Loved at Aruga Rockwell

I have more than a dozen draft for my blog but I decided to post this first, because this is too good not to share! :)

If you read my old posts, you'll see that I love staycations! We always have staycations at hotels preferably with 8/10 reviews or the ones that are highly recommended by friends. I read a lovely review at Ma'm Manila (a facebook group for expats based in Manila PH) and one of the factors that made me want to stay at Aruga - they have a dryer! We're planning to invest in a dryer and we want to test it first. Lol! We stayed there for a few days and we felt right at home. I love how they maximize the space and it still feels very spacious. There's a nicely not so hidden closet near the bathroom (which i failed to take a photo) and we stored there my things and the luggage too.

We got a 1 bedroom suite because Thirdy and I decided to "camp out" at the living room.

Here's my little dumpling inspecting the phone :)

Love the soft close closets!

Our big baby getting cozy at the couch

I love this kitchen! My mom and I can move freely when we prepare meals/do the laundry. This kitchen is complete! From coffee maker to rice cooker to serving platters! :) and they even washed and cleaned everything after we used them!

The buffet console is ready for your coffee and tea. They also provided UCC coffee and tea :)  The huge mirror at the wall made the space looks classy and spacious.

On our second night, we invited my mom's bestfriends who are also my wedding Ninong and Ninang. Rockwell Powerplant Mall is right across and there's an exclusive short cut in the basement parking. I bought some flowers for center piece and placed it in the pitcher, chic looking paper plates and cups from Celebrations Party Central , chicken teriyaki, salad and relleno bangus from Rustan's Marketplace and pan fried steak, calamares and rice from Chili's. Chili's also deliver at Aruga for a small fee. And I also bought my all time favorite caramel cake from Costa Brava,  We placed the food at the buffet console and it looked really nice and neat.

Rockwell have their famous Christmas decors up and you can actually feel the Christmas cheer once you stepped inside. Our big baby had fun having his picture taken with the set up.

Would I go back? YES! Jatty fell sick during our stay and the front desk helped us to look for a doctor nearby. The fridge stopped working at past 11pm and they immediately replaced it within 15 mins and even took care of removing and returning our food and drinks inside. We felt loved and well taken care of  at Aruga especially the housekeeping staff named Emman at 8th floor. There's sincerity when they smile and assist you. :)


https://www.aruga.com.ph/
T: +632 818 0000 | E: reservations@aruga.com.ph

Delayed Post: Easter 2014 Staycation

Sorry dears!!! sobrang delayed  na 'to na post. Just want to share with your our Easter 2014 bonding with the family. Di ba nung holy week may news about water interruption? syempre nag worry ako! ang init kaya! tapos may balita pa pati power interruption! kalokers! height ng summer heat nuon! so, i googled for hotel promos and I found one at Crimson Hotel. We had our Easter 2013 at Crimson already, medyo naliliitan ako sa rooms pero ok na din. We got two rooms at around Php 3,500 each.  As usual dahil may promo and holy week, 1 hour kami sa waiting to check-in and they only gave us one room muna, almost 5pm na kami nabigayn ng 2nd room. But they gave us late check out until 4pm. Ok na rin :) :)

medyo maliit ang beds compared sa single beds sa ibang hotel :)

the mini bar, but i found the cabinet adorable hihi :)

no bathtub unlike acacia hotel

i love this lamp! ewan ko, aliw na aliw lang ako hihi :)

Mrs. Panda Review

Peso  Power:4/5

- the promo rate is OK! :) but the breakfast buffet medyo fail. konti ng choices e.

