Weekend at Lima Park

A month ago, my friend and I found ourselves wandering around Batangas City for a relaxing weekend away from the bustling streets of Manila.

It was a real fun time for both of us and a bit of an educational trip as well (ironically). We’re both not used to going out of town through public transports and we were really clueless as to how much the fare would be or how to even read the bus ticket. Yes, I would admit that was a rather blonde moment for us, especially since it was just a simple thing, but well at least we learned something!

Anyway, going back to the real story, we decided to stay at Lima Park Hotel. This hotel can be found at the heart of the Lima Park Technology Center. Given that no public transport gets inside the techno park if you don’t have a car its best to call the front desk so they could have their shuttle service pick you up by the entrance of the Lima Park. Otherwise, if you feel like walking I gather that it would take you about 20 minutes to get to the hotel.

The Lima Park Technology Center is an Industrial Park situated between the boundaries of Lipa and Malvar City. Since we went there on a weekend we hardly saw any people around.  The view of Mt. Makiling and Mt. Malarayat and the well trimmed bushes all over greeted us upon setting foot at the place. Lima Park is quite vast and I could imagine that a biker would surely get a kick from the cool wind blowing on his face while taking in the scenery around him. We saw a restaurant right in front of the hotel called Ipponyari which mainly serves Japanese Cuisine. For those who are wondering if there are any entertainment facilities in this place well you’ll be disappointed because there are no malls or bars yet, (it is a Techno Park after all) though, it seems like they are in the process of putting up more amenities as we saw some construction being done for what seems like a boutique shopping mall and a spa.  

The hotel itself is not a typical high rise hotel. The lobby looks very stylish and modern and has a grand piano adorning a corner. The trimmed lawn offers a relaxing view especially if you’re chilling out with your friends at the veranda area. While the swimming pool isn’t huge, it’s seems big enough to accommodate around 10 persons and has a provision for a kiddie pool and a Jacuzzi. Asian Flavours, the hotel’s restaurant has a cozy and a Hindi inspired deco and right outside is the Patio Bar. The hotel also has a gym so you wouldn’t miss out on your routine while you’re on vacation.

We stayed in a Standard room and we loved it! The room was quite spacious and well ventilated. I’m not a big fan of dark and gloomy hotel rooms and what I like the most about our room is that it has a very vibrant atmosphere but the drapes are quite thick and one could opt to dim the lights or use the lamp shades for a darker room. We also a have a mini bar with 2 complimentary bottles of water, along with coffee, sugar and creamer sachets. The bathroom has a bathtub and a complete set of toiletries for 2 which had been neatly arranged on the sides of the dresser. Also, I would have to mention that our bed had been fantastic!  I’ve been to a bunch of hotels already but I seldom get to find a bed that feels just right - not too soft and not too hard. Another thing I’ve noticed is the cleanliness of our room. I did not see a speck of dust even on the unused drawers, and there are a lot of drawers in our room.

 
I would also have to commend the customer service of this hotel. I have a rather impatient nature at times and I really hate a slow service. I’d say that I’d totally give an A+ to their as they are very prompt and courteous in attending to the requests of their guests, I didn’t even see anyone cringing or frowning from any of my silly questions or from my numerous requests. They were all ever smiling and attentive! Their shuttle service is not just good for picking up their hotel guests. The shuttles can be use to to SM Lipa, to the Country Club or to Tagaytay City!

The hotel offers Spa services like facial and massage. A massage was supposedly included in our accommodation but as we learned it could only be availed from 6:00pm to 10:00pm, one person at a time as there is only one masseuse. Only one masseuse, why oh why? We didn’t get to avail this as we weren’t able to squeeze it in. (The Jacuzzi had been delightful and we soaked up for about 2 hours!) 
 
Another thing I have to mention would be the set of menu and bar drinks at the Restaurant. Given the name, Asian Flavours I was expecting a wide array of menu but I was disappointed to see common Asian dishes, though the food had been excellent and the serving was really huge! There was also a problem with their cable provider during our visit so TV was out during our stay.

So, will I come back to this hotel? Most definitely! Will I recommend it? Yes! This hotel is definitely a place to go to when you want to feel like you’re right at home while having a relaxed time, close to nature. I hope that the service of this hotel will not decline but will continue to excel and I’m looking forward to further improvements on their amenities on my next visit.