Manila Pavilion Hotel and Casino, Manila

...foreign tourists, flock to the Manila Pavilion because of the Casino (there are only two casinos in Metro Manila) but other than that, I do not find the hotel to be outstanding. There are always a lot of people in the lobby, thus, making it feel a bit crowded. It could use more elegance in its design and decorations especially for the lobby. However, it has such a homey atmosphere and won’t make one feel intimidated.


My family ...
...area in the City of Manila which is not very pleasing to the eyes. But if you really want to get the pulse of Manila, then it is a good starting point. It is a few meters walk to the highway but there are a lot of passenger jeepneys, a very popular mode of transportation in the Philippines, that pass by the hotel. Taxis are also everywhere and are relatively cheap and convenient. Many fast food restaurants surround the hotel so you can simply drop ... more

A lot of people, mostly foreign tourists, flock to the Manila Pavilion because of the Casino (there are only two casinos in Metro Manila) but other than that, I do not find the hotel to be outstanding. There are always a lot of people in the lobby, thus, making it feel a bit crowded. It could use more elegance in its design and decorations especially for the lobby. However, it has such a homey atmosphere and won’t make one feel intimidated.

My family and I stayed at Manila Pavilion one weekend but we may not be back in the near future. It’s not that we don’t like the hotel but I think I’d rather try other accommodations in the area. The rooms are of standard size with the usual amenities - coffee/tea making facilities, bathrobes and slippers, and various toiletries. The staff is okay although they offer nothing out of the ordinary. The swimming pool is so-so, just a rectangular-shaped one with a small place for kids.

We tried the lunch and dinner buffets at Seasons but the selection is quite limited. In fact, when I went to the buffet area to get more Chinese dimsum, there was already another dish in its place. No refill. I also had to wait for several minutes for my prawns to cook since they only prepared a small amount. My friend also had a bad experience in the same restaurant. There was a mixed up in the room assignments of her group so when she asked the waitress to charge the bill to her room, she was denied. The worse part was she was confronted by one of the high-ranking staff in front of the other diners which made her feel embarrassed.

Yet, on a good note, the Patisserie sells delicious cakes and bread. My kids love the humongous ensaimada – a soft bread topped with butter and grated cheese and with a variety of fillings to choose from.

Pavilion is located in a very crowded and busy area in the City of Manila which is not very pleasing to the eyes. But if you really want to get the pulse of Manila, then it is a good starting point. It is a few meters walk to the highway but there are a lot of passenger jeepneys, a very popular mode of transportation in the Philippines, that pass by the hotel. Taxis are also everywhere and are relatively cheap and convenient. Many fast food restaurants surround the hotel so you can simply drop by at any of them. At one time, I just bought some takeout pizza, spaghetti and chicken from Shakey’s for our dinner. Robinson’s Mall is also a mere walking distance. I bought some chips, soda and cookies there for the kids since I didn’t want them to touch the mini-bar (you know how expensive stuff in the mini-bar are). You can go shopping there too but I must say that it is not really a beauty. Some parts have already been renovated but there are still areas which looked run down.

Many of Manila’s historical and cultural sites are nearby. Visiting them would take from 15-30 minutes via a cab (and also depending on traffic). If you are interested in Manila’s nightlife, just a short distance away is Ermita which is known (or should I say notorious) for its bars.

I do not really discourage anyone for trying this hotel since it is a decent place to stay in but it’s better to manage your expectations.

 

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