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Budget Hotels In Manila (Applying for a US Fiance Visa Part 2)
August 29, 2008
I’m from Davao and it’s always been a big hassle to me to go to Manila and find cheap or budget hotels in such a big and unfamiliar place. When I was preparing for my US Embassy requirements and interview, I had to search the net and make wallet-burning long-distance calls just to ask for rates, and room availability. Closeness to the US Embassy and St. Lukes Extension Clinic (not St. Luke’s Hospital), was also a concern for me,
The US Embassy and St. Luke’s are both in Ermita. That’s always a good place to start your research, right? Although I was on a budget, I wanted to get the most of my P1, 000 pesos (feeling sigurista), and I was looking for a comfy, safe and cheap hotel. So the dilemma now is which budget hotel offers my midrange standards of living that I wasn’t willing to give up even on such a tight budget.
Thankfully, I found a place that was a good deal to me. I stayed at Ermita Tourist Inn for 9 days and although the building is a little old, and the street alongside my room was noisy day and night, I saved money big time. An aircon room cost around P800.00/night. It comes with your own toilet and bath with hot and cold shower, a big bed (some have soggy padding), and free breakfast. I must warn you the free breakfast will be the same toast, egg and coffee every morning. If you will stay there for a week like I did, I’m sure you’ll be looking for something other than toast, egg and coffee for breakfast, for a month. You can also get a P900 room with cable TV, but since this is the most popular, the rooms are always fully booked –so be sure to book in advance. What I don’t like about the rooms are the tiled walls which were a bit eerie to me because it reminded me of a mausoleum. So if you are easily scared, maybe the Inn is not a good place for you. What I do like about the place is its nearness to Robinsons Mall (a block away) and to St. Lukes Clinic in Bocobo St. (2-3 blocks away). Of course, there are other inns and hotels nearer to St. Lukes, but they cost more. So I guess, all in all, my stay at Ermita Tourist Inn was convenient and cheap.
To save fiancées the trouble of looking for a safe, and cheap accommodation in Ermita ,when you do your Visa med exam and interview, I compiled all the hotels I’ve found online. I also added links to forums or hotel guides that you may find useful. Ciao!
Here’s the list or forums and links:
http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwha017.html#Inexpensive
http://www.geocities.com/manilaadventureguide/hotel.html
http://www.asiatour.com/philippines/e-03mani/ep-man14_e.htm
http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-253098.html
Here’s a list of my personally-researched budget hotels:
Below P1000 Hotels/Inns
Ermita Tourist Inn - Mabini St., Ermita,Telephone (T): 521 9770
P800-900/night, free breakfast, aircon, own t/b
Kanumayan Tourist Inn - T: 521 - 1161
ttp://www.flyphilippines.info/kanumayan/
P980/room
Yasmine Pension Inn - Arquiza St., Ermita, T: 524 5134
P950/night (aircon, with t/b)
Stargate Pensionne - 1711 Adriatico St., corner Gen. Malvar St., Malate, T: 3036572 – 74
http://www.stargatepensionne.com/index.htm
Slouch Hat Inn: http://slouchhatmanila.com/slouch/budget.htm
Friendly’s Guesthouse: http://www.friendlysguesthouse.com/
Stone House Manila - 1529 A. Mabini St. Ermita, T: +6325240302, FAX: +6325240248
info@stonehouse.ph
http://www.stonehouse.ph/manila.htm
http://www.stonehouse.ph
P1000-2000 Hotels
Malate Pensionne
P1400 / room
Ralph Anthony Suites
P1500/good for 2
http://www.ralphanthonysuites.com/
Mabini Mansion - T: 521-4776
http://www.mansiongroup.com.ph/MabiniSite/about1.html
Anito Hotel - T: 521 - 4341
P1200/ room with free breakfast
City State tower Hotel -
P1515/ room with free breakfast
http://citystatetowerhotel.com.ph/
Hotel Soriente- 545 Flores Street, Ermita, Metro Manila, T: (02) 523.9456 F: (02) 522.3955
P1499/good for 2 (aircon)
Rothman Inn Hotel: http://www.rothmanhotel.com/
Swagman Hotel: http://www.asiarooms.com/philippines/manila/swagman-hotel-room.html
Previous Comments
thank you very informative and it helped me and my fiancee a lot… thank you so so much
Posted by gail at May 11, 2009, 12:33 pmthank u so much, its a big help, im going to have my medical and interview soon.
Posted by luscious at June 6, 2009, 3:41 amHello Mike & Gail,
Thank you for your positive feedback! It’s my pleasure to be of help. God bless!
Posted by bitsnpieces at June 7, 2009, 2:17 amask lang ko… what’s the closest hotel in st.luke extension clinic?
thanx a lot
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very informative; very useful info!! thank you very much.
Posted by mike at April 29, 2009, 9:02 pm