Manila Hotels

[Soapy Smith]

How is Airbnb? Is it any good. Again thanks a lot guys. Enjoy PHP.

I've used Airbnb a half dozen times with good success. A few small irritations, like keys not left at the security desk for our arrival, but most problems have been small.

Often the beds are not as comfortable as what the better hotels have, but shouldn't be an issue if you don't spend much time sleeping. There are sometimes bars cross-wise under the mattress. They're great for being able to push off from you knees, and when you lie down in exhaustion you'll barely notice that the bars are a little uncomfortable for sleeping. Truthfully, I always slept well.

You have lots of flexibility because there are only two of you, but check out the pictures closely so you know about bed configurations, bathroom (CR) and kitchen facilities. Your GF may want to show off her cooking, so maybe get her to check out the kitchen pictures or at least describe the appliances to her before choosing.

The website shows you the general area for the unit, but sometimes there's a name of the building in a title, and from there you can pin it down exactly with GoogleMaps. Keep in mind that the best places get snapped up quickly.

[Sandy1984]

Wow! Never expected such detailed and informative replies. Thanks a lot guys. My intention for asking this was not to save on money rather to make sure I don't end up in a hotel which won't allow guests or not get harassed by the authorities. My GF is a pure province girl who even speaks a different dialect apparently and not fluent tagalog. She has never been to manila and was asking me to make sure that both of us can stay peacefully in the hotel. Both of us don't have any idea about manila I RTFF the other forums and apparently philippines is as open as Bangkok! I feel stupid now.

I think I will book a decent one in Makati or near mall of asia.

How is Airbnb? Is it any good. Again thanks a lot guys. Enjoy PHP.

1. Most girls from the provinces won't know the difference between a 3 star and a 5 star hotel, so no point in paying for amenities she wouldn't appreciate.

2. Her standard of clothes might be too cheap for a 5 star hotel and people will know she is from the provinces without her even opening her mouth. They might silently be laughing at you

3. She'd be so excited that she's grabbed a walking ATM who's going to financially support her and her family, that you could stay in a backpackers and she wouldn't care.

4. You are wanting her to be safe? She's likely to be more street smart than most foreigners. If this is your first trip, its you that needs to be safe

5. All hotels are girlfriendly. Just tick it's for two people on the booking form.

6. Since you are not mongering, it might be better to check Trip Advisor for reviews from non-mongers.

[Engine Driver]

Hey guys. I would be visiting the philippines for the first time to meet up my girlfriend. She would be travelling too all the way from her province to join me. Any safe and nice hotels on an average budget which fellow mongers can advise as the best girlfriendly hotel. Mind you she is genuinely my girlfriend of 5 years and not an escort. I want her to feel safe.

1. Most girls from the provinces won't know the difference between a 3 star and a 5 star hotel, so no point in paying for amenities she wouldn't appreciate.

2. Her standard of clothes might be too cheap for a 5 star hotel and people will know she is from the provinces without her even opening her mouth. They might silently be laughing at you

3. She'd be so excited that she's grabbed a walking ATM who's going to financially support her and her family, that you could stay in a backpackers and she wouldn't care.

4. You are wanting her to be safe? She's likely to be more street smart than most foreigners. If this is your first trip, it’s you that needs to be safe

5. All hotels are girlfriendly. Just tick it's for two people on the booking form.

6. Since you are not mongering, it might be better to check Trip Advisor for reviews from non-mongers.

[Sammon]

Hey guys. I would be visiting the philippines for the first time to meet up my girlfriend. She would be travelling too all the way from her province to join me. Any safe and nice hotels on an average budget which fellow mongers can advise as the best girlfriendly hotel. Mind you she is genuinely my girlfriend of 5 years and not an escort. I want her to feel safe.

Most people here ask for monger friendly hotels. If you already have a girl and not worried about the hotel allowing guests it is a no brainer.

Just go to Agoda or any number of websites and search in your price range. I have had several girls from provinces I flew them in to Manila mainly because they have never been there. They liked Mall Of Asia. Otherwise there is nothing much to see. They were amazed at the number of people, traffic etc. I even took couple of girls to Angeles thinking they will enjoy the party atmosphere. They hated it. They were wondering how girls can have sex with different people every day.

Cebu is better that way.

All the hotels allow one guest to stay with you if you register them. Just book for two people. Only if you are bringing different girl at night some hotels will charge you. But most hotels are ok with it as long as they have I. D.

Medium to high end hotels are safe. Low end hotels are sketchy.

[Dg8787]

Hey guys. I would be visiting the philippines for the first time to meet up my girlfriend. She would be travelling too all the way from her province to join me. Any safe and nice hotels on an average budget which fellow mongers can advise as the best girlfriendly hotel. Mind you she is genuinely my girlfriend of 5 years and not an escort. I want her to feel safe.

