A Very Special Trip Report: Peninsula Hong Kong, Peninsula Manila & Amanpulo
Sep 14, 2013, 11:13 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: UA1K, *G & Wife of UA1K MM
Posts: 3,432
A Very Special Trip Report: Peninsula Hong Kong, Peninsula Manila & Amanpulo
We’re going to forego our usual trip report format due to the unusual nature of this trip, and frankly also due to our greatly reduced amount of personal time. You see, this was a very special trip for us; this was the trip where we first met and picked up our 23-month old adopted son from the Philippines.
If any of you are curious about international adoption, feel free to PM me. It is something we have felt called to for many years, in large part due to our travels. We would be happy to share our experiences.
Special thanks, as always, go to DavidO who was able to help us with the logistics….lots of cities, lots of hotels and yes…. lots of cribs. What follows is a brief review of the luxury hotels we used during our trip.
If any of you are curious about international adoption, feel free to PM me. It is something we have felt called to for many years, in large part due to our travels. We would be happy to share our experiences.
Special thanks, as always, go to DavidO who was able to help us with the logistics….lots of cities, lots of hotels and yes…. lots of cribs. What follows is a brief review of the luxury hotels we used during our trip.
Sep 14, 2013, 11:19 am
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: UA1K, *G & Wife of UA1K MM
Posts: 3,432
Peninsula Hong Kong
We chose Hong Kong as our layover city, knowing it would be our last hurrah before having a child. As many of you know, view is very important to us and in this case, we wanted the classic vantage point from Kowloon looking out onto Hong Kong Island. We were torn between the Ritz Carlton, the Intercontinental and the Peninsula but ultimately chose the Peninsula due to the recent well-received refurbishment and it being such an iconic hotel.
On arrival, we used the Rolls Royce transfer service which was worth the USD $200. We were greeted coming off the jet bridge and personally escorted via golf cart through the labyrinth that is the Hong Kong airport. Our escort remained with us through immigration and baggage location all the way to the car itself. We still had to wait in the immigration line, but our escort was there with us, helping us get everything in order while making small talk.
We were taken directly to our Deluxe Harbor View Suite (quadruple upgrade???) for check in. We had booked a Grand Deluxe Harbor View room and knew to ask for a high floor to guarantee the best view. The upgrade was a pleasant surprise since Virtuoso upgrades don’t usually apply to this room category. Part of our view was taken up by Museum rooftops and one corner of our suite even looked into the back of the Intercontinental (which was ironic considering we almost stayed there). But it was a stunning suite at nearly 1200 square feet with lots of windows fronting the harbor. We loved the telescope for observing the harbor, the overall sleek design and black lacquered wood , the tablet that controlled all aspects of the room from lighting to room service, and the big marble bathroom with a corner tub….not to mention every possible amenity that we did not know we needed until it was there.
Service was very good except in the heavily touristed lobby lounge (which was painfully slow until we asked them to hurry things up a bit). Overall, the food was wonderful with the standout being the dim sum and the beautiful buffet breakfast. Though I thought afternoon tea was just OK.
With our brief time in Hong Kong, we took a junk harbor tour aboard the Aqualuna and Mr. Ericka had some shirts made at Ascot Chang.
On arrival, we used the Rolls Royce transfer service which was worth the USD $200. We were greeted coming off the jet bridge and personally escorted via golf cart through the labyrinth that is the Hong Kong airport. Our escort remained with us through immigration and baggage location all the way to the car itself. We still had to wait in the immigration line, but our escort was there with us, helping us get everything in order while making small talk.
We were taken directly to our Deluxe Harbor View Suite (quadruple upgrade???) for check in. We had booked a Grand Deluxe Harbor View room and knew to ask for a high floor to guarantee the best view. The upgrade was a pleasant surprise since Virtuoso upgrades don’t usually apply to this room category. Part of our view was taken up by Museum rooftops and one corner of our suite even looked into the back of the Intercontinental (which was ironic considering we almost stayed there). But it was a stunning suite at nearly 1200 square feet with lots of windows fronting the harbor. We loved the telescope for observing the harbor, the overall sleek design and black lacquered wood , the tablet that controlled all aspects of the room from lighting to room service, and the big marble bathroom with a corner tub….not to mention every possible amenity that we did not know we needed until it was there.
Service was very good except in the heavily touristed lobby lounge (which was painfully slow until we asked them to hurry things up a bit). Overall, the food was wonderful with the standout being the dim sum and the beautiful buffet breakfast. Though I thought afternoon tea was just OK.
With our brief time in Hong Kong, we took a junk harbor tour aboard the Aqualuna and Mr. Ericka had some shirts made at Ascot Chang.
