K is for Okay

The weekend past saw Noy and I getting invited to this corporate event at the Hotel Kimberly in Tagaytay. Since we were given a day's notice only, we arrived - oh so fashionably - one and a half hours late. I barely had time to appreciate the hotel facade at night, but the it was definitely a looker from the road, especially since it sits in the middle of a residential area. No, it's not on the main strip of famous Tagaytay establishments but it really isn't that far.

The owners paid great attention to the overall look of the place. It's minimalist with cool native Philippine furnishings. The ambience is very relaxing at the fabulous lobby, what with floor to ceiling glass walls and spacious surroundings.

I especially love the artsy capiz pieces that adorned the lobby - mirror, lamp and vase.

This statement clock is at the front desk.

This one's inside the elevator.

The Cafe at K where we had breakfast (read below).

This daybed beside the gym is inviting. I wish there's one near the pool, too.

There's an adequately-sized pool which we dipped into early Sunday. Other people may find it crazy swimming at this time of year in Tagaytay, but I found it wonderfully refreshing. There's a large play area for kids and kids at heart, like us. I bet the place is a nice venue for parties involving families with kids, even for weddings since the entire place is picturesque enough. The hotel actually has wedding packages since it has a large ballroom which can accommodate 300 guests.

The same large space concept continues on to the rooms. The hotel takes pride in having the largest rooms in Tagaytay. I haven't been to too many hotels in Tagaytay, but Hotel Kimberly's are clean and comfortable. Im guessing all rooms have a balcony. There isn't much to see since the hotel is in a residential area, but it's nice to have a balcony still. The toilet in our room is basic, but Noy and I took delight on the large shower head.

Sadly though, the hotel services cannot quite keep up with the excellence of its physical appearance. There's really nothing to rave about the food. We were served buffet-style for both dinner and breakfast, and not a single dish was worth recommending. It wasn't that bad, but elsewhere in Tagaytay there are a lot of good food choices that makes Hotel Kimberly food so average. Other failures worthy of the manager's attention:

1. There were too many insects in the pool area. They didn't look like dengue-carrying mosquitoes but they were equally scary and irritating. We even had some inside the room and on the bed. I believe there are chemicals and devices that they can invest on if they want their share of the market.

2. The water in our shower cubicle wasn't draining well. Feels like the building is tilted to one side away from the drain.

3. The shower head is nice but it was hard to regulate the temperature of the water coming out of it. I don't really mind but other people would.

4. The staff may be warm and friendly, but they need some form of training to serve their clients well. They're supposed to help the guest unload and carry their baggage. They're supposed to open doors for guests who opt to carry their food to the pool area to eat. They're supposed to ask the guest if it's okay to remove a used plate from the table even if it looks like it isn't going to be used anymore. They're NOT supposed to curse in front of the guest who wanted to try the treadmill if suddenly it didn't work. They're NOT supposed to just look if the guest is having some difficulty with any of their amenities. They should not be allowed to huddle and giggle at the bar when the restaurant is busy and there are a lot of hungry guests.

5. The guests would appreciate a wider variety of cable channels. People come to Tagaytay on a rainy weekend to stay indoors and relax. A DVD player is helpful, but just how many guests would remember to bring a favorite movie along anyway?

Other noteworthy details -

1. They're wifi-equipped. Fast, too. In our room, at least (412).

2. Wide open parking space.

3. Plush bed and pillows, good airconditioning.

4. Large closet space & safety deposit box.

5. Morning paper (Manila Bulletin) and complimentary water.

6. Mini-bar items a lot more affordable than most hotels, albeit limited.

Since Noy and I stayed for free, I cannot really tell if this hotel maximizes the value of one's money. Would I come back for another event and stay for free? Yes, if the event is essential to my work and career, and if I'd like to come back to Tagaytay in general. No, if the event is not very important. If there's no event involved, say someone gave me a gift certificate for a free overnight stay, I'd pass it on to a friend.