It was quite a night. Seven o’clock found us dining at the Marriott Café buffet. By eight we were running towards Newport Theater to catch the Bituing Walang Ningning musical. By midnight we were belting songs at a KTV somewhere in Pasay City. It was almost six in the morning when the night ended. We walked back to the lobby of Marriott Hotel Manila, heads spinning, finally ready for some shut eye.

MARRIOTT MANILA’S LOUNGE AREA

THE HOTEL’S PLUSH LOBBY AND RECEIVING AREA

Our day didn’t start out so hectic. We checked in at Hotel Marriott Manila at around lunchtime. We were told that check-in time was still at three, but we took the chance since we were already in the area anyways. The receptionist we talked with was quite accommodating—he let us check in ahead of time.

So up we went to our rooms, hopelessly fumbling with the electronic key cards at the elevator.

OUR SPACIOUS MARRIOTT DELUXE ROOM

Marriott Manila provided us with a Deluxe Room City View. I’d wish for a Golf View room, but well, this isn’t bad at all. At 36 square meters, our room was quite spacious. It even has an ottoman and a workspace for work-nuts like me.

The bed is comfortable and the room is not devoid of character like most business hotels are.

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SNAZZY TOILET AND BATH

The en suite toilet and bath opens directly to the bedroom via a glass wall; sexy for couples checking in, awkward for friends sharing a room. But fear not, there is an optional panel which you can lower down if you’re not into these kinds of exhibitionism things, lol.

RELAXING AT MARRIOTT MANILA’S EXECUTIVE LOUNGE

With nothing to do before the musical—which was really our reason for being here at Resorts World Manila—we jack n’ poyed if we’re gonna work the slot machines at the casino adjacent to our hotel or simply relax on the Executive Lounge.

We decided that eating and doing nothing is better than the excitement of losing cash. We went with the latter.

SANDWICHES, FRUITS AND CAKES AT THE EXECUTIVE LOUNGE

The Executive Lounge is specifically for Marriott elite members. Although elite members we definitely were not, we were allowed access to it so we can at least review what the upper echelons do with their free time when on hotels.

And I do like what I’m seeing as a temporarily part of the elite.

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COCKTAIL HOUR AT MARRIOTT MANILA

Food is available all throughout the day—executive breakfast during the mornings, then an all day pica-pica and sandwiches, cocktails by five in the afternoon, and a royal dinner come evening.

We were able to experience everything except the breakfast and dinner, opting to dine at the Marriott Café instead.

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I’M DIGGING THE LUMPIANG UBUD VERY MUCH

This privilege is actually also available for mere mortals. An additional fee of Php3,000.00 (1pax) or Php4,000.00 (2pax) will upgrade your keycard to include the doors to Marriott Manila’s Executive Lounge. Should you find it too expensive, you may also opt to simply get a specific access time, like for breakfast or dinner only, at a lower fee.

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DINNER BUFFET AT MARRIOTT CAFE

Dinner was set at the hotel’s ground level restaurant, the Marriott Café. I’ll do a full review of this on a separate article, but I can tell you right now, it was superb. We were given only an hour to eat, since the call time for the musical was set at 8:00 PM. Nevertheless, we made each and every minute of that hour very much worth it.

BITUING WALANG NINGNING, NO PHOTOS ALLOWED DURING THE PLAY

And so came the musical which was held at the Newport Theater, a stone throw’s away from Marriott Manila. To be honest, I’m not much for musicals, having seen only one since birth—and it’s a movie at that, Moulin Rogue—but it was quite good.

It kinda brought back memories from when I was a kid and I’d sit in with my aunts as they gush about Sharon and Gabby before I butt and ask if we can switch the channel to Ninja Kids instead.

KARAOKE TIME AT MUSIC 21

And then it was time for a drink. While we contemplated on getting smashed at the bar lobby of Marriott Manila, we decided against it. It was quite unbecoming. So we went somewhere else to unleash our inner Sharon Cunetas and Rey Valeras while getting smashed in the process—and without being unbecoming, of course.

ALMOST MORNING AT MARRIOT MANILA

And so we came full circle. Marriott Manila looked quite lovely just before dawn broke. And that’s all I remembered as I crashed into the soft bed of my room, never waking until it was almost too late for breakfast.

LOVING MARRIOTT’S JACUZZI AREA

SAUNA, ANYONE?

To completely wash off the previous night’s excesses, we decided to go for a swim at the hotel’s second-floor pool. Without which, we would never have discovered their fantastic locker slash toilet and bath slash sauna slash Jacuzzi. We took our slow time, enjoying each amenity before heading to the pool.

LET’S HIT THE POOL!

And the pool is where our staycation endeth. Our minds already clearing a bit, we took turns goofing off with one of our friend’s GoPro, making mini-movies and what-nots; retelling the happenings of the previous night for those who now can’t remember and high-fiving ourselves to high heavens for this weekend’s perfect Metro getaway.

Marriott Hotel Manila ► ROOM RATES
Address: 10 Newport Boulevard, Newport City Complex, Pasay City, Metro Manila
Contact Number: (02) 988-9999
Email: reservation@rwmanila.com
GPS Coordinates Map: 14.520803, 121.018457

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