Manila Pavilion is good value for money.

Manila Pavilion Hotel and Casino boasts of 590 guest rooms including 32 suites and an Executive Floor, I'm sure I will never get to use the Executive Floor!

Three floors are designated exclusively to non-smokers, I know not many, but it is a start.

The hotel is located in Ermita, the so-called city proper area and is easily accessible to Filipino & Western restaurants, coffee shops, fast food joints and grocery stores.

It is also just a mere seven-minute walk to Robinson’s mall. The US Embassy is merely 8-10 blocks away from the Manila Pavilion Hotel.

Museums and Parks are also in the hotel’s vicinity.

Formerly known as the Holiday Inn Manila, the hotel’s rooms are equipped with cable TV, multi-channel radio, IDD telephone and mini-bar, all the things you expect to have in a hotel room.

The rooms are affordable: Ranging from $50-200. Have a look here for some good deals.

However, the guest rooms looked quite old and you could literally hear conversations from the next unit. It seemed as if the walls were “paper thin”.

What can I expect at the Manila Pavilion?

Guest services include transportation, laundry, valet, safety deposit box, medical clinic, travel agency, beauty salon and groom pad, sauna and massage, spa treatments, flower shop, boutiques and a gift shop, I'll just take a breathe.

Money changing service is also available at the hotel’s front desk, but I never use the hotels money changing, you can get much better rates elsewhere have a look here.

Hotel staff are courteous and do go out of their way to provide top service, in particular I found their housekeeping, bell staff and security personnel fantastic.

Manila Pavilion Pool

The Business center offers computers, internet, facsimile, photocopying and secretarial services.

Seven function rooms cater to meetings and conferences, with a ballroom that can accommodate a maximum of 1,000 people for that special wedding maybe?

Health enthusiasts can enjoy a workout at the gym or a dip in the swimming pool, which is quite nice by the way.

Manila Pavilion’s Embassy Spa offers a full body massage plus a hot cup of green tea for only $10.

A game of chance awaits guests at the casino.

Where should I eat at the Manila Pavilion?

Dine with choice and comfort at either the:

The Rotisserie Grill Room, serving premier continental cuisine;
Cafe Coquilla, features Filipino and International cuisine, plus superb buffets;
Pavilion Court, the forerunner of elegant oriental dining;
Poolside Terrace offers light snacks and refreshing drinks;
The Patisserie, cake and bread selections and a deli shop; and the
Music Room, live daily musical entertainment with a cocktail.

The Executive Floor features 22-well appointed rooms with in-room fax machines, personal safe and coffee and tea making facilities. The Executive floor provides express check-in and check-out, as well as 24-hour butler service to guests.

Complimentary continental breakfast and evening cocktails are served daily at the Lounge while enjoying a panoramic view of Manila's life through its floor-ceiling picture windows.

Manila Pavilion Room

They also offer transportation services, in case you don’t fancy riding in taxi cabs.

Is the Manila Pavillion worth the money?

The hotel may already be a bit old but the newly-renovated lobby and deluxe rooms makes up for it.

The Manila Pavillion is very popular with Asian tour groups, so expect check-in to be slow unless you luckily find yourself the only guest at reception upon arrival.

The moment you get to your room and unpack your bags, though, the surrounding area can be leisurely explored on foot, the Pavilion Hotel is in a great location.

The cool night life of Malate is just a 15-minute walk or 5 minutes by cab, just as the famed Manila Baywalk.

If you're on a food trip, then the stretch of UN Avenue in front of the hotel is dotted with a variety of dining options.

All in all, it has its share of hits and misses, but the good points still outnumber the negative ones.

Have a look here to read other reviews and compare prices for the Manila Pavilion, which will help you decide if you want to stay at the Hotel or not.

Now if the Manila Pavilion does not sound right for you, have a look here for other Manila hotels including reviews.