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Philippine travel guide: Where to go, what to do, what not to do...

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Philippines Travel Guide
Wide selection of useful travel information on the Philippines.

Two views of Manila by night: The serenity of the sunset across Manila Bay, and on the other side of the metropolis, the party places of Makati City's Greenbelt complex.

Hotel bookings and travel advice
about the Philippines
 

TRAVEL NEWS, TIPS & DEALS

Puerto Galera banca trips
Banca tours around the Puerto Galera area of the Philippines are now being offered using a xx-meter renovated Filipino fishing boat, “Buri Princess.”
The program includes:
•   Day trips from Muelle and Sabang with a stop at beach and a jungle walk to a waterfall, priced at 2,200 pesos per adult including drinks, snacks and barbecue lunch;
•   Two-day trips from Muelle and Sabang around the area, including stops at Maricaban and Sombero islands, costing 3,750 pesos per adult including drinks, snacks and lunches.
•   Private day charters where the passengers decide where to go, costing 4,000 pesos plus fuel for the boat for a day.
•   Three-day packages for passengers boarding and leaving the banca at Leah Beach on the Batangas mainland opposite Puerto Galera. This includes the banca trips to and from Puerto Galera; two nights’ share-twin accommodation at Aninuan Beach Resort; all meals including a beach barbecue and an Italian restaurant dinner; and full use of the banca “Buri Princess” with crew and drinks and snacks on board. This is priced at 14,500 pesos per person.
Information: email info@bancasafaris.com.

Boracay: Beach, bars, beds,
breakfasts and in-between
By Joaquin Paolo Gochoco
On a budget? Looking to clean out the bank? In Boracay anything goes. The hottest white sand beach in the Philippines – pretty much a Disneyland for grownups – is home to endless pampering and partying. Chill out on the beach all afternoon then hit the clubs, bars and discos until dawn. Wake up at noon and do it all over again. In between, eat whatever takes your fancy, swim, surf, dive, snorkel or simply unwind at your Boracay resort or spa.

Getting to Boracay
The trip to Boracay starts at either the old Domestic Airport or the Philippine Airlines terminal in Manila. It is important to let your taxi driver know which terminal to take you to, as the PAL terminal services only PAL aircraft and passengers, while the Domestic Airport handles everyone else.
The procedure is the same at both airports. You show your ticket at the entrance and pass through an x-ray machine before proceeding to the check-in counter. If you are carrying film cameras and spare rolls, it's best to arrive early for your flight and have your camera bag and equipment inspected visually, instead of passing them through the x-ray, which causes fogging in some film types.
The island resort of Boracay is roughly a one-hour flight from Manila. Major carriers are South East Asian Airlines or SEAIR, Philippine Airlines and Asian Spirit. All three fly daily with about 30 runs between them during the course of the day. Depending on the airline you choose, you will either fly to Caticlan or Kalibo. Kalibo, with a hardtop runway, is used mainly by Philippine Airlines which operates jets, while Caticlan has a rough strip and is used by SEAIR and Asian Spirit propeller aircraft.
Most visitors prefer to fly to Caticlan because of the much shorter travel time to Boracay itself: the land transfer from Kalibo takes up to three hours, while it could be as short as 40 minutes from Caticlan including the brief local banca boat ride. Even if you are nervous about flying in small aircraft, the shorter travel time may be a clincher. Flight fares range from 5,000 to 6,000 pesos.
If you are flying SEAIR and are booked on a small 19-seat plane, both you and your baggage will be weighed to make sure that the weight is evened out. This isn't necessary with SEAIR's larger aircraft. This done, you will progress to the terminal fee counter to pay 200 pesos. After passing through a second x-ray, you reach the departure area. You would be well advised to have your breakfast before going to the airport – the food in the departure lounge is really not recommended.
SEAIR's Dornier Do-328 averages about 35 minutes to Caticlan. Your hotel or agent can arrange that you be met there and taken directly to your hotel. Or if you are on a budget, walk or rent a tricycle (or "trike") for about 40 pesos) to the jetty port. This will take only 5 or 10 minutes. At the jetty, your bags will be inspected again. Terminal fees and ferry fare come to 39.50 pesos. The boats aren't lookers, but they are safe and reliable and subject to regular inspections by the port authorities. Tourists are very well taken care of on Boracay.

