What I Like About LE CHARME SUITES SUBIC

Some of my most memorable vacation experiences are with Subic Bay in Zambales.

Subic is 166 Kilometers away from Manila and a 2 to 3 1/2 hours drive (depending on traffic conditions) accessible via the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX).

Surrounded by the towns of Olongapo in Zambales and Morong in Bataan, the Subic Bay Freeport Zone was founded in November 24, 1992 immediately after the last US Naval ship departed from the bay and more than a year after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo.

It was converted into one of the Philippines’ leading commercial economic zones and a favorite tourist destination during summer (or dry season), which is from March to May here in the Philippines.

I have been to Subic a couple of times already, stayed at the All Hands Beach Resort and witnessed the marine shows at Ocean Adventure a long time ago. Here’s my son Neo, who was 4 then, he had his picture taken with a false killer whale after the show.

While the bay waters are not really their strongest suit (there are of course better beaches in Bataan), Subic still offers a refuge for souls who deserves a break from their very busy work life. A perfect meeting place for business minds and also a welcoming environment for people and families who sports an active lifestyle.

This is exactly what Grand Pillar International Development, Inc. has in mind when they decided to put up LE CHARME SUITES SUBIC.

One-Stop-Staycation

Situated at the very heart of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Le Charme Suites is the other half of the La Terraza Building at Palm Street.

It’s very easy to spot because it’s just around the corner of the Royal Duty Free Shops and within walking distance from PureGold Duty Free.

And that is just one of the many things that I really liked about this hotel – have your staycation and pasalubong shopping done in just one place.

Bike-Friendly

Le Charme Suites boast of a lot of exciting firsts in Subic, for example, it’s the only hotel in town that is “bike friendly” – from the wide and spacious elevators to the slip-free carpeted hallways to rooms with built-in bicycle racks.

This place is a true haven for bikers. And there are a lot actually who go and visit Subic with their bikes, because it’s more fun (and healthy) to just tour around the Freeport Zone using your bicycles.

Bigger Space

Compared to most hotels in Subic, Le Charme Suites is also the most generous when it comes to space. Their rooms has at least 40 meters of floor area. It’s even bigger and better suited than our unit in Manila! They have bathtubs in every room and separate rainfall showers.

I mention about the huge bike-friendly elevator earlier, and did you know that Le Charme Suites has outfitted that elevator with a sofa? Just to illustrate how huge everything in this place are.

Full Amenities

Their 46 stylish rooms are packed with all the necessary amenities including a work table, Wifi, TV, safety boxes, mini bar, ref and Le Charme Suites imported signature toiletries. The food items inside the rooms are all complimentary.

There are four types of rooms to choose from:

Standard Room (1 Queen Size Bed) – 4,500++ (Published Rate)
DeLuxe King (1 King Size Bed) – 8,800++ (Published Rate)
DeLuxe Twin (2 Queen Size bed) – 9,800++ (Published Rate)
Suite (1 King Size Bed with mini living/kitchen room) – 12,000++ (Published Rate)

I have personally experienced their DeLuxe King Room with a veranda – and it was as the name implies, a room fit for a King. Now I can’t imagine what the suite will look like.

I haven’t seen it yet, because the hotel is not yet 100% finished – they just opened a couple of months ago and some of the rooms at the 3rd and 4th floor are still being constructed.

Oh and by the way, it has centralized air conditioning systems. You can actually sleep in the hallway hahaha.

Speaking of hallways, each floor has its own lounge area and a business center where guests can make use of a hotel-provided desktop computer for those work emergencies.

Or you can just hang out at their very comfy hotel lobby.

Charming Food Destinations

Le Charme Suites also has two restaurants serving its guests. MI TAPAS, a Filipino-Hispanic restaurant is their in-hotel restaurant found at the 3rd level of the facility. Breakfast and Lunch or Brunch are best served in this restaurant. Hotel management also said that Mi Tapas will also be the venue for future Cooking Demo events in Subic.

At the ground level of the La Terraza Building and on the other side of the hotel facing Royal Duty Free is TEPPAN 101, Subic’s first authentic Teppanyaki Restaurant. This is also owned by the same company managing Le Charme Suites.

Penthouse Pool

The hotel has four floors, and on the penthouse is a half olympic sized pool that they call “Ibiza” where guests can enjoy a dip and an almost 360 degrees view of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Who needs the beach right? You get all the same fun water experience in one single location. Now that’s very convenient.

Events Venue

Also on the fourth floor is a covered function room that can house at least 200 guests. The Barcelona Hall is perfect for all kinds of occasion big and small, from wedding receptions to company conferences. It’s perfect.

For intimate meetings and events, Le Charme Suites also has the Madrid Conference Room.

If that’s not enough for you, here are a couple more things about Le Charme Suites that you might find very interesting:

They have an in-hotel KTV Room called Las Palmas
A NaiCha Milk Tea shop, a Nail Spa, a VR Game Room, a SpinCycle Station at the Johnson Fitness and Wellness Center, a Puma Shop and other upcoming commercial establishments all in one building.

Subic Tour

If you still want a tour around some of Subic’s tourist destinations, Le Charme Suites can also arrange that for you. They are in partnership with almost all of them including Ocean Adventure, Tree Top Adventure, Jest Camp, Zoobic Safari, Inflatable Island, Subic bay Yacht Club, Magaul Bird Park and El Kabayo Stables.

On our last day at Le Charme Suites Subic, our generous host Ms. Josephine Floresca, the Managing Director of the hotel, took us to Jest Camp for lunch at the Kawayan Kitchen and treated us for a show at the Magaul Bird Park.

So that about sums up all the things that I liked about this place, but I guess the most important thing about Le Charme Suites Subic are the warm and friendly people that greets you with a smile all the time and attends to all your needs proactively.

Le Charme Suites Subic is indeed the most charming place in Subic Bay right now.

LE CHARME SUITES SUBIC