Hotel Review: Comfort Inn The Pointe

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Niagara Falls (USA) . 2011 . Sep 27-30

We chose this hotel for its excellent location despite the mixed reviews at Tripadvisor.  We needed a hotel near the Niagara Falls as we have a packed schedule at the U.S side of the Niagara Falls.  It helped that this hotel is located a mere few steps away from the Niagara Falls State Park and their famous Prospect Point.
 
Check in time is at 3:00pm, and Check out time is 11:00am.  The hotel staff stands firmly by these timings, we arrived at about 11:00am and went back again at 1:45pm and were told both times that rooms were available for us only at 3:00pm.

The common area where the restrooms are.  Facilities are a little old and run-down


The room was mediocre, and fixtures tend to be old and worn.  The room has a damp feel to it and the carpets felt dusty.

We were very disappointed to find a used towel in our bathtub when we checked-in.  The service staff could have done a better job ensuring that the room is fit for check-in after making us wait until 3:00pm.  What exactly were the housekeeping staff doing in the 4 hours between 11:00am when the last guest has checked out and 3:00pm when we checked in?

Breakfast was common-fare and there was really nothing to rave about.   You will find the common items like pastries and muffins, cereals, omelettes and meat patties.  It was not particularly appetizing or tasty, we ate just enough to keep us from feeling hungry.


Verdict:

Excellent location, and ideal if you do not drive and want to be within walking distance of the Niagara Falls and the nearby restaurants.  But that is about the only advantage of staying at this hotel.  It is still tolerable if you plan to stay for only 1 or 2 nights, but if you have the intention to stay longer, please look elsewhere.  We stayed for only one night here and were relieved when the time came for us to leave for a better hotel at the Canadian side of the Niagara Falls

Comfort Inn The Pointe
1 Prospect Pointe, Niagara Falls, NY, US, 14303


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Niagara Falls Prospect Point and Observation Tower

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Niagara Falls (USA) . 2011 . Sep 27-30

Prospect Point

Prospect Point is located within the Niagara Falls State Park. Access is free for all.

Upper rapids of the American Falls.
Ferocious water tumbling down the brink viewed from Prospect Point.
Check out our video taken at Prospect Point! 

Observation Tower
Entrance to the Observation Tower is included in the ticket to the Maid of the Mist boat ride from the U.S side.   The Tower’s observation decks extends over the Niagara Gorge wall to provide its visitors with spectacular panaromic views of Niagara Falls and Canada at the opposite bank.  Visitors take the elevator to the top and stand more than 280 feet above the gorge, gazing down at the powerful flow of waters and the full drop of the raging waters below.

The different angles of Niagara Falls as seen from the Observation Tower.

Boarding point for the Maid of the Mist at the opposite bank at Canada.

Rainbow bridge linking the United States with Canada.  Canada is on the left bank and USA on the right bank.

The Maid of the Mist beginning its boat tour of the Niagara Falls and heading towards the American Falls.

From the lower landing of the elevator, visitors can board the Maid of the Mist boat ride.  Passengers will disembark at the base of the Tower after the boat ride where there is a path leading to the stairway that climbs to the “Crow’s Nest”, an observation deck at the edge of the American Falls.

Do check out out write ups on the Maid of the Mist boat ride and Crow's Nest too.




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Hotel Review: Hampton Inn Harriman Woodbury

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New York . 2012 . Oct 01-05

We foresaw that we needed more time to check out the bargains at the Premium Outlets and as driving was not an option to us (and it does not make sense to waste time on transportation to and from New York City every day), we decided that staying at a hotel near the Woodbury Common Premium Outlets is the more sensible option. After much research on Hotelscombined.com and Agoda, we finally settled on Hampton Inn Harriman Woodbury.


While the hotel claims that they are within a short distance from Woodbury Common Premium Outlet, we were sceptical when we arrived at the outlet and saw no sight of any hotels at walking distance.   We gave them a call, and fortunately, the hotel sent their hotel shuttle to pick us up at no extra charge as part of their complimentary service.   The hotel is about 5 – 7 mins ride away from the Premium Outlet, definitely not walking distance for people with luggage.

