A mountain view at SanTomas Suites

MANILA, Philippines - The province of Batangas is quickly becoming a lucrative alternative for vacationers who may need a change of scenery from all of the sights in the north. The southern part of Luzon definitely has a lot to offer and, in about two hours, many visitors will find themselves among historic sites, industrial parks, coconut groves, dive spots and scenic panoramas. One such scene commands an inspiring sight, the kind you can only appreciate at the top floor of SanTomas Suites.

Located inside the First Philippine Industrial Park in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, SanTomas Suites is a sleek new hotel from the same group that brought Filipinos the Microtel Hotel chain in the country. As the only deluxe hotel in the area, SanTomas Suites features a wealth of amenities for leisure or business travelers.

Positioning itself in an industrial park has its perks. With the many companies located inside, many have chosen SanTomas Suites as their go-to hotel for billeting their company VIPs, visiting employees and the like. Not only that, SanTomas Suites is not too far from the industrial park entrance, enabling outside travelers easy access to the main road whenever they choose to see more of the province.

Hotel manager Benny Rosales says that with SanTomas Suites’ unique location and prime offering as the perfect hotel for seminars, conferences and business meetings but also for travelers wanting a great jump-off point to Batangas, they are selling the experience and not the product alone. “When you say ‘I want to go to Batangas,’ the first thing I want people to say is — without any question — ‘I want to go to SanTomas.’”

Opened in January this year, SanTomas Suites has that brand-new feel to it, an energy that trickles down to its warm staff and welcoming amenities. Each room has a king-sized bed and 40-inch LCD TVs plus all the creature comforts for the modern vacationer such as Wi-Fi and air conditioning. Included in your stay is buffet breakfast for two and free shuttle service to places at the industrial park. If one wishes, tours and restaurant bookings may be arranged with the hotel.

When getting down to business, a roofdeck function room provides comfortable seating for a group of up to 80 people. Here, you may also find one of the best views of the majestic Mt. Makiling. The panorama also affords you sightings of potential dive spots — such as Anilao — right in the distant horizon and a great view of the province.

Rosales adds that SanTomas Suites has bigger rooms and many recreational facilities such as a gym, tennis, basketball and badminton courts, and — being a part of the Microtel family — access to the Microtel Batangas pool. Dining options are also not a problem with SanTomas Suites’ own restaurant area or, just a few meters away, Millie’s Restaurant that serves traditional Filipino and international cuisines.

Opting to go south for a vacation instead of the usual northern sights can be a welcome change of pace for many from Manila. The weather is just perfect, the environment is as clean as it can be, and staying at SanTomas Suites is a great way to start your discovery of Batangas.

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SanTomas Suites is located at the First Philippine Industrial Park in Sto. Tomas, Batangas City. For more information, call (043) 405-6957 or e-mail at sto.tomas@microtel.ph.