Zerotwonine

Last month, 029 held a contest where its members could submit pictures of their summer holiday in hopes of winning one of 029’s ever-popular hotel tests.

The winner would also see his or her photo displayed as the new background image on 029’s website.

With such travel savvy members and a stylish hotel to test, 029 was overwhelmed with submissions.

From breathtaking locations, to inspiring adventures, to “what were they thinking?” there was much discussion within 029 as to which picture was the best. Clearly, to pick the “best” picture is subjective, as is most everything in life.

But one picture really stood out. It had the scenery, it had joie de vivre and it captured one of the most memorable moments in a couple’s life. Its that sort of feel good picture that reminds us what is important in life: love, happiness and family. (And travelling to exotic destinations!)

So congratulations to Mariska and Vanjo on not only winning a free weekend at the design-laden Hotel Sezz in Paris, but also on their magical wedding at the Banyan Tree Seychelles. 

Keep reading to see what they thought of Banyan Tree Seychelles and of their special day.

Looking to have a destination wedding? Contact 029 to plan your trip to your ideal place to wed, just as Mariska and Vanjo did!

Wedding at Banyan Tree Seychelles

On Sunday, the 12th of September we arrived at the Seychelles after a long but comfortable flight. The incredible green surroundings of the island were overwhelming and the driver who picked us up at the airport showed us many different sorts of trees, plants and fruit on our way to Banyan Tree.

Arriving there, we were taken to the main house to have a drink, while the staff was taking care of our luggage and villa. The view from the main house was so stunning, it was almost surreal: A bay with palms, trees and hidden villas, white sand and clear blue water with incredible waves. Fifteen minutes later, our villa was already ready (at 10.00 a.m.) and someone escorted us there.

The villa was just perfect! Really private with direct access to the beach, a perfect pool and Jacuzzi, daybeds, a private spa area in the garden. In the villa there was relaxing music playing and we found a warm welcome waiting for us: flowers and a gift on our bed (every day) and the room was filled with scented candles. We were in paradise immediately J

After two days of relaxing, massages every day in the spa, great food in the restaurants, we were so relaxed. We had almost forgotten that we were getting married there. We didn’t have to take care of anything ourselves; all was arranged by the wedding planner of Banyan Tree. All we had to do is decide what colour flowers we prefer, and say yes or no to all the suggestions she made.

To celebrate, we drank champagne and ate wedding cake. After the pictures were made, we took a dive in our own pool again! At night, we enjoyed a “Grill on the Sands” dinner. We had our personal chef who arranged a table for two under the stars with lots of candles on the beach. He grilled the most incredible lobster we’ve ever had. It is really hard to describe what a wonderful evening that was, how fantastic the food tasted and what a perfect memory it is. It was the perfect end to a perfect wedding day. 

We stayed a full week at Banyan Tree and absolutely enjoyed every minute of it. All of the staff members are so friendly and polite; they really respect your privacy in the villa and do everything to make your stay as pleasant as possible. The Banyan Tree Spa is perfect. You can choose from a variety of different massages, and the spa area in the hills has a stunning view. It is by far the best spa we ever visited.

We also booked a car with a driver for a day to see something from the Seychelles. We visited the National Park, the capital Victoria, a colourful local market and drove around the island. The driver showed us many places, plants and trees, stopped at a mini-zoo where turtles live and told us about living on the Seychelles. It is an island of pure nature!

In short, which is not easy, we highly recommend Banyan Tree Seychelles. It has everything you can wish for to have a time in paradise!!!!

Mariska & Vanjo

Take a look at this entry by 029 member and well-known German blogger Robert Basic who took his time to provide feedback about the Hotel Kazbek - a hotel he was able to test for free as part of 029’s Hotel Test Program.

Click here for the English version

Es regnete aus allen Kübeln am Flughafen von Dubrovnik (Kroatien). Da standen wir nun, Nicole Männl -meine Gefährtin- und ich. Und hielten Ausschau. Nach was? Nach dem Shuttle, das uns sicher zum Hotel bringen würde. Denn es handelt sich laut Beschreibung um ein Top-Hotel mit ganz vielen Sternen. Wie das Hotel heißt? Hotel Kazbek. Das wir auf Einladung von zerotwonine testen durften. Wir standen und schauten und hielten Ausschau. Doch niemand kam und hielt ein Schidlchen hoch. Wir fuhren demnach selber hin.

