Avant BGC: Your Dream 1-Bedroom Awaits in Manila!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the sparkling, slightly chaotic world of Avant BGC: Your Dream 1-Bedroom Awaits in Manila! This isn't your average, sterile hotel review. We're going in deep. Prepare for a rollercoaster, because that's exactly what staying here felt like.
First things first: Accessibility. Now, I'm not in a wheelchair myself, but I always keep an eye out for this. Avant BGC seems to be trying. There's an elevator (thank GOD!), and the website says they have facilities for disabled guests. But… and this is a big but… it's hard to get a real sense of how truly accessible it is without, you know, actually being someone who needs it. So, a mixed bag. I'd recommend calling ahead and asking specific questions if accessibility is a must. Don't just take my word for it.
Internet Access: Oh, the sweet, sweet nectar of the internet. Let's be real, in this day and age, it's a necessity. And Avant BGC delivers! Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Hallelujah! And it actually works. Unlike some hotels where you're wrestling with a dial-up modem in the 21st century. I needed to get some work done, and the Wi-Fi held up beautifully. There's also Internet [LAN] if you're old-school or need a super-secure connection. Internet services are, well, available. You get the picture. It's good. Really good. Trust me, I'm a professional internet user (of the procrastinating variety).
Things to Do, Ways to Relax, and That Whole Spa Shebang: Okay, this is where Avant BGC really shines. They've got the goods. The glorious goods. Let's break it down:
- Swimming Pool: This isn't just any pool. It's a Pool with a View. Think shimmering water, skyscrapers in the background… pure Instagram gold. I spent a whole afternoon just floating, contemplating the meaning of life, and occasionally splashing a toddler (accidentally, of course). It's gorgeous.
- Gym/Fitness: I, uh, glanced at the Fitness Center. It looked… like a gym. With equipment. I may have also looked at the Sauna, but didn't dare to try. I'm more of a "lounging by the pool" kind of gal. There's also a Spa, with a Massage, and Body scrub, and the whole shebang. My friend, bless her soul, actually used the spa. Said it was heavenly. (I, of course, was too busy soaking up the sun.)
- Spa/Sauna: I'm going to assume these are good. But I'm also going to admit I didn't experience them.
- Steamroom: Same as above.
- Foot Bath: I'm sold.
- Body Wrap: Also sold.
- Poolside bar: Essential. They make a mean margarita. (Or maybe I just thought it was mean. Sun, pool, margarita… you get the idea.)
Cleanliness and Safety: This is a big one, especially these days. Avant BGC takes it seriously. They've got Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Rooms sanitized between stays, Staff trained in safety protocol, and all the other buzzwords you want to hear. They offer Room sanitization opt-out available if you're that type of person. I felt safe, which is the most important thing.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Okay, food. This is where things get interesting. Let's be real, hotel food can be a gamble. But Avant BGC has a decent spread.
- Restaurants: Several, including Asian cuisine, International cuisine, and a Vegetarian restaurant. (I'm not vegetarian, but I appreciate the option.)
- Breakfast: Breakfast [buffet] is available, along with Breakfast service and Breakfast takeaway service. I went for the buffet. It was… buffet-y. Decent. But definitely not the highlight of the trip. There was Asian breakfast, Western breakfast, and a Coffee shop.
- Room Service: Room service [24-hour]. This is a godsend when you're exhausted and just want to binge-watch Netflix in your PJs. I may or may not have ordered a mountain of fries at 3 AM. No judgment.
- Poolside bar: Already mentioned, but worth repeating.
- Snack bar: Convenient for those mid-afternoon cravings.
- Desserts in restaurant: Yes.
- A la carte in restaurant: Yes.
- Bar: Yes.
- Soup in restaurant: Yes.
- Salad in restaurant: Yes.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Yes.
- Bottle of water: Always appreciated.
- Alternative meal arrangement: They're flexible, which is a good sign.
- Buffet in restaurant: It's a buffet.
Services and Conveniences: The usual suspects, all handled with varying degrees of efficiency.
- Concierge: Helpful.
- Cash withdrawal: Convenient.
- Doorman: Polite.
- Elevator: Crucial.
- Laundry service/Dry cleaning/Ironing service: All available.
- Luggage storage: Handy.
- Daily housekeeping: Efficient.
- Air conditioning in public area: Essential in Manila!
- Air conditioning: Also essential in your room.
- Currency exchange: Useful.
- Safety deposit boxes: Smart.
- Convenience store: Always a plus.
- Gift/souvenir shop: For those last-minute panic buys.
- Car park [free of charge] Bonus!
- Car park [on-site] Bonus!
- Taxi service: Easy to get.
- Airport transfer: Available.
- Business facilities: If you must work.
- Facilities for disabled guests: See above.
- Meeting/banquet facilities: If you're planning a big event.
