Showing posts with label ACCOR HOTELS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ACCOR HOTELS. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 14, 2021
Pet Staycations In and Around Mumbai
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Hotel Review: Fairmont Jaipur, Jaipur, India
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
Isles of Infinity…
An archipelago of a little over a thousand islands, The Maldives has something for every kind of traveller, from its stunning resorts and an interesting fusion-style cuisine, to its densely-packed capital of Malé that offers a unique glimpse into the local Maldivian life.
By Raul Dias
There’s just something about that cluster of tiny islands nestled in the Indian Ocean called The Maldives that automatically attaches the “expensive” label to it. All this, thanks to those ultra-luxurious island resort havens with cerulean waters, coupled with those bragging rights one amasses after hobnobbing with the world’s jet-setters who seem to have taken a mighty shine to this ocean paradise. But as I recently learned, that needn’t be the case. Those azure waters and palm-fringed beaches are very much accessible to the common man!
Whenever it boils down to anything related to one of my life’s greatest passions, aka. travel, the frugal opportunist in me makes his presence felt. And so, in early December last year, I found myself flying towards The Maldives aboard GoAir’s recently launched direct Mumbai- Malé flight on the very affordable return fare of Rs 11,000. The quick and comfortable flight had me touch down on the airport island of Velana in Malé, the capital of the nation in exactly two-and-a-half hours time.
But my final destination, the beautiful Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru was still to be a 45-minute seaplane ride away. Located just behind the main airport terminal, the seaplane terminal is the place from where one can hop onto a tiny, 14-seater aircraft that links a huge number of islands with the bustling, non-touristy capital Malé. But more on Malé later.
Blissfull Beginnings
As part of the Noonu Atoll in the northern part of The Maldives, the resort remains one of the least developed area of the country, offering guests untouched natural beauty, abundant sea life and endless views across the Indian Ocean. The resort is designed in a contemporary style with emphasis on comfortable accommodation and a private, yet stimulating resort experience. And as I was soon to find out, every modern convenience is incorporated amidst desert-island luxury.
Each of the 72 Overwater Pool Villas, 30 Beach Pool Suites and three Beach Spa Pool Residences are private havens of comfort, comprising large living rooms that lead to wide bathrooms with stand-alone bathtubs and floor to ceiling windows from which to enjoy the shimmering tropical sunlight. Traditional Maldivian arched ceilings of each residence allow fresh air to circulate freely, cooling and adding a sense of abundant space within.
Soon it was time for me to unwind at the spa and rid myself of all that pent up city-induced stress. The signature spa is an oasis of calm, where trained therapists soothe mind and body with massages and individually prepared lotions. As replenishing oils restore the body, the serene unbroken ocean views from each secluded bay relax the mind, leaving me truly at ease.
Exotic Bites!
Ever the ‘epicurious’ traveller, I simply had to have a taste of the local Maldivian cuisine—something that I had been longing to try! The stunning ONU Marché restaurant named after “onu” which is what bamboo is called in the local Dhivehi language and “marché” for market in French is where the cuisine of The Maldives—one that combines local dishes with European and Asian elements enhanced by the liberal use of spices such as curry powder and the chilli in all its fiery avatars—was unveiled to me by the local chefs.
Expectedly, Maldivian cuisine strongly leans towards the use of fish, generally tuna that is eaten at almost every meal of the day; either boiled, fresh, smoked or sun-dried. Fish combined with onions, chillies, lemon juice, coconut and rice structures the essential diet. Almost all meals in The Maldives, even breakfast, are served with roshi which is a local bread made with flour, water, oil and salt, and cooked on a hot griddle.
And a tuna-stuffed masroshi was just what I started with as an appetiser that evening along with a main course that wowed me. A green tangy curry of tuna chunks with a mellifluous name of kandu kukulhu was introduced to me along with sides like a bowl of steamed white rice and a simple salad of tomatoes, onions and coriander. The curry was divine with each forkful bursting with a flavour that was neither Indian nor Sri Lankan, but rather like a Thai green curry to which a liberal splash of lime juice was added along with the fragrant lemon grass. Working perfectly with the rice, the kandu kukulhu was loaded with a ‘more-ish’ feeling that I had to resist in order to make space for the next course of the meal.
