Looking for a nice, safe and inexpensive place to stay in Manila?…read moreThe YMCA of Manila Hostel could be your best bet. Located just beside the SM mall in Manila and just behind the Manila City Hall, the hostel has two floors of rooms with different types of accommodations for all budgets. The most affordable are dorm type rooms offering bed space at P250 per person. There are also rooms that go for P1,000 a night for single or double occupancy, with a special rate of P850 for YMCA members. In another floor, the rooms are slightly larger and are available for P1,150 for members and P1,300 for non members. Extra beds are P400 per. All the rooms are air-conditioned, and that's about it. No pool, no gym although there are function rooms. To ease the boredom, there's cable TV for rent, as well as VCD players and karaoke machines at P100 per day each. While not exactly backpacker rates, the tourist and travelers' facility is ideal for those who need to stay for a few days at an affordable cost. The location is obviously a big plus.

I wonder why is your landline keeps on ringing? Please post…read moreyour new contact number for inquiries. Thank you.

(I am reviewing Tambayan's bar)…read more I really wanted to give Tambayan a higher grade. A gorgeous, fresh, and exciting addition to Malate's food scene, Tambayan is the type of establishment that Malate desperately needs. However, I wasn't too keen on the dishes we had. We ordered their Sisig Rolls and their Chicken Tenders, and while the Tenders were just okay, the Rolls was a bit underwhelming and a bit too oily. The waitress who was assigned to our quadrant also seemed to be a bit out of it, although that could be due to a number of things. Now, to be fair, we didn't order the main entrees as we were hopping from place to place. We've heard a lot of good things about their main dishes that I'm willing to go back for a second try. And seriously, the place is just too gorgeous to fail. It just has to work. It just has to. For now, 3 stars.

The good people of this establishment recreates this colonial mansion to a refuge for the weary…read moretraveler. It offers spacious capsule beds engineered to maximize privacy and accommodate one's creature comforts. The wet areas are always kept clean and it smells clean. The sheets are clean, and crisp. The best thing about this place is the staff. They are kind, accommodating, and would always go out of their way and go the extra mile to deliver an experience beyond what I paid for. Tambayan is more to me than a transient stop; It's my second home.

Where 2 Next Manila Hostel is a haven of cool in Malate. Quirky, fun, and comfy, this hostel has…read moreeverything a budget traveller needs. The rooms are spartan but clean. The shared bathrooms are clean and presentable. If you need to chill out, heat food, or just throw back a beer, their rather expansive lobby's got that covered. There's no wi-fi per room, but you're more than free to hang out in the lobby, which does have wi-fi. Where2Next is located in Adriatico St, right in the middle of all the chaos. There are a couple of good restaurants and outlets just outside the hostel, which is a plus. You're also walking distance from the Baywalk, which is another plus. So if you're looking for a place to stay in Manila but you're on a budget, do check out Where 2 Next. Money well spent.

My friends and I were coming from Su Zhou, a great dimsum place in Malate, and we were looking for…read morea cheap place to drink in the area, where we could just chill. A tall order in Malate, where establishments try to one-up each other and clamor for your attention. Luckily, my lady friend Aleli knew of a hostel in the area, whose owner she was close to, Where 2 Next. The sign outside is bright and inviting, and inside it's all swank and freshness, clean lines and colors mixing with more ornate furniture and decor. The lobby is hella spacious, with a lot of seating to kick back and relax. I especially love the balcony with its little bohemian alcove in the corner. It'st just a view of Adriatico below, but it's a nice place to have a chat over cold, cheap beer. The best thing about Where 2 Next is the environment of warmth and friendliness they create. We were having beers in the balcony and I just had a quick whiz in the bathroom when I was quickly greeted to have a shot of tequila with the hotel staff and the foreign guests. My friends and I did not plan to get hammered that night, but we had a great time staying up late.

The redeeming quality is the view from the roof, but they have implemented an over the top RFID…read moredebit chip wristband system which is visitor-unfriendly, especially considering the drink selection is not particularly impressive nor was the vibe of the place. I've heard this place was the hotspot prior to the pandemic but nowadays they could certainly do more to win back their business.

