RHK's Fall SEA Trip
Dec 5th, 2017, 10:42 AM
#81
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Right! The bakery!! The French macarons!! Did you have to mention that HT? 
I can't imagine anyone lounging at the Metropole's beautiful pool courtyard, feeling like they're imprisoned. However, I did find the general atmosphere in the Opera wing brighter/cheerier than in the original wing. Can't compare rooms, as stayed only in the former, but it's something to take into consideration Rhkkkmk if your rooms in the older wing feel a bit toooo "historic" and you or the kids want, literally, to "switch sides."
I can't imagine anyone lounging at the Metropole's beautiful pool courtyard, feeling like they're imprisoned. However, I did find the general atmosphere in the Opera wing brighter/cheerier than in the original wing. Can't compare rooms, as stayed only in the former, but it's something to take into consideration Rhkkkmk if your rooms in the older wing feel a bit toooo "historic" and you or the kids want, literally, to "switch sides."
Dec 5th, 2017, 04:31 PM
#84
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HI--- I'm thinking 2 weeks here would cure any situations in your life...
Told yesterday that if you fly from bkk and never go on VN mainland that no visa is required...
HI-- do we need to go to Hanoi???
I will have a trip. outline for 2018 when we see you in HI in Feb.
Told yesterday that if you fly from bkk and never go on VN mainland that no visa is required...
HI-- do we need to go to Hanoi???
I will have a trip. outline for 2018 when we see you in HI in Feb.
Dec 6th, 2017, 08:38 AM
#86
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HT: The prison reference is a private joke between Bob and I. Having already stayed at the Metropole and JW Marriott in Hanoi and after reading his reviews of the Marriott at Pho Quoc I know what a step down it will be for them. We will see. The Metropole is a lovely hotel and we enjoyed our stay there very much but compared to the other two hotels it is a French prison lol.
No we don't need to go back to Hanoi. For you guys that would be overload. Will talk when you get here in Feb....can't wait. Hugs to Karen
Aloha!
No we don't need to go back to Hanoi. For you guys that would be overload. Will talk when you get here in Feb....can't wait. Hugs to Karen
Aloha!
Dec 7th, 2017, 06:52 AM
#87
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Breakfast
P went on an organized hike early.
TY! the GM stopped by at breakfast and we ended up walking next door with him to visit French & Co, the deli, quick snack venue. The decor here is again over the top: antique typewriters, scales, grinders, an old Austrian baking oven converted for modern use, etc. Plan to have lunch there later, but by the time we finished looking, it was time to eat again....Delicious sandwiches... At 2 K had her "pastry class", a bit of a dud--made creme brulee.
Off to the pool..". An absolutely fab last day weatherwise. Some more annoying Chinese again...
At 4 up to the room to do some packing and showers.
We went to the Chemistry Dept for some drinks and a messe, tapas dinner. Strangely they were out of most everything we wanted. My 1st drink was horrid and the live music was too loud, so we left, quite disappointed.
Next door the future Pink Pearl Restaurant's doors were open and the lights were on so we went in...Complete opulence is allI can say.
Had dinner in the main restaurant.
Thursday
Up very early, out of our rooms by 7ish. Bags sent to reception and we were off for breakfast.
Limo to the airport for 0950 flight back to Hanoi on Vietjet. Our flts were all on time, but they have a reputation for delays.
Arrived in Hanoi about 5 min late, lots of circulating-- low ceiling.
At PQ and at Hanoi we had the lift trucks for wheelchairs-- a vehicle with a box on the back with hydraulics that lift the Bos up and down to the galley door on the plane. You walk or are pushed onto a platform and then enter the box.
B/P were amazed--- another bob first for them.
Driver was waiting for us. Large van into city, lots less traffic than last week.
Arrived at the Metropole, an old school 5* hotel in the center of town... Fodorites love it. I now can see why. We have two classic rooms in the traditional, older wing of the hotel (by choice). Opera wing has newer modern room. We love this wing. Rich furnishings in lobbies, hallways and rooms. Great bath. Both of us were upgraded. We booked through an agency in FL that Smeagol had suggested. Our plan is for upgraded room, $75 food allowance per stay, high tea/chocolate fountain, early and late checkouts.
After checking out our rooms we went to Le Club for lunch--delicious and a beautiful room with pool view. By the time we were finished with lunch, it was only 10 minutes until tea started, so we made that our dessert.
At 6 we had a res for the "bomb shelter" tour. A res is necessary and only residents may participate. This hotel has survived some bad times and a few years ago a bomb shelter,in the hotel's basement was discovered. A very interesting and funny local Vietnamese man conducts a 1 hour tour in and around the hotel telling it's history and odd happenings. He is unique and so much fun... Great English--lived in CA for a number of years.
