Icon Hotel North Edsa Manila

ABBEY: Since we visit Philippine as fast as the blink of an eye, we need to maximize our time there. So it means we're either in our friends' house, cafe, or restaurant. Going back home is not an option for us due to security reasons. We always plan to crash at a hotel to spend the night. And then we came to know of Icon Hotel North (near North EDSA MRT). 

In their name itself, the hotel is all about worldwide icons like Steve Jobs, Cleopatra and Marilyn Monroe. They named each room with an icon and treated their guests as star. As promotion, a 12-hour stay costs approximately 1300 pesos. This includes buffet breakfast for two, wifi, and a premium room. They accept cash and credit cards for payments. 

WILL:  After working for almost 5 years in Singapore we don’t have a home that we can call our own. When we go back to Philippines, we always stayed at our parents’ home. And every time we’ll hang out late, we always decide to go in a hotel to check-in rather than bothering our parents. We are so lucky to go to Icon Hotel in EDSA. Thank you Denise for the recommendation. Why we are lucky? We got a decent room in a very affordable price.

The lobby is wonderful. The room is neat. The sheets were clean. Oh they have quilt, awesome! We only paid Php1,299.00 for 12hour stay with breakfast buffet. Although they offer only 5 main courses it is still better than nothing. This is a family hotel, a budget hotel that you can spend time with your whole family. You can totally relax as you cannot hear the honking of buses and revving of the vehicles. They also housed a pool and a mini theatre at the lobby. Almost perfect until I got to touch their faucet. Please scrub it before the bacteria will build up on that small portion of your room.

Concierge is always smiling and ready to accommodate all your needs. Salute to this brand new hotel. Already recommended to my family and friends. Please do check them out.

Marina Bay Sands Hospitality Suite

ABBEY: This is my second stay in Marina Bay Sands. And I cannot ask for more as we're given a suite with balcony. Thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Ruaro. They are apologising as the suite is only on the second floor, but hey, this is still a suite. We'll just go up on 57th floor for the view. 

The room includes a queen-size bed, a sofa bed, two television, make-up room and toilet and bathtub. The bar has a Nespresso machine :) So we had a coffee session with our friends after dinner. 

Our stay here with my sister's family is a good one. I can see them get relaxed and refreshed. They went for a dip in the infinity pool and finished the stay with sumptuous breakfast on Sky on 57.

WILL: Wohooo! Marina Bay Sands Suite! Free! And again thanks to our sponsors, Daddy Edward and Mommy Lovelee.

Second time to check-in at MBS Hotel but this is new experience for us. Aside from being housed at their lovely suite we invited some guests to sip some Nespresso coffee after our lovely dinner at Peach Garden. Non-stop stories and questions about Singapore since they only arrived here about a week ago and will start their official job as nurse in a day or two.

When we bid goodbye, we indulge at a very spacious room of this suite. We arranged the sofa bed for me and Abbey to take rest, and our guests, Ate Rizbeth’s family occupied the queen-size bed.

Before we head to our slumber, Abbey and I dip first to the bathtub. Hours of throwing an opinion to each other, making plans and listen to each other's words. We also pictured out our future room in our future home. A very relaxing time for me and my husband.

When I lay down at sofa bed and slept soundly. I woke up and took a shower and head to office.

I hope our visitors enjoy this hotel stay.

Till next time MBS!

Sofitel So Singapore's HI-SO Rooftop Pool Bar - Hi-So Ladies Night

ABBEY: After-office-hours activites can be helpful after a long day's work. Rooftop Bar at Sofitel offers cocktail food and drinks for the goers to unwind with their friends or colleagues. It is at the sixth storey; yes, not that high but the view is awesome as it was surrounded by tall buildings. They also offer mats for those groups who want to sit on the floor near the pool. Due to the tile color and reflection of light, the pool is a sea of gold.

As it is Ladies' night when we went there, first drink is free and the next would be at 10sgd instead of 29. For light snack, we got coldcuts(charcuterie platter) - $31 and potato chips (Truffle and Parmesan Fries - $14) which were fried to perfection; crispy, salted, and thin. 

WILL: Midweek and it's Ladies Night!!!

Thanks to Frannywany for her blogpost regarding to our featured hotel’s bar today.

