Marriott, Islamabad, Pakistan
by Agnes
This is a very posh hotel, way above the American Marriott standards. It is more like an International Hilton with huge lobbies and seating areas, very fancy restaurants, beauty parlors, etc. You name it. It has everything any 5 star hotel would, restaurants, bars, business center, shopping arcades, and all those goodnesses. You can see all the swanky stuff on their website: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/isbpk-islamabad-marriott-hotel/
The cuisine in the restaurants was both local and international and I thought it was very good.
The beauty parlor was great; 
I had my hair blow dried there, my eyebrows threaded and my legs waxed. Eyebrow threading is very popular in that part of the world and I personally prefer it to any other method, such as plucking, tweezing or waxing. In fact I think this is where I first had my eyebrows threaded. The beautician uses a floss-like thread tied in a certain way and using her hands she pulled out all stray hair with extreme speed and accuracy. I don’t think it hurts at all but I’ve heard some people complain about the pain.
Anyway, back to the Marriott, it is your typical 5 star hotel. Personally, I sometimes prefer a 5 star hotel, especially after months of traveling around in the sticks, it can be very comforting. A good meal is very appreciated and the girl’s gotta have her hair done and armpits waxed sometimes, right? But usually I prefer the non-franchise local charms where hospitality isn’t synthetic. So I vote for the Margala, where the food is definitely less festive, the rooms more modest (still very comfortable and clean, clean bathroom with a tub) but still I like it more.
Agnes
PS: Here’s a YouTube clip on eye brow threading. I don’t think it was filmed in Pakistan, though.
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