I'm not and haven't been a resident of Torre Lorenzo, actually, but I've visited my friend's unit…read morehere so many times, and I've even gone swimming in its roofdeck pool. As someone who has lived in the Vito Cruz-Taft area for over a decade now, I've seen my fair share of condo units and apartments. Believe me when I say Torre Lorenzo I (there's a Torre Lorenzo II nearby) units are SPACIOUS! Their studio units, which are available for rent for as low as Php 13,000, can fit two to three people. They have amenities like a gym and a swimming pool, which though not too big, is clean and well-maintained. Apart from those, Torre Lorenzo I's biggest draw is its prime location. It's only a very short walk away from the Vito Cruz LRT station, DLSU, Benilde, St. Scholastica, and the many other food and retail establishments in the area.

Lived next door decades ago. Now its consistent of high rise towers overlooking the beautiful…read moremanila skyline. Amazing sunset view. Some of the older towers are a bit updated but not that bad. Traffic around the area is brutal during rush hour but still walking distance to some amenities.

When my wife and I first walked into Tivoli almost 4 years ago, that was it; I knew I wanted to…read morelive here. It's not as upscale a residential area as some; you won't find any Bentleys or Jaguars (okay, fine, maybe 1 Jaguar) or Rolls-Royces in this 5-tower DMCI community. What you will find, what my wife and I have found in our almost 2-year stay here, is a good life. We've given money to Christmas carolers singing like they've actually practiced, we've bought charm bracelets from neighborhood kids, we've chatted with a British expat and his two boys while swimming. It's hard to find time to really hang around in your typical condo, with the empty, musty hallways. Tivoli's breezy corridors are always filled with laughter, and even when you don't wanna step out of your own unit, all you have to do is throw open the window or balcony door, and you hear actual people doing actual people things outside. You're never alone, and sometimes that's a very good thing.

Tita Flory's apartments are recommended if you're a student, a young professional starting out in…read morehis or her career, or a young couple with no kids yet. It's a 2-storey complex of studio apartments one tambling away from the bustling Maginhawa scene. Each studio apartment has its own kitchen counter, bathroom, and living/bedroom/dining space. Yes, there are slashes between those functions because the space is tiny - about 20 square meters. It's ideal for just 1-2 people in each apartment. You have your own electricity and water meter, on which bills are sent directly to your room. WiFi? You gotta have yours installed yourself. Pros: Bathrooms are bigger than expected; Security is good - CCTV cameras are placed around the gate and one along the hallway; Peaceful, quiet, and private; Tita Flory is a really nice woman; and, of course, LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION. Cons: Relatively expensive, compared to other studio apartments in Krus na Ligas (KnL); Can't throw big dance parties. Unless being in a clown car version of an apartment is your thing. Lounging-lounging lang; She doesn't have a phone number. You have to wait patiently for Tita Flory to go downstairs after pressing the doorbell several times; Limited parking space. TL;DR - Consider living here if you want a small "tulugan lang" and temporary living space while you get your act together. It's decent and safe and comfy.

The Ascott is a fantastic 5 star hotel in Makati. This is a great hotel if it's your first or many…read moretrips to Manila. After 2 great stays within a 9 month period it's time to drop a review Lobby & Check In: I've always booked directly through the hotel's website and had zero issues. The lobby is located on the 7th floor, so you pass through security on the first floor and I love this. The main lobby is gorgeous with a massive 4 story ceiling. The mesclun restaurant & Cafe is showcased in the lobby. There are sofas and table to lounge in as you check in with the attendants seated at their work desks. Mesclun Restaurant & Cafe: The breakfast buffet is what'd you expect from this type of hotel. Great selection from local to international breakfast options. Plenty of staff to ensure tables are turned quickly. I'd suggest going earlier versus later to beat the breakfast rush. The dinner menu is simple but all the dishes were tasty. Local and non-local dishes to satisfy all visistors Gym: Clean, modern and plenty of equipment. It's located on the same floor of the lobby and the staff has always been friendly. I visit here right after stuffing myself at the breakfast buffet at Mesclun. Amazing convenience. 1 Bedroom Premier Suite is my go-to every visit: 893 Square feet 1 King bed & Separate living and dining area Fully equipped kitchenette Washer and dryer Housekeeping is always on point and friendly. I love the working area in the master bedroom and there's plenty of storage space. Location: The best part of the Ascott imo. It's directly connected to Glorietta mall. Which also connects to Landmark which will connect you to Greenbelt Shopping mall. SM Makati and One Ayala mall are also connected/walkable. Everything you need is connected to the Ascott. The drop off/Pick up area is easy to get to for pick up as well. This is my home base every time I visit Manila. You get amazing value for the overall package the Ascott Makati offers. I'll be back there sooner versus later. Ingat

