Sheraton Manila Bay — Hotel in Manila

Worst ever stay in a Marriott group hotel in 41 years of business travel:

Saturday night: Check in late evening from Tokyo flight. Get to room and go to bed. Woken up at midnight by very loud night club noise from the street opposite. OK – so not in the hotels control but it shows the rooms haven’t been upgraded or seen proper maintenance for some time as double glazing is an easy addition. In speaking to hotel staff the next day – this is a known issue on Fridays and Saturdays but their best solution was to offer ear plugs…

Monday: Went out to meetings and returned mid afternoon. Room not yet made up – so ok, maybe they had a lot of check-outs. But sat down to continue working at desk in hotel but there was very loud and prolonged concrete drilling and cutting noise (several hours). No mention on website, on confirmation email or at check of major building works. Just an advice that they were working on opening their new Sheraton Lounge. ( I mentioned to staff the next day and they advised noise should be expected 8am – 5pm for the foreseeable future). Couldn’t work in room so went to lobby to do what work I could – but certainly make certain phone calls or join video conferences. Then when I went back to room about 4:30pm drilling had stopped but then as I started a work call housekeeping turned up to service room….

This was repeated every single day and staff provided no real assistance.

Friday finished working at 11:15pm and went to sleep. 12:45am woken up by loud voices outside my room followed by multiple people going into room next door. Very loud Indian music was then turned on and singing, shouting etc – male and female voices indicated some sort of party going on. Voices were male Indian and female Filipina. Discussions – very clear through the wall of the room confirmed they were hookers joining a gang bang… I called reception to report the noise and after a visit to the room by staff the music was turned down but the loud voices and sex noise continued – not helped by the non-existent acoustic insulation between rooms. I told management I wanted to speak to EGM or Opps Director in the morning as early as possible and they confirmed this would be ok.

I called reception again and asked to be moved to a quieter room…. After trying 2 rooms (first with an electrical fault so not usable) I finally got to bed again after 2:30am. Irritatingly I then missed the 04:00 conf call I had with my office in the US as I slept through.

Next morning 11:30 am and no call from any senior management and so I called front desk to be put on to front office manager who told me that he was the only one I could speak to and that he had no real authority to do anything.

It goes on with more meetings later in the day with other managers but no resolution from Sheraton. I missed multiple meetings / conference calls and lost a lot of sleep due to poor management and modernization of this hotel. They asked me what they could do to resolve the issue and I suggested maybe they could credit me the number of days stay for another Marriott group property. Best offer was 20,000 Bonvoy points – not even sufficient for 1 nights stay at a hotel…

Maybe I should have read more into the location. Yes it is close to the red light districts. But it’s also close to the US Embassy and multiple government and Defence HQs where I had meetings so I thought it would be a good location. So, in conclusion, if you want a reasonably comfortable hotel close to the go-go bars and cheap hookers, the Sheraton Manila Bay might be a good call. If you are looking for a good business or family friendly hotel I would suggest going towards the centre of Manila or Pasay towards the airport. This hotel really should not be included in the Marriott / Sheraton brand as it is a disgrace – I speak from significant experience as a very loyal and longstanding user of Marriott...

First coming in was ok, protocols were being made due to covid restrictions. But all was well we got into the rooms and it was cozy and expectedly great. We planned to go for a swim at their pool and the pool was great too the water was at the right temperature and the pool staff were accomodating. The view was great too.