Z Hostel has private rooms, an all-female dormitory, and a mixed dormitory. For anyone checking…read moreinto the dorms, expect what it's like to live with other people. There's so much tolerance needed as you don't know the preferences, habits, and hygiene of each of your roommates. Plus, you have to be open also to the people you will be with. I remember that last time I stayed at a hostel in SG, 2 of my roommates got into a big fight because one girl was talking to her boyfriend on the phone at 3AM. Yeah, we all didn't talk to each other after that. Which is why I booked their private room for a mini-staycation! The room is quite big and there is enough space to move around. The bed has a huge space beneath it for your luggage. I also loved the mattress and the blackout window shades! Also, they provide bathrobes which is a plus! Unfortunately, there is no television and refrigerator included in the room. So, it's really just giving you the basics which is expected since you will be out most of the time. Be warned! The private rooms are located 2 floors below the party zone, Roofdeck Bar. So, expect some loud music and noise from party goers. One of the pros of staying in Z Hostel is that you'll be in the middle of a bustling city and it is a good place to get some rest before your next trip outside of Manila. Plus, breakfast is included in the rates, so it is a win! The cafe is open 24/7; you can go down to the first floor and get something cooked for yourself. Around the vicinity, you have easy access to Poblacion and a number of the best restaurants and establishments that Makati has to offer. All at a walking distance away. I will definitely book again when I'm itching to have a staycation again! :)

It's pretty tricky to find a hotel/hostel/pension house that offers good value for your money. If…read moreyou go too cheap, you often get what you pay for, but you also don't want to pay an arm and a leg for a room either. Finding a hotel that strokes the fine line between these two divides is challenging. That's why I was so happy when I tried out Pension Natividad in Malate last weekend. While I heard good things about it, I was only able to appreciate it when I first stepped in. The place has an old-world energy to it, it was clean and pleasant, and they had the most wonderful covered canopy where I would see guests hang out all day. Considering that Malate is as noisy as they get, Pension Natividad was wonderfully quiet and serene. I can imagine myself hanging out there all day, finishing a book or writing one. Pension Natividad has a quaint cafe that serves a decent breakfast and some sandwiches. There used to be a pizzeria in here, but it has been closed down. That's a shame, as this would be a lovely place to have a pizza in. I do hope they bring it back. The rooms are spartan and simple, and devoid of amenities. Then again, this is a Pension House, not a Hotel, and as such I was not looking for these amenities anyway. I stayed in their most expensive room, (Single room aircon), which cost P1,500. There are fan rooms and dorm types, for those who want to save a bit more money. The front desk people were as pleasant as possible, and they did have a nice selection of supplies and food you could buy from them directly, at non-inflated prices. Their location is also ideal if you want to jump into the thick of things at Malate, or if you want to go to Manila's attractions. The baywalk is a short walk away, Intramuros and Luneta are pretty close by, and between all that, there are places waiting to be discovered in the streets and side streets. I finally found my Malate home, and it is Pension Natividad.

My family and I stumbled upon Pension Natividad after the Pork Barrel rally in Luneta Park. We were…read morestarving, since we'd been stumbling around Manila looking for wherever we had parked the car & by some fortunate chance of fate, we came across this lovely establishment. I'm not sure how the rooms are since we didn't stay there for the night (the place did seem very clean, and it gave off an old-world kind of atmosphere), but the restaurant at the ground floor was spectacular. It had a very homey vibe, red checkered tablecloth over small wooden tables and sunlight streaming through the large windows. The food was amazing, absolutely amazing, and at a decent price too! They serve a sort of noveau pizza, on a thin crust with a fistful of ricotta splattered onto the middle. It was heavenly. And only around P250. The coffee was great too - P30 for a huge, piping hot mug. They also have sandwiches and rice meals on the menu (although I don't know why you'd want to eat those when you can have their amazing pizza), and there's a fridge full of drinks and jars of pastries you can get from. I'm also a huge sucker for nice staff members, and the staff was so chirpy and polite, it was wonderful. When you visit I suggest you sit outside on the wrought-iron tables, the breeze from Manila bay passes through the vines hanging from the trees and everything is quiet save for the occasional car passing through the street. A beautiful place to have a quiet lunch with friends or family.