This could possibly be my 6th time staying at this Ascott in Makati. it's so convenient to anywhere…read morearound the Metro Manila area. I'm fortunate to get hospitality industry rates so finding deals is never an issue for me. Prior to the trip, I researched online for available dates and they had them ending of April as Holy Week was already complete. Ascott has sister hotels including Citadines, Somerset, and many more. This hotel doesn't charge daily resort fees as other hotels properties do. There is free parking, but why drive in organized chaos? The Philippines has all sorts of transportation options like Private Hired Drivers, Jeepney, Grab/Taxi, even Light Rail! This amazing hotel overlooks the city night lights with a restaurant serving the most-exquisite Western & Asian/Filipino food fronting the swimming pool, living walls and jacuzzi. I've heard that this Ascott hotel has the widest swimming pool in Makati. Ascott has two towers, this most recent visit was in the Ayala Tower on 21F that boasts beautiful views towards Manila Bay, private estates/villages Fort Bonafacio Global City Skyline and the surrounding areas of the Metro. Located in Ayala Center, Ascott is set up right on top of Glorietta Mall. SM Makati is also next door. Glorietta is also connected to The Landmark Mall as well as Greenbelt. If that's too much urban for you, you can take a break while walking around the lush gardens of Greenbelt avoiding sounds of the city to soothe your soul. The lobby is situated on the 6F floor. Once checked in, you need to find the correct elevators to your tower. The elevators are controlled by your hotel room key so security is not only present at the Hotel front entrance, but also within the hotel. Fitness Center is open 24 hours of the day. It's decent enough for a light workout, lots of cardio equipment, and a separate room for boot camp exercise. Unfortunately, the Spa was closed for renovations. Makati can be very hustle and bustle, with serene hidden gardens, Filipino cultural experiences, in such a great urban destination like Manila. With countless eateries, shopping and basically lots of things to see around you. This location will keep you, your travelling group, or if with family members, well entertained and intrigued. Our room was a 1 Bedroom Executive Suite with a large king bed, bathroom was equipped with standup shower, plenty of bathroom counter space, bedroom had a cozy work desk, and kitchen with washing machine. Complementary breakfast buffet was also included each day. Living room was nicely furnished with a large flat screen TV. I was surprised to find a large filtered water dispenser in the kitchen. The staff here was exceptional! They were courteous and friendly. Front desk also allowed a late check out upon departure as the flight home was scheduled later in the evening. If you come to Manila, it is a must to stay here!

Beautiful hotel-like residence. Front desk with concierge service. Lobby is welcoming and cool…read moreduring the hot days outside. Doormen always ready to help as well as being courteous and friendly!!

A great clean place to live if you're in this area! I had to review it here for the record…read more Actually, it's a perfect location in Mandaluyong area and close to everything walking distance that you will need.... from restaurants, banks, groceries, shopping and transportation. The building is off Lourdes but if you don't drive slow, I can see you missing the entrance to this place as there is construction around it. This twin tower building is next to the up coming Westin residence that is being built still. The Sonata building is a pretty secure residential place as there is a guard at the entrance to driveway, a guard before cars can go in. The guards are good at knowing the regulars here when you get dropped off by Grab cars. There is also guards over looking the front entrance to the building. If you have guests coming to visit you, they have to sign in and take your picture before they can call your condo. The staff is super nice and friendly. The place offers a gym, pool, kids play area and lounging area for guests with AC and TV. There is a boutique and salon at the bottom floor of tower 1. I really enjoyed it here so if you plan to purchase one of these condos, this is a perfect location to live in. We stayed here for a month as this was in Airbnb for a decent price. [17/100]

Living in The Fort has its conveniences - like no power outages, less traffic, clean streets,…read moresafety, access to groceries, banks restaurants, and bars. There are so many places springing up all over the place. Bellagio 3 is located near so many convenient places, which is great. The pool and facilities are mediocre, however. But my major gripe, which is very important, is that the building is not made well! When we first moved into our condo, there was a leak for nearly a month. So we had no hot water or use of the kitchen. The way the tiles are laid is also of poor quality. They all popped out of the floor sixth months after we moved it. NOT SAFE. Plus power is very expensive in the Fort. However, the views are great here. Especially if you long for some green space.

Bellagio 3 is a condo in between burgos circle and robinsons supermarket. It is great this complex…read moreis so close to all the conveniences you need. If you enter through the carpark the supermarket is literally next door and the burgos circle strip offers a good variety of restaurants and bars. There is even a korean supermarket, pet store and museum nearby. The building in itself is build without much thought. The elevators always break down and I am taller than the emergency exit doors.. is that legal? I don't think so. These are the amenities available: Swimmingpool Gym club Sauna Game room Function room Day care center