- Babysitting service: For the parents.
- Family/child friendly: Yes.
- Kids facilities: They have a few things.
- Food delivery: Convenient.
- Indoor venue for special events: Yes.
- Outdoor venue for special events: Yes.
- Proposal spot: Maybe? (I didn't propose. Or get proposed to.)
- Smoking area: Because, Manila.
- Terrace: Nice for a quiet drink.
For the Kids: They seem to be family-friendly, with Babysitting service and Kids facilities.
Getting Around: Easy access to Airport transfer, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Taxi service, and Valet parking.
Available in All Rooms: The essentials are covered.
- Air conditioning: A must!
- Alarm clock: Useful.
- Bathrobes: Cozy.
- Bathtub: For soaking.
- Blackout curtains: Sleep in!
- Closet: For your clothes.
- Coffee/tea maker: Caffeine fix!
- Complimentary tea: Nice touch.
- Daily housekeeping: Cleanliness is next to godliness.
- Desk: For work (or pretending to work).
- Extra long bed: Always a plus.
- Free bottled water: Hydration is key.
- Hair dryer: Essential.
- In-room safe box: For your valuables.
- Internet access – wireless: Yes!
- Ironing facilities: For the wrinkle-averse.
- Laptop workspace: For the digital nomads.
- Linens/Towels: Soft and clean.
- Mini bar: Temptation!
- Mirror: For admiring yourself.
- Non-smoking: Good.
- Private bathroom: Privacy!
- Refrigerator: For your drinks.
- Satellite/cable channels: Entertainment.
- Seating area: Relaxing.
- Separate shower/bathtub: Luxury!
- Shower: Essential.
- Slippers: Cozy.
- Smoke detector: Safety first.
- Sofa: Comfy.
- Telephone: For calling room service.
- Toiletries: Provided.
- Umbrella: For the inevitable rain.
- Wake-up service: Reliable.
- Wi-Fi [free]: Again, amazing.
- Window that opens: Fresh air!
- Additional toilet: A bonus!
- Alarm clock: Always helpful.
Okay, buckle up, buttercups! This isn't your grandma's meticulously planned travel itinerary. This is more like… well, it's a chaotic, caffeine-fueled love letter to a one-bedroom unit in Avant, BGC. Let's see if we can survive this… and maybe, just maybe, have a good time.
Avant, BGC – My Manila Mayhem (And Maybe a Nap or Two)
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Grocery Gamble
- 1:00 PM: Arrive at NAIA. Ugh. The lines, the heat, the sheer existential dread of air travel. I swear, every time I fly, I rediscover my profound hatred for humanity. (Just kidding… mostly.) Okay, breathe. Grabbed a Grab (bless the app gods!), and we're off!
- 2:30 PM: Check-in at Avant. Finally! The sweet, sweet promise of air conditioning and a bed that isn't a cramped airplane seat. The unit is… well, it’s a one-bedroom. It's clean-ish. The view is alright. I'm already judging the pillows. (Are they fluffy enough? This is CRUCIAL.)
- 3:00 PM: The Great Grocery Gamble begins. Supermarket run! I have this romantic notion of cooking, you know? Healthy meals, vibrant salads, the works. Reality check: I probably won't even manage to microwave a frozen meal without burning something. Still, I’m gonna stock up on snacks like I'm preparing for the apocalypse. (Chips. Lots of chips.)
- 4:30 PM: Grocery haul disaster. I forgot the reusable bags (again!), so now I'm struggling with overflowing plastic sacks, dodging rogue shopping carts, and generally looking like a complete buffoon. Found a decent bottle of wine, though. Priorities.
- 5:30 PM: Unpacking. Okay, this is where it gets real. The fridge is a battleground of groceries, the counters are a chaotic mess, and I'm pretty sure I already lost a bag of chips to the depths of the sofa. This is gonna be a long week.
- 6:30 PM: Wine. Need I say more?
- 7:30 PM: Attempting to order food delivery. My phone's data is terrible. I'm convinced I've accidentally ordered a lifetime supply of lumpia. Sigh.
- 8:30 PM: Finally, food arrives! (Hopefully, it's not a lifetime supply of lumpia.) Pizza and Netflix it is. I deserve this.
Day 2: Culture Shock and Coffee Coma
- 8:00 AM: Wake up. Nope. Still tired. Hit snooze. Repeat.
- 9:00 AM: Okay, now I'm up. Shower time. Then, the eternal battle of getting ready. It’s an art, really.
- 10:00 AM: Coffee. This is not a drill. Found a cute little cafe nearby. The coffee is strong, the people-watching is excellent. Manila is… loud. And vibrant. And a little overwhelming. I love it. I think.
