Alabang in Muntinlupa City is my secret happy place. Its proximity to where we live and its accessibility by both private and public transportation are definitely an advantage. I like how it resonates an urban vibe yet it does not feel as bustling as the other business districts in Metro Manila. Here, I somehow feel “detached.” So, everytime I need to escape from the chaotic world outside, and I have no plans (or budget) to buy a plane ticket and go out of town, chances are, you will catch me having a staycation in Alabang.
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| The hotel’s main lobby at the eighth floor |
This place on earth boasts world-class Filipino hotel brands. One of the newest hotels in the vicinity is Crimson Hotel Filinvest City. Last weekend, after a hectic week at work, we thought of having a quick getaway, and what a better way to spend a hot Saturday but to give the newest kid on the block a try. Perfect timing as Crimson Hotel Filinvest City has a “weekend holiday” promo, which includes an overnight stay, buffet breakfast for two at Cafe Eight and afternoon tea for two at the Lobby Lounge.
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| A beautiful fountain at the main lobby |
Getting there:
Crimson Hotel Filinvest City is conveniently located within the newly-developed Entrata Urban Complex on Civic Drive. It’s just a few steps away from famous shopping hubs: Festival Supermall and South Station. If you’ll bring your own car, from SLEX, take the SkyWay and exit in Alabang. From our place in Osmena, driving through this route takes less than 30 minutes. There are also buses plying this route which entail around 30-45 minutes travel time. Make sure to take the one that will pass through the SkyWay. If you’re a bit adventurous, there’s also a train that goes to Alabang, with a station at the back of Starmall. From there, you can just walk your way to Entrata Urban Complex. The Entrata building is hard to miss as it has a huge name on top of the glass-and-steel building.
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| The elevator lobby at the 21st floor |
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| The hallway |
Checking-in:
When we finally arrived at the entrance of Crimson Hotel Filinvest City, I must admit I wasn’t that impressed at first. The concierge is similar to an office building reception. What I didn’t know was that it wasn’t the main hotel’s main reception. When we went up to the 8th floor where the main hotel lobby is, I was stunned. The opulent lighting fixtures, the plush seats, and the beautiful water fountain were spellbinding.
I approached the lady at the reception, gave my name and reservation code. Since the room booked for us (a Premier room) was not available yet, she was so gracious to upgrade us to an Executive room. I was asked to present a valid ID and pay an incidental deposit of Php 2,000. The incidental deposit was refunded upon checkout, with all incidental charges deducted. If you don’t have cash, you may use your credit card and they will reverse it as soon as you get cleared upon check out.
The lady gave us two keycards and the wireless internet password, as well as briefed us about the afternoon tea and breakfast schedules. After that, hubby, Akisha and I went to our room at the 21stfloor.
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| Our bedroom for a night |
The Executive Room
Our room, sitting pretty at a corner, exudes modern elegance with its well-curated contemporary furniture and decor. The king-sized bed is as soft as a giant cotton ball, and the linens are comfy and clean. The huge glass windows command a nice view of the cityscape. At around 5:30 pm, the window gives a panoramic view of the breathtaking sunset.
For added convenience, there’s also a safety deposit box, flat iron and ironing board, and hair dryer in the room. Laundry services are also available upon request.
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| Akisha enjoying the comfy bed at The Crimson |
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| View from our room |
There’s a writing desk where I enjoyed composing an article while the sun painted the skies tangerine. Luxury conveniences like wireless internet, LED TV and coffee- and tea-making facilities are also available. There’s a refrigerator, but we did not see it until hubby was trying to look for a laundry bag, because it was hidden inside a cabinet with faux drawer design just below the television. All the while we thought there was no fridge inside the room.
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| The fridge was hidden in the “drawer-like” cabinet below the TV |
For added convenience, there’s also a safety deposit box, flat iron and ironing board, and hair dryer in the room. Laundry services are also available upon request.
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| Coffee and tea all day |
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| Iron and board |
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| Safety deposit box that can fit a laptop |
The bathroom is another story. While I find it incomplete not to have a bath tub in a hotel room meant for business and discerning travellers, I was impressed by the rain and hand held showers at the bathroom. I love Hansgrohe showers that in fact, I was so ecstatic when I had the chance to have a one-on-one interview with the owner, Philip Grohe, at the launch of their first showroom in the Philippines last year. What made me more thrilled was when I got my own hand-held Hansgrohe shower as a token that night! For some, this might sound like an exaggeration, but I really feel that this kind of shower makes bathing a more enjoyable experience. The water pressure is just right and actually feels soothing to the skin. There’s also a massage feature on the hand-held shower that makes the water pressure even stronger. The signature bathroom amenities are basic: shampoo and conditioner, bath foam, soap, and body lotion.
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| The half glassenclosed shower |
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| Hansgrohe shower |
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| The vanity dresser |
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| Bath amenities |
The Facilities
As soon as we organized our stuff inside our room, we went down again at the eighth floor to check out other hotel facilities that we can enjoy during our stay. Our first stop was the swimming pool, which was divided into a long kiddie pool and a lap pool. I love the fact that the kiddie pool is right in front of The Deck Bar – the hotel’s poolside bar and lounge that serves delectable light snacks and refreshing drinks like beer, cocktails and smoothies. It lets me watch over Akisha while we’re having some refreshments. There’s also a lifeguard (a strict one at that) manning the swimming pool all day. Further beside the kiddie pool is a whole lot of plush Dedon loungers including the (perhaps) most photographed piece on the pool area – the iconic Dedon Nest lounger. Here, you can just chill out and read a book while your loved ones are enjoying a dip into the pool.
