manila staycation

The Definitive Guide to Nobu Hotel Manila in City of Dreams

July 3, 2015 by Bino Leave a Comment

Manila has seen a boom in hotel openings in recent years with several established hotel chains adding properties in the city. Part of this is due to the rise of integrated resorts and casinos – like those in Solaire or Resorts World Manila – which has led to a rapid change in the local hospitality scene. The newest integrated resort to open this year – City of Dreams Manila – comes with three new hotels. Namely, these are Nobu Hotel, Crown Towers and Hyatt. I was most curious to check out the Nobu Hotel Manila, the hospitality arm of the famous celebrity restaurant, Nobu. The property in Manila is just the second such hotel to open in the world which makes it really special as it brings about an experience that cannot be had elsewhere in Asia.

Everyone seems to be well aware of this unique selling point and it was quite evident when I was at Nobu Hotel Manila just earlier this week. When I entered the hotel lobby for the first time, I witnessed a large group of staycationers checking out. Business has been brisk for the property since it opened, with weekends typically booked out. My stay was for Sunday-Monday which fortunately was much quieter.

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A Heritage Staycation Experience at Manila Hotel

May 27, 2015 by Bino 2 Comments

If there was one hotel in Manila that I’ve long wanted to try, it would be the historic Manila Hotel located near Rizal Park and Manila Bay. The property is to Manila as the Raffles is to Singapore, the Metropole is to Hanoi or the Strand is to Yangon. For several years, I’ve admired the hotel for its iconic lobby but circumstances never led me to stay there or even try the food options available in-house.

Manila Hotel has the distinction of being the longest surviving luxury hotel in Manila and is 103 years old. It is the biggest and most distinct heritage hotel in the city dating its roots from the American colonial period in the early 20th century. It has seen World War 2, where the hotel subsequently became living quarters for the Japanese Army and the martial law years when Imelda Marcos used to host lavish parties in the hotel. The property has witnessed the ups and downs of the city and due to its strategic location, the ups and downs of the country as well. During Manila Hotel’s centenary year in 2012, the rooms were renovated and in-house restaurants were spruced up and revamped.

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8 Things to Love About Marriott Manila

February 20, 2015 by Bino Leave a Comment

Within just a few years since it opened, the Marriott Manila has rapidly set itself as one of Metro Manila’s most highly rated hotels. As the flagship hotel of Resorts World Manila, the property’s recognition and stature among local hotels has been remarkable given that it’s only 5 years old. In 2011, the Manila property was given the title “Hotel of the Year” by its parent brand, Marriott International which was quite an achievement for a hotel that was then only a year old.

I had the opportunity to experience Marriott Manila during one recent weekend. Because I was very pleased with my stay, I’ve decided to depart from the usual format of my hotel reviews and instead list the top reasons to to stay here!

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