A pleasant stay at Hotel XYZ

Last week, we came back to Tacloban and this time we stayed in another hotel near downtown. This time, we chose Hotel XYZ for our short stay and they didn't let us down. It was a perfect place to come back and sleep at after a long tiring day. 

Hotel XYZ, even from the outside, exudes a modern vibe. From the lobby, you could already see how they spent effort in designing the place making it look cozy and stylish that I never even knew that a hotel like this exists in the province and a city that was just hit by a typhoon. 

We booked a standard twin room on the 4th floor. Room was small but I didn't bother as it looked so cozy and clean. It didn't felt like you were cramped in a small space as they made use of the mirror effect in a stylish way. I specifically love the bed and the comforter. I always had a hard time waking up as I find the bed so comfy and soft. AC was working properly

The room comes with a flat screen TV equipped with cable channels. It also comes with a fridge, kettle and flashlight and a spacious cabinet with hangers.

Plus points for having a electric socket beside the bed!

Bathroom was surprisingly spacious. It was well equipped with the essentials.

Water pressure and heater was working fine. Shower area has good amount of space and there's also a wire where you could hang your clothes or towel. Looks odd but I say, it's pretty practical.

The inhouse restaurant called ABCD, and Illy cafe that offers pastries and coffee is located at the lobby. Breakfast can be served at your room (call the kitchen for room service) or you may go take it at ABCD cafe. You get to choose from their set menu. I may say that they have one of the best breakfast food I had. I specifically love their longanisa and tocino which has a generous serving. Interior of ABCD Cafe was equally stylish and modern as how the theme goes throughout the hotel.

 

During our stay, there was a construction going on on the upper floor which they advised us about upon checking in. On 2nd day, we already came back late at night and as we were all tired and wanted to have a longer sleep we asked the front desk if they could delay the construction for awhile as we are trying to sleep till late the next day before we get back to Manila. Nice of them to fulfill our wish as we were able to sleep well that night and wasn't bothered by any noise from the construction in the morning. 

Lobby

What the hallway looks like. Adequately lit with ambient music playing.

Being relatively new, almost everything was still in place. Hopefully, they'll be able to maintain it as I'll definitely be my first choice of accommodation if I ever get back to Tacloban.

Hotel Review: Mallberry Suites Business Hotel @ CDO

I stayed at Mallberry Suites Business Hotel for 4D3N last October 5-8, 2014. From Laguindingan airport, it took almost an hour going to the hotel which is conveniently located at the city center near Limketkai Mall. I stayed at the Corporate Solo room which is  good for 1 person only. The room was small as expected but just enough for one people to move around. The bed, which is positioned beside the wall, was just big enough enough for one person to sleep comfortably. 

Before sleeping I usually like to watch some tv shows while lying in bed trying to get sleepy but the the problem is, the cable TV in this room was placed exactly near the foot side of the bed. That's why it's hard to watch without sitting up or positioning your head up while in bed. "tamad problems", yes, but any considerations? Not that it’s a major thing and I know this may be due to room space, but a higher platform might have been handy for this.  In addition, internet in my room was no chance, though it was available in the 5th floor superior room that my colleagues are staying (Update: my boss and another colleague of mine also booked here months after and wifi doesn't work in their room, too).  Corp solo room does not come with a personal ref in the room as compared to the superior room. So if you'll be booking a corporate solo room, just expect the basics.

Bathroom was small. Just enough space for one to take a bath and do one’s own business. Yes, they provide basic toiletries, but it’s better if you bring your own as it could be frustrating as for both shampoo and soap doesn't lather up as much as it should be.

They have 5 elevators, the other 3 is on the other side which is obviously facing a different corridor on the floor. What’s just amusing and annoying  is how I got “lost” on the 2nd day going down from breakfast. It can be quite confusing also (or is it just me?) as the floor where the rooms are have corridors that looks like a maze. Hallway light was dim which I don't usually bother to but not for the day when we watched Anabelle, just imagine me thinking happy thoughts and dashing straight to the end of the corridor where my room is situated, alone. But honestly, a brighter light in the hallway should be considered.

Breakfast buffet was standard, no cereals though. They offer rice, scrambled eggs, meat, fish and fruits. What I only loved and hoarded from their buffet is their creamy scrambled egg, and that's it.

Hotel lobby was spacious, and has a lot of sofa and chairs to lounge on which is a big thumbs up. You can also access the hotel wifi in here which is overly poor inside the room. An open bar is located also at the lobby with a flat screen mounted in the wall where you can watch the news while lounging.