Finally we decided to schedule for a dinner buffet on their “kitchen” where they offer a seafood buffet! We then reached the buffet about 7:30 Walking in was quiet and simple maybe due to covid they have less to offer food . Then again we (my family) started to check out the food, they have the bbq chicken (was ok), german goulash with spatzle (was served without the spatzle), pork in apple and raisins?, other dishes were bicol express (dry), kalderetang baka (dry) chopsuey (vegetable was not as presentable as it was) they have tuna on the fresh side on the other part was salad (was great according to auntie and mom). Then they have SEAFOOD shrimp, lobster, crab, tuna, pusit. Upon asking on the seafood on how they can arrange it the answer was just grilled but from Our previous hotel buffet experience we usually asked it to be cooked in buttered garlic sadly they told us that it wasn’t offered on their menu for that night, ok so we pushed thru the dinner order a lot of seafoods the dip was chili garlic. Little do we know a little by little the food servers was relaxed and a bit with mood to serve. Not the usual jolly and accomodating waters. Then i remembered reading from their menu German goulash with spatzle so i asked the server where was the spatzle? Then got no answer so a still insisted to ask the people behind the buffet area and hearing their reason was “inubos po kasi ng previous customer and spatzle” but i was not convinced. Then the server asked me why Sir do you speak german? So i answered no i told him i was a food lover and culinary graduate as well. From my experience from a foreign chef and serving of German goulash and spatzle it should be served as a set! So it wasn’t, a bit disappointed we just pushed thru the meal. But if i were with a chef in a hotel and specially it’s SHERATON you cannot say they ran out because a customer ate it, courtesy was always have a ready back up. And expecting also that they have less guest at the buffet the food should be well presented and served but it wasn’t the mood was really sad and the servers are with attitudes. The buffet was from 5-9pm so it was. One of the waiters told my sister while checking out the dessert “mam may iba pa ba kayo gusto kasi mag close npo kmi (with a tone) that was upon choosing what to eat for dessert???” The courtesy should be was to pass thru the table and inform us and ask if there is anything else we need before the buffet closes. But sadly that wasn’t met. I wrote this just as an ordinary customer who was really expecting much especially it was “SHERATON HOTEL” and was also a food lover. But the other the staffs were great and good the room and the pool were good. My Brother just told me maybe its because they were affected by the pandemic. But on my personal experience and coming from a family who loves food thats shouldn’t be an excuse specially when it was coming from a high rating hotel and the bearer of the Hotel Stars! All in all sgaring this experience hoping next time other guest won’t experience the same thing. God speed and we are still thankful for the blessings and short stay we had at the Hotel. Hope the Chef from the hotel gets the chance to visit the...

Cultural Haven at Sheraton Manila Bay: Gastronomic Delights and Central Locale

Embarking on a cultural escapade at Sheraton Manila Bay, my stay in the Large Room on a high floor was enriched by the vibrant tapestry of local flavors and the convenience of a central location. Priced at Rp3,681,610, the experience unfolded as a mosaic of culinary indulgence and proximity to Manila's rich cultural attractions.

Culinary Odyssey at the Lounge: The Large Room on a high floor served as a comfortable vantage point, providing a unique perspective of the city's dynamic ambiance. However, the true delight lay in the gastronomic journey offered at the lounge. Rich with local Filipino delicacies, the lounge became a haven for indulging in authentic flavors, showcasing the diversity of Filipino culinary traditions.

Unrivaled Service in a Cultural Hub: Sheraton Manila Bay distinguished itself with a level of service that transcended expectations. The attentive and warm hospitality created an atmosphere of genuine care, enhancing the overall stay. The staff's dedication added a layer of comfort, making the cultural exploration of Manila even more enriching.

Central Locale Near Manila Chinatown and Cultural Attractions: The hotel's strategic location near Manila Chinatown positioned it as a gateway to cultural exploration. Within walking distance, Manila's Chinatown offers a vibrant tapestry of traditions, markets, and culinary treasures. Additionally, the hotel's proximity to key attractions like Rizal Park, Intramuros, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines allowed for convenient exploration of Manila's historical and artistic heritage.

Dated Aesthetics in a Neighborhood of Contrasts: While the Sheraton Manila Bay offered a comfortable retreat, the dated aesthetics of the rooms and the hotel itself introduced a hint of nostalgia. The surroundings, juxtaposed against the modernity of the hotel, presented a contrast—especially considering the hotel's location in an area with a mix of urban dynamics.

Urban Retreat with Limitations: The experience was further nuanced by the compact nature of the pool and gym facilities. The constraints in size diminished the potential for a more expansive wellness and leisure experience within the hotel premises.

In conclusion, my stay at Sheraton Manila Bay, within the Large Room on a high floor, became a cultural odyssey and a testament to warm Filipino hospitality. The culinary delights at the lounge, the central locale near Manila Chinatown, and the cultural attractions within reach added layers of depth to the stay. While considerations like dated aesthetics and limited pool and gym facilities were present, the hotel's unique positioning as a cultural hub and the immersive local experience make it a compelling choice for those seeking a central...