Our awesome staycation at Clark Marriott Hotel (review, rates, information)

When was the last time you and your family had a staycation? Today, I’ll be sharing with you our special staycation experience at Clark Marriott Hotel in Pampanga! I’m sure you’ve stumbled upon this blog because you’re curious about what’s it like, do they have delicious food and was the trip worth it? Don’t worry, I’ll dish on all the nitty-gritty details, so I hope you continue to read and check out all our photos until the end of this post.

Me and macho kid have been postponing ours since 2020! We did try to book a couple of times in Manila, but fate doesn’t seem to want us to push through because a few days after reserving, a lockdown announcement soon comes after. It’s been, around two years since the pandemic began, and it’s a blessing to somehow see an end in sight, thanks to Science. 

It’s my birthday month (Yay!), and I still feel whole lotta emotions. I celebrated my exact birthday with a simple lunch and trip to the mall with Geof and Mama2, but planned this staycation at Marriott for the weekend with Ryan too! We’ve been together for more than 6 years, and I think this is going to be the second time I’m including him in one of my stories? 

I wanted to write this as soon as we got home, while the feelings and memories are still fresh in my heart! 

Clark Marriott Hotel

How to Get to Clark Marriott Pampanga

Since the purpose of a staycation is to rest and relax, I didn’t want to think about who will drive or how to commute. So we opted to get a car rental to take us to and from the hotel. But if you’re opting to bring your own car here are the directions via Google:

• Get on NLEx/E1/R-8 in Balintawak: 3 min (1.3 km)
• Follow NLEx/E1/R-8 to Prince Balagtas Ave in Clark Freeport, Mabalacat. Take exit 91-Clark from N Luzon W Expy/SCTEx/Subic – Clark – Tarlac Expy/R-8: 1 h 2 min (82.9 km)
• Follow Prince Balagtas Ave, Panday Pira Ave and Creekside Rd to Clark Marriott

The hotel is also just 10-min away from Clark International Airport!

Rates

9,760 PHP-12,540 PHP for a Deluxe Guest Room inclusive of a buffet breakfast at Goji

It’s best to check with Clark Marriott’s official website to find out the updated rates.

Hotel Information

Amenities

• 24-hour room service
• Access to the Lounge Pool at the Spa area
• Fitness Centre
• Pool area
• Room service
• Daily House Keeping

Restaurants

• Goji Kitchen + Bar for your all-day international buffet dining
• Smoki Moto if you’re craving for Tepanyaki and Korean
• The Lounge for cocktails and casual dining
• Urban Coffee for your caffeine and cake fix
• Pool Bar so we get to snack while the kids are swimming 
• Wu Xing, the hotel’s latest restaurant for authentic Cantonese fare

Clark Marriott Review + Experience

Room Tour

Watch our vlog!

We had our transport pick us up at Vertis North, and travel time from there on a Friday morning was a surprisingly quick 2-hours!

Checking in was a breeze, and if you’re a member of their Bonvoy Rewards program, it’s twice as efficient because you can check in via their app so you just need to show your phone to the concierge.

We had a quaint 2-bed room because Geof was a growing kid and we didn’t want to fit ourselves on a king-sized bed. It was quite spacious, with a comfy sofa that’s actually cozy enough to sleep in too! lol, Geof enjoyed hanging out there while playing computer games or watching TV. They have a lot of channels and all the HBO on their cable  TV too just in case you were wondering.

See Geof bounce with his BonVoy plushie bunny!

Just like what you would expect from a 5-star hotel, our room had complete amenities and top-notch cleanliness. The pillows and bed had just the right amount of softness, and it smelled.. fresh! I can lie on there and read my kindle all day if I could.

Here are a few photos of their bathroom. All the faucets and showers had the option for temperature settings so you can choose from piping hot to cold. I like having my shower nice and steamy.

Dining at Goji

I stay at hotels for the bed.. and the food. You know what Kapampangans are known for right? They’re the best cooks! Goji is your typical international buffet, with a LOT of variety from fresh sashimi and sushi, to steaks and grills. They also have local Filipino food like the sisig (yum) and freshly cooked pasta of your choice. I couldn’t remember all the food so here are photos I was able to grab.

Ryan said the sashimi were fresh and the wasabi that came with it had the zing he was looking for. 

For breakfast, I had cereal, taho (soybean curd with tapioca balls and syrup); Ryan had a lot of salted seafood like danggit and pusit (squid), which he mentioned “fried” perfectly to a crisp, and wasn’t gummy at all; Geof had freshly baked breads and milk. 

What’s nice about Goji is that they’re not just a buffet with a lot of food, they’re a buffet with a lot of good food and you know that the chefs put their heart and effort into it.  

PS: They make sure the dining isn’t crowded so all seats are reserved and scheduled by batch.

Massage at Quan Spa

I capped the night with an hour of relaxing massage at Quan Spa, and my therapist, Cris, was very courteous. It started with a foot soak and a salt scrub, then on to a heated bed where I drifted away to dreamland because it was so darn relaxing. The pressure was just right, and she hit all those spots and knots accurately. 

Sorry no massage photos here. I was nekkid hehe, and they do give out a disposable underwear and hair tie for hygienic purposes.

While the massage is paid separately, all guests have free access to their jacuzzi-like Lounge Pool and Sauna area. 

Fitness Centre Time

The following morning, Ryan and I hit a quick gym sesh in the hotel’s Fitness Centre. It had a lot of treadmills, a couple of indoor cycling, a dumbell set, a leg extension machine, a leg curl machine, and a fitness station with weights and pulleys.

The dumbbell area was occupied, and the weights I prefer were being used at that time so I opted to exercise on their station instead. I do wish it had a power cage and a few barbells, but.. who goes to hotels to work out right? LOL

Ryan showed off his skills and did 12 pull-ups, and as usual, I am in forever awe. 

Pool Time

Geof said the pool temperature was not too cold, not too warm. It was human temperature daw.. does he mean room temperature? LOL.

Anyway, he enjoyed bobbing around the pool area, and he got to play with other kids there too! Isn’t it nice to see your child socialize with other kids once more?

Also don’t worry because Macho Kid is already fully-vaxxed and the hotel makes sure everyone else is too.

Me? I’m enjoying a berry smoothie while reading Game of Thrones on my Kindle.

We also had their super suit family feast of grilled favourites like shrimp, beef kebab, pork chops, sausage, chicken, and veggies, plus fresh fruits, a salad, and iced tea for just 1,499. I must say, this is a must-try when you visit Marriot because the meat was tender and flavorful! And it’s super sulit for the price. The servings were generous I’ll say this set is good for 3-4 people. 

Final Thoughts

Now I’ve been to other 5-star hotels before, but this was the first time that almost everyone working in the hotel was all smiles, and genuinely warm and friendly! From the concierge to their chefs! It felt wonderful. I mean, a place can have all the latest amenities in the world, but it would be of no use if the people who stay there are all grumpy right? I hope they keep this up and stay the same until our next visit.

If you’re looking for a quick (or long) vacation with the family out of the hustle and bustle of the metro, you have got to give Clark Marriott Hotel a try. We’re definitely coming back 🙂