Mommy Plannerista

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Review: Airbnb Staycation at Icon Plaza, Bonifacio Global City

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Last month, I had to attend an event for Omron Healthcare in Bonifacio Global City. It was an event I helped my friend organize. Because we had several things going on in the area during the days surrounding the event, hubby and I decided to just go on a staycation there to make things easier for us. So, we looked for a condo that we can book via Airbnb and we found one at The Icon Plaza.

Icon Plaza is located at 25th street. It’s the building right behind the area where they put up Mercato Centrale every Wednesday and Thursday nights. We liked the location because it was only a few blocks near the venue for Omron’s event. Plus, it’s also near Bonifacio High Street, Market Market and SM Aura. We booked a studio unit for a two-night stay. Here’s what the condo unit looked like.

Admittedly, the interior design of the unit isn’t really my style but the place had almost everything we wanted. First of all, it was big enough for me, hubby and our two little boys. Our two girls weren’t able to join us because we booked on weekdays and they had school.

Since the unit was a studio, it didn’t have a separate bedroom but it had a queen-size bed. The sleeping area can be separated though by the heavy drapes that the unit owner had installed. Our baby, Zander and I slept comfortably on the bed.

The unit also had a sofa bed and this is where Ziggy slept. Hubby didn’t sleep with us on the two nights we were there because he still had to go to work.

The unit had brand new appliances including a TV. Unfortunately, the only cable service they had was an ABS-CBN TV Box, which I didn’t really like because of the very limited channels. But fortunately, the owner had just installed a phone line and a strong WiFi connection. So, we just entertained ourselves with our phone and tablets when the TV shows were boring. Here’s a view of the TV from the bed. The sleeping area also had a closet and a dresser.

The dining area had bar seating, which we didn’t really use. When we ate we just used the sofa and the center table. It wasn’t really a problem though. We just used the bar to place some of our bags.

I really liked that they provided a printed card with the house rules on it. It decreased the need for us to contact the owner when we had questions. There was also this pink bag which had extension cords and the like. There was a Bluetooth speaker as well but we weren’t able to use it.

We didn’t do any cooking while we were there but we did boil water for our coffee.

The kitchen had a microwave, stove and refrigerator, plus the basic cooking and eating utensils. A sponge and dishwashing liquid was also provided.

There was one bathroom and I really liked it because it had a water heater and a bidet. Some condo units don’t have those so I really appreciated that this one did. Several towels, toilet paper as well as some toiletries were provided for our use.

The unit also had a laundry area with a washing machine but we didn’t use it.

We were free to use the amenities at the llth floor. Here’s the pool area. There were three pools, two of which were kiddie pools.

There was actually some construction at one side of the pool area. I don’t know though if they’re going to put on another pool there.

Here’s the gym, which we were free to use but weren’t able to try.

Here’s the game room, which was closed when we went there in the morning.

On our first night there, we ordered from the nearby McDonald’s through their app. But on the second night, we decided to go down to Mercato Centrale before hubby went to work. There were lots of different types of food available. Here’s some of them.

I even got extra food that we could munch on late at night. These crablets were so yummy!

After dinner that second night, I was even able to take Ziggy and Zander to a Mommy & Sons date night at Bonifacio High Street, which was only a few blocks away.

Overall, we had a really nice stay in this condo unit. Here’s a summary of what we love as well as what we think needs improvement.

What we love:

1. Location – It’s near all the places we needed to go to. We especially love that Mercato Centrale is just right outside. There’s also a 7-11, a Starbucks branch, and other restaurants at the building beside Icon Plaza.
2. Amenities – We love the pool area although the water was a bit cold that morning. All the pools were clean. Wish we were able to try the game room though.
3. Appliances – We love that the unit itself has almost complete and brand new appliances. It was also fully air-conditioned by the way.
4. Security – We love that the security in the building is strict. When we had McDonald’s food delivered, they didn’t allow the delivery guy to go up to us. We had to meet him at the lobby to get our food. It’s a bit inconvenient but it just goes to show that they don’t allow just anybody to have access to the the upper floors where the units are.
5. WiFi – The internet connection was fast and newly installed. It was not prepaid, which is what other Airbnb rentals have.
6. Communication – We hardly needed to communicate with the owner. But when we did, she responded immediately.
7. Cleanliness – The unit was spotless! Of course since this is an Airbnb rental, you have to keep the property clean. Although I’ve encountered other listings that also charge separately for home cleaning service.  The common areas in the building were also clean.

What needs improvement:

1. Parking – The unit doesn’t come with a parking spot. Even the building itself doesn’t provide pay parking. We had to park the car at the pay parking at the building beside Icon Plaza. The parking fee there doesn’t come cheap either. They charge Php 50.00 for the first 2 hours, then Php 50.00 for every succeeding hour.
2. Cable – There was no cable installed. We hardly watch local channels so we didn’t really appreciate the ABS-CBN TV Box they had.

