Gracietots: Hotel Review: Your Home by the Bay / Bayview Park Hotel Manila

Disclaimer

I am NOT affiliated with any group that does expert reviews of food, places, events, etc.
I am neither an expert nor an award-winning foodie, techie, traveler, editor, writer, role model, etc.

That being said, this post and those following it are random sharing of experiences that are almost always paid BY yours truly (and/or the hubby), unless won in a raffle or stated otherwise.

On to the review...

Bayview Park Hotel Manila
"Your Home by the Bay"
1118 Roxas Blvd, Ermita, Manila
247.9000

It's not top of mind when thinking about hotels in Manila. But thanks to this GC, won during my tambiolo girl stint at former company's 2012 Division Thanksgiving party and said GC's impending expiration date, it became the last day overnight bash venue choice.

Hooray for free vouchers!
This was for an overnight stay in a Superior Room (breakfast not included).
Buffet breakfast is at Php568 per head.

Arrival and check-in was not as swift as expected; maybe 'cause it's a free room, or a Friday (?). There's valet, which is true to their tagline "Your home by the bay" since parking area is right beside Roxas Blvd, which is a few steps away from the bay. Receptionist was courteous and accommodating though (with a bit of heavy English accent), as well as the valet boys and kuya security guard, so two thumbs up for proactive customer service.

We were given one key card for room 809 and I was tempted to request for room 808, for luck, but the ever uptight hubby said 809 was fine. Two elevators left and right await, and since there were only a few checking in at that time, going up the 8th floor wasn't a prob.

Presenting THE ROOM...

The Drawer: slightly hard to open, creaky and strong old wood smell, which come in handy should a break-in occur.
Hopefully enough to turn off a burglar.

Surprised to see a tub! Comfortably fits one average size human with side handles, too.
Safety is their priority!

Standard coffee and tea selection. Table is far from any socket.
Again, safety is their priority! Iwas sunog/fire in case lasheng/drunk the hotel guest.
(Huwat?!)

Hotel services inside drawers. Clever placement!

The minibar that I mistook for the safe.
Safety, apparently, is my priority too!

Pleated chair and look, a hairdryer!

Hidden plastic that didn't escape my take home plan.

Single bed - another surprise since we asked for one queen size bed, which we got plus this.
So our bags and clothes had a good bed to sleep on, too.

Bamboo-inspired bathroom. I was too scared of the aparadors to open them.
Juday's horror movie circa 90s. Nuff said!

Nice dainty painting dated 1994

Minibar choices - decent yet pricey (as expected of hotels)

Food choices...

Breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet at the ground floor right in front of the reception area.
Special curry/seafood rice good for 5 persons at Php 1,875 NETT.

Christmas and New Year's Eve buffet included in their Php 4,000-5,000 Christmas season promo.
Includes hotel accommodation, Eve buffet, breakfast buffet, use of hotel amenities, souvenir among others.

Since we didn't have breakfast buffet, opted to survey surrounding restos. It was a Hunger Games kind of day at work (no lunch 'cause there were lots to photo finish during my last day), so hubby treated my raging taste buds and rallying tummy to YakiMix dinner buffet at Robinson's Place. (More on this culinary adventure/20-minutes trek in a separate post).

To cap the night, ended up in trusty Starbucks, which is housed at the hotel's GF. Don't expect to get a full late-night Starbucks experience here, as the small cozy branch gets filled up quickly by reviewers, thesis mates, and late-night crammers. The creative atmosphere gets chatty, so if you prefer a relatively quiet atmosphere to savor that coffee cup then enjoy takeout at the comfort of your hotel room.

Morning shot!

Overall, Bayview is a dated hotel giving off a 1408 John Cusack horror flick vibe. There were eyesores in all floors - television screens, furniture, broken paintings and pieces of wood covered by dirty white draping. Old wood and wet carpets-smell, uneven floors (between room 808 and room 809), and chipped paint.

The rooms are A-OK, decent with clean and extra beds. Ours (given it's free and part of the lower end Superior offerings) didn't have a view - just the rooftop of nearby building and a Manila Street (UN Avenue). The other "bay" side and upper floor rooms seem to have it better.

The part I liked least was...