Don’t you wish every time you travel out-of-town you could stay in a cozy yet affordable hotel? I do. And I know a lot of travelers wish just the same. My pleasant overnight stay at Grand Prix Hotel & Suites Manila last Friday (May 6) proved to be both a blessing and a realization. Now I know where to stay when I’m traveling out-of-town as they have branches at several prime locations in the country such as Cebu and Boracay.
And since I’m already at it, lemme share with you my Grand Prix Hotel Manila experience. Orange Magazine TV, through its founder Jeman Villanueva, partnered with Gran Prix Hotel & Suites Manila to treat 12 bloggers (yours truly included) to an overnight stay at the hotel. It was a unique blogger event (and unforgettable at that!) because not only did we get to know the hotel and the people behind it, but we also got to experience its facilities and services first-hand.
THE TOP 12
I considered myself lucky for having been selected as part of the 12 bloggers to be hosted by the hotel for a night. I was also relieved to know that most of the blogger invitees were the same people I’d bump into during bloggers events. No need to act differently or shy away from them because they know me already. Haha. They were Alex, Irishell, Flow, Ryan, Enzo, Ruth, Montsch, Iris, Cathy, Chinchan and Jig.
THE ARRIVAL
I asked my fiancee to take me to the hotel and he was kind enough to accommodate my request. Jeman’s directions were “so clear” that we ended up looking for the place longer than usual. Haha. Despite the temporary “lost in Ermita” drama, I still got the Early Bird award. Good job, Edel! 
Gran Prix Hotel & Suites Manila is housed inside the once famous Tesoro’s Building on Apolinario Mabini St. in Ermita, Manila. It’s just five minutes away from Robinsons Place Manila when you’re exiting through its Padre Faura Wing. Taxis and jeepneys plying the Divisoria/Lawton routes pass along the one-way only (North Bound) A. Mabini St. daily. If you’re coming from Roxas Boulevard, you just have to drop off at Padre Faura St. and the hotel is just walking distance from there.
I entered the hotel lobby and talked to the receptionist. She asked me to sit back while confirming my name in the guest list. Soon after, Ryan, Alex and Enzo arrived. The rest of the bloggers followed suit minutes after.
NAMAYAN RESTO BAR
When we were almost complete, we were instructed to go up to the 7th floor where the hotel execs were waiting for us. I would find out later that the 7th floor was where their in-house restaurant was located. The name sounded Pinoy to me, Namayan Resto Bar.
Little did I know that this was where I would have one of the best dinners in my life. It was a three-course meal. We started off with the munggo soup (mongo soup) which was a delight in its own right.
When we say munggo, all I can think of is the ginisang munggo (sauteed mongo) which is a popular comfort food among Pinoys. At Namayan, there is a soup version of the well-loved legume. The bowl of munggo soup served to us that night was just perfect to prepare our taste buds for the special main dish which was Lamb Shank Kaldereta. There’s nothing not to love with this dish, from the lightly-buttered veggies and the well-seasoned mashed potatoes to the flavorful and tender lamb shank, everything tasted right. I heard they used lamb only for that night and on normal days, they use beef and the dish is called Batangas Kaldereta which happens to be one of their bestsellers.
Having their Choco-Lava Cake with Rosemary Vinegar Ice Cream to cap off our meal was simply decadent. I forgot I was limiting my caffeine intake that night and finished off the dessert without feeling any guilt. The presentation was good, and the taste even better. I liked how the cake was full of chocolate-y goodness and the lava (warm choco sauce) inside it was smooth and sweet to the mouth. The small scoop of rosemary vinegar ice cream was an added touch and was effective in neutralizing the sweetness of the cake. I wouldn’t mind having a big scoop of the ice cream next time! It actually tasted like yogurt to me and I loved it.
Namayan Resto Bar, according to its executive chef Gren Mendoza whom we met that night, specializes in Pinoy cuisine with a twist. With the sumptuous dinner we just had, I found it easy to believe that.
Chef Gren Mendoza
THE HOTEL
After the dinner, there was a short program and presentation that introduced us to Grand Prix Hotel & Suites Manila and the company behind it, Grand Prix Hotels & Resorts which is “a chain of econotels offering affordable, safe and clean accommodation and efficient hotel service for local and foreign tourists, transients and travelers.”
There were also short talks given by two of their marketing managers to further our knowledge about their company. Here are some interesting facts I gathered:
1. “Grand Prix” is a French phrase which means “Grand Prize” in English.
2. The owner of the Gran Prix hotel chain loves cars.
3. The first Gran Prix Hotel opened in 2006.
4. Their room rates start for as low as P525 for ministay (three to five hours)!
5. All their room rates are inclusive of breakfast.
6. They have a standard check in time (2:00 p.m.) and check out time (12:00 n.n.).
7. They have free WIFI.
8. They have fully automated fire safety system and electronic key-card entry system to ensure the safety and security of guests.
ROOM ACCOMMODATIONS
After the brief program, Ms. Rhina (marketing manager for Luzon) facilitated a short tour to familiarize us bloggers to the place. We checked out the different room accommodations namely:
Easy Bed. This is ideal for travelers who would like to have a decent sleeping space without the added luxury. It is just a small room with a single bed and enough space for you to keep your bags and other belongings. A common bathroom is provided for this type of accommodation. Price is P799 per night.
Family Room. This is perfect for couples with two or more children at just P2,500 per night. The air-conditioned room has a double bed (for the couple) and a double deck bed (for the children) along with the basic stuff.