Sep 14, 2013, 11:21 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: UA1K, *G & Wife of UA1K MM
Posts: 3,432
Peninsula Manila
By the time we got to Manila, we had picked up our son and this was his first luxury hotel experience. He was amazed by the size and opulence of the lobby and often took a long time to walk through with his head on a swivel. All the staff members greeted him very warmly and they couldn’t have been more accommodating, especially at the breakfast buffet where we were still learning his likes and dislikes and tantrum triggers. And when our son got car sick all over me (NOT a Peninsula driver btw), the hotel staff was great, literally running towards someone covered in vomit to help. And they arranged to do some last minute laundry for us since we were leaving the next morning.
We stayed in a Grand Deluxe corner room which had been recently remodeled. It was a nice room with a beautiful chocolate marble bathroom and deep soaking tub, but there wasn’t anything exceptional about it, especially as we were just coming off of our Hong Kong Peninsula stay. But the Peninsula brand continued to deliver great in room amenities….Davo products, etc.
We stayed in a Grand Deluxe corner room which had been recently remodeled. It was a nice room with a beautiful chocolate marble bathroom and deep soaking tub, but there wasn’t anything exceptional about it, especially as we were just coming off of our Hong Kong Peninsula stay. But the Peninsula brand continued to deliver great in room amenities….Davo products, etc.
Sep 14, 2013, 11:26 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: UA1K, *G & Wife of UA1K MM
Posts: 3,432
Amanpulo
When we decided we were going to adopt from the Philippines, Amanpulo was always part of our plan; a place to relax, a place to get to know one another, and a place to prepare for the 30+ hour trip home.
Once our son had been selected for us, we contacted GM Tapa Tibble and explained our rather unique situation. We were hoping to secure a beach casita with some privacy since we would have just taken our son from the only home he had ever known (his orphanage). Tapa graciously helped us make these arrangements on a last minute booking along with some help from DavidO. We booked under the Island Escape pkg. which was a great value including breakfast and dinner daily, a bottle of champagne, and a much needed one hour massage for each of us.
It had been 9 years since we were last at Amanpulo, and so much had changed! But the service was still exceptional. Everywhere we went, our son was greeted by name. And the weather was awesome considering August is normally the rainiest month in the Philippines.
The beach casitas have been discussed enough that I don’t think a description is necessary, but ours (#7) afforded a nice water view from the living room and deck as well as privacy. The beach casitas that were under renovation were completely closed off along with the roads that led to them.
We didn’t really know what to expect when vacationing with a 2-year old but it certainly limited our activities. We only ate one meal outside of our casita each day….one breakfast at the pool, one dinner at the seaside Vietnamese Lagoon Club, and one lunch at the Picnic Grove. Our favorite was the Picnic Grove where our little guy could lounge on the pint sized cushion chairs and we could eat the most amazing wood fired pizza. It’s nice to see Amanresorts hasn’t lost their touch with homemade ice cream, either!
On this trip, we enjoyed the simple pleasures of Amanpulo through the eyes of a 2-year old; the golf carts that went “vroom vroom”, feeling the soft powder sand with someone who’d never been to the beach before, simple fish feeding at the inland pond and the ocean, stalking the huge monitor lizards and imitating the tokay geckos, planting a tree, and admiring the fire engines and the “ah-planes” coming in for a landing. We had wanted to take a boat ride, perhaps even go out on the group snorkel, but with our son’s motion sickness earlier in the trip, we decided it’d be better not to. We also didn’t think he’d have the patience for a private beach barbeque. The massages were exceptional though, and the new indoor spa facility was beautifully designed with views over the air strip to the sea beyond. But I missed the garden sala for massages and listening to the birdsong and the lap of the waves.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to get to know Tapa, his wife Jane and the rest of the staff. We kept ourselves so isolated that all social possibilities were lost to us. We used a lot of room service (which was spot on perfection!).
In summary, Amanpulo and it’s kind, relaxed nature was everything we needed for this very special trip. When we were in the club house, one of the guest assistants offered to snap a family picture of us. They used our camera, and then took one with their own. We didn’t think anything of it, until on our final night we were given a lovely framed 11x14 portrait with a personal note celebrating our new family. It was a touching gesture and a wonderful way to cap off a life changing trip.
Once our son had been selected for us, we contacted GM Tapa Tibble and explained our rather unique situation. We were hoping to secure a beach casita with some privacy since we would have just taken our son from the only home he had ever known (his orphanage). Tapa graciously helped us make these arrangements on a last minute booking along with some help from DavidO. We booked under the Island Escape pkg. which was a great value including breakfast and dinner daily, a bottle of champagne, and a much needed one hour massage for each of us.
It had been 9 years since we were last at Amanpulo, and so much had changed! But the service was still exceptional. Everywhere we went, our son was greeted by name. And the weather was awesome considering August is normally the rainiest month in the Philippines.