Now, totally opposite to the Indian style of dining, the Maldivians first eat rice with curry and then the plain roshi along with sambols, which form the ‘dry dish’ component of the meal. I was served two Maldivian sambols called mashuni and barabo mashuni, which were very different from their Sri Lankan counterparts in the spice (or should I say lack thereof) quotient. The basic mashuni is a wondrous concoction of flaked tuna that is combined with freshly grated coconut, onions, lime and green chilli. The barabo mashuni was equally scrumptious with the addition of boiled pumpkin bits that gave it a hint of sweetness and a creamier texture.
Thoroughly satiated with what I had just eaten, I literally waddled back to my ocean villa, ready for my next day’s adventure in Malé.
A Slice of Local Life
Perfect for a short day trip or even for an overnight stay, Malé offers the hard-core traveller a host of local experiences and sights that you may never have if you simply stay put at your luxurious island resort! With an area of less than six square kilometres and a population of about 150,000 people, Malé truly is one of the world’s smallest national capitals and one can be traversed in just a couple of hours.
My day trip to Malé had me first stop by the chaotic and colourful main market that was jam-packed with sellers vending everything from the local favourites like betel nut and large, freshly caught tuna fish to exotic fruit, vegetables and local sweets. Next it was a wander down the rather sandy Sultan Park in the center of the city and then for a glimpse of the president’s palace. Called Mulee Aage, the house is a neat and surprisingly un-fussy colonial-style bungalow situated midtown with bare minimal security details in sight. One can also visit the National Museum and the brand new golden-domed Grand Friday Mosque and also the historic, 17th century Hukuru Miskiiy also known as the Old Friday Mosque.
And it was here as I walked the narrow streets of Malé that I discovered a very important aspect of travel. I learned that sunny afternoon that there can be several versions of any country, just like I had seen in The Maldives. It all depends on how one looks at things. Do we view it from the often thickly veiled-gaze of a tourist or from the point of view of a true-blue traveller ready for all sorts of experiences? That’s a question worth asking ourselves.
All You Need is Love –Valentine’s Month Special
What could be more romantic than roses, bubbles and a stunning beachside romantic dinner under the stars? All this month of February, guests at the Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru can enjoy an exquisite dinner on the beach followed by romantic bed decoration and in-villa champagne breakfast the following day. The All You Need is Love package (USD 950++ per couple) also includes a private sunset cruise with champagne and canapés.
Fact File
Getting There
The newly launched direct GoAir flights (www.goair.in) link New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru with Malé’s Velana International Airport, all three in under three hours flying time. The visa to enter The Maldives is free and is given to everybody irrespective of nationality on arrival.
Stay
Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru Maldives, H. Agadhage 3rd floor Boduthakurefaanu Magu, Malé Maldives 20026.
Telephone: +960 6563000, E-mail: Resort.Kuredhivaru@movenpick.com
www. movenpick.com
(A differently edited version of this piece was first published in the February 2020 issue of The Week's Smart Life magazine)
By Raul Dias
There’s just something about that cluster of tiny islands nestled in the Indian Ocean called The Maldives that automatically attaches the “expensive” label to it. All this, thanks to those ultra-luxurious island resort havens with cerulean waters, coupled with those bragging rights one amasses after hobnobbing with the world’s jet-setters who seem to have taken a mighty shine to this ocean paradise. But as I recently learned, that needn’t be the case. Those azure waters and palm-fringed beaches are very much accessible to the common man!
Whenever it boils down to anything related to one of my life’s greatest passions, aka. travel, the frugal opportunist in me makes his presence felt. And so, in early December last year, I found myself flying towards The Maldives aboard GoAir’s recently launched direct Mumbai- Malé flight on the very affordable return fare of Rs 11,000. The quick and comfortable flight had me touch down on the airport island of Velana in Malé, the capital of the nation in exactly two-and-a-half hours time.
