During my last birthday, I treated myself to one of the most memorable and luxurious staycations I have ever had in the city when I booked back-to-back 2-night accommodations at Fairmont Makati and Raffles Makati. I can’t believe that the first half of 2015 is already over and I only had time to post this now, since my birthday was still way back in December, so don’t be surprised with the various Christmas decors and themes you will see in the hotel. I did include Raffles Makati on The Hungry Kat’s Top 5 Staycations but now I can finally show you what puts these two luxury hotels on the top of anybody’s list.
Fairmont Makati is a five-star luxury hotel located just beside the Glorietta and Greenbelt malls in the central business district of Makati. It shares the same building with its smaller but more sophisticated sister, Raffles Makati, and both hotels also share some facilities and restaurants which can be found in their common areas. Fairmont Makati is an urban sanctuary where guests can enjoy luxury and privacy at its finest. The hotel offers 280 elegantly appointed guest rooms and suites in a tower of 30 floors with unparalleled views of the stunning Makati skyline.
The Fairmont Lounge is the first place that will greet you once you enter Fairmont Makati. You can stay here while waiting for your room or just to get an afternoon snack. The highlight at the lounge is their afternoon tea with a modern Filipino twist.
Fairmont Makati actually features seven classy restaurants and lounges inside its remarkable hotel. Fairmont Makati was recognized as “Best New Hotel” by the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler. Apart from holding consistent high ranking in Trip Advisor, the hotel was honored with Travelers' Choice awards in the Luxury, Top Hotel and Exceptional Service categories. The hotel also has a private underground walkway with direct access to the nearby Glorietta Mall.
One of its dining areas is Cafe Macaron, a deli and pastry boutique beside the lobby lounge offering signature cakes and pastries and a delightful selection of beverages.
I stayed in the Fairmont Room which has 40 square meters of tranquil space with floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing a stunning view of the Makati skyline. The design features contemporary furnishing with golden hues signifying Fairmont’s elegance and exclusivity.
Each accommodation is remarkably spacious and complete with premium amenities that are essential to both business and leisure travelers including a 40-inch flat screen LED TV, high speed internet connection, and a large work desk for those who need to work on the go.
Complimentary wifi access is available for members of the Fairmont President’s Club which I registered for online before my stay. A media connectivity panel is also present to connect your laptop to the TV.
The mini-bar features a selection of premium beverages as well as complimentary tea and coffee making facilities. You can place your valuable items inside the in-room safe for your convenience.
I was really impressed with the marble spa bathroom with a separate walk-in rain shower and deep soaker bathtub complete with the luxurious Lanvin toiletries. How can you not love these toiletry sets? I actually requested for another set to bring home with me and Fairmont Makati gladly complied. The bathroom also comes with Fairmont bathrobes and oversized bath towels.
Fairmont also gave me this decadent chocolate cake for my birthday. What a lovely surprise!
After I had made myself comfortable inside my room, I decided to head to the 4th floor for some relaxing and pampering. The Fairmont swimming pool is accessible only to hotel guests and hotel spa members. It has a very cozy atmosphere with refreshing sunbeds where you can enjoy the cold water and the gentle breeze.
Better yet, lie down at the cabanas to get a better view of the entire pool area. You can also order from the Pool Bar & Lounge which has a selection of gourmet food and beverage items with a fresh seasonal menu.
The Fitness Center is just adjacent to the swimming pool offering Technogym fitness machines and other state-of-the-art equipment. It occupies 283 square meters of space dedicated to wellness and showcasing a panoramic view of the Makati cityscape especially the Greenbelt areas.
Gym selfie time!
But my favorite place at the 4th floor is Fairmont’s signature Willow Stream Spa. This is among the city’s most luxurious retreats with 1,200 square meters of soothing surroundings featuring 5 fully-equipped treatments rooms, hair salon, full-service nail studio, a mineral pool and use of the outdoor swimming pool.
You can rest in their own lounge while waiting for your spa treatments. I have tried many other hotel spas in the city but Willow Stream Spa is probably the only one that lets guests use the hotel swimming pool, even if they are not actually staying in the hotel. This is why I always come back to the Willow Stream Spa for their signature massages.
You can also take a dip in their boiling hot indoor jacuzzi or make use of their steam room in the common shower and locker areas. All of these are available for guests before or after their treatments.
I always get the Signature Room for my Relaxation Massage (P4200 - 60 mins) which is their biggest suite.
Here you can even take a shower before your massages if you had not yet done so at the common areas. The Signature Room can also accommodate couples who want to have their massages together with their Side by Side Relaxation (P6300 - 60 mins). Some treatments also make use of the bathtub depending on your spa package.
Willow Stream Spa is definitely the best spa for me in the city and the massage itself really pampers you to high heavens. They have all these small details like placing warm towels in your feet, a breathing exercise using menthol, and automatic reclining beds. I highly recommend this to all you spa lovers.
Guests at Fairmont Makati have their buffet breakfast at Spectrum, the hotel’s all day dining restaurant offering an array of cuisines from across the globe. Spectrum also offers lunch and dinner buffets with a special Sunday brunch for the family.
Waking up to a spectacular breakfast buffet is one of the best things in a luxury staycation.
The breakfast selection is quite big and appealing, with all sorts of pastries, appetizers, and beverages including Fresh Buko juice, my favorite drink at breakfast.
You can get the omelette for the day or have one prepared to your liking. They also have a dimsum section, loads of bacon, sausage, noodles, and other breakfast items your will enjoy. They also sneak in a dish or two that is usually served for lunch or dinner like chicken wings and beef steak so that’s good for big breakfast eaters like myself.
I also saw this bee house with real live bees flying around making honey! Now that is what I call fresh honey. Everyday is definitely sweet at honey when you wake up at Fairmont Makati. You just will not be able to find a more luxurious hotel in Makati, unless you walk a few steps to its neighbor, the Raffles Makati. That is where I am heading next...