The beach casitas have been discussed enough that I don’t think a description is necessary, but ours (#7) afforded a nice water view from the living room and deck as well as privacy. The beach casitas that were under renovation were completely closed off along with the roads that led to them.
We didn’t really know what to expect when vacationing with a 2-year old but it certainly limited our activities. We only ate one meal outside of our casita each day….one breakfast at the pool, one dinner at the seaside Vietnamese Lagoon Club, and one lunch at the Picnic Grove. Our favorite was the Picnic Grove where our little guy could lounge on the pint sized cushion chairs and we could eat the most amazing wood fired pizza. It’s nice to see Amanresorts hasn’t lost their touch with homemade ice cream, either!
On this trip, we enjoyed the simple pleasures of Amanpulo through the eyes of a 2-year old; the golf carts that went “vroom vroom”, feeling the soft powder sand with someone who’d never been to the beach before, simple fish feeding at the inland pond and the ocean, stalking the huge monitor lizards and imitating the tokay geckos, planting a tree, and admiring the fire engines and the “ah-planes” coming in for a landing. We had wanted to take a boat ride, perhaps even go out on the group snorkel, but with our son’s motion sickness earlier in the trip, we decided it’d be better not to. We also didn’t think he’d have the patience for a private beach barbeque. The massages were exceptional though, and the new indoor spa facility was beautifully designed with views over the air strip to the sea beyond. But I missed the garden sala for massages and listening to the birdsong and the lap of the waves.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to get to know Tapa, his wife Jane and the rest of the staff. We kept ourselves so isolated that all social possibilities were lost to us. We used a lot of room service (which was spot on perfection!).
In summary, Amanpulo and it’s kind, relaxed nature was everything we needed for this very special trip. When we were in the club house, one of the guest assistants offered to snap a family picture of us. They used our camera, and then took one with their own. We didn’t think anything of it, until on our final night we were given a lovely framed 11x14 portrait with a personal note celebrating our new family. It was a touching gesture and a wonderful way to cap off a life changing trip.
Sep 14, 2013, 11:46 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 246
Congratulations Ericka!!
Thank you for sharing such a warm and wonderful trip report, hope your son has settled in well
(Has he and Daisy met yet?)
We are planning to do a similar Manila plus Amanpulo trip next June. Did you notice any significant updates in the beach casitas after their renovation?
Thank you for sharing such a warm and wonderful trip report, hope your son has settled in well
(Has he and Daisy met yet?)We are planning to do a similar Manila plus Amanpulo trip next June. Did you notice any significant updates in the beach casitas after their renovation?
Sep 14, 2013, 12:01 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: UA1K, *G & Wife of UA1K MM
Posts: 3,432
The updates aren't completed yet, but I'm sure they will be lovely. And yes, Daisy and Simon are getting along very well. They have established a mutually beneficial relationship that involves crumbs on the floor immediately being cleaned up!
Btw, our son trashes a hotel room in a way that Daisy never did. And yet, Daisy is the one that incurs all the additional fees.
Btw, our son trashes a hotel room in a way that Daisy never did. And yet, Daisy is the one that incurs all the additional fees.
Sep 14, 2013, 12:31 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: OSL
Posts: 2,145
Oh, Ericka, I am so happy for you that I am still crying after having read your report and seen the picture of the sweetest little boy. Congratulations as parents and all the best for a wonderful life together with your son with lots of great everydays and holidays together.
Last edited by Musken; Sep 14, 2013 at 1:07 pm
Sep 14, 2013, 12:36 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: UA1K, *G & Wife of UA1K MM
Posts: 3,432
Oh, Ericka, I am so happy for you that I am still crying after having read your report and seen the picture of the sweetest little boy. Congratulations and parents and all the best for a wonderful life together with your son with lots of great everydays and holidays together.
Sep 14, 2013, 12:40 pm
#13
Moderator: Delta SkyMiles, Luxury Hotels, TravelBuzz! and Italy
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 26,543
What a beautiful report. I have tears in my eyes. Little boys are quite wonderful. I have raised four sons. Congratulations.
I am going to recommend this very special report for the next issue of Talkmail
I am going to recommend this very special report for the next issue of Talkmail
Sep 14, 2013, 12:41 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: ORF
Posts: 1,740
Sep 14, 2013, 1:11 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Asheville, NC
Programs: Virtuoso, FSPP, STARS, MO FAN Club, PEN Club, Bellini Club, Dorchester Diamond Club, Travel Leaders
Posts: 1,854
The updates aren't completed yet, but I'm sure they will be lovely. And yes, Daisy and Simon are getting along very well. They have established a mutually beneficial relationship that involves crumbs on the floor immediately being cleaned up!
Btw, our son trashes a hotel room in a way that Daisy never did. And yet, Daisy is the one that incurs all the additional fees.
Btw, our son trashes a hotel room in a way that Daisy never did. And yet, Daisy is the one that incurs all the additional fees.