Stay Away!! Hotel Alternatives or Hostel Alternatives? April 27, 2010
Posted by Zara's Mama in : bitching, home affairs , 17 commentsAfter deciding to send my dad to Singapore for his liver surgery , we started looking for Service Apartment in Singapore.
We stumbled upon Hotel Alternatives website, and was attracted by its rates, its nice photos, its stated location (near to Orchard Road), and the ‘Service Apartment’ amenities they promoted, i.e. with kitchen and cooking facilities. We should have read the Tripadvisor reviews, and stopped ourselves, but then it was a very rush trip.
We made the bookings for these dates :
a) Mar 11th – 1 room, for my eldest sister and I; total paid S$140
b) Mar 18th – Mar 26th – 2 rooms, for my dad, my youngest sister and I; total paid $1800
c) Mar 19th – Mar 21st – 1 big room, for my brother and his family; total paid $410
All prepaid before our stay, via bank transfer or cash on delivery.
On March 11th, we drove down to Singapore after work. By the time we’d checked on dad (at the hospital) and reached the ‘hotel’, it was already 10:30pm. The ‘hotel’ is located at Lucky Towers on Grange Road. There’s no reception, and we were supposed to call the ‘ground manager’ to check in.
Ground manager assigned to us could not be reached. We had to call the ‘reservation manager’, who then assigned us another Ground manager. We then had to call the newly assigned ground manager (why can’t the reservation manager call the ground manager and instruct him to come??) and informed him we’re waiting to be checked in. All these ‘coordinations’, we had to do from the condo lobby, using our own mobile phones.
A big size man in shorts and flip flops arrived 10 minutes later, he’s Gerald the ground manager. He told us to follow him (actually, quite scary right? Luckily there were 2 of us).
We went up to 20th floor, and entered a condo unit. He took us to one of the rooms, and before he finished his sentence, “Your room is …” He closed back the door and told us, “Oh, not this one, lets go to another unit.” o.O”
We took the lift down, went to the other block, took the lift up again to the 20th floor. This time he showed us into the correct room.
By the time we put down our bags, it was more than 30mins since we arrived at Lucky Towers.
Room was spacious by Singapore standard, with 2 nice and comfy queen beds with thick linen. FULLSTOP. The rest of the furniture – very dated, and mismatch. The toilet has chipped tiles, old fittings, although it looked clean. The toiletries were probably stolen/taken by the owner from their stay in Sofitel , and looked like they have been repeatedly refilled.
We left our room to check out the other amenities.
This is actually a condo unit converted to about 6 rooms, all sharing a kitchen, and there’s also a common toilet outside. We didn’t see the living room. 3 of the other room doors were placed on walls which wasn’t solid (hollow when tap on, plywood maybe), so we assume whatever available space has been converted to rooms (this proof to be true in our later stay). The kitchen, which was one of the reason we booked this place post-ops, was a sorry state. Mismatched utensils, a couple of unwashed rice cookers, 2 pathetic hot plates, a fridge with half eaten food, and they called this fully equipped kitchen! There were also dirty dishes piled in the sink. No drinking water was provided.
There’s a foreigner outside of his room next to ours, ironing his clothes in the narrow corridor. There’s cigarette smell and loud Chinese (with Beijing accent) coming from another room facing ours.
This is a hotel or hostel? Don’t be fooled by the photos they posted on their website. The place is definitely not a boutique hotel nor a service apartment. It’s more like a hostel with comfy beds.
In the morning, we left by hanging our key behind the door. That’s no check out to be done.
On March 18th, after my dad was discharged from the hospital, we moved all our things to Lucky Towers for our week’s stay.
Upon arrival, we have to call the Ground Manager, Gerald, again, and this time he asked us to go straight to the condo unit, and the maid will show us in.
We booked and paid for the 2 Bedroom Luxury Apartment. We thought that’s what we’ll be getting. But, what we got was a condo unit’s living and dining room combined. 1 Bedroom was partitioned from the dining area, and another smaller bedroom a small corner of the living room. There’s a small living room in between these rooms with a two seater and a dining table. A toilet is shared between these rooms. All walls which are not the original condo structure are thin, and of course not sound proofed. The kitchenette, was just a table top with an electric cooker (those we normally use for steamboat). No sink whatsoever, so we ended up having to cook our meals in the shared kitchen. What con job is this? Luxury my butt!
