Manila Hotels

[Omega 3]

Stykler, Yes I enjoyed my stay at the Peninsula. This is a true 5 star hotel that I was able to book on two separate occasions with Expedia for $113 (deluxe King room) with buffet breakfasts included. The room was large and well appointed. The buffet breakfast was great. The hotel is VERY girl friendly and tolerant. Read my last Makati postcard. And what I liked best was the large swimming pool / garden area. This recreational space was large enough to have PRIVATE pool party get togethers with my sexy Filipinas and not be bothered by other hotel guests. Location is good too. I would absolutely stay here again.

NB

I also have stayed at the Makati Peninsula numerous times over the years, and agree with Natty. A couple of additional "insider tips".

There is a "side" entrance which actually leads from the Pen buffet area to Makati Avenue. If you cross over Makati Ave from this side entrance you will be at the Blackbird, which is a delightful western restaurant located in the control tower of the old Manila airport which used to be at the Ayala Triangle (where the very straight areas of Paseo de Roxas, Ayala Avenue, and Makati Avenue reportedly used to be runway areas). Blackbird is part of Chef Colin Mackay's culinary "mini-empire" in Makati, which also includes Sala Restaurant, Sala Bistro, and the (somewhat over-rated) People's Place Thai restaurant in Greenbelt.

Also, across the Pen lobby from the front desk, there is a small staircase going down, which leads to a tiny subterranean retail area. In this area, there is a decent barber, and, at the end of the underground corridor, there is a cozy "mini-deli" serving sandwiches plus a deli showcase or two with tasty baked goods (breads and pastries).

OM.

Cheers!

OM.

[GoodEnough]

Stykler, Yes I enjoyed my stay at the Peninsula. This is a true 5 star hotel that I was able to book on two separate occasions with Expedia for $113 (deluxe King room) with buffet breakfasts included. The room was large and well appointed. The buffet breakfast was great. The hotel is VERY girl friendly and tolerant. Read my last Makati postcard. And what I liked best was the large swimming pool / garden area. This recreational space was large enough to have PRIVATE pool party get togethers with my sexy Filipinas and not be bothered by other hotel guests. Location is good too. I would absolutely stay here again.

NB

I've eaten at the Penn but never stayed there. I don't know if you've stayed at the Makati Fairmont, but if so, can you compare it favorably to that hotel?

GE.

[Stykler]

Stykler, Yes I enjoyed my stay at the Peninsula.

{Massive Snip}

Thanks Natty for your very useful (as usual) information.

Styk.

[Member #4698]

Natty. Have you enjoyed this ( Peninsula ) hotel? Recommend or not?

Stykler, Yes I enjoyed my stay at the Peninsula. This is a true 5 star hotel that I was able to book on two separate occasions with Expedia for $113 (deluxe King room) with buffet breakfasts included. The room was large and well appointed. The buffet breakfast was great. The hotel is VERY girl friendly and tolerant. Read my last Makati postcard. And what I liked best was the large swimming pool / garden area. This recreational space was large enough to have PRIVATE pool party get togethers with my sexy Filipinas and not be bothered by other hotel guests. Location is good too. I would absolutely stay here again.

NB

[WestCoast1]

I just booked via airbnb a place in Oxford suites (it was strange that it got listed in airbnb) for a visit that I am making in 2 weeks time. Since, Oxford suites is a hotel. I expect no issues -but will post if I do run into those. I was also told by my friend that the airbnb listing "One pacific place" near Greenbelt was fine as well.

Noticed recently several Oxford suites being offered on Airbnb. One was going for $20/ night, the other for $27/ night, both for full suite.

Air bnb uUS s the only way to go.

Knightsbridge or Gramercy or something similar.

Knightsbridge / Milano (right next to each other) are bit more expensive, but still can be found in the $40-$100 range easily. Beautiful units. Drawback: its back far off Makati, several long blocks, 150 meters back in past Grammercy. There are no taxis approaching on Salamanca, so you must walk to the mall to get a taxi, or Uber / Grab. I walk to Burgos several times a day. Walking from Knightsbridge to Makati is literally uphill. Advantage: all the aircon units are split-type and mounted on top of the wall near the ceiling.

Grammercy units are considerably cheaper in price, $30-$75 / night, and closer to Makati Avenue + taxis. Disadvantage: all the aircon units are standard wall units (not split-type), and all are mounted near the floor, and are right next to the bed, so whoever in the bed is closest to the window is going to freeze. Also the curtains in most units in Gram cover the aircon blower, so the only way to close them all the way is to cover the aircon.

Another large condo system in the area is Jazz residences, located west down Jupiter, to the SM mall and cemetary. The units are smaller than Gram / Knights, but clean and new (and 5 pools), and even less money than Grammercy.

[WestCoast1]

I plan to visit Manila in September and have been looking at apartments with AirBnb for my stay, and I must say that the vast majority of these properties (70%) have very strict House Rules about "no unregistered guests" visiting / staying overnight!

Hope this helps!

Was going to PM you some info regarding this, but you don't have PM. Time for a membership.

[KrisMonger]

I have stayed at AirBnB properties in many countries around the world, and you generally have 2 distinct problems:

1.) The owner of the property (condo or apartment) doesn't have approval from the Condo Association to offer the property on a short term lease basis, as with AirBnB. And usually you don't' find this out until you arrive for your stay, so you always feel as if you shouldn't be there. Unsettling, but usually not a serious problem.

