The local economy
surrounding Clark, Pampanga has seen rapid growth in recent years. Coinciding
this development is the emergence of Clark as a prime tourism and business
destination. The old stinging red light
district reputation of Metro Clark has all but relegated to a nostalgic
single strip known as the ‘Walking Street’.
While it remains an interesting place to
check out – thanks to an assortment of Asian food gems and fascinating entertainment bars lined up on both sides, a surrounding renaissance of heritage
structures, quaint cafes, local craft breweries, adventure theme parks and a
thriving commercial district, all make Metro Clark a fascinating area to explore
and do business.
When one do business and mix some sightseeing on the side, selecting a great accommodation becomes an essential
part of the trip. Great thing about Metro Clark, it is now dotted with numerous
fancy hotels ranging from 2 stars to 5 stars. Fortunately, I
was invited to stay for a couple of nights at the newly opened Best Western Hotel.
Shredding biases aside –
despite my stay being a sponsored one, I’ve come up with 6 main reasons why
Best Western Hotel suits the needs of both business travelers and recreational tourists
alike.
Design:
Interior screams of contemporary appeal
Upon entering the spacious
and bright-lit lobby, I immediately noticed the amount of attention given to the
interior design planning of Best Western Metro Clark. From the round shaped
tables and chairs to the swirling patterns of rugs meshing beautifully with the
high ceiling and circle chandeliers, the dark colored lines of the curtains and
marbled walls – all create an appeal of sophisticated theme.
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| Deluxe Room |
As the staff led me to my
room, we passed by an expansive and minimalist hallway with glass and mirrored
walls creating an illusion of additional space. My room was a deluxe room
with a queen-sized bed, a
42” LED TV and a capacious 35-square meter floor size, with a cozy fresh
design. The room’s color schemes consists of light tints and a hint of gray,
thereby combining a refreshing palette.
I was also shown the Executive Suite, a fancier room with a king-size bed and slightly bigger at a little more than 40 square meter size.
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| Executive Suite |
Afterward, the pretty
marketing manager of Best Western, Miss Ruth showed the Presidential Suite. The room reminded me of my accommodation in Lebua
Tower in Bangkok when I attended the 2017 World
Travel and Tourism Council Global Summit. Best Western’s Presidential Suite
features one bedroom and a living area complete with stylish sofa, a long work desk, dining table for four, dual 42" LED TV, a kitchenette with a large
refrigerator, microwave and a kettle. The large bathroom also has a bathtub.
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| Presidential Suite |
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| Living area of the Presidential Suite |
Food:
Taste buds-approved
Metro Pampanga is a known
foodie haven and travelers who come here often goes on a food tripping tour of
the surrounding restaurants serving local cuisine and a combination of Asian and
European dishes. When you stay in Best Western Metro, you get an early
head-start satisfying your taste buds thanks to the in-house restaurants:
Namari Japanese Bistro, Cactus Jack Smokehouse and Spencer’s Fusion.
Located at the ground
floor of Best Western Metro Clark, Namari Japanese Bistro
serves a 7-course Teppanyaki Omakase buffet (you can re-order any of of the
course dish) cooked, plated and served on an Izakaya-inspired Japanese bar. Namari
serves Teppanyaki Omakase for ₱888, ₱1,088 or ₱1,299/ per person.
We feasted the 1,088-peso Omakase with a menu consisting of: miso soup, namari salad, sushi, chicken
teriyaki, spicy squid, beef sakoro, miso salmon, ebi tempura and dessert of the
day.
Cactus Jack Smokehouse
serves a blend of American and Mexican cuisine comprising some of the all-time
favorite beef cuts: tenderloin, rib-eye and porterhouse Angus steaks. Other
choices includes: Cajun salmon, black tiger prawns, blue crabs, beef brisket,
chicken bbq, pulled pork, baby back ribs, river prawns, clams and mussels.
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| Or you can order a meat platter such as this spread |
They also serve a collection of side dishes, pares beef and beer buddy meals like surf-n-turf, ceviche,
tuna kama and catch of the day. Cap off
your feast by also ordering a drink from their impressive cocktail concoctions and beer lineup.
Having stayed in many
hotels as a travel writer, I've developed a high standard when it comes to a
hotel's buffet breakfast service.
Best Western Metro's Spencer's Fusion didn't
disappoint from its vibrant interior to the breakfast spread itself. Like most
hotels, breakfast is available from 6:00 to 10:00 am and it serves a wide selection of American, Continental and Asian dishes. If you're a health buff, there's
also a cereal, breads and fruit section as well as the customary egg station.
Best Western Metro Clark
provides all the essentials perfect for all kinds of travelers. Either for business or
for pleasure, you can readily enjoy the hotel's many facilities.
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| Conference Room |
They have a function room
at the 4th floor which can sit up to 360 guests and a stylish conference room
that can fit 30 guests. For gym enthusiasts, the Fitness Center located at the
5th floor should give you a good 1 or 2 hour workout session.
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| Function Room |
The outdoor pool is
located at the 4th floor's open space adjacent to the outdoor bar. A smaller pool for kids sits beside the main swimming pool.
Room
rates: Great value for money
All 88 rooms of Best
Western Metro Clark meet 5-star hotel standards and since it is also located in
a strategic location, the room rate starting at the promotional rate of
3,500 pesos definitely brings great value for money.
Service:
excellent and well-trained staff
Their team of well-trained
staff were also very hospitable and shows an accurate attention to details of their guest’s
every needs. When I was first shown to my room and found the brand new a/c unit
installed in my room wasn't properly working yet, I requested for a room
transfer and after a few minutes they showed me to another room. The staff who
attended my concern were very apologetic and assured me that my new room won’t
give me any problems.
Afterward, I met another
staff at the elevator and he asked me if the air conditioning unit in my new
room is working properly and if I have other concerns. This shows that the
concerns of the guests are properly attended to and even escalated to other
staff members.
Location:
In the center of everything
Situated in the Balibago
district of Metro Clark, Best Western Hotel is nearby many local attractions.
It is a mere 500 meter walk from the walking street, and less than a kilometer
away to Angeles City's Heritage District. The hotel is also a short distance
away from many known local restaurants and malls like the SM in Angeles City. For craft beer
drinkers, Pinatubo Craft Brewery is just a short ride away. Everything you will ever need either as a business traveler or a tourist on a holiday, are all within a short distance away from Best Western Metro Clark.
Clark International
Airport is just around 30 minutes away.
Best Western Metro Clark is located at MacAthur Highway
Balibago, Angeles City, Pampange (Saver’s Mall). For inquiries or reservations,
call +6345 409-9999 or E-Mail info@bestwesternmetroclark.com. You may also
visit www.bestwesternmetroclark.com for more information.
Book your stay now at Best Western Metro Clark
