One of the main factors that prompted me to do a separate blog on Muntinlupa City is my staycation at the Acacia Hotel Manila. I just loved that place! It was my first time to stay at a 5-star hotel and I really enjoyed that one night that I spent there. It was also my first time to try that staycation thingy and part of that activity would be experiencing the local vibe. Not that I'm a foreigner to the land but my staycation really taught me that there are lots of things to discover in one's backyard.
The hotel is around 3.3 km away from where I live and would take me approximately 10 minutes to get there. Its location is perfect for having a food trip because the ATC, Westgate Center and Festival Mall are just around the corner. The West Gate also offers live entertainment during Saturday nights so it's a pretty good place to hang out.
About the hotel, well, it is five star. The receptionists were very professional and spoke English without batting an eyelash. The staff were also very friendly and courteous. The deluxe king room were I stayed had the standard features of the hotels that I usually choose for my travels, like air-conditioning, toiletries, electronic safe, hot and cold water, clean pillows and linen, wi-fi access and complimentary breakfast. BUT there are some distinctions of course! For one, the wi-fi was super fast at 14mbps. It was available all throughout the hotel and I think this is essential when you are having a staycation but still want connectivity. The mattress is supposed to be customized with a memory foam pillow. The do not disturb sign is electronic and the cable TV has loads of channels to choose from. An iron and ironing board was available and there were plenty of hangers available, too. The toiletry set was great, too, and all of them smelled so lovely! Unfortunately, they did not provide bubble bath for the bath tub and there was no handheld bidet for the toilet.
Come breakfast time, well, it was overwhelming! There were so many choices and I wanted to sample everything. I could've had breakfast for 4 hours straight. It was crazy. I so regret staying up late watching all those movies and therefore waking up late too. Had I started my day earlier, I would've also been able to take advantage of the hotel's pool and fitness center. Aw, the disadvantages of being a night owl.
Surely, the next time I do a staycation, I'd head back to Acacia Hotel Manila and do everything right. I will also sample their menu for dinner just to get the whole experience.