- 11:00 AM: Exploring BGC. So many buildings! So many… well, mostly buildings. I'm trying to act like a sophisticated tourist, but I keep getting distracted by the street food vendors. Lechon, anyone?
- 12:00 PM: Lunch. Found a trendy little restaurant. The food is amazing. The bill? Not so much. Manila is not cheap, people!
- 1:30 PM: Shopping. Walked into a mall. Got overwhelmed. Left.
- 2:30 PM: Coffee break #2. I think I have a caffeine addiction.
- 3:00 PM: Trying to learn some basic Tagalog. "Magandang araw!" (Good day!) I sound like a robot.
- 4:00 PM: Feeling the jet lag. The world is starting to blur. I need a nap.
- 4:30 PM: Nap time. Glorious, uninterrupted nap.
- 6:00 PM: Wake up. Feeling refreshed-ish.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at a local restaurant. The food is incredible. The karaoke is… well, let's just say it's an experience.
- 9:00 PM: More wine. Because, why not?
Day 3: The Intramuros Adventure (Or, How I Nearly Got Lost in History)
- 9:00 AM: Woke up. I'm starting to get used to the time difference. Kind of.
- 10:00 AM: Uber to Intramuros! This is what I'm really excited for. Fort Santiago! The history! The Instagram opportunities! (Okay, maybe I'm a little shallow.)
- 11:00 AM: Intramuros. Whoa. This place is amazing. Cobblestone streets, Spanish colonial architecture, horse-drawn carriages… I'm transported. Almost. Until I try to take a selfie and nearly trip over a freaking cannonball.
- 12:00 PM: San Agustin Church. Beautiful. Peaceful. Then a tour guide starts talking, and I get lost in the details. Did I understand anything? Nope. Did I enjoy it? Absolutely.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch in Intramuros. Found a restaurant with a courtyard. The food is good, the atmosphere is perfect. This is what travel is all about, right?
- 2:00 PM: Trying to navigate Intramuros on foot. Got lost. Several times. The map is not helping. I’m pretty sure I just walked in circles for a solid hour.
- 3:00 PM: Found a kalesa (horse-drawn carriage). Took a ride. It was touristy. I loved it.
- 4:00 PM: More wandering. More getting lost. More history. More beauty. More sweat.
- 5:00 PM: Ice cream. I deserve ice cream.
- 6:00 PM: Uber back to the apartment. Exhausted. Happy.
- 7:00 PM: Ordered food delivery. Pizza again. Comfort food is my friend.
- 8:00 PM: Attempted to watch TV. Got distracted by the blinking lights of the cable box. Gave up. Read a book.
Day 4: The Mall of Chaos and a Moment of Zen
- 10:00 AM: Woke up late. I am embracing this "vacation" thing.
- 11:00 AM: Decide to try the mall again. This time, I’m going in with a plan. (Spoiler alert: I fail miserably.)
- 12:00 PM: The mall. Oh, the mall. It's a sensory overload. So many people, so many shops, so much noise. It's overwhelming. I wandered aimlessly for hours.
- 2:00 PM: Lunch in the mall. Found a decent place to eat.
- 3:00 PM: Shopping. I bought things I didn’t need. Impulse buys are my specialty.
- 4:00 PM: Escaped the mall. Needed air.
- 5:00 PM: Found a small park nearby. Sat on a bench. Watched the world go by. Manila is beautiful. In its own chaotic way.
- 6:00 PM: Back to the apartment. Feeling a little burnt out.
- 7:00 PM: Ordered food delivery. Pasta. Comfort food is my friend. Again.
- 8:00 PM: Tried to do some yoga. Failed miserably. Ended up just lying on the floor, staring at the ceiling.
- 9:00 PM: Sleep.
Day 5: Departure and the Aftermath
- 9:00 AM: Wake up. Packing. The hardest part.
- 10:00 AM: Last-minute grocery run. More snacks. Because.
- 11:00 AM: Check out. Saying goodbye to my little one-bedroom haven.
- 12:00 PM: Uber to the airport.
- 2:00 PM: Airport. Lines. Security. The usual.
- 4:00 PM: Flight.
- 8:00 PM: Home. Exhausted. Overwhelmed. But also… happy.
Final Thoughts:
Manila is a whirlwind. Messy. Chaotic. Beautiful. I loved it. I hated it. I'll be back. Probably. And next time, I'll bring more snacks. And maybe a bigger suitcase. And definitely a better map. And a stronger tolerance for karaoke. Maybe.
This is just a peek into my messy Manila adventure. It wasn't perfect. It wasn't always pretty. But it was real. And that's what matters. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need a nap.
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Avant BGC: Your Dream 1-Bedroom Awaits... (Maybe? Let's See!)
Okay, spill the tea! What *is* Avant BGC, exactly? Like, is it some secret club?
