allows you to experience what it was like to be a passenger on your way to the RMS Titanic on her maiden voyage.

4. St George’s Market

Image from Google

Located in the city centre, St George’s Market is a Victorian market built in the 1890s. This is one of the best markets in Belfast (imagine it’s popularity like Borough Market in London). It’s a food haven and a great place to spend your time during the weekend.

5. Botanic Gardens & Ulster Museum

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Image from Google

Belfast’s Botanic Gardens is located near the Queen’s University Belfast, which occupies 28 acres. The gardens’ most notable feature is the Palm House Conservator that features tons of different species of plants. Ulster Museum is located at the entrance of the Botanic Gardens. This free-entry museum tells about the unique human story of Northen Ireland. You will get a chance to come face to face with dinosaurs, get up close with Egyptian mummy and many more in the museum. There is also a gift shop & cafe to enjoy after learning some amazing historical facts.

6. Peace Wall Belfast

Image from Google

Similar to the Berlin Wall, Belfast Peace Wall reminds people of the troubles that ended 20+ years ago that separated communities. The walls are about 6m high, artwork can be seen on either side of the walls. More than 3,500 people were killed during this conflict, with up to 50,000 people injured. The conflict can still be seen on the walls now, with some arguments between Catholics and Protestants, and whether Northern Ireland should be part of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland. The Belfast Peace Wall can be seen along Falls Road and Shankhill Road.

7. Belfast Zoo

Image from Google

Located at the outskirts of Belfast on the slope of Cavehill. It contains up to 55 species of different animals. The zoo offers different activities daily (e.g. zookeeper talks, animal shows, feeding times etc). The zoo was opened in 1934 and was one of the most popular attractions in Belfast. A trip to the zoo is definitely a must if you have brought kids along!

8. Victoria Square (The Dome)

Image from Google

Victoria Square is the main shopping centre in Belfast where you could find restaurants (e.g. Nando’s, T.G.I.F, Pizza Hut etc), fashion outlets (e.g. Calvin Klein, H&M, JD Sports, MANGO etc), a cinema theatre and A DOME! Yes, you’ve heard it right, a glass dome at the top of Victoria Square where you can enjoy a 360-degree view of Belfast City in comfort.

9. Ulster Folk Museum & Transport Museum

Image from Google

An hour drive from Belfast City Centre, you will find yourself at the Ulster Folk Museum & Transport Museum. Travel back in time at the Folk Museum, the museum showcase the rural life of the 20th century in Northern Ireland. Various activities are provided for visitors showing how the Irish life was through cooking, printing, and traditional crafts. 2 minutes walk from the Folk Museum, is the Transport Museum where you can find a very iconic Made-In-Ireland vehicle – DMC DeLorean. Visiting both museums would take some time, recommend visiting them as a day-trip!

10. Causeway Coastal Route

THIS IS A MUST-VISIT, though it isn’t particular in Belfast. But you could rent a car from Belfast or book a tour package from Belfast to visit the Causeway Coastal Route! Read more about my blog post on the Causeway Coastal Route HERE.

So, these are my top 10 to see things in Belfast. What are yours? Share them with me and let’s help fellow globetrotters to better plan for their trip to Belfast. Cheers! ~

10 Things To See in Belfast, Northern Ireland So... You've decided to visit Ireland for your upcoming holiday trip? First thing first, you will have to decide where to make your base, either the city of…

[thehypetraveler]

Choosing accommodations have been my top priority whenever I travel. The price has to be right, the location has to be convenient, and having some notable amenities would be a plus! And if possible, an Instagramable boutique hotel would definitely be awesome!

So for my Amsterdam trip last year, after some research, I’ve decided to stay at The Student Hotel Amsterdam City!

This modern, hippy hotel is located 30 minutes from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. This hotel location is quite ideal for visitors who want to be near to the city centre, to the main tourist attractions, but does not want the noise and buzz. The Student Hotel Amsterdam City is estimated 15 minutes from the top museums (e.g. Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum) in Amsterdam, around 5 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal Train Station.

