Stay·ca·tion /ˌstāˈkāSHn/ noun informal – according to Google.com is “a vacation spent in one’s home country rather than abroad, or one spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions”. It is also an activity that is becoming popular with the Manileños due to the rising petrol prices and worsening traffic.
With renovation of The Linden Suites Tower 1 completed, we were invited for a couple of days for some timely R&R. I hadn’t had a vacation for almost a year. Working night shifts and a lack of sleep were taking its toll, and then there were inclement weather conditions and the electric company doing major works around my area. Sometimes, you just gotta leave it all behind.
After battling the traffic from Makati to Ortigas, I went straight to the concierge for the reservation and was politely asked if I would like a smoking or non-smoking room. From the get-go, I already liked the place. It had been 10 years since I had been here and I found the update quite homey and cozy.
With a total of 168 rooms, I was provided the one-bedroom suite with a published rate of Php15,000 a night. That includes the use of the facilities, Wi-Fi access and the buffet breakfast. Roaming around, I also had a small office space, an iron and ironing board, an electronic safe, an NDD/IDD landline phone and a walk-in closet that made me feel like a VIP whenever I went in. All that was missing was my entourage, party girls, good food, blasting music and bottles of Cristal getting passed around.
Top tip: Do check out their Facebook page, their website or call them for their monthly promotions!
However, I was there to rest and my weary and heavy head needed a place to lay on. Thank my ancestors for the queen-sized bed and pillows soft as a cloud.
Of course, I just had to check out the bathroom! It is not that huge, but what is important is that it is clean. Stacked with the essential toiletries, I really had little reason to go out of the premises. With a full-sized bathtub, a shower and running hot and cold water 24/7, I instantly knew that I would miss the place once the staycation was over.
Bathtub, hot water, cold aircon, large bed, soft pillows. Check.
Top tip: When you run out, you can always ask for more bubble foam. You can also bring your own bubble foam and bath salts!
Since it was still too early to turn in, I roamed around the hotel. Too bad the roof deck was closed because of the bad weather, but it was good to know they had a gym I could go to if I got bored.
Or if I feel like it, maybe a dip in their indoor pool and jacuzzi?
Get a relaxing massage or detoxify in their dry sauna? I just wanted to sleep the night away by then, though.
Good morning, Pasig! It seems like the weather has not let up, though. I really wanted to go to the nearby malls, but with a huge 3-day sale, the stress of walking against a herd of people would be more stressful than what it was worth.
So, where can you go from here if you hypothetically wanted to go out? Aside from the malls along EDSA, you can always visit the shopping areas and food places at Tiendesitas, MetroWalk, Home Depot, Kapitolyo and Capital Commons, all of which are just a few minutes away by taxi or if you will, by foot. Speaking of food, it is time to check out the breakfast buffet.
What’s for breakfast? Head on to the next page!