Getting around Boracay
Boracay's ferry terminal is on the southern tip of the island, a public motorized tricycle or "trike" ride or hotel-arranged transfer away from the main clusters of resorts. Getting around Boracay is fairly easy . The two main options are by walking the beach or by "trike." The main road runs parallel to the beach – about 15 to 25 meters from the shore, depending on where you are. But then again, with a beach like Boracay's, who wants to be in a tricycle on concrete? An interesting feature of Boracay's sand is that it's so fine that it doesn't get hot even in the mid-afternoon. From either northern or southern end of White Beach, the main strip, it takes about 15 minutes on foot to the central D'Mall, which is about the strip's center point and itself a shopping center selling most everything.  Along the way you'll pass a number of restaurants serving just about anything you can imagine.

Eating out in Boracay
Boracay is a foodie’s dream, offering everything from fine dining to Filipino turo-turo or street-side food stalls. Without budget considerations, you can have the time of your life pigging out here.
Let's start at the northern end, where some of the up-market resorts are. The best in-resort restaurants are those at Fridays, Seawind, Waling-Waling and Escondido. These all serve Continental fare with some contemporary-style dishes thrown in, save for Escondido which specializes in crabs and prawns – arguably the best on the island. The Boracay Crab House quickly gained popularity for its Escondido crab and prawn dishes. Be prepared to fork out 1,000 to 2,000 pesos for lunch or dinner at any of these places. You may also want to check out Real Coffee and Tea House for breakfast and the island's best brownies and cookies.
Towards the middle of the beach, you'll find Aria, Gasthoff and Mc Sandro. These establishments are all in the D'Mall area but are worlds apart in terms of taste and style. Aria is an Italian outfit serving contemporary dishes alongside traditional ones. The menu and selection evolve constantly, according to chef Gino who regularly comes up with new dishes. Don't miss the salads and specials for the day. Aria has a wood fire oven for pizzas, while focaccia bread is baked on order (it takes about two minutes in the oven). A meal for two will set you back around 1,500 pesos including a bottle of wine.
Mc Sandro serves traditional Filipino fare with a modern twist. Try their adobo (pork or beef cooked in vinegar and soy sauce) and their seafood platter. Typically, the food is a bit heavy on fatty ingredients and big on rice. A meal for two comes at about 800 pesos. Gasthoff is popular for its baby back ribs, the house specialty. The ribs are simmered with special ingredients for about an hour and then cooked for 10 minutes in a secret sauce. Here, nearly 100 kilograms a day are consumed in ribs alone. Don't miss the spicy crab, cooked in chili and coconut milk, either. Dinner for two will set you back 1,000 pesos.
For a Mexican experience, complete with fresh salsa, try Mañana. The Triple Taco Platter with its four tomato sauces is a good choice. A meal for two and a couple of beers will set you back about 800 pesos.

Time Out: Boracay after dark
Nightlife in Boracay centers around three bars: Cocomangas, Pier One and Summer Place. Pier One, the largest in terms of floor area, draws a mix of both locals and tourists. A nice thing about this bar is that it's right on the beach, so you can chill out on loungers while waiting for the party to pick up. The dance floor is lit up in black light giving those on the floor a groovy ethereal glow. A comfortable loft provides a great venue for chilling out while listening to the lively music. Summer Place draws a mostly European crowd with a trickle of locals. The bar's ambience is oriented towards chilling out rather than dancing, but wild nights erupt spontaneously, especially on Fridays and Saturdays.
Cocomangas, the islands oldest and most happening place, draws a mix of both locals and tourists. Offerings at the bar include house cocktails served in the Cocomangas signature jam jars. You will want to take it slow swigging down these tasty concoctions as they can creep up on you. Also try the melts and pizzas. For a more sedate evening, check out the beachfront chill-out area.

