February 20, 2010

Living the luxe life

My husband and I had the wonderful opportunity of staying at the Opera Suite of Sofitel Manila over the Valentine and Lunar New Year weekend. The Opera Suite is the hotel's top, single-bedroom suite and 'luxurious' is the only word that I can think of to describe it. And this beautiful suite is only just the beginning of what proved to be a fantasy weekend.

A foyer with a mirrored wall welcomes guests as they enter the suite. Off to one side is a powder room, whose open doorway is reflected in the mirror.

entrance foyer of Sofitel Manila's Opera Suite

The foyer leads to a spacious sitting room with a large sofa and lounge chair with big, soft cushions which face an entertainment center with surround-sound speakers.

sitting room of Sofitel Manila's Opera Suite

When we arrived, there were fresh fruits on the dining table and a personalized welcome note from the hotel manager, Goran Aleks. Each room of the suite has a balcony, for a total of four, overlooking the swimming pool and Manila Bay.

dining room of Sofitel Manila's Opera Suite

The bedroom has another large TV with a DVD player on a chest of drawers facing the king-sized bed. I have to say that Sofitel's pillows are the softest I have ever hugged or laid my head on! And, being the pillow hog that I am, I love that they already put out two pillows per person; in other hotels, we usually have to call housekeeping for extra pillows. (Please pardon hubby-dear's backpack there. And see if you can spot my floppy gray bag in the previous photo.)

bedroom of Sofitel Manila's Opera Suite

Except for the space taken up by the powder room, the bathroom is as long as the suite (this is only one end of it). And it's not just a bathroom; it's also a dressing room, with a vanity, closets and another chest of drawers. Needless to say, the bath is a whirlpool bath.

bathroom of Sofitel Manila's Opera Suite

The last room in the suite, which proved to be a boon to my laptop-toting, sleep-challenged Valentine date, is a study with a wide desk and an armchair with a footstool—perfect for reading. There was another personalized letter for us on the desk, this time listing all the services and privileges that come with being on the exclusive Club Sofitel floor, but more on that some other time.

study or office of Sofitel Manila's Opera Suite

See what's reflecting what at James' Weekend Reflections.
Weekend Reflections

47 comments:

Lowell said...

Now that's what I call "roughing" it! Wow! What a weekend you must have had. Great fun, though, heh?

Chattahoochee Valley Daily said...

Sounds like you had a wonderful weekend. I look forward to hearing more about your adventure.

eileeninmd said...

Wow, it looks like a beautiful room! I would like to stay there for a few days. They must pamper their guest.

Kim said...

Hilda, thank you for the treat of taking us along. I like your accommodations very much and really enjoy seeing them. Like a mini-vacation for us, too. Glad you and your sweetie could enjoy this for Lunar New Year and Valentine's Day!
-Kim

EG CameraGirl said...

I bet you felt like a princess!

Tash said...

Love the lamp! Love the rooms. Great photos, always nice to see the bath too. :)

Annie Bear said...

That looks like a very comfortable room. I like the style of it. Thanks for showing all of the shots with reflections. To be honest I'm amazed by all of the reflections that can be ssen in these pictures.

My photo is of an antique store window. The round thing inside is an old fashioned flood light, maybe something from a lighthouse. The reflection is the building from across the street. :)

James said...

That was me in my Lucy the Cat suit. :) Sorry I forgot to log my wife off.

Anonymous said...

Makes on glad to read about your happiness. Provides also hope that there are still wonderful hotels left in the world.

Please have a nice start into the weekend.

Ilse said...

Lovely!

Reena said...

i havent been inside any of the rooms in sofitel. ganda pala. i bet it's better now since luma na syang hotel.

i like the spiral pala. hehe.

Ebie said...

A very well deserve break! Luxurious it is with all the fancy decors!

JTG (Misalyn) said...

very luxurious. I love the reflection shots Ms. Hilda. Thanks for the tour. Glad to know that you had a wonderful Valentine's day and Lunar New Year.

mia said...

