Escape to Paradise: Hop Inn Makati - Your Manila Getaway!
Escape to Paradise: Hop Inn Makati - Your Manila Getaway!
Escape to Paradise? More Like a Makati Muddle: My Hop Inn Experience (Honest Review!)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to spill the beans on my recent stay at Escape to Paradise: Hop Inn Makati - Your Manila Getaway! (Yes, I'm using the full marketing spiel. You'll see why.) Let's just say, "paradise" might be a slight exaggeration. But hey, it was a place to rest my weary head, right?
Accessibility: Okay, let's start with the good stuff. Or at least, what's supposed to be good. The website claims accessibility. But, and this is a BIG but, I didn't get a chance to really check it out. I didn't notice a dedicated accessibility section, but I didn't need any access to the stuff that would have been in such a section so I didn't really check out, but I did notice the entrance was not specifically accessible. So, potentially a gamble here. Proceed with caution if you're dependent on specific accessibility features.
The Rooms: A Confusing Symphony of Tech and Lackluster Comfort
Let's dive right into the rooms. Available in all rooms: Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens.
The room itself was… fine. Clean enough, I guess. The air conditioning blasted like a jet engine on a mission to freeze you solid. And then the "soundproofing." Yeah, that was a lie. I heard everything – the karaoke battles raging next door, the street vendors calling down the alley, even the existential dread of being alone in a hotel room in Makati. The bed? Actually quite comfy, once I wrestled with the blackout curtains that were determined to either let in the harsh Manila sun or plunge you into eternal darkness. The "complimentary tea" was a single sad tea bag and a teaspoon of sugar (I'd suggest requesting more).
Internet: Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Everywhere…But Did It Work?
Oh, the internet. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Yay! Except…it was spotty. I mean, like, glacial-pace spotty. Trying to upload a photo took longer than it takes to boil an egg on the sun. The LAN access? Never even tried it. Who has a LAN cable these days? (Apparently, the Hop Inn does.)
The Pool with a View: Promises, Promises
I will say, one of the main selling points was the pool. "Pool with a view!" it promised. I was picturing a rooftop oasis! A shimmering expanse overlooking the vibrant city! Reality? A small, somewhat underwhelming rectangular pool on the 3rd floor. The "view" was…okay, it was technically a view. But not one that screamed "paradise." It was more like "pretty much the same buildings as everywhere else." The pool was small, but clean. I spent a couple of hours there, and had a nice time, but again, not amazing.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Tale of Two Flavors
Restaurant: A la carte, Asian Cuisine, Bar, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Desserts.
The Breakfast Buffet: (Buffet in restaurant, Asian breakfast, Western breakfast.) Alright, let's be honest, I was very excited for breakfast. This is where things got… interesting. The breakfast buffet was included. I think. There was a bit of a kerfuffle about the breakfast voucher. I'd say a word to reception about the breakfast voucher and the breakfast experience was improved.
- The Good: The coffee was strong. The staff were trying their best.
- The Not-So-Good: The food was…well, it was there. The scrambled eggs looked like they'd been sitting out since the Jurassic period, and the "sausage" was an unidentified pink substance. I stuck to the toast. The buffet got refilled slowly and some times. The bread selection was amazing. I went back to the bread area, a lot.
Room Service: 24-hour (Allegedly): During the night I saw the 24 hour availability advertised.
The Bar: Didn't visit.
Extra Snacks: Snacks and drinks were available.
Services and Conveniences: The Good, The Bad, and the Non-Existent
The hotel offered a lot of amenities but I either saw nothing of them, or they weren't really available.
- The Good: Daily housekeeping was efficient, the staff were professional and friendly.
- The Bad: The "car park [free of charge]" was a bit of a joke because I had to park on the street. The "concierge" wasn't particularly helpful.
- The Unseen: I didn't see the gym, spa, or any other of the amazing advertised features.
