STAYCATION REVIEW: Spacious Suites, Breakfast & Great Location at Privato Hotel Quezon City
Whenever I am in Metro Manila, it’s often for the purpose of business, sports participation and pleasure. With business and sports being on my priority list, I always ensure to inject adventure and substance into the logistics, especially if those appointments are held too early or too late in a far-off place.
So, instead of paying for a costly cab and enduring traffic along the way, I would book in a hotel nearby for the night, not only fulfilling my comfort and convenience, but also getting myself acquainted with my transitory neighborhood.
On my last visit in the city, I found myself caught up in a sequence of appointments in Quezon City, the northern part of Metro Manila. I thought to myself that if I were to book a hotel near my meeting place, I ought to stay in the one that would make me feel at home, as most hotels have clean, modern, comfy rooms with complete amenities anyway.
Having received the warm and professional hospitality in Enderun-managed hotels during my previous staycations, I decided to look for one in Quezon City.
Privato Hotel Quezon City, as I had discovered, is one of three Privato Hotels that are all managed by Enderun Hotels. While the rest are in Ortigas and Makati, the one in Quezon City happened to be located in the Scout Area, a neighborhood that, apart from bearing the name of the 24 Filipino boy scouts who perished in a plane crash en route to the 11th Jamboree in Greece 63 years ago, was also my residential neighborhood back in my teenage years.
Somehow my electromagnetic field wanted to bring me back to my old suburban neighborhood through a staycation at Privato Hotel. With reasons that did not matter much to me other than staying in proximity to my pre-appointed meeting place, I couldn’t help but feel glad that the old residences that I used to drive by before remained restored and intact next to relatively new business establishments and low-rise buildings, which in my recollection used to be residential properties as well.
And yet, I arrived at Privato Hotel Quezon City at the right time when the hotel wasn’t too hectic, whilst I was given a pleasant reception by their front desk officer and a personalized tour by their Rooms Divisions Manager, who showed me the rooftop swimming pool, which was next to four Conference Rooms Halls, and then went one floor down to our 10th floor One Bedroom Suite.
While most of the rooms are 35sqm big, specifically for the Executive Twin and Deluxe Rooms, with plush mattresses, minimalist interiors, marble-tiled bathrooms that are powered with hot and cold water, and an equipped pantry, our One-Bedroom Suite span twice the size of the other rooms, which covers a third of the perimeter floor, and therefore more space to walk in and more cozy nooks to hang out in.
Indeed, being at the topmost floor, our One Bedroom Suite turned out to give us a resort-like experience. Apart from the aforementioned amenities, we had a spacious living room with a relaxing sofa set facing wide screen TV, a pantry counter with a mini refrigerator and a coffee and tea making set. But the best part was the breakfast table, where we got to feel the warm touch of the sunlight as we delighted in our meals overlooking the modestly urbanized surroundings that still opened up to the vast clear sky.
Good thing that my appointment with veteran hospitality consultant, Vic Alcuaz at Cafe Inggo 1587 was set for the following day; we had the liberty to simply stay cooped up inside our spacious suite and enjoy its luxury amenities throughout our overnight stay.
Through our room’s high-speed internet connection, we were able to maximize productivity on our laptops, and also watch a Netflix series on the wide LCD monitor from our plush sofa. And before retiring on our lavish king bed for a blissful sleep, we soaked up in the spacious tub for a lingering warm bath.
Since the hotel only serves breakfast buffet at the lobby from 6 to 10am, we had to step out of the luxury comforts of our suite room in order to purchase our meals. The dining choices were plenty, though. There was a Max’s Restaurant on the next block along the main road, called Scout Tuason, Wheatberry Bakery and Cafe right at the corner, and an artisanal pastry shop across the main street, named Dylan Pastisserie, which was the source of the delicious cheesecake that was gifted to us in our suite room.
We could have walked a bit further down the main commercial strip of Tomas Morato to explore other choices, but we just could not find it in ourselves to replace the peace and privacy that we get from our room with a crowded and upbeat environment. In fact, our idea was just to buy a quick, simple but well-cooked meal nearby to bring back to our room and eat at our quaint dining table overlooking the moonlit scenery outside. And that’s how the fried chicken that I bought at the convenience store across the street became very appealing.
In the morning after, I felt the warming rays of sunlight rousing me through the blackout curtains of our wide windows. Considering the summery weather, I stepped outside the hotel to walk around the neighborhood and work out my cardio. I stumbled upon a couple of places that would interest us on our next visit, such as a fitness gym, a pottery place, called Tahanan Pottery Shop & Studio, and a massage center, known as Alpha.
Satisfied with my accumulated steps, I returned to Privato to avail the complimentary breakfast buffet with my companion at the lobby dining area.
The breakfast buffet counter presented a refreshing selection of Filipino breakfast fares like fried rice, omelet, corned beef, sausages, as well as all-time favorite international delights, like spaghetti bolognese, roasted potatoes, bread and assorted jam, and cereals, plus assorted fruits, and drink-all-you-can coffee, hot chocolate and fresh milk.
We ate our selected breakfast food at one of the cozy dining sofas by the window and got to glimpse the children coming out of the nearby school and the numerous vehicles driving by the adjacent road; nevertheless, the singular scene that hasn't changed in Roces Avenue.
Given its prime location, this Privato Hotel easily connects to the city’s major landmarks, shopping malls and institutions. St. Luke’s Medical Center, one of the country’s top hospitals, is within two kilometers away; the biggest shopping malls in Quezon City is about 25 minutes away, restaurants and bars are within 10 minutes away, including two Michelin awarded restaurants – Some Thai in Tomas Morato, and Deo Gracias on the 11th Jamboree St.
As for foreign embassies and major parks, like the US Embassy, Luneta Park, Intramuros and Fort Santiago, the estimated travel time is 40-50 minutes, while the domestic and international airports via the Skyway could take a 35-40 minutes ride.
When it comes to transportation, Privato Hotel Quezon City is easy to reach with the assortment of transport apps and maps that are available on the mobile phone.
Ultimately, staying at Privato Hotel Quezon City was the perfect choice for me at that moment. Not only did I receive warm hospitality and the best room in the hotel, but I also easily reached my destination after check-out and attended my meeting with a clear and present mind.
82 Scout Castor, Tomas Morato, Quezon City
(02) 8376 6340 to 42, +63917 716 9554
