# So many options, but what to choose?
Okay. Yesterday wrote about getting from the airport to your hotel without spending a lot of cash. I was going to add how to find a good hotel in that post but it was getting really long so I decided I would make two posts instead. This morning I went for a walk to take pictures of some of the hotels around where I'm staying as there are quite a number. Indeed when I'm in Manila I like to go in a random direction and book a random hotel along the way. The idea is that I just look at Agoda when I'm getting tired and book a hotel nearby. I always keep my main hotel but its nice to see what's available in different areas. I've learned a lot but the biggest lesson is this : Price doesn't always equate to a good stay. In the last 3 years I've stayed at well over 20 different places. Cheapest place I stayed at was "The Mansion" which isn't too far from where I am now. Cost P200/night (about $4 HBD). The most expensive was the Westin hotel in Ortigas area. Cost P9500/night (about $200 HBD). However, I'm not going to talk about all the different places I've stayed because: (1) that would take forever and (2) I don't have pictures and (3) the information is now dated. I can tell you a little about the area that I'm currently in and the four different types of stays and why I would pick one vs another.

# Hotels vs Condotel
The first choice is whether to stay in an actual Hotel or take your chances on a Condotel. Now I'm pretty sure that everyone has heard of a hotel so I won't explain that. Condotel probably needs a little more explanation. A condotel is an apartment unit that someone has decided to rent out. It is similar to an Airbnb except they often show up on the hotel website searches. The room I am currently in is the One Palm Tree Villas Condominium center. If you book a Condotel unit it is important to know a few things but the biggest thing? **These are apartment complexes where Filipino families live!** Unfortunately developers have built up too many very small apartment units so there are a lot of vacant units in Manila. That means that they often get rented out to make income for the building or its owners. However, because they are apartment units not hotel units certain things you would expect from a hotel you just don't get. As an example: I arrived at 12:30pm. Check in is 2pm. When I arrive I talk to the security guard at the complex gate. They direct me to the concierge. The concierge contacts the owner of the unit. The owner of the unit contacts their property manager. The property manager comes to the front desk and fills out all the paperwork needed to allow me to be a guest in the building. Now I arrived during the day but if I came on a late night flight? No guarantees the person is available and I have nowhere to sleep. In addition there is no "Front Desk" if there is a problem. There is no hand towel at the kitchen sink. Tough. No soap in the washroom. Tough. Flickering light in the living area. Deal with it. Now for a true emergency I can contact the concierge who will contact the owner who will contact the property manager but it will take time. Sometimes a lot of time. ... and one time I had a little misunderstanding that made me really really nervous. All because of this : ![PXL_20260114_233255557.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/terganftp/EogMR3AWnPeav1TeXzTubFBXbtSEQkVBbYuHCgcGa4CmPUxrkgkTRCZTjBLQyfyaN2T.jpg) Now I figured I knew how to use a lock. Insert key and turn. Simple, right? Except in the Philippines I've run into a lot of multi throw locks. You twist to lock then you continue twisting to lock harder. In Canada I've only ever seen single throw locks. Well, I was staying at a condotel unit and I go to unlock the door. I hear it click. Try to open the door and nothing. I twist to lock it, that works, I twist to unlock it and again I hear a click...but the door is stick locked shut. I keep trying for a few minutes and then security comes to escort me back to the concierge. Now *EVERYTHING* I have is in the hotel. My money, wallet, passport, cellphone. The concierge is NOT like a hotel owner who can just open the door and solve things. After a brief interview and having them pull the copy of my passport that they scan for all new guests they believed I wasn't a thief and then they proceeded to show me how to unlock the door. It all ended well, but being in a foreign country with *nothing* is a very scary place to be. ### Why would I bother with all that hassle? The quick answer is: You get an inexpensive room in a decent location that feels "homey" and often has things like fridge, stove, rice cooker, etc. This is my current unit: ![PXL_20260114_051534630.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/terganftp/23y8oaHu32MPspypEPp5dba6hqJQinjozA3XPCygHamPP9ECqqkd7oPbWfPiQu4Tt7JuN.jpg) A small but useable kitchen. Complete with distilled water, rice cooker, kettle, pots, pans, cutlery, etc, etc. ![PXL_20260114_051616131.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/terganftp/23zS3Xtqks1PDXnwXYc5es1tQXFFhgDizWrWXTeu3bNj4TF23BG1r9wJgNfRYJY4TqgR8.jpg) ![PXL_20260114_051609304.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/terganftp/23xVKHVUihPx5RR9gdcTunRpfDTzyvnArJd5cNuG3ymvQQHbkmf2axtjotxVWuj3DJgCP.jpg) ![PXL_20260114_051626849.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/terganftp/EprU4bBtGuoXc3FxticfhHG4w6oNyGE41uLBPY6qHDfnhS7ACa7bvqjHD6z2UPZewyg.jpg) ![PXL_20260114_051539996.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/terganftp/23wWvsx1by9RbH9yo4tzH8rVwcQEaqvV27EQRWNrwCpE5CBRh74pQkZAWEqQ3dXKbfeYm.jpg) Add in a dining area, living room area, bed (obviously) and washroom. ![PXL_20260114_210310071.MP.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/terganftp/23u5zfhArDtnqXMvtKXehQ6jicTytUtj7KYXyEpwBkhiGgmhTTMFHChVntrAb1yrSDSHr.jpg) I even have a little balcony where I could hang clothes to dry or just sit and watch people go by on the street below. Plus there is a clothes washer in the unit also. All for about $24 HBD a night.