Cleanliness and Safety: A Mixed Bag
The hotel followed a lot of covid protocols and precautions. And the room felt clean.
Things to Do/Ways to Relax (Or Not)
- Spa: They advertised a spa. I couldn't find it.
- Fitness center: Claimed one. Didn't investigate.
For the Kids (I guess?)
- Family/child-friendly: Seems plausible.
- Babysitting service: Not sure
Getting Around:
- Airport transfer: Available.
- Valet parking: Available.
The Verdict: A Makati Mishmash
Look, the Hop Inn Makati isn't terrible. It's a clean-ish, centrally located hotel that won't completely break the bank. But don't let the "Escape to Paradise" tagline fool you. It's more like an escape to…a functional hotel room. The staff were really trying to do their best, but they had to manage a lot of issues beyond their control. Manage your expectations, bring some earplugs, and maybe pack your own breakfast (and a strong internet connection!). And if you're looking for actual paradise, you might want to look elsewhere. But, hey. It's Makati. And at least the beds weren't lumpy.
Radisson Bareilly Airport: Luxury Getaway Near Bareilly, India
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because this "itinerary" isn't your grandma's color-coded, perfectly-aligned masterpiece. This is Manila, baby. We're going to get messy, we're going to sweat, and we're definitely going to question all our life choices at least once. This is my personal, potentially disastrous, attempt to "sightsee" around the Hop Inn Hotel Makati Avenue, Manila, Philippines. Wish me luck, I'll need it.
Day 1: Arrival & Existential Dread (and maybe, some sightseeing)
- 10:00 AM (ish) - Arrival at NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport): Oh joy. Let the heat and humidity envelop me like a…well, like a sweaty blanket of doom. Immigration? Pray I don't get a visa denial.
- 11:00 AM - Taxi Chaos: Getting a cab. The infamous Manila taxi scramble begins. Negotiating the fare is an Olympic sport, and I, frankly, am a slightly flustered, easily-bamboozled participant. Let's hope I don't end up in Timbuktu. Or, worse, a stinky taxi.
- 12:00 PM - Hop Inn Check-In & Room Assessment: Okay, safe arrival (relatively) at Hop Inn. Check-in…hopefully seamless. Now for the real test: The room. Does it smell vaguely of other people's lives? Is the aircon a temperamental beast? (Let's be honest, I'm already having flashbacks to my last hotel room experience. In the end, I got a decent sleep, the hotel has everything to make a weary traveller happy.)
- 1:00 PM - Makati Exploration - The "Let's-Pretend-I'm-Sophisticated" Tour: Okay, a deep breath. I need to actually do something. First, a quick walk to Greenbelt Mall. This is where the "sophisticated" part comes in. Maybe I buy a fancy coffee. (Expensive coffee is good, but the line ups are long, and that doesn't sound like my ideal day.)
- 2:00 PM - Lunch at…wherever smells good: Food! My guiding star. Makati has a million options. Street food? Tempting. Fancy restaurant? Maybe. I’ll probably end up somewhere in between, scarfing down something delicious and quickly regretting all the carbs later.
- 3:00 PM - The Restless Wander: Time to explore. Explore what? Honestly, I'm just going to wander. See where the chaos takes me. Maybe find a hidden gem, or maybe just get lost and frustrated.
- 5:00 PM - "Contemplating Life" on the Balcony (if there is one). Drink something cold. (I did get a drink, but it was too cold, and I immediately regretted it.) Watch the world go by. Or, more realistically, watch a traffic jam, and have a mini-breakdown thinking about my life choices.
- 7:00 PM - Dinner & Dive Bar Ambitions: Tonight, I attempt to find a slightly less touristy restaurant and a bar with character. (By "character," I mean sticky tables and possibly questionable hygiene. Don't judge.)
- 9:00 PM - Sleep: Passed out from exhaustion and the sheer sensory overload. Pray I don't dream about traffic. The first night was not exactly great, a lot of noise kept me up.