That said, we do recommend this unit for a nice, quiet staycation. This is only our second time to book an Airbnb rental (the first was in Eastwood). Because we had another pleasant experience this time around, we won’t hesitate to book again next time.

For more information about this rental, click here.

Our First AirBnB Staycation in Eastwood City

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Last April, I attended the first PlannerCon Manila in Eastwood City in Libis, Quezon City. It was a whole day event on a Saturday. Because we don’t live near that area, hubby and I decided to check in somewhere there the day before so that I won’t need to rush to the venue on Saturday morning. Also, he would have an easier time handling our two little boys on his own since I won’t be wasting time traveling to and from the venue.

My boys strolling in Eastwood City

Instead of booking a hotel though, we decided to try an Airbnb staycation in Eastwood. We had never booked any rentals through Airbnb before so this was a new experience for us. There were so many options but we finally decided on a studio type condo unit at the Eastwood Le Grand Tower 3.

We chose this specific unit because it’s walking distance to the convention venue, which was at the Eastwood Richmonde Hotel. Plus, the unit was just right for us (2 adults and 2 kids) and had the amenities we were looking for. There was also a lot of good reviews for the unit.

We were expecting to check in only for Friday night until Saturday but there was a minimum stay requirement of 2 nights, which actually worked great for us. The price of Php 2,500 a night was also not that bad. Although I checked the listing again recently and the price is now down to Php 1,684 a night only. I think we were charged higher then because we booked during the peak of summer season. The good thing though is that the owner doesn’t charge a cleaning fee. The only additional cost was the service fee, which was less than Php 500.

Check in was fast and easy. We just had to register at the front desk then we were directed to the elevators. There were a lot of elevators so the wait to ride one never lasted more than a couple of minutes.

Check in to the unit itself was likewise easy. We were given the combination key to a lock box located by the door. Upon opening it, the key to the unit was inside. I love how very secure the system is.

Here’s what the unit looked like.

There’s only one queen size bed but there was also a sofa bed so 4 people can be accommodated in the unit.

Actually, I think if we brought our two teen daughters with us, we would still fit in there. The 3 oldest kids can fit in the sofa bed while the baby can share the bed with hubby and I.

The unit also had an aircon, a TV with Sky Cable and a WiFi connection. There was one cabinet as well with a few hangers inside.

Here’s what the kitchen and dining area looked like. I like that there was a refrigerator, an electric kettle, a microwave and small stove.

There were also cookware, dining ware and utensils that you can use. The dining table was small though and only had two chairs but that wasn’t really a problem for us.

 

Here’s what the bathroom looked like. It had a shower with hot and cold water.

It had a toilet and a nice big sink. There were also a couple of towels available for use within the unit. The only thing I didn’t like in the bathroom is that there was no bidet or water dipper, which made washing dirty kids a bit challenging.

The Eastwood Le Grand Tower 3 has several amenities, including a swimming pool, gym, indoor playroom and outdoor playground. We were only interested in swimming though. Here’s what the pool looked like.

A small part of the pool is for the kids. Incidentally, this was our baby Zander’s first swimming experience!

The bigger pool wasn’t that deep. I think it was only up to 6 feet deep.

I love that the pool was kept clean at all times. We were able to swim on Friday afternoon and Sunday morning and loved it.

I also love that there were male and female wash rooms nearby with a couple of shower stalls.

At the same floor of the pool were the gym, as well as the indoor and outdoor playground. We weren’t able to visit the gym and indoor playground though but here’s a photo of the outdoor playground.

I should also mention that the unit we got had a great view of the pool and was away from direct sunlight so it was never hot when we were there.

The unit is owned by Jerry (check out the listing here). My hubby was the one who communicated with him. He had nothing negative to say about his experience in communicating with him. In fact, my hubby left a glowing review of this unit on Airbnb as you can see below.

Overall, we truly enjoyed our stay here. The unit was clean when we got there (trash was picked up twice a day!). We immediately felt at home. Everything in the unit worked nicely.

We really liked that we can go out of the building and there were already so many restaurants and convenience stores to choose from for when it was time to eat. The mall was also a stone’s throw away.

Ziggy having fun at the Eastwood mall!

The only downside to this rental is that it doesn’t have it’s own parking space. Hubby had to park at the mall and that cost about Php 300 a night, if I remember correctly.

Our first Airbnb staycation in Eastwood City was certainly one to remember. We definitely recommend this rental and look forward to booking it again next time.

Have a #ZooFunEaster at BEST WESTERN PLUS Antel Hotel!

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Have you made any plans yet for Easter Sunday? Well, if you’re looking for a fun place to take your kids for Easter egg hunting, check out the #ZooFunEaster event at the BEST WESTERN PLUS Antel Hotel.

 

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I’ve been to this hotel once last year when I attended an event and back then I told myself that I’ll be back to explore it more. This year, I’ll finally get that chance when I take my family to their Easter event. If you’re not yet familiar with the hotel, here’s some info about it.

