By Margarita Medrano-Tupaz
THE hustle of the upcoming summer season, with school-age kids finishing up the school year, graduations, proms, vacation and summer planning, etc., it can easily leave parents exhausted and stressed out. For me, a quick fix is an in-town weekend getaway.
An intimate escape is within reach in the heart of Araneta Center in Quezon City. For people who spend most of their time in the southern area of the Metro, who would think that in the midst of all the bustle in this downtown area is a very impressive and outstanding mid-scale hotel. Novotel Manila Araneta Center is next to Smart Araneta Coliseum and within walking distance to Gateway Mall. This business and leisure district also provides easy access to the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) stations. Downtown areas are rapidly transforming into ultra-hip places to hang, so why not stay awhile? Outfitted with 401 rooms and suites, Novotel affords its guests modern comfort and amenities.
Novotel Manila Araneta Center is the first Philippine hotel of global hospitality giant AccorHotels Group. They have over 3,700 properties in over 92 countries. The Araneta Group, one of the pioneers in entertainment and leisure development in the Philippines, invested in the construction of this P3-billion hotel to invigorate local tourism and bring in business revenues to Quezon City.
At Novotel, everyone is free to live as they want—whether you’re on vacation or a business trip, alone or with family, everything has been designed to meet all your needs. All room accommodations feature a contemporary design that includes LCD televisions, iPod docking stations, lounges, workstations and broadband Internet access. The rooms are beautifully appointed in a palette of bright colors—yellows and greens with splashes of teal, orange, turquoise and hues of light gray and beige. The furniture is hip and modern with clean, straight lines. The 24-story building offers guests privacy and security and topnotch housekeeping service.
Entertain your palate in the casual atmosphere of Food Exchange Manila, unwind at the Gourmet Bar, the 6th Pool Bar & Lounge, or the Premier Lounge on the 24th floor and, of course, in-room dining in the privacy of your room is available 24/7. The ambiance in each of these outlets is very different from one another, so these in-house dining options are amazing. An array of activities is also available, including Kids Club by Novotel, a walking trail surrounded by flowers, a swimming pool, a state-of-the-art gym called Balance Fitness, and of course, everyone must experience the Swedish massage in the divine InBalance Spa. For special events, there is a grand ballroom, a bridal garden and spacious meeting rooms.
One of my favorite parts of any staycation is exploring some of the local joints. And because we are from the South and hardly ever go to Quezon City, we enjoyed walking around like we were tourists. Right across the street from the hotel, on one side was a market that had aisles and aisles of fresh flowers. There are malls and restaurants all around the property, so it provides guests, especially tourists, the convenience of having options.
To kick off the summer festivities, Novotel Manila Amanita Center has several offerings up their sleeves. Indulge in food, drinks, activities and much more.
Grills N Skewers is a weekend barbeque buffet featuring grilled favorites, such as burgers, chicken, skewers, seafood, sausages, veggies and more. Enjoy this fare at the Food Exchange for a very affordable rate of P2,000 net good for two adults and two kids, from March 17 to April 30.
GOUT DE FRANCE is a weeklong celebration in partnership with the French Embassy of Manila. Savor a delicious four-course French gastronomic treat from March 21 to 26 at the Gourmet Bar, for P2,000 net per person.
And of course, the wonderful folks from Novotel Manila did not forget about the kids and the kids at heart. From March 29 to June 19, Bert Lozada Swim School will be holding swimming lessons at the pool in Novotel. And on weekends, kids can enjoy stargazing, an outdoor film showing and a picnic at the Versailles Garden adjacent to the swimming pool area. What a treat.
For reservations and inquiries, visit https://novotel.com.