But my final destination, the beautiful Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru was still to be a 45-minute seaplane ride away. Located just behind the main airport terminal, the seaplane terminal is the place from where one can hop onto a tiny, 14-seater aircraft that links a huge number of islands with the bustling, non-touristy capital Malé. But more on Malé later.
Blissfull Beginnings
As part of the Noonu Atoll in the northern part of The Maldives, the resort remains one of the least developed area of the country, offering guests untouched natural beauty, abundant sea life and endless views across the Indian Ocean. The resort is designed in a contemporary style with emphasis on comfortable accommodation and a private, yet stimulating resort experience. And as I was soon to find out, every modern convenience is incorporated amidst desert-island luxury.
Each of the 72 Overwater Pool Villas, 30 Beach Pool Suites and three Beach Spa Pool Residences are private havens of comfort, comprising large living rooms that lead to wide bathrooms with stand-alone bathtubs and floor to ceiling windows from which to enjoy the shimmering tropical sunlight. Traditional Maldivian arched ceilings of each residence allow fresh air to circulate freely, cooling and adding a sense of abundant space within.
Soon it was time for me to unwind at the spa and rid myself of all that pent up city-induced stress. The signature spa is an oasis of calm, where trained therapists soothe mind and body with massages and individually prepared lotions. As replenishing oils restore the body, the serene unbroken ocean views from each secluded bay relax the mind, leaving me truly at ease.
Exotic Bites!
Ever the ‘epicurious’ traveller, I simply had to have a taste of the local Maldivian cuisine—something that I had been longing to try! The stunning ONU Marché restaurant named after “onu” which is what bamboo is called in the local Dhivehi language and “marché” for market in French is where the cuisine of The Maldives—one that combines local dishes with European and Asian elements enhanced by the liberal use of spices such as curry powder and the chilli in all its fiery avatars—was unveiled to me by the local chefs.
Expectedly, Maldivian cuisine strongly leans towards the use of fish, generally tuna that is eaten at almost every meal of the day; either boiled, fresh, smoked or sun-dried. Fish combined with onions, chillies, lemon juice, coconut and rice structures the essential diet. Almost all meals in The Maldives, even breakfast, are served with roshi which is a local bread made with flour, water, oil and salt, and cooked on a hot griddle.
And a tuna-stuffed masroshi was just what I started with as an appetiser that evening along with a main course that wowed me. A green tangy curry of tuna chunks with a mellifluous name of kandu kukulhu was introduced to me along with sides like a bowl of steamed white rice and a simple salad of tomatoes, onions and coriander. The curry was divine with each forkful bursting with a flavour that was neither Indian nor Sri Lankan, but rather like a Thai green curry to which a liberal splash of lime juice was added along with the fragrant lemon grass. Working perfectly with the rice, the kandu kukulhu was loaded with a ‘more-ish’ feeling that I had to resist in order to make space for the next course of the meal.
Now, totally opposite to the Indian style of dining, the Maldivians first eat rice with curry and then the plain roshi along with sambols, which form the ‘dry dish’ component of the meal. I was served two Maldivian sambols called mashuni and barabo mashuni, which were very different from their Sri Lankan counterparts in the spice (or should I say lack thereof) quotient. The basic mashuni is a wondrous concoction of flaked tuna that is combined with freshly grated coconut, onions, lime and green chilli. The barabo mashuni was equally scrumptious with the addition of boiled pumpkin bits that gave it a hint of sweetness and a creamier texture.
Thoroughly satiated with what I had just eaten, I literally waddled back to my ocean villa, ready for my next day’s adventure in Malé.
A Slice of Local Life
Perfect for a short day trip or even for an overnight stay, Malé offers the hard-core traveller a host of local experiences and sights that you may never have if you simply stay put at your luxurious island resort! With an area of less than six square kilometres and a population of about 150,000 people, Malé truly is one of the world’s smallest national capitals and one can be traversed in just a couple of hours.
