St. Marvin Studio M508 Manila: Your Dream Photoshoot Awaits!
St. Marvin Studio M508 Manila: Your Dream Photoshoot Awaits! – A Hot Mess Review (and a Promise of Perfection…Sort Of!)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the swirling vortex that is St. Marvin Studio M508 Manila: Your Dream Photoshoot Awaits! And listen, I'm not gonna lie. This isn't your perfectly polished travel blog. This is REAL. I'm gonna be honest, probably too honest, about the good, the bad, and the questionable in this Manila marvel. And, spoiler alert: it's a bit of a rollercoaster.
First Impressions (and a Near-Disaster with the Elevator!):
From the get-go, the concept of a "photoshoot awaits" hotel intrigued me. I pictured glamorous models, pristine backdrops, and someone handing me cocktails while I stared at the camera (a girl can dream!). Getting to the dream, however, was a bit of a trial. Accessibility is listed, right? Excellent! But navigating the initial entry left something to be desired. I'm not in a wheelchair, but the potential for someone in a wheelchair to have a rough time getting to the actual rooms is there – not ideal. And that elevator? Let's just say it had the personality of a particularly grumpy chihuahua. Scared the bejeezus out of me the first time I got in. But hey, it got me there. Eventually.
The check-in/out [express] and Contactless check-in/out were a godsend. I'm a millennial – I hate talking to people. The less human interaction required, the better. And a speedy check-in is ALWAYS appreciated, especially after a long flight. They also have Front desk [24-hour], which is reassuring if, like me, you're a night owl who's prone to late-night snack attacks (more on that later).
The Room: My Sanctuary (and My Temporary Messy Oasis):
My room, bless its heart, was a mixed bag. The Available in all rooms list is long. I'm talking:
- Air conditioning: Necessary in Manila. Thank goodness.
- Alarm clock: Useful, though I rely on my phone.
- Bathrobes: Very swanky. I wore them a lot.
- Bathroom phone: Okay, a little dated but fun, I guess.
- Bathtub: Bliss! Perfect for soaking after a long day, or a particularly disastrous photoshoot.
- Blackout curtains: Essential for sleeping in (or hiding that you've been online shopping until 3 am).
- Carpeting: Uhh, not my favourite, but it's there.
- Closet: Plenty of space for my (admittedly vast) wardrobe.
- Coffee/tea maker: A life-saver. Caffeine is crucial.
- Complimentary tea: Nice touch.
- Daily housekeeping: My saviour. I'm a disaster.
- Desk: Good for work, terrible for avoiding procrastination.
- Extra long bed: THANK YOU, St. Marvin! Finally, a bed that accommodates my gangly limbs.
- Free bottled water: Hydration is key, people.
- Hair dryer: Essential.
- High floor: Amazing views.
- In-room safe box: Didn't use it, but it's there.
- Interconnecting room(s) available: Good for families, annoying for anyone who likes peace and quiet.
- Internet access – LAN: Hmm, hadn't seen it!
- Internet access – wireless: Free Wi-Fi [free]! Hurrah! Always a win for the 'gram and the desperate need to find the nearest pizza delivery.
- Ironing facilities: Needed, given my packing skills (or lack thereof).
- Laptop workspace: (See above, re: procrastination).
- Linens: Clean and fresh.
- Mini bar: Tempting. Resisted (mostly).
- Mirror: Needed for self-obsession (kidding… mostly).
- Non-smoking: Essential.
- On-demand movies: Didn't watch any, but the option is there.
- Private bathroom: Always preferred.
- Reading light: Good for pretending I'm cultured.
- Refrigerator: Practical.
- Safety/security feature: Always a plus.
- Satellite/cable channels: Lost the remote. (Whoops!)
- Scale: NOPE.
- Seating area: Comfy.
- Separate shower/bathtub: A luxury.
- Shower: Worked perfectly.
- Slippers: Comfy!
- Smoke detector: Reassuring.
- Socket near the bed: YES! Phone charging heaven.
- Sofa: Loungable.
- Soundproofing: Didn't notice any noise from the outside world, so, success!
- Telephone: Haven't touched a landline in years.
- Toiletries: Standard.
- Towels: Soft and fluffy.
- Umbrella: Didn't use it, thankfully.
- Visual alarm: Good safety measure.
- Wake-up service: See: alarm clock.
- Window that opens: Loved it. Fresh air!
