Killer Views at Capitol Central Hotel and Suites (Cebu City)

Capitol Central Hotel and Suites brim with a lot of promise. Its location alone makes is more than considerable, with an location midway between Ayala Mall and the commercial-leisure hum of Mango Avenue. Osmena Boulevard (Jones) is also just a hop away. On a mild morning, your breakfast atmosphere turns more ideal when you get to their restaurant. Along with your morning sustenance, tocino meal in my case (inclusive of my booking), you're "served" breathtaking views of the city.

Capitol is relatively new so you'd expect birthing pains, and this is quite evident. The rooms are either too small (for standard) - or really spacious for double. In fact, it pays to shell out just a wee bit more to enjoy "a lot more space". Otherwise, it's going to be cramped.

My room had all the space, with its queen bed. There's a small refrigerator placed too far from the socket which wasn't exactly ready for use (it was a three-prong electric plug, while the outlet was meant for a two-prong). I could have asked for an extension cord but I hate being too needy so I decided to buy: 1) an extension cord for my laptop (outlet is too far from the desk); 2) adaptor for the ref's plug. There's LCD cable TV. The bed has fresh but rather thin sheets, comfy bed and a sizable bathroom. If you use your AC, you will eventually require more than those well placed sheets, which is rather inconvenient when you're trying to recharge after a day's hectic schedule. I'd say, a comfortable bed and its sheets and pillows should be well provided more than a ref. These are basic items in a lodging, cheap or otherwise.

The front desk staff is more than amiable, and check-in formality is fast. There's not much of a lobby to linger in, but for a couch where you could wait for a taxi. Outside the building is the busy Escario Street, a major thoroughfare that heads towards the oppsite directions of Jones and Gorordo. Having said that, there are jeepneys and multicabs darting through the streets. This area almost never sleeps at night, with restaurants scattered all over. At certain times, it may be difficult to hail a cab, but ask the door man to secure you one while you wait inside.

The hotel has a lift and 48 rooms spread on 6 floors. It opened in 2013 and enjoys good occupancy, you'd need advance bookings to ensure an available room.

After my stay, I vowed not to come back soon. That was early 2014. Maybe in one more year, they'd have figured a way to allow smoother stays for their guests. Maybe I won't need to buy an extension cord and an adaptor to use their ref? And  they have one the city's best wifi connections (like M Citi Suites). Moreover, if you're into awe-inspiring morning views during breakfast, this is the place for you - aside from the fact that they're one of the newest and most affordable.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

Cebu Provincial  Capitol from the hotel - and the green mountains beyond.

Comfortable bed but really thin bed sheets.

A long desk. If you draw the curtain, you have a view of Escario Street, the area's main road. If you place your laptop here, there is no electrical outlet nearby. But wifi is very fast. 

Watching a documentary about Malta.

Ref beside my bed. The outlet is at the other side of the bed.

Painting in my room.

Best Western Hotel from my room

Multicabs plying Escario Street.

Tocino is "bacon" in Spanish but it's far from being one in its Philippine preparation. It's made from pork fatback, a sweetened cured pork  traditionally served for breakfast in the Philippines, though it has different variations all over the Hispanic communities. On this plate, the whole package is called "tocilog" (which stands for tocino, sinangag or fried rice and itlog or fried egg). Rice in this plate looks plain/boiled, not fried/sinangag.

The lobby.

For more information, visit their Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/CAPTIOLCENTRALHOTEL or call them at (6332) 253-8000.

Elevator

Mandarin Plaza Hotel - A Pleasant Stay in the Heart of Cebu City

Cebu City is a favorite so I find myself repeatedly transiting here. To keep the experience fresh, I always try new hotels. Mostly though, there's always a factor during each stay that doesn't make it "perfect". A haughty front desk officer. A check-in that takes a little too long. An area that's not too tourist-friendly. A bland breakfast spread. But to my memory, there's one hotel with few annoyances - Mandarin Plaza Hotel.

Built in 2013, the design and amenities are quite modern, and the space for rooms is quite generous. The lobby is breezy with a winsome minimalist design, but to the left of the building are a row of giant chandeliers gloriously hanging down the ceiling, as you glide down the stairs (but hardly anyone uses the stairs). My room was at the 8th floor, as requested. I loved the idea of having so many elevators on service - 6? Or was that 8? How many elevator does Crown Regency have, 2?

There's a swimming pool at an upper level. Breakfast is at the ground floor restaurant. Mandarin is located just across Ayala Mall; there's Archbishop Reyes Street to its left and Escario Street to its right. A jeepney terminal is nearby, and 24-hour restaurants are a few paces away, not to mention a 7-11 some 3 blocks from the hotel.

