Manila : book your hotel

Manila loves to eat, shop and sing – hello karaoke bars! – and it’s hard to find down-time in this late-night town. A city of 16 cities, it’s a curious cultural mix; here, you’ll find the world’s oldest Chinatown, a colonial Spanish walled city and a muscular competition for who can build the most glamorous, ultra-modern, high-tech shopping mall.

Ground zero for first-time visitors is Intramuros; the walled city was established by Spaniards in 1571, and you’ll hear Spanish woven into the Filipino language even today. Wander through the stone Fort Santiago and explore its ornate museums. Shopping is a national pastime – just look at the SM Mall of Asia, the country’s largest mall and currently the sixth largest in the world. Drop in for a massage, dinner, people-watching or shopping for traditional crafts, and Admiral Hotel Manila - MGallery Collection sits midway between Intramuros and the SM Mall of Asia. Take a walking or bike tour through Binondo, Manila’s Chinatown; the district is connected by train – often faster than the country's colourful jeepneys or private cars – to the Araneta City complex in Quezon City, where you’ll find Novotel Manila Araneta City and ibis Styles Manila Araneta City.

Close by public transport, ibis Styles Manila Araneta City is located in Quezon City – nicknamed the City of Firsts for its fast-evolving development (no coincidence it’s also the country’s first ibis-branded hotel). With its standard rooms and larger family rooms that sleep four, the hotel is a good choice for travelling couples and families, with a kettle and fridge in the kitchenettes, high-speed internet throughout the property. Function aside, the fun parts of the hotel include a fitness center and bar, a dedicated kid’s pool and The Edge Skyview bar and pool on the rooftop, open until 1am (psst, babysitters are available if you want to make a night of it!) The hotel is near the Araneta Coliseum, one of the largest indoor sports arenas in Asia. And with good rail connections, it’s an affordable option accessible to Manila’s premier tourist attractions around Intramuros and the waterfront.

Manila loves luxury and its Fairmont and Raffles luxury hotels meet and exceed expectations. Set in the same hotel complex in the exclusive San Lorenzo district of Makati, they share seven dining outlets including the French Provençal brasserie Mirèio restaurant in Raffles Makati. Here, an afternoon is best spent exploring the signature macarons in Café Macaron, before working it off in the outdoor pool on the ninth floor. Watch the sun cross the city skyline from bed in Raffles’ suites, which include the vast Legacy and Presidential suites, or from the rooms and suites at Fairmont Makati. The two hotels each have their own spas, with personalised skincare treatments for women and men, both are wheelchair accessible. The hotels are close by Greenbelt Park and the Greenbelt Mall, for high-end brand shopping and the well-regarded, private ethnographic Ayala Museum.

Close by the major tourist attractions of Intramuros and on the seaside, the Admiral Hotel Manila - MGallery Collection brings five-star features with an affordable price tag. Take a dip in the oceanfront pool or slip on the robe for the spa’s signature scented treatments – the spa caters for guests with limited mobility and wheelchairs. Novotel Manila Araneta City wins fans for the convenience of the nearby rail connections and shopping malls of Quezon City outside, while its modern style, kids club, gelato bar and day spa meet the needs of travellers looking for comfort and convenience without breaking the bank.

With its large suites and proximity to Manila’s key business districts, and its sky-high lounge and a pool overlooking the Pasig River, Novotel Suites Manila at Acqua in Mandaluyong City is designed for travellers mixing business and leisure. Located in Quezon City's business and leisure district, Novotel Manila Araneta City has 12 meeting rooms and all-day dining, backed up by fitness centers and a valet service for seamless stays. For an additional fee, its Premier Lounge gives private access to its buffet breakfast, afternoon tea and cocktails, and is connected to a business center, all with views of Manila's skyline. Set on the historic Roxas Boulevard in Malate, the Admiral Hotel Manila - MGallery Collection is close to the Philippine International Convention Center and 5km from the country’s largest private conference venue, the SMX Convention Center Manila in the Mall of Asia complex.

The Philippines loves kids, and so do its hotels. All the spacious rooms at Novotel Manila Araneta City can accommodate up to four people – two adults and two children aged 15 years and below, with cribs and extra beds available. With plenty of family rooms and connecting rooms, it’s backed up by kids clubs, indoor and outdoor playgrounds and the swimming pool. Close by the shops and restaurants of the glitzy Gateway Mall in northeastern Manila, ibis Styles Manila Araneta City offers generous family rooms that sleep up to four, with a little lounge and kitchenette. All rooms are non-smoking, with 53 connecting rooms for travelling families, who'll also appreciate the hotel's two pools and high-speed Wi-Fi.

Romance and room service go hand-in-hand on holidays; book a bay view hotel, robe up and order breakfast late on a stay at the waterfront Admiral Hotel Manila - MGallery Collection. Earmark a pair of pool loungers in the late afternoon and celebrate sunset at the hotel’s rooftop infinity pool. Staying in the all-suite Raffles Makati, you’re well placed to explore the nightlife of Makati and Bonifacio (BGC or The Fort), where wine bars and craft cocktail bars share the streets with super-clubs and speakeasies.