The maid, an Indonesian probably hired as a domestic helper, was still cleaning the apartment, even though we arrived at 2pm, the official check in time.
Half way through, she was called by Gerald to clean up another unit as there was another family who just ‘checked in’. We voiced out our dissatisfaction. To please both sides (as she was being called repeatedly by Gerald to finish the job in the other apartment too), she was switching locations every 15mins. More than an hour later, she finally finished cleaning our place.
The girls arrived with Daddy in the evening. Daddy wasn’t happy with the place at all. He was to sleep in the smaller room alone, and his bed, sandwiched between thin walls, was located next to the noisy aircon compressors. Girls slept with me on a King bed in the same room as my sister and dad who shared another king bed. Jelly slept at a single bed which was located outside of our room.
Nobody slept well when we were there. Daddy claimed his room was too noisy. Our room did not have any aircon, and we had to leave the door opened to catch some of the cool air from the centralized aircon in the living room.
The following day when we woke up to use the common kitchen to make breakfast, we saw a Caucasian man sound asleep on a sofa at the corridor right outside the kitchen, he was fully clothed and has his shoes on. He didn’t stir at all the whole time, and was still sleeping even when we left late morning to go out . I wonder if this is the cheapest bed offered by Hotel Alternatives, of if this guy sneaked in for a free night sleep? And if he could sneak in, what kind of security does this place offer?
The girls’ favourite pastime in the apartment besides watching whatever TV program that was on, was to check on the walls, “This one bluff one.” When they knocked on a plywood wall. “This one real one” when they knocked on a solid wall.
The place is only cleaned every 3 days. It was done by the same Indonesian maid we met on the first day.
If all these are not bad enough, just wait till you hear the last part.
Originally, our plan was to stay till Mar 26th, a week post ops as advised by the hospital. However, dad was recovering so well, that he got the doctor’s permission to leave Sun, Mar 21st when he did his check up on Sat, Mar 20th. We quickly called the hotel office and also informed the ground manager we’d checked out on Mar 22nd; as we paid full in cash, we requested for a refund for 3 nights amounting to S$810. They told us refund is not their policy, but we could try calling the billing department on Mon, Mar 22nd.
My dad left with my brother and his family on Sun, March 21st. Leaving our family behind, as we have made plans to stay till Mon, March 22nd.
On Mon, 22nd, we called all the phone numbers available for Hotel Alternatives, the only person who answered our call said he’s not authorized to do a refund; the rest of the numbers we called, no one bothered answering the calls. We wrote in as well, but no one replied our mails.
We pursued the matter even after we arrived back in KL.
It’s already end of April, in total we’d sent 9 emails, and got only 2 replies. 1 to state that our mail has been forwarded to the billing department, and another to tell us there’s no refund policy. We even wrote to their Regional Manager, Isa Bella Lin, and requested for vouchers for future stay, she just ignored our emails.
The hotel claimed they are a LVMH Couture Company (the company that is responsible for Louis Vuitton and all luxurious goods). I don’t believe this. Firstly, why would they want to associate themselves with a hotel where rooms are partitioned out of condo units? Secondly, I don’t believe a company like LVMH would handle our appeal so unprofessionally.
We also found this, and this, when we goggled further into Hotel Alternatives, LVMH, Isa Bella Lin.
These 2 sites are associated with Isa Bella Lin who’s the regional manager for hotel alternatives.
So beware, if you ever consider booking a room Hotel Alternatives. The rooms are not luxurious! It’s not a Boutique Hotel! The location is not convenient! (unless you called a 15mins uphill downhill walk to get to Orchard Road convenient). The place is run by a group of very unprofessional people who ignores you when they see trouble!
Head on to YMCA, YWCA for better quality and cleaner rooms, more professional and efficient service, which is located not far from Orchard.
My only regret is, I didn’t take any photos of the place at all to show you what the rooms, kitchen, actually look like.