My day trip to Malé had me first stop by the chaotic and colourful main market that was jam-packed with sellers vending everything from the local favourites like betel nut and large, freshly caught tuna fish to exotic fruit, vegetables and local sweets. Next it was a wander down the rather sandy Sultan Park in the center of the city and then for a glimpse of the president’s palace. Called Mulee Aage, the house is a neat and surprisingly un-fussy colonial-style bungalow situated midtown with bare minimal security details in sight. One can also visit the National Museum and the brand new golden-domed Grand Friday Mosque and also the historic, 17th century Hukuru Miskiiy also known as the Old Friday Mosque.
And it was here as I walked the narrow streets of Malé that I discovered a very important aspect of travel. I learned that sunny afternoon that there can be several versions of any country, just like I had seen in The Maldives. It all depends on how one looks at things. Do we view it from the often thickly veiled-gaze of a tourist or from the point of view of a true-blue traveller ready for all sorts of experiences? That’s a question worth asking ourselves.
All You Need is Love –Valentine’s Month Special
What could be more romantic than roses, bubbles and a stunning beachside romantic dinner under the stars? All this month of February, guests at the Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru can enjoy an exquisite dinner on the beach followed by romantic bed decoration and in-villa champagne breakfast the following day. The All You Need is Love package (USD 950++ per couple) also includes a private sunset cruise with champagne and canapés.
Fact File
Getting There
The newly launched direct GoAir flights (www.goair.in) link New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru with Malé’s Velana International Airport, all three in under three hours flying time. The visa to enter The Maldives is free and is given to everybody irrespective of nationality on arrival.
Stay
Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru Maldives, H. Agadhage 3rd floor Boduthakurefaanu Magu, Malé Maldives 20026.
Telephone: +960 6563000, E-mail: Resort.Kuredhivaru@movenpick.com
www. movenpick.com
(A differently edited version of this piece was first published in the February 2020 issue of The Week's Smart Life magazine)
Friday, January 3, 2020
Serene Bliss!
Offering a host of tailormade wellness solutions and world-class relaxation facilities, the luxurious Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort is a fecund, tropical paradise, all set in the heart of downtown Bangkok.
By Raul Dias
A unique urban health retreat surrounded by 1.2 acres of lush greenery, the brand new Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok by the Accor Group of hotels is one of those ultra-rare properties in that it is a proper, full-fledged resort set in the buzzing center of Bangkok. A classically elegant retreat, the property stands below tree height, shaded by the canopy of the adjacent Nai Lert Park, famed as Bangkok’s only remaining private city center park.
Within the resort a refined, minimalistic décor meets every modern convenience to take your stress away, reflecting Mövenpick’s renowned commitment to genuine comforts delivered exceptionally well. “Bangkok is a bustling and vibrant metropolis that travellers from all over the world aspire to visit at least once in their lifetime. We are delighted to bring a hotel inspired by such a unique wellness concept into the heart of the city, where our guests can relax within lush green gardens whilst enjoying convenient access to the BDMS Wellness Clinic,” says Patrick Basset, Chief Operating Officer of Accor for Upper Southeast & Northeast Asia and the Maldives.
Urban Oasis
The one aspect of the resort’s setting that’s truly impressive is the range of accommodation options the resort has on offer. While the Deluxe Rooms extend 42 sqm of personalised comfort, the Executive Suite is a spacious 74 sqm with separate living rooms and bedrooms. However, irrespective of room category, each offers either city views across the capital, or serene garden views from their broad balconies. And yes, in-keeping with the Mövenpick’s wonderful world-wide policy of a free mini bar for the first day of one’s stay, here too one can enjoy a range of non-alcoholic beverages on the house.
And while the signature Wellness Suites are unique to the resort, encompassing 74 sqm of therapeutic comfort, the Presidential Suite and Royal Suite are the pinnacles of Mövenpick’s renowned standards of comfort and style, stretching across a mammoth 164 sqm with private entrances.
Perfect Blend
Speaking of wellness, the resort shares its property with the BDMS Wellness Clinic which is the latest of the Bangkok Dusit Medical Services group’s centres of medical excellence. It applies world leading therapies and technologies to treat an illness’ root cause in seven specialised clinics with individually trained nurses and administrators. “With travellers placing more value on health and wellness than ever before, we are very excited to bring this innovative new concept to the market. Increasingly, wellness is moving beyond the walls of the spa and fitness areas with guests also wanting greater access to personalised programming,” says Lindsay Madden-Nadeau, Director of Well-Being, Accor. “Our new offering in Bangkok is a perfect example of how we are meeting this need and delivering sustainable, approachable wellbeing concepts to visiting guests as well as local communities.”
