The Swiss International Palace Hotel Manama is a 4-star hotel located at the heart of Manama. I stayed here during my solo trip to Bahrain and had a delightful experience. Although my stay here was sponsored by the hotel in exchange for my freelance writing services, everything I express here is of my own and independent of any kind of influence.
Location
Choosing a hotel that is located in close proximity to all the tourist destinations or places I specifically want to explore is of utmost importance to me. I would rather pay a few bucks extra for a hotel that is accessible from all the popular tourist spots than stay at a hotel that is remotely located just to save some money (unless of course, my purpose is to unwind from the city’s hustle-bustle). In this aspect, the Swiss International Palace Hotel Manama’s location is a total winner. It is just a 7 to 10-minute drive from all the popular attractions like the Al Fateh Grand Mosque, the Bahrain National Museum, the Manama Souq, and The Avenues. The neighborhood is family-friendly and totally safe for solo travelers as well. There are also many shops around the hotel that sell medicines, groceries, food, and electronics.
Ambience
I have no words to describe the ambience of this hotel; it truly looks like a palace in every sense. The anachronistic wooden walls, the antique decor, and the warm hospitality of the staff make you feel like royalty right away. It would be an understatement to say that the hotel looks exactly like how it looks on the internet because it looks so much more beautiful and elegant in real.
Rooms and Suites
The Swiss International Palace Hotel Manama has 84 rooms and suites in total, catering to the needs of different sizes of groups of people. I stayed in a suite which had a living room, a master bedroom, and an attached bathroom. The rooms and suites are aesthetically designed keeping in mind the word ‘Palace’ (from the name of the hotel) and thus, most of the walls are made of wood. This makes the entire room look very elegant and the feel-good factor kicks in the moment you walk inside. The room was quite spacious but I found the bathroom to be quite small. Also, there are no microwaves in any of the rooms but if you want to heat your food, you can call up the room-service and they’ll get it done for you in a jiffy!
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Price
Coming to the most important aspect of any hotel booking, the price of the rooms/suites at the Swiss International Palace Hotel is one of the cheapest in the 4-star category in Bahrain. With breakfast included, the cost of a Deluxe Double Room as of December 2018, costs about 5,500 INR per night which is the cheapest across the 4-star segment in Bahrain.
In-House Restaurants and Bars
There are many in-house restaurants and pubs at the Swiss International Palace Hotel Manama. The Swiss Café Lounge serves delicious buffet breakfast every morning (with many Indian food choices).
The Akbar Restaurant has won the ‘Best Indian Restaurant’ title in Bahrain. They feature live Ghazal performances every evening and if you go there, do try their famous ‘Veg Seekh Kabab‘.
The Remix Restaurant is another Indian restaurant where Bollywood performances by Indian bands take place every night.
The Ted & Co. Bar & Lounge is their in-house bar with a big snooker table, ideal for a day out with friends. And their in-house pub Twister is one of the most popular in the country. Every night, a Filipino band performs here and I must say, they surely know how to entertain people! One of their female band members has the voice of a nightingale.
Other Amenities
The Swiss International Palace Hotel Manama has a Spa, a Swimming Pool, and a Gym on the Mezzanine Floor. They also offer free Wi-Fi services to all their guests.
Final Thoughts
My overall experience staying at this hotel was absolutely tremendous. Not to forget, the Swiss International Palace Hotel Manama is one of the 50+ hotels under the ‘Swiss International’ umbrella, across the world. If you are looking for luxury with affordability, then look no further and book this hotel for your next stay in Bahrain. This hotel is ideal for families, couples and solo travelers who are seeking comfort without squeezing too much from their pockets. For backpackers or solo travelers on a shoestring budget, staying at this hotel might hurt your wallet a bit!
The staff is extremely polite and friendly; be prepared to receive warm and fuzzy greetings from the many Indians and Pakistanis at this hotel. And when you’re here, DO NOT forget to drink ‘Qahwah’ (Arabic coffee) and eat those succulent dates served in the lobby!
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