>Jelly<
Posted by Zara's Mama in : girls' angpow , add a commentJelly has been working with us for the 3 years now, and we just renewed her contract for the 4th year. Every year, she asked for an increment, and I have to tell her even I don’t get increment yearly.
However, as her son is pursuing some online degrees
, and she needed the money to support him, we just try to accommodate her. After all, I do save some money on agency fee if I renewed her rather than hiring a new maid.
>Supplement<
Posted by Zara's Mama in : girls' angpow , add a commentI’m very much into supplements, and that’s probably one thing that I spent a lot of money on besides skin care. I’m not brand loyal but I tend to go for things which are made from natural ingredients.
Depending on my health situation, I go for things which will supplement my health. Click here for one of the website which may help you to decide what to get when you walk into a Pharmacy next time.
My Fifteen Five Year Old And My Thirteen Three Year Old
April 23, 2010
Posted by Zara's Mama in : Zara, Zaria, chitter chatter, parenting , 17 comments
Zara was being picky during dinner, she didn’t want to eat the fish, didn’t want to eat the vege, only wanted to eat rice with soup.
Daddy said, “Wait till I send you to the desert.”
Zara put down her chopstick, glared at Daddy, and said very slowly “If you want to send me to the desert, you better send me tonite. I’ll pack my bags and go.”
o.O” <-- Daddy and I went
I chipped in, “Your daddy is just kidding.”
Zara continued to glare at Daddy and said, “You don’t really mean it right??”
“If you say one more time, then I’m OFF.”
o.O” <-- Daddy and I went
Daddy asked, “Off where?”
Zara clarified slowly, “Leave. The. House.”
Five year old already like that. Fifteen year old that time how huh?
The little one, didn’t like what Daddy said too, so she frowned and told Daddy, “Dad you are speaking nonsense.” and refused to speak to him afterwards.
o.O”
Sharing.. April 21, 2010
Posted by Zara's Mama in : Zaria, parenting , 19 commentsMonday
When I picked the girls up from school, they smelled of oil. So I asked them what they have been eating or playing with.
Zara : Mummy, we ate Mc Donalds nugget in school
Me : Someone’s birthday today?
Zaria : Yah. Fin’s (Fin is from Zaria’s class) birthday. See I got so many things in the party pack.
Zaria started digging into her bag to get out all her goodies from the party pack.
Me : Zara, did you get a pack as well?
Zara : No, only the 4 year old class have. 6 year old don’t get anything.
Me : How come you got to eat the nuggets then.
Zara : Zaria shared with me. She also shared with WY and JY (who are both from Zara’s class). I only ate little bit, WY and JY ate so many you know.
Me : Mei mei, you are such a good girl, you shared with jiejie and her friends.
Zaria : Yah. I let jiejie and her friends eat my nuggets and chips.
(Thinking of testing out her reaction) Me *pretending to be sad* : But mei, you never keep any for mummy. I’m so sad. You never share with me. And I’m so hungry you know.
Zaria : You are working wut, how to share with you? (Clever reply)
Me *still pretending to be sad* : But you can keep for me right? When I pick you up, you can give it to me.
Zaria : …. quiet
Tuesday
I picked up the girls from school, and when I was buckling Zaria up, she tried to reach for her bag.
Zaria : Mummy, wait. I got something for you.
30 seconds digging later, she found what she was looking for. She opened up the box, and gave it to me.
Zaria : Mummy, I share this with you. I only take (took) 2 bites, and then I keep (kept) for you.
This is what she kept for me.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
She normally empties her lunch box after school, eating or sharing whatever she has with her friends, while waiting for me to pick her up. It must have taken her a little effort and restrain to keep some cream cracker for me.
She put a big smile on my face all the way home. (I didn’t eat the cracker, b’cos I wanted to get home to take a photo of it.)
>Hair Loss Treatment<
Posted by Zara's Mama in : my two girls , 1 comment so farEvery day when I wash my hair, I get a bit upset seeing my hair which has fallen off with every rinse. I’m tempted to invest in those hair tonics available in the market, but then when I read the ingredients of this product, I can’t bring myself to get it.
I’m very much into natural product, so if there’s any herbal hair loss treatment that you are aware of, can you drop me a comment and let me know?
