#Vatel Manila | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

thehungrykat1 · 5 years

Text

Back at Hotel Benilde Maison De La Salle For Another Sweet Staycation

It was over a year ago when I first got to stay at Hotel Benilde. That experience was actually bittersweet for me because it was just a few weeks before my Total Hip Replacement surgery and I was really having difficulties walking that day. It was stressful just going to the lobby and I even had to ask for a wheelchair to get to my room. I couldn’t totally enjoy my stay then because of the circumstances, so now that I am fully recovered from my surgery, I’m glad to be back here at Hotel Benilde so I can truly experience their exceptional service.

Hotel Benilde Maison De La Salle offers stylish accommodations for the travellers who want a more charming local hotel experience. It is located in a more quiet residential side of Malate, which is known as a bustling nightlife district. It is just a few blocks away from Taft Avenue and other landmarks such as the Manila Zoo, Malate Church, and the CCP complex. The Hungry Kat was invited for another sweet staycation last month and I’m happy to be back on my feet this time.

Parking is available inside the building for hotel guests so we parked at the third floor and took the elevator down to the lobby. Checking in is always a breeze and guests also receive two complimentary welcome drinks at Cafe Romançon which they can redeem anytime during their stay.

Hotel Benilde’s 49 well-appointed guests rooms occupy the top two floors of the building on the 11th and 12th floors. This time, I stayed at the Deluxe Queen (Published Rate: P3,850) with its 30 square meters of comfort and relaxation.

The Deluxe Queen room comes with one queen-sized bed plus a lounge and sofa area by the windows. The plump bed has duvet linens and pillows with its stylish carpeted floors. There is complimentary Wi-Fi access all throughout the hotel with pretty good internet speed.

Each room is refurbished with unique state-of-the-art features that include a 40-inch LED Smart TV and automated service-calling system. Complimentary coffee and tea making facilities are available, as well as free local calls on the telephone which is also a good bonus.

One great feature is the rainshower with a floor-to-ceiling glass window that fully opens up to the bedroom. Don’t worry, you can pull down the bathroom curtains if you are feeling shy. The spacious bathroom also comes with waffle design bathrobe and slippers.

I didn’t really have anything else to do that day, which is how a great staycation should be. I had time to relax on the very comfortable bed and just let the afternoon slip away. But before that, I took a short tour to explore the other areas of the hotel.

Hotel Benilde has other room categories such as the Superior Twin, Deluxe King, and One-Bedroom Suite, but for those truly momentous celebrations, they have the Presidential Suite (Published Rate: P15000). Not only does it have its own living room, but it also has a kitchen and dining area.

The big masters bedroom also has its own marble jacuzzi and LED TV inside the spacious bathroom. That’s three televisions inside the suite. I also heard that some scenes from the movie Just A Stranger starring Anne Curtis were recently shot here.

For solo travelers, Hotel Benilde has a unique room type called Dormitory Rooms which can be shared by up to eight guests. The hotel also has several function rooms on the second floor that can cater to corporate events, seminars, birthdays, weddings, and other special occasions with a total capacity of over 300 guests.

Health buffs can have their daily workout at the Fitness Center located on the 11th floor. It comes with standard gym equipment and weights for those who need to stretch their muscles.

The swimming pool can be found at the roofdeck which has a great view of the Manila and Makati skylines. While it may not be that big, the pool offers a quiet and refreshing vibe where guests can enjoy the cool wind while taking a dip.

Just beside the pool is Vatel Restaurant which offers a more intimate and private dining experience versus the hotel cafe on the ground floor. It has both an indoor and al fresco dining space which would be good for sunset drinks or corporate events and parties. I was thinking of going swimming that afternoon, but my bedroom really looked so inviting so I decided to take a nap instead.

I already had dinner at Vatel Restaurant before, so this time I’m heading downstairs to Cafe Romançon to try their specialties. Cafe Romançon is a contemporary hotel restaurant that serves daily buffet breakfast for in-house guests. The café also serves international a la carte dishes throughout the day and occasionally hosts promotional lunch and dinner buffets.

The Thai Crab Salad with Coconut-Lime Dressing (P190) is one of their new appetizers which I wanted to try. It comes with fresh vegetables tossed with crab meat in a special dressing.

I also ordered their Gambas Al Ajillo (P280) which is always a lovely starter. This version had lots of tomato sauce and garlic so I really liked it.

Now let’s try some of their main courses. I think you can see how big my appetite is and why they call me The Hungry Kat.

The Norwegian Salmon (P390) is a slice of pan-fried salmon with creamy leek sauce that was cooked perfectly. This healthy dish also comes with mashed potatoes and garden vegetables. The price is actually quite good for salmon of this size and quality. I would expect this to be more than double the price in other restaurants.

