The Foodinista: Travel

TRYP Hotel by Wyndham Mall of Asia Manila: Hotel Tour & Review

Monday, May 14, 2018

Lobby

TRYP by Wyndham is a select-service urban hotel brand with over 100 hotels in some of the most exciting cities in the world. It is located in the heart of Manila within the Mall of Asia complex in Seaside Blvd. I love how it is strategically located just across Mall of Asia and nearby restaurants, spas and amusements parks which makes it convenient and exciting for travellers and business people alike. Adventure is just within reach once you go outside the hotel!

Tryp Hotel is relatively new compared to the other hotels nearby. I was so excited and privileged to be able to visit Tryp when we were doing an ocular for a project. So to clarify, I wasn't able to spend a night here, rather I was only able to roam around the whole hotel and check its rooms & facilities.

Tryp Hotel Exterior

This is the view of Tryp Hotel from the outside. I love the grayish-blue tones of the fascade which adds a modern young vibe to the overall look of the venue! There's a huge parking space within the premises so it's not a problem if you are to spend a night here.

What I just don't like about this hotel is where it is situated which is literally beside the seawall so there is an unavoidable awful smell. The smell is a combination of a stinky trash, dumpsite and moist from the sea. It stinks so bad to be honest so I won't recommend staying in the parking lot for long cause the smell could hurt your stomach. The unbearable scent doesn't reach the upper floors of the building though so that shouldn't hinder you from staying at Tryp.

Lobby

Hotel Lobby

The lobby looks very accommodating. It's very open and doesn't look too uptight and formal. The design isn't traditional so it's less intimidating and really welcoming. The light coming from the window adds warmth and gives the lobby a very calming feeling. The staff are all smiles and very hospitable too.

I like that even the lobby lounge is a place that can be used to hang out! They also have a library where you can read books, use your laptop and have your me-time. There is also a conference room that can be used to set private meetings or conference calls.

THINGS TO LOVE

Airport Transfers
Free Wi-Fi in All Rooms
Daily House Keeping
Beautiful Sunset View & Rooftop Pool
Prime Location
Modern Vibe & Ambiance
Tourist-Friendly & Business-Friendly

View from the elevator lobby on the 14th Floor

Dining Area / Restaurant

The interior of this hotel is really impressive. The attention to detail is amazing. They even have hand-painted walls inspired by Philippine destinations and Filipino heroes. Traditional hotels would usually have very intricate designs and traditional decorations which is what makes Tryp different from them. Tryp Hotel's minimalist and modern take on the overall interior, decorations and design adds a classy minimalist yet fun & youthful vibe to the hotel.

Aren't these luscious greens planted on white pots relaxing to the eyes? I'm sure millennials would love this! Very picturesque! Or shall I say pinterest-y?

Hallway

Lounge

Conference Room

Room Complementaries

ROOM RATES ~ Room price starts at P4,000 up depending on the room type. It can go as high as P10,000 a night per room.

ROOM TYPES: (7)

Cityscape Room (Double or Twin)
Bayside Room (2 Queen Beds)
Premium Bayside Room (2 Queen Beds)
Accessible Room (1 Queen Bed)
Family Room (1 Queen with Bunk Beds)
Loft (1 Queen with Bunk Beds)
Sunset Suite (1 King Bed)

Loft (1 Queen Bed, 3 Bunk Beds)

All rooms include:

Toilet
Air-conditioning
Alarm Clock
Clothes Rack
Desk
Hair Dryer
In-room safe box
Linens
Refrigerator
Shower
Telephone
Toiletries
Towels
Wake-up Services
Satellite Cable Channels

View from the Loft

The loft is my favorite! I would book this room if I were to stay here with my friends.
The loft has a very modern minimalist vibe. When I saw this room I instantly thought about my friends! It is really spacious and feels like home. This room is perfect for barkadas who wants to spend quality time together or maybe for those clingy groups who wants to stick together after walwal nights. This room is also great for families with kids! It's easy to move around and they won't be bored with the space.

Room Balcony

Bunk Beds

We were toured to the Sunset Suite which isn't big of a suite but has a heck of a view -- jaw- droppingly stunning. It's facing the sea so you will get to have a beautiful panoramic view of the sea during golden hours where you can drink your hot coco or sip a wine as you enjoy the landscape. This room is perfect for couples and honeymooners!

Sunset Suite

Sunset Suite Bed View

View from the Rooftop

ROOFTOP POOL
The pool is so captivating. I can't help but gush over it. The minimalist design again makes everything stand out. It's so unique and incomparable to other pool area in other hotels that I have visited. The wooden tiles gives you a sauna / hot bath vibe just like those in Japan. I really love the view from the rooftop. It would be romantic to spend a dinner date here or watch the sunset with someone special!