Upon arrival, the exterior facade of the hotel may look dull and boring and honestly felt old. Reason for that is that the building was once a newspaper office block. The Student Hotel Amsterdam City is a combination of a luxury long-term student accommodation and hotel for short-stay, design-savvy social globetrotter.

In the hotel lobby, you will find tons of things that are normally not seen in a normal 4 or 5-stars hotel. There’s a pop-up store selling the hotel’s merchandises, pool table, table tennis table and a photo booth! The nearest Metro Station is just beside the hotel building – Wibautstraat.

But once you enter the main door, it’s totally, totally different! What welcomed us were hotel front desk staffs with big smiles! And everywhere in the hotel lobby is so Instagramable! Check-in was quick, fast and simple, we were both given a Stroopwafel each (NEAT).

Our room was on the 4th floor, I’ve booked a Suite during this trip (cost about S$365 for 3D2N). The rooms are pretty basic, felt somewhat like dorm rooms, but there’s everything that you would need. A  desk, a chair, a king-size bed, a Nespresso machine and of course a modern bathroom with bathtub. All 624 rooms have free reliable Wi-Fi access too!

Overall, I love and enjoyed my stay at The Student Hotel Amsterdam City! The customer service was superb, the sleep was awesome, the location was very ideal for first-timer traveller to Amsterdam.

Check out the hotel deals at Expedia, Agoda or Booking.com. DON’T FORGET TO USE SHOPBACK TO SAVE EVEN MORE ON YOUR BOOKING! 

  Hotel Review: The Student Hotel Amsterdam City Choosing accommodations have been my top priority whenever I travel. The price has to be right, the location has to be convenient, and having some notable amenities would be a plus!

[thehypetraveler]

Last December, other than travelling to Amsterdam, I’ve also made visited the capital of Northern Ireland, Belfast. Northern Ireland has been a popular destination ever since the debut of HBO’s Game of Thrones TV series, and I’ve always heard lots of people telling me that the Causeway Coastal Route is one of the best driving routes in Europe! So, my girlfriend and I rented a Renault Megane Hatchback (from Hertz) and off we go!

Some background information about the Causeway Coastal Route first:

This spectacular route measures about 90km in length, starting from Belfast to Londonderry.

To fully enjoy the views and visit every attraction along this route, it would be a 4 days trip.

If you are a fan of Game Of Thrones, this route is definitely a must-visit, as you will be able to visit some of the scenes from the popular TV series!

But on this trip, we’ve only had one day, and it’s Christmas Eve. To fully utilise this day, I really had some plannings to do, as lots of places will be closed!

Not including the sights in Belfast, which we had been on a separate day. We started off our journey early, right after a filling breakfast! I’ve skipped several popular attractions that I highly recommend you to visit if there’s time, they are – The Gobbins, Glenarm Castle, Cushendun Caves, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.

The first stop we’ve arrived was what known as ‘The King’s Road’ from Game Of Thrones (Season 2, Episode 1). Yes, it’s The Dark Hedges! Just the first stop of our trip and I’m super excited to see the line of trees along the road! How did the trees come about? They were planted by a wealthy family that lived in Gracehill Mansion in the 18th Century. They wanted to have an impressive approach to their mansion, and so The Dark Hedges was born.

Next stop was Ballintoy Harbour, the filming location for ‘Pyke, The Iron Islands’. The coastline here is simply “WOAH!” breathtaking! This small quiet harbour can be found at the end of a small narrow steep road down Knocksaughey Hill, you will definitely pass by this harbour, as Ballintoy Harbour is located right in the middle the Causeway Coastal Route. History of Ballintoy Harbour… in the 1500s, this small harbour was used by fishermen to berthed their boats to sell fish in the shelter of the old lime kilns. The massive kilns were used to burn limestone which will be sent inland for farmers to neutralise their acid bogland soil.

After lunch, we arrived at the highlight of this road trip, also known as the Eighth Wonders of the World – Giant’s Causeway! The Giant’s Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption that took place here, but the name Giant’s Causeway comes from an old myth surrounding Finn MacCool, an Irish giant. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site! Depending on the time of your visit, it may get crowded at times, and on a safety note, the stones can be slippery if it’s been raining, so be sure to wear suitable footwear.

