Shangri-la at the Fort
Manila is not often thought of as a holiday spot for families! When going for holidays, families normally think about Hong Kong, Bangkok, Malaysia or Bali. However, we decided to go “off the beaten track” and find out what we can discover about Manila Philippines. Our first stop, was at one favorite luxury Hotelier Shangri-la. Manila is regarded as the most densely populated city in the world, and it is also home to 3 Shangri-la Hotels. The Shangri-la at the Fort is the latest addition to the stable, with an offering of hotel rooms, residences, homes and offices within Bonifacio Global City, the safest mini city, within Cosmopolitan Manila.
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Our previous escapades to the Philippines have led us to the Shangri-la Mactan Resort, which we still rave about, when we talk about Beach resorts. Shangri-la at the Fort is a totally different cup of a tea, as it is a 5 Star Luxury Hotel within the safest City enclave in Manila. As safety is paramount when one travels, the location of Shangri-la at the Fort is one of the biggest incentives, to check in at this luxurious hotel.
Arriving early into the City, the Phillippines is always bustling, and being an early riser, means you get to escape the notorious traffic jams. Maximising our travelling time, we took about an hour, to travel from the airport to the Hotel. Entering the Hotel Lobby, Shangri-la at the Fort, does live up to her reputation, by offering a majestic lobby and entrance for all discerning travellers.
Rooms at Shangri-la at the Fort
For this stay, we got to experience the Premier Suites, which offered spacious luxury and stunning views of the city. Check out the space and high living furnishings that we found in the room. The comfort and opulence is stunning! 🙂
Offering a living room equipped with a large 48-inch flat screen television, L-shape sofa, and a dining table, we just could not wait to sit back and relax in our new surroundings. Besides the excellent lounging space, there was also more than enough room to invite any business friends over, for a last minute brain-storming session or meeting.
And of course, the room would not be complete without a comfy King Sized bed, and a pillow menu to complement ones’ desire for comfort and a relaxing holiday. Together with the feather duvet, we were ready to be pampered!
Here are the other parts of the room, that we must not fail to mention. Check out the toilet together with its marble flooring, a deluxe tub, and quality L’Occitane toiletries. Quality touches that speak of luxury! 🙂
As we took this holiday to celebrate our 15th Wedding anniversary, and travelling without the kids, we were wondering if the kids would have liked Manila. We know that they will definitely like the room, as it offered so much space and comfort. But how about the rest of the Hotel?
Our worries were put to rest when we visited Adventure zone!
Adventure Zone
Adventure Zone is a children’s playground offered by their Shangri-la Beach Resorts. Other Shangri-la’s which offer such facilities are Shangri-la Penang, Shangri-la Rasa Sentosa Singapore, and Shangri-la Mactan Cebu Philippines. This is the very first Adventure Zone, that is offered in a City Hotel, and Shangri-la at the Fort holds that honor.
Offering 1,000 sqm of entertainment space, this indoor playground speaks of fun for the kids! And the best thing is that Adventure Zone has got slides and obstacles for kids up to age 12. but wait, there are also vertical drops, which can send screams and thrills deep into any adult’s hearts.
Do let me slowly elaborate…First off, check out the playground for the toddlers. If they get tired of the mini slides, the toddlers can also explore the mini city, where they can get pushed around by their favorite playmates.
For the older kids, head up to the multi-level indoor playground, where the thrills and spills go up one level. Constructed in similar format, to the other Adventure zones found in other parts of the world, the adults and kids alike are in for hours of fun! If this is your first time in Adventure Zone, try the vertical slide! It is like a “Devil’s Drop”, and it takes some courage to give yourself the first push off the cliff! 🙂
Besides the slides, children can also experience scheduled fun, where at 11am or 5pm, kids can enjoy Arts and Crafts, Filipino Street Games and other Cognitive, Sensory activities. (Activities will vary, according to Adventure zones’ schedule).
And together with an in-house cafe, where parents and young guests can refresh themselves, this premium indoor facility has everything that one is looking for.
As a couple who loves a healthy lifestyle, our adventure at Shangri-la at the fort was further transformed when we visited Kerry Sports Manila!
Kerry Sports Manila
Kerry Sports Manila is the Sports arm of Shangri-la, and with the gym behind located within the Hotel, this Sports facility offers Hotel Guests, the best sports and recreational facility that one can hope for!
Offering 8,000 square metres and two dedicated floors of fitness facilities. we were awed the moment we stepped into Kerry Sports. Yes! This is truly the Shangri-la for all Sports enthusiasts.
Located on Levels 5 and 6 of Shangri-La at the Fort, Kerry Sports Manila offers an NBA-grade indoor basketball court, two tennis courts, two squash courts, an outdoor lap pool, extensive gym facilities, exercise studios, and a wellness spa with nine treatment rooms.
One of the new things that we saw at Kerry Sports, is this kick boxing Machine! Frankly, we have never tried Kick boxing before, but we were intrigued by this kick boxing apparatus. With numbers for each level and direction to target, this machine is the modern version of the wooden man, found in many “ÏP Man” movies! I am sure that this machine, will provide a great cardio workout!
Hotel guests have the option of joining any of the ongoing classes within Kerry Sports throughout their stay in Shangri-la. From yoga to Zumba to aerobics, to having a personal training session, there are a host of activities for guests. We have been talking about going for “Spinning” for some time, and we managed to find a window, where we could join in for one the classes. And Boy! We can safely say that our trainer pushed us to new limits, and our butts ached after the session!
Best of all, we could retreat to our Hotel room after the workout, and we experienced personal massage sessions in the comfort of our rooms. Truly relaxing, and definitely a Shangri-la in the busy city!
Find out more about the food in Shangri-la in our next post! 🙂