Rooftop Pool

Nearby Accessible Landmarks

Mall of Asia (Largest Mall in the Philippines)
SM By The Bay Amusement Park
Resorts World Manila (Casinos, Clubs & Hotels)
Cove Manila (Club)
Star City (Amusement Park)
Numerous Hotels, Spa & Popular Restaurants
Dessert Museum at S Maison Mall
DAMPA! (Seafood Restaurants)

View from the window lobby

After the tour, I can't help but wish to be able to spend a night here.

This is definitely one of the most beautiful modern hotels in the metro!

Experience a new hotel and get #PoweredbytheCity!

Nuvali

Republic Wakepark, Nuvali

Friday, January 19, 2018

REPUBL1C WAKEPARK Nuvali: The Newest and Most Innovative Wakepark in the World!

RATES

OPERATING DAYS

Monday - Sunday

Weekdays: Monday to Thursday (830AM to 530PM)

Weekends: Friday to Sunday (830Am - 10PM)

ACCOMMODATION

WAKEBOARDING! Ahhh finally! I had the chance to go to Nuvali and try wakeboarding. This waters sport venue is just an hour drive from Manila and I can't believe I was finally able to try it!

I'm never into waters sports so I had a rush of adrenaline when I knew that our bosses are bringing us to Nuvali for wakeboaring. My bosses often go here in Nuvali to do wakeboarding though they're not really that into sports, they do this as a hobby just to relax and ease the stress from the very busy Metro Manila.

There are three man-made lakes in the vicinity. 1 is for the PRO which is the biggest lake and the other 2 are for amateurs. The best time to go here is on a weekday because there are few people and you can take turns as many times as you want without having to queue for a long time. We went on a Tuesday and we were the only ones in the park, sobrang sulit! I can't count how many times I was able to wakeboard!

BEGINNERS

For beginners, you can choose in any of the two wakeboard lakes that they have. Republic Wakepark is the best place to learn wakeboarding because they only provide professionals to teach all the right techniques while having fun.

THE PROS

For the more adventurous and advanced riders, feel free to have fun with all the obstacles.
Practice your skills and shred with their new ramps that are now more elevated than the usual.

THE EXPERIENCE

All of us, if not MOST of us stayed in the beginners area where the cable is just a one straight line and goes back and forth moving in only one direction. To be honest, I felt fear rushing through my veins, the adrenaline is real! I've never felt that nervous in my entire life cause i'm afraid that I might fall many times and the water might splash hard on me and give me bruises, I'm afraid of falling and getting injured. I just over think too much so I was feeling uneasy before my first ever WAKEBOARD pass.

Gahd, it was an exciting experience. When it was my turn already, Manong who assists every wake boarder guided me on how to stand properly and keep my balance. I was listening to all of his instructions and copying/showing the correct position he wants to check before officially releasing and letting me go off the water. I wasn't able to keep my balance and reach the end of the lake on my 1st, 2nd and even the 3rd try.

I had more than 10 tries or even 20 before being able to stand on my own without falling but I feel like I needed 1 whole day to be able to master this sport! I need to make my own man-made lake fo sho to master this sport! I'm not good in balancing and I keep shrugging my body on one side, either left or right which kept me from falling many times. I can't count it but 'twas fun!

The technique is to keep calm and stay in the same position from where you started and make that position consistent until the end. CONTROL and BALANCE. I wasn't able to make out of the most of this first experience but I really enjoyed it! I never knew I will be able to do this. I never knew I had an adventurous side, who would have thought?

Overall, it was a thrilling experience and I will definitely be back in the future!

OTHER AMENITIES

Republ1c Café

The wakepark has their own restaurant/ bar where you can buy refreshments, eat good food, and play billiards (P175/hour). If you are bringing your baby with you this is a fun place to stay. It's very presko and chill. This is a good place to hang-out and chill with friends before or after riding.

Reception and Shop

This is the first building you’ll enter in. There’s the counter, reception area, gear fitting area, and a shop selling wakeboarding items.

Playground

If you tagged along kids, Republ1c made sure they won’t get bored while you wakeboard. They have swings, slides, a hoop, and a small skating area for the skaters out there.

Swimming pool

Here’s another alternative to both riders and non-riders, for only P120, you could enjoy swimming in their pool. Though they keep this closed mostly on weekdays so it's useless! Better call first especially if you're bringing the young ones!

Cabanas

5 two-storey cabanas are built beside the Basic Course. This is where you’ll leave your stuff or your non-rider friends as they watch you ride at both Advance and Beginners’ Course. By the way, it’s free. Check the table number in your receipt to see what your assigned cabana is.