# A word about neighborhoods
Okay. Before I continue to talk about different hotels I wanted to mention something about neighborhoods. In many places of Manila things can change from beautiful to chaotic with just one single dividing street. For example: ![PXL_20260115_000725080.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/terganftp/EpVB662S2YNjee6yM681rzRiRERnAmhAsiwj9YiSGqKcnrdD5EqGoAFHCG5cw48PkjN.jpg) This is the area that I'm in. Bike and walking path. Orderly vehicles. Crosswalks that people pay attention to with people out jogging, walking their dog and generally slower paced. ![PXL_20260114_235322965.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/terganftp/EpA2WQsFMSGTL45eeCgT1kzNVX2sn5sjgsoNbkCvhFFZVy95G2yaE3viwRZhW7SWHuN.jpg) Move over one street? No sidewalks. Chaotic traffic. No crosswalks. Or you can look at the shops you will find. On one side you see this : ![PXL_20260114_235628897.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/terganftp/EoyP4tRTp1Fs15DubMgUMpyrzRLwoW6DRSnyLd6HQfhSk51PZfDegUQL4N87QtFaEbv.jpg) and on the other side you see this : ![PXL_20260115_001130670.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/terganftp/EonkVQ95ve5xEHU8WciLish9Date6TxsMWbAVUJhF73cGqDv98kVKgEH48bf7WgfXrJ.jpg) On one side you have tiny eateries which serve a tiny hamburger made at the Minute Burger for P40 right in front of you. On the other you have McDonalds where you get your typical big max for P240. Six times the price if you want something you know and trust. Manila has a number of upscale enclaves and the one I'm currently in is "Resort World" and I believe it is part of the Robinson's Megaworld division. They take an entire neighborhood, develop it to high standards and bring in foreign companies to run upscale brands with upscale prices. Nothing wrong with that as it is familiar to foreigners but its also not really the true Manila experience. I actually enjoy walking through the chaos of the "regular" Manila streets and buy from locals rather than multinationals. When I needed a tooth extracted last stay I went to a tiny dental office on the "wrong side of the road" but the dentist was excellent and came highly recommended. I could have just gone a few steps from where I was staying and see a dentist in a glitzy western style office for four times the price...But why? If you look at the laundry image before you will notice that 7KG wash and dried laundry will cost P120 ($2.25HBD) but if you are staying at the Sheraton they charge $5HBD per piece! But.. I have stayed in some off the beaten path places (like the $6 house or the $18 Red Doorz Hotel). The places were both clean and secure but the noise and chaos make me kind of look for the quieter places. But enough about that... A word about hotels now.

