One of the things I love doing for my blog aside from dining at restaurants is writing about hotel staycations here in Manila. So, when this month was welcomed with a weekend staycation at Oakwood Premier Manila in Ortigas, I know I have to make time even if it entails moving mountain. It is my birth month after all, I figured I could use a break from the usual.
Having experienced several themed buffets at Oakwood Premier Manila's Oakroom Restaurant, I have always been confident that they are well worth sharing here on my blog. I even hosted couple of giveaways out of Oakwood's generosity and belief that great food are meant to be shared. This time though, what I am sharing is my weekend staycation experience at Oakwood.
If you have been a long time reader, you know how enthusiastic I can get especially when it comes to telling some great experiences about my little adventures. Add to that the fact that I can get trigger happy when exposed to lovely surroundings with pleasant ambiance. Disclaimer though, as with most of the things I have shared here on YedyLicious, this is not a review, I am just sharing my stories with you. Yes, this is going to be a long post with lots of photos and I deem it is only apt to divide it into parts. And this first part right here is what I call, "A Little Tour of My Room at Oakwood."
I was assigned a One-Bedroom Deluxe at Oakwood and I made a conscious effort not to do a research prior to my accommodation since I want to hold on to that sense of surprise. And boy indeed, it surprised me.
Now I know why they are tagged as "Fully Serviced Residences" more than anything. I have to admit that I was under the impression that Oakwood is just like the usual hotel I have stayed with in the past. Yet, upon setting foot inside my room, I was already given a pleasant affirmation that Oakwood is more than just that. They wouldn't be called The Most Trusted Name in Serviced Apartment Worldwide for nothing, after all.
But I am getting ahead of myself here, and my intention really is to show you how awesome my weekend was at Oakwood. So, I am going to ditch dishing out premature conclusion reserved at the end of this Oakwood Premier Manila Staycation Blogpost Series and go right ahead with our little tour of my room.
One-Bedroom Deluxe at Oakwood Premier has a floor area of 86-94 sqm. Not that I measured it myself because really, that would be weird and I am not big on dealing with numbers in general. It is what was published on their website including the amenities, facilities, and services one may expect from them. I will do my best to show you in photos the list indicated on the site because I know, we are all visuals here.
Walking through the hallway towards my room, the first thought that I found apt for a description is simply elegant. Perfectly lighted dimly, the classy hallway in matte finish was given character with burst of lively color brought about by the paintings hanging on the walls. It also helped that the surrounding was so quiet and smelled really good as well.
I was thinking the hallway could be a clear indication of what to expect when I reached my room. I was right.
Living Room
Upon reaching my room I headed first on the living room. The beautiful natural light of that beautiful Saturday afternoon greeted me through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the city. As I gazed upon the living room's muted hue with furniture of the same color palette including the marbled ecru carpeted floor I realized, it somewhat reminds me of home.
I sat on the plush suede sofa set which softness could easily put marshmallow to shame and opened the 40" LCD TV and tuned in to my favorite food channel. The TV, equipped with sound bar home theater system was bustling with sound of a chef cooking with what I deemed to be as one hell of a masterpiece. Then the sudden tide of warm and fuzzy feeling came as I tried to take all in - I was home.
After firing away text messages to my mother to keep her updated of my whereabouts, I immediately grabbed my camera and started taking snap shots of my room. There are moments meant to be captured - this was one of those.
Aside from the endearing suede sofa, there's also the equally plush corduroy club chair with ottoman which I made into a perfect makeshift nook while watching the TV in lieu of the recliner I am used to at home.
The
oval center table which I am thinking was made out of red oak wood is a
well thought out replacement from the usual glass variety. It has a
smooth glossy finish which made it easy to deal with when it comes to
spilled drinks. The side table holding the lamps were made of the same
material as the center table, adding a charm to the entire room.
In one corner is a work station with writing table and deep purple armless suede chair which I found equally comfortable to sit on. I spend good hours on this corner because I brought some paper works with me and I appreciate that it has a sleek cylindrical lampshade on it aside from the wireless phone. Neatly tucked underneath the table are sockets for electrical devices including internet.
Standing from the working station at the corner, the entirety of the room can be easily seen save for the bedroom and the bathroom. I tell you, the color palette of the entire room works well together. Even the furniture contributed to the cohesion. Those beautiful painting along the hallway, they have that too inside the room.
Dining Area
The dining area with round wooden table can easily fit four person. The armless chairs were also made of suede material and comfortable to sit on. I have this bad habit of eating dinner in front of the TV, but that night I resolved to actually sit at the dining area since I can view the TV anyway. It felt right to act my age and celebrate being a real grown up through small things such as that, it's kinda cool.
The art deco mirror adds charm to an otherwise bare wall of the dining area. I love that below the mirror there is a mini cupboard for added storage.
Kitchen
(Just a preview, more of this on my next post.)
I rarely encounter a one-bedroom hotel room that boasts of kitchen that is fully equipped with modern home appliances, and Oakwood Premier gave me just that. I tell you, I am crazy over kitchen, it's my favorite part of a house. So, needless to say, this kitchen impressed me to the core given the fact that I was in a hotel.
Home appliances includes 12-cu ft. refrigerator, oven with burn-free vitroceramic cooktop and exhaust, microwave oven, dishwasher, electronic kettle, coffee/tea maker, and washing machine with dryer! Add to that are variety of cookware and kitchen utensils.