Taking full advantage of the wonderful Fitness Centre, guests must make sure to factor in at least an hour every day to working out on the David Health Solution System machines, designed to aid spine and orthopaedic recovery. The outdoor pool surrounded by thick vegetation that drown out all ambient noises from outside makes it almost impossible to believe that one is truly in the heart of chaotic Bangkok.
Healthy Bites!
At the resort, international dining tastes are fully catered to at a range of venues and all in-keeping with the resort’s wellness leitmotif. So, one can dine at the Tamarind all-day dining restaurant offering healthy and organic produce, generous breakfast buffets and themed buffet dinners. The Rim Klong Café serves famed Mövenpick coffees and ice creams, international breads and pastries, including gluten-free options, healthy mocktails, slow-juice selections, tea-infusions and nutritious boosters. It is a great place to simply unwind.
The Sala pool bar is perfect for refreshments of local and imported beers, fresh smoothies and original cocktails under cooling tree shade. For live music, soothing daytime tunes or an evening aperitif, head to the Cinnamon Lobby Bar. Serving juices and coffees and with a complimentary chocolate hour for guests, it’s a daytime family favourite.
Fact File
Getting There
There are a number of daily direct flights from most major Indian cities to Bangkok. The easy to procure Thai visa can either be obtained in advance online or at the various Thailand consular missions across India or on arrival (free till 30th April 2020) at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
Stay
Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok, 2 Wireless Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan,
Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Telephone: +66 (2) 666 3333, E-mail: resort.bdms.sales@movenpick.com
www. movenpick.com
Things to do
The resort’s city center location places guests at the heart of shopping and entertainment with a host of things to see and do:
* The Ratchaprasong retail district is packed with designer boutiques and shopping centres.
* The nearby Erawan Shrine is a serene place of pilgrimage for many Asian travellers just five minutes away.
* The Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, opposite the MBK Mall, offers quiet galleries of ancient and contemporary art as a refreshing respite from the bustling markets.
* The city’s famed nightlife welcomes visitors just ten minutes from the hotel in Sukhumvit Soi 11 and Soi 8.
By Raul Dias
A unique urban health retreat surrounded by 1.2 acres of lush greenery, the brand new Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok by the Accor Group of hotels is one of those ultra-rare properties in that it is a proper, full-fledged resort set in the buzzing center of Bangkok. A classically elegant retreat, the property stands below tree height, shaded by the canopy of the adjacent Nai Lert Park, famed as Bangkok’s only remaining private city center park.
Within the resort a refined, minimalistic décor meets every modern convenience to take your stress away, reflecting Mövenpick’s renowned commitment to genuine comforts delivered exceptionally well. “Bangkok is a bustling and vibrant metropolis that travellers from all over the world aspire to visit at least once in their lifetime. We are delighted to bring a hotel inspired by such a unique wellness concept into the heart of the city, where our guests can relax within lush green gardens whilst enjoying convenient access to the BDMS Wellness Clinic,” says Patrick Basset, Chief Operating Officer of Accor for Upper Southeast & Northeast Asia and the Maldives.
Urban Oasis
The one aspect of the resort’s setting that’s truly impressive is the range of accommodation options the resort has on offer. While the Deluxe Rooms extend 42 sqm of personalised comfort, the Executive Suite is a spacious 74 sqm with separate living rooms and bedrooms. However, irrespective of room category, each offers either city views across the capital, or serene garden views from their broad balconies. And yes, in-keeping with the Mövenpick’s wonderful world-wide policy of a free mini bar for the first day of one’s stay, here too one can enjoy a range of non-alcoholic beverages on the house.
And while the signature Wellness Suites are unique to the resort, encompassing 74 sqm of therapeutic comfort, the Presidential Suite and Royal Suite are the pinnacles of Mövenpick’s renowned standards of comfort and style, stretching across a mammoth 164 sqm with private entrances.
