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Manila Marriott Hotel [Master Thread]

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Old Jan 4, 2017, 6:22 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: SkiAdcock
Thanks to scubaccr for the info (as of Dec 1st 2016)

o If you have lounge access you will be given room in new West Tower, So do not use East entrance or east checkin desk.

o don't use original main entrance to East Reception,
o Enter by car at same main security entrance
BUT
o Circle round and keep going to West Entrance
o have car/taxi carry on round "internal Marriott Road" to access next Marriott entrance at the West Tower Reception
(If you carry on round the public road, security guy won't let you into Marriott through second set of entrance barrier from the road ! (I tried 4pm today, 7th Jan))

Reason
o West Tower reception and elevators is quite some walk from East Tower checkin, and is on a lower level, and early December the escalator was not working so had to hump suitcases down stairs at end of inter-hotel East-West walk
o west tower entrance (similar to East entrance) once reached, hasextenal xray screening machine to screen all guest luggage before entry to hotel.

As it was explained to me, guests can accompany the elite member into the lounge for a meeting or to relax, but only 1 guest per elite member can take advantage of dining options, and this is strictly enforced during breakfast. Additional guests can dine for an up charge, fees listed below.

Executive lounge hours:
Open from 6a - 12mid every day
Breakfast - 6a - 10:30a (1000php for additional guests)
Afternoon tea - 2:30p - 5p (750php for additional guests)
Hors D'oeuvres - 5:30p - 7:30p (1500php for additional guests)
Evening Snacks - 7:30p - 9:30p (1500php for additional guests)
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Manila Marriott Hotel [Master Thread]

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Old Dec 3, 2010, 7:47 am
  #31  
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Shangri-La Golden Circle Exec, AA Exec Plat, United Premier, Marriott Plat, National Exec, SPG GOLD
Posts: 39
Yes, the Marriott sign was across the median to the right, I also remember a bench below the sign where other people staying at the Marriott were waiting for the shuttle.

I just hailed a regular cab that was dropping someone else off at the airport. The fare was in the 100P range. That seems like a low fare but my filipino friends can take a taxi from Makati to Star City Area/Roxas Blvd for around 50P, Taxis are extremely reasonable in Manila if you get a driver that charges you the local rate on the meter.


Originally Posted by kevino
20 minutes is a long time to wait. I heard that the hotel only offers shuttle service every hour from the hotel to the airport! That seems odd.

There was a Marriott Shuttle sign at the arrivals level? I suppose it was at the median across the first street from where the Yellow taxis are waiting?

Was it indeed only 100p for the taxi?

Thanks!
J_Hawk is offline  
Old Dec 6, 2010, 9:56 am
  #32  
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From my stay in late November, I'd say that the airport pickup of the shuttle was more frequent than once an hour. I just went and waited inside the air-conditioned Marriott hotel waiting-room and the attendant came and alerted me when the bright yellow shuttle got there. I waited about 15 minutes and the shuttle took another 20-odd minutes to get to the hotel.

The Marriott itself does have security at every entrance, but it seems targeted largely toward firearms. X-ray machine and sometimes a quick pat-down when you enter.

Check-in was quick, even though I arrived fairly early ~1pm there was no problems finding a room. I got a room facing Villamoor, but there was no real balcony to step out on, which made the view rather a moot point.

The room itself was nice, although the jack-pack of connectors should really be placed a bit closer to the desk. I was able to hook in my HDMI connector fine and play back from my laptop into the TV easily. There is a flaw where the TV itself isn't positioned well so you can't really see it from either the desk or the tub. Wasted potential.

The room lights are well done, with very bright overhead lights so that reading in bed was comfortable.

The tub is excellent in terms of quick filling, and it's deep enough for immersion. A lot of times hotels make the mistake of making the tub too short or not deep enough. It is kind of nice to sit in the tub and look out the window instead of just staring at tile walls. What's missing, unfortunately, is so sort of a tray so I can put soap or other random items in while in the tub.

As for the giant glass window - don't worry about water stains. Housekeeping cleaned up the window every day, so that the drips from the splashing never got noticeable.

The room does come with a huge and fluffy robe, which is absurdly comfortable after climbing out from a dip in the tub.

For dining, I tried room service and poolside service a couple of times - quality very poor for a Marriott in Asia. I ended up taking most of my meals in the mall, which is still so new that paint smells permeated much of the place. A good 20+ restaurants which aren't exactly cheap since they cater to upper middle class Filipinos. Figure $12-$18 per person including appetizer and a drink.

I did find the Japanese restaurant in the Maxim hotel, which is attached to the same mall, to be excellent in sushi even though it was pricey.

There is a movie theatre in the mall as well, and I dropped by to see the new Harry Potter since I had some time to kill. Bought the P500 luxury seat, which is just a lazyboy recliner. Moderately comfy although the popcorn (came with the ticket) was stale.

The pool is tiny, but at least it's largely insulated from street noise although you can hear takeoffs. Didn't bother me though since I rather enjoy aircraft sounds. A bit of a poor design in that shrubbery blocks the view of the golf course, which I would think is an advantage.