Boracay resort guide
Whether you want to be where the action is or prefer complete peace and quiet, Boracay’s options are endless. Following are the 20 highest rated resorts, hotels and inns on Boracay island. These are ranked in order, based upon reviews by travelers who have stayed there (travelers of various types with varying preferences and budgets). They're listed in the popularity index of TripAdvisor, myPH's partner in exploring the Philippines:
1.  Dave's Straw Hat Inn (average price US$37).
2.  Boracay Hills, (average price $81).
3.  Fridays Boracay (average price $87).
4.  Boracay Beach Club, average price $100).
5.  Boracay Holiday Resort (price from $90).
6.  Artista Beach Villas (average price $87).
7.  Boracay Tropics (price from $98).
8.  Nigi Nigi Beach Resort, (average price $80).
9.  Beachcomber Resort Boracay (price from $65).
10. Frendz Resort (average price $30).
11. Asya Boracay (price from $177).
12. Sur Beach Resort (price from $70).
13. One Crescent Place (average price $85).
14. Baling Hai Beach Resort (price from $45).
15. Paradise Bay Resort Boracay (price from $40).
16. Discovery Shores Boracay (average price $334).
17. Boracay Strand Resort (average price $150).
18. Jony's Beach Resort (price from $91).
19. Two Seasons Resort (price from $257).
20. Boracay Beach Resort (average price $112).

The newest of the up-market places is Discovery Shores Boracay, an expansive affair with 88 rooms and a spa. The suites are spacious ranging up to 122sq.m. with showers looking onto small gardens. The one and two-bedroom suites have their own outdoor jacuzzi.
If you're looking to break the bank (though it's worth every penny), get yourself a suite at the Nami Private Villas at the very tip of the beach down the Station 1 end (up to US$275 per night during the high season from December to May). Staff attempt to satisfy every whim and villas are spread out to maximize privacy. Bathtubs have magnificent ocean views and the immaculately maintained rooms have exquisite hardwood furniture. Don't miss the champagne breakfast – it's a great way to start off the day.
Also on the northern end of the beach is Fridays Boracay. This has one of the island's best restaurants with a Continental menu. Try the flavorful braised lamb shank, but remember to order ahead since it takes about four hours to prepare. Rooms have a rustic, native theme but come with the usual mod-cons including hot water, airconditioning and cable television.
Waling-Waling Beach Hotel is a Thai-inspired resort with a bit more of an industrial feel than Fridays, although its furnishing makes up for all the concrete with ornate woodwork and small touches. Chill out in one of the huts in front of the resort or nurse a beer while enjoying the riot of colors at sunset. Rooms at the back of the resort, recessed in the trees, are appointed as tastefully as their beachfront counterparts. Standard rooms go for $120 per night (or go for the suite at $260).
Le Soleil Boracay is a Mediterranean-style resort built with native materials. It has a relaxed ambience and airy colors. Rooms have a view of the resort's new freshwater pool and its ornate landscaping.
Further down the beach you'll find Escondido, one of the better non-beachfront resorts and situated behind the Cocomangas Shooter Bar, one of the best clubs on the island. Experience a different, quiet side of the island a convenient distance from its wildest party places. A relatively new place, Escondido is popular for its location and great food. The restaurant features Boracay's best crab dishes in home-cooking style.
This secluded resort only has 12 rooms which gives it a warm, exclusive feel. Escondido's rooms are furnished sparingly, keeping things uncluttered and light. The staff members are all smiles. A native hut in front of the resort makes for a great massage venue.
At the other end of the main beach you'll find 357 Boracay. Its native-inspired modern amenities have captured the attention of its guests almost as much as the gorgeous white powdery sand right outside its doors. Rooms start at $125 per night, twin or double, with all the usual amenities: airconditioning, cable television and hot water.
Budget travelers can try Orchids Resort at the southern end of the main beach. The resort’s architecture is native-inspired with all local material furniture. Both airconditioned rooms and fan-cooled rooms are available.
Another good option is the Blue Mango Inn, right next to 357 Boracay. This little four-room joint sports a fashionable restaurant and four airconditioned rooms with cable television and hot water for your shower. The resort also offers WiFi connection for those workaholics who bring their work with them (non-guests have to order something from the restaurant to get the internet access). Lean season rates are from around $28 per night for a standard room.
Don't like the bustle of White Beach and want some peace/isolation? Have a look at the recently opened, up-market Grand Vista Boracay Resort and Spa. The 41-suite hotel, which opened in mid-2007 on a hilltop above the main beach, has a private pool in each suite in addition to the main outdoors pool which it says is the biggest on the island.
Published room rates at the Grand Vista start at $265, although the hotel offers a range of promotional packages which can bring the bill down substantially.
Also away from the main beach is Boracay Hills, a comfy bed-and-breakfast-type resort inland, about 10 minutes from the beach by trike. Unique touches give it a personal flair far from the beach crowd and blaring speakers playing every known song and version of Bob Marley.
Surfside Resort and Spa at the southern end of the beach is one of the better spa resorts for those on a budget. The in-resort spa offers a full range of services. For those tired limbs, you may want to try their relaxation package, a one-hour session in the spa including steam sauna, a dry sauna and a full hour in a jacuzzi. Or go for the "Boracay Memories" treatment including a full hour of the steam sauna, dry sauna, and the jacuzzi, followed by the spa's signature Boracay massage and a face massage. All for $75, and resort guests may avail of discounts of up to 50 percent off.
If you're willing to spend a bit more for serious pampering, check out the Mandala Spa & Villas for the quintessential spa experience in Boracay. The spa's day packages are perfect for rejuvenating tired limbs and clearing imbalances caused by nights of partying and afternoons of sinew-stretching shopping. The resort accepts walk-in customers for the day spa treatments, ranging from massages to wraps.
Well? What are you waiting for? Get wet and wild in Boracay. 