Perfect Blend
Speaking of wellness, the resort shares its property with the BDMS Wellness Clinic which is the latest of the Bangkok Dusit Medical Services group’s centres of medical excellence. It applies world leading therapies and technologies to treat an illness’ root cause in seven specialised clinics with individually trained nurses and administrators. “With travellers placing more value on health and wellness than ever before, we are very excited to bring this innovative new concept to the market. Increasingly, wellness is moving beyond the walls of the spa and fitness areas with guests also wanting greater access to personalised programming,” says Lindsay Madden-Nadeau, Director of Well-Being, Accor. “Our new offering in Bangkok is a perfect example of how we are meeting this need and delivering sustainable, approachable wellbeing concepts to visiting guests as well as local communities.”
Taking full advantage of the wonderful Fitness Centre, guests must make sure to factor in at least an hour every day to working out on the David Health Solution System machines, designed to aid spine and orthopaedic recovery. The outdoor pool surrounded by thick vegetation that drown out all ambient noises from outside makes it almost impossible to believe that one is truly in the heart of chaotic Bangkok.
Healthy Bites!
At the resort, international dining tastes are fully catered to at a range of venues and all in-keeping with the resort’s wellness leitmotif. So, one can dine at the Tamarind all-day dining restaurant offering healthy and organic produce, generous breakfast buffets and themed buffet dinners. The Rim Klong Café serves famed Mövenpick coffees and ice creams, international breads and pastries, including gluten-free options, healthy mocktails, slow-juice selections, tea-infusions and nutritious boosters. It is a great place to simply unwind.
The Sala pool bar is perfect for refreshments of local and imported beers, fresh smoothies and original cocktails under cooling tree shade. For live music, soothing daytime tunes or an evening aperitif, head to the Cinnamon Lobby Bar. Serving juices and coffees and with a complimentary chocolate hour for guests, it’s a daytime family favourite.
Fact File
Getting There
There are a number of daily direct flights from most major Indian cities to Bangkok. The easy to procure Thai visa can either be obtained in advance online or at the various Thailand consular missions across India or on arrival (free till 30th April 2020) at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
Stay
Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok, 2 Wireless Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan,
Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Telephone: +66 (2) 666 3333, E-mail: resort.bdms.sales@movenpick.com
www. movenpick.com
Things to do
The resort’s city center location places guests at the heart of shopping and entertainment with a host of things to see and do:
* The Ratchaprasong retail district is packed with designer boutiques and shopping centres.
* The nearby Erawan Shrine is a serene place of pilgrimage for many Asian travellers just five minutes away.
* The Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, opposite the MBK Mall, offers quiet galleries of ancient and contemporary art as a refreshing respite from the bustling markets.
* The city’s famed nightlife welcomes visitors just ten minutes from the hotel in Sukhumvit Soi 11 and Soi 8.
(A differently edited version of this piece was first published in the January 2020 issue of The Week's Smart Life magazine)
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Urban Oasis
Set in the heart of downtown Bangkok, the Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort is a fecund, tropical paradise with a lot on offer. Raul Dias checks in for some much-needed R&R!
By Raul Dias
A great fan of both my home city of Mumbai and that of my ‘adopted’ second home aka. Bangkok, I always find myself drawing several parallels between the two. Yes, both are equally chaotic, traffic-saturated and supremely exhausting! But both also have an indomitable spirit that cannot be defined or quantified. A spirit that keeps drawing me back to Bangkok’s urban charms time and again…
It is also a well-known fact that I will never refuse an opportunity to head to the Thai capital, even if it means a short, three-day trip. So, when I was very kindly invited to join in on GoAir’s inaugural daily, direct flight from Mumbai to Bangkok (check out our Travel Bytes section below for more details) on a trip they had jointly curated with AccorHotels to experience both the new flight as well as one Accor’s newest properties, the Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok, I jumped at the opportunity.
