^ Thanks.
***
Anyway, I think I'm ready to write my quickie on
Bellevue Hotel, having partially recovered from last weekend's shock. I'll be as objective as possible.
In three words, I hate it.
Despite the hotel's 5-star claims, Bellevue is 4-stars at most (and that's already pushing it). From the outside, you can already tell that you're in for an unpleasant surprise. Lesson learned, there are some very good photographers out there capable of capturing a masterpiece out of the most mundane. Do not trust photos uploaded online.
Upon stepping inside the hotel, we immediately noticed how the lobby was uninviting. It wasn't all bad, but it was rather boring. Fortunately, the lady who checked us in was efficient and pleasant and a bellboy offered to carry our bags.
Unfortunately, that was where it started to fall apart.
I was flabbergasted by the customer service provided by hotel in question. I'm used to building rapport without forgoing professionalism. At Bellevue, almost everyone was just, what's the word for it,
chill. No real effort to meet expectations, let alone delight customers. So, you can forget about being lead to your breakfast table by their receptionists or being greeted by their staff when you bump into them down the dark hotel halls.
Below are three of the most unbelievable things we heard during our stay at Bellevue:
Parking...
Kuya Security Guard: Sige, dyan na nga lang kayo
(referring to the parking slot for the disabled)! Nakakatraffic na kayo eh!
After thanking the operator zero for answering our queries...
Operator: Your pleasure.
On our way back to the breakfast buffet table for seconds...
Kuya Waiter: Are you done? Tapos na kayo?
(Maraming salamat sa pagsasalin ngunit marunong po kami umintindi ng inggles. At wag mo kami madaliin, wala kang urbanidad.)Moving on to the room...
The Deluxe Room set us back P5,124net for an overnight stay inclusive of buffet breakfast for two, welcome fruit platter, welcome drinks, complimentary bottles of water (2), and in-room wifi access (which we were not able to
access). Without the Enjoy voucher, the room would've cost us P5,500net.
Check in: 3:00 PM
(Only at Bellevue, usual check in time is 2:00 PM)Check out: 12:00 PM
It is lethal for a claustrophobe to even begin imagining what it'd be like to stay in a room that small (which was in contrast with the gargantuan TV set). So un-five star was the packing tape that kept the window behind the TV in place. But fine, maybe you only get what you pay for.
To be fair, the view at night was quite sweet. I also liked that the tub and the shower were at opposing sides of the bathroom. And that they have already prepared the DVD player that we requested prior to our arrival.
Other notes:
1. The pool had a very Pansol vibe. Noisy kids running and splashing around.
2. We wanted to check out the Vue Bar, which was on the 22nd floor, but the elevators were rickety and nauseating. It creaked and shook us all the way up that we feared for our life and got off on the 8th floor skipping Vue Bar altogether.
3. There were a bunch of curious characters just milling around the hotel.
4. One bathrobe, 1 pair of bedroom slippers, 1 keycard
5. Ref took forever to cool
***
I will post my review of Cafe d’Asie on the hotel buffet thread.