Shower/ Dressing Rooms

You’ll find two of these in the wakepark. The main one’s near the Reception building and there’s a smaller one beside the Café.

Albay

Misibis Bay Hotel, Albay Bicol

Friday, January 19, 2018

Misibis Bay, your tropical island getaway in the Philippines, is a private tropical hideaway built on a private, pristine stretch of beach along the southern tip of Cagraray island in Bacacay, Albay (Bicol Region).

Offering only the most exclusive and privileged hideaway, Misibis Bay’s architecture and interiors display a quintessence of style that allows guests to completely wallow in royal delight. Its 37 luxurious, Asian-inspired villas are designed with high, airy ceilings, expansive terraces with direct access to the pool or a secret path to the beach. The exclusive 1-kilometer stretch of golden-sand beach is made even more unique with exotic shells and volcanic pebbles.

Misibis Bay offers countless land and water activities. Guests can take an ultimate land and water adventure via Segway, ATV, dune buggy, Avalon Fun Ship, Jet Ski, kayak, hobie cat, wind surf and a lot more. Outside the resort, explore the wonders of the legendary province by marvelling at the rolling hills of Camalig and Daraga, the boiling waters of Nag-Aso Lake, and the perfect symmetry of the Mayon Volcano, or take a plunge in the waters of Donsol and swim with the whale sharks, the world’s biggest fish.

As vast as the terrains surrounding the resort, Misibis Bay offers guests unique dining options. From a refreshing breakfast on top of a hill overlooking the majestic Mayon Volcano, to a private dinner set-up in a white sand beach illuminated by a thousand stars, or in a candle-lit ampitheater that offers scenic view of Albay Gulf, guests are ensured of a truly memorable dining experience. Guests may also satisfy their gustatory desires by indulging in a buffet of culinary delights at The Spice Market for lunch and DeLaPlaya beach grill at night for a most fantastic dinner. The resort serves Asian cuisine fused with Bicol’s native spices.

Going to Misibis Bay is a breeze! From Manila, take a 50-minute flight to the city of Legazpi offered daily by AirPhil Express, Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines and Zest Air. Then choose to travel by land (approximately 45 minutes), by a private helicopter (approximately 15 minutes), or by fast watercraft (approximately 30 minutes) that travels along the scenic coastline of the province.

This is the pool area. Other facilities include the Spa, Activity Center, Fitness Center, Kids Room, and the Pool. The Pool is the only one I was able to visit then. They have 2 pools - the infinity pool overlooking the breathtaking beach and the lagoon pool. Some of the rooms even have their own mini infinity pool and some villas are literally just in front of the pool you can just jump and swim when you open your villa gate.

Garden View Room

Toiletries

As for the rooms they have a lot of types to choose from.
I only saw the ONE BEDROOM POOL VIEW & GARDEN VILLAS.
Check the link below for the rooms available.
https://www.misibisbay.com/accommodations/

QUICK REVIEW:
I like that the rooms are very clean and cozy. We stayed in a Garden Villa which a few walks away from the main beach & resort. It's not too far but walkable. We had 3 beds and 1 bathroom. They provided us with complimentary toiletries. Shower Cap, Tooth Bursh, Tooth Paste, Towels, Shampoo & Lotion were all part of it. The bed was really soft I had the best sleep of my life. Haha! It was hard for me to wake up and for myself to get up cause I just want to lay in bed all day.
The ventilation is good and everything we needed were provided.

Bedroom

Junior Suite Deluxe

THE BEACH
The beach isn't the best swimming site for me. I would prefer the pool more cause it's cleaner and easier to access. The beach would be best for kayak & other water sports than swimming. It's a little too rocky as well so it's not really the best option for swimming activities. The beach gives the best view though. Staring at the clear ocean and shore gave me calming and relaxing experience. If you want a rejuvinating vacation, stay at the beach front room!

Villa

Mayon Volcano

Bath Tub

WHY STAY?

The place is a haven for family or couples who just want to have a private relaxing getaway.

I would love to be back here for vacation and hopefully not for work anymore so I can get to enjoy all the facilities. Despite the resort being in just one location it's not boring to roam around cause they have a lot of facilities so there are a lot of activities that can be done. They also offer tour activities so you can visit the famous Mayon Volcano and other popular sites in Bicol!

Misibis is an ideal place for events especially weddings because there is a church within the compound which has a majestic view of the sea. It's just so beautiful! Other couples have their ceremony by the beach then the reception follows at the event space. This is convenient for couples & guests as they will not have to switch locations which could be bothersome during events.

Overall, Misibis Bay Resort is really one of the best luxury resorts in Bicol.

No wonder travelers recommend this place a lot because of the high quality service, facilities & experience!

Overall rating: 4/5

YES - VALUE FOR MONEY!