A few months ago, Ayala Land was host to the opening of two new spanking hotels. Both have been known for luxury and service beyond the ordinary... Raffles and Fairmont hotels have finally opened its doors as Manila's bespoke hotels.
The first one I visited was the Fairmont. Situated right beside the Landmark, it is one of the more modern hotels I have visited. Sparsely decorated... almost spartan in its interiors, the hotel breathes a minimalist design. Huge Vats decorate the front desk while vibrant tribal installation art line the foyer.
Fresh flowers adorn niches and a cascade of crystals offer an imposing site in the lobby that precedes the grand staircase. There's also a bowl of juicy red delicious apples on the vestibule, which from time to time, are snatched by the hotel's guests.
The coffee shop offers a wide array of cocktails for the weary traveler or for the thirsty visitor up for a tall drink at the end of the day. The bakeshop has an interesting array of cakes and pastries. And for the piece de resistance... macaroons! There's a whole assortment of them!!! And if foodies are to be believed, they're supposedly the best of them all...
On another occasion, i was able to pick up guests who were billeted at the Raffles Hotel. It is situated beside the Fairmont on a corner block along Palm and Arnaiz avenues. The difference between the two is that the Raffles is geared towards expats who are expecting to stay longer than the average tourists.
Ergo, the Raffles is designed more as residences rather than a hotel. A few settees are strewn about the lobby that has groupings of all sorts of mirrors and a crystal chandelier cascading down the center. It is where expats can feel the comforts of home away from home as they spend their days in Manila while on assignment. The hotel boasts of valet service 24/7. The lobby is clearly not a place to gather and chill out in unless you have a meeting with the guests at the coffee shop.
On my visit here, I chanced upon Rick Harrison of Pawnstars fame. Yes, he was in Manila for a spell with son Cory. I managed to shake hands with the celeb and even managed to infom him I watch his shows. He managed to smile and thank me for being a fan... and that was that!
Ergo, the Raffles is designed more as residences rather than a hotel. A few settees are strewn about the lobby that has groupings of all sorts of mirrors and a crystal chandelier cascading down the center. It is where expats can feel the comforts of home away from home as they spend their days in Manila while on assignment. The hotel boasts of valet service 24/7. The lobby is clearly not a place to gather and chill out in unless you have a meeting with the guests at the coffee shop.
On my visit here, I chanced upon Rick Harrison of Pawnstars fame. Yes, he was in Manila for a spell with son Cory. I managed to shake hands with the celeb and even managed to infom him I watch his shows. He managed to smile and thank me for being a fan... and that was that!
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