The choice of hotels in Manila ranges from dirty holes without air-conditioning and hot water to luxury 5-star hotels belonging to famous international hotel chains.
Greater selection of cheaper hotels is in Malate. Most of the cheaper hotels in Malate are located along A Mabini and Adriatico streets. There are some mid-range hotels in Malate while most of the luxury hotels in Manila are located in Makati.
We tested three hotels of different price-ranges in Manila: a cheap Mabini Pension at A. Mabini Street in Malate, a three-star Pearl Garden Hotel at M. Adriatico street in Malate and a three-star Berjaya Hotel Manila in Makati. Based on our experience it is best to spend a few extra Euros on a hotel in Manila. You will really appreciate a nice place to escape to when you get enough of the chaos, noise and pollution ruling the streets of Manila.
Mabini Pension *
Mabini Pension is a cheap hotel in Manila. We were offered a room with a fan and cold water only for about 33 €. The room was large, but dirty and full of hungry mosquitoes. The entrance into the room was from a courtyard behind the house, plagued with cockroaches and an occasional rat. Rooms at higher floors of Mabini Pension are a bit more comfortable, but based on our experience we wouldn't bother to sleep at Mabini Pension again.
Berjaya Hotel Manila ***
Berjaya Hotel Manila is a nice, recently renovated 3-star hotel with large, nicely furnished and pleasant rooms. We loved getting back to our room after a day roaming chaotic streets of Manila. In fact, we sometimes popped in even in the afternoon and indulged into a short nap. We paid 63 € for a double room with buffet breakfast, so considerably more than at Mabini Pension. However, based on the location and comfort of both hotels, the price difference is more than justified.
Pearl Garden Hotel ***
Pearl Garden Hotel is a good priced mid-range hotel in Malate. The rooms at Pearl Garden Hotel are nice and clean, the staff at the reception very friendly. We paid 43 € for an air-conditioned double room with a bathroom, free Internet access and buffet breakfast. Breakfast quality is acceptable for Filipino food standards. There was an electronic safe in the room, which is very handy for Manila. The safe was large enough to accommodate a 14" laptop, a SLR camera with 3 lenses, a flash and a video camera.
Pearl Garden Hotel is at a convenient location. There are numerous restaurants nearby as well as Robinson, one of the best shopping malls in Manila. There is also a city railway station UN Avenue walking distance from the hotel.