Manila Hotels

[Harry V]

I recently stayed here and this is my experience.

The hotel is very girl friendly. They don't care who walks through to the lifts. I have met the girls and walked them to the lift, and at other times had the girls come on their own (going out to pick up something for me, and coming back on their own with my room key). Never been stopped.

There is a rooftop bar on 32nd floor, as others have mentioned, which does not require a card to access (which would explain why they can't monitor people going to the lifts). I have told girls to meet me there and then taken them down to the room with me.

About the hotel itself, the rooms are good. The lobby is a bit cramped and deary, but that does not do justice to the hotel itself. There is no mini-bar in the room. There is a fridge though. The staff will point you the 7-Eleven right across the street when asked. The rooftop bar has average food, nothing great. Being Makati, you have plenty of options outside though. It is a pleasant place to sit and work during the day. Did not try the bar or the drinks.

During my stay, one (of three) lift was under maintenance, so there was a crowd usually waiting to get in and sometimes had to skip one to get in. In general, I think even with three lifts, it is quite busy.

As others have mentioned, don't confuse this with City Garden Hotel nearby.

[Pablo]

And just to be more specific, I'm looking for a girl friendly hotel near Terminal 1.

I've been doing a regular flight between LAX and BKK that has an overnight layover at NAIA and it uses Terminal 1. Based on a recommendation from a friend who goes to Philippines a lot, he suggested the Belmont Hotel. I'm usually Marriott / Bonvoy but both the Marriott and Sheraton at NAIA were in the $200+ range and I figured I'd save some money since it's just a place to shower and crash for a few hours.

It seems that most of the hotels are in that Newport Area on the other side of the runway from Terminal 3. There are places near terminal 1, but they all looked substandard to me. My friend suggested that I could do a 15 minute walk from the Belmont to Terminal 3 and then catch the free inter-terminal shuttle to go to terminal 1. Even though I only had a small backpack for the layover (I check my suitcase through) I didn't feel like dealing with walking so I grabbed a taxi which was cheap. Same when I landed, I just grabbed a taxi from Terminal 1. Because you have to go around the runways it's sort of a long route but it's still not expensive but I don't remember how much.

I thought the Belmont was just fine, nothing fancy but it was very clean. It's very similar to the City Garden Grand near Burgos in terms of quality and was about US $100 after taxes.

Also, it's girl friendly. But I did have a glitch. My flight got delayed by a lot so I knew I was landing late around midning instead of the scheduled 6:30 PM. So instead of trying to get into the city so late I contacted a friend of mine who was to bring 2 of her friends for a 4-some. Good way to start the trip! But when I landed one of the girls backed out so 2 girls showed up. There would have been no problem but one of them didn't bring her ID and the front desk wouldn't budge about letting her up with out it. Eventually she got a friend to find her ID in hjer room and text a photo of it and the desk accepted it. No joiner fee just a lot of wasted time.

I am doing the same itinerary again soon and might stay there again, or I might make the trip into Makati and stay at the City Garden Grand again.

[Undakovabrotha]

Hey folks, thanks for the really good information. Yes, Swagman's was a real big dive. However, they were GF friendly and had great breakfast. It sounds like P2 P from the airport to the SM Clark sounds like the best option. I've done the Victory Lines to Dau Terminal. It's hit or miss with the type of bus (air con vs no air con). I have no time for that. I have taken Grab. Those guys always seem to ask for extra money. SMH. Let me know if anyone will be in Ermita early part of Sept! Cheers 🍻.

[Goferring]

As I recall, the Swagman Hotel was a real dive. Good riddance!

Don't quote me but didn't they also have buses to Batangas to link up with the ferries to / from Sabang. Obviously, long gone now.

Enjoy. G.

[Radical Guy]

The Swagman Hotel and the Southern Cross Hotel in Ermita operated buses to Angeles. They both closed before Covid hit, probably around 2018 or 2019. I now go out to the airport and take the point to point bus to the SM Mall from Terminal 3.

As I recall, the Swagman Hotel was a real dive. Good riddance!

[Dg8787]

Any recommendations for a girl friendly hotel close to Manila airport? Trying to avoid traffic.

There are many. Online search will provide many with different price ranges which should answer your vague question.

[Buffer]

The Swagman Hotel and the Southern Cross Hotel in Ermita operated buses to Angeles. They both closed before Covid hit, probably around 2018 or 2019. I now go out to the airport and take the point to point bus to the SM Mall from Terminal 3.

[Psriches]

Any recommendations for a girl friendly hotel close to Manila airport? Trying to avoid traffic.

And just to be more specific, I'm looking for a girl friendly hotel near Terminal 1.

[Psriches]

Hey folks, I'm glad to see folks out fresh from the pandemic. I haven't been to Manila since 2018. I plan to head on over first week of September. I usually do a night in Manila before heading over to Angeles. I'm planning to stay at City Gardens. The old heads, of the room, may remember. There used to be a bus from a hotel in Ermita (Australian themed hotel) to Angeles. Does anyone know the name of that hotel and if the bus service is still being offered? If not, how are why'all getting to Angeles?

