Date of Stay: October 24 - 31, 2012
Hotel's name: ST. MARK'S HOTEL
Location: Queens Road, Redemptorist Plaza, Camputhaw, Cebu City
Website: http://www.st-markhotel.com/
The FACADE
Since the hotel is relatively new, Cebu taxi drivers do not know the actual hotel. However, once you mentioned its located near Redemptorist Church, they would gladly bring you there. Upon reaching the church, you can see the hotel right behind it.
The hotel was newly opened, few weeks before we got there. It is still on its construction (I believe to bring more floors and rooms) and cement bags can be found everywhere. Parking space is available, where it was conveniently located near in the actual entrance of the hotel.
 |
| The Receptionist (must be shocked) and Dining Staff |
THE HOTEL EXPERIENCE
We stayed at the hotel for 7 days, however, this is not a staycation, but it is still work. Anyway, after the usual check in procedures, we were guided to our superior room, which was located at the 3rd floor. The room is really nice, it feels more like a condotel than a hotel. It offers almost everything - free bottled water (yes, every day), ironing board, iron, rechargable flashlight, a safe, a fridge - and our "friend" - the weighing scale. We got so giddly with it, since of all the hotels I have been in, this is the first time I had a weighing scale in the comfort of my hands.
Aside from this, cable television and ipod dock is also available. Lampshades are kinda cool - one tap and it turns on. Another, it dims, last tap, it turns off. I have this certain affection with bathrooms, so after checking out the facilities, I found myself checking out the fancy bathroom. Well, it has two mirrors, fresh towels and toiletries. Hotel staff will everyday change your shampoo, soap and conditioner, eventhough you don't ask for it.
Since we are working during the day, we always look forward coming home to St. Marks since the beds are so comfy. For the last 6 days of stay, we never ate out - we would took "home" heaps of dinner, and eat right there. After dinner, we would sink ourselves to our beds, watch TV and snore through the night. I even had the idea to take the same bed for my future bedroom.
 |
| Our room |
 |
| The facilities |
OUR FAVORITE MEAL OF THE DAY: BREAKFAST
It was only during the third day of our stay that we managed to take our FREE buffet breakfast. The cafe is located at the second floor of the hotel, so we would take our breakfast before every one else does in our comfy house clothes (in slippers too).
Needless to say, we missed about a third of our lives for missing the first two days' breakfast (thanks to early call times to work/field). Buffet breakfast offers every thing you want - from rice to bacon, chicken adobo and danggit to champorado (yes!) and cereals and fruit loops. They also have a separate area for breads, pastries and pancakes.
We would stay and eat everything we want during breakfast. We often found ourselves digging in rice then pancakes and to cap it off - champorado. That's basically our meal for the next 4 days of breakfast. Coffee is free flowing too, but you can take milk or hot chocolate.
 |
| Dining table, "the heavy breakfast" Station (rice, viand, fruits and cereals) |
 |
| Bread, Pastries, Pancakes and Waffles station |
THE VERDICT
St. Marks topped my hotel's list in the Philippines. Though it is relatively new, thus, there is the reason to bring their best foot forward, the smiles and the warm everyday greetings of their staff captured my heart during our stay. Located at the heart of Cebu, about 10 minute walk from Larsian (Grill Houses), Robinsons and Centro and a stone throw away from the Redemptorist Church, St. Marks is definitely a home away from home.
However, their website should be working right now. I find it hard to check on the bedrooms, nor the room rates as you still need to call the reservation hotlines. For Manila-based people like me, the convenience of checking the rates and reserving online is a well planned strategy for the hotel. (PS. Our HR was the one who reserved the room for us, I just visited their website just to check it.)
I would definitely recommend it to my friends and officemates as well, whether you're in Cebu for business or pleasure, St. Marks will surely made your Cebu visit worthy.
I simply hope, when I come back to Cebu, St. Marks' employees decorum hasn't changed. It was, in fact, the thing that will make me come back all over again.
Facilities and Amenities:
Free Bottled water everyday
Free Wi-fi (strong connection per floor, I managed to go on Skype)
Free buffet breakfast (every day of stay)
With parking spaces at ground floor
Location:
about 10 minutes via taxi from SM Cebu or Ayala Center Cebu
about 10-15 minutes via taxi to Mandaue City
about 30-40 minutes away (via taxi) from Mactan International Airport
10-15 minutes walk to Mango Road, Larsian and Robinsons Cebu
KFC, Yellow Cab and Grill houses can be found around the vicinity
Stone throw away from Redemptorist Church
Website:
www.st-markhotel.com
Facebook account:
www.facebook.com/stmarkhotel
Hello! That hotel looks so nice. I want to try it on our next trip. By the way, we booked at Summit Circle Cebu Hotel, what do you think about it?
ReplyDelete