Date of Stay: October 18-19, 2014
RATING (Scale of 1 to 10)
Location: *******
Rooms: *******
Condition and Cleanliness: *******
Staff Performance: ******
Room Comfort: *******
Food and Beverage: *******
Other Amenities: *****
Value for Money: ******
It was Jandy’s 28th birthday
and, as a surprise and much appreciated treat, my daughter Cheska booked us,
via Deal Grocer, in an iconic aquarium-themed, third floor Aqua Room (Room
3212) at Hotel H2O, the only one of its kind in the country. This chic
urban getaway is located behind the Quirino Grandstand at Rizal Park, is noted
for its iconic aquarium-themed Aqua Room, the only one of its kind in the
country.
L-R: the author, Jandy, Kyle and Grace |
The package included a set
breakfast for two.The hotel itself shares the same entrance as the Manila Ocean
Park and we had to take an elevator ride to the 3rd floor for check-in.
The team at the front desk were friendly.
The hotels’ fabulous Aquarium rooms and
suites are luxuriously appointed, chic and modern, with soft, crisp, lush
linens and pillows, and ultra-comfortable beds. Its upscale, meticulously
chosen features and amenities include a wall-mounted, 37″ flat screen LCD cable
TV; IDD telephone; coffee/tea making facility, electronic locking system and
work desk with high-speed internet access.
The Aqua Room |
It is also the first hotel I
know that that says that snacks (soft drinks in can, oatmeal cookies and
peanuts) inside and above the personal ref is complimentary. The free
shopping bag inside the closet is also a nice touch. Our quite
small, 25-sq. m. room, more of a boutique hotel size, also didn’t
allow for another extra bed. However, the slightly larger Aqua Classic
Room, with its sofa bed, could accommodate an extra person. Our room also
didn’t have a window.
However, their glass-enclosed
bathroom, with its rain shower head but no bidet, did not allow for much
privacy as their dual-purpose glass enclosure (which
doubles as the bathroom door), though frosted, was translucent. It was
quite embarrassing to use in the presence of others and it is not
a good idea if you are staying with a friend. An old-fashion shower
curtain would be a band-aid solution.
What sets this apart from
other hotel rooms is the life-size, waist to ceiling high aquarium (with blue
background and man-made coral) running along the length and breadth of room’s
main wall and spanning across all the Aqua Rooms, providing a relaxing
window into the calm and mesmerizing beauty of the marine world. A whole
new and totally out of the ordinary experience that will surely be enjoyed
by the whole family, young and old.
My grandson Kyle loved
watching beautiful saltwater fishes of myriad colors, shapes and sizes
gliding by while lying down on our queen-size bed. Their very
soothing effect also lulled him to sleep. The aquarium lights are shut
down by 9 PM and are put on again at 6 AM. There is a remote control which
lowers a screen to cover the aquarium.
We all savored the best of Southeast Asian
cuisine, for lunch and breakfast the next day, at Makan Makan Asian Food
Village, Hotel H2O’s main food and beverage outlet located at the second floor.
Here, we could choose from more than 150 culinary delights from
Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, China, Japan and the Philippines.
The Club Lounge, a relaxing
nook perched on the third floor, is a cozy rendezvous point with many
comfortable lounge chairs. Here, you can savor a cup of coffee or hot
chocolate plus a slice of cake while browsing a newspaper and enjoying the
commanding and sweeping view of Manila Bay and the city’s skyline. You
can also surf the internet via computer terminals. Come evening, the
lounge transforms into an after-hours hot spot, with wine, beer and cocktails
flowing, During weekends, cool lounge music is provided by the Metro
Manila’s finest acoustic and jazz bands.
Because
the hotel is located right at the entrance to the adjoining Manila Ocean Park,
there are lots of shops and food outlets (Pancake House, North Park, Dencio’s,
etc.). It is also walking distance from Rizal Park and Intramuros.
Hotel
H2O: Manila Ocean Park Complex, Luneta, Manila, Philippines 1000. Tel:
(632) 238-6100. Fax: (632) 238-6188. E-mail: reservation@hotelh2o.comand inquiry@hotelh2o.com.
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