Faces, battered and blooming/raucous and reserved trickled in past meetup o’ clock. I was one of them late birds who arrived looking befuddled after tearing my way through the rowdy check-in crowd at the under-refurbishment lobby. When introduced to The Linden Suites’ Marketing Communications Manager Michael Sagaran in Mesclun Restaurant and Café, I waved a hazy hello and plopped on a seat. Amongst fellow travel bloggers deep in wanderlust talk.

The Linden Suites, an old time favorite of balikbayans and staycationists (the suites are sooo huge they can accommodate guests’ extended family), offers 168 spacious rooms and suites. Now speaking of ‘old’, wear and tear may be (and perhaps still is) evident, but most areas retain a trace of grandeur. During our stay in October last year, some rooms were already being refurbished.

We were assigned in old suites at tower two but they did show us one of their finished products at tower one. A modish executive suite, designed with the business traveler in mind.

Suites’ bathrooms got tubs!

Each suite, refurbished or not, is equipped with:

The Linden Suites’ Amenities

Kitchen and dining facilities
WiFi internet access (with alpha-numeric passwords that’ll drive the inebriated you insane)
Ipod jack (!)
Electronic safe
Iron and board
Home entertainment system
Heaps. Of. Power. Outlets.

And guests have access to:

Recreational Facilities

Indoor heated pool (may be currently under facelift)
The Health Club (gym)
Sauna and massage rooms

Also, parking slot is free, though only one’s provided per room.

Birthday cake for Ron of www.fliptravels.com. Photo by Elal Lasola.

The ‘hotel tour’ ate only about half an hour. Once the marketing team let us off, we were on our own. And on our own, we’re not entirely safe. Pizza happened. And Smirnoff Gold Collection Cinnamon Flavored Vodka happened. Then unnecessary dancing happened (Because hello, what else were we to do with all that massive floor area?!)

Oh, and this!

“Uhm, can anyone please help me outta here? Anyone?!” 

Not unusual when travel bloggers congregate.

That event we dubbed “Pinoy Travel Bloggers Pajama Party” wherein nobody wore a pajama concluded past two in the morn. We had that much fun. Surprisingly, everybody was able to get up at seven for the brekkie buffet.

Tastes as good as it looks.  

What I liked about the spread: Fried tawilis and the salad bar. Their brewed coffee, though it took forever and a day to be served, was a winner as well.

So let’s say I was able to convince you to book a stay because of this, uhm, review. Here are some terms and conditions imposed by the management you might need/want to know:

Third-party credit card is not accepted.

No additional charge for children (maximum of 2) below 12 years if sharing rooms with parents (duh!).

Smoking/non smoking room is subject to room availability.

Incidental deposit of P2,000 per room is required upon check in.

Check in time is 2:00 PM for executive suite and one-bedroom suite, 3:00 PM for two and three-bedroom suites. Check out time is 12 noon.

Guest must be at least 18 years old to check in under his/her name. Govenment issued ID must be presented.

Special deals may be available, visit www.lindensuites.com.

Am definitely shelling out the dough for another stay, but it’ll be for either a two-bedroom or three-bedroom suite. Most prolly for a shindig as well.

And you know, I loved  their beds!

The Linden Suites
37 San Miguel Avenue
Ortigas Centre, Pasig City