Allan Merin asked:




Choosing the right hotel will definitely make your vacation a memorable one. In the Philippines, there is a host of luxury hotels that will cater to your needs. Majority of five-star hotels in the country are located in Metro Manila, the center of Philippine commerce, finance, education, and culture.

If you’re willing to shell out extra bucks to experience luxury while enjoying various tourist attractions and exquisite events in the Philippines, then you should check in at these following hotels in the metro. These hotels take pride in providing their guests with excellent services, complete amenities, and high-class accommodations.

Makati Shangri-La

Strategically situated at the heart of the country’s financial center, Makati Shangri-La is the perfect hotel for travelers who are in for business and pleasure. This world-class hotel, which is just a 20-minute ride from the international airport, has 699 guest rooms and suites equipped with the finest facilities that will surely satisfy even the most demanding guests. Makati Shangri-La provides easy access to posh restaurants, trendy bar, and giant shopping malls in the city.

InterContinental Manila

An equally luxurious hotel in the Philippines is InterContinental Manila, which is nestled in the country’s financial and commercial hub-Makati City. The hotel, designed by national artist Leandro Locsin, treats its guests with homely warmth and a lot of respect and hospitality. All of its 333 guestrooms are equipped with high-speed Internet access, making InterContinental Manila a favorite among leisure travelers and businesspeople. The hotel is just across posh shopping malls such as Greenbelt and Glorietta.

Mandarin Oriental Manila

Another five-star hotel located in Makati City is Mandarin Oriental Manila. The hotel is just a five-minute walk from the central business and shopping district of the city. It has 442 spacious rooms that offer thoughtful amenities. Mandarin Oriental Manila is also an ideal place for the health buffs, as it has two world-class spa, a 24-hour fitness center, a landscaped pool, and a beauty salon.

The Peninsula Manila

Set on the corner of Ayala and Makati Avenues, The Peninsula Manila provides a homey atmosphere for its guests. The hotel, which is part of the Hong Kong-based hotel chain, is dubbed as the “Jewel in the Capital’s Crown.” It has 468 rooms and suites designed to suit the needs of discerning travelers in the country. The Peninsula Manila is also an ideal venue for weddings and social and corporate events.

Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila

Located in the Philippine capital, Manila, Hyatt Hotel and Casino is fit for travelers looking for the relaxing side of the metro. This deluxe hotel is within walking distance from the city’s famous tourist attractions. What sets Hyatt Hotel and Casino from other five-star hotels is that it provides a fascinating view of the Manila Bay, which is famous for its sunset. It has 378 rooms and suites equipped with the latest and the finest amenities for the satisfaction of its guests.

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Constantinos Scoumbris asked:




Manila City or simply Manila is the capital of the Philippines and one of the cities that make up the greater metropolitan area of Metro Manila. It is situated on the shores of Manila Bay just west of the geographical center of Metro Manila. This 38.55 sq km city lies on an isthmus between Manila Bay and Laguna de Bay in southern Luzon. The city of Manila has 16 district, 8 are located on the North of the Pasig River and another 8 on the South of Pasig River.

In the very center of Philippine urban life – the Millennium Plaza sits in the heart of the Manila Business and Financial District. It’s the perfect location for your vacation home with five huge air conditioned shopping malls, offering everything from Gucci and Armani, to hand-made Philippine crafts and $1 first run Hollywood movies, museums, fantastic upscale eateries and specialty stores, and the world’s major banks.

In addition, Makati has the hottest nightclub scene in Manila. Makati has it all. When the night falls, the club scene heats up with drinks, dancing, and fantastic entertainment – all for a fraction of what you would pay anywhere else! This is the perfect place – no matter what you want from your Manila holiday!

If you like to shop, to sight-see, to soak up culture, or get romantic, you have exactly the right place! Vacation condo is just a short taxi or Jeepney ride (3-5 minutes) from the most modern, upscale shopping centers in Asia! Fabulous gourmet cuisine is just minutes away, and a tour of the city will take you through 300 years of Spanish history and color.

You’re also just a short drive away from both Clark AFB and Subic Bay – former U.S. military bases, that have been transformed into free trade zones. The perfect place to pick up anything you need, tax free and cheap!

Also, being the main city in the world’s largest archipelago, your vacation home is just a short flight, or boat ride away from some of the most beautiful tropical island getaway resorts on the planet!

If you’re a “party animal” – you’ll love Makati! When the sun goes down, the night club scene really starts to roll! You’ll find excellent bars and pubs in the area, with top quality live music and great entertainment. If your taste runs to the more “exotic” types of shows, you’ll find something for just about everyone and while we are not IN the night club district, your holiday rental condo is just a short walk away.

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Wolfgang Jaegel asked:


Manila is an enchanting tourist destination, situated at the mouth of the Pasig River on the eastern shores of the Luzon Island – the largest island of the Philippines. The capital city of the Philippine, Manila is regarded as a gateway to the nation’s remarkable attractions.

Manila is home to a vibrant metropolitan area, the Metro Manila area, sometimes referred to as the National Capital Region (NCR), of which city forms a part. A fine blend of ancient traditions and modernity, Manila showcases an exceptional range of attractions, from colonial structures and parks and museums to fantastic restaurants and exotic shopping malls.

