7 high-end hotels to stay in for your vacation

How long has it been since you last traveled, or at least had a staycation by yourself or with your family? Maybe it’s time to take a break and de-stress from the hustle and bustle of your work week.

You do not even have to go too far to have that relaxing, even once-in-a-long-while escapade. Just book into one of these high-end hotels; then get your car ready anytime soon (unless you prefer to book a Grab car). If you are aiming for an out-of-town escapade, though, two new hotels in Northern Luzon and in the Visayas are included here.

Bookmark this list so you may keep it handy the next time you yearn for a quick unwind:

1. Hotel Okura Manila

One of the most awaited hotels to open in the country, this newest addition to what is now Newport World Resorts in Pasay City has been fully operational by the first quarter of this year.

Notable for its Japanese-inspired aesthetic, Hotel Okura houses 190 rooms. The most striking one, the Hinoki-yu Room, features Hinoki (Japanese cypress) wooden bathtubs handcrafted by Japanese artisans from Nagiso Town, Nagano Prefecture. Further exuding luxury in this room are separate areas for bathtub and rainfall shower, a high-tech Japanese bidet, multimedia amenities, and a Nespresso machine.

The hotel’s topmost floor has leisure and recreational facilities such as a fitness center and a 20-meter pool overlooking Manila’s skyline. Food is offered by Yamazato, a Japanese fine-dining restaurant with private rooms, and Yawaragi, an all-day restaurant serving Western and Asian specialties as well as high tea and cocktails.

2. dusitD2 Waves Hotel

With La Union already an accessible go-to vacation spot, especially for Mega Manila residents, the rebranded dusitD2 Waves Hotel, sprawled along the clean coastline of a 7-hectare property in San Juan town, is a good choice for a luxurious stay.

Now carrying the grandeur of the Dusit International brand since 2020, dusitD2 Waves Hotel features eight floors with about 216 rooms, some of which are overlooking the West Philippine Sea. It also has an elegant Olympic-size swimming pool, a health and wellness spa, gym, two world-class restaurants and two bars. For a family-friendly venture, there is a mini cinema, a library, plus a function hall that can accommodate up to 1,000 people for special gatherings.

3. Admiral Hotel Manila - MGallery

In the nation’s capital, its hottest 5-star boutique hotel opened in May 2022.

Admiral Hotel Manila – MGallery is striking for its design that evoke Manila’s Golden Age by reinterpreting classic and contemporary Filipino-Spanish design and architecture elements. This is coupled with “thoughtful touches, warm gracious service, and extraordinary gastronomical and mixology experiences,” as Matthieu Busschaër, the hotel’s general manager, shared in the hotel’s website.

Admiral Hotel has 123 rooms and suites which start at a spacious 31 square meters (sqm), coupled with free WiFi, pool and gym access, and plentiful dining options. These options include the Admiral Club restaurant, featuring a Filipino and Hispanic fusion tapas bar and an interactive dining catwalk centerstage table; an old Shanghai-themed Ruby Wong’s Godown; and a rooftop Coconut Grove bar, perfect for catching sunset views from the Manila Bay.

4. Swissôtel Clark

A Swiss-inspired luxury hotel that has been operational since March awaits travelers in the fully integrated Hann Casino Resort at Clark, Pampanga.

Swissôtel Clark has 372 contemporary rooms and suites (plus Swiss Executive Lounge for suite-stayers) with floor-to-ceiling windows, generously sized marble bathrooms, lounge chairs, and the latest guestroom automation technology. Guests can relax in a resort-style infinity pool and spa accented by sweeping mountain views at Pürovel Spa & Sport, the only alpine spa in the Philippines.

There are also various dining options to choose from, with 10 specialty restaurants serving everything from Asian street food delicacies to authentic Italian cuisine. To name a few, there is the in-house Nasi for Kapampangan fare, Markt for Swiss food, Spice for pan-Asian favorites, and Bar 20 for post-midnight drinks.

5. Grand Hyatt Manila

Delivering its Hyatt’s superior service for over four years, Grand Hyatt Manila in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig is surely a great choice for an uncompromised hotel experience. With rooms adorned with honeyed wood paneling, maple hardwood floors, richly veined gray-white marble bathrooms, spacious walk-in closet, and huge floor-to-ceiling picturesque windows, staying in one of the hotel’s 461 elegantly appointed guestrooms and suites is something individuals seeking a taste of the high life will go back to.

This experience does not stop with accommodation. Various dining choices await at The Grand Kitchen, The Lounge, The Cellar, Pool House, No. 8 China House, Florentine, and Peak. Aside from bringing grill restaurant, speakeasy, whisky bar, and music lounge in a single spot, The Peak also takes guests through an immersive culinary journey with Le Petit Chef, the tiny clumsy chef from France, via fun and engaging 3D animation on one’s dining table.

6. The Westin Manila Sonata Place

Located on the main street of the Ortigas Business District, this elegant hotel is slated to open later this year. Once it opens, you can choose from a wide range of room options out of its 300 luxurious rooms, from the Deluxe to the Presidential Suite. One thing is for sure: Every room features the signature Westin Heavenly Bed.

Guests will also get to indulge in three F&B venues, a swimming pool, a 24/7 fitness center, as well as an in-house Heavenly Spa by Westin.

7. Fili Urban Resort

Within the so-called “biggest lifestyle and entertainment destination outside Metro Manila” is a hotel that promises to redefine 5-star hospitality.

Fili Urban Resort is the first of three hotels that have opened in NUSTAR Resort and Casino, Cebu’s first integrated casino resort hotel. The hotel aims to give guests a distinct Filipino luxury experience, right from the reservation. For instance, guests can be picked up in limousines at the airport, then welcomed upon arrival at the hotel with the Fili signature drink.

The hotel, launched last May, features 379 rooms, a spa, pools, a hot tub, and gym. There are also butlers in every suite and villa of the hotel, as well as childcare and car rental service for a fee.

Making one is stay more exciting are shopping options in NUSTAR’s four-level 35,000-sqm mall, which will house VIP cinemas, high-fashion stores, and global and regional dining outlets.

Coupling amenities of the highest quality with top-notch services, these hotels are ready to give you fresh experiences of high-end living — a rewarding treat worth your hard-earned money.