Meat lovers should go for the Friesian Express (P350). This has seared beef tenderloin with rosemary pan jus, served with seasonal vegetables and country style fried potato wedges. I had this cooked medium, but you can tell your server how you want your steak to be done.

On the other hand, the Barbecued Pork Ribs (P350) has tender pork ribs with tangy and sweet barbecue sauce served with buttered vegetables and mashed potatoes. Walk-in guests are also welcome to dine at Cafe Romançon which is also frequented by neighboring students and families.

For dessert, everyone should try the Sizzling Brownies (P225) which is a show by itself. The dark chocolate chip brownie is served on a sizzling hot metal plate. Milk is then doused onto the vanilla ice cream and brownie combination which erupts into a white and smoky spectacle. The soft milk-filled brownies are so good, especially when combined with more ice cream.

After that very satisfying dinner, it was time to go back to my room where I say goodnight to the bright lights of Makati in the distance.

The next morning, I went back down to Cafe Romançon where buffet breakfast is served daily from 6:00am to 10:00am. The buffet serves a good set of breakfast favorites which includes salads, fruit juices, cereals, cheeses, soups, and assorted breads.

You can find warm breakfast dishes on the table including Luncheon Meat **and **Daing na Bangus.

This can serve as my early lunch as well because they also had the Roast Chicken with Honey Mushroom Sauce for guests. Pair this with the garlic rice and the bangus and it’s already a full lunch set.

A dedicated egg station is also available to cook your preferred choice of eggs whether they be sunny side up, scrambled or omelette. It was another relaxing staycation at Hotel Benilde Maison De La Salle and I really complement their staff at the restaurant and the front desk for such wonderful service. Thank you to Hotel Benilde General Manager Paolo Sumera for another delightful stay.

Hotel Benilde Maison De La Salle

Arellano corner Estrada Street, Malate, Manila

230-5230

www.hotelbenilde.com

www.facebook.com/HotelBenilde

#HotelBenilde #Hotel #Staycation #Travel #Manila #Philippines

0 notes

thehungrykat1 · 6 years

Text

Hotel Benilde: A Comfortable Staycation in the Heart of Manila

When I think of staycations in Manila, the first hotels that come to mind are the big sprawling establishements along Roxas Boulevard and Macapagal Avenue. While these are the places most foreigners and tourists usually frequent, there are times I like to stay at hotels which are a bit off the beaten track, with an ambiance and feel that is much closer to home. That’s why I was happy to discover for myself this relatively new boutique hotel located in a less touristy side of Manila.

Hotel Benilde Maison De La Salle offers stylish accommodations and exquisite service for the travellers who want a more charming and local hotel experience. It is located in a more quiet residential side of Malate, which is known as a bustling nightlife district. It is just a few blocks away from Taft Avenue and other landmarks such as the Manila Zoo, Malate Church, and the CCP complex.

The Hungry Kat was invited for an overnight stay at Hotel Benilde last week and it was my first time to see and visit this very friendly hotel. Check-in was easy and guests also receive two complimentary welcome drinks at Cafe Romancon which they can redeem right away or later on. Parking is available inside the building but there is also a small open outdoor parking in front of the hotel in case it gets full.

I was having some difficulties walking last week due to my condition (See: My 6-Year Journey with Lupus) and had to climb a few steps up to the lobby. The doorman saw this and immediately offered to help me with a wheelchair going up the ramp. Everyone was also so helpful and attentive during my stay and I do commend the staff for their excellent service.

Hotel Benilde’s 49 well-appointed guests rooms occupy the top two floors of the building. My room was on the 11th floor with hallways that welcomed me with cozy furnishing and warm lighting.

I stayed at the Superior Twin (Published Rate: P5500) which is the most common room type in the hotel. This comes with carpeted floors and plump beds with duvet linens and pillows. The bedsheets were just so comfortable and I really didn’t want to get up once I lied on my bed. There is complimentary Wi-Fi access all throughout the hotel with pretty good internet speed.

Each room is refurbished with unique state-of-the-art features which include a 40-inch LED Smart TV and automated service-calling system. Complimentary coffee and tea making facilities are available, as well as free local calls on the telephone which is also a good bonus.

Another thing that impressed me was the free minibar items given to all guests, especially the Kit Kat chocolates! These are the small things that truly make a stay extra special.

The spacious bathroom comes with waffle design bathrobe and slippers plus a rainshower.

In charge of Hotel Benilde is General Manager Paolo Sumera who I met before when he was still the hotel manager at Rizal Park Hotel. He also gave us a quick tour around the different hotel rooms and its facilities.

