I recently read a Facebook post from an American friend claiming that Holiday Inn properties in Asia are exceptionally nice. I’ve been billeted in a few, and I couldn’t agree more with him. For instance, the most recent one I stayed in, Holiday Inn & Suites Makati, is honestly among my favorites because it isn’t merely satisfactory, but it exceeded our expectations. Read more…
As a local of Makati, I can attest how the hotel sits in one of best locations in the city. After all, it is perched on top of one of the most well-known malls in the country, Glorietta in Ayala Center. The hotel is only about 6-8 kilometers away from Manila’s four airport terminals, and it’s accessible by bus, taxi, a metro line, and Uber.
Although located in the country’s premiere business district, the hotel also offers much to leisure travelers as well. In addition to Glorietta, the trendy Greenbelt, only a few minutes by foot, hosts luxury shopping, nightlife, and Manila’s pride in the culinary scene. Meanwhile, Bonifacio Global City (BGC), arguably the most vibrant hotspot in the metro right now, is a few minutes by car.
Holiday Inn, part of Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), offers travelers “dependability, friendly service, and modern attractive facilities at excellent value.” The five-star, full-service Holiday Inn & Suites Makati, we observed, is more upscale than the others of the same brand, yet it still counts among the most value-for-money accommodation options in the area.
We intended to stay at the hotel for a weekend staycation, so we arrived there unshowered and in flip-flops. Drab as we were, the friendly front staff made us feel at home and checked us in at once. We were afforded a room at the Executive Club Level, and as an IHG Rewards Club member, I was given extra perks like welcome refreshments and a souvenir.
The high-floor Executive Room, spacious at 32 square meters, combines neutral colors and ambient lighting, resulting to a relaxing atmosphere. Furnishings and décor look fresh and modern, for after all, the hotel is still new, having been opened only a couple years back.
Our room came with a suite of features and amenities expected of a five-star hotel, including a comfortable king bed accompanied by luxurious sheets and fluffy pillows, a work desk with lamp, a lounging chair with side table, an LED TV with sound system, a minibar with coffee and tea making facility, ample closet space, and for us millennials, plenty of electrical outlets and fast wired and wireless internet. With the option of a bathtub, the spotless and lavish bathroom, meanwhile, came with a complete set of towels and eco-friendly amenities.
Our room came with several club benefits, including complimentary local calls, pressing, and shoe shining. Topping these all off is, of course, access to the hotel’s elegant Executive Lounge, which offers breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening cocktails. Honestly, its selection of food and refreshments is better than other four-star and five-star lounges we’ve tried.
Flavors, the hotel’s international buffet restaurant, serves a sizeable array of Western, Asian, and Filipino fare. I freely indulged in their delicious kaldereta (beef stew) and tocino (cured pork), and I was giddy that the restaurant had taho (soy pudding with tapioca and molasses).
The hotel boasts of top-class facilities that include a fitness center, an on-site spa, a business center, and a gorgeous roof deck swimming pool, in addition to two bars, Citron and OZ.
In all, we loved how Holiday Inn & Suites Makati, being one of the newest hotels in the area, boasts modern rooms and facilities. But perhaps what really sealed the deal for us was the delightful service—their efficient staff showed true Filipino hospitality and took care of our every need. That said, the hotel’s now listed among our favorites in Manila.
HOLIDAY INN & SUITES MAKATI
Glorietta Mall, Palm Drive, Ayala Center, Makati City, Philippines
Telephone: +63 2 909 0888
Email: hism.reservations@ihg.com
Website: www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/makati/mnlgs/hoteldetail
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