We stayed here for 2 nights at a cost of USD$170 per night.

The Surroundings


Check in area is nice and bright.   Check-in was a breeze.
 
Sparsely furnished, but comfortable reception area.

Breakfast area.



The Room


We had booked a Double Queen non-smoking room due to the cheaper rate than a King room.   As with all Hampton Inns, the room comes with free wi-fi and complimentary breakfast.   The room is spacious and clean.  Bed linens are clean and stain free and has no bed bugs.

View outside the window.


Toilets are clean, spacious and well maintained.  No stains or smells from the toilet.



The Complimentary Breakfast


Hampton Inn gives complimentary breakfast to all its guests.  The breakfast menu is rotated so that guests will have something new every day.  There’s a great variety each morning, and there’s always something hot for breakfast like pancakes or freshly fried bacons.

Verdict:
 

Hampton Inn Harriman Woodbury is good for those who want to spend an extra day or two at Woodbury Common Premium Outlet.  No frills, simple and clean premises. But you would need to factor in extra costs to tip the driver for the complimentary transport to Woodbury Common Premium Outlet.  Their complimentary shuttle service to Woodbury Common Premium Outlet does not run 24 hrs, they actually stop at around 8pm.  We shopped until 10pm one day and almost had to plead with them to come pick us up at the Premium Outlet.  Needless to say, we gave them more tips when we alighted. 

Hampton Inn Harriman Woodbury
60 Centre Drive, Central Valley, New York, USA 10917
Tel: 1-845-782-9600, Fax: 1-845-782-9601

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Hits and Misses at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets

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New York . 2011 . Oct 01-05

Continuing from our previous post on Woodbury Premium Outlets, we would like to share our shopping experience and highlight the "hits" and "misses" of the outlet.

Want to stay near Woodbury Premium Outlet? Check out Hampton Inn Harriman Woodbury 


The Hits

COACH
Handbags, some of which are still in season in Singapore are going for about SGD$220.  The same item costs $600 plus in Singapore.   Wristlets and wallets are the perennial favorites here.  The store tends to be packed all day with fanatic females grabbing whatever item they can lay their hands on.  If you see something you like, hold on to it first and decide as you walk around the store-- for you may never get your chance to lay your hands on it again.  A favorite with the Chinese and Japanese tourists, this place feels at times more like a fish market than a high class boutique.   If you are a Coach fan, you might want to make this one of your first stop before the craziness gets worse in the day.   There are already a crowd of Chinese tourists outside the store waiting for it to open before 10am.  The cashier’s queue is always long, and this is not surprising as most customers have their arms loped full of bags and therefore each of them takes a long time at the cashiers.  Service staff are always flustered and overwhelmed with the number of customers in there, so prepared for some independent shopping. 

Total haul:  2 large sized wristlets, 1 medium sized wristlet, 2 leather ladies medium sized handbag, 1 large nylon handbag – (USD$620 or SGD$840) 


COACH MENS
Great collection of men’s bags, ipad cases, wallets, shoes and belts here.   When we visited Woodbury Premium Outlets in September 2011, there was not much of a Coach Men’s collection in Singapore yet.  So this is one of those places where you can get more affordable and fashionable men’s leather ware.  It is a more refreshing option than the typical Goldlion, Braun Buffel and Pierre Cardin that we get in Singapore.


KATE SPADE
This boutique tends to be smaller than its Coach counterpart and much quieter too.   Perhaps because of that, shopping here tend to be a lot more dignified and pleasurable.  You get to browse at your leisure without some Chinese tourist peeking behind your back.  No loud voices here too.   The collection here tends to be smaller than that at Coach, but that’s to be expected with the smaller store size.   You could easily land a catch or two here.   We bought a ladies handbag launched for its autumn season at only USD$128 (SGD$170).