*Note: I booked this hotel for my wedding. So, this was my home for 2 nights!…read more This location is great for couples and big families. They offer great prices for the size of the rooms which also includes breakfast. It is near Starmall, SM Megamall and Shangri-la Mall. Not the safest area to walk but the hotel provides all guests with a free shuttle service to these shopping malls. The hotel staff are very helpful and will attend to ALL your needs without question by phone or by room visit. (Note: This was a big plus point for me especially since I had how many people coming in and out of my room during the day of my wedding.) Almost all the rooms include a living room, cable tv, kitchenette with medium size refrigerator, dinning table, and all rooms have Free WiFi! The only negative comment I have is that there is no microwave in the rooms. The hotel has an indoor gym and a roof top swimming pool. There is also a function rooms for meetings or other functions. Overall, I feel bad that I can't fully share my experience here because, well, everything was a blur during my wedding day! But, this was a good hotel. I mean, I was able to have everyone's make up done here. Photoshoots too! Plus, for brides-to-be, this is conveniently near the Archbishop's Palace (the chapel where I got married). If you want a hotel with the basic necessities at a good price, this is the place to be! :)

I planned a surprise birthday party for my girlfriend, but this hotel is really not for us. The…read morerooms are dirty, the staff were not friendly, and they charge 15 pesos per minute if you call locally. I can write here a bunch of things to complain to. But then, that's just my opinion. If I were you, I'd choose a better hotel. DO NOT BOOK HERE, IT'S A WASTE OF MONEY

Although I think Manila has its own charm, its status as a backpacker destination still pretty much…read moremakes me a bit skeptical. Though hostels and cheap accommodations have been prevalent in the metro since Manila has become the jumpoff point for more touristy places in the country, like Palawan, Cebu or Boracay, the hostel culture is still not yet as pronounced in the metro as it is in other world capitals. I think we are slowly catching up with the rest of our Asian neighbors, though, and the appearance of high-end and more upscale hostels like The Z and Lokal have brought attention to the charm of cheaper lodging accommodations when in the city. Anyway, a friend of mine visited from abroad and during his stay in Manila, he booked a room with his brother at Leeson's which is located in a quiet side-street near Quirino LRT station. I asked them why not Makati or somewhere more central to the action, like Malate's hostel and tourist district. They found the listing for the hostel from an online travel guide, and they said it had really good reviews that's why they decided to book here instead because they wanted something far from the loud noise and the bright neon lights. We didn't have a hard time finding the place because the people on the street were quite helpful. I helped them settle in, and I was actually impressed with the quality of the room. For a hostel, the room was actually quite nice. It was sunny, well-lit, and the air conditioning unit was working superbly. The place is somewhat convenient to go to, and what my friends and I loved about the place was that it was far from the gritty and sleazy Malate, which they didn't really like much. I think one of the drawbacks is that they don't have a lift, so the 5th floor walk-up with hefty backpacks was a bit of a workout for my friends. I would recommend this place for other backpackers who are looking for cheap but quality places to stay in the metro.

Would def stay here again. Very quick to answer questions. Great service. Nice layout. Very clean…read more Amazing wifi. And walkable from a mall. Security always opening doors too

The Picasso Boutique is a lovely hotel in the Makati district that is walking distance from the…read moreGreenbelt Mall shopping district. I went ahead and booked online and reserved the Barcelona suite that has a king size bed and a tub with spacious living area. The check in time is at 3pm and I arrived around 240 PM. I didn't fully get the keys to my hotel room until 345PM since the manager was doing a room inspection before I could enter. The room was lovely in every way with a king size bed a living and dining room with a huge bathroom that offers a tub and a shower. The bed had multiple pillows and sheets with blankets and the mattress was oh so ever soft. the living room had a nice size couch a live seat and even a office table where you could catch up on work with multiple outlets to charge your electronic devices. They even have in bedroom special massages where you could get a deep tissue or Thai massage for a very affordable price. Down stairs in the lobby they have a bar / restaurant named Pablo serving up great drinks and food such as a reubon sandwich and beef carpaccio. Customer service was great and the staff even allowed me a later check out time instead of the standard 12 noon. There is a Jollibee nearby as well as Chowking and a 7 11. I definitely recommend this hotel for its luxurious space and second to none hospitality and I guarantee you will enjoy it as much as I did.