Manila Hotels

[Finrod]

I'm going to Manila soon and taking my Yorkie dog because its cheaper than a kennel, I know the Copacabana off Roxas will allow my dog. Does anyone know of other hotels that do this? And also in Cebu?

If you're making a permanent move, sure you can think about bringing your dog, but for a temporary stay, you should think twice.

You will have to go through considerable paperwork, fees and airfare to get your dog there. Also pets from colder countries usually do not adapt well to the weather in the Phils and it's quite easy for them to get sick, what with polluted beaches, streets, bad drinking water, ticks, fleas, other dogs, etc. Have you found out what happens when you bring the dog home again? Will it have to go through similar paperwork, quarantine, etc.?

That's gotta be the Ritz Hotel of kennels if you say it's still cheaper to bring your dog. :)

[X Man]

Skip recently reviewed Las Palmas and it is a place I used to use. I was there last month, but only because Rothman, Exec., CIty and a few others were fully booked.

Skip, what room did you use?

I got a room fronting the street and it was terribly noisy. Thinking about closing the windows tighter I realized there were also windows on the balcony. I walked out onto the balcony and closed the windows.

That balcony trip.... Sometimes you just know things are NOT right. Yea, my hands and soles of my feet were black with whatever fkn pollution rides the Manila air. Disgusting. I had to take another shower.

Las Palmas has a great location, but not high on my list of hotels to stay in while in Manila. Ooops, my advice is don't stay in mnl at all.

X

[Soapy Smith]

Anyone get contact info (phone number and or email address) for the Eurotel in Malate? I'll be in Manila for 1 night in a couple of weeks and am thinking of trying the place since it's newer. I usually stay at Cherry Blossoms, which is ok for the rate, but wouldn't mind a newer place.

I've seen the ad at sulit, but looks like this is just some referral guy and not booking directly with the hotel.

Thanks CS

I recently used the new Eurotel for a 12 hour booking which was about right for the LT hookup I made. But the standard rooms are very cramped and furniture is limited. Rooms at Cherry Blossoms are much more comfortable, and many have refrigerators. No fridge at Eurotel, just the basics. I kinda like to take a little sip of cold water shortly after draining bodily fluids, so the fridge makes a difference to me. The Eurotel is a good deal for one of the 4-hour rentals or for 12, but the 24 hour rate puts it close enough in price to Cherry Blossoms, Las Palmas, Executive Plaza and others available through Agoda.com that it's not really great value for the money. Eurotel is definitely GF, and it is close enough to City Towers to make it practical to do a shorter rental there and then move to City Towers. Having recently done business with both AsiaTravel and Agoda for lodging reservations -- even on less than 24 hours notice -- I found Agoda to be more responsive and with more lodging options. I recently stayed at Las Palmas on two different monger jaunts and found it to be clean, comfortable, reasonable and with fridge in the room. They make you put down a 1000 PhP deposit or post a MasterCard or Visa account number at checkin to protect against stealing towels, cleaning out the stocked contents of the fridge, etc. They're GF but definitely want the girl to leave ID with them. They're within about two blocks of LA, so an easy walk.

For the Eurotel booking I emailed the guy who has the crummy looking website. He says he needs 48 hours lead time, but did mine in less than 24. His promised rate requires paying at check-in with cash, but he did come through and the rate was as promised.

[Chevy681]

I'm going to Manila soon and taking my Yorkie dog because its cheaper than a kennel, I know the Copacabana off Roxas will allow my dog. Does anyone know of other hotels that do this? And also in Cebu?

[Redfield10]

My PAL flight also arrives early in the morning late October on a Saturday. I have reservations at the City State Towers in Ermita. I suppose I would be at the hotel by 7 or so. Ha.

Are the short time hotels close enough to take advantage of until I can check into the City State Towers? I hate to reserve a room for the few hours I mght not be able to check in there?

It'll be my first time to the PHils, so I'm not too knowledgeable yet.

Any ideas? Is the SOGO and Eurotel hotels close by and easy to book once I arrive?

Someone also mentioend it's best to tell the LA Cafe girls to meet at the hotel as cops can shake ya down if you leave with one?

Thanks for any advice for this Phils newbie.

[Cunning Stunt]

I agree with Finrod, my friend came in earlier than I did and I suggested he stay at SOGO until I got in. He actually had time to go to LA Cafe and pick up a girl for ST before I got there. Only negative with SOGO is no in room safe and you don't get a key, they unlock the door for you every time you come back. However, like Finrod said, you won't be able to find any hotel that will guarantee you an early check in.

Seem to recall that the more expensive executive rooms at Sogo Malate do have room safes. The much nicer and newer Eurotel also has room safes and a 4 hour ST room rate. They also have card access room locks so their is no need to check in a key if you go out.

[Hobby Knob]

You will have a hard time finding a hotel that will guarantee early check-in as they will want to keep that room open to paying customers the previous night. Even when it's not high season. I've gotten screwed twice and have come to the conclusion that the only way to guarantee the early check-in is to pay for the previous night. Well I'm just a bit too cheap to do that so next time I'm in that situation I will just get a room in the nearest Sogo or other short time hotel for a few hours, then go to a regular hotel around 1pm.