I will add I really appreciated the Room decorations - they were minimal but chic. All in all, the room was well-equipped. And, thankfully, the Cleanliness and safety seemed to be a priority. They boast Anti-viral cleaning products, Individually-wrapped food options, Rooms sanitized between stays, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, and Staff trained in safety protocol. Definitely felt safe and, you know, not like I was going to catch something.
The Good Stuff: Pampering and Relaxation (When You Can Find It!)
Now, the "photoshoot" part of the hotel's name promised glamour. I, admittedly, had forgotten about the photoshoot and was far more interested in the ways to relax. Here's where St. Marvin shines… well, mostly shines. They have a Spa/sauna, Massage (yes!), and a Steamroom. I'm a sucker for a good massage, and I booked one immediately. It was divine. Absolutely divine. The therapist was incredibly skilled, and I walked out feeling like a limp noodle in the best possible way. I would like to add they make a great Body scrub and Body wrap and I really enjoyed the Foot bath. Heaven.
They also have a Swimming pool (didn't see a Pool with view, though, sadly). It's a nice place to chill out if you're not into the beach scene. And, for the fitness freaks, there’s a Gym/fitness center. I confess, I skipped this. Blame the massage. And the 24-hour room service.
The Food and Drink Saga: A Culinary Rollercoaster
Oh, the food. Let's just say it was… an adventure. There are Restaurants galore, with Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, and Western breakfast available (and Western cuisine in restaurant). A bit overwhelming, honestly.
The Breakfast [buffet] was decent, if a bit chaotic. The bacon was crispy, the coffee was plentiful, and it did the job. The Coffee/tea in restaurant was good, but I did miss my usual routine.
There's a Bar, and a Poolside bar. But the real star (and the biggest headache) was the Room service [24-hour]. Because, you know, late-night cravings are real. I may or may not have ordered a pizza at 2 am, a bowl of soup at 4 am, and another pizza at 6 am (don't judge me). And the quality? Let’s just say it varied wildly. Sometimes it was amazing, sometimes it was… less so. The pizza in particular was a hit and miss.
They offer Alternative meal arrangement, which is great for dietary restrictions. All in all, the food experience was a bit of a gamble, but hey, that's part of the fun, right? They also offered Bottle of water, a nice touch.
The Extras: Services and Conveniences You Might Need (or Not):
St. Marvin tries to think of everything. They have Air conditioning in public area (thank goodness!), a Concierge, Currency exchange, and a Convenience store. They also offer Food delivery. I got a good deal of use out the Daily housekeeping and the Laundry service after my pizza-fueled adventures. I do wish they had a Shrine.
The following seemed to be less useful: **Business facilities, Car power charging station, CCTV outside property, Couple's room, Exterior corridor, Facilities for disabled guests, Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Meeting/banquet facilities, Outdoor venue for special events, Proposal spot
Seoul's Chicest Secret: The Designers LYJ Suite at Hotel Yeoksam
Okay, buckle up buttercups! This is gonna be less a polished travel itinerary and more a therapy session wrapped in a poorly-folded map… of my brain… in Manila. St. Marvin Studio M508, specifically. Buckle up!
Day 1: Arrival and the "Is This REALLY a Studio?" Debacle
- 10:00 AM: Arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Okay, first hurdle: surviving the passport control gauntlet. Let's just say, my weary smile didn't impress the lady behind the counter. She looked like she'd seen a thousand stressed tourists, just like me. "Welcome to the Philippines," she mumbled, devoid of emotion. Yep, the adventure's begun!
- Anecdote: I swear, that baggage carousel was the black hole of lost luggage. Watching people circle it, desperately awaiting their bags, felt like watching a slow-motion tragedy. I was the luckiest though, my bag showed up first.
- 12:00 PM: Taxi ride to St. Marvin Studio M508. The traffic… oh, the traffic. Honestly, it was a chaotic symphony of horns, jeepneys belching fumes, and a swarm of motorbikes with death wishes.
- Quirky Observation: The driver, bless his heart, was blasting some kind of Filipino rock ballad. The entire trip was set to a soundtrack of angst and longing. I got a slight headache.
- 1:30 PM: Check-in. Found the studio. Found the room. Found… disappointment. M508 isn't some sleek, Instagram-worthy paradise. It's a… well, it's a room. A perfectly functional room. The wallpaper looked liked it had been here since the '80s. The aircon howled like a banshee.