One other room option is the Deluxe Queen (Published Rate: P5500) which comes with one queen-sized bed and a bigger lounge and sofa area. I noticed that they also offered a Deluxe Queen-PWD room which has bigger spaces to accommodate wheelchairs for Persons With Disabilities. I really appreciate how the hotel takes care of its guests and makes sure that they are truly comfortable during their stay.

The One Bedroom Suite (Published Rate: P9000) is definitely a step higher for bigger families or those celebrating a special occasion. It has a separate living area with its own LED TV and plush sofas and chairs. The bedroom comes with a king-sized bed that opens up to its own bathtub and shower.

Now for those truly momentous celebrations, go for the Presidential Suite (Published Rate: P15000) which not just has its own living room, but also a kitchen and dining area. Aside from the big masters bedroom, it also has its own marble jacuzzi and LED TV inside the spacious bathroom. That’s three televisions inside the suite.

For solo travelers, Hotel Benilde has a unique room type called Dormitory Rooms which can be shared by up to eight guests with a price of only P1200 per person. The hotel also has several function rooms on the second floor that can cater to corporate events, seminars, birthdays, weddings, and other special occasions with a total capacity of over 300 guests.

Health buffs can have their daily workout at the Fitness Center located on the 11th floor. It comes with standard gym equipment and weights for those who need to stretch their muscles.

Just beside the pool is Vatel Restaurant which offers are more intimate and private dining experience versus the hotel cafe on the ground floor. It has both an indoor and al fresco dining space which would be good for sunset drinks or corporate events and parties.

The vibrant and charming interiors of Vatel Restaurant are conducive for casual lunch meetings or meriendas. This is where we decided to have dinner later that evening so we can sample some of their specialties.

We started with some of their signature mocktails including the Coco (P75) with coconut water, lime juice, sugar, cucumber and mint leaves. The Margarett (P75) is also interesting with its sweet and sour mix, grenadine, mint leaves and rosemary.

I’m not really that fond of salads but we really enjoyed the Roasted Beef with Cherry Tomatoes (P350). This big salad bowl comes with a generous serving of roasted beef slices plus red onion, red bell pepper, olives, and blue cheese dressing. Now this is my kind of salad.

My favorite dish that evening was actually my soup! The Prawn Bisque with Clams (P160) has both prawns and clams in a classic French crustacean soup. I could not believe how huge my prawns were, and it only costs P160. This is such great value for this warm and hearty bowl.

There were a couple of sandwiches on the menu so we tried the unique Salmon Cheese Burger (P375). I have tried shrimp burgers before but never a salmon burger. The salmon patty is soft and you can see the salmon chunks inside. This is combined with lettuce, mozzarella and potato fries plus a tartar dip to complete the dish.

For our mains, the Braised “Diavolo” Pork Baby Back Ribs (P385) is a big serving of baby back ribs baked in white wine and mustard sauce, then topped with julienne vegetables and served with greek potatoes.

Meat lovers should definitely go for the T-Bone Beef Steak (P395) smothered in Diane sauce made from demi-glace, cream, and brandy. This is also served with buttered baguio beans and mashed potatoes.

As a finale, we ordered the Cerveza Negra and Chocolate Ice Cream (P145) which comes with two scoops of local dark beer chocolate ice cream with pistachio. After our lovely roofdeck dinner, it was time to go back to the room and I slept soundly on my soft and comfortable bed.

I had such a great sleep that I woke up feeling much better from the previous day. Buffet breakfast is served from 6:00am to 10:00am at Cafe Romancon on the ground floor, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant which also serves a la carte lunch, merienda and dinner options.

The buffet serves a good set of breakfast favorites which includes salads, fruit juices, cereals, cheeses, soups, and assorted breads.

It also includes hot dishes such as Pork Hamonado, Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet, and Cajun Chicken which are actually good enough for lunch. A dedicated egg station is also available to cook your preferred choice of eggs whether they be sunny side up, scrambled or omelette.

Unlimited coffee refills are just what guests need to start the day. It was amazing that after just staying one day at Hotel Benilde, I was able to walk down to the lobby for checkout and back to the car on my own. I’m not sure if it was the unbelievably comfortable bed or the relaxing vibe of the hotel, but my body really felt better and more energetic after my stay. Thank you to Hotel Benilde for your amazing and excellent service and for showing me a different side of Manila.

Hotel Benilde Maison De La Salle

Arellano corner Estrada Street, Malate, Manila

230-5230

www.hotelbenilde.com

#HotelBenilde #Manila #Staycaton #Hotel #Philippines #Bedroom #VatelRestaurant #Travel

0 notes