- the bedroom is still in good condition compared to Acacia na gasgas na ang sheets and hindi na well maintained ang bathrooms

Will I go back? YES! if they have nice promos ulit :)

Since sarado pa most restaurants on Black Saturday, we went to CocoHut at  Commerce Center :) First time! :) but fans na kami ngayon! :)

Smoked Bangus P150.00 (as per zomato)

Poor Man's Fish (Deep Fried Galunggong) P165.00

Calamari P145.00

Macaroni Salad P49.00

we liked the "native" feel :)

Mrs. Panda Foodie Review

Peso Power 4/5

- the concept is new chicken and fish :)

- the chicken tasted like army navy, sister company ata sila :) 

- the servings are good for sharing din:) we get to try each other's orders

- the staff are very nice! and bilis kumilos kahit full house sila nung dumating kami

- the drinks are a bit expensive tho. :)

- walang sandalan ang seats. paano naman ang senior citizens or ang mga bata na parang senior citizens sumakit ang likod? :)

Will I go back? YES! namamahalan lang ako sa drinks hihi :) 50 pesos ang soda kasi. Mahal for a fastfood :)

Lunch @ Manila Hotel Lobby Lounge

After checking out, we decided to have lunch at the lobby lounge :) and stroll a bit while waiting for our orders :)

                        

the grand vintage chandeliers

Breakfast @ Manila Hotel

 Photo overload! 

If you don't like photo food, please skip this post :) but if you do! enjoy this one! :)

Love the tinapa bangus belly!!!! super yummy! this is the reason why we will go back!

Valentine's Day 2014 at Manila Hotel!

Valentine's Weekend Cuento!

Mr. Panda and I attended a wedding at Manila Hotel last Valentine's weekend :) we braved the traffic of Manila. Sarado ang Roxas Blvd, nagpaikot ikot pa kami sa pier area to get to Manila Hotel.

The Old Manila charm never failed to amaze me :)

Ok pa din the "Old Manila Charm" hanggang sa rooms.... kaya lang......

Christmas Staycation at Acacia :(

A month before the Christmas Day, we made reservations for 2 Christmas Staycation Packages  at Acacia Hotel.We always have our staycations ( long holiday weekends, mom's birthday,  mother's day with 4 families!, our first valentines as a married couple) there for the past 2 years and we were always happy with their services. I actually "advertised' the hotel to our friends and some of them really stayed their because of our recommendations. But last Christmas, we were very disappointed with our stay :( :(

1. We arrived at Acacia at 1:30 pm and my brother fell in line to check in. Mr. Panda and I left to bring my niece and her son to Laguna. We were back by 2:30 pm and we are only given 1 room, the 2nd room is still getting cleaned-up. Ok, we waited at the my parents' room ( room 501).

2.  2:30 - 3:30 pm, my brother called twice to follow up for the second room. They informed us they are still cleaning it (how long should they clean the room? standard cleaning usually takes 30 minutes....)

3. 4:00 pm, by this time we are all pissed. Brother called again and they said our 2nd room - room 502, is being checked by the VA and ready for turnover. They are just waiting for the keycard. (Ha, e sa looby galing ang keycard dba. Iba ang keycard na hawak ng mga nasa housekeeping dept di ba?)

I went to the other room and found the door ajar, heard someone talking inside. With a couple of gentle knocks, I went inside and saw a personnel talking to the radio. "sir, ano problema ng room? kanina pa kami nag iintay?" i asked calmly. "mam, barado po yung bathtub, tinawag ko na po" he replied. GRRRRRRR. Akala ko ba for turnover na.

I went downstairs and approached the same lady who assisted us earlier 

"Miss, what happened to our room 502?" seriously pissed...

"Mam, its ready for turnover" all smiles

"Really?! , I just checked room 502 and barado the bathtub hindi pa nagagawa anong ready for turn over kanina pa kami dito nagiintay! You should inform us honestly naman. DO something get us another room!"

I know its Christmas but pagod na din ako and kaya nga ako nagcheck in sa hotel to relax.

The lobby ladies are still smiling but walang sagot. GRRRRRR

A hotel butler approached us and told us confidently "Mam, I got your room its.....(tingin sa screen) you're in 504"

YUN PALA.... Pwede gawan agad ng paraan ng mabilisan.

