EDIT TEST
I’m going to ask you to write a sample hotel review in the Oyster style on The Roger New York; the total word count should be 500-plus words. I've pasted a link to Oyster photos of the property below, which you can use to inform your review, along with online research. Online resources should include the hotel website and user comments on TripAdvisor. You should also feel free to call the front desk (acting like a potential guest) for any questions you can't find online.
Please do not read or reference the live Oyster review of this property, as we want to see your original take (and because our review is not in our most recent format).
Please include the pros, cons, bottom line, scene, location, rooms, and features sections; use bullets only in the pros/cons. Every section starting with the scene section has a summary sentence where you sum up your point in a few words or a short sentence. Please use complete sentences in the actual body text of the review.
I've listed some style guidelines and a sample review below for you to reference.
Photos
· Oyster’s Voice: The reviews should be conversational, but centered on hard facts, and filtered through the lens of how well the hotel performed against the competition.
· No Marketing-Speak: What distinguishes Oyster from virtually every other travel site is that we refuse to use “marketing speak.” Examples: verdant green lawn, splendor and warmth, something for everyone, etc. A general rule of thumb is to avoid describing something the same way the hotel website does. Don't tell guests what to do (ie, "Gaze at the ocean from your balcony,") or what they'll love (ie "You'll love the pampering service.") Don't use marketing words like:
o complimentary or courtesy (say free)
o accommodations (say rooms)
o oversize (say big)
o in-room dining (say room service)
o steps from TK (say near, or blocks from)
o boasts (say "has" or "features")
· Specificity. Don't say the room is well-appointed -- say what it has that makes it well-appointed. Every assessment must be supported by facts.
· Avoid weak adjectives. "Really" and "very" usually don't add much -- "small rooms" is stronger than "really small rooms." If you want to stress the point, say "tiny rooms.”
· Hours and Prices: Do NOT list hours or prices, as these will get outdated quickly. If something has a fee, you can mention it without stating the price. E.g., "Daily fee to use the fitness center, unlike at TK HOTEL, where the fitness center is free."
Shanghai Mansion, Bangkok
Pros
*Colorful, stylish rooms with memorable Chinese decor
*Lots of free extras: welcome drinks, minibar items, and Wi-Fi
*Free tuk-tuk service to major sights (at scheduled times)
*Location in bustling Chinatown, near famous street food stalls
*Quality restaurant plus a swanky jazz lounge
Cons
*No pool
*Fee for breakfast
Bottom Line
In a city where hotel rates are competitive and there are hundreds of options to choose from, this intimate, 76-room boutique hotel still manages to stand out. It's one of the best values for an upscale hotel in the city, thanks to its stylish, colorful, Chinese-inspired decor, tranquil vibe, and extensive freebies (welcome drinks, minibar items, scheduled tuk-tuk service to major sights, and Wi-Fi among them). The location in bustling Chinatown is ideal for those who want to experience Bangkok's famous street food, and there's a quality restaurant on-site as well as a swanky lounge for drinks and jazz. There is no pool, however.
Scene
An intimate boutique hotel with decor inspired by 1930s Shanghai
At the aptly named Shanghai Mansion, the memorable decor is one of the main draws. The style blends 1930s Shanghai with modern boutique hotel trends, and guests can expect plush, velvety seating in jewel colors, lots of wood carved with geometric Art Deco patterns, and framed posters of 1930s Shanghai women. There are Chinese objets d'art everywhere, from the vases displayed on glass shelves in the lobby to beautiful painted pottery hung on the wall in Cotton jazz lounge. Fish swim in an interior courtyard pond underneath colorful birdcage lanterns.
The building itself has a storied history and has been used as a trading house, an opera house, a stock exchange, and a department store housing Chinese herbal medicine shops (behind the front desk is what looks like an antique Chinese medicine cabinet, perhaps a nod to this former incarnation). The many freebies here, from the welcome drinks to the scheduled tuk-tuk service, helps make this a true boutique experience.
Location
In the heart of bustling Chinatown, home to some of Bangkok's best street food
There aren't many hotels located right in the heart of Chinatown, and Shanghai Mansion is the most convenient option for those hoping to sample Bangkok's famous street food in the evenings. Just walk carefully, as the streets here are far from pedestrian-friendly. It's also within a 10- to 15-minute drive to Bangkok's most popular temples, including Wat Pho, Wat Phra Kaew, and Wat Arun. Wat Traimit is even closer -- a three-minute drive (or five-minute walk for those brave enough). The hotel offers free tuk-tuk service to popular sights at scheduled times.
Rooms
Colorful, stylish rooms with nice extras
The beautiful chinoiserie of the common spaces carries over into the rooms, which are full of bold, colorful fabrics and sophisticated patterns. Many rooms have four-poster wood bed frames with beautiful, intricate carvings. The thoughtful extras make all the difference here, from the free minibar items to the quality toiletries to the beautiful painted teapots. The rooms are also surprisingly quiet for the busy location, but some lack natural light (those without a view may have colorful, rather than transparent, glass windows). For many, though, this just adds to the sultry, romantic vibe. Bathrooms have walk-in showers (and charming, quirky birdcages with fake birds); some suites have freestanding tubs. Slippers and robes are provided. The flat-screen TVs get a couple of English channels. Room service is available for those who want a romantic night in. Those staying in Ying Hua Deluxe Rooms and Mu Dan Suites get butler service, which includes luggage unpacking, personalized concierge service, turndown service, and customized minibars.
Features
No pool, but an elegant restaurant and chic jazz lounge
Though the Shanghai Mansion lacks a pool, it does have some nice eating and drinking options. Red Rose restaurant offers a quality breakfast buffet (for a fee) and tasty Chinese-style dishes later in the day (for example, crispy whole duck) in an elegant space with black and white checkered tile floors and chandeliers. Cotton lounge serves Chinese fare for lunch and dinner, and offers cocktails and (often) live jazz in the evenings. There's also a casual outdoor terrace bar with a TV playing sports games. A ballroom is available for special events. Wi-Fi is free, as is tuk-tuk service to major sights.