Question Recommended Area for a Hotel Stay in Manila

[Living4Experiences]

I'm traveling to Manila for the first time and then onward to Puerto Galera in March for 10 days of diving at El Galleon. Before going down to PG, I need to get a hotel for a couple of nights away from the airport and in a safe community or geographic area that has restaurants or grocery stores within walking distance. I don't plan on sightseeing, so I don't need to be near tourist attractions. I need air conditioning and a nonsmoking hotel in the $200 or less USD per night range. Any recommendations would be most appreciated.

TIA!!

 

[Centrals]

City State Tower Hotel where the Si-Kat transfer to PG departs in the morning. There are several others to choose from on the same street.
The area is pretty safe and Robinson Place is well within walking distance(5mins). Eating places are plentiful.
"Edzen" on 1151 Mabini St, same side as City State(turn right as you come out from the hotel), gives very good rate. Always has a long queue of people. Not sure if it has survive the virus.

 

[Cornbread O'Malley]

I'm traveling to Manila for the first time and then onward to Puerto Galera in March for 10 days of diving at El Galleon. Before going down to PG, I need to get a hotel for a couple of nights away from the airport and in a safe community or geographic area that has restaurants or grocery stores within walking distance. I don't plan on sightseeing, so I don't need to be near tourist attractions. I need air conditioning and a nonsmoking hotel in the $200 or less USD per night range. Any recommendations would be most appreciated.

TIA!!

I had a good experience staying in the neighborhood of Binondo just north of the Pasig River. Binondo is the Chinatown of Manila with very affordable accommodations and easily walk-able to all that you seek. When planning transport via taxi or Grab in Manila, allow a good amount of time to get from point A to point B as traffic is TERRIBLE.

 

[hdtran]

I'm traveling to Manila for the first time and then onward to Puerto Galera in March for 10 days of diving at El Galleon. Before going down to PG, I need to get a hotel for a couple of nights away from the airport and in a safe community or geographic area that has restaurants or grocery stores within walking distance. I don't plan on sightseeing, so I don't need to be near tourist attractions. I need air conditioning and a nonsmoking hotel in the $200 or less USD per night range. Any recommendations would be most appreciated.

TIA!!

Disclaimer: I have no firsthand experience for the Philippines, so this is based on internet research & Google maps.

For a budget of $200 USD/night or less, you've got huge amount of choices. This google-map-link is centered near MNL airport, with search parameters for 3/4/5 star hotels with customer reviews 4.5 or higher, and a/c as an amenity.

For my own trip in May, I will spend one night in Manila on the way back. This second-google-map-link is what I'm using to find my "night before the flight back to the US" hotel. I'm choosing to be near Mall of Asia on the way back (therefore, walking distance to food courts etc.).

I have not found a way to specify non-smoking in the google search parameters, but based on previous travel in Asia, I was easily able to reserve non-smoking rooms in hotels. Major international chains (Bonvoy, Hilton, etc.) typically have a "no indoor smoking" policy.

For grocery stores, I would just do a search in a separate map window or tab.

Best of luck, and looking forward to seeing a trip report from you after you return!

 

[shimmer]

Belmont Hotel at Newport World Resorts area. 5 min walk from NAIA Terminal 3. Has a nice shopping mall, restaurants, 5 star hotels and grocery store all in safe walkable area.

 

[iho]

Look something in BGC or Makati. Reasonable time to commute to NAIA and normal western like surroundings + a lot of food options.

 

[bmag78]

First time to Philippines and going to PG anyway it sounds like the City State Tower is exactly what you're looking for , as mentioned above.
The SI-kat bus leaves from there for best ease of travel and it should cost about $50/night , maybe less.
Ticks all your other boxes as well

 

[Johnboy70_99]

Why averse to the hotels near the airport? Like others have said, there are a few eating options nearby. I have stayed at both the Belmont and the Marriott and they are OK.

If you do really want to get away from the airport but still stay “safe” BGC is a good choice. It is very westernized and doesn’t really feel like you are in the Philippines. Tons of food and drink and shopping options. The Shangrila and Ascott are nice but may be out of your price range. The F1 is locally owned, it is much cheaper than Ascott and Shang but still decent. There are other options as well for hotels. Be sure to check out the “speakeasy” bars if you go there, “bank bar” is hidden in a door in the back of a 7/11. There is a newer supermarket in BGC, I think it is called the landmark, it’s better than the majority of supermarkets in the US.

Next month I am staying at Belmont on my way through as I fly in late night and then out to Dumaguete the next morning. For the return trip I am flying back to Manila 2 days before my international flight back home and staying at F1 in BGC to make sure I make my international flight in case of any issues with my Asian travel. I’m taking a side trip to Bali so I’m flying back from there before heading home from Manila.

 

[bmag78]

Why averse to the hotels near the airport? Like others have said, there are a few eating options nearby. I have stayed at both the Belmont and the Marriott and they are OK.

If you do really want to get away from the airport but still stay “safe” BGC is a good choice. It is very westernized and doesn’t really feel like you are in the Philippines. Tons of food and drink and shopping options. The Shangrila and Ascott are nice but may be out of your price range. The F1 is locally owned, it is much cheaper than Ascott and Shang but still decent. There are other options as well for hotels. Be sure to check out the “speakeasy” bars if you go there, “bank bar” is hidden in a door in the back of a 7/11. There is a newer supermarket in BGC, I think it is called the landmark, it’s better than the majority of supermarkets in the US.

Next month I am staying at Belmont on my way through as I fly in late night and then out to Dumaguete the next morning. For the return trip I am flying back to Manila 2 days before my international flight back home and staying at F1 in BGC to make sure I make my international flight in case of any issues with my Asian travel. I’m taking a side trip to Bali so I’m flying back from there before heading home from Manila.

The primary advantage , especially for newcomers to Philippines who are going to Puerto Galera anyway , of this particular City State Tower hotel in Ermita is that the Sikat bus/boat trip leaves literally from the front door of the hotel. And it's about$50/night.
It absolutely couldn't be easier. Ermita, for good or bad , is an authentic slice of Filipiniana.
BGC is fine but he would still need to make his way to some terminal somewhere to catch a bus.
Airport hotels are depressing for more than overnight to me. He wants to stay a couple nights

 

[Centrals]

Next month I am staying at Belmont on my way through as I fly in late night and then out to Dumaguete the next morning. For the return trip I am flying back to Manila 2 days before my international flight back home and staying at F1 in BGC to make sure I make my international flight in case of any issues with my Asian travel. I’m taking a side trip to Bali so I’m flying back from there before heading home from Manila.

There are several self contained condos available in the same area as Belmont(Newport City). Some will have cleaning charge check the rate carefully.
No taxi to catch if using T3 and there is FREE transfer to other terminal(not sure if applies to all airlines).