one of my 10 things i have not done before that i posted at the start of the year was to spend a night in a historic hotel. well the oldest hotel that i know of in manila is obviously manila hotel and to take it simply, if it is old its historic, hehe.
established in 1912, manila hotel has survived even the bombing of manila during world war II. the japanese troops took over and maybe even ate buffet dinners at café ilang-ilang .. lol!
when i was about to check-in at the hotel, i told the front desk reception that i had the reservation done online but did not received confirmation. they checked their records and voilà! my name was not listed and not confirmed! i thought i won’t be able to check-in and that will be a full embarassment on my part for i have invited a friend for dinner. good thing they offered to take my card and charged me on the same amount as their internet rate.
i chose a deluxe room and was assigned at the seventh floor, facing intramuros. the room has its classic flair of furnitures and a modern marble-tiled bathroom with a water-proof lcd tv. broadband internet and a fruit basket were complimentary – including nine pillows that almost took the space half of the bed! 😀
buffet meals are served at café ilang-ilang where i invited my blogger friend chyng for dinner. it’s my advance birthday treat for her for she’s like a little sister to me and is the first person whom i’ve known who has the same birth date as mine.
i’m not really into food blogging but chyng’s post on café ilang-ilang will surely be a feast in your eyes. read chyng’s blog entry, café ilang-ilang at the manila hotel.
sensory replays 
sarap naman, pa – manila hotel – manila hotel na lang 🙂 maganda pa rin naman ang hotel kahit nga sabi mo old na. tanging yung mga function rooms pa lang napuntahan ko dyan dahil sa mga seminar.
.. hello miss n! dati nakikita ko lang yung ad nyan sa likod ng panorama magazine e, haha. well maintained naman ang hotel, saka newly renovated ang bathrooms nila. ayos din ang service at ang daming guard nung andun ako, baka may vip sa loob.
he he! natawa ako sa sinabi mo na nakita mo ad nila sa panorama .. kasi ako din! he he!
i’ve been to manila hotels years ago. di ko na maalala itsura nya actually. mahal ba?
.. andun pa rin kaya yung ad nila? matagal na ko di nakakakita ng panorama magazine e, actually grace di sya mahal kasi may mga promo rates sila sa website. abang nga lang kasi pag regular rate dun mataas.
ganito pala ang interiors ng manila hotel, nadadaanan ko lang to lagi pero never pa ako nakapasok.
.. classic ano claire?
did you see the suite that gen. douglas macarthur occupied or literally lived in when he was in pinas?
.. no i didn’t. will that be the penthouse suite, bert?
hehe, naalala ko yung unan. halos wala ng space matulog dahil sa dami nila! 🙂
thanks rob! you’re my only ka-bday friend too. it’s a pleasure. naks!
.. well, you still had your power nap! hehe. advance happy birthday chyng. 🙂
sabe ko na nga ba yung friend na yan ay si chyng na naman! ganda! 🙂
.. next time nga gael, aayain kita! wag ka tatanggi! 😉
nice! i only saw the facade of manila hotel when I went there in luzon. i hope i get back there to check that out!
.. it’s worth it sheng, highly recommended.
just checked their rates earlier.. worth it ung price eh! I wish i can stay there for a night or try their buffet dinner at cafe ilang-ilang! 🙂
.. hi missy! thanks for dropping by. i’m sure there will be no regrets once you try it.