It’s around 3:30pm, and the last stop of this road trip is Mussenden Temple! Which turned out to be quite disappointing as the skies were turning dark, and I have no idea where to park my car! So I had to drive to Downhill Beach and took a photo of it from far… My fault for not researching well on it, but, but, but… It’s a must-visit site along the  Causeway Coastal Route too! This temple perches dramatically on a 120ft cliff top, high above the Atlantic Ocean on the north-western coast of Northern Ireland. The temple was built in 1785 as a summer library and forms part of the Downhill Demesne. Its architecture was inspired by the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli, near Rome, and was dedicated to the memory of Hervey’s cousin Frideswide Mussenden.

At this point, it’s a 1hr 30mins drive back to Belfast, as it marks an end to my Causeway Coastal Route road trip! Overall, driving along the Causeway Coastal Route was enjoyable and fun! Traffic was little, and everyone that we’ve met was friendly! Views were spectacularly stunning, and it’s definitely one place that you should come, even if you’re not a fan of Game Of Thrones!

But if you are a fan of Game Of Thrones… WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? And there’s something more for the fans! From April to September 2019, Game Of Thrones: The Touring Exhibition will arrive in TEC Belfast. View more here!

Belfast's Causeway Coastal Route - Perfect Road Trip For Game Of Thrones' Fans! Read more here. Last December, other than travelling to Amsterdam, I've also made visited the capital of Northern Ireland, Belfast…

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Months after my trip to Amsterdam, I’m finally starting my blog posts it, and I’m starting off with one of the most popular attractions of in Amsterdam – Heineken Experience Amsterdam. Because… It’s enriching and awesome, so read more to find out!

Heineken Experience Amsterdam is voted one of the most popular, and must-visit attractions in Amsterdam, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. They don’t actually brew the beer right in the location now, but it’s a museum about the beer brand and its brewery.

The queues into the brewery were pretty long, one queue is for walk-in visitors, while another is for pre-booked ticket holders. I had pre-booked my tickets thru Klook, but still, have to wait for quite some time. Staffs were giving out oliebol during our wait, which was kinda neat and pleasant!

Upon stepping into the brewery, the staff did a brief before our tour begins. To be honest, the early stages of the tour was quite boring and dry. But once you arrived in a room where there are 4 huge-ass brass barrels. The staff will talk about the brewing process, where the staff will tell an interesting short story about the four main ingredients of a Heineken beer – water, barley, hops and Heineken “A” yeast.

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After that, you’ll get a chance to visit the historic brew room. It contains 8 copper kettles, serving different functions ranging from filtering the mash to adding hops. Before exiting the brew room, there’s a chance for visitors to try the wort – a non-alcoholic mixture of water & barley that’s been heated and filtered.

The next segment of the tour is quite interesting and fun, where it involved a simulator where you will become the beer yourself and experience the journey each beer takes through the brewery. After the simulation, in the beer tasting room, is the time most people are excited for. Finally, you get to taste the beer! A bartender will explain how you should drink the beer and what a perfect beer should look like.

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You will then come into some rooms where you can play games, take photos. Lastly, you will arrive in the bar, where you will exchange 2 pints of Heineken with 2 tokens that you will be given at the start of the tour. There are other non-alcoholic beverages available if you are keen too.

Before exiting the brewery, you have the chance to purchase souvenirs and pick up your very own personalized Heineken bottles that you’ve created and ordered during your tour. (One personalized Heineken bottle costs €6,50.)

Heineken Experience Amsterdam is located at the former Heineken brewery right in the middle of the city centre – Stadhouderskade, a walking distance from the museums. I really enjoyed my time touring the brewery, this place is like a “Disneyland for Heineken Lovers”! Though it may be packed at times, this should be a must-visit, even if you are not into beers. The tour is very interesting, interactive and fun! Overall the tour would take about 1.5 to 2 hours, and it’s highly recommended to buy your tickets online – around S$30 from Klook!