I have been living in Taft Avenue for 5 years now, three of which I have spent living in Orlando…read moreSuites. Before moving to Orlando Suites, we lived in a small apartment near Hotel Benilde. I'd like to be very straightforward and tell you that we got robbed there. Thieves actually broke into our apartment and stole some of our stuff. I don't mean to scare anyone, Taft Avenue is still a pretty good place to stay in. There's still nothing wrong with being a little careful though. After the incident, my parents thought we should live in an apartment building with good security. This is why we are now staying in Orlando Suites. The place is a nice, 10-storey building with 8 residential floors, a pool and a function room on the third floor, a gym, tennis and badminton court, a pool table and a rooftop garden on the tenth floor. Pretty nice, huh? They also have bi-monthly pest control programs to ensure pest-free living. And if you're too lazy to clean your own unit, the maintenance team can do it for you for 250 pesos each. Lastly, the security team is amazing! There are at least 7-10 security guards in the building to protect you and would sometimes also help you with your bags and groceries, or getting a cab. So for those looking for a place in Taft, try Orlando Suites. I'll see you there!

The first time I moved to Manila, I was living in the tiniest studio apartment you could ever…read moreimagine. It was a box, basically, and while you're sitting on the toilet, you can rest your forehead on the wall you're facing without undue stretching. It was that tiny. So when my sisters moved in with me to attend college in DLSU, I was thrilled. That meant a bigger apartment! My parents ended up choosing an apartment in Orlando Suites. Not only was it in a very central location, it was also only 10-stories high. My dad had a thing about tall buildings, which was a sound fear, since in a building this low, I won't die if the elevator was undergoing maintenance or something. It was also very secure, and after three years of living here, we were chummy with all the security guards. We even get invited to their Christmas parties. Aside from their roomy and airy apartments, they also offer dormitory-style residences for those who like to live with other people. It's sad that we may have to move soon -- this has been home for so long.

Philippines review #16…read more After searching for a room online, I came across and chose this unit for my 6 day stay in Manila. This is the "Alcoves 4, premier studio", one of 11 units this company has in 5 different buildings around the Makati area. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/alcoves-apts-aguirre-radissons-units-makati?select=z1EP9I9JANaFGsk5xXlr9w http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/alcoves-apts-aguirre-radissons-units-makati?select=-OBTsQqpytyAAoXm3DGz6g LOCATION: In Makati and only 3 long blocks from the very nice Greenbelt Mall. It's only a few blocks further to the (less fancy) Glorietta shopping mall. Just on the other side of Greenbelt is the Landmark department store, which has a large supermarket, plus food court on the basement level. There are also a number of different restaurants within 2-3 blocks, including a Mc Donald's that's open 24 hrs. SERVICE: As this is a condo, there is no front desk per se, no room service etc, only building security. After arriving, I filled out a form at the security desk, then went directly to the unit on the 22nd floor. An Alcoves representative was waiting for us in the unit and explained the features of the unit, how to work the keyless door lock, the controls on the cooktop in the kitchen, the A/C, the cable TV, log in to the wifi, etc, which was quite nice. Amenities? A pool and gym on the 8th floor. Also an in room safe, blow dryer, iron & ironing board, are available by request. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/alcoves-apts-aguirre-radissons-units-makati?select=Fb5-fhRsgmnqky1ZYWYjaA A cleaning crew comes to clean the unit, replace towels, etc, every other day, so you won't need to. The room has a clean, somewhat modern feel to it. I particularly liked the divider with the bamboo. The bed was pretty firm, which is normally fine for me, but for some reason became uncomfortable the last couple nights. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/alcoves-apts-aguirre-radissons-units-makati?select=rkcXJB35ffzImOdnjU8uPQ There's also a small covered balcony with a small table and 2 chairs. Even though the temps were in the high 80's / low 90's most of the time, it was nice on occasion to sit there and enjoy the view. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/alcoves-apts-aguirre-radissons-units-makati?select=2GXo7i5-QNZVMib3A4S8vw The kitchen was small, but very usable with a 2 burner halogen (electric) cooktop, a small fridge, microwave, toaster oven, dishes, utensils and a couple pans. We made breakfast a few times and pork adobo once. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/alcoves-apts-aguirre-radissons-units-makati?select=DKBWqMyLkiGNZcsElNkcSQ The bathroom was small, but worked. They include soap, plus a dispenser in the shower with shampoo and shower gel. Unfortunately the shower gel ran out during our stay and their supplier was out, so they brought small bars of soap to replace it. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/alcoves-apts-aguirre-radissons-units-makati?select=Hd_oH8pcGvUL3VenM3TCgA The only negatives were: #1 Due to poor plumbing design (by US standards) I'd get an unpleasant "sewer smell" from the kitchen sink every time I'd run the water. #2 While not a true "problem", the A/C unit is too small for the room. While it WAS able to maintain a comfortable temperature for me, it ran continuously, never cycling off the entire time I was there. OVERALL: Yes I could have booked some other place for less (or a nice hotel for more), but at $58 a night total, this was a nice room with wi-fi and a kitchenette and I was pleased overall.