Living an Intercontinental Life -- Istilong Maynila
5:09 PMDo you live an intercontinental life?
Intercontinental life is centered around one's passion for travelling. I, myself is a reluctant traveler, not my passion but hello... it isn't that hard to like. Due to some factors, (i.e. time, ehherrmmm! money, work) I'm tied to where I am today. (huhuhuhu!) Once in awhile, every time given a chance, I make my way to explore the world, once or twice a year?! naaahhh! Just once! (can we figure out what we keep doing wrong...) LOL!
Moving on... After several years, I've got the chance to experience the hotel with the famous tag line of "Do you live an intercontinental life?"
InterContinental Hotel Manila is just across the road from Glorietta and Greenbelt shopping centers. It's ideally located in the heart of the central business district and pretty close to everything. The hotel is specifically situated at 1 Ayala Avenue, EDSA, Manila 3117 . It was designed by the Philippine national artist, Leandro Locsin.
Luckily for this stay, IC Manila had their points break promotion for frequent guests of their property who joined Priority Club Rewards Program. Membership is free, no annual fee at all, you just earn points whenever you stay at one of their hotels and when you have enough points you can redeem it for a free hotel night stay. A member earns 10points for every 1 USD and best of all points doesn't expire! (Tara na! Join na!). From the standard 30,000 points per room, per stay it goes all the way down to 5,000 points. Just like hot pan cakes, it was sold out before we knew it and all that was left is April 13.
For this stay it was sponsored by Erinssi, unfortunately friends are tied to work until 0830pm while me, hehehe! I'm free as early as 1130am (I did OT that's why!). As soon as the bell rang (parang school lang kuware), I'm off to IC Manila which is about 2 or 3 km from our office. Upon check in, I gave my beautiful name (ehhheerrrmm!) while the front desk was processing my check in, I forgot to mention that we require a smoking room. I was given a 2 double beds deluxe non smoking room. Uncontrollably my eyes are shutting down, I accepted the nonsmoking room since they've promised to switch it later to a room of my choice.
InterContinental Hotel Manila offers 333 guest rooms and suites that boast every comfort and guarantee an enjoyable and unforgettable visit. Compare to Holiday Inn Galleria Manila and Crowne Plaza their rooms are kinda smaller, I really dunno, uhmm maybe because of the low ceiling or the room is just full of amenities to enjoy. Anyhow each of their rooms has the basic needs, i.e. broadband internet access, flat screen television, electronic safe, ergonomic work station, AM/FM alarm, mini bar, mini fridge, coffeemaker, iron and board, private bathroom, shower over bathtub, bathroom amenities and most especially the hair dryer.
After several clicks, (digicam sponsored by Jenju, thank you sssooo much!), I decided to take a rest after a very tiring double shift, my body started deteriorating, (well not literally! halluurr!) Monee dropped by to have a safe and sound sleep courtesy of the AC in the room. The hot scorching weather makes our apartment somehow like a 32 square meters O-V-E-N, and what that makes us.. uhhmm dough??!! charla!
Fast Forward >>
About two and half hours, DING! DONG! (aayy mali! ala pala doorbell sa rooms ng IC) I was awaken by sweet knocks on the door, and when I opened it, our huggie bear is at the door. It's been awhile since we have our little sweet bitch in one of our escapades, so our sleepiness subside and we turned into silly jumping monkeys, cute silly jumping monkeys! Just like a protocol, we did our goofy faces and signature poses to please the digi cam (ung digi cam tlga??!!) Charla!
Now to answer the questions of you're rumbling tummy, oohhh yes! Intercontinental Hotel Manila offers the best food, hang out and especially the experience. First stop Cafe Jeepney. The feel good patriotic effect of the place (uuhmm I think because of the Jeepney) offers a sumptuous mouth watering meal. Well to tell you frankly I haven't experience the place, I just saw it. Who wouldn't?! the Cafe Jeepney is located at the ground floor level. Very visible upon my check in. Every Intercontinental hotel shows the culture of it's country. The Cafe Jeepney makes the IC Manila very Filipinize (uhmmm if there's such a word!) Cafe Jeepney operates Monday to Sunday 0630am till 1000pm.
And now let's proceed to Prince Albert Rotisserie which offers french and continental foodies. The restaurant is open during lunch and dinner only. And for those who wants to chill and relax with a totally aged wine to sip on your right hand (if you prefer left, gooo!! LOL) and good playing music on the background, the place to be is Gambrinus: Piano Bar. They do offer live entertainment which I saw as well, uhhh I mean heard. We are at the lobby area meeting some friends, when we heard the band do some acoustic jamming. Uhhmm and they really sounded good. Soon I'll experience the good food, good music (errr while sipping champagne. LOL!), and i'll have an INTERCONTINENTAL tummy... soon!! :D
Until the clock strikes at 0900, friends fresh from work about to arrive. Unfortunately monee and huggie bear needs to leave because of work and family. I strolled the nearby mall while I was waiting for the gang. Soon as they arrived we decided to have our dinner in the mall before heading back to the hotel.
Upon returning at the hotel, we bumped into some friends that was checked in too that night. Lycelle and Aimer kept us for awhile in the lobby for some chit-chat (Topic of discussion: Welcome Fruits for Priority Gold and Platinum members!), and we made a pact to do swimming early morning the next day..(yiihheeee!! swimming! swimming!! Did I use early on my sentence?! uurrgghh!).
Why won't I love InterContinental Manila?! When we returned to our room that night they gave the room that we wanted, two double beds on a smoking floor. Hurrah! Let the party started!!! Anyhow I have my sisters with me living the Intercontinental life.. este night...
We also have Jenju into the party but not for long since her parents are strict(hoontaarrayyy dba??!!). She was too camera shy that she preferred to be behind the camera. Just so you know her, here she is...
So what else to do after an eight hours or so of hardwork.... ooohh yeaahh man! It's time to unwind. Unwind which is synonyms of NOMO (drinking session), so we prepared a little for this little unwind-slash-party-slash-nomo session. Mapple reserved a room for him/herself as well, so we just decided to do the unwind-slash-party-slash-nomo session in his room. Noms! Noms! Noms! Army Honor, What you see, what you hear, when you leave, leave it here! And the nomo session ended! :b
and then non-stop photo ops...
So this stay won't be complete without having a quick dip in their pool. As expected early morning didn't happen, I was 2 hours behind my early morning. So even with an throbbing head (damn alcohol!) I changed into my swimming attire and off to the pool area. Here meet the IC swimming pool...
Outdoor pool is available starting 0600am till 1000pm. They do have life guards around so no need to fret if you dunno how to swim. :D They also have Sol Y Sombra which their poolside snack bar, open Monday-Sunday 1000am-1000pm.
After an hour of swim we decided to return to our room, and I took a quick hot bath (pang mayaman tlga??! where's my rubber duckie??!) Afterwards I slept l like baby until the check out time. IC Manila was soo nice that they allowed us to have a late check at 0200pm. I thank you! :D
I have to say that the staff were all friendly, professional and very attentive. Although we had a slight problem when we checked out but that's okay since the front desk sincerely apologize. I'm sure coming back, hopefully they'll have points break promotions again! yiiihhhee!!
Cheers to a night of InterContinental Living!
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