Address: Stadhouderskade 78, 1072 AE, Amsterdam

Opening Hours: 365 days. Monday to Thursday – 10:30 till 19:30 (Last Admission 17:30). Friday to Sunday – 10:30 till 21:00 (Last Admission 19:00)

  Heineken Experience Amsterdam Review: Drinkers, Fall-In Now! A must-visit for all when you're in Amsterdam! Read more to find out why! Months after my trip to Amsterdam, I'm finally starting my blog posts it, and I'm starting off with one of the most popular attractions of in Amsterdam - …

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It’s been a busy year for me as I’m doing my new business venture. Thus, may have not been touching much with blogging. So here I am, after 2 months since my last trip to Europe, to do a flight review for my trip to Amsterdam with one of the mightest blue planes in the world – KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

This is my first time flying with KLM, and it always excites me when I get the chance to fly with an airline I’ve never flown with. So, onto my flight review from Singapore to Amsterdam.

KLM flies one flight daily from Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 to Amsterdam. I’ve been visiting Changi Airport Terminal 1 frequently and looking at Jewel Changi Airport slowly coming into shape, and opening soon… I’m so so excited about it!!!

FLIGHT DETAILS

Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 – Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

Flight Time: 13 Hours 35 Minutes

Departure Time @ 1:35am, Arrival Time @ 8:00am

Economy Class

KLM does not have huge Airbus A380 like other airlines (e.g. British Airways, Air France), thus it utilizes the Boeing 777-300ER for this route. This particular model features 2 different travel classes – World Business Class and Economy Class. The Economy Class is being further divided into normal Economy seats and Economy Comfort seats.

The Business Class contains a total of 34 seats with 2-2-2 seating configuration. The Economy Class has a majority seating configuration of 3-4-3, with 40 Economy Comfort seats at the front, while the remaining seats are for the rest of Economy passengers.

The seat pitch for Economy Class isn’t stingy with legroom of 76cm to 81cm, seat pitch of 31-inch and a recline of 9cm, their ergonomically designed seats are rather pleasant for long-haul flight! Want more recline? Pay more to be seated in the Economy Comfort seat that features an increased recline of up to 18cm and a seat pitch of 34-inch. As for Business Class, you will get up to 207cm of legroom, a seat pitch of 63-inch and features a 180-degree recline flat-bed with 17-inch of personal entertainment screen.

The entire flight with KLM wasn’t that bad, I was lucky to not get any neighbour sitting beside me, thus I’ve managed to get some quality rest during the flight. The only thing that wasn’t as good compared to other airlines was their in-flight meal, which wasn’t very tasty and the food was rather (what I call…) not-suited-for-Asian-tastebud.

The personal entertainment system was not bad, loaded with some of the latest available movies and soundtracks from Taiwan, US and Singapore. Service staffs were quite friendly too!

Overall, I’m quite pleased with my flight with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines from Singapore to Amsterdam. Would definitely recommend flying to Amsterdam with KLM if you think Singapore Airlines is too overpriced!

Flight Review: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Economy (SIN – AMS) It's been a busy year for me as I'm doing my new business venture. Thus, may have not been touching much with blogging.

[thehypetraveler]

Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy Chinese New Year!

The Hype Traveler wishes all a very happy & prosperous Chinese New Year! Remember to stay healthy, happy and may all your wishes come true in the Year of the Pig!

Stay tuned for more content soon! 🙂

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On the first weekend of November, a day after my birthday, I made a short trip to the capital of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City with my family (of 7 pax). Click HERE to read my flight review on Vietnam Airlines (SIN – SGN)!

Shall start off this blog post with some history. Ho Chi Minh City is located in the South-Eastern region of Vietnam and was originally known as Saigon.When and why did they change their name? (According to Wikipedia) It happened immediately after the communist took over South Vietnam in 1975, where the provisional government renamed the city after Hồ Chí Minh (a late North Vietnamese leader).

Ho Chi Minh City is pretty much similar to Bangkok but with the huge amount of motorbikes zooming around in a havoc way. Ho Chi Minh City uses Vietnamese Dong (VND). Conversion rate is around SGD$1 = VND$16,877. The weather is quite similar to Singapore, with the Dry Season happening from December to April, while the Wet Rainy Season happens from May to November.

Upon arrival at Ho Chi Minh City’s only airport – Tan Son Nhat International Airport, you will realize that the airport isn’t as crowded (or as busy) as compared to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport or Kuala Lumpur’s KLIA, which is a good thing! Clearing customs and baggage collection can be done smoothly, quickly!

Leaving the Arrival Hall, you will see tons of different counters trying to sell you SIM cards and airport transfers. We managed to get unlimited-data SIM card for VND$150,000 (~SGD$8), and also booked their airport transfer to our hotel for VND$230,000 (~SGD$13) per 7-seater vehicle. However, I highly recommend booking airport-transfer to your hotel through GRAB!

We stayed in a Japanese-brand 5-star hotel situated in the outskirt of District 1 – Hotel Nikko Saigon. My hotel review can be found HERE.

This trip to HCMC is supposed to be a relaxed sightseeing family trip (away from the bustle and hectic Singapore). Thus, I did not book any trips out of the city (e.g. day trips to Cu Chi Tunnels or Mekong Delta) which is highly recommended if you wanna get the most out of your HCMC trip and have more days spent in the city.

1. BEN THANH MARKET

Ben Thanh Market is a huge marketplace in the heart of HCMC, that’s listed as number one virtually on every travel guides and is definitely the first recommendation you will get from anyone. And true enough, Ben Thanh Market is a great place to interact with locals, bargaining to get your best price.

Ben Thanh Market has 4 main entrances and 12 gates. Within this huge market, you can find local handicrafts, branded goods, Vietnamese art, souvenirs, fresh fruits, and vegetables, jewellery, electronics, and even cooked-food!

2. WAR REMNANTS MUSEUM

The most-visited museum in HCMC is the best place to understand and know about the history of The Vietnam War. Half a million visitors visited this three-floors museum every year, to understand the pain and horror of war, the tortures being experienced during the war and to learn from the past.

The entire walkthrough of the museum will take about 2 hours if you visit every single exhibit. Some images are quite disturbing, but that’s what war is, horrible and torturous. The museum also features the infamous “tiger cages”, special cells built by U.S Army in Con Dao Jail. Each “tiger cage” measures only 2.7m x 1.5m x 3m but were used to imprison up to 14 people!

A ticket cost VND$40,000/person, and the museum opens from 7:30am to 6pm daily.

3. INDEPENDENCE PALACE

10 minutes walk from the War Remnants Museum will bring you to the Reunification Palace (also known as Independence Palace). It’s one of the most important places in HCMC. This exact location marks the end of the Vietnam War when the Viet Cong tanks breached into the palace’s gates.

We didn’t go in as it was closed for an event on the day. But I’m sure from reviews around the web, it’s definitely worth a visit!

4. SAIGON CENTRAL POST OFFICE + NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL OF SAIGON

Both of the building is just the opposite of one another, and you will know this a must-visit destination once you arrived. You could see tons of tourist flocking this area, snapping photos with the unique French architecture and the stunning interior!

You could write a letter and send a letter from the post office! However, the cathedral was closed when I was there, and the exterior was partly covered up for renovation.

Both buildings were walking distance from the Independence Palace, Ben Thanh Market and shopping area… So it’s very convenient!

5. SHOPPING TIME IN HO CHI MINH CITY

There may not be as much shopping opportunities as compared to Singapore or Bangkok, but there still exists several opportunities for you to spend your Vietnam Dong! First up, it’s Ben Thanh Market which I’ve talked about earlier. For air-conditioned places, you could visit the Saigon Centre, where you will find Takashimaya and several other branded stores! A short walk away could bring you to Vincom Center and PARKSON Department Store! And let the shopping begins!

6. SAIGON SKYDECK @ BITEXCO FINANCIAL TOWER

One of Ho Chi Minh City’s visible landmark upon arrival at the airport would definitely be the Bitexco Financial Tower, where it housed Ho Chi Minh City’s first Skydeck – Saigon Skydeck! Saigon Skydeck is located on the 49th floor, where you can enjoy a 360 degrees view of Ho Chi Minh City.

There’s also a The World of Heineken Experience located on the 58th – 60th floor! It features a 4D VR ride and a hands-on training session by Heineken-certified draught master!

So after a day of sightseeing and shopping, this is a great place to relax and see HCMC from the top!