Alright, alright, no secret club. (Although, a secret club *would* be cool, wouldn't it?) Avant BGC is basically a fancy-pants condo building in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Manila. They're hawking 1-bedroom units, which is what I'm *supposed* to be looking for. Emphasis on "supposed." I'm still at the "window shopping" stage, okay? My bank account is currently staging a dramatic protest. But hey, a girl can dream, right? Picture this: sleek architecture, probably a pool, maybe a gym... all the things that scream "adulting" but also make me feel slightly terrified.
Why 1-bedroom? Are they trying to attract, like, single people who are *also* successful? (Ugh, me neither.)
Bingo! That's the demographic. They *definitely* want the upwardly mobile singletons, or maybe young couples just starting out. It's strategic, you know? BGC is all about that "live, work, play" lifestyle. So, a 1-bedroom is perfect for someone who wants to be in the thick of it, walk to work (if you're lucky!), and have a place to crash after a long day of... well, whatever successful people *do*. Honestly, the whole "successful" thing still feels like a long-term project for me. I'm more of a "surviving" kind of person at the moment. Still, the *idea* of a cool apartment in BGC... it's tempting, I'll admit.
What's the *actual* price range? Don't sugarcoat it. My wallet is crying already.
Okay, deep breaths. Brace yourself. Prices... well, they vary. It's BGC, so you're not getting a bargain. Let's just say you're probably looking at several million pesos, *at the very least.* And that's *before* you even start thinking about the down payment, the monthly dues, the (probably astronomical) parking fees... My bank account is now officially sobbing. I saw an ad that said "starting at..." and I almost threw my phone. "Starting at" usually means "the cheapest, smallest unit, and the price goes up from there." It's a cruel game, I tell you.
Okay, but like... what *amenities* do you get for that eye-watering price? Is it worth it?!
Alright, this is where the sales pitch gets seductive. Think: a pool (essential for surviving Manila heat, frankly), a gym (which I'd *intend* to use), a lounge area (for pretending I'm sophisticated), possibly a function room for parties (which I'd probably never throw because I'm an introvert). They usually throw in things like 24/7 security, which is always a plus. And the *views*! Oh, the views. Imagine waking up to the BGC skyline every morning. (Which is probably why the price is so high.) Is it worth it? That's the million-peso (pun intended!) question. Depends on your priorities, your financial situation, and your tolerance for the Manila traffic. I'm still weighing the pros and cons. It's a *process*, okay?
Is it pet-friendly? Because my fluffy overlord is non-negotiable.
Ah, the crucial question! This is something you *absolutely* need to check. Pet policies vary wildly. Some places are cool with small dogs and cats, others are a hard "no." I *really* hope Avant BGC is pet-friendly because I can't imagine life without my furry companion. (Seriously, the thought makes me want to cry. Again.) Check with the developers! It's a dealbreaker for many of us, and it should be! My dog, Winston, is basically my emotional support animal/tiny tyrant.
What's the vibe like? Is it all pretentious people in designer clothes? (Please tell me it's not.)
Okay, this is a valid concern. BGC *can* have a reputation for being a bit... well, *extra*. Think: perfectly coiffed hair, designer bags, and conversations about stock options. I'm hoping Avant BGC will have a mix. I'd like to think there's room for the slightly-disheveled, coffee-stained-t-shirt-wearing types like myself. Ideally, it's a community where people are genuinely friendly and not just trying to impress each other. But, let's be real, there will *probably* be some pretension. It's inevitable. I'll just have to embrace my inner awkwardness and hope for the best. Maybe I'll start practicing my "casual sophistication" look now. (Wish me luck. I'll need it.)
How's the location, really? I mean, BGC is supposed to be great, but... traffic!
Location, location, location! BGC is generally fantastic. Tons of restaurants, shops, parks. It's vibrant. It's *convenient*. But... traffic. Oh, the traffic. It can be a nightmare, especially during rush hour. The good thing is, if you *live* there, you can walk to a lot of places. That's the big selling point. Avoid the commute! That's the dream. You're paying a premium for the convenience, but you have to weigh that against the potential for stress. I've heard stories of people spending hours stuck in traffic just trying to get *into* BGC. That's a big no-no for me. I value my sanity. And my sanity is currently hanging by a thread, so...
Okay, let's get real. Have you *actually* gone and looked at a unit? Tell me *everything*.
Alright, alright, I'll confess. I, in my infinite wisdom, decided to visit the show unit. Now, this is where things get *interesting*. The first thing that hit me was the *smell*. Not a bad smell, mind you, but that new-apartment smell. You know, that chemically, "I'm-brand-new-and-fancy" smell. It's a little overwhelming, a little... fake. But I digress. The unit itself was, predictably, gorgeous. Minimalist design, floor-to-ceiling windows, a view that made my jaw dropWorld Of Lodging