TOMMY HILFIGER
This has become a new favorite of ours after visiting its store at Woodbury Premium Outlets.  This huge store has something for everyone – men, women and kids.  Plenty of sporty looking bags at USD$20 - $25Workshirts and pants for the men at about USD$20 to $50.   Fashionable tops and dresses for the ladies here with great pastels shades.  But sizes could be a tad too big for petite Asian ladies.

CALVIN KLEIN

Another great place to shop for suits and work wear.  Sizes tend to be more classically cut for the slimmer men, and not so flattering for the bigger-sized ones.   Lots of choices here, and sales staff are friendly and helpful.   Plenty of wallets, bags and shoes – a much larger collection than you could ever find in Singapore.  Again, the amount of sales and discounts varies.  We found a T-Shirt which we bought in the Las Vegas Outlet at USD$20 going for USD$40 plus here.

CALVIN KLEIN Underwear
Ok, besides Victoria’s Secret, there’s also Calvin Klein Underwear that you must grab when you are at the U.S.A outlets.  Made of some of the most comfortable silks and cottons, this is luxury at an affordable price.  Bras going for US$20-25.   Panties are also on sale.  Grab the sleepwear as well.  And don’t forget the men’s underwear.  You will never regret the purchase.

HUGO BOSS
Boyfriends and husbands should be rewarded with a suit at Hugo Boss, for their day’s efforts to accompany girlfriends and wives who have gone berserk at the outlet.   Handsomely cut and stylish, a suit from Hugo Boss will never fail to impress.  We got a suit here at USD$450 (SGD$600), a steal considering the thousands you need to pay for the same thing in Singapore.

IZOD
This was an unlikely brand that we happened to venture in to check it out and oh boy, it’s such a great place to shop.  Lots of pastel color steals here (which we expect should be Spring’s clearout), sweaters going for USD19.90, bermudas and pants for the guys as well.

JUICY COUTURE
A great brand for teenagers, this cheeky and funky brand sometimes has great discounts for selected items.  Charms and trinkets are not that heavily discounted, which is a pity, but some selected bags are up for 50-60% discounts! Some daydreamer bags are going for USD$99!!!  The same thing usually costs USD $199.  And don’t forget the track suits that they are famous for.  They are notoriously expensive in Singapore, so grab some at the outlet first.

LEVI’S
Never leave the outlet without a quick trip to Levi’s.  The store is huge and you get a fantastic selection here, so much so that you don’t know where to start with.  Our tip – just grab something that fits and go.  There are lots of other stuff out there.  We bought a pair of jeans at USD$19.90 for a relative.

PERRY ELLIS
This store is located at Marigold Court, a relatively more secluded section of the outlet.  There is affordable men’s office wear here.  The only place in Singapore which carries the Perris Ellis brand is at Robinsons, and long-sleeve work shirts are priced at least SGD$100 each there.  We got them for only about USD$20 - 25 each at Woodbury Premium Outlet.   The store is small, but is well-stocked with lots of choices.  If you want a suit but do not mind a lesser known brand name, you can easily get one here for about USD $150 – $200 – comes with jacket, shirt, and matching trousers.  It fits quite snugly too – a good choice if not for the fact that we already bought one suit at Hugo Boss.

POLO RALPH LAUREN
Need I say more.  Grab some polo shirts here.  Packed with Chinese and Indian tourists all times of the day, this store could get quite messy.

NINE WEST
Found a beautiful pair of heels that I had been hankering for since I saw them advertised in a woman’s magazine some time back.  And as luck has it, I found the exact same pair here.  Cost USD$60 (SGD$80), with color options.  Yippy.

SKETCHERS
A must-go if you need some sports shoes or comfortable walking shoes.  I found the exact same pair of Sketchers shape-ups sports shoes I bought in USA just some 6 months ago at about USD$120, but prices are now slashed exorbitantly, which made me sob with rage.   Each pair is now going for about USD $30 – $35.  Despite the great discounts here, the place is strangely deserted.   There was no service staff to help us either, so just look for your own sizes, try it on and pay.  Have a look at the more formal men’s shoes for work too.   Total damage is USD$145 for 2 pairs of ladies shoes and 2 pairs of men’s leather shoes after tax.