Yes, you're talking about 'Fly The Bus' that used to drop you off at the Swag Man hotel in Ermita, Manila. Both are no longer in existence. The last time there, I took a Grab Taxi to the airport and caught the Genesis Bus to SM Clark in Angeles. Many will tell you to catch one of the real Public Buses in the City, but the Genesis Bus from the airport still has the feel of private service. I hope I explained that right.

[Shining Wit]

Hey folks, I'm glad to see folks out fresh from the pandemic. I haven't been to Manila since 2018. I plan to head on over first week of September. I usually do a night in Manila before heading over to Angeles. I'm planning to stay at City Gardens. The old heads, of the room, may remember. There used to be a bus from a hotel in Ermita (Australian themed hotel) to Angeles. Does anyone know the name of that hotel and if the bus service is still being offered? If not, how are why'all getting to Angeles?

Like you, I haven't made it back due to COVID and since, and I won't before I run into complexities with my passport and SRRV. City Gardens Suites in Ermita was my regular stay, too. Just a reminder about the exact name, as there are a couple of other City Gardens somethings in Makati, and possibly another in Ermita which I think became Lotus Garden. I'm pretty sure the Aussie hotel with the minibus was Southern Cross or Swagman, although whether they run the service, or are even still open under the same name, I've no idea.

I used to go on to Olongapo and just took the regular bus service, Victory Liner, but they are not great for Angeles City. Each company seems to have it's own terminal in Manila, so it is probably worth asking one of the staff, possibly one of the doormen. The terminals at Sampaloc or Caloocan are the better bet, as you are heading in the right direction to get to them.

A very long-winded post to say I can't give you too much current information, other than if all else fails, get a taxi.

[Undakovabrotha]

Hey folks, I'm glad to see folks out fresh from the pandemic. I haven't been to Manila since 2018. I plan to head on over first week of September. I usually do a night in Manila before heading over to Angeles. I'm planning to stay at City Gardens. The old heads, of the room, may remember. There used to be a bus from a hotel in Ermita (Australian themed hotel) to Angeles. Does anyone know the name of that hotel and if the bus service is still being offered? If not, how are why'all getting to Angeles?

[Psriches]

Any recommendations for a girl friendly hotel close to Manila airport? Trying to avoid traffic.

[SethMacfarlane]

Their response to my inquiry:

"We would like to clarify that, after inquiring at our front desk, if your visitor is the only person accompanying you as the guest, we can allow your visitor to share your room without any charges. In such a case, the charge will remain at P1,200.00 per person if multiple visitors are present and if they surpass the designated curfew hours (past 10 pm". ".

If your open to another spot, maybe try the 1898 Hotel. On burgos and kalayaan. I never was questioned once. Great hotel and decent restaurant too. I averaged 2-3 a day without issue. Even coming in at 2 am there were no issues, also the door guys were solid. Warned me about a couple drama queens to avoid. Buuut, this was right as the pandy kicked in. So things may have changed. Can't wait to be back in January.

[Houston Player]

Here is their response to a question about overnight guests:

"Please be informed that our visiting hours are until 10:00 PM only. (Penalty Charge of Php 2,000 per person shall apply beyond 10:00 PM). Party rooms are STRICTLY prohibited. (Penalty charge of Php 10,000 shall apply). ".

Their response to my inquiry:

"We would like to clarify that, after inquiring at our front desk, if your visitor is the only person accompanying you as the guest, we can allow your visitor to share your room without any charges. In such a case, the charge will remain at P1,200.00 per person if multiple visitors are present and if they surpass the designated curfew hours (past 10 pm". ".

This may be the official policy but I've never been charged a joiner fee by either hotel and I've brought more than one girl at a time on multiple occasions. I have stayed at the I'm Hotel many times and City Garden Grand only once but did have 2 girls at same time in my room.

[Sammon]

Their response to my inquiry:

"We would like to clarify that, after inquiring at our front desk, if your visitor is the only person accompanying you as the guest, we can allow your visitor to share your room without any charges. In such a case, the charge will remain at P1,200.00 per person if multiple visitors are present and if they surpass the designated curfew hours (past 10 pm". ".

Security gets tighter after 10 pm in some hotels. If you are bringing in a girl security will ask you to go to the reception. Always book the room for two persons. Charges are the same for one or two persons while booking.

Trick is to get the girl or girls inside your room preferably before 8 pm. Nobody comes and knocks your door to check. Although once it happened to me in a Chinese province hotel when I had two girls in my room. Girls started arguing with the management but left after management said they will call police. This is well after I had fun with both girls. For some reason they wanted to remain whole night.

Generally in Philippines if I want two girls I take one girl first and after an hour or so get the other girl in. This was in Bayview Park hotel where I used to stay before. They were strict after 8 pm. I told the front desk I booked for two and they would allow the girl. If they ask what happened to the other girl before I would say she left.

Nowadays I stay at new coast hotel exclusively. No checking or anything. Just need to escort the girl to the room because room key will allow you to take the elevator to your floor only.

I believe after covid hotels have become strict or maybe want to be morally correct.