New Year at Peninsula Manila

Now on its second year, we have this new tradition that every New Year we spend it at the hotel of our choice. Last year was at the H2O Hotel in Manila Ocean Park. This year, we celebrated it at The Peninsula Manila. They have this New Year Package for an overnight stay including buffet breakfast, cash voucher and gift on New Year's eve.

We had a good time there.

Just a little snag on checking in but which the management already addressed.

It was our first time to stay there because we wanted to have a really hassle-free new year. And because The Peninsula Manila is one of the best hotels.

Other than the long queues while checking in , we had a good stay. The breakfast buffet at Escolta is superb. The food at The Lobby is really amazing. The room is clean, smells good and the bathroom is spacious. We had the view of the party and the fireworks during the New Year's eve so we had a grand time enjoying the spectacle. The box of chocolates during the New Year's eve was a nice touch. The staff we met along the hallways are all smiles and very courteous. The checkout was ok amidst the long queues. Overall it was good.

After check out, we went to the Powerplant Mall.

Next year, we will try Eastwood New Year.

Post Script of our short stay in Peninsula:

Good service, kind staff, great food. Just some problems with check in=)

Overall, we had a good time when we stayed there for the New Year.

However there are some areas that they can improve on. I’m not sure if the timing is not good because we stayed there during the busy New Year but we believe that great service is always a top priority regardless if it's peak season or not. New year happens every year and a hotel as good and as established as The Peninsula Manila should be able to anticipate the influx of guests and should be able to foresee reservations at that time. What more, good service is expected or it is a given when we're talking about a premier 5-star hotel like them.

It was our first time to stay there because we wanted to have a really hassle-free new year. And because the hotel is one of the best in the country. However upon checking in, it took us almost 2 hours to get a room. A room we reserved 2 months prior and a room which was according to the receptionist we talked to was already reserved but still need checking/inspection (for almost 2 hours).

We were assisted to the 4th floor but nobody as in nobody ever asked us of anything or even as a courtesy offered us anything. We had an 18-month old baby at that time so you can only imagine how hassle it is to stay in a lobby. We had to personally line up at the receptionist on the 4th floor just to be assisted and to get our room card.

Anyway, that was just the letdown which we never really expected from this hotel but I already emailed them about it and they have been gracious enough to answer it and apologized for the inconvenience. Thank you.

But not everything is bad. Other than that, we had a good stay. The breakfast buffet at Escolta is superb. The food at The Lobby is really amazing. The room is clean, smells good and the bathroom is spacious. We had the view of the party and the fireworks during the New Year's eve so we had a grand time enjoying the spectacle. The box of chocolates during the New Year's eve was a nice touch. The staff we met along the hallways are all smiles and very courteous. The checkout was ok amidst the long queues again. Overall it was good.

I just hope that next new year will be different for other guests. Perhaps a more organized way of checking in and out. And making sure guests are informed and assisted well until they get to their room.