Tried out a couple of massages at the Quan Spa, but the experience was strictly blah. The facilities were excellent, but the training of the staff was sub-par. The masseuse had to be reminded to bring out a pillow for the ankles, didn't have the room ready on-time, and I could hear the chatter of the other staff through the doors. It's very bad training of the staff if they don't know to keep quiet when near the treatment rooms. I wouldn't recommend the spa, especially at the price levels being charged.

The casino is what you'd expect to see at the Las Vegas Hilton. It's not nearly plush enough to be Vegas 4-star quality, but it's serviceable. There's table service in terms of drinks, but not very quick or a wide selection. They do have a system of comps which you earn points fairly quickly which can be used at the acceptable-quality buffet in the casino. Not exactly top shelf, but sufficient for a quick lunch.

The location of the hotel is decent, since you can jump on Roxas Blvd fairly quickly but then you're stuck in the same traffic as the rest of Manila. The only downside is that you generally end up with an airport taxi, which means you pay an extra 40 pesos in fixed costs.

If you want some basic supplies like snacks and sodas, there's a 7-eleven in the office building just outside the resort along with a couple of chain restaurants that locals eat at.

Overall, I'd say this is about as good as a Marriott is going to get in the Philippines, and I'd rate it maybe 3 1/2 stars.
Plato90s is offline  
Old Dec 6, 2010, 6:21 pm
  #33  
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: SFO
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Posts: 2,759
Plato90s, thanks for the report! ^^

It's good to know that the Marriott shuttle picks up from the airport too.
kevino is offline  
Old Dec 8, 2010, 5:28 pm
  #34  
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: UA1k3.00mm;AAex-EXP;Hy Glob;Acc Plt;HH Dia;Onyx Plt;Mar LT Tit;IHG DiAm;RR P;RRA G;BW D;Hcom G
Posts: 2,759
So, we have to pay for alcoholic drinks in the Concierge Lounge?! How much are they?
kevino is offline  
Old Dec 8, 2010, 6:07 pm
  #35  
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: MCO
Programs: UA Silver, DL Silver (MM), HH LT Diamond, MR LT Platinum
Posts: 564
Originally Posted by kevino
So, we have to pay for alcoholic drinks in the Concierge Lounge?! How much are they?
Nope, self serve.
NWstu is offline  
Old Mar 2, 2011, 9:39 am
  #36  
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA MM 1K, AA MM Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 3,235
I'm going to be there for my second stay, last time was over the summer when few of the shops were open in the mall. Sounds like there's been progress.

Regarding the shuttle, I spoke with the hotel, which told me I can wait for the complimentary shuttle (undermined time) or get a private car from the hotel for 800 pesos. Sounds like the taxi for 100 pesos will be the best deal. I understand the shuttle isn't 24 hours, so for my 6:00am flight out, I have to have a private car or taxi if I want to leave the hotel at 4:00am.

I liked virtually everything about the hotel as well. The rooms were quiet, which is important to me given that I work US hours when I'm there and sleep during the day.
tarheelnj is offline  
Old Mar 27, 2011, 2:17 pm
  #37  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: San Rafael, CA
Programs: Life SPG Plat, 7X NH DIA
Posts: 2,840
Well it looks like I'm going to need to blow of loyalty during my 2 night MNL stay.
No SPG in MNL.
I've booked Hyatt was but wasn't not looking forward to it.

This morning I've learned that NH operates out of Terminal 3.
I checked airport hotels for an alternative to the Hyatt and presto.

I'll commute to my meetings on my only full day in town and be well positioned for my departure. This crowd certainly won't think I'm making a mistake. It's a no-brainer right?

-Scho

PS: Jayhawks are down to VCU as I type.
schoflyer is offline  
Old Mar 28, 2011, 11:32 am
  #38  
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
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Posts: 39
It is a sad day to be a Jayhawk... :-(

The commute into Makati is about 1 hour during normal business hours, as long as you plan for the commute it is a no-brainer.

I recently had some colleagues who were staying at the Makati Shang come to the Marriott for dinner; they decided that the Marriott will be their new hotel choice going forward after taking the tour...

Lots of dining options in the complex along with hopping night club (Republik), casino, movie theatre, golf course...



Originally Posted by schoflyer
Well it looks like I'm going to need to blow of loyalty during my 2 night MNL stay.
No SPG in MNL.
I've booked Hyatt was but wasn't not looking forward to it.

This morning I've learned that NH operates out of Terminal 3.
I checked airport hotels for an alternative to the Hyatt and presto.

I'll commute to my meetings on my only full day in town and be well positioned for my departure. This crowd certainly won't think I'm making a mistake. It's a no-brainer right?

-Scho

PS: Jayhawks are down to VCU as I type.
J_Hawk is offline  
Old Nov 11, 2011, 5:39 am
  #39  
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: BWI,BAH
Programs: Gulf Air Silver, MR Plat, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 6
Question My first stay at the new Manila Marriott

Hi all - New to FT, but lurked here many times over the years looking for gems on points programs, or when Google took me here ... so I usually travel on business in the Middle East or East Coast US. First time actually using the points I've worked so hard to acquire, and I haven't been to Manila in 20 years--hope that some of you who've stayed at the new Marriott in the last year may have some tidbits for me (although it sounds like you are usually there on business):

Questions:

1. I'd like to do the touristy Manila things like Intramuros and Corregidor -- can I trust the concierge to be helpful, or is there a travel/tours outlet in/near the ResortWorld center?