That bed looks sooo inviting!! The whole suite is just gorgeous. I bet it was hard to leave? :)

Gemma Wiseman said...

The reflections in this world are quite exotic! What a gorgeous hotel room of luxury!

Stevenson Q said...

It is very Posh Hilda!!! Haven't had the chance to Stay at Sofitel but I've been to Parties there:) Our Graduation Ball was planned to happen there but it was changed to SMX :) I'm happy you and your Hubby had a Wonderful Valentine's Day :D

Steven^^

arabesque said...

hi hilds! living the luxury eh?! wow! the hotel did have an overall makeover, talk about pampering, nice interior, the view and all that.
it left me speechless just by looking at it, i guess by now, asking if you're a member,
would be an understatement!
i can see that you n hubby, both had a great and relaxing time! what a super date/ new year it was! ^0^ i'm jealous! ^-^

happy weekend!

Leif Hagen said...

Sounds like Queen Hilda and her King enjoyed the lap of luxury! How did they get you to leave the suite - or are you still there?! Did you move the sofa in front of the entry door?!

Regina said...

Totally romantic and luxurious.
Great photos.

Oakland Daily Photo said...

So this is what the lap luxury looks like!

gogouci said...

Beautiful and inviting. Always fun to be pampered now and again.

Dina said...

Wowee, such luxury!
I'm most impressed by the last photo. A wide desk with a footstool!

So Hilda, what did you do to rate this Sofitel Manila weekend?! :)

VP said...

I am absolutely impressed and awed! I never had a room like this in my whole life: it's larger than my whole apartment...

Gunn said...

Lucky You!
It looks beautiful and full of style and comfort!

Rune Eide said...

Not so many reflecting surfaces at my house, but that is perhaps reflecting on me? :-)

James Mark said...

Jealous? Moi?

Eden said...

Wow, ang ganda ng place. Thanks for taking us there. Great shots.

cieldequimper said...

Wow Hilda! That's gorgeous! And the reflection is so elegant! I'm glad you had such a wonderful time!

brattcat said...

How romantic! Thank you for sharing with us these delicious accommodations.

Thérèse said...

Very slick...

Verna Luga said...

Wow! indeed a luxuriously romantic weekend! Happy weekend Hilds...

Cezar and Léia said...

"La vie est belle!"
Thanks for sharing so elegant moment and pictures! :)
I loveddddd everything there!
Now I can dream about! :)
Hugs
Léia

Kaori said...

Wow, Hilda! What a beautiful room and a great way to spend the valentine's weekend :D

penny said...

Its lovely, Hilda. All the comforts of home without the housekeeping. That right up my ally!

Lew said...

You certainly had a fantastic weekend! And a room full of reflections!

Sharon said...

What a fantastic place to stay. I can't imagine ever wanting to leave.

Janet said...

Now that is what I call a great weekend! Lovely place.

Louis la Vache said...

«Louis» is deeply grieved that you and your husband had to stay in such low budget accomodations for your holiday. He sincerely hopes that you weren't overly traumatized by the occasion.
;-)

duopastorale said...

Wow! Fantastic photos :)
This I do...

Kat said...

Wow! What an incredible room. It's bigger than some NY apartments! Beautiful photos, looks like you had a wonderful time. Kathy

Judy said...

Lucky you, Hilda! Beautifuly photographed.

Anonymous said...

There went your budget. LOL

It is beautiful. More than I had ever seen.

Don and Krise said...

You two really know how to do it up right don't you? I really like the way it's decorated too.

Anonymous said...

Wow. Excellent shots of the high life. I could live in a place like that.

raf said...

Reflection unlimited! Good on you, Hilda! Now that's some uptown pampering and downtown luxury. Where do we sign on?

Woody said...

Such luxurious reflections! I really like that last shot!

Anonymous said...

Wow Hilda - what a fantastic place for a weekend getaway. Ultra chic and modern looking...