Day 2: Smells, and the (potential) Wonders of Manila
- 8:00 AM - Regret coffee and light breakfast: I wake up still tired. Should I go for a walk? I don't think so. I just need a coffee to wake me up, I have some biscuits, and I'm ready to start my day.
- 9:00 AM - Intramuros Ambitions: Let's be real. Visiting Intramuros is required for any Manila trip. Maybe I'll rent a bamboo bike. Or maybe I'll just get sunburnt and grumpy. (There is a lot of sun in Manila.)
- 10:00 AM - Intramuros Immersed: Okay, I'm giving exploring Intramuros a serious go. I go for a walk and take a look at the old architecture. The buildings are really cool, I just can't handle all the heat and humidity. I go back into the hotel to cool for an hour.
- 12:00 PM - A Culinary Adventure (Or Disaster): Trying some local food. It is an adventure. This is the part where I might end up crying from joy or regret. There is a lot of incredible food in Manila.
- 1:00 PM - Shopping and the Art of Haggling: Time to hit a market. I'll try to haggle, but I'm terribly bad at it, so I'll probably end up overpaying.
- 2:00 PM - The Manila Heat Nap of Doom or another walk?: The heat hits hard, and by the time I came back to the hotel, I needed a nap. I closed my eyes, and, boom!. I wasn't able to sleep because of the noise of the hotel.
- 4:00 PM - The Culture of the City: I take a walk to the surrounding streets. I can feel the culture around me. The local people are so happy to see me and offer me a great deal of hospitality. I'm so overwhelmed, I go back in the hotel.
- 6:00 PM - The Night life: I'm sure that Manila has a great night life. I decide to stay in the hotel because I'm done with overstimulation. This night is my last night in the hotel. I can't wait to go back home.
- 8:00 PM - Dinner in my room: I order some dinner, eat it, and watch some youtube videos till I fall asleep.
Day 3: Farewell, Manila (Maybe With Regret)
- 9:00 AM - Last Breakfast: I have a last breakfast, check out of the hotel and take a taxi back to the airport.
Important Notes & Disclaimer:
- This itinerary is a suggestion, not a promise. I reserve the right to change my mind at any moment. (And I probably will.)
- Hygiene levels may fluctuate. Hand sanitizer is my friend.
- Traffic is a beast. Prepare for delays.
- Emotional outbursts are guaranteed. I'm human, people!
- Enjoyment is not guaranteed, but attempted.
So there you have it. The most un-organized, potentially boring, and utterly genuine attempt at a Manila adventure. Wish me luck. And bring your own shade. You'll need it. And maybe a therapist.
Osaka Hostel Bliss: Chill Out & Explore!
Escape to Paradise: Hop Inn Makati - Your Manila Getaway! (or, My Weekend of Slightly Chaotic Bliss)
Okay, so *actually*, is Hop Inn Makati a good place to stay? Spill the tea, already!
Alright, alright, settle down! Look, "good" is relative, isn't it? It's not the Ritz, let's be clear. No marble floors, sadly. But for a budget-friendly, clean-ish, and surprisingly convenient Makati crash pad? Hop Inn? Yeah, I'd say it's *good*.
Here's the deal: I stayed there last weekend, battling Manila traffic, sweating like a pig, and honestly, just wanted SOMETHING easy. Hop Inn? Easy. Check-in was a breeze, which, after a three-hour flight delay, was a godsend. The room? Small. Really small. Like, "can I swing a cat?" small, but hey, it was clean, the AC blasted like a blizzard (perfect!), and the bed... the bed was actually pretty comfy. Surprising, right?
How's the location? Is it ACTUALLY near anything cool?
The location is... okay. It's in Makati, which is generally a good thing. Close to everything. Not *super* close to the "party central" areas, which, honestly, I appreciated after my flight. Traffic is the enemy in Manila, and I found Hop Inn a good jumping-off point for grabbing a Grab to explore around. But walkability is another factor, it's in the heart of business district.
