Makati is Manila’s business district and also home to the major hotels. Rather than staying in one of the large, towering impersonal chains (Shangri-La, Fairmont, Hilton), we chose “Hotel Celeste”:http://hotelceleste.ph/, Manila’s first boutique hotel with 25 rooms and 5 suites. It was on average 30 minutes from the airport and although located on a busy intersection, we were not affected by noise.
We stayed there three times: the first time for 5 nights and on two further occasions when travelling in and out of Manila.
We had three different rooms, located over the four floors. All were large with polished wooden floors and huge, comfortable beds with lots of cushions and grand, padded headboards. They were individually decorated each with a different colour schemes. There was a large cream winged chair, coffee table, desk and chair, decent lighting, plenty of shelves, hanging space and drawers, robes (but only one pair of slippers), TV with BBC world and CNN and complimentary wifi. The air conditioning was necessary and easy to adjust. As there is no hotel bar, the mini bar was well stocked with alcoholic and soft drinks. Although they don’t serve dinner, there is a limited room service menu and they’re happy for you to order a take away. However, the hotel is a five-minute walk from an area called Green Belt with shops, bars and restaurants.
Bathrooms were disproportionately small and all slightly different. The best had a walk-in shower, the worst a shower over the bath with very dodgy head which sprayed water all over and one was so badly designed it was impossible to sit properly on the loo. On a positive note, complimentary toiletries were L’Occitane, but unfortunately it was the dreaded, totally ineffective ‘wall mounted box’ hair dryer.
On check in, we were offered a complimentary foot massage at a time of our choice and after a long day’s sightseeing, it was most welcome.
We were also asked for a credit card for incidentals, but on checking out found that the card had been debited with 10,000 Peso/£166, which had to be refunded following an email exchange with the bank. So, on the second occasion, we gave them 2,000 PhP in cash as security, but the third time, a deposite wasn’t mentioned.
Iced tea welcome drinks were brought to the room which was much better than trying to juggle them at the same time as dealing with check-in paperwork.
At breakfast, the buffet had a selection of three juices (apple, mango, orange), limited selection of fruit (water melon, melon and mini tangerines) and unpeeled fruit, regular and chocolate cornflakes, croissants and cinnamon buns. There was also an extensive menu of items which could be ordered, although on arrival we had no idea what most of them were e.g. longanissa (sausage), pork adobo (cooked in soy, garlic and vinegar), tocino (bacon). Coffee was excellent and the service good.
On reflection, we liked the hotel’s location and size and individuality, but would prefer somewhere with a bar and restaurant.
