Manila Hotels

[PhilJoy]

Looking for a short term hotel near City state Ermita (catching the sikat to PG). I'm landing at 5:30 am, girlie is meeting me at the airport, going to taxi or grab it to ermita and bang out a quick round or two before the 9:30 SiKat, what are my options besides stopping at a sogo on the way?

Hey Joe_ I can't see any other options because the time frame is so tight between landing and getting the Sikat. My experience of landing at terminal one has always been a good wait for luggage, and that's hoping that you land on time. I've never had any delays in customs though, and have always just walked straight through. And then there's the issue of Manila traffic, especially depending if you're arriving mid-week as opposed to weekends.

Maybe don't limit your choice of transport to PG with Sikat as they only have the one trip per day in each direction.

Jam Liner busses run hourly from Buendia Bus Terminal to Batangas Pier and you just have to buy your fastcat ticket in the terminal. This also might be a cheaper option. And you could stretch your time out to an 11 am or a midday bus heading towards Batangas.

Having said that, in answer to your original question, I can't think of any other options apart from a Sogo.

The only other option would be to head straight to the bus station from the airport, get to Batangas early, grab a short time hotel there, which there are options, and then travel by water from the terminal after you've banged out a quick round or two.

Hope this helps _ Phil.

[ShaggerAu]

On my recent trip I was arriving latish on a Sunday night. I booked a simple room at St Giles Makati which has been mentioned in various forums a few times.

Less than $50 deal with breakfast at the time.

Easy walking distance to Burgos without it being in your face.

A hoped the check-in process was handled simply and quickly.

Hotel was and is girl friendly. There is a simple book for the girls to sign in.

Breakfast was more Filipino style than western. It was a good reminder of what to expect over the next week, cold eggs, lots of rice.

After this one night I relocated to an airBNB.

[JoeS82]

Looking for a short term hotel near City state Ermita (catching the sikat to PG). I'm landing at 5:30 am, girlie is meeting me at the airport, going to taxi or grab it to ermita and bang out a quick round or two before the 9:30 SiKat, what are my options besides stopping at a sogo on the way?

[Goferring]

There are numerous condos in Makati that are not near Burgos St. Gramercy, Knightsbridge, Milano. Jazz Residences. In Saucedo and near Ayala, just a mile away. Closer than BGC I think.

Pay for her Grab or Joy ride, no problem.

Or the Residential blocks that ring Greenbelt.

[WestCoast1]

Will girls from the Korean bars balk at commuting to my AirBNB in BGC near High Street?

I'd prefer not to stay near the bars.

There are numerous condos in Makati that are not near Burgos St. Gramercy, Knightsbridge, Milano. Jazz Residences. In Saucedo and near Ayala, just a mile away. Closer than BGC I think.

Everything has a price.

Pay for her Grab or Joy ride, no problem.

[Old And Ugly]

Will girls from the Korean bars balk at commuting to my AirBNB in BGC near High Street?

I'd prefer not to stay near the bars.

Everything has a price.

[Banana Boi]

Will girls from the Korean bars balk at commuting to my AirBNB in BGC near High Street?

I'd prefer not to stay near the bars.

[Delbo1]

For $100, BBoi is correct: you're not going to find a high end hotel see / w extensive buffet breakfast. Better to spend $50 on a basic room and dine out at a $30 breakfast. The only downside is that often these places don't open until 10 am. Manila is not built for morning people.

Thinking outside the box another option would be an $80 Airbnb and have girlie cook for you every morning.

Or a PinaLove post: 2k to arrive 7am take care of morning wood and scrambled eggs everyday. No, I'm not joking

Enjoy. G.

Thanks for everyone's help.

[WestCoast1]

I guess the moral of the story is don't use Air BNB.

Respectfully disagree, and for several reasons:

1) You would have run into those same problems if you'd booked the same unit (or any unit in said residence) at the time if you'd skipped airbnb and used Agoda or other online agent (which I did at different times).

2) 2021-22 was an especially wild and difficult time everywhere regarding hotels and residences, given different countries covid responses.

3) Pinoy represent a uniquely superstitious group. Many condos owners took their units completely offline during that timeframe (nothing wrong with that). Others did not take their units off-calendar, they simply ignored guest questions in the online system (Agoda, Booking, bnb, etc) and rejected every rental attempt, or said no to anyone they didn't feel comfortable renting to (seniors, persons of other nationalities), or left their units showing as available and over-priced it to stop rentals.

4) Good news. At some point, the system returned to normal as Covid became less important. You rarely run into a residence that does not allow unregistered guests in Phils (ala Goferring recently). Those daze are ovah. However if it does happen to you, YAFUKT! Actually not completely fukt, you just might have to forfeit your current rental and find a new place.