•  For good deals in Boracay, plus price comparisons and reviews by other travelers, check out TripAdvisor.

Exploring the real Manila:
Where to stay, shop and party
By Joaquin Paolo Gochoco
and Dawn Obusan
Most travelers entering the Philippines through the capital Manila find themselves getting intimately – and unhurriedly – acquainted with the musty, concrete corridors of the city’s ageing Ninoy Aquino International Airport. A more modern terminal down the road is the exclusive domain of Philippine Airlines; if you’re not flying PAL, prepare for some worldly adventures. A newly-built terminal around the corner is still awaiting the go signal to open after lengthy legal battles over alleged contractual graft and unsafe construction.
The queues can be long for peak-hour flights, but arriving visitors are usually spared the tedious inspection that is reserved for outbound folks. Most immigration and customs checks are perfunctory and should not take more than a couple of minutes after the queue if all your travel documents are in order and you have nothing serious to declare.

Getting past the airport
If you have nobody meeting you and need a convenient ride downtown, exit the airport, go past the “coupon” taxi stands (and ignore any touts offering “deals” – they’re mainly rip-offs), then proceed straight to the metered taxi queue. However, if you arrive through the newer terminal on a PAL flight, you might have to opt for a coupon taxi as the metered kind can be difficult to find.
A metered cab ride to the Makati business center or the Malate-Ermita-Manila bayside area should cost less than 200 pesos depending on the traffic – try to avoid the morning and early evening rush hours. Try also to steer clear of the taxis who prowl the airport arrival area trying to get away with not turning on their meters –  they'll ask anywhere between 300 pesos and 500 pesos for the trip from the airport to the Makati or Ermita/Malate areas. They're illegal, but they're there.
If you have the money and want greater comfort, most individual hotels can meet you with their cars and mini-coaches at an area just outside the terminal entrance (but let them know you’re coming). If you’re saving money and traveling light, you can catch public buses on the roadside outside the terminal; these are cheap (20-30 pesos to downtown) but you need to know exactly where you’re going.
Arriving in Manila isn’t really difficult, just a bit dreary. Leaving the city is actually harder. Departures entail three levels of security screening starting at the terminal entrance. Drop your bags, computers, shoes and belts. Everything gets checked. Manila’s airport security rules are actually stricter than many overseas cities with tough limitations on liquids and gels taken on board aircraft. You'll probably have to put these into your check-in baggage or run the risk of having them confiscated. However, the rules are changing so check with your airline. Manila airport’s departure terminal fee is 750 pesos, to be paid just before the emigration counter. Duty-free shopping is limited in variety and not very competitive price-wise.