- Emotional Reaction: My inner monologue went something like this: "Okay, it's clean… kinda. At least the AC works -ish. Wait. I'm in Manila! I shouldn't be moping! Stop judging the wallpaper! I'm here to have an adventure!" Deep breath.
- 2:30 PM: Lunch, solo adventure.
- Rambles, here we go: Walk around the place to find a canteen. No luck. Ask a security guard. He recommends a carenderia.
- Carenderia Experience: This carenderia was nothing fancy. You ordered from a steam table, and the food came in a white plastic bowl. I got an adobo with rice, and oh my god, it was heavenly. The meat was falling off the bone, and the sauce… well, let’s just say I’m still dreaming about it. The best part? It cost about $2. Strong Emotional reaction: Pure, unadulterated joy. "THIS is why I travel!"
- 4:00 PM: Settled in a bit. The studio felt slightly less depressing after my meal. Stared at the ceiling for a while.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner. Found a small open-air restaurant. Had some grilled fish. The humidity nearly melted me.
- Imperfect Detail: The fish was excellent, but I think I accidentally inhaled a mosquito.
- 8:00 PM: Early night. Jet lag's hitting hard.
Day 2: Exploring the Chaos and Finding My (Foodie) Soul
- 9:00 AM: Woke up. Breakfast. Okay, I need a cafe. This is important.
- Opinionated Language: My goal for the day: find a decent cup of coffee. That’s all. The rest of Manila can be a swamp of chaos… as long as I have my caffeine.
- 10:00 AM: Found a cafe! "The Coffee Project." Fancy!
- Doubling Down on the Experience: Spent two hours at The Coffee Project. Had a latte. Then another. Then a slice of cake – which was actually really good. Watched the world go by. The place felt like an oasis.
- 12:00 PM: Walked around. Strolled, really. Saw a church. Saw a market. Saw a lot of motorbikes.
- Unstructured Rambling: Felt slightly overwhelmed by the sheer volume of everything.
- 1:30 PM: Lunch at a local place.
- Emotional Reaction: I think I may be addicted to the local food. This place had a sign advertising "balut." Nope. Not today. But the pancit was delicious. The staff there kept laughing and I could not understand why.
- 3:00 PM: Back to the studio. Needed a nap.
- 5:00 PM: Ate more adobo at another place. Is it me or are they starting to put adobo in EVERYTHING?
- Imperfection: Almost forgot to pay - twice!
- 7:00 PM: Tried to watch TV. Gave up. The local channels were a dizzying blur of soap operas and game shows. My brain could not compute.
- 8:00 PM: Early night. Manila, you are exhausting!
Day 3: Trying to Adult
- 9:00 AM: Attempted to do the laundry. The washing machine, after a lot of searching, was in a tiny room. The dryer wasn't working.
- Messy, stream-of-consciousness: Oh, great. Now what? Guess I'll wear the same clothes for the rest of the trip! Maybe hang them on the aircon? This is not great.
- 10:00 AM: More coffee! I feel like I need to drink more caffeine.
- 11:00 AM: Found the location of some place I want to visit tomorrow. It's way over there!
- Opinionated, Natural Pacing: That'll take forever to get there! I'm guessing a taxi is out of the question.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch.
- The Adobo Craze: Found an adobo pizza. Why not?
- 3:00 PM: Tried to do some actual work. Couldn't. Manila's energy, the constant noise, the heat… It's a distraction factory.
- Quirky Observation: My productivity score for the day: Zero. But hey, at least I'm alive.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner. Ate the adobo pizza. Regret followed.
- 8:00 PM: Realized that it's already time to leave tomorrow.
- 9:00 PM: Packing. Wondering what I'll miss most.
Day 4: Departure
- 7:00 AM: Final breakfast. One last adobo! Said goodbye to my room.
- 8:00 AM: Taxi to the airport.
- 10:00 AM: Airport. More chaos. More lines.
- 1:00 PM: Back home.
Alright, there you have it. My highly unorganized Manila adventure. Not perfect, not pretty, but definitely me. And let's be honest, that's what traveling is all about, right? The mess, the mishaps, the amazing food, and finding the beauty in all the chaos. Now I need a vacation from my vacation. And more adobo. Probably.
Uncover the Hidden Gem: Suite ARCHONTIKON, Pelion's Paradise!
