Hotel Avalon - a new five-star hotel with great rooms
Second Life now has plenty of options if you are after a five-star city Hotel. There's the Essencia and recently opened Bongani, both highly recommended. Then there's the Luxe Malibu and the One Park Tower.
The latest edition to this list is the Avalon. As it made the SL destination guide, I was keen to take a look and book my partner Maya and myself in for a stay.
Here’s my summary: The rooms are really good. The cheaper ones actually make for a great long-term stay option. The public areas are, in part, a little bare, though extensive. A bit of work here would turn the Avalon into a really excellent hotel choice.
Overall look and feel
Upon arrival, visitors to the Avalon encounter a familiar urban setup: a road leads to the hotel's grand entrance and main reception area. Inside, an automated greeter welcomes guests, while conveniently placed boards offer a direct TP option to various room categories.
The ground floor of the hotel has a very large lobby area, a gym, a bar and a restaurant - we were told that RP dinner would be offered in the future. Then, there's an elevator to the rooftop bar with a pool and bar.
These spaces are currently very minimalist in their decor, to the point of looking quite bare.
Here, it’s worth adding Maya’s observation: "Additional elements like lush plants, both potted and hanging, along with sheer curtains could enhance the atmosphere and divide the space more effectively." Maya also suggested that introducing unique lighting fixtures or candles could also contribute to a more immersive ambience.
As a result, the contrast between the well-appointed private spaces and the more minimalist public areas presents an opportunity for The Avalon to enhance its experience.
The rooms
The Avalon has 21 rooms - so there are quite a few options. There are four categories, suites, junior suites, executive suites and a Presidential Suite.
The interiors are well-appointed and showcase attention to detail in their design. The cheaper ones, at 200L for a normal suite (essentially a standard hotel room) and 300L for a Junior Suite, are especially good value for money.
For those considering somewhere to base themselves for a while, the Junior Suite could, in fact, serve as a comfortable and cost-effective alternative to renting a separate skybox or apartment.
Executive Suites (where we stayed) cost 600L, while the most expensive option is the Presidental Suite for 2000L.
Each room has an impressive entertainment system that reportedly offers access to 1,000 movies. The beds in our suite came from Lover Shop . While we'd never been familiar with this brand, the animations were pretty good.
Overall, the decor is tasteful and varied, with each room category offering a distinct aesthetic. The attention to detail extends to the Presidential Suite, which features a large foyer that could serve as inspiration for enhancements to the hotel's public areas.
Public Spaces and Facilities
The Avalon's public areas are spacious and diverse, encompassing:
A generous lobby area
A fully-equipped gym
A bar and restaurant (with plans for future RP dinner events)
A rooftop pool and bar offering panoramic views
Whisk & Bliss Patisserie for sweet indulgences
A cinema for entertainment
A conference room for virtual meetings
A spa exclusively for hotel guests
Other considerations
As this is a newer build, it's recommended to use a PBR-enabled viewer
We had no issues with lag
The rooms have adult anims
Privacy is good - nobody can cam into the rooms
Prices range from 200 to 2000L a night
Overall
The Avalon's strengths lie in its well-designed rooms, extensive facilities, and competitive pricing. It may be particularly appealing for those interested in extended stays in a hotel-like environment, with the Junior Suite presenting an especially attractive option for longer-term residents. Recommended