Moving around town
Getting around in Metro Manila isn’t really challenging, although you will want to keep an eye on taxi drivers out to make a fast buck. Using hotel transport is a lot more expensive than just walking out of the lobby and flagging down a cab on the street outside. Most hotels and areas of interest in Metro Manila are no more than 100 to 150 pesos apart by taxi. However, make sure your driver turns on his meter – some will conveniently “forget” or say the fare is “up to you.”
Three commuter rail systems circle Metro Manila. They are cheap, quite comfortable and airconditioned, although you’ll probably have to stand up on most trips, especially if you’re male during the crowded morning and evening commuter rush hours. Women and elderly passengers have one or two compartments reserved for them and these are less crowded.
One train runs from Pasay City past Makati City to Quezon City along the length of EDSA, a major artery through the metropolis. Another runs from Pasay City through the Malate, Ermita and Manila bayside areas, Rizal Park, Chinatown and the Quiapo cheap shipping district. The third train links the first two, from Araneta Center to the fringe of downtown Manila. All three trains interconnect each other with short works in between terminals. They are safe, reliable and often much faster transport options than taxis – although you might need a bit of practice to get the hang of them.
Public buses and the smaller “jeepney” minibuses are plentiful and cheap on many franchised routes, but again, local knowledge is essential with these. Getting around on foot is generally safe if you stick to the more populous places. Foreigners may not be entirely safe in some areas like Pasay City, so it’s wise to ask your hotel concierge about places you might want to visit - especially for men who, emboldened by a few San Miguel beers, decide to venture out into the neon night in search of svelte companions.

Manila’s a shoppers’ mecca
There is no better place in the Philippines for general shopping than Metro Manila. The shopping malls are good places to start for items in the mid-price range. Recommended are Glorietta-Greenbelt in Makati; the Galleria-Megamall-Shangri-La cluster in Ortigas Center; SM Mall of Asia on the Manila bayside; Araneta Center Cubao in Quezon City; and Robinsons in Ermita. You’ll find just about everything you want or need at these malls, from the familiar to the funky.
The new Mall of Asia is a must-see. It’s the largest shopping mall in Asia, built on a swathe of reclaimed land beside Manila Bay off Roxas Boulevard. It boasts the only IMAX cinema in the Philippines - at 350 pesos (or 250 pesos for weekday matinees), the shows there cost about triple the normal movie rate but still draw crowds and bookings are often required. The Mall of Asia also has a big, top-rate ice skating rink. Standard mall shopping hours are from 10am to 9pm although these widen during holiday periods.
Shopping for typically Filipino stuff to take home or buy for friends? Check out Tesoro's and Balikbayan Handicrafts, both in Arnaiz Avenue, Makati, for traditional handicrafts; Silahis and Galeria Ida Antique in Intramuros for antique and pseudo-antique furniture and trinkets.
Among the department stores, the Robinsons and SM groups have big complexes scattered around Metro Manila which sell a very broad range of necessities, luxuries, trivia and trinkets at reasonable prices. The Landmark next to Glorietta in Makati is similar.
For more up-market shopping, there are good shops selling top-end brands in Makati – especially in the Glorietta and Greenbelt 4 & 5 malls as well as the 6750 Ayala Avenue building, all within a few minutes’ walk of each other. Louis Vuitton, BVLGARI, DKNY are there, along with outlets including Firma, Carbon with its leather creations, Kate Spade with handbags from 20,000 pesos, Mixdenim selling jeans starting at 12,000 pesos, and Sou Mak Bed 'n Beddings with Philippine-made quality bed linen.
For more adventurous shoppers who know how to bargain, the Greenhills shopping center is an experience. A bewildering variety of shops and stalls sell anything and everything in scattered mall halls with a flea-market atmosphere but under one roof and airconditioned, so minus the usual public market dust and heat. At Greenhills you’ll find everything from pearls to cheap garments, mobile phones and electronic accessories. Depending on the quality, a string of pearls will set you back by between 800 and 3,000 pesos. The trinket stores are stacked side by side making for extremely competitive pricing. As in any flea market, haggling is not only acceptable but expected, although not as much in the higher-end stores.

