I spent five nights at the Shangri-La Hotel last month, and it was a beautiful, opulent hotel,…read morewholly sequestered from the bustle and poverty of the city. Manila has such extreme, obvious inequality that the neighborhoods for wealthy locals and tourists are centered around gated communities and malls with metal detectors. The more protected and catered to and pampered I was, the worse I kind of felt on an existential level.
That said, I can't complain about the amenities within the Fort. The Shangri-La was the consummate luxury hotel, decked out in white and gold and marble, with a great staff offering top-tier service at every turn. I had a lovely room on a high floor, with a comfortable king bed and lounge furniture, and a rarefied view of Manila. The bathroom was clean and pretty, and housekeeping was excellent. The air conditioning was a little aggressive, and I found the room super cold when I walked in, but I guess that's how they keep the humidity under control. When I turned down the AC, the whole room got kind of damp.
I got a massage at the hotel spa and visited a few of the bars and restaurants, quality establishments across the board. I heard from friends that the gym was outstanding, but I wasn't curious enough to go exercise. There was no casino, apparently setting this hotel apart from the others in its tier.
I had a cushy, frictionless stay at the Shangri-La, my every need abundantly met. I am, in fact, a coddled tourist who did not even pay for this trip, and for better or worse, the accommodations made me feel this in my bones. If you're looking for a grand, lavish hotel in Manila, it'd be hard to beat the Shangri-La.