[DaveTheKnave]

Airbnb also has a communication method within the website or app that allows you to contact the owner / host prior to booking and ask questions. Similar for booking or agoda. You can always inquire as to the building's unregistered guest policy. Its been my experience that the owner / host almost never knows the correct answer. Half the time they reply "I don't know sir". You have to ask them to inquire for you. The other half that reply are usually wrong 90% (or more) of the time. They say things like "I don't allow any unregistered guests", or "Just drop your guest's ID at the guard, its all good". A quick call to the building's Admin will (usually, but not always*) get you the correct answer. Airbnb requires owner / hosts to give you updated, correct information. If they do not, you can request a partial refund after your arrival, claiming that the 'unit is not as described' (there is a separate complaint category for 'unit is not as described' in a drop-down list. Some examples of airbnb owner / hosts / residence f*ck-ups:

1) Rent a unit in KB. Arrive and the owner (nice lady) checks me into the unit, shows me the TV, wifi password, and so on. As she's leaving I ask about the building's unregistered guest policy. "No sir. I am the owner, I don't allow any unregisterd guests. Don't bring any. The Admin and guards won't allow it". Really, I just rented here last month on another floor, it was allowed. "NO". Did you mention this in your airbnb listing? "No. I only rent to pinoy. They know better to not bring outside guests". Really! OK. She departed, and upon my leaving for lunch that day I asked at the front desk, the guards, and the Admin. All said the same old policy of guests giving an ID and signing in was still in effect. I msg'd the owner thru airbnb app, her reply: "NO"! So I msg'd airbnb ("Report this listing") and asked them what to do. Like you I was not in the mood to not bring in the chicas for 2 weeks. Airbnb reply: "The owner does not mention her personal policy directly in the listing. Your complaint is legitimate. Airbnb considers all rentals to be utilized like our own home. Use the residential Admin's policy. We have messaged the owner". A few hours later the owner sent me a txt msg rant, outside of airbnb, asking me not to bring in any guests. I ignored her and seeded a chunk of Burgos. I also reported her to airbnb for telling me that she only rents to a certain group of people.

2*) Arrive at my condo / residence and inquire as to the building guest policy (covid era) at the front desk. One concierge says yes and to surrender an ID, another concierge says no outside guests. One guard says yes, the other guard says no. They send me to Admin. One Admin lady says yes, another says no. A continued disagreement for several minutes. They ask me to come back later. I return to Admin a few hours later, and the final answer is YES. A few hours later I am bringing in this evening's girl, and the two (shift change, different) guards can't agree on the policy: Yes? No? They ask the two (different) concierges, and get the same disagreement. They told me to ask Admin again tomorrow. No entry. The next day I asked the same two Admin ladies again, and they said they forgot to tell the staff. GREAT! The right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing.

That was covid. You might have to go thru several committees in the same organization to find out what's really policy in Phils.

I guess the moral of the story is don't use Air BNB.

[Goferring]

Thankyou Axel I will check them out.
I checked them out pieces are 200 to 270 thats way above my budget.
Anything under 100?

There is no rule that you have to stay at the hotel you want to eat a breakfast buffet at. Just stay at a cheaper option hotel near the hotels where you want to eat breakfast.

Makati, BGC, and the malls in Manila seem to have many buffet options so if you can just hold off a couple of hours you will be in AYCE heaven.

For $100, BBoi is correct: you're not going to find a high end hotel see / w extensive buffet breakfast. Better to spend $50 on a basic room and dine out at a $30 breakfast. The only downside is that often these places don't open until 10 am. Manila is not built for morning people.

Thinking outside the box another option would be an $80 Airbnb and have girlie cook for you every morning.

Or a PinaLove post: 2k to arrive 7am take care of morning wood and scrambled eggs everyday. No, I'm not joking

Enjoy. G.

[Axel Heyst]

Thankyou Axel I will check them out.
I checked them out pieces are 200 to 270 thats way above my budget.
Anything under 100?

Yeah, hotel rates have shot thru the roof since Covid. I used to stay at the Makati Fairmont when it was a Fairmont for around $125/ night and they usually upgraded my reservation to a 1 br suite upon arrival. Their gourmet buffet breakfast was always included at no extra charge. Ah, the good old days! Like you I won't pay these crazy new rates, but I still stay at 5 star hotels on points and voucher nights.

For example, check out the Chase Hyatt CC. As a signup bonus, Chase offers new card holders 5 free nights at a Hyatt of their choosing and every year a free night's anniversary voucher for renewing. I am heading down to Sao Paulo shortly after their Formula 1 week winds down. I am booked at the JW Marriott, a $350/ night hotel, for 5 nights all on hotel points and at the Grand Hyatt for 6 nights on points and my annual Hyatt voucher night. After that I am booked into a friendly, more than adequate 4-star hotel for $95/ night which is walking distance from one of my favorite SP bordello nightclubs called Bomboa. So, I am all set.

[Banana Boi]

Any recommendations it doesn't have to be near the action. Excellent breakfast is priority.

There is no rule that you have to stay at the hotel you want to eat a breakfast buffet at. Just stay at a cheaper option hotel near the hotels where you want to eat breakfast.

Makati, BGC, and the malls in Manila seem to have many buffet options so if you can just hold off a couple of hours you will be in AYCE heaven.

[Delbo1]

The Fairmont Makati has an excellent breakfast buffet as does the Grand Hyatt Manila and the Shangri-La The Fort. If you want something great and above good, check them out.

Thankyou Axel I will check them out.
I checked them out pieces are £200 to £270 that’s way above my budget.
Anything under £100?

[Axel Heyst]

Looking for variety instead of offering a couple of tasteless cereals and milk and white bread in a toaster I've had that experience in a hotel before it was awful hahaha.

The Fairmont Makati has an excellent breakfast buffet as does the Grand Hyatt Manila and the Shangri-La The Fort. If you want something great and above good, check them out.