# Hotels: Budget, Better, Best
If you are looking at Agoda.com or other travel sites there are lots of options from super cheap to quite expensive. If you are looking at a Red Doorz or Oyo they are budget hotels. If you see transient house or dorm style those are often rooms or beds for rent for a night similar to a hostel. Red Doorz and Oyo I've stayed at. Not usually finding them in awesome locations but they were clean and safe. Transient houses and dorm rooms? Yeah...sorry, I'm not that adventurous. But in the area that I am actually in? ![PXL_20260115_000220972.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/terganftp/Eonk7EZpB7Y6jy39nALwAMcMnx3NQzDGtqBaDjteKqSWTqAGktNaCEFpeBHWLBZ67PQ.jpg) I found this place just outside the Resort World area. It says YungShang hotel but there is no obvious lobby and the majority of signage is Chinese and you can't find it on Google. To me that means...not a great fit. ### Midrange Hotels Two stand out. The Savoy Hotel and the Belmont hotel. ![PXL_20260114_234851910.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/terganftp/EpGPgADbJHG1G85K72ptiKGYeycNy14dx8Yq9VqAoTzoVd22KLNhVXMz4fe9i3M6aYp.jpg) ![PXL_20260115_002154446.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/terganftp/Eou8BhNx4cZH36eU9KS8zFK1o86Z5V72powHtqZH1fzCC4G5HHtbB4gCLiBKN2LuHtw.jpg) Both are hotels at the $70HBD mark. I haven't stayed at the Belmont but I have stayed at the Savoy. The Savoy is a very professional and very clean hotel. Nice restaurant and teeny tiny rooms. Still it is very close to the airport and has 24 hours check-in so if you need low price tag, don't want to bother with condotel's and your near NAIA 3 airport terminal? Not a bad place to stay. As I continued to walk around the Resort World area I found a few more hotels. ![PXL_20260115_001844260.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/terganftp/Eq36dzkYtEbMwbXQeSc6Jmt4c634sMRyrb3FnUjPG8A6yDjFchRoRaRoajuVAPGqBwc.jpg) I was going to try to take a picture of the Holiday Inn Express but with all the security guards around it, well, I don't like photographing security guards :) **Price: 120-150HBD/night** As for the Hotel Okura Manila? It is kind of hiding so all I got was this: ![PXL_20260115_001929873.MP.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/terganftp/EorzQ2KpStHZUzMJ8j1Mi6kWiyNzJ39Bk6HWBCsENMk1id7waCTqBuMcnuuAAM9WMzq.jpg) **Price: $250HBD/night** Walk a little further and I found the Hilton hotel. It even has its own little walkway from the hotel to the mall so you can go shopping without ever leaving the hotel and stepping foot on Filipino soil. Sad if you ask me. ![PXL_20260115_001040315.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/terganftp/Ep5mJZKNkNxvL99uykSQb8PrT55GTNEU9Y3VpUUbYZvra93zKkd96hfLaNc6EPrMhcd.jpg) **Price: $200-$300 HBD/night** As you might be able to tell the Sheraton Manila Hotel is right beside the road and some rooms actually look right onto the airport tarmac. Quite interesting to watch if you like seeing the jets come and go. I have stayed at this hotel and it is clean, the staff are great, the executive lounge is awesome (lots of imported food) ![PXL_20260115_001552358.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/terganftp/EpnBnLpDt9HyjtNgKuHezNzmbGwxcHV14YLNVgCwCaLQLuXmkKqgkcGaHcX7xagcZop.jpg) **Price : $200 HBD/night** However it can be a bit confusing because there is another Marriott branded hotel right behind this one about a block away. ![PXL_20260115_000942191.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/terganftp/Ep3dpYZgnJhxQTWH5y6g7bBL6unDE2Qhi7Yyan9Y6qQzNGuYr4p6x9d1p891BjCmqvb.jpg) This one also has a nice executive lounge, it has a direct link to the casino/mall and has a golf course right behind it. **Price: $200HBD / night**

# So many choices in such a small area That was just one tiny part of Manila. Go around the whole city and there are place both awesome and awful. But a few tips: ### First: Decide condotel or hotel. Both are great and I personally go to a lot of condotel units. I know that getting in can be a pain. I know that guests may not be allowed. I also know to be really careful before I leave because getting back into the room can be a challenge if I'm locked out. Hotels can be a lot more forgiving. ### Second: Decide on location. Traffic in Manila is awful so just picking a place and thinking 4km isn't that far is a huge mistake! If I was visiting Intramuros all of these hotels would be terrible choices. If I wanted to do serious shopping these places aren't much good either. But for Casino or for getting to my next flight? Hard to beat this location. Also understand that a difference of just a few hundred meters can be night and day in Manila ### Third: What level of comfort are you looking for? Sogo is typically clean but often just for 6-12 hour stays (not all hotels rates are for 24 hours in Manila). Red Doorz and Oyo? Budget hotels but can be quite good. Major International brands? You pay top dollar but get top amenities

# And that's it. I'm not going to make another post on Manila. Honesty this isn't a great travel blog because I'm just staying very close to home. I don't want to see anything and I'm just eating, sleeping and biding my time until my flight. I don't want to flood the community with useless posts but I figured airports and hotels are pretty universal and a little heads up can't hurt :) Of course if any moderators want to steer me towards how to make better posts please let me know. Also if anyone has specific questions about Manila while I'm here I'd be happy to try and answer them if you leave a comment. Otherwise... ..... Thanks for reading! [//]:# (!worldmappin 14.521923 lat 121.015954 long d3scr)

Hotel St Moritz Queenstown