Tag Archives: Review

Oceans 5 Dive Resort [Bungalow Review]

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Name: Oceans 5
Where: Gili Air, Lombok, Indonesia
When: March 2012
Price: 450,000 – 600,000 IDR / night (Low Season)

The breakfast bar

Who helped us? [Service]

We have stayed at guesthouses were everyone is actually family, and
here at Oceans 5 you get the same feeling. Everyone that works here
becomes family by the end of your stay from Eda who cooks breakfast,
Barry who does a bit of everything, to Simone and Sander who own
Oceans 5.

Fanny, our dive instructor was thankfully very
patient with a sense of humor. Trying to teach us to dive was a brave
move on her part, but we are so glad she didn’t give up on us! We
spent three days watching videos, taking tests and diving 60 feet
below the surface. We never planned to dive prior to arriving at
Oceans 5, but we are leaving with pleasantly unexpected memories and a
newfound skill.

Simone and Sander have a passion for diving and teaching new
instructors which is fun to watch. We stayed during an instructor
development course and got to see how hard they studied to become PADI
certified instructors. Any question we had was quickly addressed and
answered, even when we extended our stay for an entire week they were
willing to work with us and shuffle people around to make it work. We were especially impressed with the clean-up dive each week and the turtle rescue program they run.

Our room

What did it look like? [Ambiance]

Picturesque bungalows overlooked a crystal blue pool. The dive shop is
at the center of the property and serves as a check in point and
central meeting ground for divers or guests. When you get off your
boat to Gili Air you immediately notice the breakfast bar to the right
of the dive shop. It’s usually busy with tourists just off the boat or
guests staying in the bungalows. This is a great place to meet people
and enjoy a cold beer on a hot day.

Exciting changes are going on at Oceans 5 that should be completed
prior to busy season on the Gilis. An additional bungalow, a couple
new standard rooms and a restaurant are being built to better serve
the arriving guests, which is all the more reason for me to return to
check out the new updates later this year!

The bed

Did we sleep? [Room]

We opted for the standard room since we are trying to stick to a tight
budget. The standard rooms are simple with one queen bed and one set
of bunk beds. The bed is one of the more comfortable ones I have slept
in this year. After a long day of diving or walking around the island
I was quick to come back to our room and crash. All rooms have air
conditioning, attached bathrooms and are cleaned each day.

Attached open shower

Were our stomachs full? [Food]

Oceans 5 did a great job of supporting my yogurt habit. Back home, I
ate greek yogurt daily with fresh fruit. When breakfast is included
you usually get pancakes, toast with eggs or breakfast sandwiches. I
was delighted to see yogurt and fruit as one of the options for
breakfast. Josh rotated through them all trying the banana pancake,
toast and eggs and jaffles. Each breakfast was accompanied by fruit
juice and coffee or tea. We left happily full every morning ready to
start the day.

Another perk of Oceans 5 is they have complimentary water refill, tea
and coffee. For someone who likes to stay hydrated it was nice to be
able to refill my water bottle as I was leaving the resort.

The beautiful Oceans 5 pool

How quickly could we surf the web? [Internet]

Using the Internet as much as we do, we realize that connections will get cut off or be weak at times. During our stay here we had multiple denied attempts at signing on to Internet. Oceans 5 uses a hotspot login system instead of just having one Wi-fi password and it seemed someone was always using our login. We stayed here during a busy diving instructor course, so there were many other people using the Internet. Once we were able to sign on it worked pretty well and we were able to skype home, upload pictures and blog.

When we travel to such beautiful places like Gili Air we have to
remind ourselves that we are on an island and sometimes no Internet is
a sign that you need to get outside and enjoy the weather. :)

Where is Oceans 5 Located? [Location]

The Gili Islands are located off the west coast of Lombok and a quick
1.5 hour fast boat trip from Bali. Gili Air is the island closest to
Lombok – much quieter than Gili Trawangan – and more populated and
happening than Gili Meno. It was a perfect in-between for us.

Once you arrive in Gili Air, there is no way to miss Oceans 5. It is
located on the south end of the island directly off the harbor. It
makes transporting your bags to your room rather easy and it is
entertaining to watch everyone get on and off the boat at the harbour
throughout your stay.

Would we go back again? [Overall Thoughts]

We came to Gili Air on a whim and ended up extending our stay for an
additional week at Oceans 5. We enjoyed spending time with the owners,
dive instructors and other guests. There is a positive vibe at Oceans
5 that we thourougly enjoyed and we would love to return. In every
location, people we meet tell us you have to go here next and list off
the beautiful places they have seen. At Oceans 5 we saw the opposite.
Everyone ends up staying here 2 weeks to 2+ months. No one was in any
hurry to leave and it was nice being able to sit and enjoy a peaceful
beach with an active community of guests.

Disclosure: We received a discount off our room from Oceans 5. As
always, the opinions expressed here are our own.

Singapore Eats: Barracks Cafe at Dempsey House

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We had the opportunity to dine at the Barracks Cafe @ Dempsey House while we were in Singapore and taste a sample of some of their most delicious plates.

house menu

Walking into House you instantly notice the avant garde decor with mis-matched chairs and unique furniture. It is surrounded by greenery, easily enjoyed through the expansive windows which makes you feel as if you’re in a greenhouse. The menus look like newspapers and are full of tasty ingredients and entrees to peruse. They have an extensive drink menu of which I highly recommend the Tiffin Punch for a delicious mixture of gin, lychee liqueur and grapefruit.

