There’s nothing like a staycation to get your tired self rejuvenated. Every once in a while, you deserve a treat … in my case, I was lucky enough to be pampered in no less than the Manila Marriott Hotel—the finest hotel in Pasay City!
Situated within the Resorts World Complex, the 5-star hotel showcases its premier location with its accessibility to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and to the nearby entertainment centers. Manila Marriott being under the largest hotel chain in the world, I was extremely excited with this staycation!
Manila Marriott Hotel boasts of 342 rooms that offer utmost luxury among casual and business travelers alike. With each room equipped with lavish beds, comfortable work areas, smartly-designed bathrooms, and views of the nearby golf course and airport, guests will find that the hotel’s versatility and functionality can definitely deliver—whether it’s a family staycation, an anniversary celebration, or an executive trip.
The Executive Deluxe Suite
My friend and I were billeted into an Executive Deluxe Suite which features a King-sized bed, a lounge chair with an ottoman, a work station, a mini-bar and an ensuite bathroom. At 36sqm, the room was quite spacious despite the cramped feeling conveyed by the heavy wooden tones. I actually loved the warm glow of our suite that gives off a romantic and relaxing vibe. Warm tones of reds, browns, and oranges dominate—then splashed with white.
I loved the fluffy pillows which are ultra-soft—your head sinks completely when you lie down on them. Perfect for just sitting back while watching shows from the 40-inch LCD TV. In fact, we spent a lot of time just relaxing on the bed and watching my favorite channels. Beside the TV is the spacious workstation, with a comfy ergonomic chair.
The bathroom is classy and roomy, with a marbled counter atop which sits a mini-drawer filled with toiletries—from cotton buds to body lotion to mouthwash. There is ample space for your personal stuff—including more shelves underneath for the hairdryer, towels, etc. The toilet is conveniently installed nearby. I especially liked the contrasting black and white hues in this area.
On the right is a separate area which holds the freestanding tub and the rain shower. I loved the fact that this was isolated from the rest of the bathroom because I don’t like wetting the entire bathroom floor. I spent a considerable amount of time soaking in the tub and under the rain shower. There’s a shelf that holds really nice Thann bath products like shampoo, conditioner, soap, and bath salts.
The automatic rollup blinds scream HONEYMOON in big bold letters, but who cares? Well, privacy is easily achieved with one push of a button.
The entryway is flanked by the huge closet on the right and the mini-bar on the left—perfectly maximizing the space.
While other hotel rooms are designed such that they make you feel cheery and energetic, Marriott’s exude a very “lazy” feeling. And no, don’t get me wrong—I’m not complaining.
Dining
The Executive Lounge
The Executive Deluxe and the Deluxe suites actually have the same design and furnishings—the only difference is that the former has access to the Executive Lounge. I highly recommend upgrading your Deluxe Suite or getting one from the Executive Floors in order to gain access to this lounge, which entitles you to extra privileges.
For instance, you can choose to have breakfast here instead of at the Marriott Café. Continental breakfast is served from 6:00AM to 10:30AM, and if you’re okay with skipping the big buffet and having a quieter, more private time instead, then the Executive Lounge is perfect for you. Aside from that, snacks, coffee, sodas and tea are offered all-day long, with unlimited wines, liquors, cocktails, and beers during the evening. Yes, you guessed right—I was at the Executive Lounge all night!
There’s a business center off the far side, which is equipped with PCs, printers, fax machines, and anything a business traveler might need. A boardroom is also available for small meetings—perfect for lunch or dinner assemblies. Guests can also privately check-in and check-out here instead of at the main lobby.
When we visited, there was a Fathers’ Day affair going on and the Marriott staff was dressed in various sportswear—serving chili dogs and burgers to guests. It was a bit late already when we arrived so we opted to relax at the Executive Lounge and try their evening snacks. A selection of cold cuts and cheeses, pastries, breads and dips, cakes, and tarts were on the spread—all of them really good!
