Hotel in Manila

[bxman 13]

As June filers we are beginnin

g to plan for a stay in Manila.

Right now we are looking at the Lotus Garden Hotel.

Has anyone here stayed there? Comments? Advice?

Can anyone with experience suggest how long we should book a room? (one week, 10 days? etc)

Should we book a week then just add as needed?

Can you SAFELY walk to embassy and St Lukes from the Lotus Garden? (if not what options do we have and what to expect in cost)

Any other advice for a stay in Manila for the K-1 experience is GREATLY appreciated

My fiancee will be traveling alone for the first time so any and ALL advice is welcomed (wish I could travel there with her!)

Can anyone advise about traffic in and around the area, good places to eat things to be weary of

Thanks so much

I am sure other June filers will appreciate also

Our time draws near!

[Ryan H 3,795]

Moved from K1 Process & Procedures to Philippines regional forum; topic is country specific.

[Chetsky 5]

The Lotus is close to the embassy and is a safe walk. St. Lukes is taxi ride from there. It will cost you about 300 peso. My wife lives just two blocks from there and I have stayed around there many times. They have a nice restaurant downstairs and security. Im not sure about the quality of the hotel or time to book.

[bxman 13]

The Lotus is close to the embassy and is a safe walk. St. Lukes is taxi ride from there. It will cost you about 300 peso. My wife lives just two blocks from there and I have stayed around there many times. They have a nice restaurant downstairs and security. Im not sure about the quality of the hotel or time to book.

Thank you so much for that information

Any idea how much taxi is from the airport?

She will fly from Cebu so not sure what airport it is?

I think smaller regional?

[Scott and Mhay 57]

We stayed at Lotus Garden for a night. It got really loud about 3 am in the morning when we stayed there. We walked to the embassy from there and it was safe. I would recommend Pearl Garden (same chain). Pearl Garden is right across the street from Pan Pacific and about 2 blocks from Robinson Center and a short walk to St. Lukes (you walk through Robinson Center and a couple of blocks out the other side). The free breakfast was pretty good at Pearl Garden too.

as far as the taxi fare, when we went in 2010, it was only 50-70 (metered) pesos taxi ride from pearl garden to St. Lukes medical extension.. The one taxi driver tried to charge us double(he didnt turn on the meter), but I gave him the fare from the day prior and got out. The distance isn't that far. We got a taxi ride from Pearl Garden to the Mall of Asia for like 70 pesos back then. The rates shouldnt be nearly triple by now. Just make sure that if you take a taxi that they turn on the meter. The guy that tried to charge us double didnt turn on the meter. I have no issues with tipping someone that will turn on the meter and be honest with the fare. I will not pay extra to those that try to take advantage of me;

[Scott and Mhay 57]

Thank you so much for that information

Any idea how much taxi is from the airport?

She will fly from Cebu so not sure what airport it is?

I think smaller regional?

She will probably fly into terminal 3 I am guessing. It is only like 10 km from Lotus Garden hotel (by google maps). So, the fare shouldnt be too bad. Just make sure that she knows to tell them to turn the meter on and is not too soft spoken about it.

Edited November 3, 2012 by Scott and Mhay

[bxman 13]

She will probably fly into terminal 3 I am guessing. It is only like 10 km from Lotus Garden hotel (by google maps). So, the fare shouldnt be too bad. Just make sure that she knows to tell them to turn the meter on and is not too soft spoken about it.

Thanks so much for all your advice

What kinds of noise at Locus? City life? Fight?

[Chetsky 5]

Thank you so much for that information

Any idea how much taxi is from the airport?

She will fly from Cebu so not sure what airport it is?

I think smaller regional?

If you go to baggage claim at arrival and take yellow cab they will charge 800 peso, go up stairs to the departures and take the white cab. Make sure they have meter on and ask them the fare to your hotel in Malate (thats the part of the city its in). Meters on the cabs start at 40 peso. You should expect Airport to hotel about 270 peso on the meter and give 300 or so total incl tip.

[Chetsky 5]

BTW Cebu is a very nice visit and big city also. Lots of Americans. I recommend the Radisson Blu if you visit there. Cebupacific airlines has very cheap fares all around the region..

[jimmynug 13]

BTW Cebu is a very nice visit and big city also. Lots of Americans. I recommend the Radisson Blu if you visit there. Cebupacific airlines has very cheap fares all around the region..

A year ago, a yellow metered cab from the airport to Lotus Garden was under 300 pesos with tip, the cheapest I had ever had. On the ride back to the airport, we used the same taxi and it was about the same. Lotus Garden is also a safe, easy walk to both the embassy and St Lukes.

You can google map it and see it is not far.

Edited November 3, 2012 by jimmynug

[Scott and Mhay 57]

Thanks so much for all your advice

What kinds of noise at Locus? City life? Fight?

To me it sounded like bargirls that were drunk...it was definitely a couple of girls because I could hear their high heels. They were being pretty loud out in the hallway. I was with my wife at the time, so I didnt open the door to confront them. We stayed at Pearl Garden a couple of times and never had that issue there. It was pretty quiet and the hotel staff was really helpful when you needed anything.

[bxman 13]

BTW Cebu is a very nice visit and big city also. Lots of Americans. I recommend the Radisson Blu if you visit there. Cebupacific airlines has very cheap fares all around the region..

Yes I have visited Cebu twice now once in Sept 2011 and again in June 2012

I REALLY enjoyed the Monte Bello

Very nice landscaping nice pool and good food

Also Gaisano mall is walking distance

We watched Fantastic Four at the theater cost about 2 bucks! lol (Can't get Pop Corn for that here!)

[bxman 13]

To me it sounded like bargirls that were drunk...it was definitely a couple of girls because I could hear their high heels. They were being pretty loud out in the hallway. I was with my wife at the time, so I didnt open the door to confront them. We stayed at Pearl Garden a couple of times and never had that issue there. It was pretty quiet and the hotel staff was really helpful when you needed anything.

I've never visited Manila

Always flew into and out of Cebu

Ferried over to Bohol last time.

I think I could live there

Rented a motorbike and toured Bohol & Panglao

Had a blast!

[A and T 82]

Lotus garden is in a good area , not far from Robinsons mall so you can eat, relax and in walking distance its a fairly safe area

[Scott'Belle 2]

As June filers we are beginnin

g to plan for a stay in Manila.

Right now we are looking at the Lotus Garden Hotel.

Has anyone here stayed there? Comments? Advice?

Can anyone with experience suggest how long we should book a room? (one week, 10 days? etc)

Should we book a week then just add as needed?

Can you SAFELY walk to embassy and St Lukes from the Lotus Garden? (if not what options do we have and what to expect in cost)

Any other advice for a stay in Manila for the K-1 experience is GREATLY appreciated

My fiancee will be traveling alone for the first time so any and ALL advice is welcomed (wish I could travel there with her!)

Can anyone advise about traffic in and around the area, good places to eat things to be weary of

Thanks so much

I am sure other June filers will appreciate also

Our time draws near!

I will be staying in Lotus Garden tmrw night, i booked from Agoda and i have no problem in booking. My interview will be on Wedenesday 6:15am