Mandarin Oriental Manila
 

I just booked a 3 night stay at the Mandarin Oriental in Makati for early September. Does anyone have any experience with this hotel or the immediate surrounding area? Thanks.

Mandarin Oriental Manila (MOM) is located in Makati which is the premier commercial center in the Philippines. However, it is a bit out of the way compared to the other 4- or 5-star hotels in the area. Better situated hotels are: Shangri-la Makati, Peninsula, Intercontinental, Niko and New World.

Pluses for MOM: outstanding service (best IMHO), Cathay Pacific's CityCheck service located in the hotel (if you have luggage and are flying CX), good entertainment at the ground floor bar (forgot its name).

Minuses: Fitness center is awfully small. The Chinese restaurant is overrated and expensive.

The Tivoli grill is excellent but then again there are so many great restaurants in the area.

If the price is about the same, I would rather stay at the Shangri-la. It is literally within shouting distance of all the attractions and outlets in the area.


[This message has been edited by bp888 (edited 06-15-2000).]

Thanks for the info bp888. I am pretty well locked into the Mandarin because of a great weekend rate I found from a local Manila travel agent of US$55 nett! The other 5* hotels in the area want over $100 plus 20% tax & service charge. I can afford a lot of taxis with that savings. Looking at a map, it appears that the Mandarin is only a couple of blocks from the Shangri-La, so I would think it is walkable to the Hard Rock Cafe, P. Burgos Street, etc.