September is a busy month for us because that’s when all my kids’ school activities are scheduled. As if we weren’t busy enough, we also scheduled Charlie’s baptism in September.
By the end of the month, we were drained. So, after Charlie’s baptism, we decided to treat the kids to a staycation.
Because we just want a relaxing staycation–no traffic, no noise–we chose to stay within the neighborhood… in Eugenio Lopez Center Hotel in Antipolo. We’ve dined at Oscar’s a couple of times already and we thought we’d try the hotel as well.
Eugenio Lopez Center Hotel in Antipolo
Located just along Sumulong Highway, Eugenio Lopez Center provides guests a quiet, nature-filled escape. The hotel offers a scenic view of Metro Manila and an array of activities that will surely de-stress you.
They have a pool area where you can cool down. There is also a bike trail for those seeking for an adrenaline rush. Our kids particularly enjoyed the obstacle course.
The hotel has 38 rooms in total and a restaurant (Oscar’s) that serves delicious food.
Reservation and Check-in
Since the hotel is just a few minutes’ drive from where we live, we reserved directly with them. It’s not a busy hotel so reservation and check-in were both quick.
Just make sure that upon reservation, double check that they reserved the right room for you. When we booked a Suite Room for one of our guests, they were checked into a different room. They happily adjusted the bill. But then, sayang because we wanted them to stay in a suite.
Accommodation
For our stay, we got the Suite Room (Php6,500/night) for our family of five. It’s perfect for families because it has lots of room to move around. It also has a king-sized bed, a lounge area, and a bathroom with a hot and cold shower.
The bathroom is complete with everything you need: shampoo, soap, towels. However, I wish they also provide hotel slippers and robes for guests. It’s a minor thing, but it’s something we look for whenever we have staycations.
If you don’t wish to book a suite, they have Deluxe Rooms and Executive Rooms available, too. These rooms start at Php4,400 per night.
Be sure to reserve ahead of time because they don’t have a lot of rooms, unlike bigger hotels. Note that Eugenio Lopez Center is a team building destination as well so if you happen to need to book on a day when they have groups checked in, you might not be able to get a room.
Note that the rooms do not come with complimentary breakfast. You may, however, head over to Oscar’s to dine.
Food
Eugenio Lopez Center provides in-house dining through their restaurant, Oscar’s.
For breakfast, I highly recommend their Filipino Breakfast Spread. For lunch, try their Sizzling Tadyang with Sampaloc Sauce and Laing. Be sure to order extra rice! For dinner, go for their Filet Mignon and pair it with a glass of red wine.
However, if you don’t feel like dining in Oscar’s, the hotel has a lot of restaurants around it. Try Marison’s for their crazy delicious Crispy Tripe Kare-Kare and Lechon Wraps or dine at Cloud 9 while watching the sun set over Metro Manila.
Yay Or Nay?
If we ignore the little things like having no hotel slippers or not having a phone in the room to call the front desk for assistance, I’d say this is a nice hotel to have a family staycation. It’s in the middle of a huge property surrounded by trees and an amazing view. It’s quiet and not too crowded, too.
EUGENIO LOPEZ CENTER
Website: www.elcenter.com.ph
Tel: (+632) 449-7241 to 44 / (+632) 636 2886
E-mail: elcfrontdesk@fprc.com.ph
Address: Sumulong Hi-way, Antipolo, Philippines 1870