Without any details and vague budget requirements, I suggest you start with Sogo Hotels and work your way up.

All online hotel booking services have star ratings for the hotels. Start with the 1 star hotels.

Can you be any less vague?

[Soapy Smith]

Hey guys. I would be visiting the philippines for the first time to meet up my girlfriend. She would be travelling too all the way from her province to join me. Any safe and nice hotels on an average budget which fellow mongers can advise as the best girlfriendly hotel. Mind you she is genuinely my girlfriend of 5 years and not an escort. I want her to feel safe.

I have a couple suggestions:

First, decide what part of Metro Manila you want to locate in. Plan in terms of the kinds of things you want to do together. Remember that you're not interested in hunting for a bed partner like most mongers on this site. Makati, for example, has the greatest selection of mall shopping; Ermita, in the City of Manila, has museums, gardens around Rizal Park, and the historic district of Intramuros; Quezon City has government agencies--but can't imagine that's interesting to most people. Safety can also involve issues with the neighborhood, but keep in mind that even then you can arrive and leave via taxis or grab vehicles and rarely need to walk any further than a nearby restaurant or 7-11. In general, stay out of the area referred to as Tondo, Binondo, and Quiapo. This is the part of the City of Manila just north of the Pasig River. Some people consider Ermita, which is bounded by the Pasig River to the north, Taft Avenue, Pedro Gil, and Manila Bay, to be unsafe. It is sleazy, but I have been in this area many times and never felt threatened. Don't flash jewelry, travel with minimal amounts of money on your person, know where you're going, stay out of poorly lit areas, and walk briskly. As a Filipina, your girlfriend will have a good sense about these things.

Second, you can generally trust the online booking systems like Agoda, Hotels dot com, and others. Use one of these sites as a guide for checking out ratings. Most hotels with a three star or better rating will be safe. Then, within the site for a given hotel, look at the ratings that individual guests have given, to include reading the details about things like slow elevators, slow room service, noisy air conditioning, no hot water, and so on. With very few exceptions, these hotels are all girlfriendly. If you arrive together, nobody is going to question your sharing a room. If she arrives before you, they will let her wait in the lobby, and then you check in together. If she arrives later, she may have to show ID at the entrance and then they call you to the lobby. GF is not an issue.

One of our expats says better prices can be had by contacting the hotel directly rather than using online sites. I tried this once, had a series of emails guaranteeing a room reservation, and arrived to find a hotel with no vacant rooms. I showed the Australian manager the emails, and he said, "this is the Philippines, anything can happen. " Hahaha. He found me a room in a nearby hotel that was more expensive and less accommodating. Your mileage may vary.

Finally, cross-tabulate the first and second criteria. The decision is about both location and hotel quality. Manila has lots of dirty air, street beggars, and foul smelling rivers and streams, but Filipinos are warm and welcoming people. You'll almost certainly have a good time, especially with a warm and welcoming bed partner.

[Soapy Smith]

Hey guys. I would be visiting the philippines for the first time to meet up my girlfriend. She would be travelling too all the way from her province to join me. Any safe and nice hotels on an average budget which fellow mongers can advise as the best girlfriendly hotel. Mind you she is genuinely my girlfriend of 5 years and not an escort. I want her to feel safe.

I have a couple suggestions:

First, decide what part of Metro Manila you want to locate in. Plan in terms of the kinds of things you want to do together. Remember that you're not interested in hunting for a bed partner like most mongers on this site. Makati, for example, has the greatest selection of mall shopping; Ermita, in the City of Manila, has museums, gardens around Rizal Park, and the historic district of Intramuros; Quezon City has government agencies--but can't imagine that's interesting to most people. Safety can also involve issues with the neighborhood, but keep in mind that even then you can arrive and leave via taxis or grab vehicles and rarely need to walk any further than a nearby restaurant or 7-11. In general, stay out of the area referred to as Tondo, Binondo, and Quiapo. This is the part of the City of Manila just north of the Pasig River. Some people consider Ermita, which is bounded by the Pasig River to the north, Taft Avenue, Pedro Gil, and Manila Bay, to be unsafe. It is sleazy, but I have been in this area many times and never felt threatened. Don't flash jewelry, travel with minimal amounts of money on your person, know where you're going, stay out of poorly lit areas, and walk briskly. As a Filipina, your girlfriend will have a good sense about these things.

Second, you can generally trust the online booking systems like Agoda, Hotels dot com, and others. Use one of these sites as a guide for checking out ratings. Most hotels with a three star or better rating will be safe. Then, within the site for a given hotel, look at the ratings that individual guests have given, to include reading the details about things like slow elevators, slow room service, noisy air conditioning, no hot water, and so on. With very few exceptions, these hotels are all girlfriendly. If you arrive together, nobody is going to question your sharing a room. If she arrives before you, they will let her wait in the lobby, and then you check in together. If she arrives later, she may have to show ID at the entrance and then they call you to the lobby. GF is not an issue.