Dort angekommen machte uns niemand die Türe auf. Ok, auch ein Top-Hotel hat bestimmt schlechte Tage. Dies war wohl einer dieser Tage. Ob ich sehr kritisch klinge? Es mag sein, doch besser mehr erwarten und dann langsam seine Erwartungen hinunterschrauben, statt die Messlatte zu tief anzusetzen.

Und vorneweg: Nein, das Hotel ist nicht schlecht, im Gegenteil. Es ist defintiv ein Top-Hotel, das allerdings an vielen kleinen Punkten noch arbeiten muss, um das letzte Stückchen “Top” herauszuholen. Für das gebotene Preis-Leistungsverhältnis kann man das Hotel Kazbek nur loben!!

Die CheckIn Prozedur verlief leicht chaotisch, als ob man nicht wüsste, welches Zimmer man uns geben solle. Dazu muss man verstehen, dass wir in der Spätsaison-Zeit da waren, das Hotel so gut wie keine weiteren Gäste da waren. Insofern schaltet das Personal wohl sicher einen Gang herunter, das aber in einem Top-Hotel (wieder dieses Wort:) nicht passieren darf. So bekamen wir also ein sehr geräumiges Zimmer, das wir aber nach ca. einer halben Stunde gegen ein anderes Zimmer tauschen durften, das etwas heller war. Letzlich war es ein sehr guter Tausch, nur, wenn Gäste ankommen, sichtlich müde sind und sowieso andere Zimmer frei sind, kann man immer noch am nächsten Tag in aller Ruhe den Gästen einen Switch vorschlagen.

Die Zimmergestaltung selbst ist hochwertig und individuell. Man verfolgt einen sehr klassischen Stil mit leicht antik angehauchtem Mobiliar. Das aber allesamt in einer sehr gehobenen Qualität. Die Zimmer sind sehr geräumig, das Bad ebenso, auf dem Bett kann man Fußball spielen.

Die gesamte Hotelanlage wirkt sehr gepflegt, der Pool ist wunderbar angelegt, wenn man von der kahlen Hauswand des Nachbarhauses absieht. Die Umgebung wirkt nicht gerade top. Man befindet sich in einer Seitenbucht, ca. 2-3 KM entfernt vom berühmten Stadtkern von Dubrovnik. Die Häuser und das gesamte Areal in der Bucht wirkt wie ein etwas besserer Hafen. Wer demnach auf eine sehr gepflegte Umgebung wert legt, für den ist das Hotel Kazbek keine Wahl! Was aber nicht für das Hotel selbst gilt, wie gesagt.

Über den Service können wir nur Gutes sagen: Man war stets sehr aufmerksam und freundlich. Selbst wenn wir spät Nachts auf der Cafe-Terasse saßen, kam ein Servicemitarbeiter, bot uns Tee/Kaffee an, schaltete das gedämpfte Licht an und drehte die Musik ganz leise auf.

Zur Verpflegung allgemein können wir nur soweit zum Frühstück etwas sagen, da wir außerhalb unsere Hauptmahlzeiten einnahmen. Das Frühstück war mehr als reichhaltig, vom frischen Obst bis hin zu sehr leckeren Wurstspezialitäten gab es alles.

Insgesamt würden wir jederzeit wieder das Hotel buchen. Es zählt im internationalen Vergleich mit Sicherheit nicht zur Top-Referenz, vor Ort ist es definitiv eines des besten Hotels. Aufgrund der Lage hat es allerdings einen strategischen Nachteil, da der Gesamteindruck getrübt wird. In kleinen Bereichen kann es sicher noch etwas aufholen, was die Servicequalität angeht, doch von dem Preis-Leistungsverhältnis her ist es ein absoluter Tipp!

Wir danken zerotwonine für die Einladung und dem Hotelteam für die drei angenehmen und sehr entspannten Tage!!

Nicole & Robert

English translation provided by 029

Hotel Kazbek - Dubrovnik, Croatia

It was raining cats and dogs at Dubrovnik’s airport (Croatia). Here we were Nicole Männl – my companion – and me. On the lookout. But for what? For the shuttle which would bring us safely to our hotel. According to the description, it was a hotel with lots of stars. What the hotel’s name? Hotel Kazbek and we were invited to test it by 029. We waited and waited but nobody showed up so we drove there ourselves.

