8 hour overnight layover in MNL, which hotel?

[albatross710]

Just to add to my MNL excitement I'm arriving on a 11pm SQ flight and then needing to be back the next morning at the same T3 at 9am. By the time I'm through customs/immigration/baggage and taxi realistically I'm thinking I will only need a hotel within 10-15 minutes of the airport for 8 hours.

While I know there are probably hotels to be had by the hour at that time of night, I do hope to get some sleep.

I notice there is a new feature of Google Hotel Finder that shows hotels within a certain travel time of the marker. Pretty cool.

Within 15 minutes of T3 - 296 hotels
Within 10 minutes 59 hotels
Within 5 minutes 1 hotel​

The Resorts World hotels do not have availability on might night of travel.

Does anyone have a reliable recommendation that they would like to share?

 

[Phillippe M]

We have stayed at the Manila Marriott Hotel, which from memory is part of Resorts World or next to it. I find that they don't always list rooms on 3rd party websites and going direct they will normally have rooms.

 

[dajop]

To/from T3 at those times any hotel in Makati should be fine. Whilst the Marriott is literally across the road, that doesn't necessarily mean it is quick to get there., and tends to be very expensive

 

[whughes3]

Be aware also that due to roadworks round the airport, traffic in the area is in an almost permanent state of gridlock; on Wednesday night it look over 2 hours to get to Ortigas, which usually takes about 30 mins. Factor this into your travel times!

 

[albatross710]

Be aware also that due to roadworks round the airport, traffic in the area is in an almost permanent state of gridlock; on Wednesday night it look over 2 hours to get to Ortigas, which usually takes about 30 mins. Factor this into your travel times!

Thanks for this. I'll be making the run to Oritigas on a Sunday afternoon so I guess I'll be prepared for the longer trip.

With all of this talk about the traffic I'll investigate the options for returning from Clark to MNL as my last appointments are at Clark. I thought I had seen PR was introducing flights for this. Can't see it as an option on their booking list. I might investigate just taking a LCC from CRK to HKG or SIN and then connecting with SQ from there. Access and clearance through CRK is usually a breeze and looks like it will cut out a 4-5 hour traffic commute.

 

[yohy?!]

I'd go for the Sofitel Phillipine Plaza as its on the coast near the airport and the roads are pretty much empty in that area

 

[whughes3]

I'd go for the Sofitel Phillipine Plaza as its on the coast near the airport and the roads are pretty much empty in that area

I beg to differ! It is some distance from the airport, and accessible only via Roxas Boulevard, which also tends to be a semi-permanent car park, particularly in peak hours.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I beg to differ! It is some distance from the airport, and accessible only via Roxas Boulevard, which also tends to be a semi-permanent car park, particularly in peak hours.

It's quite easy access on the occasions I've been there. Avoid peak of course that rule applies everywhere

30min max

 

[Sprucegoose]

I'd go for the Sofitel Phillipine Plaza as its on the coast near the airport and the roads are pretty much empty in that area

Agree it's 10.4km in the map and currently 10-14 minutes. But that can change, but dear old MNL will never change !!

 

[JohnK]

Does anyone have a reliable recommendation that they would like to share?

Not sure about reliable but a couple of years ago I stayed in one of the airport hotels for ~AUD60/night. Taxi getting there almost cost just as much as the room and free shuttle back to the airport.

Only 5-10 minutes from airport. Room was OK but area could be a bit dodgy. Actually is there an area in Manila that is not dodgy at night?

 

[yohy?!]

I beg to differ! It is some distance from the airport, and accessible only via Roxas Boulevard, which also tends to be a semi-permanent car park, particularly in peak hours.

Ridiculous, the OP is arriving at 11 and leaving early the next day.

Makati would be far more likely to be delayed and would probably lead to minimal sleep in the OP's scenario.

 

[albatross710]

I ended up booking Victoria Court for $52 overnight including breakfast.

The hotel does make rooms available by the hour, is in a dodgy area. Taxi in.taxi out.

For the 7 hours I'll be there, how bad can it be? I'll report back.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

 

[dajop]

Let us know how it goes (hotel and traffic)!

