June 19 is Olivia’s birthday and mine’s June 20. And we got to celebrate our birthdays at Novotel Araneta.
First, it is the first Accor Hotel in the Philippines and has opened their gates to the public on 2015.
It is strategically located adjacent the Smart Araneta Coliseum. So, expect that the hotel would be busy when concerts or events are scheduled at the Smart Araneta. Chances are, you might bump on celebrities and big stars.
Novotel is one of the best hotels I’ve stayed at and it’s simply perfect for families. Let me give you a taste of what we have experienced.
LOBBY
PREMIER LOUNGE
Since we stayed in an Executive room, we had the privilege to have the check in process at the 24th floor. Guests who’ll be staying in an Executive room may process their check-in and check-out there to avoid long queues at the lobby. Absolute convenience.
OUR ROOM
Just upon entering the room, you’d immediately fall in love with it. Everything in there is just awesome. The lights, furniture, fixtures, amenities, everything.
We seriously got attached to our room. It felt like an extension of our home. We saw Olivia crawl around the carpeted room, she and her dada watched the city lights and the traffic in EDSA, they enjoyed the scenic view from our window, we slept soundly and the three of us had a different kind of snuggle time on the bed.
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
- GYM
- KIDS CLUB
Olivia got really really excited upon entering. She kept on screaming, smiling, laughing, crawling and climbing around.
- Pool
Food outlets
- Gourmet Bar
- Food Exchange Manila
We ate, breakfast and lunch at the Food Exchange. They have a wide variety of food choices. Indian to Chinese to Italian to Japanese to Continental to Filipino and Kapampangan. Yes. You read that right. They are celebrating the Kanyaman Food Festival for the month of June with their celebrity guest Chef, Chef Sau Del Rosario. Food Exchange Manila has a different approach on some food. They think out of the box and would try something new. Something new that you would absolutely love and crave for afterwards. The flavors would just burst in your mouth,
Okay. Now, I’m hungry. It’s not a good idea doing a blog post about food in the middle of the night after all (Paging Daddy Diaries, Im hungry! haha)
I must say, Gourmet Bar is perfect for intimate dinner dates. With it’s ambiance, the lighting, the comfy couch and the food choices. A good meeting spot for business related agendas as well.
Food Exchange, on the other hand, is perfect for friends and families, breakfast, lunch and even dinner dates, too. It’s perfect for, Daddy Diaries and I, too, as we love to pig out hehe.
You’ll also get to eat a variety of food. You can serve yourself just the right amount of serving.
Overall experience
I am a hotelier by heart. I was molded by living legends in the industry, so I am quite aware how hotels work.
From the front of the house, to the back, all are just so friendly and accommodating. They know their guests by name. I recall my professor in College, he said, that we must know the guests’ names so they’d feel valued. And when they would ask you how you come to know their names, the answer would just be “You are our guest, how can we not know?”
And that’s what Novotel showcases. They wanted their guests to feel valued and be treated with utmost importance.
It’s a great place for business and leisure.
But I must say that it’s perfect for Staycations. We literally just wanted to stay. A perfect getaway from the busy streets of EDSA. Yes, it is nestled in a busy city, but once you’re inside, you’d feel that you are in a completely different place.
My husband even mentioned that outside feels like New York (he hasn’t been there, though hehe) but once you step in the hotel, it just feels like a home away from home.
Plus, it’s super kid-friendly. Absolutely perfect for families.
We have been patrons of several hotels in the Metro and this is the beginning of our patronage to Novotel. We’d definitely go back for more staycations and for the food. And if one of our favorite performers would do a concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, we’d definitely watch and stay in Novotel.
