Tune - A new kind of hotel experience

Short Note:

This is a message to everyone traveling or intending to travel to Taipei any time soon.
Taiwan Visitors Association (Singapore) is giving away a free One-Day Pass (台北捷运一日票) worth NT$150 (S$6.70) to all tourists flying to the Formosa island.

• The pass is valid for one day of unlimited traveling on the Taipei Metro only.
• You will need to produce your traveling documents (air-ticket and accommodation) as proof to collect the gift.
• Only one pass is allowed per traveller.
• Tickets can be redeemed from their office at 5 Shenton Way #31-11 UIC Building (Tel: 6223 6546).
• Offer ends on 31st March 2008.

Tune Hotels was where we Singaporean Nuffnangers were housed over the weekend in Kuala Lumpur.

Don’t battle an eyelid if the colour, font and style look familiar. Yes the hotel is owned by Datuk Tony Fernades, founding father of the budget carrier AirAsia.

The classic millionaire’s million dollar smile.

Since Tune Hotels is owned by the same company, we guessed it should be a budget hotel as well.

Bingo! We were right. The moment you step into the hotel, you feel budgety already.

Mister Potato greets you at the lift.

Mister Potato greets you in the lift (again).

Gotta love them for their quirky sense of humor.

Pensonic greets you outside your room =___= .

Maggi greets you inside your room =______= .

McDonald’s greets you above your bed @___@ .

They use Ikea-style bed lamps.

There is no tv, only a foldable wall-mounted table.

There are no cupboards, only four wall-mounted hooks.

Further down the list:

• There is no bathtub.
• There is no telephone nor bar fridge in the room. You can’t connect to other rooms or order room service, and you got to depend on yourself to wake up.
• Air conditioning is optional. 5 hours costs RM$4.99+ (S$2.17+) and 12 hours costs RM$9.99+ (S$4.34+).
• Toiletries are optional at RM$5 (S$2.17) per set.
• Towels could be rented at a refundable RM$15 (S$6.52) per piece.
• You cannot keep the key card as a souvenir. It costs RM$10 (S$4.34) to do so.

Fwah, this really is a no-frills budget hotel.

(Alright mrchrispy, stop being anal and bitchy. Your travel expenses have already been taken care off by Nuffnang and you are only staying here for one night, so shut your diva-like mouth up and move on will ya?)

Before I start getting hate mail, I must emphasize that this is not a complain post. I haven finish writing my entry okie?

Whatever amenities which the hotel did not provide, they made sure it was compensated in the form of a five star sleeping experience.

The bed was five star.

Superior king coil mattress + fluffy soft pillow ensured a well rested mrchrispy throughout the night.

The shower head was five star.

Bathing underneath the huge-ass shower head was simply fantastic.

More plus points:

• There was free WiFi.
• Room was very very clean.
• Staff were friendly and helpful.
• Clubbing is just one street down the road.
• A convenience store (24 hours), Subway Sandwitch and Kopitiam are readily available at the lobby.
• Security is tight (you cannot enter the hotel after 12 midnight unless you have a keycard).
• The LRT (Light Rail Transit) is just five minutes away, bringing you to everywhere in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.
• If I’m hungry in the middle of the night, I know what number to dial (for McDonald’s).

Most importantly, the price was DAMN FIVE STAR.

From RM$10 per night, beat that!

This is my first time staying in a budget hotel and I am utterly impressed. With that kind of price tag and service for a night or two’s rest, it is enough to give top notch youth hostels a run for their money.

I go for low cost frills and cheap trills when I travel, and I will always remember Tune Hotels whenever I visit Malaysia in the future.

At least I will return for the bed and shower head la.