August 26, 2014

Staycation at Crimson Hotel

Ten days before my birthday, my husband reserves a room in one of the resorts in Batangas. He called and informed me that he already reserve a room for my birthday celebration. But after two days, he called again to follow up on the confirmation letter and unfortunately, the waiting list pala kami. So he called last Tuesday to check if there were any back-out guests but he was informed that all guests prepaid the reservation already. My birthday falls on a long weekend so maybe that is the reason why the resort was fully booked. 


I told him about the Crimson Hotel Rainy Day Promo, he tried to book on the website but he was getting a different rate so he just called Crimson Hotel to reserve a room three days before my birthday. I think it is better to call to avail of the promo rate. 



Fast forward to my birthday, since Alabang is not really that far, we left the house past 12nn. We ate lunch first at home to save money. Hehehe! I’ve seen pictures of Crimson Hotel’s lobby but I was still amazed when I saw it up close. Sa sobrang laki, naging playground ng aking anak while we’re waiting for my husband. I thought we still need to wait till 2PM but they allowed us to check in as early as 12:50PM. Yehey! The staff ushered us up to the elevator door. 

As always, we requested king size bed but unfortunately, it was no longer available so we settled for twin beds which are too small for 3 persons. But anyway, we love our bed, pillows, and comforter. It is one thing I always look forward to in our staycation. Comfortable bed and pillows. 

Sharing with you the photos of the room. 




We stayed in our rooms while waiting for the Afternoon Tea Time which is 3PM, which is included in our package. We’re excited because this was our first Tea Time experience. Lakas makasosyal. We were asked if we want coffee or tea and after twenty minutes they served the three-tiered stand of cookies, pastries, and sandwiches. 



Then we went back to our room because my son wanted to swim. It was a long weekend so the pool was already crowded. Good thing that hey have big pool but it was hard for me to look for a vacant chair. Yes, as in sa chair ng bar na lang ko nakaupo while holding the towel and other stuff. 


We went back to our room to prepare for our buffet dinner at Cafe Eight. They have a promo for birthday celebrants, oh yes, I have free dinner. Good thing I have my ID with me that includes my birthday. My son is only 5 years old so he is still free. 

This was my first buffet dinner in a hotel so I was really excited but when I entered the almost empty restaurant, I felt so sad because the food selections are very limited. I was checking the food station, I think they only have four or five stations and I was a little bit disappointed. 



I’ve tried buffet lunch and dinner in several restaurants, you can check it here and buffet lunch in other hotels like Acaci and Tides so I have high expectations because I know that dinner is more special. 

Sabi nga ni William Shakespeare, “Expectation is the root of all heartache”. Hehehe! Imagine, natikman lahat ni hubby ang lahat ng ulam, first time yun ha. Good thing I will only pay PHP1500 for my husband and free kami. 

My plate. Buti na lang may salmon. I love my mango crepe.

The carving station has only roast beef and the beef was dry. I was expecting a seafood station but there was none. I was not impressed with the buffet spread, the food is not bad but there is nothing special. Of course, the service is very good. It is one thing that you will not experience in buffet restaurants. 

After dinner, the server informed me to wait for my birthday cake. He sang “Happy Birthday” while giving me the cake. Bawi na sila dun, first time experience ko yun e. Hahaha! 

My plate, omelet was not in the picture. I love the walnut twist bread.

After Tea Time and buffet dinner, we still have buffet breakfast. I was not expecting anymore because of our buffet dinner experience but it turned out na mas nabusog ako sa breakfast. I enjoyed it because all my favorite breakfast meal was there like bacon, ham, sausage and daing na bangus. 

My son had a last-minute swim before we went home. 

Like 

1. Service is very good. The staffs are approachable and friendly and there’s always a smile on their face. 
2. I love the pillows, bed, and comforter. 
3. There is a bidet and phone in the toilet. 
4. Swimming pool is big. 
5. I love that they have a promo for the birthday celebrants. I got a free dinner and a birthday cake. 
6. I like afternoon tea time. 
7. Free wifi. 
8. Free shuttle 

Dislike 
1. No bathtub 
2. No laundry bag, I always bring a laundry bag every time we travel but because of my last-minute packing, I left it at home. I was confident that Crimson Hotel has laundry bags like other hotels but I was wrong because they only have laundry baskets. We called to ask if they have a laundry bag and they gave us this. Just good enough for wet clothes. 


3. The buffet price is not cheap so I hope they will improve on their buffet spread. 

We celebrated our birthdays in other hotels but this was the first time that we received free dinner and cake. We really had a great time in Crimson Hotel.

Read: Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan Klook.com

51 comments:

  1. Related happy birthday! Nice room! We stayed at crimson here in Cebu 2 years ago and I have to say I was impressed. There was a bathtub naman and laundry bags. Nice yung service and pools. But we didn't get to try the buffet because we ate at the beach side resto na may pizza. :)

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    1. Thanks Jhanis. I think Cebu is much better because they have beach and pool. I will consider this if ever I will go back to Cebu. :)

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  2. Gusto ko din maka experience nyan:)

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    1. Yung may slice ng cake? Kaya pala gusto mo magYakimix. :)

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  3. We love staycations too! Crimson hotel looks nice. Usually we go for the pool din :-) It's a bit far but I thanks for giving us an option.

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  4. Belated Happy Birthday! We had a buffet dinner there last Mother's Day and got a free pass for an overnight stay! I agree that there's nothing really special about the food, though it wasn't bad naman. But it looks like you had a great time!

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    1. Yes, ok naman food pero pricey kasi kaya we expected for more food selection. :)

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  5. Aww happy birthday darling! The hotel looks nice and I love the decor.
    Aww I love your little boy!

    besos,
    M
    http://theflowerduet.blogspot.com

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  6. I love staying at hotels! I wish we could celebrate our birthdays that way always. Hehe! Belated happy birthday!