Although for those who stumble across this thread in the future, for T3, I don't know what the problem is with Makati. I've done a couple of morning departures from there (most recently October) and it's been really quick onto the toll way (briefly) and there within 10mins. Certainly much quicker than getting from Makati to T1/2. Remembering that T1/2 are on the opposite side of the airport to T3.

 

[Ric]

I ended up booking Victoria Court for $52 overnight including breakfast.

The hotel does make rooms available by the hour, is in a dodgy area. Taxi in.taxi out.

For the 7 hours I'll be there, how bad can it be? I'll report back.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

Just a word of caution.....Victoria Court and Sogo are known as "love motels" and that's why they are rented by the hours!!:shock:
A friend of mine made the mistake of booking into Victoria Court and ended up shivering the whole night as no blankets were given!

 

[albatross710]

Just a word of caution.....Victoria Court and Sogo are known as "love motels" and that's why they are rented by the hours!!:shock:
A friend of mine made the mistake of booking into Victoria Court and ended up shivering the whole night as no blankets were given!

thanks for the tip.

 

[Ric]

Have you tried Remington Hotel? It's directly across the road from T3 and will probably takes 5~15 mins.
Remington Hotel

Travelling time is pretty hard to predict in MNL. And to be back at T3 at 9 am is pretty at peak hour. However it also depends on what day and date.

 

[albatross710]

Have you tried Remington Hotel? It's directly across the road from T3 and will probably takes 5~15 mins.
Remington Hotel

Thanks for checking this Ric. Actually it was one of the first hotels I searched. All of the Resort World hotels were showing zero availability . I thought it was a popular place maybe for New Year/Holiday week. So I looked elsewhere. Now, tonight I see they have availability. It looks like a good alternate as I've prepaid the other place.

 

[albatross710]

Reporting back - the after trip summary

Having made a few transits, arrivals and departures at MNL and with my pre-booked accommodation I was ready for my late night 10:50pm arrival. My SQ flight was a few minutes early and had us at the gate all set for a prompt disembarkation.

I was planning to leave two of my bags at the airport left luggage which I knew closed at 11pm. With the prompt arrival I thought I would be close. Using the APEC card, and priority luggage I found myself at the left luggage at 11:04pm. Total darkness. Must be the only thing that runs ontime in RP.

Anyway, no biggie I headed out to find a taxi. The official taxi was quoting me P1000 (about $30) to take me to Victoria Crt. The price should be about P250. There was a long line waiting for other taxis. I headed upstairs to look for a service dropping someone to departures. I ended up in a white taxi whom explained some fare to me and we headed off. I did notice that he was going the wrong way and brought this to his attention. He did a U turn and we were soon at the correct place. When things were going wrong I turned on my "runkeeper' exercise app which tracked the route.

At the hotel (Victoria Court) , the dodgy driver said the fare was P1,200. hmmm that's four times the rate, I went to open the door and both doors were on child lock. hmmm.. I kind of agreed at this stage to pay him and could he help me out with my bags. By this time, the reception staff had approached the vehicle and opened the door. Once we had unloaded all of the bags and by now with three hotel staff on my side I gave the driver P300 and said that was all he was getting. Things could have been much worse for me on this setup. I'm going to pre-arrange pickups from now on. Another tip is that I carry small notes from previous trip for my next arrival.

The actual hotel was OK. basic but OK. Room was clean. I didn't hear or see any of the other occupants. Complimentary coffee/tea delivery to the room upon arrival. Basic room service breakfast was available in the morning prior to departure. Ok as a snack. I arranged the hotel transport to take me back to T3. P250 ($7) direct to the driver.

I would recommend this hotel as a basic place for a quick overnight late arrival for an early departure. Do take advantage of pre-booked transport rather than winging it. The hotel is accessed via some back roads which may make people concerned if not with a trusted driver.

Alby

 

[Ric]

Glad it turned out ok at the end.

 

[whughes3]

As a colleague of mine is fond of saying: "It is logically impossible that ALL Manila taxi drivers are direct descendants of the Accursed. But jeez, you wouldn't know it...".