Our last two nights in the Philippines were spent in Manila and I wanted to stay in Makati, the trendy neighborhood known for having a solid nightlife scene and big towering buildings. When doing my research, the best bang for the buck was U Hotels Makati. The ratings were good, it came with free breakfast and only cost $35 CAD a night. It was also in a good location, on Burgos Street in Makati.
When we arrived, we immediately noticed that there was a security guard/doorman. He was very friendly and helpful. He helped with our luggage, made conversation and always held the door every time I was in and out. The staff in the lobby and restaurant were friendly too. The lobby was nice; there is a café, some art, greenery and it feels trendy and hip. The coffee is excellent and there’s beer and cocktails available to purchase. There are a few options for breakfast, and the food we chose was good. I had a classic breakfast while my fiancé had a Filipino style breakfast. Both were served with eggs, meat, a carb and a coffee.
The rooms have nice décor and a large bed although they are a bit small, but for a budget hotel I couldn’t complain. We made it work with a baby and a lot of luggage. The washrooms in the room were okay but nothing special.
Besides the price, the best part of the hotel was the location. U Hotels Makati is located, obviously in Makati, which is a fun neighborhood to stay in. There are plenty of dining and nightlife options and Makati is close to another popular neighborhood, BGC. It is also relatively close to Binondo and Intramuros. Not only is the hotel in a good neighborhood, but its right on Burgos Street. Burgos Street has a bit of a grimy vibe at night, as you can see in my video, but there are a number of restaurants and bars if you want to bar hop and have a few beers. It’s fun to walk around in the day and at night.
When I come back to Manila, if I don’t feel like dishing out the big bucks to stay in BGC I’ll definitely stay in Makati again, and for the price, I’d consider staying in U Hotels Makati again. The only negative thing I have to say was that they advertise buy one get one free on your first drink, but it only applies to beer. But beggars can’t be choosers I guess. They also offer a free cocktail if you leave a review on TripAdvisor. My final night I left a review, as I didn’t want to leave it the first day because I hadn’t fully experienced the hotel. I left a great review and went to show the lobby staff. It was 8:10 pm and they told me the offer was only good during Happy Hour, which ended at 8:00 pm. I told them it was my last night and I couldn’t redeem the offer the next day, they wouldn’t budge on their stance. I guess I should have given the guy a bigger tip when he served me a latte earlier in the afternoon. It left a bitter taste in my mouth, but as you can see I’ve moved on; the hotel was nice for the price and here I am writing another positive review about U Hotels Makati.
Here is how I’d break down my review of U Hotels Makati:
Price – excellent
Location – excellent
Amenities – okay
Rooms – okay
Cleanliness – good
Food - good
Staff – okay (but the security guard was great)
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