THE NORTH FACE
Great collection of winter wear and winter gear here.  Bought a well-made backpack going for about USD$60 (SGD$80).

The Misses

GAP OUTLET
The discounts are not fantastic and the prices are not appealing enough to spend time and money here.   Some GAP stores at the city are offering the same discounts, so don’t waste your time here.

BANANA REPUBLIC
We were very disappointed with the collection and the prices here.  Petite collection is miserable, and prices are not appealing.

BURBERRY
If you are thinking of getting some discounted Burberry bags here, you can give this an absolute miss.  There are only lots of clothes and funny looking purses and wallets selling at still exorbitant prices.  I wonder who will spend money to buy such weird looking stuffs.

DKNY
Known for their chic and smart cuts, we found absolutely nothing here worth buying.  Maybe it’s the time of the day or the season.  A disappointment.

GUESS FACTORY STORE
Was hoping for some discounted guess bags, jeans and shoes, but it looks more like a worn warehouse than a fashion powerhouse.

J. CREW
We had high hopes for this one, the American First Lady wears this, but unfortunately, discounts are only at 20-30%, and we did not fancy paying USD$120 for a common looking blouse. 

CROCS
There are stuff on good discounts here, but one look at them and you’ll know why they are on discount.  You get what I mean?

HUSH PUPPIES MERRELL SEBAGO
This store looked so miserable, we actually felt sorry for them.  Walked in and walked out within 1 minute.

Last Call by Neiman Marcus, BARNEYS New York Outlet, Jones New York, Saks Fifth Avenue
You can give all the departmental stores a miss.  It’s no surprise that there are no customers in their stores.  There are loads of other more appealing shops elsewhere.

That's in a nutshell our review of the various stores in the Woodbury Premium Outlets.

Want to stay near Woodbury Premium Outlet? Check out Hampton Inn Harriman Woodbury
 
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Shopping Spree at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets

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New York . 2011 . Oct 01-05

Woodbury Commons is easily one of the best premium outlets in the world.  With 220 of the best brand names to boot, who can resist the temptations?  Get the credit cards ready, gals!
 


Tip: Remember to sign up online as a VIP member (sign up is free!) and redeem your Free VIP Coupon Book at the Visitor’s Centre before you begin your shopping. There are also exclusive Online Coupons that you can print out before you go to the outlet. Some of these coupons offer more discounts than the VIP coupon book! And get a copy of those handy maps and store listings while you are there.  Woodbury Premium Outlets occupies a large area, and if you are hard pressed for time, this could come in very useful to locate the store you want.


A misty morning at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets.   Woodbury Premium Outlet is quietly nestled in the middle of a valley and is surrounded by hills.  Little wonder why it is called Wood-bury!
 

The sprawling premises at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets.


As with any other outlet shopping, a trip to the premium outlets could be a Hit or a Miss, depending on the season, time of the day and the individual’s preferences.
Do check out our experience shopping at the outlets in October 2011 in our next post here.

Here's a shopping tip for all our readers..

Tip:  If you don’t mind looking like a tourist (which we are anyway), try wheeling an empty luggage with you to Woodbury.  It’s handy and you can stuff all your purchases in there and continue shopping relatively hassle-free.

Carpark at Woodbury Comnmon Premium Outlets in the evening.  The carpark tend to be very full in the day and if you are driving, it might make more sense to arrive just before the opening hours to secure a lot.




If you are not driving, buy your Shortline bus return ticket to New York City at the Visitor’s Centre.   There are several buses back to New York City at various timings, but do not wait until the last bus, especially if it is the weekend.  The line could get longer at those times!



Goodbye to outlet shopping.  We’ll be back!
 

Woodbury Premium Outlets
498 Red Apple Court
Central Valley, NY 10917
(845) 928-4000
Opens daily: 10am – 9pm

Opens an hour earlier on selected sales days.


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Check out their website for more details: http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=7

In our next post, we will share our shopping experience on the hits and misses of the stores! Follow us here!

