A new one in the city - well, at least for me, since it was my first time to check-in at this hotel! Someone reserved a room for me some weeks ago, because, they say, August is a really busy month for the accommodation industry in this city (fiesta is August 24).
That is the facade. Parking is only good for 3 vehicles, since that rightmost slot where a buggy car sits is reserved for the owner. There are usually two of them buggies parked on that slot, or that buggy already there and the owner's pickup truck, or the owner's motorbike and a buggy and/or his car, and so on in various combinations! But there is no worry, just diagonally across this facade is a gated open space owned by the same proprietor, where you can park your vehicle if those 3 slots are taken!
That orangy lighted area is the lobby, front-desk and a nicely appointed breakfast nook (or eating area - whatever you may want to call it)! As you can see this is not a big hotel, but the ground floor has an airy feel about it. The building looks narrow viewed from the street, but it actually 'elongates' towards the back area. There are even rooms on this ground floor!
Let us go inside, shall we?!
This is the lobby as you enter the main entrance...
To the left, where you see those woven-like stools are the sitting and lounging areas. There is a TV and their free WiFi is best in this area. To the right is the eating area (2 tables), beyond that, after the post is another eating area (1 table), and after that, next to the 2nd post/pillar is the stairs and the elevator.
How about the rooms?!
This was my room on the 2nd floor...
Modern - meaning cramped compared to the hotel rooms of yesteryear's hehe. But good enough for me. I forgot what this room is called, but judging from the number of towels on the bed, this is good for two people. Oh, if there were two of us on this bed though... I'd be damned hahaha!
Here is my bed after I got back from a meeting and threw my things in...
Look at my 'pink long sleeved shirt' and my tablet case on the bed. They occupy almost the whole width, right? I would protest if this was good for two. But with me alone, okay lang! Oh, you see a snippet of the bathroom on the left? Let's take a closer look!
The bathroom is new and nice though a bit cramped for me
Entering the shower area will be a bit tricky if you are wider than me (my waistline as of now is 33). I entered via that sliding door sideways hehe. Fixtures and whathavyas are modern though. But the water pressure seems a bit wanting. Karuyag sidngon mahinay!
Alright, so much for the room. When I come back to this place (because I know I will), maybe I should try the other rooms. I did see some as they were being cleaned and I incidentally was passing by. But I never got to take a real good peep, much less take any photos. I will be back anyway. I will!
Let us go roam more! This hotel being new and it being my first time, I tried looking around to see more of the building. Like where? Like I took the elevator and went up to the 4th floor.
And this is their conference/function area at 4F.
Looks good and big! This is the view upon emerging from the stairs/elevator.
And this is the view from the other end of the room...
That thing on the right behind the brown table and big imposing white air conditioner in the middle is the elevator and the stairs. Hey there is one floor more going up, but that is not anymore part of the hotel. It is the owners' residence - why do I know? Because I made a mistake going up there hehe! Now take a look at the left side end of the room. Yes, those three gray panels at the very end. It is not yet the end of the floor/building! It is just a partition that separates this wide space into some service area and the toilets, as can be seen in this pic below...
Okay, done! I went down to ground floor via the stairs. It is only 4 levels anyway.
Nice, airy, bright stairwells...
Take note of those cozy seats. They are there on every landing for your comfort and convenience if you want to do something like paperwork and/or gadgets and/or coffee. Why? Because there is not much space, and there is no signal in your room whether it be WiFi or phone hahaha!
Let's go back to the lobby at ground floor...
That is the lobby, viewed from front desk as you emerge from the stairs or elevator.
Note that at the back of the camera are rooms too and even a 'common toilet' for people who might be at this lobby area.
Here are more photos of ground floor areas...
Oh, this was my free breakfast...
That is 'longsilog'. You choose from a selection of "silogs" the day before. And they are cooked not on this building, but across the street - which is also their house/building! No sweat there, that street is too narrow anyway hehe.
And,finally...
The "Smoking Area"... yey!!!
This is just outside the main entrance and beside the first of the three parking slots. Very well appointed! Unlike in other hotels where you the smoker is relegated to some creepy side or back of a building amidst dirt and foul odor. Here, you're not only comfy, 'sosyal'-looking ka pa, mala-Don Facundo Milyonaryo ang dating mo! And there is a big ashtray at the corner, while there are small glass ashtrays on each table too (all removed by the guard when he saw me taking pictures). Oh ha?! Saan ka pa?!
Also nice to sit out here in the morning with your coffee - and you watch the hotel's crews dashing to and fro, bringing your breakfast from their building across. Equally nice out here in the evening with your bottles of beer, as you watch people passing by!
In all, considering what is available in Catbalogan right now, I think this is 'one of the' if not 'the' best available 'value for money' hotel.
Well yes, they can improve on WiFi and cellular signals in the rooms. I think they will!
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