Northern star

MANILA, Philippines - Unexpected delights in our travels are usually the ones we remember the most. Take, for instance, Hotel Tiffany, a brightly lit establishment that has earned its rightful place as a tourist’s staple in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.

What a first-timer will notice is the bright, merry ambience of the hotel, with stars and pastel colors all greeting the visitor in one fell swoop. We learned that Hotel Tiffany was named after the owner’s daughter who, at the time, was entering interior design school.

Hotel Tiffany operations manager Marty Teng relates, “The hotel was inspired by the idea that ‘What if we provide a place to stay so you wake up feeling younger, happy, energized, and transported to another place?’ With that in mind, we opened our doors on Feb. 8, 1998 with the vision of providing a clean and cheerful place to stay.”

Teng furthers, “The straightforward way to achieve this was to paint the hotel in pastel colors to lighten everybody’s mood. We are committed to cleanliness, from rooms to sheets. We don’t do shortcuts in doing this.”

Rooms at Hotel Tiffany comprise of single bed, double bed, and family configurations. Teng tells us they have done away with the frills and have instead focused on the essentials in each guestroom such as a private toilet and bath with hot and cold shower, cable television, and air-conditioning.

“Our reasonably priced rooms are perfect for those traveling alone, in pairs, and in groups. Wi-Fi is available at the lobby. We also have added services such as airport transfers, local tours, and a function hall,” he says.

"Tourist’s staple in Laoag City: Hotel Tiffany’s family room

The hotel is likewise particular about the convenience it offers and the food it serves. It has invested in communications technology for easier access to guests at the lowest cost possible.

He adds, “We have partnered with several travel agents to help guests plan their stay. We are also actively present on the Internet for guests who prefer to plan their own trip.”

For sure, guests will be planning their meals around the offerings of the in-house restaurant Macy’s Diner. With its classic American interiors, Macy’s Diner boasts of a variety of dishes using only the finest natural ingredients.

Teng recommends must-try items from the menu: “You can try our hamburger if you want something American. Pancit canton if you want something East Asian. Beef kare-kare is guaranteed to taste the way your lola cooked it for you. Or better yet, Macy’s Fried Ice Cream for something out-of-this-world.”

Tourist’s staple in Laoag City: in-house restaurant Macy’s Diner.

Hotel Tiffany’s key location makes it an ideal place for leisure and business travelers alike. It is the jump-off point to Ilocos’ fabled food stops, cultural and tourist attractions, and beaches.

“Another advantage of being in the city center is the abundance of public transportation available. Tricycle, jeepney and bus stations are just around the corner from Hotel Tiffany so guests have the freedom to move around,” he says.

The hotel staff is more than happy to suggest places to visit and modes of transportation in getting there. Based on repeat-guest feedback, the great service extended by the staff is among the reasons why Hotel Tiffany remains top of mind.

“Hotel Tiffany takes pride in our staff   because we know they love their work and they have respect for our guests. Loyal customers already know our staff personally and some of them have their favorite personnel whenever they are here,” Teng says.

Hotel Tiffany operations manager Marty Teng says, ‘The hotel was inspired by the idea that ‘What if we provide a place to stay so you wake up feeling younger, happy, energized, and transported to another place?’’

He informs us that with 14 flights a week to Laoag and overnight buses to and from the city, the hotel is servicing guided tours of Pagudpud, Vigan, and Laoag. There is also a seminar package promo with an overnight stay for as low as P680 per person, and a group size of at least 30 people.

Meanwhile, Hotel Tiffany goes to prove that, indeed, good things come in bright shiny packages. Just visit Laoag and see what we mean.

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Hotel Tiffany is located at Gen. Segundo Avenue corner M.H. del Pilar St., Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. For more information, log on to http://www.hoteltiffany-laoag.com or call (077) 770-3550, (0926) 694-5221 for Globe, (0928) 206-7257 for Smart, or (0922) 343-5500 for Sun.