Manila Hotels

[CallSign Papa]

I have never been given free access to a guest room without there being some sort of check that the room is expecting a visitor.

To clarify my situation, I'm heading to Bohol with a delightful young filly, but she's smart and switched on and is not currently privy to my real surname. It's a five star beach resort and generally at these places your name shows up on the TV, or you need to use it when charging stuff to the pool bar.

Ideally what I'd like is that at check-in my "other" surname is used. Appreciate that in modern times this is unlikely, but worth drawing on your collective experiences nonetheless.

As for ploughing other fields, this girl would be one hell of a harvest and thus, it's worth the hassle.

[Red Kilt]

I disagree with this assessment. The front desk people do not care what info they give to local caller. Even if it is a 5 star hotel they cannot fully control the actions of employees. As for the employees are concerned they feel there is no harm in giving out info. Besides front desk people rotate constantly. I never see the same people working in any hotel I re visited. Another problem is the visiting girls need to know who they are visiting. When they are checked by the security or reception they need to know room number and the person name. In Philippines there are no secrets.

I don't think this is a legitimate concern if you're staying at a decent place. Just instruct the front desk that your name is not to be revealed to anyone under any circumstances. Most large hotels will readily comply with your request and will be unruffled by it. No normal hotel in Manila is going to allow you to check in without asking for some form of picture identification.

I have never been given free access to a guest room without there being some sort of check that the room is expecting a visitor.

As GE says, it is probably linked to the quality of the hotel, and a good hotel trains its staff in basic discretion, even if as Sammon says, they rotate a lot.

For example, I frequently need to meet business people staying in Oakwood near ADB in Ortigas.

They ALWAYS call the room first and do not tell me the number until the guest has agreed I am a genuine visitor.

You cannot access the elevator until the security guy / gal says it's OK, and they use their card because you need a room key for access.

Most of the 4-star and 5-star hotels use this process now.

Obviously in the cheaper rock-bottom places, there is zero checking, so anything goes. I work all over the Philippines and other SE Asian countries, and I have learned long ago to carry in my travel kit a wedge-shaped plastic door jam that I use each night on the door in my hotel room. If there is no checking of visitors accessing guest rooms floors in any Philippines hotel, there are also probably numerous copies of keys that will fit your hotel door.

[Sammon]

I don't think this is a legitimate concern if you're staying at a decent place. Just instruct the front desk that your name is not to be revealed to anyone under any circumstances. Most large hotels will readily comply with your request and will be unruffled by it. No normal hotel in Manila is going to allow you to check in without asking for some form of picture identification.

GE.

I disagree with this assessment. The front desk people do not care what info they give to local caller. Even if it is a 5 star hotel they cannot fully control the actions of employees. As for the employees are concerned they feel there is no harm in giving out info. Besides front desk people rotate constantly. I never see the same people working in any hotel I re visited. Another problem is the visiting girls need to know who they are visiting. When they are checked by the security or reception they need to know room number and the person name. In Philippines there are no secrets.

[GoodEnough]

Bit of a random one this, let's say I was spending the weekend in a hotel in Phil and I didn't want the girl to know my full real name, could I use a false surname at check-in? I have one credit card with this different name, but not actual photo ID or paper ID.

Long gone are the days or securing hotel rooms with cash and no ID. Anyone have any experience with this?

I don't think this is a legitimate concern if you're staying at a decent place. Just instruct the front desk that your name is not to be revealed to anyone under any circumstances. Most large hotels will readily comply with your request and will be unruffled by it. No normal hotel in Manila is going to allow you to check in without asking for some form of picture identification.

GE.

[Amavida]

Bit of a random one this, let's say I was spending the weekend in a hotel in Phil and I didn't want the girl to know my full real name, could I use a false surname at check-in? I have one credit card with this different name, but not actual photo ID or paper ID.

Long gone are the days or securing hotel rooms with cash and no ID. Anyone have any experience with this?

Legit western style hotels are going to demand ID.

It shouldn't be necessary to go to the extreme of using false names. If for whatever reason you're concerned a bed partner is suspicious of your story and likely to check then use Filipino accomodation instead. These are basic, cheap, clean & available by the hour or day for cash.

You could try some of the seedier SOGO's or Victoria Secret love hotels, you may get away with it.

