The story so far. Well we’ve now been in the province for 3 days or so I think, to be honest I’ve lost track of time and can’t be sure!
We flew out with KLM in the economy comfort seats that cost about 90 euros extra each. I got us the row where there are only 2 seats (10A & B) so it was nice we weren’t bothered by anyone else. The flight was pretty good and I think the food has improved somewhat over recent years.
We got into manila about 09:00 local and got one of our two cases. We joined the queue at the lost luggage counter to be told to come back the next day for 09:15 to collect our case as it was in Amsterdam. Why two cases unloaded from the same plane can’t get loaded onto the next plane remains a mystery to me but there you go. They said it is possible to get the case delivered to the hotel but as the next day was a Sunday there was no guarantee that there’d be a customs bloke on duty so it’d be better if we collected it. This we did the next morning with no problems at all, infact the airport called us at the hotel the next morning to confirm it all with us. This was very surprising and surprisingly efficient!!
We arrived at the Marriott in Pasay around 10:30 to be told that our room (a deluxe) would not be ready until 3pm. Not a problem as this is standard hotel check in time for them and I expected it. The only problem was they thought I required a smoking room. I got them to change this no problem. I even went for the upgrade to the executive level giving access to the executive lounge, more of that later. So we left our bags with the porter and were just wandering off when the reception guy came running after us that a room was indeed available! Surely not because I paid 4500 odd peso for 2 nights for the executive lounge?!
Anyway up to the room we went and it’s all pretty good and can recommend the rooms, even more so as the hotel is only 10-15 minutes from both domestic and international airports. The biggest thing that struck me about this hotel was how helpful, friendly and professional the staff is. I’ve stayed in a lot of hotels and I have to say that the staff there rate among the best. Its not a bad lay out to the hotel which is small ish but has a nice bar in the lobby with very pretty girls dressed like the women in that Robert palmer video. Don’t tell the wife I said that though!!!!
There is a small mall attached to the hotel, this though is expensive and has some very high end shops in it i.e. U-boat watches, Hugh boss etc.
Now the only problem with the hotel. The executive lounge. Now I paid about 4500 peso for 2 night’s access to this for, truth be told 2 hours of free drinking. A false economy I know but I like the thought of not paying for over priced drink!! Anyway a lot of hotels in the past that we’ve stayed in and used these executive lounges have been very good (the intercontinental being one of the best in my mind) and have a dress code. Nothing special just wears long pants and a shirt sort of thing so no vest, shorts, flip flops etc. In the Marriott I’m sitting next to fat yanks in shorts and flip flop and blokes who have come straight out the gym and not even had the decency to have a shower!!! Now I maybe a little bit of snob, I like nice things for me and the wife but come on, have a shower and put some bloody trousers / jeans on and some shoes. Last thing I want is to sit there having spent good money to get into this place is to smell your feet and gym BO!!!! Rant over.
Anyway we got to Tacloban on the 6am flight after 2 nights in manila. We flew with Philippine air who for information charge 168peso per kg over your baggage allowance. Our allowance per ticket was only 15kg!! So the extra baggage soon added up. The flight was uneventful and we got to tacloban ok. We stayed for one night in the Alejandra hotel which is a historical place but now to be honest though very cheap (1650 I think for the bridal suite, not even a suite just a pretty run down room) it’s getting tired and a bit run down overall. Saying that I wasn’t going to risk the leyte park hotel again after last time as it was very disappointing. Anyway after a fair bit of shopping including a TV and bluray player (that doesn’t play the dvds we sent over from the uk!!!) and trying to find a internet dongle thing we got to the province and our newly renovated wood house. Thins so far have been ok with the wife filling her face with fish and crabs and me funding what appears to be an ever increasing round of meals for ever increasing family members!!
The weather has been hot and dry for the most part so far touch wood and I look like a shrimp already!!
Right that more than enough for now I’d better go and see if there is a san mig in the fridge. I’ll write more later on in the holiday dependant on this crappy internet connection.
Originally Posted by subseastu
Yes. I noticed that HSE hasnt reached Phils in the same way as back here in the UK
a jar of marmite will do instead lets see whose brave enough for a spreading in there pandesal