We had an 8PM res for dinner at Spice Garden Restaurant, the Vietnamese restaurant... K had a local fish and I had giant prawns(shrimp). Quite good.
Bed at 11.
Busy day tomorrow with AM shopping after Hotel buffet breakfast....Back to Hang Gai St--- maybe by cyclo.
P went on an organized hike early.
TY! the GM stopped by at breakfast and we ended up walking next door with him to visit French & Co, the deli, quick snack venue. The decor here is again over the top: antique typewriters, scales, grinders, an old Austrian baking oven converted for modern use, etc. Plan to have lunch there later, but by the time we finished looking, it was time to eat again....Delicious sandwiches... At 2 K had her "pastry class", a bit of a dud--made creme brulee.
Off to the pool..". An absolutely fab last day weatherwise. Some more annoying Chinese again...
At 4 up to the room to do some packing and showers.
We went to the Chemistry Dept for some drinks and a messe, tapas dinner. Strangely they were out of most everything we wanted. My 1st drink was horrid and the live music was too loud, so we left, quite disappointed.
Next door the future Pink Pearl Restaurant's doors were open and the lights were on so we went in...Complete opulence is allI can say.
Had dinner in the main restaurant.
Thursday
Up very early, out of our rooms by 7ish. Bags sent to reception and we were off for breakfast.
Limo to the airport for 0950 flight back to Hanoi on Vietjet. Our flts were all on time, but they have a reputation for delays.
Arrived in Hanoi about 5 min late, lots of circulating-- low ceiling.
At PQ and at Hanoi we had the lift trucks for wheelchairs-- a vehicle with a box on the back with hydraulics that lift the Bos up and down to the galley door on the plane. You walk or are pushed onto a platform and then enter the box.
B/P were amazed--- another bob first for them.
Driver was waiting for us. Large van into city, lots less traffic than last week.
Arrived at the Metropole, an old school 5* hotel in the center of town... Fodorites love it. I now can see why. We have two classic rooms in the traditional, older wing of the hotel (by choice). Opera wing has newer modern room. We love this wing. Rich furnishings in lobbies, hallways and rooms. Great bath. Both of us were upgraded. We booked through an agency in FL that Smeagol had suggested. Our plan is for upgraded room, $75 food allowance per stay, high tea/chocolate fountain, early and late checkouts.
After checking out our rooms we went to Le Club for lunch--delicious and a beautiful room with pool view. By the time we were finished with lunch, it was only 10 minutes until tea started, so we made that our dessert.
At 6 we had a res for the "bomb shelter" tour. A res is necessary and only residents may participate. This hotel has survived some bad times and a few years ago a bomb shelter,in the hotel's basement was discovered. A very interesting and funny local Vietnamese man conducts a 1 hour tour in and around the hotel telling it's history and odd happenings. He is unique and so much fun... Great English--lived in CA for a number of years.
We had an 8PM res for dinner at Spice Garden Restaurant, the Vietnamese restaurant... K had a local fish and I had giant prawns(shrimp). Quite good.
Bed at 11.
Busy day tomorrow with AM shopping after Hotel buffet breakfast....Back to Hang Gai St--- maybe by cyclo.
Dec 7th, 2017, 09:49 PM
#90
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Wow, I want the name of that travel agent in FL (Florida?) in case of a return trip!! The wonderful Hanoi agent at CVT got a great price and upgrade to a beautiful Opera wing room which opened onto an interior, semi-private courtyard lawn...but I'd have traded that for high tea and food credit!
Which breakfast buffet did you have: French or Vietnamese?
Did you get photos of yourselves during the bunker tour, wearing hardhats?
Like HappyTrvlr and your Hawaiian podna-in-crime, I'm glad, despite its prison-like atmosphere that you're enjoying the unique, historic Metropole.
Which breakfast buffet did you have: French or Vietnamese?
Did you get photos of yourselves during the bunker tour, wearing hardhats?
Like HappyTrvlr and your Hawaiian podna-in-crime, I'm glad, despite its prison-like atmosphere
that you're enjoying the unique, historic Metropole.
Dec 8th, 2017, 06:57 AM
#91
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Just catching up, as we're finalising plans for our first visit to Bangkok later this month. We will be there over NYE too, and was struggling to find much out about potential fire works etc. Any tips or links on where to find out more gratefully received. I decided to book us one of the "midnight tuk tuk" food tours for the day after our arrival, as it seemed a fun way to get our bearings, on the street food front if nothing else.
Dec 9th, 2017, 04:53 AM
#93
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Don't know of a fireworks site. But at midnight there will be fireworks in front of the Peninsula Hotel on the river and I suspect near to other riverside hotels.
Have you considered the hygiene of street food? We would not touch it with a ten foot pole.
Have you considered the hygiene of street food? We would not touch it with a ten foot pole.