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| Lap pool on the left, kiddie pool on the right |
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| The Deck Bar |
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| Perfect for sunbathing |
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| More tables and loungers |
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| Akisha on the iconic Dedon Nest lounger |
The Deck Bar also transforms into a barbecue buffet on some nights. When we were there, the hotel had participated in the worldwide Earth Hour, so there’s a barbecue buffet and special beer promo.
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| Grilling by the poolside |
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| The pool deck during Earth Hour |
Not so far away from the pool is the Pastry and Sandwich Corner that offers a wide array of gourmet sandwiches, cakes, pastries, truffles, wine and cheese perfect for those who are on-the-go or for someone looking for substantial gifts to their loved ones.
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| Pastry and Sandwich Corner |
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| Cakes and truffles |
Across the Pastry and Sandwich Bar is the fitness center, which features state-of-the-art exercise equipment, from treadmills to weights and a lot more. There are also certified gym instructors to supervise your fitness needs. I did not get a chance to check if there is a wet area (steam bath, Jacuzzi, or sauna) but it would have been nice if the fitness center has one.
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| At the Fitness Center |
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| Weights for everyone |
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| Fresh towels await |
Afternoon Tea at the Lobby Lounge
The weekend holiday promo also includes scrumptious afternoon tea for two persons at the hotel’s Lobby Lounge. The lounge has a warm and cosy atmosphere made more elegant by spectacular lighting fixtures. We had a pot of aromatic Earl Grey tea, and about 20 minutes later, the three-tiered canapé tray arrived, fully-stocked with luscious cookies, scones, petit sandwiches (smoked salmon and cream cheese, tuna, and ham and cheese with pesto mayo dressing), and sinful desserts like slices of black forest cake, mini fruit tarts, and cheesecakes. The set also comes with three spreads: zesty lemon cream, blueberry preserves, and Chantilly cream. Akisha couldn’t get enough of the blueberry preserves – she puts it on cookies and cheesecake!
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| Afternoon Tea Set |
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| The Lobby Lounge |
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| Cookies and scones |
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| Desserts |
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| The smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwich is a winner |
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| Dips and spreads |
The Breakfast at Cafe Eight
Included also in the promo is buffet breakfast for two adults and children below five years old (Akisha is turning five this April) at the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, Cafe Eight.
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| The elegant bar at Cafe Eight |
The expansive buffet offers a variety of choices, from the freshest fruits in season, to sinful crispy bacon, to artisanal breads. I started with the bread corner where there were mini doughnuts, ensaymada, cheese rolls, soft buns, and a lot more. There’s also a fine selection of cheeses, though I did not find my favourites, brie and goat cheese.
Hubby started with the fruit station, while Akisha had her first dose of congee at the soup station. The soup station offers egg drop soup and congee, complete with a selection of toppings and condiments. I had clear egg drop soup with tons of boiled shrimps, sesame oil, pork strips and liver. It was so hearty that I almost ended up not being able to try the other dishes on display!
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| Fruit Station |
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| Breads galore |
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| Akisha loves the doughnuts |
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| Cheesy start |
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| Condiments at the bread station |
I also had a plate of cold cuts, of which my favourites were smoked salmon, beef pastrami and smoked pork loin. These, paired with a light fusilli salad rich with homemade Caesar dressing, olives and croutons, are so delicious that a second helping is a must.
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| Fusilli Salad |
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| My cold cuts plate |
For the mains, there were bacon, burger in mushroom sauce, sausages, country fried chicken with béchamel sauce, and a lot more. If you’re like me who loves bacon, make sure to get a slice or two the moment you enter the dining outlet as it disappears in a snap! It was sinfully delicious.
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| Bacon (sorry, didn’t do justice to the warm red lighting) |
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| Burger in mushroom sauce |
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| Sausages |
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| Country fried chicken in Bechamel sauce |
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| My last piece of bacon |
There’s also a pancake, waffles and brioche station complete with jams and marmalades. Akisha had a pancake with blueberries and honey.
Capping my meal was a bowl of blueberry and strawberry yogurt topped with almonds and chocolate chips. There was no plain yogurt that time.
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| Cereals and milk |
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| Yogurt, almonds and chocolate chips |
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| The bustling Cafe Eight |
So by now you might have figured out why I love having a staycation in Alabang, and I hope that by reading this, I was able to encourage you to do the same. Alabang might be a bit far, but with the right timing and with the SkyWay, travel time to this place down south seems immaterial. Oh, and by the way, did I mention that the hotel has a complimentary shuttle service to any point in Filinvest City? Indeed, they have.
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| Another spectacular view from our room |
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For promos and updates, please check out:
Crimson Hotel Filinvest City, Manila
Entrata Urban Complex, 2609 Civic Drive,
Filinvest City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City 1781, Philippines
Tel. No.: (+63 2) 863-2222
Email: info.alabang@crimsonhotel.com
Twitter: @Crimson_Alabang
Facebook: CrimsonFlinvestCity
Travelogues by Matet Garcia-Reyes 