Sure I have cooked in one of our staycations before, but not without bugging hotel attendants for kitchen tools and utensils. At Oakwood, I was able to man the kitchen without the hassle of having to call housekeeping. Frankly speaking, I was so happy with their kitchen it deserve a blog post of its own, which I will give to it. So, more on my kitchen moments on the next post.
Bedroom
A place for sanctuary, my bedroom at Oakwood is the kind that will reel you in at a glance with its soft king size bed with ottoman bench, equally soft pillows, and ambiance that will steal you away from the noisy world outside. I spent an afternoon nap here to give it test drive before my little adventure in the kitchen and I must say it was one deep slumber which reminded me that I am indeed having a staycation.
The bedside tables hold a phone, a laminated paper indicating the name of the residence assistant assigned to my room (Hi, Jethro!), and Philips brushed aluminum iPhone dock/speaker/alarm clock. There were also bedside lamps which served its purpose while I was reading a book since I closed the curtain to block the light from the outside. Inside the chest are phone directories and a Bible, King James version, if my memory serves me right.
At home, I strategically ban television inside my room so that I can always have time for reading without being tempted to turn on the tube and wrestle with attention. Yet, during my stay at Oakwood, I allowed my self the luxury of watching movies from the 40" LCD TV provided inside the room. The charcoal chest drawer below the TV holds a DVD player which is perfect for those who has an affinity for movie marathon while lounging at the comfort of the soft bed.
There is also a vanity section inside the bedroom complete with simply elegant vanity chair, wood framed mirror and a cylindrical lampshade. Underneath there are electric and internet sockets which can make this section easily be turned into a work station. The floor lamp and chair with ottoman completes the grand set up of the living room.
At the right side of the room, facing the TV is a little hallway that leads to the bathroom. The inside of the bathroom can be viewed outside but there is a blind curtain if privacy is needed. See that view of the bath tub from the photo below? We'll get to that later.
The little hallway is padded with life size mirror that also serve as a slide cover for the closet. Dual purpose is always a great idea. As with any rule in home decoration, the mirrors give an illusion of space which in this case, I am thankful for since I don't have to deal with the usual claustrophobia I get when it comes to hotel closets.
Inside the closet were the usual things one can expect in hotels; safety box, filing cabinet, laundry bag, shoe basket, hamper, iron and iron board, hanger, slip on, and 2 bathrobes for adults.
Bathroom
There are three noteworthy things inside the bathroom which separate it from the usual hotel room I stayed in; the free-standing bath tub, the waterproof retractable LCD TV, and the built-in steam generator that could easily turn a rain shower treat into a relaxing steam bath.
I had a bubble bath while watching rerun of Masterchef US and I swear it was an effective way
to avoid binge eating while watching food shows. I don't want to leave
the tub to grab a snack so, I just contented my self with a glass of
wine.
I carry with me my Bath and Body Works' Warm Vanilla Sugar Luxury Bubble Bath and some bath salts because I am used to that brand. But I was told that guests can also request for these necessities to their assigned residence assistant if they don't have it with them.
The shower room has a rainshower head and a handheld one. there is also a
little wooden chair at one corner perfect when you're having a steam
bath. The steam control is located near the vessel-type double sink for easy access. For those who are not familiar, the steam generator is pretty much easy to operate, with drawing signs which are all self-explanatory.
Bathroom necessities were also provided and neatly placed by the sink bar. Should the guests exhaust their supply, they can also ask from their resident assistant as well. There is also hair dryer provided inside the bathroom and it is neatly tucked in one of the cabinets underneath the sink bar where some of the towels are also located.
So, that's just about it, a little tour of the room I have stayed in at Oakwood Premier Joy-Nostalg Center Manila. I still have stories to tell about my staycation at Oakwood and there's a lot of features that this One-Bedroom Deluxe boasts of which I haven't mentioned here yet, but I will reserve that for the next posts.
Part 2 of Staycation at Oakwood Premier Manila in Ortigas
Meanwhile, heartfelt gratitude to our friends at Oakwood Premier
Joy-Nostalg Center Manila for taking care of me during my staycation.
Big thanks especially to the lovely Ms. Aleah Alam, Oakwood's PR and
Marketing Communications Executive for introducing me to the wonderful
world of Oakwood Family and for making this staycation not just memorable but the
best I have had so far.
PROMO ALERT!
Php8,500+++ for two nights? Great deal, right?
Now if you are in big group, you may opt for a Two-Bedroom Executive for only Php12,500+++ a night.
This promo includes:
· Second night accommodation is FREE!
· 25% discount on buffet breakfast
· Complimentary WiFi internet access
· Access to heated indoor pool and gym
· Complimentary late check out at 3PM (subject to availability)
Please mind that Monsoon Promotion is good until November 30, 2014 only, so, I suggest that you book a room now.
UPDATE!
Here's the complete Oakwood Premier Manila Staycation Blog Posts Series
Part 1 of Staycation at Oakwood Premier Manila
Part 2 of Staycation at Oakwood Premier Manila (Oh, That Kitchen!)
Part 3 of Staycation at Oakwood Premier Manila (Jazzy Sunday Brunch Buffet)
Oakwood Premier Joy~Nostalg Center Manila
17 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City 1600,
Philippines
Tel: (63-2) 637 7888 / (63-2) 910 8888
Fax: (63-2) 706 7777
Email: premiermanila@oakwoodasia.com
Website: www.oakwood.com
Facebook: /OakwoodManila
