Midas Hotel and Casino

I was excited to check-in at Midas Hotel and Casino in Manila having read so much about their well-designed lobby.

I bought an executive room stay with lounge access from Deal Grocer and booked an overnight weekend stay via email. 

I arrived at a little past 12 noon, was given a welcome drink and was told that the room will be available in a few minutes.  The wait lasted for close to an hour which I didn't mind since I was early and I was enjoying people watching at the lobby.  

When I was finally given the key cards to my room for the night, I headed up and was initially surprised at the state of the corridor.  It was like stepping in another hotel; gone was the glitzy vibe of the lobby.  It was a little depressing.

There was also only one elevator working so there is a bit of a wait.  It didn't help that they have to have a guard and a stool inside operating the lift which made it more cramped than it's supposed to be. 

The room was spacious and I really liked the muted colors.  The bed was a little too hard for my liking but I found the lighted shelf of the minibar really cool. 

The bathroom is also okay and I liked that they had Bulgari bath amenities which kept me smelling fresh.

However, similar to the state of the corridor, the room is in serious need of an upkeep.  The mirror is stained, the wall, though not obvious from the photo below has unsightly paint patches.  The lounge chair also looks very dirty.

I was also happy that each room has its own veranda but the area is not at all clean.

Wifi is free but is really bad.  There are quite a few sockets but most of them are loose, you'd need to prop your charger.

The stay comes with an executive lounge access but the area is small and the snacks are forgettable. I asked for an orange juice and was given an orange juice concentrate.  I don't mean to be picky but that was something I really didn't expect. 

The hotel is near Mall of Asia and walking distance to Blue Wave Macapagal.  I wouldn't recommend walking though as the surrounding areas are not well lighted.  There are no nearby convenience stores so make sure you have everything you need before calling it a night. 

For entertainment, the hotel has its own casino which was pretty alive.  

Check out was fast and they were pretty efficient.  The voucher allows for late check-out but you have to inform them beforehand so they can check for availability.

Midas Hotel and Casino

Roxas Blvd, Pasay City

Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu

While we loved Marriott Hotel in Cebu, Radisson Blu gives more value for your money.  The lobby is huge but is never intimidating.  The staff is very welcoming and makes you feel right at home. They are seemingly right where you need them to be especially by the elevator banks where it tends to get confusing if you're supposed to turn left or right. 

Premier Room

The Premier Room we stayed in opens up to a mirrored hallway with a powder room to the right.  

The hallway leads you to a desk and a living room.  The door to the right of the desk leads you to a walk in closet where you can access your room. 

Executive Suite

The Executive Suite is about the same size as the Premier Room but is arranged slightly differently. By the door, to your right, you can access the walk in closet which leads you to the bathroom that leads you to the bedroom which then leads you to the living room. 

Unlike the other room, this room has a Nespresso machine for all you coffee lovers.

Superior Room

The Superior Room is very spacious and will hold it's own if you compare it against any of the best rated hotels in Manila.

The Premier Room and Executive Suite comes with access to the Executive lounge.  They have a dress code so better pack a pair of pants.  There are not a lot of choices so it's not that big of a deal if you don't get access to the lounge. 

The hotel is right beside SM Cebu and CNT Lechon is also very near.  Cabs are easy to get although avoid rush hours or the mall closing time. 

The hotel has a lagoon shaped pool that looks a lot like Sofitel Manila's and a very spacious gym. 

Overall, I'd pick Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu in a heartbeat if I'm ever back in Cebu and staying in the city.

Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu

http://www.radissonblu.com/hotel-cebu

Luneta Hotel

After undergoing restoration and reconstruction, the Luneta Hotel opened its doors to the public last year.  Admittedly, I found out about it a little late but I booked a room to experience the old world charm as soon as I had the chance.

The hotel was pretty quiet on the day that we checked in, I maybe saw only three other guests during our overnight stay. 

The ground floor has the lobby and the bar and restaurant.  

The rooms are a little small with the Executive Suite being only 29 square meters but the high ceiling is one that you'd rarely see these days. 

The balcony door is locked which is sad, it would've been nice to stay out for a while.

The bathroom is a little modern compared to the overall feel of the hotel but I don't mind.

Noise levels are a bit high as you can hear every passing vehicle and chatter right outside the hotel so if you have trouble sleeping, it would be good to bring some ear plugs. 

The hotel is located near Luneta park but there are not a lot of restaurants within walking distance. It would be great if the surrounding areas start getting restored and developed as well to preserve our heritage.

Luneta Hotel

414 TM Kalaw St.

Ermita, Manila

+632 875 8921