Heart Talk: 2013

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Bad online service for Asiarooms.com and Villa Kresna Boutique Suite and Villa, Bali Indonesia

I was browsing the internet in www.asiarooms.com going to Bali, INdonesia when I saw this room in Villa Kresna Boutique Suite and Villa for only Php3.88/4 nights stay. So what I did, of course is booked it. Who wouldn't grab that chance right?

So after few minutes, I received a booking confirmation from them with the total of Php3.88/4nights only. I was happy because I haven't been to Bali, Indonesia yet and I thought that that was my chance to have a trip there and enjoy the luxurious hotel.

I wanted to make sure about the price of the room so what I did, I contacted my friend in Singapore and asked her to call their Singapore number to make sure of the price of the room. And my friend informed me that it is correct and that they will send another email confirmation of my booking.

After few minutes, I got an email from Desy Natalia, Reservation officer of Villa Kresna Boutique Suite and Villa, apologizing and telling me that they have booking system error and she was offering me the room for $92/night. So I thought, what the hell is this??? This is not my problem, it's their problem right? I was pissed and thought that they will deduct the actual price of the room to my debit card because I already gave them my bank information. So next thing I did since I got scared, I cancelled the booking already. and then after few minutes I received a cancellation confirmation from them.

Since I'm already disappointed, I talked to my friend in Singapore and asked her to call them again and confirm whats happening to my booking and all. The agent which my friend was talking to got angry at her already and said to her what does she want. My friend got angry too because the agent couldn't explain the meaning of system error. My friend put down the phone and called me back to inform me what happened to their conversation.

So what the hell is system error? And how come it took them a long time to update their system if they knew that they already have a system error. They waited for a customer to book that room before they knew that they had a system error? this is crap!!! It wasn't my fault that their system has an error. They should have been more careful on their postings by double checking their prices on their website. Of course when a person sees that very very cheap amount, automatically she/he will book it. And the thing is, they sent me a booking confirmation so I assumed that it was legitimate but I was wrong. The inconvenience that this Villa Kresna Boutique Suite and Villa, Bali Indonesia has caused me cannot cover the amount that they are giving me! I have given them my bank information and my other personal details and then this happens. what kind of online service is this???

After 2 days I received an email from Putri, Reservation officer and again apologizing to me and giving me the room for $84/night and upgrading me from superior room to a garden suite. So how can I accept this offer then? This wasn't the booking I made and that wasn't the price I booked. I replied back and told them that I cannot accept their offer and asking them if they could give me the same amount of what I have booked it the first time or $10-20/night, and then I will accept it. But until now there is no reply on their side that is why I am writing this story because of their crap online service and whatever their reason is, is very unacceptable.

So for those who are going to Bali, Indonesia please take note of this story and take note of Villa Kresna Boutique Suite and Villa. I am sharing this information to you so you will not experience what I experienced.

Their hotel is very nice, no doubt about it, but what's more important is their service right? What's the use of having a luxurious hotel if the service and online service is CRAP!!!

Monday, April 8, 2013

My Baguio Weekend Trip

At last, I have come back to Baguio after 2 decades. It has been a long time and the last time I was there was college days I think. A lot of improvements have happened already and I was so excited to go back and I did.

It was after office hours around 8:00pm, Friday, April 5, 2013. We went to Cubao Victory Liner station to ride the bus going to Baguio. The station was packed of people who are also going up there. We bought our ticket for the 12:45am and so we waited in Chowking for like 3 hours.

The good thing about traveling in the middle of the night and early in the morning is that, there is no traffic and you get to sleep in the bus. The time of boarding the bus has come and so we went back to the station and ride the bus. Well...we preferred the Deluxe of Victory Liner but since there is no ticket and trip anymore, we had no choice but to take the ordinary airconditioned bus. It was fine though I felt uncomfortable where I was seated because the space is small plus I have my bags under the seat and on my lap. I tried to sleep during our long journey to Baguio but I didn't get enough sleep. My officemates were sleeping tight while I kept on moving left and right on my seat. One reason why is because it was cold too and I forgot to bring my shawl or small blanket at least to keep me warm. I just pulled out my towel and covered myself with it.

It was around 6:30 - 7:00 am when we arrived in Baguio and along the way, I remembered the times when I first went there with my family. Memories are starting to come back so I started taking pictures of the scenery along the way. When we reached the Victory Liner station in Baguio, we went to the ticketing office to buy our ticket going home so we will not be one of the chance passengers who lines up in the station to get lucky to ride the bus.

Since it was too early to checked in at the transient house where we will be staying, we decided to go to Cafe by the Ruins.

They say that this is the best place to eat in Baguio and so we went and had our breakfast there.

The food was great! Expensive though but worth the money. I tried their Ruins coffee with Ensaymada and it was so good.

I wasn't satisfied with what I ordered so I ordered Mushroom Omelette with rice, coffee and fruits. The restaurant itself was a great setting, very cool, simple but it has a uniqueness and incomparable to other restaurants which I liked. After our breakfast at around 10:00am, we decided to have an early check in at Le Chatteu so we can freshen up and start the ball rolling for our time is limited.

When we arrived in Le Chatteu, I was amazed at the unit we rented and I was happy because it's very clean, good interior, affordable price and spacious. We had a two bedroom unit with our own kitchen and living room.

It has different color theme that you can choose from or depends on the availability. We got this Blue 2bedroom unit for only Php2,500/night with maximum capacity of 7-8 pax. so we freshen up, got dressed and went to 50's Diner to eat lunch.

My officemate, Jayson told us that their serving is big and worth the money. The food was good and satisfying because one order can be for two. Also, very affordable, unique restaurant and a lot of people goes there to eat.

So after we got full, we went to Botanical garden and we saw this taho vendor who sells strawberry taho.

After Botanical garden, we went to Burnham Park, Good Sheperd, Club John Hay and went back to Le Chatteu to rest. Our first day was done so we got the next day planned out for the Strawberry farm, Grotto and Market to buy pasalubong. It was our last day and our day to return Manila.

Overall, the trip was so much fun, a lot of laughs, bloopers, jokes, pigging out but the best part was, we had time to relax and had the chance to enjoy the cool breeze in Baguio city. There are a lot of places to go to and a lot of restaurants to go to. I will definitely go back soon....