Though the bed is standard sized, thus "smallish", it is comfortable. The elongated lamp shades are easy on the eyes; a very official looking desk, a glistening floor and a very clean bathroom are some of its features. Wifi is fast and available everywhere, though some guests have complained about about it being non-existent. Insist for a room with good signal, if you require it. If you want a swim, head to the pool which, at best, is serviceable; nothing fancy. I liked the demeanor of the staff. They're polite enough and non-obtrusive. Some guests may prefer a little more warmth, but as long as they're not rude - and reply when asked, I am good with that. I wasn't there to do 'chummy" with them. The front desk at Bayfront Hotel near SM is way more accommodating, albeit more welcoming. From my room, I could see the poolside view of one of my favorite hotels in Cebu - Quest Hotel which is a more expensive option.

You can arrange for an airport pick up. It's PhP950 one-way for a car, but if you're a group and require a van, the charge is PhP1,500 one-way. Mandarin Bar and Restaurant is open from 7AM to 12AM. There are a dime a dozen taxis waiting in front so vehicle is accessible at any time of the day. You can get your metered taxis at any time - or ask the door man to get you one.

With no untoward incident during my stay, Mandarin Plaza Hotel, with its well appointed 322 rooms, was a pleasant place to stay in Cebu City.

This is the Eye in the Sky!
 

Painting in my room.

The hotel's only restaurant.

For more information, visit their website @ http://www.mandarinplazahotel.com/ or email them at reservations@mandarinplazahotel.com. You may also call them at (63-32) 266-1111.

Mandarin Bar 

From my room also, I have a view of nearby Parklane's swimming pool which I always thought was Quest Hotel's (located at the other side).

Staying In at Best Western Plus Lex Cebu Hotel (Wasn't That a Mouthful?)

Staycation. Now there's a word I'm not very fond of. Is it even accepted in the English dictionary? The compound word doesn't seem to fit harmoniously that pronouncing it is like an elocution exercise. On the other hand, it gets its message across. Staying in in a place and doing nothing. A relaxing holiday.

Cebu City's Best Western Plus qualifies for this word. I loved the rooms and its interiors, I could in fact stay inside all day. Comfortable bed, fresh sheets, large pillows that conform to the shape of your head - just fits like a glove, if you ask me.

The glass wall separating the bedroom from the bathroom is semi-glazed. otherwise, it's a voyeur's dream. My window showed the Provincial Capitol and parts of Jones.

MOUTHFUL

Now let's take the case of the hotel's name. Seems as though the hotel has a compendium of owners: "Best Western", then the "Plus" must mean something more than the franchise/brand name. Then there's "Lex". All in all, you'll have to mouth six proper words to name it. "Where are you staying?" Take a deep breath and start the exercise, "Oh, it's at Best Western Plus Lex Cebu Hotel". Got that? Best Western Plus Lex Cebu Hotel. :)

THE STATELESS TWANG

The lobby is pleasant, made more so by a wall-to-wall mirror imparting an illusion of space. The staff are generally polite, like most hotel personnel in Cebu. But wait. The painfully-smiling front desk girl laboriously speaks with too much of her perceived American accent I could hardly understand what she was saying. Believe me I tried. It was a mystery more baffling than the Bermuda Triangle. Worsh! Worsh! Worsh! And more worsh! And when I was about to take the elevator to my room, it dawned on me that she was talking about a half-day morning tour bus - there! It's written on a note and pasted on the wall. Filipino English is distinct. Spoken as it's written. You don't have to wear a twang that's neither here nor there. Maybe it's Bulgarian accent? Chechnian? Or Tahitian? Or heaven forbid, Afghan Taliban accent? Tone it down, miss.

The swimming pool at the upper level has tables where you can order food and drinks. It's open from 10AM to 6PM, no lifeguards. Kai Restaurant offers traditional Pinoy breakfast, some bread, omelette, jam, etc. The hotel is located in the heart of Escario Street, where the Provincial Capitol is. You're just a hop away from Jones or Osmena Street, the city's signature thoroughfare

But as pleasant and amorous as the front desk people welcome you upon check in, they seem to forget to look you in the eye or forget to smile upon check out. From warm welcome to glacial indifference, the difference is uncanny. Suddenly you get the feeling that, hey, show is over! Scram. They've done their part of the show. No business like show business even in Cebu City's seemingly summery hospitality.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

Lobby

My room

Glass wall to the bathroom

See the sink?

Painting on the wall.

The view from the bathroom.

An undated painting of Colon Street "inspired by the original from the Lucy Urgello Miller collection".  It hangs on my bedroom wall.

Hallway

Swimming Pool

Color of light alternately changes twice in the evening.

Reflections

Kai Restaurant

Breakfast from Kai Restaurant's buffet table.