Resorts World Manila opened in 2009, about a year before Resorts World Sentosa. In Manila, it was a first - a 24-hour casino complex with initially two hotels - Maxims and Remington - and a string of retail shops that operate till midnight.
Since then, cinemas and a theater (Newport Theater) have been added, as well as a Marriott Hotel, which has the biggest ballroom/function space in Metro Manila, second only to the PICC, and a Savoy Hotel. The cinemas have midnight showings on weekends, and the queues get pretty lengthy.
Its location, right across NAIA Terminal 3, is convenient for the high roller overseas players RWM has been trying to attract, mainly from mainland China, but also from other parts of Asia. Genting Club, located on the third floor of Maxims Hotel, is intended for this niche group. But everyone, local or foreign comes to play at their casino, whether it's the slot machines or game tables.
It used to be the case that one could get free water, soft drinks and coffee on the crowded game floors, but since the crackdown on mainland China gambling travel, I understand their revenues have fallen quite a bit.
The complex itself is starting to show signs of wear and tear. Also, even with its proximity to NAIA, Resorts World is not easy to get to because of the ongoing construction of the Skyway Express road to Roxas Boulevard, which is taking place right in between RWM and the airport. Talks of a walkway or direct connection from NAIA T3 have never materialized, which is a shame, since that would actually benefit shoppers, hotel visitors, not just casino players.
There are a number of good restaurants both in the mall and in the hotels that are worth checking out. Maxims, which carries a self-declared six-star rating, has a Chinese banquet restaurant, Passion, and a French restaurant, Impressions. French restaurants in Manila are few and far between, and this is one is likely the best, if not the most expensive one, in town.
In the mall, there's a Tao Yuan, Crisostomo, and the recently opened Ichiba Market, as well as the usual Starbucks and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf stores.
Parking overnight at their self-parking facility at Resorts World is not recommended, unless you can use points earned at the casino, since the overnight fee was more than P1,000 a couple years. Check with the parking attendants if this policy has been altered, but somehow I don't think so.
Resorts World operates a shuttle for airport visitors; club card holders can take this shuttle on to a number of stops around Manila, which I believe includes Mall of Asia, Makati, Eastwood and Quezon City, in the Quezon Avenue area.
For casino players and night owls, this is one of three choices, the other two being City of Dreams and Solaire, which are on Roxas Boulevard. read more