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  7. This is a good idea. Hubby's birthday is coming up and I think a staycation is just what we need. Thanks for sharing.

    ❤Paulline www.milastolemyheart.blogspot.com

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  8. True, lakas nga makasosyal hehe! I guess it all turned out for the best then. Belated happy birthday!

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  9. Belated Happy Birthday! Wow, I've always wanted to try Crimson Hotel, but parating busy..:( Hay, sana may promo sila ulit, baka dun ako mag birthday! :)

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    1. Check their FB page from time to time para updated ka sa promo. :)

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  10. belated happy birthday!! I have seen Crimson hotel nung under construction pa lang kasi I worked in Northgate hehehe! I later figured out na hotel pala yun. Anyway, it loooks good naman but I felt sad too when I see the buffet. Ang lungkot. =(

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  11. I'd love to try staycations talaga. been looking for hotels south of metro.

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  12. Aaaah Crimson...di na namin inabutan to. We moved na. Back then, it was just Vivere and Bellevue and well, Parque Espana.

    Anyway, at least now they're aware that laundry bags are necessary.:) Happy birthday.

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    1. Yes, we need laundry bag. hehehe! I don't know Parque Espana, macheck nga.

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  13. Belated Happy Birthday! Thanks for this review. We wanted to try staycation in a hotel that's why I'm looking for affordable one. This one is on my list na. :-D

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  14. I usually prefer going out of town which is of course more complicated (especially with kids) not to mention more expensive, but there must be something to "staycations" too, parang ang daming nahihilig :) glad you had fun and you got over the disappointment over the buffet, he he... belated happy birthday!

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    1. Whenever we go out of town, we don't usually stay in 4 or 5 star hotel because most of the time we're out for tour. That's why we enjoy staycation because we can relax and enjoy without going out the hotel. Mababaw lang ako, birthday cake lang, ayos na. lol Thanks sa greeting.

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  15. Mahal naman ng buffet! But my husband has been staying there for a number of times now (client meetings) and it looks ok a. Very clean and spacious. =)

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    1. Yes, clean and spacious. Buffet lang nila ang need ng improvement. Mas cheaper yung iba na katabing hotel.

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  16. Wow! Happy to know that they serve free buffet for birthday celebrants :) I'll keep that in mind. Want to try Crimson some time :) How's the view? Hindi naman eyesore ang Alabang market? hehe. Belated happy birthday!

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    1. Thanks! Til Dec. 30, ang birthday promo. In our room, Vivere Hotel and Wilcon Depot ang view.

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  17. Happy Birthday. I think I would like to celebrate my birthday that way too. It is a pleasant way of celebrating birthdays, no? Talagang rest day at pampered, ang may birthday, hahaha instead of the hassles of having parties

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    1. Thanks, Yes, relax na relax lang sa birthday, hehehe! I prefer intimate celebrations din kasi.

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  18. Belated happy birthday! The place was so nice. Never pa kami na staycation as a family. Sana we can do that on my birthday. (depende sa budget! hahaha)

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  19. Good for you, and belated happy birthday :)

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  20. Belated happy birthday Mommy Michi! Parang napuntahan ko na rin ang Crimson Hotel dahil sa post mo! Wish ko for 2015 ( ang aga ko humiling, no?), we get to spend a few days in summer away from home - beach getaway or swimming pool in a hotel, keri!

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  21. We love staycations too! It's a relaxing time to unwind and recharge without going too far! Happy birthday Michi!

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  22. Belated Happy Birthday :) a great tip if we ever want to go out on vacation :)

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  23. We made a feature there during the grand opening. I love their services and how pleasant their customer service are. Plus the food was great!

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  24. Belated Happy birthday! Thank you for sharing your experience.

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  25. Belated happy birthday! Thank you for sharing this. I am always on the look of hotels because it is also our norm that we celebrate birthdays in hotels. But no bath tub? hhmmm.

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  26. Belated happy birthday! You guys sure had an awesome time. I hope I could also bring my family to a nice hotel here in Cebu for a staycation. :)

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    1. Thanks. There are so many hotels and resort in Cebu na nasa bucket list ko medyo pricey lang kasi. Kaya nagdaytrip lang kami sa Shangri-La Mactan. :)

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  27. I haven't done a staycation before. Our finances don't allow for that right now. Hopefully we get to one day. It's nice you got to spend your birthday sa hotel. It looks like you really enjoyed despite he buffet experience. They really should make their selection better at that price. Belated happy birthday!

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    1. Don't worry sis, in His time makapagstaycation ka rin. Depende din sa budget ang aming birthday celebration. :)

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  28. Natutuwa ako sis kase we spent our birthdays the same way! And we do the same things during a staycation hehe. I love your post and I was just about to ask if may bath tub hehe. Belated Happy Birthday!

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    1. Apir! I prefer this type of celebration kasi compared sa mga parties.

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  29. Now I feel like taking a staycation too! I want to sleep on that comfy looking bed! :) great review. :)

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  30. Nice! Hope to experience a staycation there as well ;)

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  31. We are choosing between Acacia, Bellevue and Crimson to have a staycation this December. Thank you for sharing your experience.

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    1. We've stayed in that three hotels and they have their own advantages and disadvantages. :)

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  32. That was some birthday celebration. Regardless of some negative points, you still had the best because you had your family with you.

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  33. Belated happy birthday to you! I really like restaurants that have birthday cakes for the celebrants! It does make us feel special! :)

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  34. What an awesome way to celebrate your birthday. Haven't been to any Crimson hotel but I'm hoping to have a vacation in Crimson Cebu.

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  35. We never tried that hotel yet. I'm looking forward to be there when we get back to Ph. Thanks for the share.

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