Crimson Hotel – Filinvest City, Manila

The sky turned into its radiant hues of blue as me and my buddies lounged at the pool deck. On the outside, everybody looked busy, but we all felt empty inside. nobody was saying anything since we checked out. It was melancholy and pleasure all at the same time. It seemed like nobody wanted to leave yet. And then I realized, we didn’t leave the comforts of Crimson Hotel since we checked in the day before, this was a first for teamRH.

Our lovely weekend just ended and after two days of non-stop laughter, we needed to go. This and fun chitchats have become the theme of our hotel staycations. This time, we didn’t know that it would be this fun.

Being a northern gal, I’ve only been to the cosmopolitan city of Alabang only once. So while our cabbie entered the Alabang premises, I couldn’t take my eyes off our refreshing neighborhood for the weekend. We’re in the south y’all, I kept muttering as my buddies were glued on the street. Standing tall, Crimson Hotel was gleaming in shades of blue.

The troop of eight entered the lobby at the ground floor and got too absorbed with the art pieces that adorned the foyer. We then went at the formal lobby on the 8th floor for the processing of our reservations.

The formal lobby was like an art gallery. The installation pieces blended pretty well with the lush design. Aptly named as The Gallery, the luxurious hub is located at the heart of all that’s happening. I love how all the public spaces are located at the same floor; the Café Eight, Grand Ballroom, Reception, Lobby Lounge, Meeting Rooms, Fitness Center, Swimming Pool and Deck Bar.

We were about to proceed in checking in but were captured by the very inviting Lobby Lounge. It was one hour past noon and everyone on the lobby seemed to be enjoying their leisure time.

The group decided to sample the Afternoon Tea Set that was offered at the lounge. It included a plate of various sandwiches, tower of sweet goodies and a pot of tea. And it was chamomile for me. The soothing hot tea complemented the cute little foodstuff on our table. At P550, it was really a steal and it was actually the first time the group enjoyed tea time.

Afternoon tea

It was around three in the afternoon when the group decided to proceed in checking in. The front desk staff approached us and processed our reservations while we were at the lounge, still enjoying our tea.

There were four Deluxe rooms (check room types and rates) reserved for the whole team, all of which were located on the same floor. This was the first time that we would all be neighbors. I could imagine myself knocking on their doors for whatever reason.

Billeted on a Deluxe Twin Room, I tapped the key card to my room and earth tones with champagne hues welcomed me. The cool breeze from the AC was so refreshing from the hellish temperature outside. It was so quiet and peaceful that the only sound came from my own footfalls on the carpeted floor.

Deluxe Twin Room

My room for the weekend was well-equipped with twin bed with comfy duvet and fluffy pillows, 40” flat screen T.V. with local and international channels, work station with individual lamp, coffee nook, individually-controlled air conditioning with ERV technology, mini-bar, coffee and tea-making facilities, in-room safe, iron and ironing board, and more.

The toilet and bath provided lush amenities. The lighted make-up and shaving mirror was just lovely.

What I loved most about our room was the full glass window that opens up to the vast greeneries of the southern metro. And there’s a window ledge that’s reminiscent of a bay window (check here for discounted tours, transportation and activities in Metro Manila).

A catnap followed as I laid my body on the bed. The thirty-minute doze was refreshing. I rose and slowly walked toward the window and pushed aside the drapes. The sun was starting to set so I climbed up the window ledge, tucked myself on a corner and escaped the world with the amazing view.

Window ledge is love!

It was six in the evening and the sky roared as it signaled its cyclic afternoon thunderstorms. It was also our sign to storm the buffet dinner offered at Café Eight. The in-house restaurant of Crimson Hotel offers an all-day dining with special International buffet breakfast and dinner.

Cafe Eight

Cafe Eight Bar

The buffet spread was a mix of Asian and Mediterranean cuisines from Southern Europe and Middle Eastern Regions. It was quite unique. I loved the spicy anchovies and fresh pomelo salad (with anchovies). I also frequented the nacho pasta stations.

Nachos - my happiness!

Spicy dilis/anchovies - really yummy

After the sumptuous feast, we all headed to the pool area for cocktails at the Deck Bar. The open-air bar features Dedon Nestrest loungers that I only experienced on luxury resorts. There was an on-going promo at that time, for P499, we enjoyed two hours of unlimited cocktails that included local beers and sodas (6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.).

Deck Bar

And as expected, we made the most of the unlimited drinks and extended some more at the deck and noticed that we were the only ones left after midnight. We originally planned to spend the rest of the night somewhere but that didn’t happen. All eight of us relocated on one of the rooms and took advantage of the fast WiFi internet connection and checked out cheap airfare promos.

It was three in the morning. While the rest of the city slept the night away, we all were inside a room and booking a promo fare to Davao same time next year. We’re crazy like that. At around four in the morning, we all felt our stomach moaning in protest, all in perfect unison. And then food delivery from our favorite chicken in the world followed.

The hullabaloo ended at five in the morning when one my buddies threatened everyone that if we won’t leave his room, he might as well transfer to a different one for us to continue our madness. We sheepishly went out of the room and burst into laughter as we dragged ourselves to our own rooms.

It was almost lunchtime when my body returned to the world. I was freaking out for we already missed the complimentary breakfast but was shushed by my buddy as we could still catch the Sunday Brunch (P1,600 for non-guests). After a refreshing shower, I went out and awoke my buddies. As usual, they were all lifeless as I invaded their rooms.

Unique dishes

Crustaceans = Love!

The Sunday brunch crowd composed of families and friends, all seemed to be happy with their meals. This was, again, a first for my team for we really want to laze more in the morning and the usual 10 a.m. max time for hotel breakfasts was too early for us. So we headed at the Café Eight at around eleven in the morning and spent almost three hours on the feast.

We headed back on the same communal room we had hours ago and decided to watch an indie film. It was Y Tu Mama Tambien on the list and we spent almost two hours of laughter and unsolicited comments regarding the film.

And as expected, again, we checked out late at around four in the afternoon and went straight to the pool and took a quick dip.

Happiness is an understatement

It was around sundown as we all settled at The Deck and lounged on the couches. Nobody seemed to be leaving anytime soon. It was definitely a fun-filled weekend. And the best thing about it was that we need not go out the comforts of the hotel for it to be so. Crimson Hotel totally provided an extraordinary experience for its guests that you don’t wanna leave anymore. This will be the standard we’ll be looking for in our next staycations.

TeamRH plus one minus three :)

Crimson Hotel – Filinvest City, Manila (book online)

Entrata Urban Complex, 2609 Civic Drive, Filinvest City,

Alabang, Muntinlupa City

Contact Number: (+63) 2.863.2222

Email Address: info.alabang@crimsonhotel.com
~ Lobby Lounge
Open Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
~ Deck Bar
Open Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight
~ Cafe Eight
Breakfast: 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Dinner: 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Ala Carte Menu: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight