Toyoko Inn Cambodia
Nothing much to talk about. It is the same as other Toyoko Inn branches worldwide! But for the sake of fellow Pinoy Travelers, let's talk about that "nothing much" na yan!
It becomes even more interesting and worth discussing hehee!
If you would remember, I said sometime ago, that the Toyoko Inn in Mandaue, Cebu (their only Philippine branch) looks the same as branches in Japan, pati mga gamit.
Well, this hotel in Phnom Penh (their only branch in Cambodia) is also the same.
That's my story. Yun na iyon. The End!
Pero sige, ituloy natin ng konti pa... hehehe!
I actually once asked (in Mandaue): if those furnishings and fixtures all come from Japan. The answer: ay sir, pati papel, folder, stapler, pare-pareho lahat yan, kahit saan!
So that got me all the more curious. And I confirm, pareho nga din talaga. As in!
But as always... let me start from the very beginning!
Why here?
Ahm, this was the first hotel I saw when I searched for hotels near the Swan Bridge.
You see that green tower-like thing in the middle? That is the pylon of Swan Bridge. That's the first bridge (built in 2009) connecting to Koh Pich Island. There are 3 now.
Many buildings in this place (as you can see) are still in the making. Same situation, or even more hectic across that bridge. This Toyoko tower (at right) was up in 2015.
One of those many developments on that little island was the main reason I wanted to stay in this area. Plus my familiarity with Toyoko, plus their really attractive rates!
Ground level
Reception (front desk) is at ground level here, and on the very corner of the road.
Guests enter/exit at that main door, but the glass at left is a door too to those vans.
Not as spacious as in Mandaue, although as expected, it looks generally the same.
Look at the space from left (the plant) to right (front desk), it is rather narrow. That's all there is, as lobby area, in front of the reception counter. Sana walang pila forever!
And.., alang-alang ke Christmas Tree, they even temporarily closed that door to their parked cars (like the free shuttle). Cute! So, all use the big door at left (not in photo).
Ah, I was only describing the entrance & reception area above. There's actually this:
That is at opposite ends with the Christmas Tree, along the entire floor of the lobby.
That simple looking artwork on the wall is actually a big thing in Japan subject-wise and medium-wise. I think it's depicting The Great Wave Off Kanagawa (Tsunami ba).
It's such a 'gigantic size' ukiyo-e (I would guess it's a print enlargement of the original), and made into like what it appears now, a 5-panel bunkatsu art. Magkano kaya yan?!
Now, if you look to the right from that 'elevated' lounge above, you will see this:
That and all seats surrounding it comprise what the hotel calls their Lobby Mini Bar open from 2 to 8PM only. So other times of day, they are all part of the lobby lounge.
And those seats flow back to main entrance, X-Mas Tree and Reception with these:
That is the totality of the hotel's ground floor lobby! Not wide but very long, with well appointed "native-style" comfy seats, that I suspect (I didn't check) came from Cebu!
I say that because I remembered this.
The "free-to-use" laptops & printer are at that writing desk near the door at left - that is across reception. Hint: it is still cheaper to book a room online than do a 'walk-in'!
If you didn't quite get it, ganito: if you have no prior booking, and just arrived to get a room, it's costlier if you transact directly with front desk staff! So, do it online. How?
If your phone has no 'data', they have free wifi. If for some reason you still can't do it on your phone with already free wifi, ayan ang free laptops! Book your room 'online'!
The moment you finalized that booking, after you hit 'enter', step back to them, they will retrieve your booking and check you in! Ayy, the rate difference can be quite big.
It can be in the thousand pesos or near there. Nicely weird ba? Yes. But do it!
Don't worry nor don't rejoice much, if you are discovering this just now. It's no secret among us frequent travelers. Front staff will even tell you that - if you are a "walk-in".
So yun ang isang mahalagang gamit ng "free computers" na yan sa lobby ng hotel. I can tell you, it is not even unique to Toyoko. I have experienced that at other hotels.
I still have to know the reason why that is so, though. It can be the industry's way of encouraging guests to book online, and/or maybe their approved tariffs stipulate so.
Alright, still on that picture above, about the lobby, you will notice at right, there is a water dispenser. Ah, very useful if, like me, you are fond of walking/strolling outside.
Not clear in that photo, there's also a vending machine right beside the dispenser, if you want the fancier drinks and snacks. Hindi nga lang libre katulad ng tubig hehe!
Meron Coke-In-Cans salamat naman!
The elevators, free self-service laundry machines (with libreng sabon at fabcon na), kabayo at plantsa, and comfort rooms are that way inside, sa kanan. Kumpleto sila!
My Room
If you have been reading my previous stories, there is no need to describe these:
How do the 'contents' of this room compare to this or even this? Nothing much of a difference, right? Ultimong wall clock, hangers, bibliya at sabitan ng tuwalya - same!
Well, yung bed-liner dito blue, sa Cebu brown, as if they matter hehehe! That is why I said there's really nothing much to tell you about, when it comes to their hotel rooms.
Elsewhere in the hotel
Outside the rooms, of course, are different, since Toyoko buildings aren't the same.
Here's an example of the elevator lobby at the 20th floor. Good views of Koh Pich.
Oh, I think I didn't ask if all of 20F is a 'smoking floor', but my room 2005 certainly is!
I particularly like the buffet breakfast area on the top floor - for the good views.
While you would normally say "let's go down for breakfast", here you'd say "let's go up for breakfast". That's located on the 23rd floor. The topmost floor of the hotel, in fact.
Do you remember those red roofs? The National Assembly Building and their MFA.
I could even see NagaWorld 1 and NagaWorld 2. I could also see part of Australian Embassy (left edge of pic). And at right edge is the coming Shangri-la Hotel & Mall.
Hey, take a last glance at that football field and the buildings around it. This picture might just become your last. A very reliable source told me, all the way to in-front of Toyoko Inn (foreground), is also being developed into something else - commercial!
Alright, back to breakfast, na me kasamang 'fried chicken' (o di ba?). Naubos ko!
Kinailangan ko iyang pakwan na yan, pang-pawi ng lasang ulam (manok) at 7:03AM.
Yes, it's also a buffet breakfast. But the choices (parang lunch) are better than Cebu.
AND, I was happily surprised, that I did not encounter the 'wakanga big groups' here!
By the entrance you are met by a bar, and turning right the setup is a bit different.
It is a little bit more "loungy" compared to the setup left of the entrance, though you may also use this at breakfast. This is the Night Bar serving from 5 to 10:15PM only.
The nice thing at this night bar area is more good views (of the rivers and Koh Pich).
Everything you see in this last picture are new developments - many are even still 'in progress', so off limits to most visitors. They're making it look like a 'French Village'.
Architecturally, I mean. As in just by design of the buildings. But "the something" that doesn't seem to sit well in my brain is: every establishment already up have Chinese characters in their signages. It's either Khmer & Chinese or English & Chinese. Hala!
Oist! A very reliable source told me that indeed these new developments are mainly pushed by the Chinese Government. The many establishments are Chinese-owned.
Ta! Another step in the "chinesization of planet earth"! Do you remember Sri Lanka? Well sa atin nag-start na rin naman eh - via their POGO establishments everywhere!
Kuyaw! But let's not dwell on that anymore. No one believes that anyway. And I have the right to say "isa lamang akong manlalakbay, na walang kinalaman sa mga ganyan".
But my last word will be... "sinabi ko na sa'yo eh". Kulba baya! Kalain!
Okay okay.., balik sa Toyoko Inn hehehe! This one is their 251st Branch in the world, and their first in Cambodia with 329 rooms. Mandaue is their 259th with 582 rooms.
Let's get going. Tara na!
It becomes even more interesting and worth discussing hehee!
If you would remember, I said sometime ago, that the Toyoko Inn in Mandaue, Cebu (their only Philippine branch) looks the same as branches in Japan, pati mga gamit.
Well, this hotel in Phnom Penh (their only branch in Cambodia) is also the same.
That's my story. Yun na iyon. The End!
Pero sige, ituloy natin ng konti pa... hehehe!
I actually once asked (in Mandaue): if those furnishings and fixtures all come from Japan. The answer: ay sir, pati papel, folder, stapler, pare-pareho lahat yan, kahit saan!
So that got me all the more curious. And I confirm, pareho nga din talaga. As in!
But as always... let me start from the very beginning!
Why here?
Ahm, this was the first hotel I saw when I searched for hotels near the Swan Bridge.
Many buildings in this place (as you can see) are still in the making. Same situation, or even more hectic across that bridge. This Toyoko tower (at right) was up in 2015.
One of those many developments on that little island was the main reason I wanted to stay in this area. Plus my familiarity with Toyoko, plus their really attractive rates!
Ground level
Reception (front desk) is at ground level here, and on the very corner of the road.
Not as spacious as in Mandaue, although as expected, it looks generally the same.
