Stonehill Suites: The Most Aesthetic Luxury Boutique Hotel with State-of-the-Art Banquet Hall in Bacolod City Negros Occidental

One of the biggest factors that made our stay in Bacolod City truly wonderful was the superb accommodation at Stonehill Suites.

We didn’t expect that behind its humble façade would be one of the most aesthetic luxury boutique hotels we’ve ever encountered.

Just look at how every little detail of this hotel exudes a modern contemporary with touches of Art Deco elegance.  

According to the hotel manager, every item in the hotel was carefully handpicked by the owner with evidently eclectic taste.  Bold furnitues and fixtures of brass geometric chandelier, sleek metal- and wooden-framed chairs with mustard yellow and burnt orange  cushion, plush modern sofa, and sculptural coffee tables of modern boldly stand out against a sleek backdrop of polished marble walls, gleaming metallic accents, and striking black-and-white geometric flooring.  

Location and Accessibility

Stonehill Suites is located within Bacolod City’s prime location and 12 kilometers away from Bacolod-Silay International Airport.  It is accessible through all means of public transportation from the airport.  

It is also just a block away from Lacson Avenue — renowned for local homegrown restaurants.  Not only was it convenient to satisfy our inasal cravings, we were also able to buy last-minute pasalubongs (souveneirs) with ease.

JSY Hall

One of the main reasons why we chose Stonehill Suites is because its JSY Hall is the most technologically advanced venue in Bacolod City.   The JSY Hall features a stadium-caliber audio system with wireless microphones and speakers that deliver crystal-clear sound. This, combined with a dedicated high-speed internet for hybrid setups with live streaming — allowed us to view the presenter in real time both inside the hall, through their wide-screen smart TV, and from outside.  The JSY Hall A and Hall B, each hold ing up to 50 guests, can comfortably accomodate a total of 100 guests.

Deluxe Room

If you will be holding your event at Stonehill Suites,  we highly recommend that you avail of  their 25 suite rooms.

Welcome Pastries

All suite rooms are aesthetic appealling!  

As you can see, every detail including the plateful of Welcome Pastries was impeccably prepared.

Stonehill Suites' hospitality goes beyond the usual. Some rooms even provide hair stylers without attachments or security features—an uncommon gesture that shows just how much trust they place in their guests.

The comprehensive in-room amenities include: plush bathrobes and slippers, premium toiletries...

bottles of water,  coffee and tea set, mini-fridge...

Flat Screen LCD TV with Cignal Satellite HD Channels

flat screen LCD TV with Cignal Satellite HD channels, luggage rack and blackout curtains.  

You can also order food and have them delivered to your room with no additional charge.

At the end of the day, a good night's sleep is the cornerstone of a  hotel stay —and Stonehill Suites’ premium beddings and pillows delivered exceptional comfort.  

With fluffy towels, rain shower, Stonehill Suites' squeaky-clean bathroom exceeded our expectations for a four-star hotel.

We're not sure if all Deluxe Rooms have a balcony as it was not indicated in their website but our room had one.

We also observed that all the halls and even the banquet hall are equipped with purifiers.

Aside from having two elevators, 

each floor also has two lounges!  This one on the side offered a window view.

Breakfast Buffet

Despite the limited breakfast buffet area, the selection was surpisingly comprehensive—honestly, it felt more like hearty brunch than a typical breakfast buffet.  

We appreciated that the breakfast buffet changed daily during our 3-day stay.

 

We really felt the thoughtfulness of all the Stonehill Suites staff not just from the food but how warm and courteous they are in serving us.

Overall, we Travel Tripsters highly recommend Stonehill Suites for its clean and aesthetic ambiance, delicious food and heartfelt service.  Stonehill Suites  is the most accomodating hotel we've ever stayed in.  As much as they could, they would accomodate our requests without additional costs.  It also had a gym and rooftop lounge with a beautiful view of the city.  The only improvement we could suggest is to provide a bright room lamp for those who need to work during their stay.

Stonehill Suites
Hotel Address	18th Street, corner San Agustin Dr, Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Philippines
Contact	(63917) 635-9237	Reservation Required	Yes
Payment Options	Cash	Public Transport	Jeep, Taxi
Room Types	Room Amenities		Price
Deluxe	• Good For 2 Adults and 1 Child • 1 Queen / 2 Double Beds • 28-30 SQM Without Window • Mini-fridge • Breakfast for 2 • Rain shower • Free Wifi		4,200 php
Premiere Suite	• Good For 2 Adults and 2 Children • 1 King / 2 Single Beds • 30-35 SQM  • Mini-fridge • Breakfast for 2 • Rain shower • Free Wifi		5,300 php
Junior Suite	• Good For 2 Adults • 1 King Bed • 40 SQM  • Mini-fridge • Private Balcony • Breakfast for 2 • Rain shower • Free Wifi		6,998 php
Executive Suite	• Good For 2 Adults and 2 Children • 1 King bed •  66 SQM • Mini-fridge • Private Balcony • Breakfast for 2 • Mini Kitchen • Rain shower • Free Wifi		10,998 php
Presidential Suite	• Good For 2 Adults and 2 Children • 1 King bed •  50 SQM • Mini-fridge • Welcome Area and Private Balcony • Breakfast for 2 • Mini Kitchen • Living Room • Rain shower • Free Wifi		12,998 php
General Amenities and Services	•Gym •Airport Transfer (1100 php)  • Laundry Service	Parking	Yes
Travel Tripsters Hotel Review Rating		Stonehill Suites Map
Location	★★★★★
Room Comfort	★★★★★
Cleanliness	★★★★★
Service	★★★★★
Price	★★★★