Deluxe & Superior Rooms. The rates for these types of room accommodation, which starts at P1500 per night, apply to single or twin occupancy. The rooms are air-conditioned with two double beds, cabinet, table, landline phone, colored TV and bathroom with hot & cold shower.
Deluxe & Superior Suites. These rooms have pretty much the same things as what can be found in the Deluxe & Superior Rooms. The only difference is the inclusion of a bath tub and a money vault. The rates for these types of room accommodation, which starts at P2000 per night, also apply to single or twin occupancy.
NIGHT LIFE
Gran Prix Hotel & Suites Manila is strategically located in Ermita, a bustling commercial district in the downtown part of Manila. Just take a walk outside the hotel and you’ll see a lot of establishments, from restaurants and malls to spa and wellness centers. If you’re a homebody but still want to socialize and have fun, Namayan Resto Bar turns into a happening place at night. They have the Bikini Open show every Wednesday, Jazz Night every Thursday and Acoustic Night every Friday. The rest of the week you could spend having a few drinks with friends while enjoying a night view of Ermita and the nearby Malate from the roof deck.
During our stay, they provided us with a videoke machine and we drank and sang the night away to our heart’s content. Their pulutan (beer-match dishes) were winners. I loved the forever crunchy onion rings, the tender and well-seasoned calamares, the sizzling sisig, the cheesy nachos and one chicken dish whose special sauce I won’t forget.
a peek into their menu
OUR ACCOMMODATION
My roommate for the night was Irishell. We got billeted to Rm. 602, a Superior Room. It had two double beds, a bathroom with hot/cold shower and a bath tub, a landline phone, an LCD TV hanging on the wall, and a money vault to keep your cash and other prized possessions safe and secure. I also saw two sets of towel, tooth brush, toothpaste, soap and shampoo placed neatly on the bed for our use.
I liked how my bed was soft, but not the kind that induces back pains. There was running water in the bathroom and the toilet bowl had flush. The A/C worked well, too. The room had no windows, but that was okay with me since the ventilation was good.
We had a sound sleep despite the fact that we went to bed late because of the all the eating, drinking, and videoke-ing that we did. Haha.
PERSONALIZED SERVICE
When I talked with the receptionist upon entering the hotel, I already noted the friendly manner in which she responded to my queries. When we were ushered to the function room at Namayan Resto bar for the dinner and eventually the program proper, I knew I was in good hands. When we videoke’d the night away, the staff were more than happy to serve our food and assist us with our needs (more ice, table napkins, drinks, etc.).
The next morning when we had our breakfast just before we leave the hotel, the staff were fast and attentive. For one, my request for a well-done yolk in my sunny-side up was granted. Such attention to small details makes a big difference, methinks. I hope they continue the personalized service they have been giving their guests in the years to come.
my deep-fried Spanish sardine breakfast (unique and yummy!)
other breakfast fares at the hotel, only P99 per plate
As for the bloggers night, it was fun-filled I tell you. Jeman and Flow surprised us with their quirky “talent contest.” Yours truly got eliminated easily because I didn’t have any talent. Haha. The winner, who happened to be Montsch, won an all-expense paid Boracay Hideaway trip for two. It’s a 3D 2N vacation to the island paradise and they will be staying at The Sitio Boracay, the high-end hotel under the Gran Prix Hotels and Resorts group. Cool prize, eh?
All in all, our overnight stay at Gran Prix Hotel & Suites Manila was as relaxing and fun as I imagined it to be. I will certainly recommend it to my family and friends when they travel here in Manila or in other local destinations where Grand Prix Hotels and Resorts operates. For those interested out there, I have here a list of all their branches:
Grand Prix Hotel & Suites Manila
1325 A. Mabini St.
Ermita, Manila
(+632) 353-3319 and 353-3323 DL
(+632) 353-2993 TF
granprixmanila@yahoo.com
granprixmanila@gmail.com
Grand Prix Hotel & Suites Pasay
Victory Liner, Inc. (VLI) Station
EDSA cor. Tramo, Pasay City
(+632) 886-5159 DL
granprixeconotels@yahoo.com
Grand Prix Hotel & Suites Cubao
2nd Level, VLI Station
EDSA, Cubao, Quezon City
(+632) 413-2984
(+632) 411-6241
(+632)722-7568
granprixeconotels@yahoo.com
Grand Prix Express Inn Tarlac
VLI Cpd., San Roque
Junction, Tarlac, Tarlac City
(+6345) 982-4576
Grand Prix Hotel & Suites Cebu
3/F Coast Pacific Business Center
F. Ramos St. cor. Gen. Maxilom Ave.
Cebu City
(+6332) 254-9169 DL
(+6332) 253-3072 TF
cebu.granprix@yahoo.com
Grand Prix Boracay Hideaway
Station 1, Brgy. Balabag
Boracay Island, Malay
Aklan
(+6336) 288-3548
hideaway.granprix@yahoo.com
The Sitio Boracay
Station 1, Brgy. Balabag
Boracay Island, Malay
Aklan
(+6336) 288-4888
Liked this post? Do me a favor by liking this post on Facebook (you have to like the Gran Prix Boracay Hideaway FB page first to be able to do so). Who knows, you could help me win another Boracay Hideaway trip courtesy of Gran Prix Hotels & Resorts! If I win through your help, I’ll share everything about my trip on this blog and I’ll give away two (2) free overnight stays in two of the above Grand Prix Hotel branches. How’s that for a deal, hmmm?
If you want to know more about Grand Prix Hotel & Suites Manila, check out and like their Facebook Page. Or better yet, add Grand Prix Hotels and Resorts as friend on Facebook and spread the word to your family and friends!
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