If you didn’t know already, August has a pair of long weekends coming up. The first is from August 19 to 21, as the 21st, a Monday, is Ninoy Aquino Day, a national holiday. The other is from August 26 to 28, when the nation marks National Heroes Day on the 28th, another Monday.
Now there are a million ways to spend a long weekend or two, but if you’re a family man like me, fewer things are more appealing than a staycation at a nice hotel away from the madding metropolis, but still close enough to the usual comforts of our modern age.
So, on one such weekend not too long ago, I bundled my brood of four into our trusty SUV and headed for Subic Bay – urban enough to have duty-free stores (and shopping malls) left and right but sufficiently serene that you could spend an afternoon just cooped up in your hotel room, watching the rain pelt your windows with their rhythmic frequency.
Our home for the next three days was the Le Charme Suites Subic, the only four-star hotel in the former US naval base that manages to do justice to its own billing as a unique hospitality venue that delivers topnotch service.
From the moment we pulled up to the La Terraza Building on Palm Street, we knew we were in for what the European-inspired hotel touts as its “Magnifique Experience.” The narrow doorway leads to a comfortable foyer that features Le Charme’s front desk, plush seats (with a stuffed bear or two as a seatmate) and accents that stress its spiritual Parisian connection.
The country known for the Tour de France also imparts its signature race to Le Charme’s aesthetic, as bicycle racks can be found on the ground floor and each of the hotel’s bigger accommodations, like the family room we were ushered into on the third floor. In fact, the elevator itself was big and wide enough to fit maybe four or five bikes side by side, which we imagined to be a regular happening at this Subic sanctuary. Even the hotel’s carpeted hallways are wide enough for children to ride on toy cars and bikes, which are thoughtfully provided for parents with toddlers in tow.
In the room, the two queen beds were just right for our foursome, and if anybody wanted more space, they could lie down on the cushy sofa or sleep sitting down on the leather office chair or even the wicker chairs on the balcony. That’s where one can catch a glimpse of the verdant hills of Bataan and Zambales to the back and the waters of the bay to the front.
For a better view, however, go all the way to the roofdeck, where a long, inviting swimming pool tries its best to keep your eyes away from the lush surroundings — one you’ll have a 240-degree view of (or so the brochure says). The date palm-lined top floor of LeCharme has also gained a reputation as one of the area’s best wedding venues, what with the open sky and sunset witnessing many eternal unions of souls. (Those not tying the knot can still enjoy this area, of course, with the hotel’s regular Friday Sunset Club.)
No marriage pact is without a generous feast, which a hungry group of staycationers also cannot go without. Le Charme has a variety of delicacies within its walls, starting with its in-house Mi Tapas restaurant that serves up a Spanish storm. Here, one can savor its Seafood Paella and Asado Croquetas in the coziness of its own veranda surrounded by glass walls and ceiling on the third floor.
A shabu-shabu restaurant on the ground floor also serves delectable, authentic Chinese hot pot perfect for sharing with family and friends, which you can later wash down with Nai Cha milk tea and have Chi Pie for dessert. If that’s not your, er, cup of tea, then Le Charme Café has its own variety of pastries you can wash down with your preferred brew.
And if you feel guilty after partaking all those culinary treats, Le Charme has its own fitness center that features the first spin bike class in Subic Bay, which can also be held on the roofdeck so you and your crew can enjoy a “sunset spinning session.” If that gets too tiring, then head down to the hotel’s well-appointed sauna and spa, where attendant can give you a satisfying massage at reasonable rates.
You can also stretch yourself at Le Charme – vocally through a dedicated KTV room that will be exclusive to you and your kin, or physically through its wall climbing facility, where a qualified trainer is on hand to supervise your rise to new heights.
But for my family, the constant “habagat” rains made it a challenge to do anything outdoors, so we engaged in a different sport – shopping. Being centrally located near the corner of Argonaut and Rizal highways, Le Charme is a great starting point for retail therapists to visit any of the duty-free superstores within Subic Bay, or the malls within the SBMA or just across the river in Olongapo City.
Overall, Le Charme proved to be quite the charmer, even if the storm clouds refused to budge from Subic Bay for most of our stay that long weekend. Its internal delights and its promise of external attractions give all kinds of travelers something to do and savor, southwest monsoon be damned. You have two such chances to do so this August, so plan that family trip today.