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Boutique Hotels = Smaller Rooms @ Larger Prices


The trend in hotels these days in NYC, London, Paris, Venice and other large cities is to appeal to tourists with tiny and tinier rooms. They’re promoted as all comfy and cute, but could be viewed as reminders of cramped Army troop train compartments. Or the Three Stooges sharing a boutique room.

Regular-sized hotel rooms are redesigned by cutting them into two or three smaller sleeping areas, and calling them boutique rooms. Of course, that means the hotel earns two or three times what they had been charging for the single, traditionally-sized room. 

It’s similar to what airlines do now to make more money by jamming more passengers into their formerly-comfortable seating areas. So, when you’re making reservations for big-city hotels, be sure you’re aware that when the word boutique appears, you’ll have to pay a hell of a lot more for a hell of a lot less.
Five Fave Ethnic Restaurants in Singapore PDF Print E-mail


The exotic city-state is one your travel4seniors.com editor’s favorite world destinations. The former British colony and now independent nation offers some of best restaurants. Here are several favorites:

Gattopardo: The traditional Italian pastas are enhanced by fresh seafood harvested in nearby Pacific Ocean waters. Some eclectic dishes are flavored by Asian ingredients and exotic spices. I've enjoyed the tasty bucatini con la sarde. It's made of generous tubes of spaghetti with fresh-caught sardines, fennel, saffron and pine nuts. Gattopardo, Hotel Fort Canning, 11 Canning Walk. gattopardo.com.sg Les Amis: This beautifully appointed French café would fit right in on an exotic Paris boulevard. I've enjoyed the canard special, consisting of leg of duck, French beans, radicchio and pumpkin. Les Amis, 1 Scotts Rd., #02-16 Shaw Centre. lesamis.com.sg

Cherry Garden: The traditional Chinese restaurant offers a great variety, including Mandarin and Sichuan dishes. Its bright red decor features teak paneling, intimate lighting and excellent service. Enjoy the many varieties of dim sum, especially the steamed spinach prawn variety. Consider the all-you-can-eat-and-drink special for $100. Cherry Garden, Raffles Bvd, Marina Sq. mandarinoriental.com/singapore/fine-dining/cherry-garden

Aoki: There are three Aoki restaurants in Singapore, all offering excellent Japanese dinners. The local managers boast that much of the raw ingredients are flown in daily from Japan. My choice was the Nigiri Sushi Tokusen dinner. The servings included pickled salad, miso soup, chawamushi, nigiri sushi and a sushi roll. Aoki, 1 Scotts Road. aoki-restaurant.com.sg

Punjab Grill: The ultra-modern Indian restaurant ambiance is Oz-like bright glass and shiny metal. Overseen by head chef and local TV personality Jiggs Calra, each dish is carefully prepared in traditional Indian style.

I ordered the Norwegian salmon tikka with vegetable medley. My companion enjoyed the more seasoned tandooori foie gras with mango chutney. Basic cost from $75. Punjab Grill, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Ave. marinabaysands.com
 
 
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