Time Out Dining Out
Whatever your taste or pleasure, eating out in Manila offers something for everyone. At the Ayala Center in Makati, a row of restaurants span Italian to native Filipino fare. A meal for two at most of the establishments here will cost about 1,500 pesos. In the Greenbelt corner of Ayala Center, try to make time to visit Café Bola, where Filipino food is served with panache, and try its sinigang (boiled pork in a sour soup) and tuyo (dried herring) for a decidedly Filipino experience. MyLK, another Greenbelt restaurant, serves a kaleidoscope of dishes centered on the concept of comfort food. MyLK’s executive chef Melissa Sison is a product of Les Roche School in Switzerland.
On the other side of the metropolis in the historic Spanish-era walled city of Intramuros, Illustrado, housed in a rebuilt turn-of-the-century house, offers Spanish and traditional Filipino fare. Try their paella and adobong usa (venison cooked in vinegar and soy sauce). The restaurant has a separate coffee-shop with freshly prepared pastries. Barbara's is another Spanish-inspired setting in Intramuros. It’s quite romantic and seafood is the order of the day there.
On St Francis Square in Ortigas Center, Mario's is for fine dining, complete with a grand piano and elegant chandeliers. Try the oysters Rockefeller with spinach hollandaise sauce, and angel hair pasta with black olives.
In the Malate nightlife district (Jorge Bocobo Street), the menu at long-established Guernica’s is traditional Spanish. The dishes there are heavy on olive oil and garlic and the restaurant's trio of musicians serenade tables – a pleasant touch to a romantic dinner.

Time Out partying
Manila is a place for partying until the wee hours with a bewildering range of options for young and wannabe-young. The local Hard Rock Café in Glorietta comes to life at about 10pm. Happy hour starts at noon and ends at 7pm, making it perhaps one of the longest "hours" anywhere. Forget that siesta – get happy instead. Slightly slower-paced but also a good pace to meet new friend is TGIF (Thank God It’s Friday) next door to Hard Rock.
The Café Havana bar-restaurants in Malate and also at Greenbelt in Makati have a well-earned reputation for serious drinking and uninhibited dancing by the customers. Similar things happen at Embassy in Fort Bonifacio just outside Makati – the main difference is that the crowd in Embassy is younger and faster; it’s a mainly mid-aged crowd of swingers at Havana.
Manila has many dozens of pubs and clubs catering to every taste. In very general terms, the places in Makati’s Greenbelt/Glorietta, Power Plant and nearby Fort Bonifacio are up-market and trendy; Malate is more original-Philippines, a place where artists, musicians and university students used to and sometimes still do congregate; Quezon City is for locals and foreigners who know the local scene; the girlie bars are mainly found along Makati’s P. Burgos Street strip and in Ermita.

Time in: Where to stay
When it comes to choosing your Metro Manila hotel, firstly figure out what part of town you want to be in for work or play. As the crow flies, the cities of Manila (the Roxas Boulevard area along the seafront) and Makati (the business and financial hub) are just a few kilometers apart. But as the car travels – especially in peak hours – a commute can be a test of patience and skill. Plan ahead. Businessmen often stay in Makati where most business is done; holiday-makers often prefer the Manila side. And then there is the growing Ortigas Center area with a combination of business and malling; and further out Quezon City with government offices, some business centers, TV stations, the movie-making set and a lot of nightlife.

Highly rated accommodation in Manila
Following are the 20 highest rated hotels and inns in the Metropolitan Manila area. These are ranked in order, based upon reviews by travelers who have stayed there (travelers of various types with varying preferences and budgets). They're listed in the popularity index of TripAdvisor, myPH's partner in exploring the Philippines:
1.  Diamond Hotel Manila (average price US$150).
2.  Hyatt Hotel & Casino (average price $141).
3.  Boulevard Mansion (from $40).
4.  G Hotel Manila by Waterfront (average $105).
5.  Manila Hotel (average price $130).
6.  Bianca's Garden Hotel (from $22).
7.  Hostel 1632 (from $62).
8.  Pan Pacific Manila (average price $167).
9.  Holiday Inn Galleria Manila (average price $94).
10. Somerset Millenium (average price $162).
11. InterContinental Manila (average price $178).
12. Cherry Blossoms Hotel (from $66).
13. Best Western La Corona (average price $69).
14. Aloha Hotel (average price $58).
15. Southern Cross Hotel (from $23).
16. Sofitel Philippine Plaza (average price $141).
17. Adriatico Arms (average price $80).
18. Nichols Airport Hotel (from $45).
19. Orchid Garden Suites (average price $51).
20. The Bellevue Manila (average price $184).

