Every once in a while, I crave an escape from my busy schedule of frantically shifting between being hunched over a laptop writing for hours straight and traveling all over Metro Manila to attend brand events. The life of an editor for WhenInManila.com can get tiring—and if there is any opportunity to unwind and recharge with a weekend staycation at a hotel within the city, you can be sure that I’d seize it straight away.
Holiday Inn & Suites Makati, which is located just beside the bustling Glorietta Mall and just celebrated its 10th year anniversary on April 1, is a prime spot for taking that well-deserved break without going too far from Manila. I had the privilege of staying at this five-star hotel for a night with no other plan in mind than to cozy up in my king-sized bed and read a book with all my phone notifications turned off.
And that was exactly what I did—for once, shutting out all the noise that stressed me daily. It didn’t take much to settle into this bubble of peacefulness too; with such a spacious room to freely walk around, a work desk with a multimedia panel, free Internet, a TV with a variety of channels to suit your needs, and—my favorite when staying at IHG Hotels—the separate Soft and Firm pillows to ensure a restful sleep, I felt like I had everything I could ever need to enjoy my temporary respite.
Staying at Holiday Inn & Suites Makati, I couldn’t deprive myself of the chance to dine at their Flavors Restaurant where I indulged in all sorts of cuisines and their not-to-be-missed steak carving section. I didn’t even care if other people watched me eat a plateful of tender steak alone. But I was really after their iconic Crepe Samurai dessert. (Honestly, if I could take the whole tray to my table, I would.)
Amid the hot summer days, one highlight of this hotel stay is the roof deck’s outdoor pool and sky bar where I spent lounging, unbothered, underneath the stars.
And with Glorietta Mall being so close (there’s convenient access from the lobby to the mall without going out), I even ran some errands and unapologetically did retail therapy.
Yes, it was only a short stay at Holiday Inn & Suites Makati but I remember going home the next day filled with a sense of calm, loosened knots, and just one thing on my mind: I should do this more often.
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