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Peter Luger Steakhouse New York

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New York . 2011 . Oct 01-05

For those who love their steaks, Peter Luger Steakhouse is a must-try when you are in New York City.   It is named by Zagat Survey as the best steakhouse in New York City for 28 years in a row! They are celebrating their 125th year this year since opening in 1887.


There are only two Peter Luger outlets in New York, the nearest and most accessible from New York City is the one at Brooklyn.   The other branch is at Long Island.



Peter Luger Steakhouse allows you to make reservations but it cannot be done online and for tourists like us, we would have to make an overseas call to make reservations.  The restaurant  is so popular that when we called one month in advance to make bookings, they could only give us an odd timing of dinner at 4:45pm.

We were late for our appointed time due to a screw up of the New York subway.

Tip: Basically, if you are ever attempting to arrive at an important appointment using the subway,  do check online to see if there are any planned service disruptions.  

We found ourselves caught in a situation where a planned train service diversion caused our journey to be much longer than expected.  In desperation, we abandoned the subway to try to hail a cab, but alas, it was raining and all cabs were occupied.

To add to our misery, there were numerous others caught in the same situation as us, and fighting with us for cabs on the streets.
We were 20 mins late by the time we rushed into the restaurant.  Fortunately, our seats had not been given up to others yet.

This is the bustling scene that will greet you when you enter the restaurant into the waiting area where guests wait to be seated.  Lots of accolades on the wall too – all 28 of the Zagat Survey accolades included!


The restaurant has an old-fashioned quaint charm to it.  But its not surprising considering that this is a restaurant with a 125 year history.


Despite the sometimes mixed reviews on the service standards at Peter Luger, our waiter (who must be the tallest in the restaurant and who looks a little like Peter Crouch) was friendly, attentive and efficient.

Perhaph it was the fact that we were the only Asians in the restaurant, our waiter had a genuine interest in us and where we came from, which made our experience all the more memorable.

The menu tend to be sparse, but well, their porterhouse steaks are so famous that you just need to tell them whether you want a "Steak for 2" or "Steak for 3" etc and how you want it to be done.


The famous Peter Luger Steak sauce.
 

Complimentary breads served before the meal.  Fresh and fragrant and  we wish we had a bigger stomach for more.


The much raved-about sizzling bacon and creamed spinach. Yummy.  This is the best and the thickest slice of bacon we ever had.  One slice is enough to feed two.  Leave some space for the steak later on.
 
The creamed spinach is smooth, not too creamy or milky and has an airy feel to it, obviously whipped nicely into perfection.
 

And this is the reason why we went through all the trouble to make reservations at the steakhouse.  The signature dish of steak for 2, medium rare, and comes sizzling when it is served.  The waiter will serve you 2 pieces for you to see if its done to your liking.  The plate will then be titled on an inverted saucer, so that the oil and juices are drained at one side.
 

Tandalizing and mouth watering.  Succulent and juicy on the inside, slightly charred on the outside.  Devour as much as you can in the first 5 mins before the steak cools, for that is the time when the meat is at its best.
 
Our desert of sorbet and cream.  This is ordinary for its price, but had such a happy time that we must order desert to top it off. 
Take note that payment is by cash or debit cards only.  Remember to also tip your waiter – 10 to 20% of the total bill should suffice.   The portions here tend to be bit large for Asian stomachs so if you are unable to finish all the food, let the waiter know and he will be glad to pack it up for you to takeaway.   They’ll give you some gold chocolate coins as a souvenir too.

Verdict:  The steaks were admittedly excellent, but the bacon and cream spinach definitely steals the show. Don’t miss out on those side dishes! 

Peter Luger Steak House on UrbanspoonPeter Luger, Inc (Brooklyn Branch)
178 Broadway
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11211
Reservations: 718-387-7400


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BY SUBWAY:
1. Take F Train downtown to Delancey Street
2. Go upstairs and transfer to the J, M, Z Train over the Williamsburg Bridge to Marcy Avenue (First stop over the bridge)
3. Walk on Broadway towards the East River to Peter Luger at 178 Broadway (you should be able to see its large signboard as you approach).
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