The Manila Hotel

TM

Trip.com Member

5/5Trip.com· 4 months ago

Manila Hotel is an incredibly affordable yet excellent place to stay. The rooms are comfortable and well-maintained, the amenities are great, and the food is delicious. Everything exceeded our expectations, especially considering the value for money. We truly enjoyed our stay and would love to keep coming back whenever we have the chance. Highly recommended! 👌🏻

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duanea930

1/5Tripadvisor· 2 months ago

We are currently staying at The Manila Hotel, and I am writing this review while we are still checked in. I wanted to share our experience so far as constructive feedback, because I genuinely hope the remainder of our stay will reflect the level of hospitality we expected from such an iconic and historic hotel. We checked in at around 2 PM today. Unfortunately, within our first several hours, a number of small inconveniences have accumulated and made what was supposed to be a special family stay rather disappointing. First was the valet arrangement. Instead of simply handing over our vehicle at the main drop-off area, I was asked to drive around to another area where the valet receives the car. On a normal day this may seem minor, but with the nonstop rain today and children with us, it felt unnecessarily inconvenient for a hotel of this level. We were also surprised to learn that our 5-year-old daughter is chargeable for breakfast. We have stayed in many large hotels both within and outside Metro Manila during this trip, and this is the first time we have encountered this for a child her age. I also requested an extra bed because our daughter normally sleeps separately and has difficulty sleeping when sharing our bed. Again, we were informed that this would come with an additional charge. I understand that hotels have their own policies and that additional services may reasonably carry fees, but when several basic family needs seem to result in another charge, it starts to affect the overall experience. There is also an electrical issue in our room, with the power outlets on both sides of the bed not working. I raised this earlier, but the housekeeping team only came back to us after midnight. By then our children were already asleep, so I apologized and asked if they could instead attend to it in the morning. What disappointed me most, however, was something as simple as requesting drinking water. There are four of us staying in the room, and after consuming the two complimentary bottles provided, I called to request more. I was asked whether we had already consumed the two bottles and was then informed that only two complimentary bottles are provided per day and additional bottles would be charged. I was even offered the option of using the following day’s two complimentary bottles instead. At that point, after everything else that had happened since check-in, I expressed my frustration and explained the inconveniences we had already experienced. To her credit, the operator then said she would coordinate with housekeeping to have water sent to us, which I appreciate. This hotel was intentionally chosen as the final stop of our hotel-hopping vacation in the Philippines before we fly back to Abu Dhabi. I specifically wanted my family to experience The Manila Hotel because of its incredible history and the stories behind it—something I thought would be wonderful to share with my children. That is perhaps why the experience so far has been particularly disappointing. For a hotel with such a rich history and reputation for Filipino hospitality, I expected the service experience to feel warmer and more accommodating, particularly for families. I am not writing this to discredit The Manila Hotel or the people working here. I understand that policies exist and that staff are often simply implementing them. However, I hope management considers how these policies and service processes feel from a guest’s perspective. Individually, some of these concerns may seem small, but when they happen one after another within the first few hours of a stay, they significantly affect the overall impression.

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Red

4/5Google· a week ago

We stayed here as a family with one infant, and overall the experience was excellent. The staff were genuinely warm, attentive, and very accommodating - especially helpful given we were traveling with a baby. Service felt personal and consistent across the stay. The facilities are grand and well-maintained. This isn't a modern, minimalist 5-star hotel, but that's actually its strength. The hotel has a strong cultural and historical character that makes it feel uniquely Filipino and distinguished, not dated. Location is a mixed bag. It's right at the heart of Manila and close to major parks and landmarks, which is a big plus. That said, traffic in the area can be heavy, so travel time needs to be planned. Breakfast deserves special mention. The complimentary breakfast was excellent - easily the best hotel breakfast I've experienced so far, with great variety and quality. Overall, a solid choice for families who appreciate heritage, strong service, and standout dining, and who don't mind navigating Manila traffic.

EN

Emilia Navallasca

5/5Google· a month ago

Grand Lobby LoungeAmbiance: Features live piano music, a soothing atmosphere, and a classic vintage setup. Offerings: Serves afternoon tea daily from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM for around PHP 1,688 nett per set, alongside local treats like bibingka, puto bumbong, and coffee.Use: Ideal for casual meetings, coffee, light snacks, or evening drinks. Café Ilang-IlangAmbiance: A chic, casual international buffet restaurant with elegant interior decor and live cooking stations.Offerings: Features eight live stations serving Asian, Mediterranean, European, and Filipino dishes, plus extensive seafood and dessert spreads.

AC

Alberto Sánchez Calderón

5/5Google· 3 months ago

The hotel is beautiful, full of history, and the service was outstanding from start to finish. The food was excellent, with a great variety and exceptional quality. A special mention goes to Christian from the Champagne Room, who provided truly outstanding service. He was professional, attentive, and incredibly friendly, making our dining experience even more memorable.

JC

Juan Dela Cruz

5/5Google· a month ago

It is our first time going there for a birthday event + played games (with the host) + ate on a buffet with my family (We ended up being all full). And even enjoyed until the end of it! By the way, the Grand Lobby Lounge's ambiance has: Features live piano music, a soothing atmosphere, and a classic vintage setup.

NC

Nick Louis Anthony Castro

3/5Google· 3 months ago

The hotel itself was great, but unfortunately the service did not match the quality of the property. First, the airport transportation was very disappointing. We had arranged for an airport pickup, but no one arrived on time. We were later told there had been a “scheduling mistake,” which caused unnecessary inconvenience at the start of our stay. Second, the breakfast experience was underwhelming, particularly the coffee service. I ordered a flat white, but what I received was nothing close to one. The staff simply poured two shots of espresso and added milk on top, showing a lack of knowledge and attention to quality. Lastly, the front office staff, especially the night shift employee we spoke with, was unprofessional. When we raised our concerns, his response made it seem like he didn’t care at all. There was little empathy or effort to resolve the situation, which was very disappointing. I hope the hotel invests more in staff training and professionalism. The uniforms look excellent and create a great first impression, but the service and attitude of some employees do not reflect the high standards that the hotel should represent.

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Olga Lopez

5/5Google· 4 months ago

Overall, nice and comfortable stay with great service. Convenient location. Cozy intimate bar that features live (jazzy) music every night, perfect for a night cap after a day in the city. I was torn on whether or not to remove a star due to the extremely uncomfortable bed. I like a firm mattress but this was like sleeping on the floor - I slept better on the 15hr flight to Manila.