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Edsa Shangri-La Hotel Staycation

Being under stress for the past few weeks, sis and I decided to have a weekend staycation at Edsa Shangri-La Hotel.

Amidst the busy city district of Ortigas, Edsa Shangri-La Hotel offers a refreshing escape away from the smog-filled city.

We booked ourselves at the Garden Wing which was farther from the main lobby but nearer to Shangri-La Mall.

The other wing is the Tower Wing were the convention halls and restaurants are.

This is the Garden Wing Lobby.

The hotel was not so crowded so we didn't have to wait for our turn to use any of the two elevators.  Although if you have to wait, there are two kinds of newspapers available as early as 5 am in the morning.

The fancy hallways exudes luxury.

Finally, we reached our room with two twin beds.

 Everything was flawlessly clean except for the dusty TV remote.

We even had complimentary banana breads waiting for us.

And, the greatest advantage of staying at the Garden Wing Deluxe is the breathtaking view of the pool surrounded by lush greens of coconut trees and some cityscape too.

If you're a workaholic like me, you'd appreciate a few glance to watch the wind blowing the coconut tree leaves.  The wifi is also fast and reliable.

Bathroom

The bathroom is clean and spacious.  They have the usual compliments.  And, ladies will also appreciate the ponytailers.

We have a shower, bath tub and a retractable clothing line.  Too bad we didn't bring any bath foam.  But, I still spent a relaxing time in the tub.  I loved that they have bathroom sound system which port sounds from the TV so I was able to listen to the news too.  Perhaps, the only thing I would suggest in their bathroom is to have a bidet.

There's a bench closet for our bags...

electric kettle for coffee or tea and a fridge.

You can secure your belongings in the safe which we felt we didn't need.  And, you can even iron your clothes.

I wanted to try the Gym.  But, decided to take a quick night stroll instead.

I was tempted to chill by the pool bar...

or get a night massage but decided to head back and stay snuck up in the room instead.

  I really appreciate how well-lit the place is.

Come morning sis woke me up at 6 am to have a morning swim with her.  We claimed our towel and took a dive.

The kids pool has a slide...

And, aside from the playground they have this too.

The adult pool is divided into two parts: 4 feet and 9 feet. 

After our swim, we went availed our complimentary breakfast buffet at the Heat before checking out.

Overall, our Travel Tripters staycation at Edsa Shangri-La Hotel was an awesome experience.  The staffs are courteous and the buffet sealed the deal.

Edsa Shangri-La Hotel
Hotel Address	1 Garden Way, Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City, Philippines
Contact	(632) 435-3545	Reservation Required	Recommended
Payment Options	Cash	Public Transport	Jeep, Taxi
Room Types	Room Amenities		Price
Garden Wing Deluxe Room	• Good For 2 Persons • 34 sqm  • Garden and pool view • 2 Twin-size bed • 1 hair dryer • Hot/cold water / bathtub / shower • 24 hrs. cable TV / In-house movie channels • Air-conditioned • Safety deposit box • Free Wifi • Mini ref. • Ironing board • With free buffet breakfast		7,000 php
General Amenities	•Pool •Gym	Parking	Yes
Travel Tripsters Hotel Review Rating		Edsa Shangri-La Hotel Map
Location	★★★★
Room Comfort	★★★★★
Cleanliness	★★★★★
Service	★★★★★
Price	★★★

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Grande Island Resort: Ferry Ride and Overnight Beach Resort Accomodation (Subic SBMA Zambales)

We arrived at the Grande Island Resort ticketing office located at Structure 684, Waterfront Road, Freeport Zone, Subic Bay, Zambales, at around 9 am. 

We were late.  We were advised to be at the ferry terminal 30 minutes before the schedule so its a good thing the ferry hasn't left.

We registered here. They had brochures here which indicated the land and water activities and the corresponding rates.

 This is also where the ferry schedule is posted.  Ferry Schedule as follows:

• To Grande Island
• 7 am
• 9 am
• 1 pm
• To Subic Terminal
• 12 pm
• 9:30 pm

Ferry Transfer

Our ferry departed at around 9:15 am.

We passed by the SBMA port where lots of containers are stacked.

