Hotel Review: Fairmont Makati, Philippines

There are many luxury hotels around Makati, however Derick and I booked Fairmont for two reasons. First, it has the perfect location. The hotel is situated in the affluent area of Makati where posh shops, boutiques, cafe’s and restaurants are a few steps away. Connecting malls in Makati are easily accessible. Second, it is ranked #2 in TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice of five-star luxury hotels in Makati. With that being said, what else could go wrong?

The Fairmont Makati City hotel is an urban sanctuary where guests can enjoy luxury and privacy at its finest.

Few days before our arrival, the reservation representative emailed me if we will be needing something prior to our arrival. They offered some services that we might want to avail for our convenience. It’s good to know that they were making sure everything will be smooth during our arrival. We did not avail the limousine service they offered, however I requested to have an early check-in if possible. Thankfully my request was granted.

Like any other luxury hotels, check-in did not take so much time. Our room was ready and we were able to check-in earlier than the scheduled time.

Lobby/Ambiance

Fairmont Hotel Lobby

Raffles Lobby

They say first impressions last. In this hotel, I was in awe when we first arrived. From the entrance you can see the grand staircase and the huge lobby and lounge area. The reception is decorated with impressive and gigantic vases. Actually Fairmont Makati is also the home of Raffles which is ranked #1 among five-star luxury suites by TripAdvisor as well. Both Fairmont and Raffles shared the same building and their lobbies can be accessed either way.

The lobby lounge and hallways are grand with a touch of luxurious aesthetic that offers comfort and a relaxing atmosphere to the guests.

Deluxe Room

Our room was located at the 8th floor. It has amazing panoramic views of Makati. The room has ample space to move around. The stunning view of the sunset as the backdrop of the Makati skyline is one of the highlights of our stay.

Room Amenities

*State-of-the art technology including wired and wireless high speed internet access and  media connectivity panel (connect iPod and laptop to TV) *Complimentary Internet access for Fairmont President’s Club members *Guest Services panel controls guestroom lighting and entertainment. *40” – 46” flat screen LED TVs, 65 Cable Television channels  *Luxurious marble bathrooms with a walk-in rain shower and deep soaker tub *100% cotton finest oversized bath towels and linens *Alarm clocks *Air-conditioning, with digital climate control *Two telephones, with personal voice mail *In-room safe *Luxurious bathroom amenities, including Fairmont bathrobes *Mini-bar refreshment centre, featuring a selection of premium beverages *Tea and coffee making facilities *Hair-dryer *Iron and ironing-board *International AC adapter

Room view

Stylish décor and contemporary furnishings provide a relaxing retreat for both business and leisure travelers. Luxurious Le Labo bath amenities can be enjoyed in the marble spa bathroom with separate rain shower and bath tub. Each Deluxe Manila luxury hotel room features a large work desk, high speed Internet connection, interactive flat screen television and media panels.

Toilet and Bath

What makes me more excited about luxury hotels is not the room but the toiletries. I was very happy to see the Le Labo items inside the bathroom.  Ba-bath time was more exciting and enjoyable with these luxurious amenities. I loved it!

Swimming Pool

After a day roaming around the shopping malls, we spent the rest of the day at the pool. Lounging at the poolside was very relaxing. We had some drinks and watched the sky turned pink until the day faded away.

Sunset by the pool…

Perfect for night swimming

Breakfast at Spectrum

My kind of breakfast

What I love about their breakfast, aside from the variety of dishes, is the selection of Filipino breakfast favorites which you don’t normally see in other buffet breakfast. The presentation of  Filipino specials like Arroz Caldo and Taho was very traditional. It is a must try.

Cafe Macaron

The main restaurant – Spectrum was under renovation and it’s temporarily close for dinner service at that time. Lazy to go out, we decided to grab something to eat at Cafe Macaron. Located near the hotel lobby, the cafe is ideal for snacks or coffee time with their luscious macarons and pastries.

Cafe Macaron is known for its exquisite and delicious macaroons, so it’s a must try. In lieu of our dinner, Derick and I ordered apple salad and sandwiches. We actually thought it was light but it’s filling because the sandwiches were huge. We loved it.

Willow Stream Spa

Hotel facilities includes gym, children’s play room and spa. We didn’t try their spa services because we lacked the time to do so. Frankly speaking, though, the facilities looked great. Maybe next time.

Overall Experience

The only downside I can point out during our stay was the main restaurant. Spectrum their all-day dining restaurant was under renovation. We wanted to have dinner in the restaurant because it has high ratings in TripAdvisor and good reviews from the guests. Unfortunately we missed that experience.

I can’t give any negative feedback as the hotel stayed true to their promise of providing luxury and privacy at its finest. Although it would have been nice if they gave a little extra something to make it a memorable stay. I don’t usually ask or request anything because I want that extra something to be surprised. Some of the other luxury hotels and resorts that we’ve been to went extra mile to make our stay worthwhile. In this hotel, what you pay is what you get (nothing more, nothing less). Nonetheless the service was excellent.