The spacious Deluxe Suite

Salcedo Community Market

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Not all that glitters is gold. In Makati City, it's the electric display of garish bars and restaurants next to extremely imposing high rise condos and hotels. At least along a stretch of Makati Avenue where several roads crisscross from the Poblacion, that's the case. The offbeat vibe is all the more palpable in the narrow streets that weave through this less upscale portion of the city's Central Business District. Here, travelers are more drawn to the unconventional than the sophisticated. Forget cosmopolitan drinks and dishes. If there's an area where the alternative is stellar, the city has Jupiter Street. And smack dab at the center is Jupiter Suites Hotel.

Where The Action Is

Jupiter Suites Hotel is a 25-room value lodging that can easily be your affordable base for touring Makati on a tight budget. From irresistible street food to a community market, the city has a lot to offer other than foie gras, rib eye, and wine. An accommodation at the hotel is a wise thing to do since it's quite accessible to such attractions from various points.

The hotel facade

Here are three ways to ascertain that you imbibe the neighborhood feeling in a city that can be intimidating especially during rush hour:

Staycation At Jupiter Suites Hotel

The last thing you'd want to consider for a memorable staycation is a high-rise hotel that will encourage you to not step out of the lobby. Any wise traveler knows that the neighborhood pulse is an extension of a great stay. At Jupiter Suites Hotel, a staycation indoors is a seamless experience of the offbeat scene outside. I happened to realise this from my booked Deluxe Suite at the hotel's 4th floor where the low-rise view is fantastic enough to still view residential bungalows next to a few skyscrapers. With easy access to an elevator, I loved stepping out of the hotel from time to time for supplies as it's near convenience stores and fast food joints.

 A fellow traveler -- Pinoy Adventurista -- recommended the hotel for my tour of the city. My booked air conditioned room felt spacious at 36 sq.m., something that travelers on long stays with a lot of stuff can appreciate. I was on a solo tour but it can definitely fit two guests with that enough space for lounging. It's complete with a work desk, flat screen TV with cable, hair dryer, stacked mini-refrigerator and safety deposit box. I found the presence of a bathtub in the bathroom to be exceptional for the room rate (at no more than Php4,000 on non-peak days). In-room Internet access was great as I've tested going on social media and my complimentary breakfast was delicious. Guests are normally offered options and I had Spanish Sardines for a change.

Complimentary breakfast

Bathtub inside my booked Deluxe Suite

Delicious dinner at Tambai Bar & Grill

The hotel lobby and elevator

Indulge On Inventive Street Food At The Nearby Tambai

Guests at the hotel can conveniently take a stroll outside to check out the amusing night life that most foreign tourists come for in the area. At the Poblacion along Felipe Street, the dining action happens al fresco at Tambai Bar & Grill, but don't think you need to be classy to experience it. What foodies visit it for is its yakitori sampler and other street food specials. It now has a cozy roofed dining area for those who want privacy.

It was here where I had a couple of pork yakitori sticks and a cup of kimchi fried rice for dinner when I stayed at Jupiter Suites Hotel.

Salcedo Community Market scene

Visit The Salcedo Community Market

Organized and managed by the Women of Bel Air Foundation since 2004, the Salcedo Community Market is where Makati City residents converge every Saturday to experience a weekend roster of organic fruits and vegetables, seafood, poultry and meats, Filipino delicacies, international cuisine favorites, baked goods and sweets, plants and flowers, and a host of other specialties. Visitors from neighboring cities are known to come out of their respective enclaves and tackle the early morning traffic just to make it on time whenever the gates of the Jaime Velasquez Park opens at 7:00am since the whole shebang only lasts until 2:00pm.

While booked at Jupiter Suites Hotel, I managed to visit the weekend market and bought a few interesting finds. Salcedo Village (where it is located) is just a 10 to 15 minute stroll from Jupiter Street anyway.

An off-center experience of Makati is not a myth. The city's offbeat side happens to pulsate where there's a craving for it. As long as this kind of scene is thriving, there's always a great base for it in Jupiter Suites Hotel.

The Jupiter Suites Hotel and TuristaTrails.com "Stay For 2 Nights" Giveaway:

In partnership with Jupiter Suites Hotel, TuristaTrails.com is giving readers the chance to win a staycation for two nights for 2 guests! Welcome the new year with a two-night stay at Jupiter Suites Hotel in Makati City. Simply join the raffle contest using the Rafflecopter app (see at the bottom of this blog post).

Raffle Contest Mechanics

For a valid raffle entry, follow these simple steps:

Step 1 - 'Like' the Jupiter Suites Hotel and Turista Project Facebook fan pages.
Step 2 - Share this Facebook fan page post from Turista Project on your Facebook timeline tagging Turista Project and using #jupitersuiteshotel as hashtag >> Turista Project fan page 


Step 3 - Click on the Rafflecopter widget found at the bottom of this blog post to submit your information.

Terms and Conditions:
• Contest period is from January 1, 2016 to January 25, 2016.
• The contest winner will receive a two-night stay gift certificate from Jupiter Suites Hotel. It can only be used on any weekend (Friday-Saturday or Saturday-Sunday) of February, 2016.
• One (1) contest winner will be drawn using the Rafflecopter app.
• The contest is open to Philippine residents only. Only valid entries will be considered. Simply follow the raffle contest mechanics to qualify.
• The announcement of the winner will be done days after January 25, 2016 via Twitter (KarlAceTurista), Facebook (Turista Project), and on this blog.
• The winner will be notified through email regarding the processing of the prize.

This contest is over! 

Jupiter Suites Hotel

Official website of Jupiter Suites Hotel

Address: 102 Jupiter St., Bel Air Village, Makati City, Philippines 1012
Phone: (632) 890-5044 to 50
Email: [email protected] and [email protected]