Hotels

Hotel Jen Manila – Great Value and Pleasantly Surprising

June 26, 2015 by Bino 2 Comments

Looking at Hotel Jen Manila (the former Traders Hotel Manila) from the outside, one would be forgiven to skip the unassuming facade while speeding past Roxas Boulevard. The Hotel Jen name is at once mysterious as it is seemingly disproportional to the mature building that houses it. Following a global rebranding effort by the Shangri-la group, almost all Traders hotels were renamed to Hotel Jen as part of efforts to effectively segment the two brands under the group. The name Jen is meant to exude a youthful and travel-savvy persona, in effect contrasting nicely with the Himalayan luxury that the Shangri-la flagship brand is supposed to imbibe.

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A Humongous 8,000 Square Meter Ballroom Just Opened & It’s at Marriott Manila

June 25, 2015 by Bino Leave a Comment

Trust the Marriott for doing things in a big way! The hotel group, through its property within Resorts World Manila, the Marriott Manila, just opened the largest ballroom in the Philippines with a total of 8,000 square meters of function space. The complex has several spaces for meetings and celebrations, from intimate meeting rooms to the grand ballroom with a capacity for 4,000 guests, a 3,000 square meter hall that’s so long it can probably double as a racing track. It really is a new step for the fledgling MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) industry in the Philippines with a new venue like this.

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Hotel Review: Plaza Hotel Balanga – Accessible Luxury at the Heart of Balanga’s Plaza Mayor

June 23, 2015 by Bino Leave a Comment

The humble, newly proclaimed city of Balanga is probably not a place where one would expect to find a boutique hotel of international standards. Relatively untouristed, Balanga has a population of less than 100,000 and is often a transit point for those heading to the tourist attractions of Bataan. It was actually by accident that I discovered The Plaza Hotel in Balanga, Bataan. I was reading about how the plaza mayor or the central square of Balanga, Bataan was being spruced up to look similar to those in Spain when I chanced upon the property. Located right smack at the plaza mayor, the hotel facade was constructed in the Spanish colonial style and looks especially atmospheric in the evenings when floodlit.

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A Heritage Staycation Experience at Manila Hotel

May 27, 2015 by Bino 3 Comments

If there was one hotel in Manila that I’ve long wanted to try, it would be the historic Manila Hotel located near Rizal Park and Manila Bay. The property is to Manila as the Raffles is to Singapore, the Metropole is to Hanoi or the Strand is to Yangon. For several years, I’ve admired the hotel for its iconic lobby but circumstances never led me to stay there or even try the food options available in-house.

Manila Hotel has the distinction of being the longest surviving luxury hotel in Manila and is 103 years old. It is the biggest and most distinct heritage hotel in the city dating its roots from the American colonial period in the early 20th century. It has seen World War 2, where the hotel subsequently became living quarters for the Japanese Army and the martial law years when Imelda Marcos used to host lavish parties in the hotel. The property has witnessed the ups and downs of the city and due to its strategic location, the ups and downs of the country as well. During Manila Hotel’s centenary year in 2012, the rooms were renovated and in-house restaurants were spruced up and revamped.

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Inside Pyongyang’s Yanggakdo Hotel – A Taste of North Korean Hospitality

May 21, 2015 by Bino 6 Comments

the unpainted exterior of the yanggakdo hotel

The experience of choosing a hotel to stay in North Korea is quite unlike that of any other country. To put it simply, one does not get to choose at all. In the overwhelming majority of cases, accommodations are assigned without taking into account travelers’ preferences. That being said, options are rather limited. In the capital for instance, the number of hotels open to foreigners can be counted in one hand.

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8 Things to Love About Marriott Manila

February 20, 2015 by Bino Leave a Comment

Within just a few years since it opened, the Marriott Manila has rapidly set itself as one of Metro Manila’s most highly rated hotels. As the flagship hotel of Resorts World Manila, the property’s recognition and stature among local hotels has been remarkable given that it’s only 5 years old. In 2011, the Manila property was given the title “Hotel of the Year” by its parent brand, Marriott International which was quite an achievement for a hotel that was then only a year old.

I had the opportunity to experience Marriott Manila during one recent weekend. Because I was very pleased with my stay, I’ve decided to depart from the usual format of my hotel reviews and instead list the top reasons to to stay here!

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Hotel Review: El Pescador Resort in Bolinao, Pangasinan

January 14, 2015 by Bino 2 Comments

The default area when it becomes to beach resorts in Pangasinan it seems, is Bolinao, a small town at the northwestern tip of the province. During our time in Pangasinan, I stayed in El Pescador Resort which is located right at the main town and a short distance from the iconic Bolinao Church.

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Get 15% Off Best Available Rates at Crowne Plaza Changi Airport

December 8, 2014 by Bino Leave a Comment

For stays between 22nd December 2014 to 11th January 2015, get 15% off the total room rate by emailing reservations.cpca@ihg.com with the special code “BINO 15 OFF” applicable only for readers of I Wander.

If you are coming to Singapore over the Christmas and New Year holidays or simply wish to enjoy a relaxing staycation, this is one of your best bets on a good deal right smack in the middle of the festive peak season.

It was not too long ago when I had the opportunity to stay at this hotel and I must say it’s one of the best hotel experiences I’ve had in Singapore. I especially liked the club lounge here which offered a great variety of canapes during evening cocktails. Check out my review of the Premier Room.

A sample booking right smack for a stay on Christmas Day shows an advanced purchase rate of approximately SGD 198++. By quoting “Bino 15 Off,” the price is reduced to approximately SGD 168++ or less than SGD 200 nett which is not bad considering that even 3-star hotels in Singapore go for well above this price.

Bookings can be done between 3 December 2014 till 10 January 2015 so email them now if you wish to enjoy this special discount!

Here are the terms and conditions for this offer:

Full prepayment is required to enjoy this offer
Bookings are non-cancellable
Black-out dates DO NOT apply and the offer can be extended on Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Years Eve and New Year’s Day
Bookings can be made from 3 December 2014 till 10 January 2015
Bookings can only be made via email reservation to reservations.cpca@ihg.com quoting “BINO 15 OFF”

*Not applicable to services, minibar or F&B charges and is extended only on the total room rate

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