The above-mentioned places were where I’ve gone during my trip to HCMC! I definitely will return to HCMC, to experience the friendliness, the culture and I’m so in love with Vietnam, this untouched gem in South East Asia! Hope you guys did get some knowledge about where to head to when you’re in HCMC!

4D3N Ho Chi Minh City Travel Blog + Itinerary On the first weekend of November, a day after my birthday, I made a short trip to the…

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On my recent trip to Ho Chi Minh City with my family, I’ve booked us into Hotel Nikko Saigon, a 5-star hotel run by Nikko Hotels International (a subsidiary of Okura Hotels). This hotel is commonly awarded as one of the top hotels in Ho Chi Minh City.

The hotel is about 25 minutes drive away from HCMC’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport. The hotel is located in the outskirt of District 1, which means the surroundings are more peaceful and less havoc as compared to hotels in the main city center.

Arrived at the hotel, the staffs opened the doors with a smile and guided me to the front desk for check-in. The interior of the lobby is modern and minimalist, which instantly was another good point added!

Check-in was smooth and we proceed to our rooms on the 15th level. Something special while heading to our rooms, I found that there are several air purifiers along the corridor, being placed every few doors away. This really shows how a Japanese-brand hotel takes pride in their daily operations, making sure the guests were well taken care of.

The room we have gotten was a Deluxe Twin. It’s super spacious and the interior was modern, clean and neat! The view from the room was spectacular too! Each room comes with a bathtub, and it’s not everyday that you get a bathtub in a hotel room! The bed was bouncy and it’s very comfy!

The facilities in the hotel were not bad too! There’s a spa, fitness club, swimming pool, business center, and three dining facilities.

What I really like about this hotel is that the hotel also provides free shuttle bus service to different places of interest in the city center (e.g. Ben Thanh Market, Saigon Centre, Reunification Palace etc.). But do remember to book your seats in advance with the Concierge.

As I’ve mentioned earlier, there are 3 dining facilities in the hotel – La Brasserie, Ming Court and The Lounge.

La Brasserie is where the buffet breakfast will be held! After breakfast time, it will be an all-day-dining restaurant. The food during the all-day-dining was alright only, I would recommend you to eat out in the city center or…… Ming Court!

Ming Court serves authentic Chinese cuisine and Dim-Sum. The all-you-can-eat Dim-Sum buffet cost around VND 450,0++ per person, which is very very worth it! The food was so yummy and felt very local because the chef is a Taiwanese that just got here a year ago! The taste really suits us, Singaporeans’ taste buds.

As for The Lounge (which I personally didn’t dine in), it’s a relaxing-chill place where they sell cakes and pastries. Definitely a good place to chill after a day out in the scorching hot weather.

Keen for some shopping around the vicinity? The hotel is actually connected to Now Zone Fashion Mall, a leading department store that offers various shops for shopping! Other notable shops in the mall include KOI Cafe, Phúc Long Coffee & Tea Cafe, KFC, Lotte Cinema and many more!

So would I recommend this hotel? The answer is definitely a YES!

Though location-wise isn’t the best, but with the amenities in the room, the staffs’ service and hotel’s facilities. I think it would pretty much cover-up the bad location. Furthermore, booking a GRAB in Vietnam is so cheap (With a 7-seater to the city center only cost around SGD$7).

Check out the hotel deals at Expedia, Agoda or Booking.com. DON’T FORGET TO USE SHOPBACK TO SAVE EVEN MORE ON YOUR BOOKING! 

Hotel Review: Hotel Nikko Saigon On my recent trip to Ho Chi Minh City with my family, I've booked us into 

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A Beary Merry Christmas @ Malls of Frasers Property

A Beary Merry Christmas @ Malls of Frasers Property

Christmas is less than a month away! And from now till 24 December 2018, celebrate Christmas at the malls of Frasers Property Singapore with our favorite bears – We Bare Bears!

As part of the Beary Merry Christmas event islandwide, an all-new in-app game ‘The Pawfert Journey‘ will be rolled out on 28 November 2018! This game embedded within the Frasers Experience (FRx) mobile application, and…

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