8 Things to Love About Marriott Manila

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!

#1 The View

The view from Marriott Manila is superb and is probably the best among luxury hotels in the greater Manila area. With the Villamor Golf Course just next door, you’d be forgiven to think that Metro Manila is a garden metropolis, with its gleaming skyscrapers surrounded by lush greenery. This verdant sight alone is enough to turn up the R&R factor by at least a notch so make sure to request for rooms with a view facing the golf course when staying here.

#2 An Executive Lounge That’s Not Run-of-the-Mill

It looks just like any of the club lounges you’d find in plush hotels the world over but what sets the executive lounge of Marriott Manila apart are its themed nights. I checked in on a weekend and found the likes of Bicol Express and Chicken Inasal as canapes as well as Ginataan for dessert. With the staff dressed in barong and baro’t saya, it was obviously Filipino night. On other days, the lounge has carving stations with a plethora of roast meats, practically guaranteeing lots of variety for a 2 or 3 night stayer.

#3 The Spacious & Well-Equipped Gym

The fitness center at Marriott Manila is one of the biggest hotel gyms in the metropolis. With dozens of modern exercise machines, free weights and plenty of open spaces, I never had to wait for my turn on the gym equipment. The ambiance also made the calorie-burning experience strangely pleasant.

#4 The Resort Within a Resort Feeling

The pool at Marriott Manila is especially conducive for night swimming. With lots of ambient lighting and a jacuzzi, it was a great way to cool off after a hot and humid day in the city. Plus I had the pool all to myself!

For those looking to get pampered, the hotel’s Quan Spa offers a full range of therapeutic massages via their eight treatment rooms. Or you could have an in-room massage if you want to.

#5 Marriott Cafe

My weekend stay was perfect for dining at Marriott Cafe, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant. I had their Sunday Brunch, where the buffet was so long that the spread extended all the way next door to the award-winning Cru Steakhouse. I had not seen a buffet of this proportion for a long time, with sushi, fresh lobsters, Filipino food, steaks and even drink-all-you-can milkshakes competing for tummy space! You can read more about my dining experience at Marriott cafe soon.

#6 Being Greeted By Name

One of the usual pitfalls of staying in a large multi-storey hotel is that while the staff are polite and efficient, the service is usually impersonal if not a tad robotic. Perhaps the thing that impressed me the most about Marriott Manila was the highly personal touch of the staff when attending to my needs. Whenever guests entered or exited the Executive Lounge, the staff would greet them by name. Even the housekeeping personnel cleaning my room greeted me by my name!

#7 This Room

There’s no airbrushing done here, this was exactly how my room looked when I entered for the first time. Set in an atypical but pleasant warm tone with hints of yellow (even the welcome fruit basket consisting of mangoes complemented the color scheme), the room was a welcome sight after a long drive. At 36 square meters, the space was sufficient. A 40 inch LCD TV with tons of channels provided the entertainment next to a working desk made for business people.

I arrived late with the turndown service already done in my room. The staff had thoughtfully left behind some local sweets as a bedtime treat.

#8 The Convenience

An assessment of Marriott Manila won’t be complete without considering the larger complex that it’s in – Resorts World Manila (RWM), one of the country’s premier gaming complexes. It’s not just casino-goers who frequent the place. Many of the international theater acts that make their way to Manila have their shows here, so RWM is also quite popular with the family. As a staycationer, I certainly didn’t have a shortage of activities to try.

Given that it’s situated just across NAIA Terminal 3, Marriott Manila is the closest thing to an airport hotel when Manila’s concerned. For those transitting to or from provincial destinations or those looking for a closer place to wait out a very early flight, this hotel certainly helps clear those transit blues.

grinning ear to ear! I certainly enjoyed this mini break

Manila Marriott Hotel
No 10 Newport Boulevard, Newport City Complex, Pasay City, Manila, 1309, Philippines
+63 2 988 9999

I was a guest of Marriott Manila. However, all opinions are my own.