Frankly if it's getting that serious you might want to consider easier fields to plough nes pa?

[Dark Knight1]

Bit of a random one this, let's say I was spending the weekend in a hotel in Phil and I didn't want the girl to know my full real name, could I use a false surname at check-in? I have one credit card with this different name, but not actual photo ID or paper ID.

Long gone are the days or securing hotel rooms with cash and no ID. Anyone have any experience with this?

If its Short time hotel they don't ask for things like that. If its a long term hotel they will ask for ID such as a passport or something to that nature. They also will tell what room you are staying in if someone inquires. I have had it happen to me at the Dusit and the New World. If you trying to be discreet use Eurtotel, Sogo and Victoria court. I used to think those guys who used those hotels were just cheap, broke bastards but those hotels will protect you in the event something goes amiss.

[CallSign Papa]

Bit of a random one this, let's say I was spending the weekend in a hotel in Phil and I didn't want the girl to know my full real name, could I use a false surname at check-in? I have one credit card with this different name, but not actual photo ID or paper ID.

Long gone are the days or securing hotel rooms with cash and no ID. Anyone have any experience with this?

[SaltyPete]

Thanks DB,

How is the city garden grand hotel in Makati? I found it clser to burgos st? I wonder for the mongering is concern, more action in makati than manila? I never been to those burgos bar and beside I am alone, unlike in LAC, I have been there several time, just simply order drinks and do searching.

Last time I went to EDSA complex, which is like the nana entertaiment plaze in Bangkok but the BF and girl cost way too high, last time I heard around 6000 pesos fore the girl but I don't know how much the BF, and that was way so many years ago. I wonder in burgos bar, is almost the same as edsa comples structure way?

Cheers,

MD.

Your information about EDSA is wrong. 1950 for bar, girl asks for 2000-2500ST, 3000-4000 LT, depends on you and the girl. This info was current as of August '16.

[Macho Dik]

Hey MD,

If you have only 3 nights in Manila, and haven't been around for a long time, I personally would recommend Makati over the Manila Bay area. There are tens of hotels in Makati which is much nicer in the daytime with better quality hotels, restaurants and girlie bars. In my experience, using Waze will easily get you from Makati either to the bay area (including LA Cafe, several KTVs and EDSA Complex) or paranaque (if AF1 is appealing to you) in less than 30 minutes in the early evening / late night time. Of course, for just 3 nights the options inside Makati should suffice (P. Burgos, Cafe Havana, casas etc.), but if one would like to get out and about, I find Makati to still be the best bet.

If you want specific hotel recommendations in Makati you can fibd plenty here, I personally like the Salcedo village area, which is packed with hotels and residences, but really, all of Makati is.

As for A/C, both ABC and Lewis Grand are very good hotels, but are not "in the middle of the action" per se. I guess it depends what you refer to as action, but since you've mentioned dollhouse, sounds like walking street is your area. If that's the case ABC has an extension hotel names Fields Plaza Suites which is basically a mongering heaven, I would strongly recommend even though it is the priciest choice in town, just for two nights shouldn't be so bad.

Enjoy,

D

Thanks DB,

How is the city garden grand hotel in Makati? I found it clser to burgos st? I wonder for the mongering is concern, more action in makati than manila? I never been to those burgos bar and beside I am alone, unlike in LAC, I have been there several time, just simply order drinks and do searching.

Last time I went to EDSA complex, which is like the nana entertaiment plaze in Bangkok but the BF and girl cost way too high, last time I heard around 6000 pesos fore the girl but I don't know how much the BF, and that was way so many years ago. I wonder in burgos bar, is almost the same as edsa comples structure way?

Cheers,

MD.

[Wicked Roger]

Hi guy,

Is Midas Hotel and Casino a girl friendly Hotel?

Thanks in advance.

FRancescoz

Odd thing Frances is that you have 9 FRs all asking questions and you ask another about hotels in Manila when there is a wealth of information on this board about that question. About hotels. The hotel policy etc. Just odd you did not read about hotels in general, call the hotel, research before you plant another question on the board.

[Francescoz]

Hi guy,

Is Midas Hotel and Casino a girl friendly Hotel?

Thanks in advance.

