Red Planet Hotel (Makati City)

Red Planet Hotel, Makati Avenue
E. Mercado Cor. Calderon Streets
Kalayaan Avenue, Poblacion, Makati City
Tel No. 632 8170888

One great thing about this hotel is its close proximity to Century City Mall - the venue for chess tournaments usually organized by the Makati Chess Society. After the tournament, tired chess players can try its Spa Services. Just call the front desk for a service appointment at your own room. Next time, I will try their one hour "Green Tara Signature Massage".

Just a minute walk from the hotel is a vibrant nightlife along Burgos Street known for various restaurants, pubs, clubs and bars. A very ideal place to forget that best but missed chess move.  It is also a place to celebrate if luck has been on your side during the tournament. Win or lose however, I intend to continue playing chess. To win a tournament is a primordial goal of every chess player. But, chess is not all about winning. It is how a game is won or lost. It is how strategy and tactics are executed that adds to chess artistry and theory.  For most chess players, it is the love for the game that inspires them to join tournaments.

What I like about this hotel besides its excellent location is the feeling of being secure given the CCTVs in every floor and the Electronic Card Access in the elevator and in the room - a standard in other high-end hotels. I remember our stay in LimKetKai Lux Hotel in Cagayan de Oro where security is prioritized.

Red Planet Hotel Makati is very ideal for solo travelers and chess players looking for a budget-friendly hotel without compromising what everyone is looking for in a hotel. The room is clean with a  32 inch flat screen cable TV, good enough wifi, and (can be quieter) air conditioning. I appreciated the shower in its clean restroom. While the room is small it is designed in such a way that space is used efficiently.  Huge mirrors on the headrest and the wall create more space. The interior is painted in earth colors making it more "sleep friendly". Since I was on the 7th floor at a non-smoking room, it was silent enough for a good night rest which is very important when joining chess tournaments. Inadequate or lack of sleep can negatively affect the way you play chess.