Plush Living
A unique urban health retreat surrounded by 1.2 acres of lush greenery, the Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok is one of those ultra-rare properties in that it is a proper, full-fledged resort set in the buzzing center of Bangkok. A classically elegant retreat, the property stands below tree height, shaded by the canopy of the adjacent Nai Lert Park, famed as Bangkok’s only remaining private city center park. Within the resort a refined, minimalistic décor meets every modern convenience to take your stress away, reflecting Mövenpick’s renowned commitment to genuine comforts delivered exceptionally well.
Another aspect of its setting that literally took my breath away was the range of accommodation options the resort has on offer. While the Deluxe Rooms extend 42 sqm of personalised comfort, the Executive Suite where I was staying is a spacious 74 sqm with separate living rooms and bedrooms. However, irrespective of room category, each offers either city views across the capital, or serene garden views from their broad balconies. And yes, in-keeping with the Mövenpick’s wonderful world-wide policy of a free mini bar for the first day of one’s stay, here too one can enjoy a range of non-alcoholic beverages on the house. I sure did!
And while the signature Wellness Suites are unique to the resort, encompassing 74 sqm of therapeutic comfort, the Presidential Suite and Royal Suite are the pinnacles of Mövenpick’s renowned standards of comfort and style, stretching across a mammoth 164 sqm with private entrances.
Where Serenity meets Bliss…
Speaking of wellness, the resort shares its property with the BDMS Wellness Clinic which is the latest of the Bangkok Dusit Medical Services group’s centres of medical excellence. It applies world leading therapies and technologies to treat an illness’ root cause in seven specialised clinics with individually trained nurses and administrators.
Taking full advantage of the wonderful Fitness Centre, I made sure to factor in at least an hour every day to working out on the David Health Solution System machines, designed to aid spine and orthopaedic recovery and thus perfect for my chronic lower back pain. The outdoor pool surrounded by thick vegetation that drown out all ambient noises from outside makes it almost impossible to believe that one is truly in the heart of chaotic Bangkok.
Sips and Bites
At the resort, international dining tastes are fully catered at a range of venues and all in-keeping with the resort’s wellness leitmotif. So, one can dine at the Tamarind all-day dining restaurant offering healthy and organic produce, generous breakfast buffets and themed buffet dinners. The Rim Klong Café serves famed Mövenpick coffees and ice creams, international breads and pastries, including gluten-free options, healthy mocktails, slow-juice selections, tea-infusions and nutritious boosters. It is a great place to simply unwind.
The Sala pool bar is perfect for refreshments of local and imported beers, fresh smoothies and original cocktails under cooling tree shade. For live music, soothing dayime tunes or an evening aperitif, head to the Cinnamon Lobby Bar. Serving juices and coffees and with a complimentary chocolate hour for guests, it’s a daytime family (and my personal!) favourite.
Things to do around the resort
Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok’s city center location places guests at the heart of shopping and entertainment with a host of things to see and do:
* The Ratchaprasong retail district is packed with designer boutiques and shopping centres.
* The nearby Erawan Shrine is a serene place of pilgrimage for many Asian travellers just five minutes away.
* The Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, opposite the MBK Mall, offers quiet galleries of ancient and contemporary art as a refreshing respite from the bustling markets.
* The city’s famed nightlife welcomes visitors just ten minutes from the hotel in Sukhumvit Soi 11 and Soi 8.
Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok
2 Wireless Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan,
Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Telephone: +66 (2) 666 3333 | Fax: +66 (2) 666 3334
E-mail: resort.bdms.sales@movenpick.com
www. movenpick.com
(An edited version of this article first appeared in the 17th August 2019 issue of The Free Press Journal newspaper's Saturday Great Escapes section on page 21 https://www.freepressjournal.in/travel/this-bangkok-resort-is-a-tropical-paradise)
By Raul Dias
A great fan of both my home city of Mumbai and that of my ‘adopted’ second home aka. Bangkok, I always find myself drawing several parallels between the two. Yes, both are equally chaotic, traffic-saturated and supremely exhausting! But both also have an indomitable spirit that cannot be defined or quantified. A spirit that keeps drawing me back to Bangkok’s urban charms time and again…
It is also a well-known fact that I will never refuse an opportunity to head to the Thai capital, even if it means a short, three-day trip. So, when I was very kindly invited to join in on GoAir’s inaugural daily, direct flight from Mumbai to Bangkok (check out our Travel Bytes section below for more details) on a trip they had jointly curated with AccorHotels to experience both the new flight as well as one Accor’s newest properties, the Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok, I jumped at the opportunity.