FRancescoz

[MJ4U6969]

OK guys need a little help here been to PI several times and this time I want to find a hotel that doesn't require me to show ID to rent or for her. Very friendly place. I think you know what I mean. Anyway help would be great.

[Soapy Smith]

OTOH I just pulled it up on maps. google.com's satellite imagery, and from above it shows a completely outdoor pool on a higher level. YMMV.

But the only pool I see on the Google Earth image is on the north side of the building. Even at that latitude, with a 50 story building blocking the sun, it may still not get much direct sun. My "suite" was on the north side and I could look down onto part of the pool below that extended out from the building, but it mostly seemed to be in shade. The only exception was late in the evening when the sun had shifted around over Manila Bay, and at that point the sun was too low on the horizon to create much heat.

[WestCoast1]

There is a pool on one of the lower floors, but another ISG regular has told me the pool is often not very warm. It did seem that the check-in area in the building lobby made for very relaxed girl-friendly practices. The ads on Agoda insisted that every guest above two occupants must be paid, but I had extra guests overnight and was never asked to pay. I suspect this is because the security guard at the door works for the building rather than any one of the hotel companies, so he has little incentive to enforce such rules and even less capability to keep track of who everybody is that comes and goes.

The pool, the view, quick access to Robinsons Place, and girl friendly policy are the only things to recommend this place over other cheap monger hotels in the area, such as Rothman, Las Palmas, Palm Plaza, Riviera, Executive Plaza, and Cherry Blossoms. There are several elements on the negative side of that comparison.

Concur, its location next to Robinson's and near LAC / G-Point makes it good, and the nightlife is vibrant in the area (gritty might be a better word). Also right next door to Bellagio Square, a collection of indoor / outdoor resto / bars with live band on the weekend. However the several entities that rent out the various rooms at Birch Tower leave a lot to be desired, there is not a lot in the way of customer service (office might be on the first floor, 13th floor, or other floor). The wifi was always good on the ground floor (coffee shop area), and hit / miss in the room. A single building wouldn't have multiple service providers, right?

However that pool. I remember it on the 8th or 9th floor. While its open to the elements / air, it is completely covered by the floor above it from sunlight. I don't think the sun hits it at any time of day, and hence its rather frigid (no exwife jokes, please) all the time (brisk! OTOH I just pulled it up on maps. google.com's satellite imagery, and from above it shows a completely outdoor pool on a higher level. YMMV.

[BaboyDave]

Hi BD,

Many thanks for your kind feedback and advises. It surely give me a big help.

Yes, I surely will booked two different hotel for those 2 location, I plan to booked;.

1) ERMITA / MALATE area: New World manila bay hotel.

2) AC: either ABC or Lewis grand, are these both right on the right action area? I hate to walk too far after my pick as I want to minimize the "walk of fame with different girls every night".

One more thing, as I asked earlier, should I also booked a different hotel in Burgos? Or I can stay in New World Manila Bay hotel and go to Burgos for mongering?

I plan to stay Manila for 3 nights and in AC for 2 nights. Tight schedule hope this is enough..

Hey MD,

If you have only 3 nights in Manila, and haven't been around for a long time, I personally would recommend Makati over the Manila Bay area. There are tens of hotels in Makati which is much nicer in the daytime with better quality hotels, restaurants and girlie bars. In my experience, using Waze will easily get you from Makati either to the bay area (including LA Cafe, several KTVs and EDSA Complex) or paranaque (if AF1 is appealing to you) in less than 30 minutes in the early evening / late night time. Of course, for just 3 nights the options inside Makati should suffice (P. Burgos, Cafe Havana, casas etc.), but if one would like to get out and about, I find Makati to still be the best bet.

If you want specific hotel recommendations in Makati you can fibd plenty here, I personally like the Salcedo village area, which is packed with hotels and residences, but really, all of Makati is.

As for A/C, both ABC and Lewis Grand are very good hotels, but are not "in the middle of the action" per se. I guess it depends what you refer to as action, but since you've mentioned dollhouse, sounds like walking street is your area. If that's the case ABC has an extension hotel names Fields Plaza Suites which is basically a mongering heaven, I would strongly recommend even though it is the priciest choice in town, just for two nights shouldn't be so bad.

Enjoy,

D