Joya Lofts and Towers - Another Luxury Hotel Manila Alternative

If you're looking for an alternative to the standards of luxury hotels in Manila such as the Peninsula Manila or the Shangri-La Manila, you can look at the Joya Towers and Lofts in Rockwell as an almost equal alternative to the luxury hotel experience that the Shangri-La or Peninsula provides.

The Joya Towers and Lofts are a pair of luxury condominium towers rising above Rockwell Center, a private community located in the north of Makati, just south of the Pasig River and Mandaluyong. Rockwell Center is centrally located within Metro Manila, providing easy access to EDSA, the airport, and the Ortigas Business District.

Within Rockwell Center are several luxury condominiums which have become alternatives to luxury hotels in Manila. The Joya Towers and Lofts were opened in 2007 and provides condominiums for purchase as well as condominiums for short and long stays.

You can rent a studio, 1, or 2 bedroom condominium for the same price as you would for a regular room at the Shangri-La Manila. The rooms are nicely appointed, with modern furniture, internet, cable TV, and a kitchen to allow you to blend the luxury of a hotel room room with the comfort of an apartment.

The Joya Lofts and Towers has a large pooldeck on the 7th floor with a walkway connecting the North and South Towers. The gym is on the 3rd floor of the North tower and features weights and many forms of aerobic equipment, including a pair of Concept2 Rowing Machines. Yoga classes are offered in the studio and a personal trainer is available if you need one.

The best part about staying at the Joya Lofts and Towers instead of a luxury hotel in Manila is the Power Plant mall across the street. Within this mall are shops, restaurants, and cafes to pass the time as slowly or as quickly as you like. Cantinetta is a great Italian restaurant owned by a real Italian in Rockwell. Sango makes a unique Japanese style burger. C2 offers a fresh, modern take on classical Filipino cuisine on the 2nd floor of the Power Plant Mall. These are just a fraction of the dining options available there.

So, if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of a stay at the Shangri-La or Manila Peninsula, then you should consider the Joya Lofts and Towers in Rockwell for your next stay in Makati.

Luxury Hotels Manila - The Serviced Condo Alternative

If you're coming to Manila and you don't want to stay in one of the three top Makati Luxury Hotels, the Peninsula, the Shangri-La and the Mandarin Oriental, another fantastic option is a serviced apartment unit. Similar to a hotel room, the serviced apartment unit is typically a larger space with a full kitchen along with the amenities of a hotel - housekeeping, room service, and a full-time lobby concierge.

An example of a luxury hotel alternative in Manila is the Frasier Place serviced apartments in Salcedo Village Makati. Frasier Place Manila (remember unless I specificy, Manila is always Makati and Makati is always Makati) offers a luxurious typically much larger place to stay at the same price as a normal guest room at the Shangri-La or Peninsula Manila.

The furnishings are modern, clean, and tropical with a lot of use of wood native to the Philippines. Within the Frasier Place's 120 luxuriously-appointed serviced apartments are multiple room sizes - from 1 to 4 bedroom apartments. The Fraiser Place Manila's tower is located in the heart of Salcedo Village, in a bustling area filled with condominiums housing thousands of expats to the office towers of Citibank and other Philippine corporate institutions.

Within walking distance from Fraiser Place Manila are Burgos street, which is a 24-hour entertainment and food area as well as Ayala Triangle Park and the many great restaurants in Salcedo Village, including Gustavaian's, Bugsy's and Apartment 1B.

The perfect alternative to a luxury hotel in Manila, the Frasier Place Manila should be on your shortlist of places to stay during your next visit to the Philippines.

Our Top 3 Luxury Hotels in Manila

Updated: February 2010. Manila is often the name used for people traveling to the capital of the Philippines and while many people do travel to Manila, most people coming to Manila and staying in a luxury hotel often stay in the neighboring city of Makati. So, this post should really titled Top 5 Luxury Hotels in Manila and Makati as these are the two cities that play host to the Philippine capital's luxury hotels.

Shangri-La Hotel Makati

I've reviewed the Shangri-La Hotel Makati in my Makati Hotels post, and its quite simply the best luxury hotel in Manila or Makati. The hotel has a grand lobby with one of the finest entrances I've scene in any hotel around the world. The rooms are plush, large and comfortable. The service is excellent - from the doorwomen, to the beautiful receptionists, to the chef at the buffet. And what a buffet - each night stay entitles you to the breakfast buffet which tops almost anything I've been to in Las Vegas. It's that good. All the usual amenities and central to Ayala Center, Greenbelt and downtown Makati. Room rates per night range from $140 to $220 depending on availability. The perfect luxury hotel in Manila.

The Manila Peninsula

While the hotel is called the Peninsula Hotel Manila, the hotel is actually located in Makati, across the street from the venerable and towering Shangri-La Manila Makati and minutes away from Greenebelt. While not as physically imposing from the outside as the Shangri-La Hotel Makati's tower, the Peninsula is just as luxurious, if a bit more understated than its neighbor across the street. The Peninsula Hotel Manila also boasts a grand lobby with a seating area occupied by Manila's elite, traveling businessmen, and the occasional prostitute. The Peninsula Hotel boasts a fine gym, pool and the best sauna/steam/cold bath combination that I've found during my stay. Room rates per night range from $120 to $220 depending on availability. In my opinion, the second best luxury hotel in Manila.

The Mandarin Oriental Manila

Another luxury hotel in Manila that's actually located in Makati, the Mandarin Oriental Manila is just down the street from the Shangri-La Makati and the Peninsula Hotel. The Mandarin Oriental stands at the corner of Paseo de Roxas Ave and is just down the street from the infamous Burgos neighborhood, known as Makati's red light district. Within the Mandarin Oriental Manila Hotel you can find calm in the pool and spa or entertainment with some of the best bars and restaurants in Makati. A true luxury hotel with a high reputation for exceptional service in the centre of the Makati. Room rates per night range from $120 to $220 depending on availability. In my opinion, the second best luxury hotel in Manila.

Any questions - leave a comment, I'll do my best to reply.