Our stay at The Zenith Hotel, Kuantan, October 2013

We go back a long way with The Zenith Hotel. I began photographing its construction from nothing but waste land to the 5-star hotel, tallest building in Kuantan which it is today. 

Click this link to see some of the construction progress I have captured in photographs.

From watching this hotel grow on our doorstep and possessing a collection of photographs of its progress, it always feels a little extra special for us when we go there.

The Zenith Hotel on a beautiful day in Kuantan

We stayed at The Zenith Hotel in the Deluxe Superior King room complete with living area, reclining chair and king-size bed, not to mention huge windows with panoramic views of Kuantan and beyond.

The Deluxe Superior King at The Zenith Hotel is a big room!

Living area in Deluxe Superior King, The Zenith Hotel, Kuantan

King size bed in the Deluxe Superior King room at Kuantan's The Zenith Hotel

We paid RM400 for the room and were not disappointed. Clean, comfortable, soundproof.

The awesome windows with grand views of Kuantan

Standing by the magnificent windows at The Zenith Hotel with Leah

As it was my birthday the following day, we had some friends around to celebrate in our room.

Following are just a few of the awesome views of Kuantan we observed from our hotel room:

A view of Berjaya Megamall with the South China Sea in the background, taken from The Zenith Hotel, Kuantan

The Pahang State Mosque sits in the centre of Kuantan town

East Coast Mall and Stadium Darul Makmur are prominent landmarks on the Kuantan skyline

We even managed some exercise during our stay at The Zenith Hotel. Fidelia worked out in the gym:

While I expended some energy by jumping on the bed:

Had a very nice buffet breakfast in the morning, and what made it complete was a surprise rendition of "Happy Birthday" sung by the staff in The Dining Room. One lady staff had a very alert ear when we casually told her we were staying here in conjunction with my birthday. Ten minutes later, and a whole group of staff are singing to me and presenting me with a small birthday cake! Amazing! (Gosh, I should have brought my camera down to breakfast!!!)

I highly recommend a stay at The Zenith Hotel in Kuantan. The hotel oozes quality and you can be assured of a great experience!

Shahzan Inn, Kuantan - Our stay, September 2012

The Shahzan Inn is a 3-star hotel in the heart of Kuantan town. Located right beside the town football field on Jalan Mahkota, it provides panoramic views of Kuantan ranging from Bukit Ubi to the town centre, Pahang State Mosque, Jalan Teluk Sisek, the Riverfront, Taman Gelora beach and Tanjung Lumpur.

The Shahzan Inn has had a new lick of paint recently and looks great at first sight.

The lobby is no less impressive. It's spacious, has comfortable seating areas, a small fish pond, Tourism Malaysia brochures and a lovely winding staircase which spirals up from the entrance to the next two floors. A chandelier hangs down from the top of the staircase.

First impressions count, which is why I can't be overly critical of the rooms. We were given a room on the 10th floor and we enjoyed wonderful sweeping views of Kuantan. We even watched a couple of football matches on the pitches below.

As far as the room was concerned, it was average at best, but overall satisfactory for a 3-star hotel. Importantly, the bed was comfortable and we had a good sleep despite the air-conditioning being a little loud.

We opened the cupboard door to find the fridge missing, and we had to laugh at the outrageous prices on the list of very mediocre items for sale as souvenirs from the room!

The bathroom was okay, the wooden mirror frame in need of a replacement, and no plug for the sink. The shower did have nice magnetic closing doors which kept the cubicle warm while showering.

The swimming pool is nice but small. Unfortunately for us it was raining in the afternoon, so we didn't use it. I did take Lauren down there for a look around though.

Breakfast in the Coffee House was very good. A variety of tasty food was on offer, and the tables and chairs were beautifully laid out too.

It seems that Shahzan Inn has created a great first impression hotel with a luxurious lobby and Coffee House, but possesses rather average and neglected guest rooms.

Super Singapore Part 3 - Marina Bay Sands

Marina Bay Sands is a relatively new addition to the Marina Bay area of Singapore. Every time I go to Singapore there is always something new either under construction or completed. The strange, watermelon-shaped white structure you will see in the upcoming photos is the recently completed 'Art Science Museum.'

This was the first time I entered the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. The lobby was crowded but it wasn't as spectacular as The Fullerton Hotel. Here are some images of the Marina Bay area with the iconic hotel.

Panoramic view across Marina Bay

Inside the lobby at Marina Bay Sands Hotel

Oriental music being played in the lobby

Ground Floor at Marina Bay Sands

Funny statue at Marina Bay Sands Shoppes. The shoppes is a mall opposite the hotel

Sitting at a water feature at Marina Bay Sands Shoppes

Which way to go?

I chose the food court!

I spotted this Sarawak Kuching Kolo Mee stall, remembered how my wife loves this food, and thought I'd rub it in a little by eating it in Singapore!

It really was fabulous!

View inside The Shoppes at Marina Bay