One of our expats says better prices can be had by contacting the hotel directly rather than using online sites. I tried this once, had a series of emails guaranteeing a room reservation, and arrived to find a hotel with no vacant rooms. I showed the Australian manager the emails, and he said, "this is the Philippines, anything can happen. " Hahaha. He found me a room in a nearby hotel that was more expensive and less accommodating. Your mileage may vary.

Finally, cross-tabulate the first and second criteria. The decision is about both location and hotel quality. Manila has lots of dirty air, street beggars, and foul smelling rivers and streams, but Filipinos are warm and welcoming people. You'll almost certainly have a good time, especially with a warm and welcoming bed partner.

[Sandy1984]

Hey guys. I would be visiting the philippines for the first time to meet up my girlfriend. She would be travelling too all the way from her province to join me. Any safe and nice hotels on an average budget which fellow mongers can advise as the best girlfriendly hotel. Mind you she is genuinely my girlfriend of 5 years and not an escort. I want her to feel safe.

[Breadman]

It's been many years, but I know first hand about a shakedown by a couple just walking down the street.

As for LA cafe, I ask to meet a block away.

And if some guy flashes a badge and / or gun, I'm probably not going to get into his van as instructed. I don't think they are real cops. At least in the situation I'm aware off.

Why wouldn't you just order a grab taxi to pick you up right outside the bar? Tell her to wait just inside the door so you can confirm the car is for you then have her jump in. This should be done everywhere if you are inclined to think a shakedown is coming.

[Wicked Roger]

I will be in Manila / Makati in a few weeks for a weekend. Any ideas how to get decent, passionate, clean girls for a threesome? Any hints are most welcome.

Plenty ideas if you RTFF but we can't give you ideas / contacts on the open forum so best PM me please.

Look forward to the PM as then you can get a few ideas.

[Naked Gunz]

I assume you are staying in Ermita to visit LA Cafe or Robinson Mall. You want to be within walking distance of those places as Ermita is a shit hole.

City Garden was a good hotel also, however, LA Cafe quality, IMO, those 50 yo+ women are shit in that smoke hole dump. Just saying!

[X Man]

It's been many years, but I know first hand about a shakedown by a couple just walking down the street.

As for LA cafe, I ask to meet a block away.

And if some guy flashes a badge and / or gun, I'm probably not going to get into his van as instructed. I don't think they are real cops. At least in the situation I'm aware off.

I stayed at Diamond hotel before. It is very good. Around $100 per night. Superior rooms at Best western is fairly good at mid range $50 per night. Nice breakfast for two if you book for two people. There are other hotels around the area to fit in any budget. All are girl friendly. Within walking distance to LA cafe. If you keep to main roads at night it is quite safe. Do not go into alleyways. If your main goal is pick up at LA cafe stay around that area only. There have been shakedowns by police if you have a girl with you and take taxi. Walking together is safe.

[Mich69]

After RTFF and a couple of other sites, I booked the Executive room at the City Garden Hotel. Great location and it seems to very guest friendly so shouldn't have any probs bringing one or more girls up. I read they've updated the rooms. The mirror opposite the bed is a nice touch! I'll post a review after my stay.

I will be in Manila / Makati in a few weeks for a weekend. Any ideas how to get decent, passionate, clean girls for a threesome? Any hints are most welcome.

[Mua Tur]

I am going to do exactly the same thing on next visit. My organizing brain says to do it all ahead of time but my other thought is to make reservations one day at a time as you described. I have a long list of potential visitors and I don't know who will actually be available when I am and I prefer to change hotels frequently to avoid unwelcome showups which could happen because I am seeing Dating site girls.

If you make a must see list then you need to keep some expansion gaps (its a construction term used when two individual metal need to align and fix, than need to keep a gap in between them, to avoid future disaster) in between your time span. And you need to keep a reserve list too. If there any misshapes than the expansion gap will cover up your days and keep alive the next schedule. If all goes well than you may find empty expansion gap to be filled by the reserve list. Need to be prepared for misshapes always, because girls may stopped by their red flag or unable to meet for any unavoidable reason or just no show.

It's better to book the hotel a day before after confirming the next meet.

[ForkTruck]

When I visit specially Philippine and Thailand I used to meet with a numbers of girls listed in a spreadsheet date wise. I need to be listing the hotels too according to the girl's convenience and my safety. Generally I book the hotel a day before for my next meeting if all goes as I planed before. For me it is always in need to be organized.

Happy hunting.

I am going to do exactly the same thing on next visit. My organizing brain says to do it all ahead of time but my other thought is to make reservations one day at a time as you described. I have a long list of potential visitors and I don't know who will actually be available when I am and I prefer to change hotels frequently to avoid unwelcome showups which could happen because I am seeing Dating site girls.