Holiday Inn Manila Galleria

I know what some of you would 'exclaim' by reading the title of this post - "Holiday Inn na naman"? But don't go away just yet, you'll thank me for sharing important details down to the last pic. Promise yan!

Take note, while I am already starting to sound like a marketing ambassador of Holiday Inn or even its mother brand (IHG).., I already said that before and I'll say it again, no I am not! This blog just recounts my travel experiences as they come. Its just that my recent travels, involves/d staying at places where there are/were available IHG hotels, and as said before, they're a hard habit to break, a default for me!

More are even coming! But let's talk about this one - Holiday Inn Manila Galleria.

From the name alone, you would know where this hotel is located, right? On the eastern end, and just above Robinson's Galleria Mall. One of two towers, the other being Crowne Plaza (also an IHG Hotel).

When I checked-in, the smilingly friendly clerk told me "corner room sir, maaliwalas just as you like it".

Very true. And I loved it! Imagine two sides, meaning half of the room is glass. I just like corner rooms!

Teka, the last time I sat foot on this hotel was probably a decade ago! How did she know that's what I wanted for a room? Ah easy, they probably keep a 'profile' of their club members and put those notes in there. Club member? Yes, the 'Priority Club', that I think they've renamed into something else again!

Anyway, that picture above wasn't 'fresh', because I already sat on the edge of the bed! I just posted it ahead to illustrate the 'glass walls' that make the room wonderfully bright! But, in my previous stories, I said I always take pictures as I enter a room while still untouched (by me). This was that first picture:

My comment as I entered was "whoa, it still looks generally the same as it has been many years ago"!

I was not expressing displeasure.., just something like "OMG, this things haven't decayed yet" hehe!

Like look at the carpet and the 'muebles'.., pang old millennium pa ang colors, textures and styles!

To the extent that it makes the new black 'writing-desk-chair' look kind of an 'alien' (hindi na bagay)!

The consolation, and the most important 'condition' (for me) was/is, everything everywhere is clean.

The bed is comfy soft, and I laughed thinking na kaya sya malambot dahil luma na nga, at nalamog na sa tagal nyang nagserbisyo! No pillow menu, of course the pillowcases are not embroidered with 'soft' and 'firm' like it was here, here and here, dahil hindi qualified! Need you embroider pillows with "hard"?

Oh did I say "writing desk"? It's this one below.., look at the lower left edge (beside the notepad)!

The desk lamp on opposite edge is at least new. But black hehe. So, pareho sila ni desk chair - aliens! Oh, if you still have good eyesight, look at the wall (upper-left edge of pic), otherwise, see below, later.

This is the big desk where the TV is placed on top of. Do you see something wavy? Yes, the table top!

Oh, at least the white envelope is still white! And I think the card-key color is really just faded like that!

Good that half of the room's walls are made of glass, because on most parts it looked like this..,

If the above pictures may not seem too vividly clear, try looking where the arrows point below..,

More arrows below. But, though tarnished, I still like the speaker and volume control in the bathroom!

All things considered, I must say, this thing was the most offensive in this room..,

If you give it some thought, that art frame is actually very insulting to all guests who may get assigned to this room, me included. It's just decoration on a wall beside the bed with no functional value, right?

But to any human culture or society, whether barbaric or learned, a decoration on a house (even if it is not a home), is meant to beautify or enhance the look of the surroundings. It is installed to please the eyes, therefore the mind of the beholder. Tapos ang makikita mo, ganyan nagkakabang-kabang na na picture frame? You pay a ridiculous 5-star rate and you are greeted by such filth on a wall by your bed?

Those are not painted clouds, excuse me. Those are stains on the canvass, OMG, from whatever kind of liquid it may have come from! The least they could do is remove it. Unless it's hiding a bigger OMG!

The wooden closet's finish seems still alright.., but I'm not sure if still the original or newly varnished.

The standard coffee and tea making corner is unmistakably clean too. Which is very important, right?

The insides of that closet are also fine with all the expected amenities - the flat iron looked even new.

And the refrigerator is also very clean - as in walang laman! But some guests (like me) like it that way.

It is better empty, para walang temptation hehehe! They explain it anyway by putting this card..,

It says: "That is why, we have cleared your bar fridge so you are free to fill it with whatever you like".

The 'chichirya' and all, are also not anymore around.., except the free coffee, tea, and condiments!

But as the middle paragraph says, they can re-stock it at your request - kung ayaw mo ng mas mura - there's the Robinson's Supermarket at ground level, or even two 7-Elevens just right across the street!

Okay, the bathroom is also clean with new towels. Hayaan na yung talepono sa wall, rare item na yan!

If you noticed, bathrooms of newer hotels (even the most luxurious ones), do not anymore have those extension phones nor the speakers (picture above) with volume control. Olden luxuries but still useful!

Ah, the 'bath tubs' of old! On this one, natawa na lang ako, dahil napika na ako dun sa 'art frame'!

Saang purok ba galing ang franchisee ng Holiday Inn na ito? What could be his 'other business'? Baka hardware sa Pasig? Come on, thousands of sealant suppliers on earth are ALL just a phone call away.

Don't tell me this 5-star hotel is trying to pass that 'black piping' as a design concept. Ulol!

I am almost certain, somebody in the Asia/Pacific Division of Holiday Inn organization is not doing his job - of properly monitoring the franchisees' facilities. What hurts me more is that, this grisly situation that taints the reputation of the IHG brand, is found in my country. Parang gusto kong manliit sa hiya!

Anyway, the bathroom sink that is very similar to many hotels in it's age, is clean and well stocked!

But as I said last month, those cute little plastic bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body soap and body lotion should (probably) be going away from the hotel industry worldwide. It's not to save on financial overheads, but their contribution to lessening 'single-use-plastics' in the effort to make a better earth!

Some of the big hotel brands (IHG included) are now very serious about it. They're responding to a UN call for all of us to help mother earth one way or another. I say it's such a 'trivial' amount of plastic, but if combined with all other efforts of all industries, that would be help enough to our dear ailing planet!

Eh tayo, me nagawa na ba tayo para sa kalikasan? Ako, aside from the tree-plantings, wala pa.

Let's end it here.., and here's a shot of the elevator lobby. Da orig pang-kahapon-style at madilim!

Well, that was how "luxurious" was defined in the vintage past. In fairness, this hotel is decades old!

Let us clarify that though, that being old is never an excuse for mediocrity, if you carry the name IHG.

Haay, okay, di na muna ako babalik dyan. Crowne Plaza na lang hehehe!