2.) The second and more concerning issue is can you invite a guest (s) to visit or stay overnight without having major problems at the front desk / reception / security. Two years ago I was renting a property in Montreal, Canada, and I was faced with both of these problems. I managed to get the lady in question passed security at the front desk (just took the girl's hand and looked straight ahead), but one of the residence (Old Witch / *****) saw me going into the elevator with someone, who was obviously considerably less than half my age, and kicked up a stink with the owner and security. This was on the first of several nights at the condo, so no more guests!! Ruined most of my mongering plans.

I just booked via airbnb a place in Oxford suites (it was strange that it got listed in airbnb) for a visit that I am making in 2 weeks time. Since, Oxford suites is a hotel. I expect no issues -but will post if I do run into those. I was also told by my friend that the airbnb listing "One pacific place" near Greenbelt was fine as well.

[LongJohn001]

I have stayed at AirBnB properties in many countries around the world, and you generally have 2 distinct problems:

1.) The owner of the property (condo or apartment) doesn't have approval from the Condo Association to offer the property on a short term lease basis, as with AirBnB. And usually you don't' find this out until you arrive for your stay, so you always feel as if you shouldn't be there. Unsettling, but usually not a serious problem.

2.) The second and more concerning issue is can you invite a guest (s) to visit or stay overnight without having major problems at the front desk / reception / security. Two years ago I was renting a property in Montreal, Canada, and I was faced with both of these problems. I managed to get the lady in question passed security at the front desk (just took the girl's hand and looked straight ahead), but one of the residence (Old Witch / *****) saw me going into the elevator with someone, who was obviously considerably less than half my age, and kicked up a stink with the owner and security. This was on the first of several nights at the condo, so no more guests!! Ruined most of my mongering plans.

I plan to visit Manila in September and have been looking at apartments with AirBnb for my stay, and I must say that the vast majority of these properties (70%) have very strict House Rules about "no unregistered guests" visiting / staying overnight!

I had a similar problem earlier this year in Bangkok, so before booking I emailed the host / owner and asked specifically if they had a problem with visiting / overnight guests, to which they replied absolutely not, the front desk / security staff will simply smile as you walk bye!

So if you want peace of mind about this issue and don't want your plans ruined always, always ask before booking!

Hope this helps!

[ElNice]

Air bnb uUS s the only way to go.

Knightsbridge or Gramercy or something similar.

Hotel are expensive in Manila.

Be sure you stay in a unit with split air conditioning and not an in the wall unit.

The split air US quiet and cools very well.

Thanks a lot, you have been very helpful.

[JohnaCarson]

So I'm planning in the summer to go the Philippines, and wondering where can I find the best prices, I mean do I stick with booking? Or there's a better app for the Philippines? Or I just book when I'm there?. Last I think hotels cost me more than I expected, and I don't want to this happen again. I'm asking about hotels in Makati or something close to it, I don't want fancy hotels, I just need some decent hotels, I prefer hotel apartments. Thanks in advance.

Air bnb uUS s the only way to go.

Knightsbridge or Gramercy or something similar.

Hotel are expensive in Manila.

Be sure you stay in a unit with split air conditioning and not an in the wall unit.

The split air US quiet and cools very well.

[ElNice]

So I'm planning in the summer to go the Philippines, and wondering where can I find the best prices, I mean do I stick with booking? Or there's a better app for the Philippines? Or I just book when I'm there?. Last I think hotels cost me more than I expected, and I don't want to this happen again. I'm asking about hotels in Makati or something close to it, I don't want fancy hotels, I just need some decent hotels, I prefer hotel apartments. Thanks in advance.

[Mbsl65]

First time, I am staying in Ortigas area. The hotel is in a good location to access to Galleria Mall. Rooms are wide and bed is comfortable. Hotel is very girl friendly. They have almost no security. You can come thru Mall entrance and go to the hotel elevators.

[Soapy Smith]

Yes, I sometime get nervous when see such rules. I think it's partly to give the hotel some leeway if there is a problem. For example, if there is a group of guys making a lot of noise at 1 am while drinking Red Horse they can then enforce the rule.

Or it's like the security guards at malls, stores, and train stations--whose cursory inspections of backpacks never find anything out of place. A couple years ago Radical Guy commented about a sign at the back door of Century Park Hotel in southern Malate which asserted that no visitors would be admitted after 9 pm, or some such time. Bringing back an evening guest from Harrison Plaza a little after that time, he discovered that the only apparent difference was that, after 9 pm, they asked to see ID, but didn't ask for it prior to 9. I think it's primarily about the appearance of respectability.

[GoodEnough]

I looked at the visitor policy in Oakwood and it stated that they cannot stay post 11 PM. Hence the question. I thought some hotels may not allow if you are booked as single occupancy. New to mongering.

I advise you to heed th advice of the other senior members here. I've never, in 15 years, had a problem regardless of hotel policy. Walk in with the lady as if you own the hotel, and don't worry about anything else.

GE.

[X Man]

Yes, I sometime get nervous when see such rules. I think it's partly to give the hotel some leeway if there is a problem. For example, if there is a group of guys making a lot of noise at 1 am while drinking Red Horse they can then enforce the rule.

I looked at the visitor policy in Oakwood and it stated that they cannot stay post 11 PM. Hence the question. I thought some hotels may not allow if you are booked as single occupancy. New to mongering.