Malmaison Aberdeen: Luxury Getaway You Won't Believe!
Malmaison Aberdeen: Luxury Getaway You Won't Believe! (Seriously, My Stay Was…Something)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to spill the tea on Malmaison Aberdeen. Forget glossy brochures, I'm laying it all out – the good, the slightly-less-good, and the downright bizarre moments. Because let’s be real, a truly luxurious getaway isn't just about fancy sheets (though they're a definite perk!). It's about the experience, the rollercoaster of emotions, the memories (or lack thereof) that linger long after you've checked out.
First Impressions & Getting In (Accessibility, Anyone?)
Okay, let's start with the basics. Accessibility: Malmaison Aberdeen tries. They have facilities for disabled guests, which is great. There’s an elevator, a definite plus. Getting around the main areas seemed manageable for the most part. I didn't personally need it, but I did see accessible signage. Of course, I didn't test wheelchair accessibility extensively, so I can't give a definitive thumbs up or down. Worth checking in advance if that's a must-have.
Entering Your Room: A Sanctuary (Sometimes) of Comfort & Tech
The rooms? Well, they're a mixed bag, honest to god. Available in all rooms: You got your air conditioning, which is bloody essential in Scotland, even when it's not particularly warm. Alarm clock, bathrobes (YES!), and hair dryer. Free bottled water - always welcome! Free Wi-Fi is a HUGE plus (Wi-Fi [free] everywhere!), but the Internet access – LAN makes me think I'm still in the early 2000s. Who uses LAN anymore? Am I missing something? Besides that, the bathrooms were generally well-appointed with towels, slippers, and toiletries.
Then there was the desk; decent for getting work done in case you are like me and can't leave it behind. The laptop workspace was pretty alright. They had a desk, but nothing to write home about.
Oh! And the blackout curtains! Bless them. Seriously, sleeping in a cave is my love language. I am a vampire at heart.
The Internet thing… yeah, it's there. Internet access – wireless is the way to go. I had some issues connecting at times, so I'm not sure how solid it is.
One HUGE Plus: The soundproofing in my room? Bloody brilliant. I'm a light sleeper and barely heard a peep from the outside world (or the possibly-rowdier guests).
The Food & Drink Debacle (and Triumph!)
Okay, let's talk sustenance. This is where things get interesting.
Restaurants: They have a few options, bless their hearts: restaurants, a bar, a coffee shop and a snack bar, I found the restaurants lovely, but the service was at times spotty. The A la carte in restaurant was great and the international cuisine in the restaurant was a treat. Breakfast [buffet] was…well, it was a buffet. It had your usual breakfast options, plus a few extra treats if you're lucky (like some kind of smoked salmon situation - always a win!).
Room Service: The 24-hour room service is a lifesaver when you get those midnight munchies (or just don't want to leave your cozy room). The bottle of water was a nice touch, but the coffee/tea in restaurant was also good!
The Biggest Surprise: I had a salad in restaurant which was surprisingly delicious and well-seasoned. Who knew Aberdeen could do such a green thing?
Here’s a Confession I made a terrible mistake. I missed Asian breakfast, but that is only if I am honest with myself.
Relaxation & Rejuvenation (Or My Quest for Serenity)
So, ways to relax at Malmaison? They have a fitness center, spa/sauna and a swimming pool and massage.
I'm honestly not the spa type, but I gave it a shot. The steamroom was a sweaty, misty moment of self-reflection. The sauna made me feel like I was slowly roasting a small chicken. The problem was it could be difficult to find the facilities!
Cleanliness & Safety (Because, You Know, The World)
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Okay, that’s reassuring. They claim to use them.
- They sanitize everything and provide hand sanitizer everywhere.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: They say so.
Services & Conveniences (The Perks & The Quirks)
- Contactless check-in/out – Thank goodness. I hate standing in line.
- Daily housekeeping – My room was always sparkling.
- Dry cleaning and laundry service - Very handy if you're a messy traveler like me.
- Elevator again – Yes!
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD! I am not sure if they have any Pet Policy!
Things To Do & Getting Around (More Errands, More Adventure)
- They have airport transfer.
- You can park your car there for FREE.
- You can take a taxi service.