While getting our keycards, some guests started complaining in loud voices too na ilang oras na din sila waiting for their rooms.

Kaya lang, sablay pa din ang Acacia that day.... Una, Meron Welcome Mr. John ______ with a basket fo fruits sa room namin, hindi man lang nila natanggal the name....

Then,

there's a cigarette looking hole sa duvet

ants on the coffee tray, i wiped them off

after a couple of minutes, may tropa pala yung ants na inalis ko, meron ulit

we can't close the shower door, yun pala bumaba na yung shower door, sana naman they maintain their rooms and bathrooms :(

Sad talaga, because we really love this hotel and hindi naman excuse kung maraming tao. Peak Season expected yun dapat and they have promos pa that time. Honestly, mas maraming tao last Mother's Day, we stayed in line for almost 1 hour to check in pa lang. But mabilis naman the turn over of our rooms, 4 pa na rooms yun and ok lahat the rooms. And sana they gave us the real status of the room turnover, nakakainis kasi yung puro paasa yun pala hindi talaga available yung room. Hope Acacia Hotel will do something about it.

Easter Staycation at Crimsons :)

 

 

I miss blogging!!! :) the dino theme surprise party for Mr. Panda was yesterday and 2 weeks ako mega-cramming for the party preps. Mahirap tumakas bec we're living in the same roof and wala naman ako mapagtaguan din ng props ko sa aming humble home. :) :) will blog about the party soon.

 

 

I'm a big fan of Acacia Hotel in Alabang, to the point na iba iba na yung nakuha ko ballpen freebie sa kanila. haha :) but when I saw the ongoing promo of crimson at dealgrocer, i bought a voucher for the holy week. :) It was located near Festival mall and Asian Hospital naligaw lang kami konti sa lobby nila kasi nasa 7th or 8th floor pala haha :)

 

 

 

I love their elevator,very classy ang chandelier :)

 

 

 

The spacious lobby

 

i love the ceiling of their lobby! :)

 



 

 

Ewan ko ba, pero parang maliit yung bed nila...

 

 

the shower stall is a bit cramped

 

Room service for Dinner: super limited choices pa sila. 3 choices for pasta..mine was the carbonara super bland :(

 

Easter Egg filled with chocolates! :) from Crimson

 

they have all kinds of breads and pastries for the breakfast buffet!

 

 

the wine bar :)

i love this seat! perfect sya for bridal shots while waiting for the elevator :)

 



 

 

their pool is still under construction :(

 

their poolside area is very nice,reminds me of the posh hotels at Bora

 

 

 

I still prefer Acacia over Crimson though...... the acacia's pillows are the best haha plus their toiletries are nicer. :) But for a newly opened hotel, crimson is 8/10 for me :)

 

Hearts Day Celebration at Acacia Hotel

 

One of my simple joys are staycations :) so when Mr.Panda ran out of ideas on what to give me this valentines, his no-fail plan to treat me out is a staycation to my favorite hotel. Acacia Hotel :) promise, ang sarap ng beds nila, pillows and duvet :) basta may kakaiba sa gamit nila, and they sell it pa :) :) there's a pricelist posted inside their closet, forgot to take a picture and Mr. Panda wont let me buy any! according to him, madami na kami pillows (we only have 5 pillows!) and hindi daw namin need ng duvet... (actually, need namin ng duvet wala lang kami space for storage pa....) when we move to our own house, maglalagay talaga ako ng cabinets for linens like what we have in the parentals house!

Breakfast! I'm not into breakfast bec I wake up late usually..but i heart hotel breakfast haha :)

Staycation: Traders Hotel

Raise your hand if you love uber comfy hotel beds, goose down pillows, down comforters and down duvets :) :)  if you love neatly stacked mini toiletries :) if you love breakfast buffet! diff kinds of cereals and fresh fruit juices!!! (i raised both hands!) then staycation can be your thing :)