A lot of people knew about free drinks in many bars at Clarke Quay but we all know how crowded it is every Wednesday. Do you just want a place where you can get relaxed, make some chats and get a free drink just around the corner of your office? Sofitel answered our wishes. Right in the heart of Singapore's business district is the location of the hotel. Beside of the famous Lau Pa Sat where you can find Sofitel So Singapore.

After office hours, we went to the rooftop bar to receive a complimentary champagne for us girls. As usual Abbey go for soda. We have a lot of laughs and many stories were told. We bonded with Princess Sarah's patatas, haha! Their french fries is awesome, thanks for the treat Ate Monnette.  

For sure we will back for more free champagnes.  Nice view, nice dj, nice golden pool. Yes, you can dip your tired feet into the pool, if you want to. Till next reservation Sofitel So.

Fullerton Hotel Heritage Guided Tour

hereABBEY: I'm always mesmerised by Fullerton Hotel whenever we pass by it be it day or night time. And we are fortunate to be part of the tour for this colonial building last June 7 to learn more about its history. 

This building used to be the host for General Post Office. It even had an underground tunnel for easiness of post to be delivered. Singapore Club also had a room at Fullerton. With its grand ceiling the hall became wedding reception for the guests. The Fullerton also served as the lighthouse during early years but due to land and building improvements, the tower was located to another location. The original light tower is displayed in a park between Vivo City and Harbourfront Centre. 

The hotel is an eight-storey giant and houses an Italian-al-fresco bar. Now I knew the vantage point where you can get a good view of Esplanade theatres. Some of Singapore government dignitaries even made office on the hotel. A gallery for the works of Lee Kwan Yew can also be found there. History of some places around the hotel were also discussed on the tour like the Cavenagh Bridge where it used to be the rally point of the people.

WILL: Who will not know the Fullerton Hotel? The building that stands the test of time. The building that is well lit and very glamorous at night. The buiding.. The building with a great story and part of Singapore's history.

I checked out the Fullerton website for any promotions on their dining and room rates, luckily I stumbled to this tour complimentary to their hotel guests and to general public. I am fond of history, I emailed them to book a tour and asked my husband to apply for a leave on 7th of June.

It is drizzly Saturday afternoon when we walked out and in the hotel. The tour started when all the hotel guests signed-up were already there. Florence, our tour guide is very charming. She kept the tour lively by inserting some jokes, questions and trivia. 

She explains the architecture of the historic structure, she enumerate us the prominent people who used housed in that building and I was amazed when she told us that very building once a post office. We walked up until we reached the former place of the lighthouse and again jaw dropped at the beauty of Singapore.

This hotel is magnificent! You can book a tour here. It's FOC. :)

Village Hotel Bugis' - The Landmark

ABBEY: We had our lunch at The Landmark on one of the days Ate Sol visited us here. It is located at Village Hotel in Bugis (Bugis MRT Exit B - head to Arab St.). Yes it is a buffet one; international. The place has a touch of Mediterranean theme; white table cloths, blue wine glasses and crystal chandeliers.

The chef manager, Oktay, warmly welcomed us to the buffet table. In there are variety of food like chicken tandoori, vegetable samosa, chicken shawarma, prawn dry chilli, fish fillet in spinach sauce, and bbq chicken drumlets. Desserts were overflowing too; nyonya kueh, fresh fruits, and pastries. 

What I like the most is buttered naan matched with yellow dhal and chicken tandoori. It was a hearty lunch and were filled with delicious food and new acquaintance.

WILL: I like the way Chef Oktay Sahin entertain each visitors in his restaurant. He literally walk on and chit-chat to his diners one by one. So if you want to have some conversation to a head checf of a restaurant The Landmark must be in your list. 

We are all excited to have a buffet lunch to celebrate my 31st bday. We were greeted by the men at the concierge and brought us at our table. OMG, a blue wine glass and a very neat table waiting for four of us. I felt that I am so special that time, well Happy Birthday to me! 

The food, oh the food. How many times I went back to take food? I forgot to count because some were served in our table. It is an indian cuisine so all were bit spicy and curry. 

What we love the most? The garlic naan!!! The freshly baked aroma was all-over the place everytime it hit our table.