When we got there no one opened the door. Well, top hotels can have a bad day too we thought. This seemingly was one of them. Whether I sound critical? Probably, but you’d rather expect more and then slowly decrease your expectations as opposed to expecting such things beforehand.

In advance: No, the hotel is not a bad one, on the contrary. It definitely is a top hotel, which just has to improve some little things to become top notch. But considering the cost / performance ratio one only can praise the Hotel Kazbek!

The check-in procedure was slightly chaotic, as if they didn´t know which room to give us. We have to add that we were there in the off-season and were almost the only guests at the time. It seemed like the staff takes it down a notch during this time which must not happen in this hotel category. We finally got a pretty spacious room, but we wanted to switch to a brighter room which was not a problem. In the end it was a good exchange, however, if guests arrive visibly exhausted, the hotel should recommend to switch rooms on the next day.

The rooms are individually furnished and are of a high quality. They try to maintain a very classical style with a slight antique touch of the furniture. But all together, it was in a high quality as mentioned before. The rooms as well as the bathrooms are very spacious; you could practically play football on the beds.

The whole hotel complex seems very well-maintained; the pool is simply great except for the plain outside wall of the neighboring house. The surroundings not so much, you are located in a cove roughly 2-3km away from the historical city centre of Dubrovnik. The houses in the neighborhood and the whole area make it seem more like a harbour. So, for anyone who places high value on the surroundings , the Hotel Kazbek is not a good option. This is generally applicable for the whole hotel.

Regarding the service we only have good things to say. The staff was always considerate and friendly. Even while we were sitting outside on the terrace late at night one of the staff always showed up and offered tea/coffee, switched on a dimmed light and turned on some music for us.

About the food, we can only speak about the breakfast which always was more than adequate. From fresh fruits to delicious cold cut platters. All other meals we ate outside of the hotel.

Altogether we would book this hotel again. When compared with international standards, it surely does not fit the five-star category, but it is one of the best in the area. The location gave it a slight strategic disadvantage because it tarnished the overall impression. Some smaller aspects surely can be improved but with respect to the price/performance ratio it is a real insider tip.

We thank 029 and the hotel team for three enjoyable and relaxing days!!!

Nicole & Robert

029’s Hotel Test Program allows its members the opportunity to test out unique five star properties for free. From Bali to Jamaica, Cape Town to Rome, 029 members will soon be testing hotels in all of your  favourite destinations.

It is a city with great potential, especially because of its unique location north of the Amalfi Coast and therefore, in close proximity to the islands of Capri and Ischia. Potential means, in this case, that Naples could be even more than it actually is. When referring to the morbid charm of the city, well-known and appreciated in Italy, one assumes it has more to do with neglect than romance.

The Romeo Hotel has chosen its location in close proximity to the docks and the respective harbour area, which opened my heart, being a harbour-lover from Hamburg. But if you are a fan of nice promenades and palms in front of your window, then this will not suit your tastes.

The way to the hotel takes getting used to, as you need to leave the city centre with its restaurants on the promenade and walk to the industrial corner of Naples. By discovering the city, you will see that the centre is just 10 minutes away by foot. The location of the hotel is unique; it is positioned between old or partially rundown buildings to the left and right. These buildings stand in direct contrast to the modern façade of the Romeo.

I can only say that once you’ve seen the rooftop terrace of the Romeo Hotel, it makes up for everything that Naples is lacking. And Sorrento is certainly worth a visit being only 20 to 30 minute away.

Jeannine Johansson

Thank you very much for organising the stay.

I have visited the different locations in the hotel (business centre, spa) in order to get an overview of the facilities and different rooms/salons.

To my impression, the distinct positive factor of the Intercontinental Paris Le Grand, compared with other hotels of this category is that although the hotel is huge (which always tends to create an anynomous atmosphere) one feels immediately well-received as the atmosphere is, on the one hand, professional and international but at the same time warm and friendly.

I  believe this is mainly due to the hotel staff which is authentic and naturally friendly. The reason for this may be that a lot of the service staff (at least, the people I dealt with) is in the age of 30 to 40 and is “senior enough to understand professional service but young enough to be easy going. ”

Best regards and thanks again to everyone,

Andreas Lange

Location: The location of the hotel is fabulous. Potsdamer Platz is very central and convenient to explore Berlin, especially if it’s your first time. It’s also an incredible location if you want to attend any movie premiers as it is right across the street from the Sony Center.