BEST WESTERN PLUS Antel Hotel is the most premium Best Western brand in the country today as we are a PLUS! With three distinct towers with more than 400 all-suite rooms, A.Venue Mall, and open parking that accommodates HOTT Asia, we are the biggest property with full amenities that features the biggest swimming pool and parking space that guarantees best staycation for either leisure and business or both.

BEST WESTERN PLUS Antel Hotel is located at A. VENUE , 7829 Makati Avenue, Makati City. The Zoo Fun Easter event will be held at the hotel’s Veneto Function Room, on Sunday, April 5, 2015, at 10 a.m. Proud sponsors of the event include the Zoomanity Group, SM The Market Place and Manila Bulletin.

So, what can you expect from the event? The ticket price of Php 700.00 will provide access to the following:

  • Magicians and clowns for kid interactions
  • Delectable children-friendly lunch from Granvia Café
  • Easter Egg-Hunt
  • Kid activity
  • Kiddie lootbags
  • Reading materials from Manila Bulletin

Aside from these, participants can also expect some exciting surprises such as:

  • Raffle prizes (ex. overnight accommodation for best in costume male & female)
  • Tickets and more prizes from Zoomanity Group (Residence Inn Tagaytay, Zoocobia in Clar, Zoobic Safari, etc)
  • More!

For those of you who wish to have a staycation at the hotel this Easter, do check out this promo of theirs.

 

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If you are interested to purchase tickets or have inquiries, do visit the Facebook event page. You can also check out the hotel online through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or YouTube or on their website at www.antelhotel.com.

Hope to see you there!

Staycation at Midas Hotel and Casino

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It has been three weeks now since our staycation at Midas Hotel and Casino. The fact that I’m only blogging about it now just goes to show how busy I have been these past few weeks. There has been work, work, work, and more work. I’m not complaining, though, just saying! #thrive #OneWord

So, anyway, we checked in at the hotel on a Sunday, January 18. That was the long weekend when Pope Francis came to visit the country. I’ve been planning for a staycation at Midas since December when I won a gift certificate for an overnight stay in their one bedroom executive suite during the launch of their Kids Zone. Yeah, lucky, lucky me!

Initially, I wanted to go on my birthday (coming in less than two weeks!) but when the Pope came, we just couldn’t pass up the chance to see him. So we booked at Midas that weekend instead because I found out that Pope Francis’ motorcade will be passing by in front of the hotel come Monday morning on his way to his flight home.

We got to Midas around 2 pm in time for check in but were informed that our room wasn’t available yet. Apparently, the occupants went to the Pope’s mass at Quirino Grandstand. So, we were given a temporary room first, which was a junior suite. We stayed there for about 5 hours.

In Midas, guests of the rooms at the executive floors are given access to their Executive Lounge from 4 – 8 pm where they can partake of cocktails for free. Of course, hubby and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity so we took our brood there only to find out that they don’t allow kids 12 years old and below there.

So, the kids ended up going back to the room where we ordered them room service. Hubby and I went back to the lounge by ourselves. I was actually happy for that because these days we never get time alone. As in, never!

Now prepare yourselves to be bombarded by photos.

Here are the photos we took at the lounge. We really liked it there because there were several very comfortable couches, plus TVs as well. You can also go out to the balcony for a view of Roxas Boulevard, which is especially beautiful come sunset.

While we were there the front desk called to inform the lounge attendant that our one bedroom executive suite was ready for us already. By then, hubby and I had already stuffed ourselves silly that we didn’t really have to have dinner anymore after.

Here’s what the bedroom looks like. It’s so big. It has a king bed, a couch, dresser, cabinet and of course, the bathroom. The room had it’s own TV and iPhone/iPad dock.

The suite also has a very spacious living room area, with a big L-shaped couch, two bar areas and TV.  This is where we spent the rest of the night watching movies.

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The next morning before we went outside to Roxas Boulevard to wait for Pope Francis, we had our free buffet breakfast first. Last December, I was able to try the brunch buffet at Midas. This was the first time we tried the breakfast. Here’s some photo overload again.

There was a lot of people that morning. Apparently the hotel was fully booked because of the Pope. But it was still a pleasant dining experience. I love that there are a lot of breakfast options from breads, cereals, yogurts, salads, rice and viands, fruits, desserts and drinks.

Check out time was supposed to be at 11 a.m. but we were allowed to check out late because it took them five hours to send us to our room during check in. I requested to check out at 5 p.m. and they happily obliged.

I was really happy for the late check out because that meant that hubby and I could partake again of the cocktail buffet at the lounge. Normally, they only give one free buffet session for an overnight stay. However, I also had a voucher for a free cocktail buffet for two. Hahaha! So, of course, hubby and I went to the lounge again before checking out.

Overall, we had a really nice stay. I’m glad we had our first staycation for the year at Midas. The goal was to have a relaxing stay there while waiting to see the Pope and that’s exactly what we had. The kids enjoyed it as well. Ziggy actually didn’t want to go back home anymore. Hahaha!

Can’t wait for our next vacation!

 

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