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! :)

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.

My work involves attending a lot of meetings ,seminars, discussions, forums and training sessions,…read moreand there are only a handful of conference centers and venues in the metro that can accommodate the need for quiet and conducive spaces where people can talk, collaborate and learn from each other. AIM Conference Center Manila is one of such places. I remember setting up a small roundtable discussion in one of the smaller rooms before, and they were able to provide everything, from the room to the LCD projector, the refreshments and even the stationery.They have several room configurations, and you can book the wide plenary hall, the smaller amphitheater, or the much smaller meeting rooms that are all fully serviced. Their bread and butter is catering to such events and activities, and the staff is very well experienced in providing logistics support, supplies and other related services. They also have an in-house catering service that can accomodate all diets and restrictions, because I remember ordering halal and vegetarian food for several guests. Apart from meeting and convention venues, AIM also has an in-house hostel where guests and event attendees can lodge during the course of their activities. The convenient locaiton, which is a few paces away from the Greenbelt complex, makes it a budget friendly alternative to pricier hotel venues around the area.

As I write this, I am taking a quick breather from yet another workshop that is necessary for my…read morejob, most of which are done at the AIM Conference Center, and with good reason. This may be an old building, but I'd have to say it is well-maintained -- well enough to continue being a good (and yes, prestigious) venue for seminars, workshops, and the like. They can accommodate several groups at once, and while it may worry others whether this will affect service quality, we never do. The staff at AIMCC are highly seasoned and well-equipped to handle several groups at once with ease. They also have pretty good equipment that you can use such as projectors and sound systems if it will be more convenient for you to use theirs rather than bring your own, and they are quite helpful in setting up. Plus -- and this is a huge plus for me -- their food is GOOD, which is rare for places like this. It almost makes it OK that I couldn't bring up a burger from Wendy's the one time I wanted one during a workshop. Haha. So next time you need a good venue for your seminars, lectures, or workshops, try AIM.

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.

I was first introduced to the world of hostels back in 2008 when I happened to stay at a nice…read morelittle spot called "The Inn Crowd" in Singapore, Singapore. I found myself neck deep in the ways of hostel life and culture, and I fell hard. I became convinced that there was no better way to travel. Having said that, it's always frustrated me how there seemed to be a complete lack of hostels in Manila. I know that the city isn't as popular with tourists as say, Thailand or Hong Kong, but I think that our city has its own unique charm that can't be replicated anywhere else in the world. So, I was very happy to find out that a hostel called MNL Boutique Hostel had just opened its doors in the heart of Makati and I decided to stay overnight to assess the place. Wow. With 8 inch spring mattresses and hotel grade linen, this ain't no shabby "bed" disguised as a futon that'll leave you sore and sleepless the next day. No, no, no. What's so great about this hostel is that the owners envisioned a place where they themselves would be happy to stay in, and this was the beautiful outcome. I was fortunate enough to have had the owners (Maica, Celina and Gonz) in when I stayed there and gotten the chance to speak with them. Very nice, accommodating and down-to-earth people. Wifi is fast and free, meaning there's no need to worry about missing important emails from work, home or what not. Secure key card access is also available. Power rain shower is great, and for those who are unfortunate enough to land a bunk beside a loud snorer, the hostel offers free earplugs. Yay! If you're from Manila, you understand how great the central location of this place is. For tourists, it's not far off from Intramuros. The in room lockers also help you maintain peace of mind about the safety of your belongings. For those looking to get out of the city, simply approach the front desk for information on guided tours. I loved this place and I would probably stay here again just for fun or to make a few new friends along the way. Rates aren't bad at all, and no doubt, the chill out area is my favorite section of the place as it provides a space to relax or socialize with other guests. Thank you Maica, Celina and Gonz for raising the bar when it comes to providing high quality yet affordable lodging for both tourists and locals alike! Mabuhay!