Entrance/Reception/Lobby: Automatic doors open up to a small, but stylish lobby. The staff at reception where exceptionally friendly, check in was quick and efficient and we were offered a cold towel upon arrival. We were escorted to our suite which was on the 7^th floor – room #716. The hallways were spacious and bright with minimalistic décor which was refreshing as sometime design-oriented hotels try to create a dim and moody atmosphere in their hallways – which is sexy but unnecessary at 11:00 in the morning.Nice feature: You stick your key card in the slot by the door and the door opens automatically. No need to wait for the green light.

Room: It was an incredibly spacious and quiet corner suite. Again, minimalistic décor, very bright and clean with a small,  but functional kitchen. The hotel offers complimentary shopping service for its guests and we were told that the hotel could fill our refrigerator with whatever we wanted. Nice touch – we would have actually utilised the service if we were staying longer.

Regarding the features in the room – large bed, seating area, desk, 2 balconies – one off the main room with a table and two chairs (with a surprisingly attractive view considering all of the surrounding buildings) and one off the bathroom. The windows/room had EXCELLENT insulation/soundproofing. There was construction going on outside of the room and we did not hear a SOUND until we opened up the balcony door. We had 3 closets with 24 clothes hangers in total! One closet for his clothes, one for hers and one for all the clothes that he buys her. Well that is how it worked in our case anyway – excellent shopping in Berlin.

A large assortment of magazines, predominantly Architectural Design magazine spoke to the hotel’s adherence to all things design related. We really enjoyed the CDs in the room which were played on our Phillips DVD player and the sound was disseminated via our surround sound system. From Y¦G, an independent label,  we were able to listen to either Feeling Funky, Lazy Lounge, or Heart Beat.  What my wife fell in love with, because she is crazy for all things related to social development and human rights – was the small copy of the United Nations Declaration of Humans Rights handbook on the bedside table.

Bathroom: Huge with a large bathtub and two vanity areas! Very important for those travelling with their significant other – there is no need to fight for space while beautifying yourself – there are two large marble countertops opposite each other, each with mirrors, space for toiletries, outlets and amble lighting.

Breakfast: The breakfast was served in their restaurant FACIL, from 7:00 until 12:00. The room was a small green oasis in the middle of a bustling city. Floor to ceiling windows (including the ceiling) filled the room with natural light, surrounded by trees – you felt like you were eating in a Zen-garden with the little rock gardens and large stone fountains. Breakfast buffet was a well-stocked, well-presented continental buffet with fresh breads, rolls, pastries, cheeses, sliced meats, salmon, marinated shrimps, antipasti, assorted condiments and guests could also order freshly prepared dishes from the kitchen (tip – try the bacon – for those who are hard-pressed to find tasty, crunchy bacon in Europe, this is your answer). There was a nice assortment of fresh juices, including the usual suspects – but also some unconventional ones like fresh kiwi juice and of course the mint water and lime water were a big hit in the morning with the guests.

We unfortunately didn’t have enough time to use the ONO spa on the top floor, but we did go check it out and it looked really nice. Next time. Also, their restaurant FACIL was booked out while we were there which is excellent for the hotel and speaks to the quality of the cuisine. It wasn’t a total loss as you are spoilt for restaurant choices in Berlin. We did have a cocktail at their QIU bar – excellent cocktail, chilled ambience, friendly and attentive waiters.

All in all, we were very impressed with our experience at the Mandala Hotel. We have no complaints and if we find ourselves in Berlin again, we will be making a reservation.

Martin Egerth
Deutsche Lufthansa

Short trip to St. Petersburg with harp music during breakfast?

The Grand Hotel Europe is the ideal starting point in which to experience the picturesque city. In the middle of St. Petersburg’s historic city centre – direct at the famous Nevsky Prospekt – lays the wonderful, 137 year old hotel; housed in a historic building from 1824. Tchaikovsky spent his honeymoon there; Czar Nicholas II and Dostoyevsky were also guests at this time-honoured hotel in the heart of St. Petersburg just as many other personalities, past and present. Keep reading