Manila & bayside hotels
One of Manila’s newer and better hotels is the 378-room Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila (from $220) in the Malate area, well-known for its extensive casino operation which attracts high-rollers. Apart from gambling tables, the Hyatt has 378 rooms including Regency Club floors, a ballroom that can handle a 600-person sit-down dinner, and Club Oasis where guests can enjoy spa facilities, a fitness center, sauna, hot and cold plunge pools and a 35-meter lap pool. Room rates at the Hyatt Manila start at US$220 (room rates in this myPH Explorer guide are based on published rack rates; often you can negotiate cheaper if you’re staying for a while or have bargaining power).
A few kilometers along Roxas Boulevard from Malate is the Heritage Hotel (from $116), which also has a casino, albeit smaller than the Hyatt’s, with 448 rooms, a pool and fitness center – and a restaurant with one of the more popular buffet spreads in the city. All rooms have dial-up internet access for a fee plus the usual mini-bar and cable TV. Standard rooms come with either a king-size bed or two twins. Millennium deluxe rooms offer great views of Manila Bay. Right across the busy road is a bustling nightlife area, popular with aficionados of slightly off-the-beaten-track hostess bars.
Around the corner from the Hyatt in Malate is the Pan Pacific Hotel (from $110). All rooms there are equipped with high-speed internet connections for a fee and CD players and boasts hypo-allergenic bedding for extra-sensitive guests.
In the same area the long-serving Century Park (from $96) remains as popular as ever (it was once a Sheraton). Another veteran chain-hotel-turned-independent in Manila is the 538-room Manila Pavilion (from $130). The Pavilion in fact is a much better hotel now than it was in yesteryears when it went through periods under Hilton and then Holiday Inn management. It too has a casino.
The Sofitel Philippine Plaza (from $80) offers guests panoramic harbor views from its location on the edge of Manila Bay. It’s also adjacent to the Philippine International Convention Center and a short walk to the Cultural Center of the Philippines which regularly stages world-class shows. Guests can use the hotel’s putting greens and driving range (where you whack golf balls out into the harbor), and play on all-weather floodlit tennis courts.
The Bayview Park Hotel (from $54) is right on Roxas Boulevard, opposite the American Embassy and a short walk from the nightlife of Ermita. The hotel restaurant features Filipino fare for those not in the mood to venture out for meals. The Bayview Park is entirely non-smoking, with 268 rooms and nine suites. Rooms have high-speed internet access with either a hard-line hook-up or the more convenient WiFi, plus cable TV, mini-bar and come with complimentary newspapers.
Further down Roxas Boulevard beside Rizal Park, the city’s ageing but still gracious icon, the Manila Hotel (from $150), has been home to just about every head of state and celebrity who has ever visited the Philippines, from wartime General Douglas McArthur through to Michael Jackson. It offers hoary Philippine hospitality, old-world furnishings and décor (and somewhat creaky waiters), but all 570 rooms and public amenities have been continuously renovated and upgraded over the years. The old dowager is much more modern than she first appears.
Also on Roxas Boulevard opposite Manila Bay is the Diamond Hotel Philippines (from $130). The Diamond’s bars and restaurants have won accolades and service is crisp. Its 485 rooms are fashionably European in taste and style and come with broadband internet access with hourly and daily rates.

