My head was on the crook of my hand as I slumped on the couch and felt my eyes slowly drooping. It was Sunday afternoon and my body was trained to rest all day at this time. I was in the middle of my REM state when laughter burst from somewhere. My mind wanted to scream and stop it but my body was opposing. I fell into a deep coma for an hour or so until I was awoken by the sound of, still, laughter. From our big Two-Bedroom Suite of Holiday Inn Galleria Manila, I couldn’t understand why they chose to converge in one room, and I couldn’t believe why am I sleeping at all.
It was the coolest thing ever, my friends and I are having our first ever staycation in the metro with my mom, yes, with my dear mom. It was a rainy Saturday of June when my staycation-addicted friends saw a great deal for an overnight stay at Holiday Inn Galleria Manila (check here for discounted tours, transportation and activities in Metro Manila). They booked for a Two-Bedroom Suite Room (which will be the party room) while they secured a Deluxe Room dedicated only for my mom. It was the sweetest thing from my friends.
Arriving at eleven in the morning, my mom and I breezed through Manila's traffic and arrived at the hotel earlier than everyone. We checked if our rooms were available at that time and much to my mom’s surprise, hers was. Checking in went swiftly as we had prior booking arranged. We were handed our key cards and were informed that we have complimentary welcome drinks at the in-house restaurant, the Fab Restaurant. We had some fresh juices and lounged on the comfy seats at the restaurant’s waiting area. We then went up to the 16th floor straight to my mom’s room.
 |
| Play area |
The
classy wooden paneling from the hallway and the warm lights from the lamps
created a relaxed and homey ambiance. I could feel my mom’s excitement as we
found her room. She opened the door as I tapped on the keycard, shrieks and gasps resonated throughout the room.
 |
| Classic |
Wooden
fixtures and furnishings dominated the room and the queen-sized bed felt too
big for her. Two walls were covered with glass windows creating a panoramic
view of the metro. The room also had an en suite toilet and bath (with bathtub)
separate workstation and mini bar alongside a vanity closet and a flatscreen
TV and coffee nook opposite the bed. My mom lounged on the bed, turned on the
TV and stayed there the whole day. I let her rest that whole afternoon while I
went on and checked our Two-Bedroom Suite Room on the 12th floor.
 |
| My mom's room :) |
Together
with my friends, we looked over our humble abode for the weekend while catching
up with travel stories (me and my buddy just came from our
2-month Beach Hop Asia 2016 backpacking trip).
I
was greeted by a spacious receiving area with plush sofa and end tables as I
entered the room. A bar counter housed the mini fridge, coffee and tea-making
facilities and whatnot.
 |
| Living room of our Two-Bedroom Suite |
One
wall was covered with glass windows and I went there to examine the view, the
metropolis was enveloped in thick dark clouds covering the afternoon sky
which made everything gloomy.
I
walked over to a hallway where two bedrooms and two toilet and baths were
located. The two rooms can’t be distinguished from each other as they looked the
same. The same classy wood fixtures and furnishings were utilized. Both rooms
were enclosed by floor to ceiling glass windows on two of its walls. A huge
drape over a sheer one covered it and as I pushed it aside, it revealed a nice
view of the city.
 |
| We can play hide n' seek |
 |
| Splash tub |
 |
| Bedroom number one |
As
expected, the group (we’re seven) scrambled to save their chosen spots while I
was left at the couch and laughing at their almost hunger games-ish scene just to have their own space on the beds. I
settled on the couch at the receiving area and called it my own.
We
went out for dinner, with my mom, at a nearby mall and planned our night out. We
ended up buying some alcohol and boozed up all night on the comfort of our room.
My mom would’ve joined us if not for her body clock that seemed to be dragging
her back to bed. And our own chill party ended until dawn, it’s always been
like that.
 |
| I slept on the couch while the rest of the gang were in the bedrooms |
It
was seven in the morning when I received a phone call from my mom urging us to
join her at breakfast, my friends obliged like she was their mom.
 |
| Fab Restaurant |
The
complimentary buffet breakfast was served at Fab Restaurant. At weekends, they
usually extend their brekkie hours until eleven in the morning (perfect for
those partied hard the night before). The spread was a mix of local and
international breakfast favorites with a highlight on Filipino style breakfast.
They also have a kids’ corner where cutesy plates and utensils were provided
for children as well as bite-size burgers and pasta (yes, that’s for
breakfast).
I sampled the dim sum, congee, hash brown, crispy fried bacon and silken tofu (taho). But what I enjoyed the most are the mini burger and pasta from the kids’ section, including the cutesy utensils.
 |
| Congee |
The
group went back to the room and continued the slumber party. I sunk into the
couch like a baby while a few tried to sleep and the others played around. We didn’t
have plans to go out or anything. We just relaxed and goofed around until it
was check out time. My mom had fun as my friends did too. It was totally a chill staycation at Holiday Inn Galleria Manila.
Holiday Inn Manila Galleria
One Asian Development Bank Avenue,
Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Contact Number: (+63) 2.633.7111
Email Address: higm.reservations@ihg.com
Holiday Inn Manila Galleria
One Asian Development Bank Avenue,
Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Contact Number: (+63) 2.633.7111
Email Address: higm.reservations@ihg.com
Post a Comment