Question about Hotels near St. Luke and Embassy

[omahagreg 2]

The application process to bring my fiance is chugging along, and from the timelines I have seen here, it appears she will be ready to have her medical in early August, and interview by the end of August.

She will be travelling from Davao to Manila, so I am anticipating her having to make at least two trips. The airfares are reasonable enough (1800-2400 pesos each way with a little advance notice), but I know very little about the hotel situation around St. Luke's and USEM.

I know there are plenty of 'tourist class' hotels in the area, but do Filipinas tend to stay in the same hotels? Are the nightly rates the same for a Filipina as for a tourist? (I know the $45 to $65 per night that I am quoted would be beyond the budget of most Filipinas.)

So, my question is two-fold. First, what hotels are recommended, and second, how can a better nightly rate be secured by a filipina (if possible)? I am willing to pay the regular rate if needed, but would be quite upset to learn that I am paying twice the rate that is normally charged.

Thank you all, and thank you for all the help everybody's posts have given me. I have been silent on this forum thus far, but the advice and support offered has proven to be invaluable.

[BigFig94 0]

The application process to bring my fiance is chugging along, and from the timelines I have seen here, it appears she will be ready to have her medical in early August, and interview by the end of August.

She will be travelling from Davao to Manila, so I am anticipating her having to make at least two trips. The airfares are reasonable enough (1800-2400 pesos each way with a little advance notice), but I know very little about the hotel situation around St. Luke's and USEM.

I know there are plenty of 'tourist class' hotels in the area, but do Filipinas tend to stay in the same hotels? Are the nightly rates the same for a Filipina as for a tourist? (I know the $45 to $65 per night that I am quoted would be beyond the budget of most Filipinas.)

So, my question is two-fold. First, what hotels are recommended, and second, how can a better nightly rate be secured by a filipina (if possible)? I am willing to pay the regular rate if needed, but would be quite upset to learn that I am paying twice the rate that is normally charged.

Thank you all, and thank you for all the help everybody's posts have given me. I have been silent on this forum thus far, but the advice and support offered has proven to be invaluable.

I stayed in Manila this past February and I used the Lotus Garden Hotel in Ermita. Rooms were clean and it is good for what my needs were which was basically a place to sleep and have a shower with hot and cold water.

This is a link showing reviews on Trip Advisor. Lotus Garden Hotel Review

I booked the room online and it was no problem at all. You can probably book it and send her cash to pay for it when she is there.

If you look at Google Maps you will see this hotel is very close to the Embassy and from what I have read here, St Lukes is also very close to the Embassy. There are plenty of cabs and she will have no problem getting around. My girl is also from Mindanao but the western side nearer to General Santos City. Hope this helps! I am hoping to be there with her for the interview by September! Hope this helps!

[april082010 3]

The application process to bring my fiance is chugging along, and from the timelines I have seen here, it appears she will be ready to have her medical in early August, and interview by the end of August.

She will be travelling from Davao to Manila, so I am anticipating her having to make at least two trips. The airfares are reasonable enough (1800-2400 pesos each way with a little advance notice), but I know very little about the hotel situation around St. Luke's and USEM.

I know there are plenty of 'tourist class' hotels in the area, but do Filipinas tend to stay in the same hotels? Are the nightly rates the same for a Filipina as for a tourist? (I know the $45 to $65 per night that I am quoted would be beyond the budget of most Filipinas.)

So, my question is two-fold. First, what hotels are recommended, and second, how can a better nightly rate be secured by a filipina (if possible)? I am willing to pay the regular rate if needed, but would be quite upset to learn that I am paying twice the rate that is normally charged.

Thank you all, and thank you for all the help everybody's posts have given me. I have been silent on this forum thus far, but the advice and support offered has proven to be invaluable.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/71511-recommendations-for-manila-hotels-for-medical-interview/ this is a forum here, u might see what you are lookin'..

[omahagreg 2]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/71511-recommendations-for-manila-hotels-for-medical-interview/ this is a forum here, u might see what you are lookin'..

Thank you! I has looked for a hotel post for a while, but did not look back far enough to see this one.

[Mr.&Mrs.A 0]

We stayed at Hotel Casa Bocobo in Manila, EXCELLENT and reasonable (approx. $35.00 per nite) and 2 blocks from St. Luke's. www.casabocobo.com I Think!

Where ever you stay check it out first, some are over priced and some are dirty. Good Luck

[~happyndinlove~ 540]

I stayed at Lotus and City Garden Hotels for my medical and interview and so far these hotels are fine. Clean, safe, just a few blocks away from both St. Luke's and Embassy and affordable.