The city is also much famed for its breathtaking vistas comprising the exceptional Manila Bay as well as its scenic golden sunset. Equally worth mentioning is the Manila’s nightlife, with an astounding array of bars, casinos, clubs, and discotheques. Above all, Manila serves as an excellent base to enjoy a variety of exciting activities.

Erected in 1571 by the Spaniards, Intramuros is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Manila. A tour to this amazing walled complex is a great way to experience the rich heritage of the place. Found within the complexes are attractions such as Manila Cathedral and San Agustin Church – the oldest church of the city, Fort Santiago – a 16th century fort built on the ashes of a Muslim king, and Casa Manila – a 19th century mansion graced with beautiful furniture

There is also a museum within the old monastery of the San Agustin Church, exhibiting a rare collection of oil paintings. Further, attractions here cover the Rizal Park – a sought after area for relaxing and enjoying recreational activities. Named in the honor of Jose Rizal – the national hero, the park also holds the distinction of being the largest park in Asia. For those who want to experience the influence of China on the Philippines, a great option would be visit China Town, dotted with superb malls, shops, and restaurants.

Your Manila vacation would not be complete without taking a tour to museums in Manilas, such as, the Metropolitan Museum of Art displaying both classical and contemporary fine arts and the National Museums, or the Museum of the Filipino Peoples, with exhibits portraying the ancient history of the place.

A good number of parks and gardens also form Manila’s attractions. Some of the renowned parks in the area are Greenbelt Park comprising small malls and Paco Park, a well-manicured park which was once a cemetery. Most prominent among the gardens are Chinese Garden, Everest Hills Memorial Garden, Father Blanco’s Garden, and the Japanese Garden. Also, while your stay at Manila take a tour to some of the ancient churches in the area like Bonifacio Shrine, Manila Cathedral, and Quiapo Church.

In addition, Manila is a venue to enjoy a great number of leisure activities. A trip to such destination as Tagaytay, which is much famed for its Taal Volcano, would be unforgettable. Another must-see spot nearby Manila is Laguna, an amazing spot blessed with hot sulphur springs. Similarly, an excursion to Pagsanjan via a canoe ride offers a unique experience.

Above all, Manila is home to a number of festivals, which among many others, are Cinemanila International Film Festival, Chinese New Year, Fiesta of the Black Nazarene, Bailes de Los Arcos, Likhang Kamay, Senakulo, and Metro Manila Film Festival.

Above mentioned are just few among many of the attractions in Manila. Hence, no wonder why tourists flock to Manila all-year round. Manila has accommodation options to cater every taste and pocket. From budget villas and hotels to high-end resorts and apartment, Manila’s accommodation choices are superb.

If you are ready to spend extravagantly, you can go for accommodation that are complete with comfortable rooms, automatic wake-up call, voice mail, air conditioning, data port, and satellite TV. Such facilities as business center, private parking facility, currency exchange facilities, and internet access, are also made available. Further, many of them are within the easy reach of the city’s top attractions. There are also some hotels and resorts, providing packages inclusive of accommodation, dining, and facilities to explore the attractions of the place.

Since many of the hotels, resorts, and other service providers have their own websites, it enables for easy booking of rooms online. All you have to do with regard to online booking is to just enter their website, and inform your budget and preference. Some of them even arrange transportation facilities to pick you to and fro the airport.

Wikidtravel asked:


With over 7000 islands the Philippines is a great adventure. Still a country overlooked by a lot of backpackers because of its distance away from the mainland. With its tropical white sand beaches and turquoise sea it truly is paradise.

Manila is a vibrant city and very western. You have shopping malls seemingly on every other street with all the American fast food chains. Malate is the tourist area with all the bars and restaurants. This may not be to some peoples taste as a lot of the bars in this area are targeted to the single middle aged male.

Not far from Malate is Intramuros which was built by the Spanish in the 16th century, is essentially a town within itself. It is a walled city with a moat that surrounds it (now a golf course). There is many a sight to see within Intramuros with amazing buildings on every corner and great cathedrals and forts. One was to see all the sites is to hire yourself a guide and tour the city with a horse and carriage so you can get to see everything in one day and also get all the information on what you are actually looking at.

South of Manila you have Pansagan, where Pansagan River is located. The banks of this river is where the final scenes of Apocalypse Now was filmed. There is not much in this little town apart from the trip up the river which is great fun. You hire a boat with two boat men who will pull you up river against the rapids to a waterfall where you can get a “waterfall massage” which is essentially where you lay down on your front on a bamboo raft and they pass you underneath the water so that the water falls hard upon your back. It does slightly hurt but is also much fun. After you will then make your way back down the river with the rapids which can be quite frilling depending on what time of year you are there.

On the southern tip of Luzon is Donsol. This is a must trip for anyone who visits the Philippines, from this little town you can get a boat out for the day to go whale shark spotting in which when one is spotted you get in the water with them in all your snorkel gear and swim with them for as long as they wish, in other words until they dive to deep water. Whale sharks are the largest fish in the sea measuring up to 10 metres in length.