After scanning the menu I had a list of 5 – 6 things I wanted to try, and was sure would be yummy. We went for brunch so I was ready for some good breakfast food, despite the Macadamia Crusted Pumpkin Arugula Salad, Old-Fashioned American Sliders and Mushroom Risotto that were tempting me. We had 5 people at the table and between us we ordered the 7-layer Pancake, Asparagus and Poached Egg, Very Berry Stuffed French Toast, Crunch Munch Granola and a side of Taro Fries & Parsley Mashed Potatoes. We also chose the Tiffin Punch for 4, since it was so highly recommended.

Stuffed French Toast

The service was friendly and everyone was quick to ensure we had great service. While we waited for our food the atmosphere was casual but still sophisticated. The windows allowed plenty of sunlight through and the ambiance could be described as energized. Even the bathrooms had attitude sporting signs that read Pussycats and Cock-A-Doodles. Looking around, every sign, light fixture and chair was styled just so. Nothing matched, but everything went together perfectly.

Once the food arrived, most of the talking quieted down to a hum while we all chowed down on our food. We started with the taro fries and parsley mashed potatoes. Both delicious sides, the fries were crispy and well-seasoned while the mashed potatoes were creamy and melted in your mouth. The granola and yogurt was fully mixed with cubed fresh fruit and set on top of homemade granola. It was light, sweet and just enough food without feeling overly stuffed. The 7-layer pancake was delicious. The hazlenuts, pistachios, dried raisins and apricots were all layered between 7 pancakes, with nutella spread and a shot of maple syrup to complete the sweetness. The sweet, nutty flavor of these pancakes kept you wanting more. The mixed berry stuffed french toast when it first arrives looks like a small portion, but once you start digging in, the thick creamy filling quickly fills you up! The poached egg and asparagus is a healthy option for those watching their waistlines. With two eggs and thick asparagus alongside a bed of greens your morning will start off on the right foot. Everything we ordered and sampled I would feel confident in recommending to someone trying out the restaurant.

7-Layer Pancake

The food was fabulous and left me wanting to return to try out more of the menu options. The menu was interesting, the food pairing intriguing and the smell of the food coming out of the kitchen was delectable. My personal favorite was the decor and ambiance of the restaurant. I suggest getting out of your chair and walking around. Enjoy the outside greenery and the colorful funky furniture throughout the dining room. Look for the little turtles and fish in the small moat surrounding the building. Even finding the restroom was an experience unlike others.

I loved it. I want you to try it and leave a comment with the menu items you tried and a quick review on what you thought!

The Broadmoor [Hotel Review]

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The Broadmoor Hotel

Name: The Broadmoor Resort
Where: Colorado Springs, CO
When: October 2011
Price: $240 / night

Who helped us? [Service]

From the time we arrived until checkout, everyone at the hotel went out of their way to accommodate us. We were very impressed with the friendliness of the staff and the attentiveness to detail.

A great example was when we had finished hiking we ran to our room while the maids were there cleaning it. We simply wanted to grab some clothes and get out of their way. Before we got far into the room they had us walk back out and swipe our card to ensure it was our room. Such a small act to ensure that no one is breaking into our room while the door is open. We were grateful for the double check.

The concierge directed us to all of our daily activities while helping us with our valet slips. The spa staff ensured our every comfort from heated robes, slippers in our size and a roomy locker to put our stuff in. They encouraged us to use the sauna and therapy rooms and kept our glasses full of cucumber water or hot tea. We could hardly turn a corner without a new face attentive and ready to assist!

What did it look like? [Ambiance]

Walking into the Broadmoor we were taken back by the grand decor and luxurious furniture, wall hangings and designs. The best part that can’t be missed is the breathtaking mountain view from this hotel!

Our stay was obviously much different than many of the bed and breakfasts we usually stay at. The other guests staying with us had a different air about them, everyone was mostly dressed to the nines no matter where they were on the grounds. The property, indoors and out, was always spotlessly clean.

Did we sleep? [Room]

The bed was very comfortable. Plenty of pillows line the bed so make sure you figure out your optimal setup before turning off the lights. Once you are out for the night you will have sweet dreams of fresh mountain air. We had a Superior Room in the Main tower, which is the oldest part of the hotel. We heard that they were trying to preserve the tower’s history, so it wasn’t as updated as other parts of the hotel. There was a spectacular view of the Broadmoor pond and of the front range. The bathroom was large and included a shower with glass doors, a footed bathtub, and two sinks. There was a walk-in closet, minibar with coffee, tea, hot chocolate and apple cider included in the resort fee. It was very colorful and traditional.

Were our stomachs full? [Food]

Not only were they full, they were stuffed. The food is one of the best part of the resort, with many restaurants to chose from with every type of food available. At Charles Court, we had an unforgettable prosciutto-wrapped filet and a seared ahi dish that were delicious. The buffet breakfast at the Lake Terrace was full of options, and had plenty of fresh fruit, pastries, meats and an omelete station. We were rarely hungry for lunch after our wonderful breakfasts.

How quickly could we surf the web? [Internet]

The internet fees were included in the resort rate. Wired and wireless connections were easily accessible and fast!

Where is the Broadmoor? [Location]

The Broadmoor is about 90 minutes from Denver International Airport. The hotel is also about a 20 minute drive from many Colorado Springs attractions including Pike’s Peak and the Garden of the Gods park. Seven Falls is also just a few miles from the hotel. It was easy to get around because we had a rental car, otherwise we would have had to take a taxi to get anywhere from the hotel.

Would we go back again? [Overall Thoughts]

This resort isn’t our typical stay but spending a long weekend in such a beautiful resort was fabulous. We pampered ourselves for 4 days enjoying delicious food, spa services and breathtaking views. This trip was covered by one of our employer’s, which is the only real reason we were able to stay out here. While we would love to stay here again, it is probably out of our normal price range on a regular basis.