My Recommendation
Malmaison Aberdeen is a solid choice for a luxury stay. It has some wonderful aspects: the location, food, and great staff. But my experience wasn't perfect. While I had a generally positive stay, there were some hiccups.
Book Now and Get Away! (Plus, a little something special…)
Malmaison Aberdeen is offering an exclusive deal for my readers:
The "Aberdeen Escape Special":
- 20% off your stay
- Complimentary breakfast for two.
- Free Afternoon tea at the restaurant.
- Late checkout so you can relax until you feel ready to go.
Use the code "MALMAISONESCAPE" at checkout. Seriously, book it.
Disclaimer: My experience is just that – my experience. Yours might be totally different! But hey, at least you'll know what you're getting yourself into. And the complimentary breakfast alone? Worth the price of admission. Happy travels!
Cairo's Hidden Gem: Novotel El Borg Luxury Awaits!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your perfectly-curated Instagram itinerary. This is the real deal, the "I-need-a-holiday-after-the-holiday" version of experiencing Malmaison Aberdeen. Prepare for a rollercoaster of highs, lows, and the sheer absurdity of being a human trying to navigate a city you barely know.
Malmaison Aberdeen: A Chaotic Chronicle (and Let's See If We Make It Out Alive)
Pre-Trip Panic & Planning (Let's Be Honest, It's Mostly Panic)
- Weeks Before: Scroll through pictures of Aberdeen, mostly blurry ones of the granite buildings. Realize "Aberdeen" sounds vaguely like "a broken knee." Internally scream because my packing style is best described as "organized chaos." Book flights – hope the price is alright. Buy all the cute little travel-sized toiletries I never use.
- Days Before: Stare blankly at my meticulously curated packing list. Proceed to shove everything I own into a suitcase, ignoring the list entirely. Panic about forgetting my toothbrush. Decide that forgetting my toothbrush is the end of the world. Find and pack toothbrush. Briefly consider bringing the hairdryer. Think, "Nah, I'll embrace the frizz." This is a lie. I never embrace the frizz.
- The Day Before: Lay out all my outfits. Change my mind about all of them. Lay them out again. End up wearing the same jeans and a t-shirt on the plane. Wonder if I should pack a fancy dress “in case”. Decide i should. Pack. The suitcase is now bulging at the seams. Breathe.
- Travel Essentials: Passport (check), wallet (check), phone (check - and already low on battery), a book I'll probably read while on the plane, but mostly doze, an emergency stash of Yorkshire tea bags (because, come on, priorities), and a healthy dose of anxiety that I’ve forgotten something vital.
Day 1: Arrival and Discombobulation (aka, The Hitting the Ground Running Edition)
Morning (Aberdeen Arrival - or, "Where Am I?")
- Squeeze out of the plane like a particularly caffeinated worm. Aberdeen Airport: small but practical, at least. The airport bus to town is an experience in itself. The driver, a stout gentleman with a magnificent handlebar mustache, greeted everyone with a booming, "Aye, alright then!" I think I'm in the right place, at least.
- The Hotel: Malmaison Aberdeen. It's a grand, old building – a former port authority, I think? The granite is impressive, even if it makes the whole place feel a little…stern. Check-in is smooth, thankfully. The room is… nice. Very dark. Maybe a little too dark for my liking.
- The Room: The bed calls to me with a siren song of sleep. I resist, temporarily. Must. Explore. Shower. Forget about packing or unpacking. Immediately go to the shower. The water pressure is fantastic, and I emerge feeling (relatively) human.
- Lunch: The Malmaison Brasserie. I'm hungry, properly hungry. I order a burger. It's exactly what I need. Simple, delicious, and provides the perfect fuel for an afternoon of mild disorientation. Feeling slightly more alive.
Afternoon (Aberdeen Exploration: The Granite City's Grit)
- Wandering: I decide to take a walk, purely for the sake of feeling like a tourist. Aberdeen city centre is a stunning, grey-granite wonderland. The buildings are magnificent, and that grey gives it a unique feel, like stepping into a film noir.
- The Grey: Really, everything is granite. It’s… a lot. I wander around, get a bit lost, and start to feel like a tiny speck in a very big, hard-surfaced playground.
