The Plaza Hotel

Experience has taught me more or less to keep my expectations low when booking a provincial hotel. While some of the more progressive/popular provinces have topnotch hotels, the general expectation is that your hotel stay will be functional, threadbare, lackluster, and baduy. For the most part, we have all learned to live with it; after all, we don't travel to sleep in our hotel rooms all day. Kung tutulugan mo lang naman, okay na ang baduy.

There are many exceptions, of course. There are hotels out there that are not only pleasant to stay in, but actually add to your experience of the town or city. One such hotel is The Plaza Hotel in Balanga City, Bataan.

When pictures of the hotel started popping up, I was intrigued. The hotel had an old, classic air to it, that I couldn't believe the fact that it's only a year old. The fact is, The Plaza Hotel looked like a gorgeous, classic hotel that complemented the architectural aesthetics of the plaza in front of it. I knew I needed to see this place for myself, given the chance.

That chance came last week, when I went to Bataan to do tourism research. Luckily for me, I got a DealGrocer voucher for The Plaza Hotel, and I was looking forward to seeing the hotel for myself. Once I saw the hotel for the first time, I wasn't disappointed.

The hotel was smart-looking and modern, a far cry from the dingy, moldy, corny hotels I usually associate with the provinces. The staff was extremely friendly and attentive (And quite good-looking, it must be said), and they attended to all my requests, with a smile. They were able to check me in an hour early, despite the fact the hotel was fully booked the night before.

And the room. The room! This was NOT the hotel room I expected. I was expecting something more spartan, more provincial. Instead, I had a smart-looking, fully-decked hotel room with a really comfortable bed. I had an LED TV with cable, complete amenities in my rather large bathroom, and some token freebies. No, I did not have a mini-bar, a personal ref, and a safe, but come on, who really uses those things?!? If it's any consolation, I had a bathtub.

The bed was very, VERY comfortable, and it begged me to tuck in every chance I got, which wasn't much. Wifi was free, and it was pretty stable and fast. I was also lucky to get a room with a view of the plaza, just adding to the room's charm.

The hotel does not have a pool nor a gym, though. Not really dealbreakers, but it has to be addressed. They do have a rather excellent Japanese restaurant (The rather plainly named Cafe Kyoto), and at P200/head, the breakfast buffet is a good value for your money. The buffet is at the 6th floor, giving you a good view of Balanga and the rest of Bataan to enjoy with your breakfast.

The Plaza Hotel is, for all intents and purposes, a 3-star hotel. However, it goes above and beyond its stature to give you a five-star experience. It's location and exterior aesthetic only add positively to its appeal, but really, it is Bataan's best hotel. It is an instant classic, and I can't wait to go back. Maybe next time I'll stay for two nights.

It looked great in photos -- i'll admit that that one was one of the things that got me booking a weekend there to think and write and to just be.

I was still, however, unprepared for the site that greeted me as i pulled into a parking space in front of the Balanga City Hall that Saturday evening. The town plaza was ablaze with lights, and the townsfolk were enjoying the hot summer night surrounded by impressive structures of Spanish Colonial architecture -- the City Hall itself, a shopping mall called Galleria Victoria, and -- what I was looking for -- The Plaza Hotel.

I marched towards the hotel, overnight bag fastened to my back, and was greeted by a silent receiving area. The lobby was apparently in the 3rd floor. I turned towards the -- surprisingly -- modern and very fast elevator, which took me straight to the concierge. The staff were very accommodating and efficient -- had been from the first call I made to book. With almost no waiting time after I checked in, I was ushered into my room. It was a bit small but luxurious enough, with stylish furniture, a plush bed, and complimentary wifi. I dropped my bags, had dinner at Cafe Kyoto in the hotel (look for my review of that here, too!) and walked around the charming little town before passing out comfortably in my room.

Daylight revealed just how gorgeous the place was. After having rich, dark, Champorado and tuyo for breakfast (as always, when presented with this combo, I over ate), i stepped out onto the town plaza and really saw the buildings for the first time. I must have stood there for a good 30 minutes just looking up in amazement! When i was finally able to move, I crossed the street towards the equally beautiful Balanga Cathedral, or the St. Joseph Cathedral, with its massive bell tower, which was used for artillery by the Japanese during the war.

If you're looking for a place to rest for a night or 2 that's so beautiful it'll have you writing poems (in Spanish, even!), then pack your bags and drive down the scenic route to Bataan, stat.

We stayed here from 12/9/2017 to 12/27/2017. Location and staff definitely gets 5 stars! You are in the heart of Balanga City. This place was recommended by Sherwin Joyce and we booked MACS and Presidential suite. She did an amazing job on hosting and fulfilling our needs throughout the whole stay. I even booked additional rooms for additional guests. The view from the room is gorgeous and the guards at the main entrance are always welcoming and helpful. There are many restaurants to choose from once you walk out the hotel and the mall is literally just the next building over.

I would have loved to give this place a 5 star rating but parking here is terrible during the daytime. Need more parking spaces for guests that are checked in. Also, not all rooms have strong flow of AC. It does get really hot during the daytime and room doesn't get as cold as the Presidential suite.

Overall, we enjoyed staying here and we'll be back once we visit Bataan again. You will get my recommendation and tell friends and family about The Plaza Hotel in Balanga. Ms. Sherwin Joyce, thank you again for the wonderful hospitality.

Filthiest hotel I have ever stayed at: cockroach running around our luggage, pubic hair on bedding, hair in towels, leaking toilet, card key not working after being issued new cards five times, our feet were charcoal black after walking around our room for 5 minutes, used q-tips & toothpick were in the cabinets under sink, room not vacuumed, bathroom smells like sewer line.