Staycation at Raffles: Luxury and tradition in the city

Intoxicating luxury, just like the tourism diamonds in our own backyard, is simply a stone’s throw away. At Raffles hotels and resorts, “true luxury is not just about what you do; it’s about how you feel.”

There are times when there is no need to take a vacation far away, when it is not necessary to drive or fly the distance to enjoy world-class amenities, activities for the young and young ones or any artistic indulgence you can think up. There is no need to hie off somewhere else. Why should you leave when everything you ever dreamed of is close to home? Why take an exodus to another place when all you need to create memories and moments with your loved ones can be found here? This time, your destination is where you will savor your vacation.

Introducing staycations in the Presidential Suite at the epitome of luxury — The Raffles Hotel in Makati, which has 10 luxurious properties all over the world. These properties, which belong to the chain of the iconic Singapore Raffles that started in 1887, have now upped the definition of a vacation by making every Raffles property a destination in itself.

In retrospect, the first Raffles hotel opened modestly in Singapore with 10 rooms in an old bungalow-style building overlooking the beach and the South China Sea. It soon became — and remains — the most fabled hotel in the Far East, with a guest list that reads like a who’s who.

Two weekends ago, our staycation was in the Presidential Suite of the Raffles Hotel in Makati. This destination is for the gilded traveler because the hotel is remarkably beautiful and the embodiment of mesmerizing splendor and class.

My family and I had the privilege of enjoying a staycation here when our travel plans abroad were altered and we decided to attend various family events here. The weekend that we were at Raffles, my sisters Michelle (with husband Benny Soliven and son Vincent), Yvonne (with her husband Pael and children Carin and Cito), my brother Mark (with wife Mylene and children Alexandra and Matthew) and I celebrated the 31st wedding anniversary of our eldest sister Jaqui and her husband Boom Boncan.

 This spacious and luxurious suite in Raffles Makati is the perfect respite, with exquisite character: designed with a welcome and dining area that leads into the bedroom and on to the dressing area and en-suite bathroom, each step we took in the amazing haven was one moment of awe after another as we witnessed the floor-to-ceiling windows featuring impressive views of the scintillating drama of Makati’s cityscape. Here, we had our high tea in the lavish sala of the suite where the dining table was replete with fresh flowers, chocolates pralines and macaroons. My brother-in-law Benny Soliven truly enjoyed making delicious brews using the Malongo coffee machine as we enjoyed watching our favorite telecine, Forevermore.

We also enjoyed high tea service in The Writers Bar the next day, which included freshly baked scones slathered with clotted cream and preserved cucumber sandwich, salmon, egg and tea sandwiches and our choice of tea to our hearts’ delight. Raffles’ Writers Bars around the world share an interesting history, being familiar haunts for famous writers like W. Somerset Maugham, Joseph Conrad and Ernest Hemingway. The one in Makati has a very cozy atmosphere with leather-bound books.

We also had a midnight snack of spaghetti bolognese, lamb curry biryani, laksa noodles and, for that sweet ending, a chocolate mousse with caramel sauce and crème brulee. These sumptuous dishes made us slip into the sweet arms of slumber and we all had wonderful sweet dreams after such hearty cuisine. Of course, before sleeping, we had some wine and various cocktail mixes to complement our hearty meals. 

We enjoyed each other’s company as we played “Commando,” a game invented by our late father Ting Dayrit when we were still children. When our late parents were still around, we played this game in which everyone gets down on their knees and plays hide and seek on the floor in total darkness. At Raffle’s Presidential Suite, we enjoyed crawling on the hardwood flooring covered with plush lavish hand-tufted rugs? in the dark; and as one caught hold of the other, peals of laughter filled the rooms. There are actually three rooms in this bespoke suite and we would never trade this for a staycation in any other place.  

My best friend Bum Tenorio and Mike Mina led my sisters Jaqui, Michelle and Yvonne in a pajama party down the long hallway of the suite. Mark enjoyed reading the books and magazines in the cozy nook. We discovered more about the suite and were amazed at its amenities and felt like we were dreaming, far away in staycation fairyland.

Jaqui, the chef in the family, even prepared some special pizza with special sauces, imported cheeses and anchovies since there is a fully equipped kitchen with microwave and refrigerator in our suite. For our midnight snack, we had an ice cream party complete with all the flavors we could think of, replete with cherries and whipped cream.

Michelle, the artist in the family, admired the locally inspired artistic accents and artworks by her favorite artist Carlos Rocha. Renowned interior design company Bent Severin designed its exquisite interiors. There are 1,600 paintings and sculptures to be found on the property. (We even dropped by Art Fair Philippines at the Link, near the hotel, and enjoyed artworks by Daniel dela Cruz and Igan D’Bayan among other artists.)

My nephews and nieces, on the other hand, enjoyed swimming in the pool and using the facilities in the gym. They were even so spoiled that they requested bubble bath preparation in the marble floored bathrooms with the scents wafting in the suites.

We slumbered those two nights on the suite’s fluffy pillows with lovely scents and the most comfortable feather-top beds with some of the richest 100-percent cotton linen we’ve ever encountered.  

We all enjoyed our hearty breakfast at the Spectrum restaurant. No wonder the Raffles Makati is a truly multi-awarded hotel. Its accolades include being a place as Trip Advisor’s Top Luxury Hotel in 2014 and a spot on its Hot New Hotels list. The hotel’s Presidential Suite is also included in the list of Top 101 Suites in the World of Elite Traveler, the “Private Jet Lifestyle” magazine. Raffles Makati was cited by World Spa and Travel magazine as one of the 50 Best New Luxury Hotels worldwide. Notable culinary awards have been given to the talented chefs of Raffles and Fairmont Makati.

It is truly so convenient to have a staycation in Raffles Makati which is so close to the Ayala Museum and in the heart of the financial district. It is situated within a 30-floor tower that also houses the Raffles Residences with 237 one- to four-bedroom apartments and the 260-room Fairmont Hotel.

Monique Toda, the hotel’s director of communications, shared that each property is proud to draw on the “tradition of Raffles — to offer a luxuriant and welcoming oasis where travelers can rest, recuperate and enjoy, complemented by service that is thoughtful, discreet and graceful, to ultimately deliver ‘emotional luxury’ to its well-traveled guests.”

 The Presidential Suite of Raffles Hotel in Makati is in a class of its own. Bespoke luxury is what overwhelms you about this supreme suite. (The company is embarking on a new phase of expansion in Indonesia and Turkey.)

The suite is designed for royalty and has a contemporary ambiance that features the best of local culture. Elegant and spacious with every discriminating touch, this posh enclave will certainly elicit all the superlatives one can think of. Actually, Raffles Makati is a 32 all-suite hotel that caters to the sensibilities of intrepid travelers. The business traveler and leisure traveler will certainly enjoy these suites, which have been designed to create a sense of warmth and comfort. 

Sometimes, we ask ourselves why we go great distances just to have a vacation. We don’t need to go so far to feel a sense of distance from the everyday. Just like a good guest, the best trait is knowing when to simply stay. Try a staycation at the Raffles Hotel and you will understand why it is the most memorable and convenient vacation you will ever have. Life is made up of memorable “mini breaks” that now redefine the best way to have a vacation.

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For more information and bookings, log on at www.raffles.com/makati. Email the author at miladay.star@gmail.com.