Of course after sampling the food we proceeded to the booze station and didn’t stop until the staff begged us to leave. Hahaha! Kidding. The lounge offers imported liquor like my beloved Jack Daniels and Glenmorangie; Benchmark wine; and local and imported beers—even bottled Pivo Praha classic! Fruit juices, sodas, and iced teas are also available for non-alcoholics.
We watched TV while drinking, talking and lounging in their comfortable couch. I loved the casual intimacy and the relaxing ambience of the Executive Lounge. I was incredibly pleased as well with the attentive and cheerful staff—special mention to Tatiana, who willingly did a dancesport pose with me. I love you, Executive Lounge!
Marriott Café
Checked-in guests get complimentary buffet breakfast (6:00AM – 10:30AM) at the Marriott Café, which offers Filipino and international buffet meals and an a la carte menu. We had breakfast here the following day, and what greeted us was a sumptuous spread of tempting pastries, breads, Asian viands, Filipino favorites, American food, dim sum, sushi, salads, and desserts.
American breakfast staples like waffles, pancakes, and BACON are available, as well as a separate omelet station. Try the tapa from the Filipino section—the meat is thinly sliced, delicious, and very tender. Pinoy viands like adobo are also on the spread, along with the usual breakfast choices like salted egg, danggit, tocino, and a variety of longganisa.
CRU Steakhouse
Diners looking for a more upscale and intimate experience should try the CRU Steakhouse—Manila Marriott’s premium steakhouse. Indulge in dry-aged steaks that are cooked perfectly and complemented with impressive side dishes. I loved the US Certified Angus Beef Bone-in Rib Eye, which is one of the best steaks I’ve tried. The Black Truffle Risotto is insanely delicious—order this from the selection sides. Pair your sumptuous meal with some wine and finish off with either the Chocolate Caramel Crunch Log or the Praline Mousse.
Swimming Pool and Other Amenities
Checked-in guests are entitled to free use of the swimming pool—which was designed such that it gives off a “beach resort” feel. The Pool Bar is nearby, perfect for guests who would just prefer to lounge on the pool chairs with a cold drink while enjoying the splendid view.
The Health Club features a gym, sauna, Jacuzzi, and steam bath—facilities that guests can enjoy for free. If you seek some pampering, head over to Quan Spa located at the same floor and avail of their massage and beauty treatment services. You can request in-room massage as well.
The Grand Ballroom
The latest addition to the Marriott Hotel complex, the Grand Ballroom is currently the country’s newest, biggest, most luxurious, and most advanced and fully-integrated events facility. Featuring a total floor space of 8,000 sqm, it boasts of a 3,000 sqm ballroom installed with high-tech Skyfold partitions, extravagant 360-color pillow lights, and Sky Boxes for VIPs. In addition, function halls, meeting rooms, galleries, and restaurants are strategically located around the building to provide virtually everything an event organizer can possibly need.
Manila Marriott Hotel: Unquestionably Brilliant
A hotel of high stature such as Manila Marriott is inevitably attached to a lot of expectations—but really, once you set foot on this hotel, you would feel the excellence that propelled their brand to the forefront of the hospitality industry. From the ease and efficiency of check-in and check-out; to the warm, adept service; to the coziness and lavishness of the room; to the superb dining options, staying at Manila Marriott Hotel is guaranteed to become a pleasurable experience. In fact, our stay was nothing short of brilliant.
~*~
Marriott Hotel Manila
No. 10 Newport Boulevard, Newport City Complex, Pasay City, Manila
(02) 988.9999
| Criteria Facilities Service Dining Ambience Location |
Rating 5/5 4/5 4/5 3/5 5/5 |
Comments Luxurious details match the lavishness of the entire hotel. Warm staff, expert service. Breakfast spread: good; Executive Lounge access: perfect. CRU Steakhouse: exquisite. Loved the warm colors of the room. Near NAIA and the Resorts World entertainment centers. |
Points for improvement:
- Breakfast buffet can be further improved to include more items for each cuisine.
Have you stayed at Manila Marriott Hotel? How was your experience?
My stay was sponsored by Manila Marriott Hotel. All opinions, however, are my own.
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