St. Marvin Studio M508 Manila: Your Dream Photoshoot Awaits! - (Maybe?) FAQs
1. Okay, Spill the Tea! What *exactly* is St. Marvin Studio M508? Is it a real place?
Alright, alright, let's get this straight. St. Marvin Studio M508? Yep, it's real. Found in Manila, allegedly. I say "allegedly" because finding it felt like a treasure hunt led by a particularly caffeinated squirrel. Seriously, I circled the block, like, five times. Finally stumbled upon it, tucked away in a building that looked like it hadn't seen a fresh coat of paint since the disco era. Don't let that fool you, though. Inside…it's… well, we'll get there. Let's just say, it's an *experience*.
2. What kind of photoshoots do they DO there? Is it just fashion stuff?
Nope, not just fashion! Thank goodness. I am SO not a fashion model. From what I gathered (and trust me, I was eavesdropping like a pro while waiting for my own shoot), they do everything. Portraits? Yep. Product shots? Check. Couples shoots? Absolutely. And apparently, even… *gasp*… pet photography. Listen, if they can take a picture of my perpetually-moody cat and make him look halfway decent, they deserve a medal. The possibilities are… pretty damn broad.
3. The Price, the Price! What's the Damage? $$$
Okay, let's talk money. This is where things get… a little vague. Their website is… not the most informative. (Side note: Someone needs to tell them about SEO!) But from what I pieced together, it's *relatively* affordable. Compared to some of the mega-studios in Manila? Probably a steal! Compared to my bank account? Still required a slight internal panic. I mean, I had to justify it to my significant other, who was NOT thrilled about the "artistic splurge." But hey, memories, right? (Hopefully, good ones…) Check their social media or drop them a line. Don't expect instant replies, though. Patience is key.
4. What's the Studio *actually* like? Is it all fancy and Insta-worthy?
Alright, here's the unfiltered truth. Insta-worthy? Sort of. But in a "bohemian-chic-meets-slightly-unfinished" kind of way. It's not the sterile, polished environment you might expect. It's got a certain… *charm*. Think exposed brick, a bunch of random props piled in the corner (I swear, I saw a vintage typewriter!), and maybe a cat (possibly the same moody one I mentioned?). It feels more like a creative space than a sterile photo factory. It's got character. And, honestly? I kind of dig it. Don't go expecting perfection, and you won't be disappointed. I mean, sometimes the lights flickered. And one of the backdrops had a… *patch*. But hey, it added to the vibe, right? (Yes, I'm trying to rationalize.)
5. The Staff! Are the photographers any good? Are they friendly?
Okay, this is the *most* important question. The staff… yes. They're good. Really good. The photographer I worked with (I can't remember his name, sorry! Brain fog!) was a complete *pro*. He had a way of making me feel comfortable, even though I was a nervous wreck. He gave great direction, knew his angles, and actually listened when I said, "Please, no photos of my double chin!" And friendly? Absolutely! They were chill, helpful, and genuinely seemed to enjoy what they do. Seriously, that makes a huge difference when you're feeling awkward in front of a camera. I'm not kidding when I say they really understood the assignment and helped me feel comfortable.
6. What should I wear? Are there wardrobe options?
Wear what makes *you* feel fabulous! Honestly, that's the best advice. Unless you've specifically arranged for a wardrobe stylist (which, let's be honest, most of us don't), bring your own clothes. They *might* have a few basics lying around, but don't count on it. And for the love of all that is holy, plan your outfits *before* you arrive. I spent half my shoot agonizing over what to wear, and it was a total waste of time. Learn from my mistakes! Bring options. And make sure they fit—comfort is KEY.
7. How long do the shoots last? And when do I get my photos?
Shoot duration? Depends on the package, of course. Mine lasted a couple of hours, including prep time. The whole experience, from walking in to leaving, was… well, it felt like an afternoon, really. Getting the photos back? Here's where things get a *little*… hazy. They mentioned a timeframe, but I honestly can't remember what it was. (See: caffeine-fueled squirrel analogy). Let's just say, don't expect instant gratification. Good things come to those who wait, right? (I hope!) Check with them beforehand, get it in writing, and then maybe set a reminder on your phone.
8. Would you recommend St. Marvin Studio M508? Be honest!
Okay, the big question. Would I recommend it? Absolutely! **Yes, definitely!** Despite the minor imperfections (the flicker of the lights, the slightly-less-organized setup), the experience was fantastic. The staff areTravel Stay Guides