And.., alang-alang ke Christmas Tree, they even temporarily closed that door to their parked cars (like the free shuttle). Cute! So, all use the big door at left (not in photo).
Ah, I was only describing the entrance & reception area above. There's actually this:
That simple looking artwork on the wall is actually a big thing in Japan subject-wise and medium-wise. I think it's depicting The Great Wave Off Kanagawa (Tsunami ba).
It's such a 'gigantic size' ukiyo-e (I would guess it's a print enlargement of the original), and made into like what it appears now, a 5-panel bunkatsu art. Magkano kaya yan?!
Now, if you look to the right from that 'elevated' lounge above, you will see this:
And those seats flow back to main entrance, X-Mas Tree and Reception with these:
I say that because I remembered this.
The "free-to-use" laptops & printer are at that writing desk near the door at left - that is across reception. Hint: it is still cheaper to book a room online than do a 'walk-in'!
If you didn't quite get it, ganito: if you have no prior booking, and just arrived to get a room, it's costlier if you transact directly with front desk staff! So, do it online. How?
If your phone has no 'data', they have free wifi. If for some reason you still can't do it on your phone with already free wifi, ayan ang free laptops! Book your room 'online'!
The moment you finalized that booking, after you hit 'enter', step back to them, they will retrieve your booking and check you in! Ayy, the rate difference can be quite big.
It can be in the thousand pesos or near there. Nicely weird ba? Yes. But do it!
Don't worry nor don't rejoice much, if you are discovering this just now. It's no secret among us frequent travelers. Front staff will even tell you that - if you are a "walk-in".
So yun ang isang mahalagang gamit ng "free computers" na yan sa lobby ng hotel. I can tell you, it is not even unique to Toyoko. I have experienced that at other hotels.
I still have to know the reason why that is so, though. It can be the industry's way of encouraging guests to book online, and/or maybe their approved tariffs stipulate so.
Alright, still on that picture above, about the lobby, you will notice at right, there is a water dispenser. Ah, very useful if, like me, you are fond of walking/strolling outside.
Not clear in that photo, there's also a vending machine right beside the dispenser, if you want the fancier drinks and snacks. Hindi nga lang libre katulad ng tubig hehe!
Meron Coke-In-Cans salamat naman!
The elevators, free self-service laundry machines (with libreng sabon at fabcon na), kabayo at plantsa, and comfort rooms are that way inside, sa kanan. Kumpleto sila!
My Room
If you have been reading my previous stories, there is no need to describe these:
Well, yung bed-liner dito blue, sa Cebu brown, as if they matter hehehe! That is why I said there's really nothing much to tell you about, when it comes to their hotel rooms.
Elsewhere in the hotel
Outside the rooms, of course, are different, since Toyoko buildings aren't the same.
Here's an example of the elevator lobby at the 20th floor. Good views of Koh Pich.
I particularly like the buffet breakfast area on the top floor - for the good views.
Do you remember those red roofs? The National Assembly Building and their MFA.
Hey, take a last glance at that football field and the buildings around it. This picture might just become your last. A very reliable source told me, all the way to in-front of Toyoko Inn (foreground), is also being developed into something else - commercial!
Alright, back to breakfast, na me kasamang 'fried chicken' (o di ba?). Naubos ko!
Yes, it's also a buffet breakfast. But the choices (parang lunch) are better than Cebu.
By the entrance you are met by a bar, and turning right the setup is a bit different.
The nice thing at this night bar area is more good views (of the rivers and Koh Pich).
Architecturally, I mean. As in just by design of the buildings. But "the something" that doesn't seem to sit well in my brain is: every establishment already up have Chinese characters in their signages. It's either Khmer & Chinese or English & Chinese. Hala!
Oist! A very reliable source told me that indeed these new developments are mainly pushed by the Chinese Government. The many establishments are Chinese-owned.
Ta! Another step in the "chinesization of planet earth"! Do you remember Sri Lanka? Well sa atin nag-start na rin naman eh - via their POGO establishments everywhere!
Kuyaw! But let's not dwell on that anymore. No one believes that anyway. And I have the right to say "isa lamang akong manlalakbay, na walang kinalaman sa mga ganyan".
But my last word will be... "sinabi ko na sa'yo eh". Kulba baya! Kalain!
Okay okay.., balik sa Toyoko Inn hehehe! This one is their 251st Branch in the world, and their first in Cambodia with 329 rooms. Mandaue is their 259th with 582 rooms.
Let's get going. Tara na!
Comments
Post a Comment