We go out as early as 8am and gets back to the hotel by 10 pm so we weren’t able to try the hotel amenities. Upon touring around the hotel on the 1st night of our stay, I noticed they have 3 in house restaurants, indoor swimming pool, spa, meeting rooms, theater, gym and a game room (billiards, darts and chess). In conclusion, stay was average. Hopefully they’ll do something with their wifi connection. Being known as a business hotel, it's fitting to have a decent wifi connection not only in the lobby but most especially in the rooms, too.

Hotel Review: Hotel Lorenzana and the weird sound

Hotel Lorenza is conveniently located at the downtown area of Tacloban City. It houses 50 guest rooms and suites and they have their own in house restaurantcalled Lillybelle's Cafe on the ground floor where they also serve their breakfast buffet. But what's the most important thing to note is that they offer free wifi for guests that which, fortunately, has decent speed and does actually reach the rooms. Free wifi is a must you know. haha! Initially, we booked 4 rooms, 2 deluxe double and 2 premium deluxe as the standard rooms are all booked during our stay. We checked in only around 7pm and were greeted by their nice and polite front desk staff. We had a hard time finding a parking space as they only have 4 slots in front of the hotel and most of the time it's already occupied at night so that's one thing to take note of.

The lobby's interior was nice with just enough space for guests checking in and some chairs for those waiting for someone in the lobby. Checking in was a breeze, present your ID, fill up some guest details and they now give you your room key. Yes, literally a key to you room. :) You may opt to pay as you check out which is good as we decided to cut down the booked room to two. More on that later ;)

Room assignments among the 4 of us was unplanned so we just decided to randomly picked our room key and so I ended up with one of the deluxe double room. At first glance, room size is just the right size for one even though the room was supposed to be for 2 persons.

So this is how my room looked like

It has a queen sized bed with a side table and also a mirror on the side (not seen on the picture above) of the bed which is just kind of creepy. Who would want to see herself at night while trying to sleep? not me. Room also have cable tv with the mini fridge below. Bathroom was also kind of small but enough for one to do what needs to be done. Bath kit includes: shampoo with conditioner, soap, lotion and a dental kit. But what I appreciate more than anything is there power socket near the bed which some hotel often doesn't have. Free wifi access in the room and power socket near the bed? Check.

Before settling in to rest on our first night, we first had our dinner in the nearby Fahrenheit Food Center to have a taste of their famous cheeseburger. And it was honestly good! They also have rice meals in their menu but I haven't tried their fries with mayo which was also one of their bestsellers.

Got back to the hotel and ate our food together in one of our rooms. So here's how their premium deluxe room looks like

Premium deluxe is obviously more spacious. According to their website, this is suited for a family. It has the same queen sized bed but with additional single bed on the side.

Given that space, we can definitely opt to just share this room for two which we definitely did the next day, cancelling the 2 deluxe double room that we had for our first night which was slight because of me. haha! So here's what happened on our first night. After dinner we went back to each of our room. Alone in the room, I just went straight to bed and opened the tv just to have some noise in the background while I'm browsing the net. And some unexpected noise happened. Well, basically it just sound like a knock. Like a sound knocking three times. I thought it was just something that fell or moved from somewhere around the room so I just ignored it. Then after some minutes, I heard it again, same sound, same pattern and same side of the room (on the wall facing outside). Well ok, it was just a sound, nothing extraordinary if you look around. I would seriously sleep and just completely ignore it if only not for the ghost stories we heard earlier that day. After Typhoon Yolanda hit Tacloban, some people had heard voices crying and there was even one story that a jeepney driver had seen someone dripping wet while riding in the back of his jeep then turned out there wasn't really a person there. Okaaaaay. Alone in my room, it was almost midnight and I'm seriously starting to overthink. It happened again, and again. I turned up the volume of the tv but then I heard it again. I was planning to transfer to the other room as they have an extra bed there but I don't know how I can stand up and open the door to run to the room 2 doors beside my room in just a minute. I just can't. haha! So I just hid under the covers trying to sleep as in the morning I will definitely transfer to my colleagues room. So long story short, we just used the 2 premium deluxe room and cancelled the other 2 deluxe double rooms. I definitely need a roommate :) Front desk agreed with no charges for cancellation. Highly appreciate the easy transaction

So besides that creepy night, our stay was good. Still a good place to consider when other hotels nearby are already booked. Some things that they may also consider to improve is their hallway lighting as it was a bit dark. They could also definitely use some light ambiance music in the hallway to set the mood and contrast the dull interiors in the upper floors.

Oh, and for the breakfast buffet? 4-5 choices of viands to have with rice or by itself. They also have choices of bread and spread to choose from. An egg station is also available where you could choose on what to include in your egg omelette. Cereals are also available if you want. Coffee, tea, juice or water is what you could choose from for your drinks.
  
Will I stay again? Might consider if the other known hotels are already fully booked.