Makati City hotels
One of a dozen hotels that opened in 1976 to help Manila host that year’s big World Bank and International Monetary Fund conferences, the Peninsula Manila (from $195) sits proudly on the main intersection of the Makati business district. Guests quickly notice it has the usual attributes of a Peninsula group hotel, starting with the sprawling lobby which remains a favorite see-and-be-seen meeting place for Manila’s high society. Its mix of modern facilities and traditional service rival the best in the country and the hotel is a favorite with business – and banquet – clients.
Right across the same main busy intersection is the Shangri-La Makati (from $255), known as much for its excellent restaurants and its Conways music lounge as for its up-market accommodation and service. The Shangri-La’s 699 rooms and 94 suites come with bathtubs or bathtub-shower combinations, mini-bar, cable TV and morning newspapers. Shangri-La Horizon Club members also enjoy free high-speed internet access and coddling by personal butlers. The hotel also features a very good fitness center that is open 24 hours.
Tucked in behind Makati’s Greenbelt restaurants, bars and shops is the Renaissance Makati City Hotel (from $140). The hotel offers good business facilities and a stress-relieving Maharai Spa. It’s ageing a bit but progressive renovation of rooms and facilities is taking care of that. The Renaissance’s rooms come with internet access. Club Floor rooms have irons and ironing boards, work desks and hair driers.
Across Makati and down the road from the Peninsula is the Mandarin Oriental Manila (from $130), also a member of a distinguished Hong Kong-originating luxury chain and popular with visiting businessmen. Its restaurants and bars are among the best in the city. The Mandarin’s 448 rooms are all equipped with high-speed internet access. Conventions and functions are accommodated well in themed function rooms that range from European baroque to Chinese bamboo with a main ballroom that can accommodate up to 1,000 guests. Worth a visit is the Mandarin’s spa which was recently renovated and is also among Manila’s best.
A Makati stalwart, the InterContinental Manila (from US$220), offers easy access to shopping and recreation, being located next to Ayala Center, Makati’s central complex of cinemas, shops, dining and wining. The InterContinental has 338 rooms including 73 suites that are looking good after the latest round of renovation and come with paid internet access, work tables with ergonomic chairs, safes and a variety of bathroom styles, some with showers, others with bathtubs. The InterContinental has a fitness center, large outdoor swimming pool, and extensive function rooms with a grand ballroom, all with overhead projectors, high-speed internet and modern audiovisual equipment.
Across the road from the InterContinental and rising out of the Glorietta mall complex itself is the Ascott Makati (from $277). Its 306 units include studios, one- to three-bedroom apartments and penthouses which are especially popular with visiting businessmen. It offers broadband access points in each unit and WiFi in the public areas. Long-staying guests can negotiate special rates.
On the other side of the Glorietta mall complex is the Dusit Thani Manila (from $145) with its six bars and restaurants that serve Japanese (still regarded by many as the best in town), Thai, Vietnamese, Filipino and western fare. Facilities in the hotel are suited to hosting events and gatherings of up to 1,000 guests. There is a good fitness center, a business center and a wide range of function and banquet rooms.
Makati is best known as the business center of the Philippines – and it is also home to one of the country’s most popular red light girlie bar districts – P. Burgos Street and the surrounding lanes. For visitors who want to mix business with pleasure, there are several mid-priced options and one of the better (and safer) ones is the Oxford Suites (from $62), right on Burgos Street. All rooms have cable TV, mini-bar, in-room safe, and internet access with WiFi also available in the lobby, business center, coffee shop and function rooms.

Ortigas Center hotels
Ortigas Center is actually a convergence of three of the cities that make up the Manila metropolis – Mandaluyong City, San Juan City and Quezon City. It’s a mix of business and shopping with some entertainment places.
On the northern fringe of Ortigas Center are two adjacent sister hotels, the Holiday Inn Galleria Manila (from $120) and the Crowne Plaza, both owned by the same business empire and both under the InterContinental umbrella. They’re newish with all mod cons, good value, and they rise above the sprawling Robinsons Galleria shopping and restaurant mall which is owned by the same group. They’re also adjacent to the Asian Development Bank headquarters which helps maintain a nice clean neighborhood, and a short walk away from Ortigas Station on the commuter train line linking Pasay, Makati and Quezon cities.
In the heart of Ortigas Center is the Discovery Suites (from $120), a favorite with businessmen staying in the area. It mixes the trappings of a business hotel with the comforts of serviced apartments. Rooms come with unlimited internet access, pay-per-view movie channels, a fully-stocked kitchen and morning newspapers. Right opposite the Discovery Suites is the Podium, a mid-sized, up-market mall.
A few blocks away, the Shangri-La EDSA Plaza (from $180) is slotted conveniently between Ortigas Center’s two biggest shopping complexes, SM Megamall and the Shangri-La Plaza. It has sprawling tropical gardens around a large swimming pool, popular restaurants, a big spa center and all the usual up-market hotel amenities.
Ortigas Center visitors who prefer to stay somewhere mid-sized and more intimate should look at two good options, the Astoria Plaza (from $66) and the Richmonde ($90). Both are modern and well-appointed with all the amenities most guests would want including restaurants, internet access and health center facilities.

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