The staffs at the ferry were very friendly and accommodating.  We were encouraged to explore the ferry with their assistance.  I was able to steer the ferry too.

It was a good day to ride the ferry.  It was a cool day but the sea is calm.

It wasn't long before we could glance Grande Island Resort from afar which got us all excited.

We arrived at around 9:40 am.  As soon as we got there, we were greeted and escorted to our cart. 

We were taken to their Registration Hut to register for our Check-in.  Standard Check-in time is 2:30 pm and Check-out time is 11:30 am.

Kuya Ver served us our welcome drinks.

The hut is very big.

This is the registration desk.

This is a map of the island.  I've been told that Grande Island Resort is established in 2004 and is continuously being developed.

Chalet Rooms

We were then toured around the facilities and taken to our rooms.    I give them plus points for using eco-friendly solar heaters.  As you can see, there are solar panels for every house.  They also adopt the electronic key card system so it was easy to go in and out.

I was awed by the rooms.  I've read mixed feedbacks about the place so I didn't expect much but I must say it was spectacular!  It has two double sized beds and one extra double-sized bed.  All beds have two pairs of pillows and soft fiber-filled duvets.  I loved tucking in those as it provides comforting warmth against the cold.  We had our split-type aircon in 30 degrees because it is so cold.  My companions couldn't help but dose off upon laying down.  

It has a bedside table and study desk with multiple electric 220 AC outlets. We really appreciate them putting power outlets near the beds so you can work on your laptop or charge your gadgets while laying down.

 It also had a tv (3 channels:GMA, HBO and Cartoon Network), refrigerator, phone, electric kettle, complimentary coffee and bottled water. 

I was very impressed with the rest room as it was elegant and clean with two types of hot (solar) and cold (potable) shower:  raindrop and hand-held nozzle shower.  The water supply is very good!  What I like about the room is that the room itself including the rest room is the easy to dry flooring: clay tiles for our bed room and black marble for the bathroom.  Coming in wet from the beach or the pool, it was unavoidable to wet the floor.  Yet, every time we come back, I've noticed that they are once again dry.

There were also more than adequate towels, paper napkin, shampoo, conditioner and soaps provided. There's also a hair dryer.

Each room also has a veranda with a dinning area.  I suggest you get one of the 60 beach-front Chalet Rooms so you can get a good sea view and enjoy some sea air.  Unfortunately, all the 60 beach-front Chalet Rooms were occupied during our stay, so we occupied one of 20 back-part Chalet Rooms.

How to Go to Grande Island Resort Ticketing Office

Public Transport

• NLEX: Exit at San Fernando then turn right and drive towards Bataan.  After passing through the towns of Bacolor, Guagua, Lubao in Pampanga and Dinalupihan in Bataan, make a right turn towards Olongapo and the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Enter the Tipo Expressway and proceed to Rizal Highway. Turn into Burgos Street (all the corners of Subic Bay Yacht Club) and then right on Sampson Road.  Go towards Waterfront Road where the Grande Terminal is located. The terminal is almost across the SBMA Administration Building.
• NLEX via SC-Tex: Exits of the NLEX and proceed to the SCTEx Clark Logistics Toll Plaza. After crossing the bridge, follow the loop of the ramp towards Subic. Follow the road directional signage going to the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ). Once inside the SBFZ, go to Rizal Highway, turn into Burgos Street (at the corner of Subic Bay Yacht Club) then right on Sampson Road and go towards Waterfront Road where the Grande Island Terminal is located.

Private Vehicle

• Bus (Victory Liner and Saulong Transit) + Taxi
• Get off the bus at Olongapo City
• Grab a taxi cab and ask the driver to bring you directly to the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and to the Grande Island Terminal at Waterfront Road.

Grande Island Resort
Hotel Address	Structure 684, Waterfront Road, Freeport Zone, Subic Bay, Zambales, Philippines
Contact	(632) 584-4359 | (632) 463-7868 | (6347) 252-2883 |  (63927) 7240999 | (63919) 366-9999 | reservation@grandeislandresort.com | info@grandeislandresort.com	Reservation Required	Yes
Payment Options	Cash	Public Transport	Bus, Taxi
Room Types	Room Amenities		Price
Chalet Room	Good For 2 Persons  31.7 square meters 2 Queen-sized beds Split type air-conditioning with individual control Electronic key card control system 220 AC universal outlets Solar heated shower  Hair Dryer Cable TV Refrigerator Dining Area Electric Kettle  Executive writing desk Welcome Drink Ferry Transfer Bottle Water Coffee Free breakfast		5,500 php   (+1,800 ph for extra person /  +500 php fo child 4-7 years old)
General Amenities	Beach Pool with shower area	Parking	Yes
Travel Tripsters Hotel Review Rating		Grande Island Resort Map
Location	★★★
Room Comfort	★★★★★
Cleanliness	★★★★★
Service	★★★★
Price	★★★

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