- Footsteps: My own echoing footsteps on the pavement. It's a very different feeling than how I expected. This could be something to get used to or something to become a permanent stranger for.
- Shopping: Get lost at a local shop. Buy a tartan scarf. It's probably a cliché, but it's also warm and I deserve it.
- Realization: The walk makes me tired. I'm an awful, clumsy walker. Start to wander back to the hotel.
Evening (Dinner and Drinks: The "How Did I Survive the Day?" Edition)
Dinner: Back at the Brasserie, the vibe's different. I sit at the bar, nursing a glass of wine and watching the bar staff.
The Bar: The bartenders are efficient and friendly. I chat to the bartender. I get a warm feeling. Order another.
The Food: The steak's cooked perfectly. Definitely needed a drink.
Bedtime: Crash in what feels like a dark castle. I need sleep. I need it now.
Day 2: Aberdeen Adventures (The "Trying to be Cultured" Edition)
Morning (Trying to Be a Better Person):
- Breakfast: A valiant attempt at the full Scottish breakfast. The haggis is… an experience. I'm not sure I love it, but I admire its audacity!
- Art Gallery: I actually go to the Aberdeen Art Gallery. I make it, and it’s beautiful. The paintings and sculptures are genuinely interesting. I pretend to understand more of the art than I actually do.
- Museum: Decide I need to be more cultured. Head to a museum. The exhibit on local history is actually fascinating. I learn about the fishing industry. I end up spending more time than I expected, absorbing stories.
- Reflection: Feel a small sense of accomplishment.
Afternoon (Beyond the City Walls):
- Beach: Head to Aberdeen Beach. It's a cold, blustery day. The North Sea is relentless, even in the summer. I walk along the promenade, battling the wind. Take pictures of the pier. It is stunning, despite the weather.
- Reflection: The sea is stunning, the wind biting. I feel alive.
- Snack: Find a little cafe and have something warm. It makes me regret everything I haven’t seen.
Evening (The "Treat Yourself" Option):
- The Spa: Malmaison has a spa. I book a massage. It's pure, unadulterated bliss. I nearly fall asleep. For a moment, it's pure, unadulterated bliss.
- Dinner: Head back to the restaurant. Order something more refined. Enjoy the food.
- Nightcap: Down a nightcap at the bar.
Day 3: Departure (The "Tearful Goodbye" Edition)
Morning:
- Breakfast: Skip the full Scottish this time. Stick to coffee and juice. Feeling the fatigue.
- Packing: Pack. Realize I bought more souvenirs than I thought. Cram everything into my slowly-yielding suitcase. Hope it makes the weight limit.
- Check-out: Check out. Say goodbye. Tell myself I'll definitely come back.
- Departure/Transportation: The airport bus pulls up. The driver, the handlebar-mustached gentleman, gives me a wink and a "Cheers, hen!".
Afternoon:
- Flight: Try to get to the airport. It's a smooth flight, but I fall asleep and don’t even notice.
- Reflection: Aberdeen, you granite beauty, you. You were… challenging. But you were also fascinating, and beautiful, and left me with a tiny fragment of your icy beauty. I’ll never forget the granite.
Final Thoughts:
This was messy, chaotic, and imperfect. Just like me. And that's the point, isn't it? To embrace the chaos, the unexpected, and the sheer, glorious messiness of being alive. Malmaison Aberdeen was lovely, the city was even more beautiful. Goodbye, Aberdeen. I'll be back someday, hopefully with a slightly better understanding of granite and my own walking abilities.
Now, I need a vacation from my vacation. And a really long nap.
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Malmaison Aberdeen: The Good, the Bad, and the Bloody Gorgeous (Mostly)
Okay, spill the beans. Is Malmaison Aberdeen actually *luxury* or just… expensive?
Alright, alright! Let's get real. "Luxury"? Depends on your definition. It's definitely *aspirational* luxury. Think more "Hollywood glam meets slightly weathered Scottish castle." The rooms? Pretty damn good. Mine had a freestanding bathtub that screamed, "Indulge!" I spent a solid hour just… soaking. Bliss. The bed? Cloud-like. Seriously, I wanted to chuck the whole thing in the back of my car and drive it home (don't judge!). But, and this is a big BUT… there’s a slightly… *tired* sort of grandeur to the place. Like, the paint might be a *tiny* bit chipped in places (I'm talking microscopic, but still...). And the elevator? Felt like it was built during the Jurassic period. Still, overall? Yep, luxury-ish. More on the "high-end boutique hotel" side than the "yacht parked in Monaco" side, if you catch my drift.
