Michi Photostory: Christmas Staycation at The Westin Manila

I’m taking a short break from my crafting blog posts to finally share some of our food and travel experiences. I still have several backlogs, but I’ll start with our Christmas Staycation at The Westin Manila, which was a relaxing way to celebrate the holidays.

A few days before Christmas, I asked my husband about our holiday plans. He suggested a hotel staycation since he had Marriott Bonvoy points we could use. So the only thing left for me to decide was which hotel to choose.

We have already stayed at Sheraton Manila, Sheraton Manila Bay, Sheraton Mactan, and Clark Marriott Hotel. That left us with two options: The Westin Manila or Manila Marriott Hotel. I chose The Westin Manila since it is one of the newest Marriott properties in the city.

Last year, we experienced our first Christmas staycation at Clark Marriott Hotel, so this was our second time spending Christmas away from home. Since the hotel is not too far, we left home after lunch and arrived at The Westin Manila shortly after 12 noon. Thankfully, they allowed us to check in early, with a required PHP 5,000 security deposit.

The Westin Manila Room

Upon entering the room, my husband immediately commented that it felt small. He’s used to the spacious rooms of The Westin Jakarta, and while I haven’t stayed there myself, I do agree that the room is smaller compared to other Marriott hotels we’ve visited using points.

That said, the room and bathroom still looked modern and well-maintained, and the bed was very comfortable. One highlight was the bathtub with a view, which added a relaxing touch to our stay.

Compared to the Clark Marriott Hotel, which was very generous with welcome amenities, The Westin Manila felt a bit lacking. We didn’t receive any welcome dessert, fruits, or card; items that are usually complimentary for Marriott Bonvoy members. However, they did provide discount coupons, including:

20% off on food and beverage orders at the Lobby Lounge
20% off on lunch and seafood dinner buffet at Seasonal Tastes
20% off on à la carte orders with a minimum spend of PHP 1,500
Free sangria with a minimum spend of PHP 1,500

Christmas Activities and Dinner

The Westin Manila offered several Christmas activities, making the stay more festive. These included a Christmas Mass, a Christmas Musical Showcase (PHP 599 per person), and a Santa Claus photo opportunity.

For dinner, we opted for room service and ordered:

Manila Beef and Eggs (Tapsilog) – PHP 650
Classic Margherita Pizza – PHP 655
Hainanese Chicken Rice – PHP 810

Our food arrived on time and was enjoyable. After dinner, we received a small box of gingerbread cookies, which was a thoughtful and festive gesture from the hotel.

Breakfast Buffet at Seasonal Tastes

Breakfast was not included in our room reservation, so we initially hesitated to avail of the buffet. The regular breakfast rate is PHP 1,800, which felt pricey considering we already knew that the buffet spread isn’t very extensive. We had previously tried their lunch buffet.

Fortunately, the hotel staff offered a promo rate of PHP 999 if we booked in advance, so we decided to go for it.

While the buffet selection at Seasonal Tastes may not be grand, we were satisfied with the quality and overall experience.

Overall Experience at The Westin Manila

The Westin Manila also has a swimming pool and fitness studio, but for this staycation, our main goal was simple: to eat well, rest, and relax. After breakfast, we stayed in our room until check-out, enjoying a slow and peaceful Christmas staycation.

Spending Christmas this way reminded us that it is truly nice to enjoy a stress-free Christmas, away from holiday preparations, traffic, and responsibilities at home. It was a calm and refreshing way to celebrate the season.

The Westin Manila

San Miguel Avenue corner Lourdes Drive,

Ortigas Center, Barangay Wack-Wack

Greenhills East, Mandaluyong City

Metro Manila, Philippines, 1552