For my sister’s birthday, we booked an overnight stay at Azure Urban Residences via Airbnb. This was the chosen venue after the lunch celebration at The Cafe at Hyatt in City of Dreams. I’ve heard so much about Azure, being the property designed by the famous Paris Hilton. The swimming pools were structured similar to that of a beach resort and I guess this is the main selling point of the property.
Good thing, the units are now accessible through Airbnb. We considered the following: location, space and budget. We will be traveling from The City of Dreams Pasay, so location should be accessible. We were also looking for a space that can accommodate a group of 8 people but will not take a toll on our budget. Reviewing all these considerations, we found a unit in Azure that is perfect for our family and guests.
The Host
The entire serviced apartment is owned by Anna Kristine and is situated in the Maldives Building. You can check this link for more info. The listing is named under this: 2BR Unit (82sqm) in AZURE URBAN RESIDENCES.
As of this time, the standard rate per night is Php 4,225 for a maximum of 10 guests. However, we only got it for 3k plus since we had a discount coupon. Please do check the link for the updated price.
Amenities and Facilities
Our serviced apartment had two bedrooms with balconies, a kitchen, two bathrooms, and a living area. The entire space is 82 sqm which is big enough for large families.
One bedroom has one queen-sized bed, while the other one has a single bed and a queen-sized bed. Each room has a separate air-con unit, a bathroom and a balcony. Bedroom 1, the more spacious room, has wooden cabinets, a small refrigerator, a TV set, a hamper and extra mattresses. Fresh, clean sheets welcomed us.
The bathrooms were small but clean. Towels are provided, but not the toiletries. Just bring your own. Hot and cold shower facilities are available for your comfort too. Rags and trash bin are provided in the restroom to maintain the tidiness.
The other room was smaller. It was shared by my mom and grandmother. It also has a small working table and a cabinet for the storage of the extra pillows. Like the other room, it has its own balcony.
In the living area, the sofa can be converted to a bed. This is where my brother slept. WiFi and cable (ABS-CBN TV plus) are available too.
The kitchen has a complete set of cooking utensils and condiments. The electric stove has an exhaust fan to prevent the stench of the smoke circulating in the unit.
The unit has modern appliances such as rice cooker, electric pot and microwave.
I also liked the colorful cookware and the sharp cutlery.
This actually gave me an idea what kind of tableware to pick for our future home.
The unit is provided with the basic condiments for cooking like oil, vinegar, salt and pepper, and soy sauce. We just added a bit to complete the ingredients for the lunch the following day: Nilagang Baka.
The six seater dining table was just enough for me and my family.
Nearby Mall
The nearest mall from Azure is SM Bicutan, which is a 10-minute walk from the vicinity. Buy all the necessities you think you’ll need such as toiletries, drinking water, snacks and cooking ingredients before checking in so that will save you the time of going out during your stay.
For dinner, we just bought pizza and chicken from S&R. For the lunch the following day, my siblings cooked Beef Nilaga and Fried Tilapia. Aside from food, we bought the following: 5 gallons of mineral water, tissue, dish washing liquid, soap and shampoo and instant coffee.
Electricity
The unit uses prepaid electricity for the amount of Php 500 (already inclusive of the package). If you’re going out or not using some of the appliances, switch them off to conserve electricity. From time to time we turned the air-con and lights off when not needed.
Swimming Pool
The swimming pool is probably one of the reasons why many guests look forward to staying in Azure. Azure boasts of a beach club- type of resort, with all the sand and beach chairs and palm trees surrounding the vicinity. The area is perfect for strolling and taking photos with your loved ones.
At this time, there is a large swimming pool for adults and a kiddie pool on the other side. There is an ongoing construction of another pool near the main entrance. Strict swimming attire is followed.
The schedule of the pool is from 7 am to 12 noon, and opens again at 2 PM to 7 PM. Guests have to register before entering the premises, which will require you to present the guest pass. Per unit, there is a limit to the number of guests allowed to swim. Our unit is entitled to 6 guests only. Additional fee Php 250 per head will be charged for the exceeding guests. Outsiders are strictly not allowed even if they pay the fee.
Basic Rules You Need to Know
- Check-in time is at 2 PM and check out is 12 noon. However, since we checked-in late, we asked for the extension of check-out until 4 PM. Good thing, there are no guests to check-in the following day.
- Smoking is allowed in the balconies only and at the smoking area at the ground floor.
- All registered guests are required to leave a valid ID at the reception. Guests not indicated on the list prior to the date will not be accepted.
- Guest Advice Form should be submitted 2 days prior to the date of the booking. This indicates the names of the guests, contact number, etc. The form should be printed and must be presented together with the valid ids.
- Check with your host if the parking fee is waived. Our unit is entitled to a free parking area within the duration of our stay.
Over-all Feedback
My family had an enjoyable stay at Azure. The facilities looked new and well-maintained. The furniture pieces and appliances seemed carefully selected to provide a comfortable stay to the guests. Aside from the modern facilities, we also liked how spacious the unit is. It is the biggest yet the most affordable Airbnb booking we’ve had so far.
The security was also strict. Constantly we have to bring our guest pass everywhere we go or else the guards will keep on asking about it.
As for the over-all ambiance, you may quite be distracted by the ongoing construction of the units and the view of traffic outside. You’ll hear constant vehicle sounds because Azure is located near the highway.
But above all, my family was well-pleased. It exceeded our expectations. We look forward booking this listing again in the future!
It was indeed a well-spent vacation with the family this Holy Week.
The Paris Beach Club is a one-of-a-kind beach club amenity which integrates world class dining, relaxation, and entertainment facilities into one seamless, tropical-inspired experience. This vibrant amenity is all the more special as it was designed by style-icon and world traveler Paris Hilton. Paris carefully planned the look, feel, and exotic vibe of the building, inspired by her experiences at many of the world’s best beach getaways. The result is a stunning, highly personal blend of color, décor, and activity that reflect the fun nature of Paris Hilton as well as the modern tastes of today’s sun-loving residents. – www. azure.com.ph
Azure Urban Resort Residences
Km. 16, West Service Road, Bicutan, Paranaque City.
Website: http://www.azure.com.ph/
Facebook: Azure Paris Beach Resort
Airbnb link: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/23193985
Diamond in the Rough 