Last month I got to the Hyatt at 9:30. My room wasn't ready and they told me they would expedite it. I was in room by 10:15.

I was happy.

[Horntoad]

I agree with Finrod, my friend came in earlier than I did and I suggested he stay at SOGO until I got in. He actually had time to go to LA Cafe and pick up a girl for ST before I got there. Only negative with SOGO is no in room safe and you don't get a key, they unlock the door for you every time you come back. However, like Finrod said, you won't be able to find any hotel that will guarantee you an early check in.

[Finrod]

I am connecting with a friend in MNL, in Oct, but he arrives 5 hours before I do. He has never traveled to PI, before, and prefers to travel with me up to AC versus going on his own. He arrives into T-2 at about 0600 and we were originally talking about hanging out at the airport until I arrive. Others on this board have suggested that might be hell for a first time PI visitor, and I guess I have to agree. Another option would be for him to take a taxi to a nearby hotel that would guarantee early check-in and I could meet him there.

Any suggestions? I think he would prefer a OK hotel to a roach infested one, but would appreciate options.


Thanks, in advance, for your assistance.

You will have a hard time finding a hotel that will guarantee early check-in as they will want to keep that room open to paying customers the previous night. Even when it's not high season. I've gotten screwed twice and have come to the conclusion that the only way to guarantee the early check-in is to pay for the previous night. Well I'm just a bit too cheap to do that so next time I'm in that situation I will just get a room in the nearest Sogo or other short time hotel for a few hours, then go to a regular hotel around 1pm.

[Manta Ray]

I've sent emails a few times within the past week to City State Towers in Ermita re: room reservations. They haven't responded. Sure, I can get a calling card and call them, but has anyone had a similar response from them..or rather difficulty getting a response?? You would think that someone sending an email asking for reservations for a stay in Oct. / Nov. would get some sort of fairly prompt response.

Thanks for any info.

(I sent the email to the email address on their web page)

http://citystatetowerhotel.com.ph/

Interesting that you should mention that, as I am having a similar problem. I tried to book that hotel with one of the online agents and whereas the agent is supposed to get back to me with confirmation within 24 hours, it has already been 48 hours and no response. I finally emailed the agent and they got right back with apologies to me saying that they are still waiting for the hotel to reply to them with a confirmation. Looks like this hotel is lacking in administrative organization, or in the motivation to fill its rooms!

[LookingToSwing4]

I am connecting with a friend in MNL, in Oct, but he arrives 5 hours before I do. He has never traveled to PI, before, and prefers to travel with me up to AC versus going on his own. He arrives into T-2 at about 0600 and we were originally talking about hanging out at the airport until I arrive. Others on this board have suggested that might be hell for a first time PI visitor, and I guess I have to agree. Another option would be for him to take a taxi to a nearby hotel that would guarantee early check-in and I could meet him there.

Any suggestions? I think he would prefer a OK hotel to a roach infested one, but would appreciate options.


Thanks, in advance, for your assistance.

[Notanocker]

I notce from its Internet site that renovations are 'ongoing until 2 October 2008' but 'only between 0900 and 1800.' It appears that the renos. are only in the Bay Wing levels 2 and 3.

Has anyone stayed here recently? Are the non-Club (i.e. lower priced rooms, typically US$165 or so on asiarooms.com) rooms acceptable, or very dated and archaic?

I assume that this hotel is (like the Hyatt in Ermita) totally GF. Are there any hassles such as 'registering guests' or the 'checking type 0300 hours phone call' if a guest of one of us leaves suddenly in the middle of the night?

Has 'Spirals' buffet 'deteriorated' as one TripAdvisor review claimed, or is it still fantastic? I gather on a Saturday it now costs P1950 nett excluding drinks.

[Manfest]

Stayed at the Hotel Intercontinental in Makati. Despite the sniffing dog and usual metal detectors seen everywhere nowadays, the place is very friendly, including GF. Took a girl up to the room (her walking ahead of me) around 11 PM, no one blinked. She left by herself around 2 AM, no phone calls asking any questions. Overall very good experience at the hotel.

[Cebu Steve]

Thanks San Mig, the number you provided is correct and I was able to reach the hotel.

Unfortunately, they have already gotten popular as I was not able to make a reservation a week out. Got the "fully booked" response.

CS

[San Miguel]

Anyone get contact info (phone number and or email address) for the Eurotel in Malate? I'll be in Manila for 1 night in a couple of weeks and am thinking of trying the place since it's newer. I usually stay at Cherry Blossoms, which is ok for the rate, but wouldn't mind a newer place.

I've seen the ad at sulit, but looks like this is just some referral guy and not booking directly with the hotel.

Thanks

CS

Try this:

Eurotel Pedro Gil, Pedro Gil, Malate, Tel. 5235164, Fax: 5233679