Dec 9th, 2017, 06:32 AM
#94
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Friday
Great breakfast buffet in the Metropolitan's French Restaurant-- included in room package.
After breakfast we took a taxi to Hang Gai St. We had decided to buy two paintings at the Long gallery. Sadly, one which we had picked out the week before had been sold, but we found another we liked almost as well. We now will own three from the same Vietnamese artist. We also ordered 3 frames, one to replace the one we have, which I never liked. They will be air shipped to us in early January.
The girls then began a shopping spree at a small shop offering scarves, pashminas and the like. They also shopped the other Tan My shop.
We had a delicious lunch in the outdoor covered bar by the pool at the Metropolitan before our 2:30 pickup to the airport and our return Qatar flight to Bangkok.
Flight left 20 minutes early and we arrived to a warm Bangkok.
Took 2 SUV taxis into town: one direct to the Peninsula Hotel and the other to the Penn via the Anantara hotel where we had left luggage.
We had room service that night for the 4 of us in our suite on the 21st floor. Great view of Bangkok and the busy river.
Saturday
Another busy day. Breakfast riverside. Nut, our driver, btw we love this young guy, picked us up about 9:30. We dropped off laundry just two doors to the left of the Penn's service entrance. We headed across the river to Lim silver shop again. They have 3 locations in one neighborhood. We went to a new one because our regular one was not open. Great young all woman staff and tons of merchandise. Several purchases made.
Next we headed out of town to BITEC, a convention center where Jim Thompson was holding their twice yearlywarehouse sale. Spent a long time there. Many purchases made.
McDonalds just up the road for lunch.
Next up was a return to Thai Stone Jewelry...Lots of consideration of various items.
Next up was Chang our eyeglasses man to pickup the glasses we all had ordered earlier. We were all very pleased...
Last up was JS Thai Silk at River City shopping center for picking up items ordered. All exceeded the ladies expectations.
While there we each had a one hour massage across the hallway.
Nut dropped us off at Harmonique Restaurant where we had a great Thai dinner:
Singha beers
Bottled water
Larb Gai
Pomelo salad
Crab meat yellow curry
Pad see ew with shrimp
1/2 of a pineapple with fried rice and shrimp
Stir fried morning glories with garlic
Extra large mango and sticky rice
Taxi back to hotel.
Great breakfast buffet in the Metropolitan's French Restaurant-- included in room package.
After breakfast we took a taxi to Hang Gai St. We had decided to buy two paintings at the Long gallery. Sadly, one which we had picked out the week before had been sold, but we found another we liked almost as well. We now will own three from the same Vietnamese artist. We also ordered 3 frames, one to replace the one we have, which I never liked. They will be air shipped to us in early January.
The girls then began a shopping spree at a small shop offering scarves, pashminas and the like. They also shopped the other Tan My shop.
We had a delicious lunch in the outdoor covered bar by the pool at the Metropolitan before our 2:30 pickup to the airport and our return Qatar flight to Bangkok.
Flight left 20 minutes early and we arrived to a warm Bangkok.
Took 2 SUV taxis into town: one direct to the Peninsula Hotel and the other to the Penn via the Anantara hotel where we had left luggage.
We had room service that night for the 4 of us in our suite on the 21st floor. Great view of Bangkok and the busy river.
Saturday
Another busy day. Breakfast riverside. Nut, our driver, btw we love this young guy, picked us up about 9:30. We dropped off laundry just two doors to the left of the Penn's service entrance. We headed across the river to Lim silver shop again. They have 3 locations in one neighborhood. We went to a new one because our regular one was not open. Great young all woman staff and tons of merchandise. Several purchases made.
Next we headed out of town to BITEC, a convention center where Jim Thompson was holding their twice yearlywarehouse sale. Spent a long time there. Many purchases made.
McDonalds just up the road for lunch.
Next up was a return to Thai Stone Jewelry...Lots of consideration of various items.
Next up was Chang our eyeglasses man to pickup the glasses we all had ordered earlier. We were all very pleased...
Last up was JS Thai Silk at River City shopping center for picking up items ordered. All exceeded the ladies expectations.
While there we each had a one hour massage across the hallway.
Nut dropped us off at Harmonique Restaurant where we had a great Thai dinner:
Singha beers
Bottled water
Larb Gai
Pomelo salad
Crab meat yellow curry
Pad see ew with shrimp
1/2 of a pineapple with fried rice and shrimp
Stir fried morning glories with garlic
Extra large mango and sticky rice
Taxi back to hotel.
Dec 9th, 2017, 01:18 PM
#98
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Yes, Harmonique is the little hole-in-the-walll place with a tiny courtyard. It is walking distance from the Royal Orchid. Cheryl and I were the first Fodorites to eat there oh so many years ago. It was reviewed as a new restaurant in one of the Bangkok newspapers while we were in Bangkok, so we decided to try it