Plush Living
A unique urban health retreat surrounded by 1.2 acres of lush greenery, the Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok is one of those ultra-rare properties in that it is a proper, full-fledged resort set in the buzzing center of Bangkok. A classically elegant retreat, the property stands below tree height, shaded by the canopy of the adjacent Nai Lert Park, famed as Bangkok’s only remaining private city center park. Within the resort a refined, minimalistic décor meets every modern convenience to take your stress away, reflecting Mövenpick’s renowned commitment to genuine comforts delivered exceptionally well.
Another aspect of its setting that literally took my breath away was the range of accommodation options the resort has on offer. While the Deluxe Rooms extend 42 sqm of personalised comfort, the Executive Suite where I was staying is a spacious 74 sqm with separate living rooms and bedrooms. However, irrespective of room category, each offers either city views across the capital, or serene garden views from their broad balconies. And yes, in-keeping with the Mövenpick’s wonderful world-wide policy of a free mini bar for the first day of one’s stay, here too one can enjoy a range of non-alcoholic beverages on the house. I sure did!
And while the signature Wellness Suites are unique to the resort, encompassing 74 sqm of therapeutic comfort, the Presidential Suite and Royal Suite are the pinnacles of Mövenpick’s renowned standards of comfort and style, stretching across a mammoth 164 sqm with private entrances.
Where Serenity meets Bliss…
Speaking of wellness, the resort shares its property with the BDMS Wellness Clinic which is the latest of the Bangkok Dusit Medical Services group’s centres of medical excellence. It applies world leading therapies and technologies to treat an illness’ root cause in seven specialised clinics with individually trained nurses and administrators.
Taking full advantage of the wonderful Fitness Centre, I made sure to factor in at least an hour every day to working out on the David Health Solution System machines, designed to aid spine and orthopaedic recovery and thus perfect for my chronic lower back pain. The outdoor pool surrounded by thick vegetation that drown out all ambient noises from outside makes it almost impossible to believe that one is truly in the heart of chaotic Bangkok.
Sips and Bites
At the resort, international dining tastes are fully catered at a range of venues and all in-keeping with the resort’s wellness leitmotif. So, one can dine at the Tamarind all-day dining restaurant offering healthy and organic produce, generous breakfast buffets and themed buffet dinners. The Rim Klong Café serves famed Mövenpick coffees and ice creams, international breads and pastries, including gluten-free options, healthy mocktails, slow-juice selections, tea-infusions and nutritious boosters. It is a great place to simply unwind.
The Sala pool bar is perfect for refreshments of local and imported beers, fresh smoothies and original cocktails under cooling tree shade. For live music, soothing dayime tunes or an evening aperitif, head to the Cinnamon Lobby Bar. Serving juices and coffees and with a complimentary chocolate hour for guests, it’s a daytime family (and my personal!) favourite.
Things to do around the resort
Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok’s city center location places guests at the heart of shopping and entertainment with a host of things to see and do:
* The Ratchaprasong retail district is packed with designer boutiques and shopping centres.
* The nearby Erawan Shrine is a serene place of pilgrimage for many Asian travellers just five minutes away.
* The Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, opposite the MBK Mall, offers quiet galleries of ancient and contemporary art as a refreshing respite from the bustling markets.
* The city’s famed nightlife welcomes visitors just ten minutes from the hotel in Sukhumvit Soi 11 and Soi 8.
Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok
2 Wireless Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan,
Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Telephone: +66 (2) 666 3333 | Fax: +66 (2) 666 3334
E-mail: resort.bdms.sales@movenpick.com
www. movenpick.com
(An edited version of this article first appeared in the 17th August 2019 issue of The Free Press Journal newspaper's Saturday Great Escapes section on page 21 https://www.freepressjournal.in/travel/this-bangkok-resort-is-a-tropical-paradise)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)