Edited July 8, 2010 by ~happyndinlove~

[Jared and May 16]

Casa Bocobo is where May usually stays.. Until now.. Now she stays in our home sweet home.. :thumbs:

Sorry, I'm just so happy.

[All Creation 0]

My fiancé just finished two seperate stays at Lotus Garden. And I was quite pleased with what I heard, comfortable standard rooms to help with the budget, free wifi in every room, free breakfast buffet which she said was excellent, walking distance to the embassy and St. Lukes extension clinic, BDO across the street for easy access to western union/xoom in a pinch, friendly staff who takes down taxi information and bans them if they rip off guests, walking distance to robinson's galleria for your fiancé to grab a bite to eat at jollibee or just browse the mall. Just a real pleasant experience all around for my fiancé at lotus garden. Also simple online booking, my fiancé checked the prices as if she was a walkin before she informed them of her reservation. She was quoted $40 a night compared to the $45 I paid online, so guess you could have your fiancé call to reserve the room and potentially save the 5 bucks. I just went with the online booking for the 2nd stay anyway, because I like having documentation of my reservations.

[Tahoma 2,291]

Casa Bocobo is where May usually stays.. Until now.. Now she stays in our home sweet home.. :thumbs:

Sorry, I'm just so happy.

Jared...good to see that you have surfaced for air!

Hi ex-lurker Greg...My wife stayed at City State Tower Hotel for 13 days during her medical, CFO seminar, and Embassy interview. She liked it so much that she stayed there again for a few days before her departure to Seattle. Her mom and her sister stayed there too and liked it. It's easy walking distance to everything, or a very short cab ride! They have good security and a good restaurant too. Breakfast comes with the room. My wife loved their bulalu (spelling?) soup.

[~happyndinlove~ 540]

I stayed at Lotus and City Garden Hotels during ( for) my medical and interview and so far these hotels are fine. Clean, safe, just a few blocks away from both St. Luke's and Embassy and affordable.

[tallcoolone 102]

There are as many hotels around St. Luke and Embassy as there are Bar Girls working the same area. She can get an American Sized hotel room with AirCon, hotwater and nice as any American Hotel for 1,200 peso to around 1,800 peso.

If you are paying more than that, then she has paid way too much

[omahagreg 2]

There are as many hotels around St. Luke and Embassy as there are Bar Girls working the same area. She can get an American Sized hotel room with AirCon, hotwater and nice as any American Hotel for 1,200 peso to around 1,800 peso.

If you are paying more than that, then she has paid way too much

Well, ok, but I am not wanting her to get a room for a few hours---she will need a room for a few days. I think the Bar Girls have other intentions in the rooms they visit.

But seriously, Casa Bocobo, Lotus Garden, and City Garden all look like great options. If there is a hotel with rooms as nice as an American hotel for 1200 pesos per night, that would be great. However 1800 pesos plus seems to be the lowest rate for hotels in the area that seem to get good reviews. I have just heard so often that there are two prices; one for foreigners, and one for pinays. Was hoping to learn if any of the girls found that 'secret' local rate. And also hoping to avoid bar girl hotels; I think Sarah would feel uncomfortable around foreign men seeking sex with a Filipina----well, excluding me.

[TOM&Riz 4]

Don't kid yourself the Taxi drivers in Manila are ruthless to all, if they sence she's new to manila they will hit her for P500 for a ride from the airport to the hotel, when it should be about 100 to 150 with traffic ...

My wife stayed at casa bocobo and said it was great, good staff and clean and walking distance to st lukes

[omahagreg 2]

Don't kid yourself the Taxi drivers in Manila are ruthless to all, if they sence she's new to manila they will hit her for P500 for a ride from the airport to the hotel, when it should be about 100 to 150 with traffic ...

My wife stayed at casa bocobo and said it was great, good staff and clean and walking distance to st lukes

Hmmm---I have heard of the taxi rip off---and also that the 'official taxis' at the aiport are priced starting at 550pesos. My understanding is that a person needs to walk a little away from the terminal, and get a Yellow Taxi- and make sure they turn the meter on, or tell them to stop immediately, and switch to taxi that will use the meter. Also, I understand that you should ask the driver to give estimate of fare to ensure the price is about the right amount, as many meters can be broken/manipulated.

I did not think I kidded myself about taxis---I did not even mention them before your response.

Is there some additional advice on avoiding taxi rip-offs that you can share?

[TOM&Riz 4]

I did not think I kidded myself about taxis---I did not even mention them before your response.

Is there some additional advice on avoiding taxi rip-offs that you can share?

I have just heard so often that there are two prices; one for foreigners, and one for pinays.

Thats what I was reffering to and to your question, not really just tell her to be ready to play hard ball is all