Let's talk about the rooms. Are they *livable*? I'm not asking for a palace, but…
Livable? Yes. Luxurious? Absolutely not. I've already mentioned the size. It’s designed for sleeping and showering, and maybe watching some Netflix on your phone (the WiFi was decent, by the way).
Here's a funny thing: the bathroom. The shower was...efficient. The water pressure wasn't exactly a firehose, but it did the job. And the best part? No mold! (A win for cleanliness in Manila, I tell you!). No complimentary bathrobes, which I wasn't expecting. But I did manage to make it my own, somehow.
Breakfast? Did they *even* offer breakfast? And was it edible?
Ah, breakfast! Yes, they did offer breakfast. It was included in the price of my stay. So, okay, it's not a gourmet experience.
I'd describe it as "functional". There was some sort of fried rice (the Filipino staple!), some kind of egg thing (it varied each day - sometimes scrambled, sometimes an omelet), and some processed meat. Not fancy, but it did the job of filling my stomach before I set out for the day. And the coffee? Well, let's just say it woke me up. That was my only bar of being satisfied. Breakfast at Hop Inn? It's a fuel-up, not a foodie experience.
What about the staff? Were they… helpful, or did they just want to take my money and run?
The staff? Honestly, they were great! Super friendly, always smiling, and happy to help. I had a minor issue with my room key (classic!), and they sorted it out in, like, two minutes. They also gave me some solid advice on navigating the chaos of Manila. It's always a relief when the staff actually seem to care.
Okay, tell me the REAL downside. There's gotta be one, right?
Okay, honesty time. The walls are a little thin. As in, you can *totally* hear your neighbors. I was woken up one night by some, ahem, *enthusiastic* karaoke. And the noise from the street? It filters in, especially if you're on a lower floor. If you're a light sleeper, bring earplugs. Seriously.
So, you're saying... would you stay there again? Spit it out!
Look, for the price and the location? Yeah, I would. I'm not expecting a five-star experience. I'm expecting a clean bed, a hot shower, and a place to rest my weary head. Hop Inn delivered on all those counts. Plus the friendly staff and the included breakfast.
I'm not going to lie, the karaoke incident was a bit of a bummer, and the room was pretty small. But did it ruin my trip? Nope. Would I stay again? Yep, as long as a good night's sleep isn't super high on my priority list. But I'd definitely bring earplugs! And maybe a good book to drown out the street noise.
Anything REALLY memorable, good or bad? Go on, tell the whole story!
Okay, here's the real, unvarnished truth. One night, I got back to the hotel after a *long* day. Traffic had been horrific. I was exhausted. I just wanted to crash. I unlocked my door, dumped my bag, and did what any sane person would do - I jumped under the covers (the oh-so-comfy covers!).
Then... the fire alarm.
I swear, my heart jumped out of my chest! It was blasting – a shrieking, ear-splitting, "GET OUT NOW!" kind of alarm. My first thought? "Is this it? Is this how I go? Trapped in a budget Makati hotel room?" Dramatic, I know, but the alarm was *loud*!
So, I grabbed my phone, threw on a t-shirt, and stumbled out into the hallway. Panic! People were milling around, some half-dressed, some with clearly panicked expressions. Turns out, it was a false alarm. Something had set it off on one of the upper floors.
The whole experience was a blur of adrenaline and mild chaos. But what really sticks with me is this: when we were all eventually allowed back in, and I was back in my room, the relief was this huge wave of satisfaction. Like, I had faced danger, and I survived. And more importantly? I got to go back to that comfy bed. True, there was no fire, but there was this shared experience which was truly a relief (and a funny story afterwards).
Look, it was a minor inconvenience. However, the sheer drama of the situation – the panic, the confusion, the communal experience of beingEscape to Paradise: Lacasa Hotel Villas, Riyadh's Luxury Oasis
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