2. After 5 days in Manila, I'm flying to Cebu via Philippine Airlines/Terminal 3. It sounds like I can just walk from the hotel--is this correct?

3. I'll return from Cebu and stay an additional night at the Manila Marriott before moving on to Pampanga--I was planning to rent a car from the airport and drive for the rest of my vacation... but many are advising against this in travel forums--is it really that bad? When you guys are there on business, do you rent or have a driver? J_Hawk mentioned having to go to Alabang, QC, Makati and Ortigas... I would think a rental car would be easier in this case. But I do have memories of the horrific traffic in Manila--and that was 20 years ago. Any advice on rental vs. hire (or bus?) out of Manila would be appreciated.

4. Do you have any experience using points (esp. in Manila)? The system allowed me to choose a "One Bedroom Executive Suite" for the same 20K points as the standard "Guest Room". Is this going to screw me in the end with extra charges--more points being deducted, or is this normal? The confirmation doesn't list any extra charges. (I may need to post this in the main Marriott Rewards forum).

Thanks all!
4Got is offline  
Old Nov 14, 2011, 3:58 pm
  #40  
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: UA1k3.00mm;AAex-EXP;Hy Glob;Acc Plt;HH Dia;Onyx Plt;Mar LT Tit;IHG DiAm;RR P;RRA G;BW D;Hcom G
Posts: 2,759
1. I think the concierge would be helpful. You can always compare their recommendations with what you can find online.

2. No, you cannot walk from the hotel to any of the terminals, as far as I know. There is a free shuttle that does not run often and can take 30m to get to T1 if trafffic is bad.

3. I do not recommend driving in Manila unless you find it fun and exciting to see how close cars can get to you without hitting you. Traffic in most places is as bad or worse as 20 years ago. Some intersections are better than 20 years ago bc bypasses have been built.

4. Are you sure you didn't click the "Upgrade with Cash" option? That option assumes you will pay 20k points per night (it used to be 15k and then pay to upgrade to an executive floor or suite). I don't know what the upgrade charge will be per day.

Good luck and welcome to FT.
kevino is offline  
Old Nov 15, 2011, 2:39 am
  #41  
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: BWI,BAH
Programs: Gulf Air Silver, MR Plat, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 6
Thanks for the reply Kevino!

Turns out the flights to Cebu no longer taking off from Terminal 3, so I'll definitely need a taxi to T2 anyway. This effective Nov 10th.

IRT my last (#4) question, I called the hotel and they thought it was a system glitch (but I may have clicked something)... I had to make a date change and this time it only gave me one option for the standard room

So my only remaining issue has to deal with getting to Pampanga (either Dau or Clark) area from Manila. I think I'll wait to get a rental car there, but really don't want to take a bus based on the overcrowded buses I recall from years ago. Any recommendations for a private hire or do they have better "Greyhound" quality bus lines now?
4Got is offline  
Old Nov 15, 2011, 11:08 am
  #42  
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: UA1k3.00mm;AAex-EXP;Hy Glob;Acc Plt;HH Dia;Onyx Plt;Mar LT Tit;IHG DiAm;RR P;RRA G;BW D;Hcom G
Posts: 2,759
I'm sure you can take the Resorts World shuttle to any of the terminals (except mb the domestic terminal).

You can try Margarita Station. I haven't used them but know others who have and they are reliable. You can take them to Clark and negotiate with the driver to take you on to Dau for a little more (or you can take a second taxi when you get to Clark). They are not the cheapest, but many charge more.

When will you be at the Marriott?
kevino is offline  
Old Nov 16, 2011, 8:04 am
  #43  
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: BWI,BAH
Programs: Gulf Air Silver, MR Plat, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 6
I think I'll try Margarita Station... looks reputable and run by expats (maybe?). Definitely worth the $60 (2600P) they're asking for a sedan.

I'll be in Manila from 19-24 Nov. and again for one night on the 27th.
4Got is offline  
Old Dec 3, 2011, 9:54 am
  #44  
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA MM 1K, AA MM Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 3,235
Third stay coming up this week. Anyone been there recently and have any news or suggestions? Any experience with getting an upgraded room? I'm going to be here at least 4 times in the next year.

I've found it a very accommodating hotel for someone like me who works US hours and therefore sleeps during the day.
tarheelnj is offline  
Old Dec 4, 2011, 3:48 pm
  #45  
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: UA1k3.00mm;AAex-EXP;Hy Glob;Acc Plt;HH Dia;Onyx Plt;Mar LT Tit;IHG DiAm;RR P;RRA G;BW D;Hcom G
Posts: 2,759
Their ug for golds and plats is to a view of the golf course.

The airport shuttle now picks up at the island (across the first little street)after you exit customs. It's no longer at the curb where the shuttle to T2,
T3, and T4 stops.
kevino is offline  


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