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When visiting Manila, the business district of Makati is THE place to stay. In this area there are a number of huge shopping malls all connected to each other, including Glorietta Mall and the lush, tropical Green Belt mall. It’s definitely a place to shop-till-you-drop!
The Holiday Inn & Suites Makati is a relatively new hotel and what’s really cool is that it’s connected to Glorietta Mall so you don’t even have to step out into the humid streets! If you’re a shopaholic then this is a very convenient place to stay.
When I arrived at the hotel I was swiftly taken straight to my room where I received personalised check-in service. This was great because after a long flight and pushing your luggage through the airport, the last thing you want to do is have to wait in line at the check-in desk. I was also given a welcome drink that tasted a little bit like a non-alcoholic Mojito; very refreshing!
The Room
I was staying in one of the executive rooms which is very spacious measuring 32 square meters. The room features a 40-inch LED TV, free Wi-Fi, a sofa-bed and a mini-bar with refrigerator. There is a also a work desk in the corner of the room with lamp and electrical outlet at desk level. Perhaps my favourite aspect of this room though was the pillows! They have the words “soft” and “firm” embroidered on them so you can select which type of pillow you wish to rest your head on! If I hadn’t had plans to go sightseeing, I think I could have slept in this bed all day!
The Bathroom
The bathroom has a bath/shower combination and the beauty products consist of an exclusive blend of ginger and lemon fragrance. Other little extras in the bathroom include shaving cream, disposable razor, comb, toothbrush and cotton wool. Basically I didn’t have to take any of my own toiletries out of my suitcase because I had everything I needed!
The Wardrobe
The wardrobe contained dressing gowns, slippers, and an ironing board with iron.
The View
My room had a view over the city of Manila…
The Pool
The outdoor swimming pool has a view of Manila and is a great place to take a swim and enjoy the sunshine while you are in Manila. When you can’t get to the beach, I think it’s important to have a hotel with a decent pool. It’s also a nice place to come in the evening and enjoy a cocktail or two.
The Gym
The gym is open till 10pm and since I am making an effort to stay in shape while traveling, I was definitely going to make use of the hotel gym. The brilliant thing about the gym at the Holiday Inn & Suites is they have personal trainers to help create a custom workout so its not just you and the power racks. The trainer there was very helpful and showed me some strength exercises using weights. To prove I actually use the gym, here is a selfie of me post-workout:
The Executive Lounge
Since I was staying in one of the executive rooms I had access to the Executive Lounge, where I could enjoy complimentary breakfast, free soft-drinks throughout the day, plus pre-dinner cocktails and canapés in the evening. I love hotels that have this facility because it means I can relax, read a newspaper and enjoy some snacks in a quiet atmosphere.
At breakfast you can select items from the buffet but you can also get eggs made-to-order from the kitchen. I broke my diet and had the eggs benedict!
In the evening I also came up here to enjoy a glass of wine while looking out at the city lights of Manila!
This was my first time staying at a Holiday Inn and I was very impressed. I had a fantastic stay here and would definitely visit again because it’s close to everything and the service is impeccable. Filipinos are brilliant at remembering names, and every member of staff here greeted me with a smile.
My stay at the Holiday Inn & Suites Makati was complimentary, but all opinions are my own.
Looks nice for a Holiday Inn.
I’m planning to stay here with my wife with the same privileges that you’ve had (Executive Club Rooms) – is it totally worth it? How’s the staff service? Knowing it’s a brand new hotel, we’re pretty much concerned on the hotel’s birth pains.
We’re also considering Fairmont Gold Club rooms (just the hotel right across), but I’m still looking for reviews like yours so we can compare – Fairmont is definitely much more expensive than Holiday Inn Makati rates, but let’s see.
Yeah i think so. The service was impeccable, I mean really the best I have ever seen. As a brand new hotel it works like clockwork and I would recommend the Executive Club just so you get the private snacks/drinks in the lounge. I have never stayed at the Fairmont, but you won’t be disappointed with the Holiday Inn. It doesn’t have quite the grandeur or opulence of hotels like the Shangri-La (see my other review https://www.pommietravels.com/2013/07/makati-shangri-la-hotel-review/), but it was a great place to stay.
what a magnificent hotel..
Looks like a great hotel! May I ask how you ate healthy while in the Philippines? I am headed there in February for 4 weeks (and Indonesia for 10 days) and am really worried about all of the fried foods and seafood from unknown sources…… any advice would be appreciated!
Really? A mirror selfie?
Nice hotel with class amenities. Already added to my itinerary cart…
Apart from Makati there’s also Bonifacio Global City, which is kind of the new place to be in Manila. You should go there the next time youre in Manila
Looks nice for a Holiday Inn.
Yes, awesome amenities and looking luxurious.