>Outdoor Furniture<
Posted by Zara's Mama in : girls' angpow , add a commentWhen we visit furniture shops like Ikea or Harvey Norman, the girls love to try out the different furniture. What they like most are the sofas, and also the outdoor cushions
. When I tell them some of the outdoor furniture is waterproof, they said we should get a couple for our garden so they can sit out in the rain.
If they were not so expensive, I may just get them.
>Daddy’s Taste<
Posted by Zara's Mama in : girls' angpow , 1 comment so farDaddy is not much in to designer ties, he’s one who’s so brand loyal, he buys most of his ties from Marks & Spencers. Always the same old design I would say, never going for bold prints or bold colours.
Even if I bought him something different for his birthday, he would refuse to wear it, preferring to let it gather dust, and not even oblige in putting it on even for once.
Typical Car Rides April 19, 2010
Posted by Zara's Mama in : chitter chatter, girls' angpow, parenting, sisterly love , 6 commentsMost weekends, we bring the girls out for meals, or to visit their cousins. Kai-kai (Chinese : Outing) is a must or they’ll complain.
A typical ‘kai-kai’ trip will take us around 15-20mins to arrive at destination, and the girls sitting at the back in their respective car seat will either entertain us or annoy us.
Here is a typical peaceful and entertaining car ride, which makes Daddy and I very happy, and glad to have 2 girls who can get along.
Girls singing nursery rhymes or some sound track from their DVDs.
Girls talking to each other about certain things, and laughing at each other’s silly jokes.
E.g
Zara : What do you call a witch at the beach?… Sandwitch!!
Both girls : Ah Hahahaha
(Repeating dialogue from Backyardigans)
Girls taking turns to be baby, and the one who’s not baby teaching the baby how to speak. Normally, Zaria will be the baby, and repeating what Zara asked her to say.
E.g.
Zara : Baby, says carot
Zaria : *purposely mispronuncing*Keh-yot
Zara : Baby, says mummy
Zaria : Mah-mah.
When they do the above, it allows Daddy and I to have a conversation without being interupted, and sometimes we join in their merry making too.
Most of the times, however, the journey is a tiring one with 2 of them bickering away, a typical one will be something like this.
Zaria : Mummy jiejie teasing me.
Zara : I didn’t do anything, you baby.
Zaria : Mummy jiejie call(ed) me a baby.
Me : Zara..
Zara : I didn’t do anything wut. BUEK.
Zaria : Mummy jiejie stick out her tongue at me.
Me : Zara..
Zara : You are such a baby!
Zaria : Mummy jiejie call(ed) me a baby.
Me : *pretends not to hear*
Zaria : “Stop annoying me jie. Mummy! Look at jiejie
Me : *pretends not to hear*
Zaria : *louder* MumMY! MuMMY! MUMMY! Look at jiejie!!! JIE JIE STOPS ANNOYING ME. You are so irritating. *and starts kicking the back seat*
Me : What is it now?
Zaria : Mummy jiejie is irritating me.
Me : What did jiejie do?
Zara : I didn’t do anything, she’s just a baby.
Zaria : See, jiejie is irritating me. You are so annoying, jie.
Zara : You are the one who’s annoying.
Zaria : You!
Zara : It’s you!
Zaria : It’s YOU!
Zara : NO! It’s YOU!
Zaria : NO IT’S YOU! Mummy, jiejie said I’m annoying.
Zara : BABY BABY BABY!
Me : Stop it Zara
Zara : BABY!
Zaria : Jie, mummy said stop it. Mummy, Jiejie still calling me baby.
Me : ZARAAAAA
Zara : *immitates me*ZARAAAA
Zaria : Mummy, Jiejie still not stopping.
And it goes on…….
We don’t need elliptical machines in our house, when we get all our work outs in the car trying to handle these 2 girls.
>Notebook vs Desktop< April 18, 2010
Posted by Zara's Mama in : my two girls , add a commentI wonder people like us who are desk bound and use a lot of computer resources for processing data should be given notebooks or desktop computers.
But I guess for ease of moving the staff around for meetings, the company will continue to issue notebooks to us. Which I really don’t mind.
I haven’t used a desk top for almost 10 years now, and I’m so used to small notebook keyboards and small notebook screens.