What about the location? Is it actually in a good spot?
Location, location, location! This one’s a win. Right in the heart of Aberdeen. Easy walking distance from shops, restaurants, that… *thing* they call a "beach" (more pebbles than sand, but hey, it's Scotland!). And getting cabs or Ubers is a breeze. Perfect if you're like me and have the navigation skills of a goldfish. Actually, speaking of that… I got utterly lost on the way back from the train station. Ended up wandering through some back alleys, feeling like a lost sheep. Eventually found my way, though! The hotel's a lovely oasis in the city hustle.
The food! Is it worth the (presumably hefty) price tag?
Okay, the food... here's the truth: I'd eat *anything* that someone else prepared after that train journey. I'm not even joking. So, the Malmaison restaurant... I had the steak. A big, glorious, juicy steak. Perfectly cooked. Meltingly tender. Worth every single blasted penny. And the fries? Crispy, salty, and utterly addictive. My only real gripe? The *slightly* pretentious wine list. So many words, so many prices. I just wanted a decent glass of red, dammit! And the breakfast? A buffet of dreams. Everything from full Scottish breakfasts to… well, every single breakfast food imaginable. I might have gone back for seconds (or thirds… don't judge me!). Let's just say, pack your elasticated trousers.
So, any truly *memorable* moments (good or bad)?
Oh, honey, you have *no* idea. Let’s get into *the* moment. The bathroom. *My room.* I was gloriously relaxed, having just conquered that steak and half the fries, and decided to luxuriate in the tub (as one does). Now, I’m notoriously clumsy. And the floor in the bathroom? Slicker than a politician's promise. I got out, felt the earth move… and before I could even think, *splat!* I was flat on my back. Mortified doesn’t even *begin* to cover it. I lay there for a moment, cursing my lack of coordination and trying not to die of embarrassment. Then, laughter. Utter, hysterical, uncontrollable laughter. I mean, I was fine! Just my dignity took a bruising. And the best part? The staff, when they came to check on me (thankfully, no broken bones!), were so incredibly lovely. Gave me a free glass of champagne AND a cute get well card signed by the whole team! That, my friends, is *genuine* service. This totally redeemed the whole experience.
What about the staff? Friendly or stuffy?
The staff were, on the whole, *fantastic*. Helpful, genuinely friendly, and that's before the tile-floor episode. There's always *one*… the guy who seemed too busy to crack a smile. But honestly, the rest made up for it. From the check-in to the check-out, someone was always making an effort to ensure everyone was having a good time. A+ for the staff! Seriously, they deserve raises. And therapy. Let's see: helpful, good, and just *nice* people. That makes a huge difference. They made up for the… slightly chipped paint and the slow elevator.
Any downsides we should know about? Be honest!
Alright, the warts and all. The aforementioned chipped paint. The slightly creaky elevator (I swear it groans more than I do after a long day). The mini-bar prices – be warned, they're *eye-watering*. Oh, and sometimes the music in the bar is… a little bit 'too cool for school'. Like, trying *too* hard. But honestly? These are minor quibbles. They don't detract from the overall experience. If you are easily phased by these things, maybe pack a spare pair of socks and lower your expectations. But really, it’s a small price to pay for those delicious fries, that cloud-like bed, and the chance to feel fancy for a few days.
Would you go back to the Malmaison Aberdeen? And if so, would you bring a friend?
Honestly? Absolutely. In a heartbeat. I'd go back tomorrow if I could. And yes, I'd bring a friend (preferably one with good balance – just kidding… mostly!). It's a great base for exploring Aberdeen, the food is divine, the beds are heaven, and the staff… well, they're just lovely. And look, even a little tile-floor fall can't ruin a trip when everything else is this good. Think of it as a story you can laugh about later, and probably never forget! Plus, where do you go from there? A second fall would be *legendary*! So, yes. Malmaison Aberdeen? Consider me a fan.
