Solaire Manila review: It’s where you wanna go when you wanna feel like a rockstar

Warning: the Solaire Hotel, Resort, and Casino in Manila isn’t for everybody. They offer a high-end experience catered towards adults that you kinda have to be in the mood for.

Basically, it’s the kind of place where there are beautiful women in short dresses scattered about whose only job is to stand around and look pretty.

As a heterosexual male, I have no problem with this. All I’m saying is that you should probably look elsewhere if what you need is a family friendly hotel in the heart of Manila.

A full review of my one night stay at the Solaire in Manila

As I’m about to show you, this is a beautiful property. It’s a true destination-style resort, meaning that they have everything you’d need for a relaxing vacation right on site. Restaurants, shopping, pools, spas, and gambling – they’ve got it all.

Location

The Solaire is located in Entertainment City, right on the shores of Manila Bay (not too far from the Conrad Manila). It worth noting that this is a somewhat secluded area, and there isn’t much to see or do within short walking distance. If you want to go anywhere, it’s going to require the use of a car.

Solaire Manila exterior — Welcome to the Solaire hotel, resort, and casino!

Scott standing outside of the main entrance to the Solaire Hotel Manila — Of all the days that I decide to stay at a hotel with a name (vaguely) referencing the sun, it had to rain. Story of my life really.

Solaire Manila security at main entrance — You’re not getting through the main entrance without going through a metal detector first, so I highly recommend leaving your machetes, hatchets, firearms, and grenades behind. You can live without them for a few days.

The lobby (and checking in)

There will be no mistaking this as a casino the moment you walk through the main entrance. It’ll be the first thing you see. Good luck finding the reception desk for the hotel lol.

Lobby of the Solaire Manila Hotel resort and Casino — It was at this moment that I fully understood what they meant by calling this place a hotel, resort, and CASINO. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I can tell you with 100% certainty that I wasn’t expecting to fend off an irresistible urge to stay up all night trying to win a Tesla.

Lobby of the Solaire Manila — Welp, there goes any plans that I had for a quaint little boutique hotel experience down by the shores of Manila Bay. This is a full Las Vegas style casino experience, baby!

Shops and restaurants in the Solaire Manila

Slot machines at the Solaire Manila Hotel resort and Casino

Scott walking through the lobby of the Solaire Manila — It’s also worth noting that they are very anti-hat in this place (it’s a security issue). Now, I love my Detroit Tigers hat, but I’ll happily comply with *any* rule for a shot at winning a Tesla.

Checking in was a bit awkward (I’ll explain why in a moment), but still a very nice experience. The woman I dealt with was very friendly, and she went above and beyond to make sure that I had everything I needed for a great stay.

Solaire Manila Hotel reception desk — Security in this place is no joke, and I had every reason to believe that a baldheaded pasty white dude taking pictures of the reception desk is something that makes them nervous. I needed to be on my best behavior to fulfill my plans of driving away from this place in a brand new Model 3!

Getting to my room

This is the kind of hotel where the person checking you will escort you all the way up to your room (much like my recent experience at the Reverie Hotel in Saigon). I’m sorry, but I always find this to be a bit awkward. She was nice though, so I played along like the dumb tourist that I was.

By the way, I had to shoot the following pictures the day after. Without her.

Scott riding the elevator up to his room at the Solaire Hotel Manila — Nervously checking for security cameras here in the elevator. *“Can I put my hat back on yet?”*

Hallway leading to my room at the Solaire Hotel Manila — And then, everything turned Japanese. I like this!

Hallway corridor at the Solaire Hotel Manila

Scott walking to his room at the Solaire Hotel Manila

Solaire Hotel Manila room 1221 — Room 1221 is mine for the night (at least until I win the Tesla…then I’m outta here).

Room overview

I paid extra for a Studio (Sky) Suite. This is by far from being the most fancy pants room they have at this hotel (there are some really expensive ones), but it was a pretty nice upgrade over a standard room.

Picture of my room at the Solaire Hotel Manila — Do you have any idea how difficult it is to take pictures of a hotel room when all you see out of the corner of your eye are fresh snacks and drinks on the table?

In room welcome snacks and drinks Solaire Hotel Manila — All right, let’s just get this over with. A welcome gift!

In room welcome gift Solaire Hotel Manila — Fresh sweets on a bed of cocoa nibs. Which just so happens to look less lumpy than the actual bed in this room. Just sayin’.

King size bed in my room at the Solaire Hotel Manila — All I’m going to say is that I really hope that’s not the previous occupant’s wadded up dirty underwear underneath that bed cover. I’m genuinely worried about this.

Solaire Hotel Manila wide-angle room overview — It helps to zoom out a little bit. See? No more bumps!

Solaire Hotel Manila suite overview — This is a nicely sized mini suite. And I think I’m going to eat the cream puff first.

Lounge chair in my room at the Solaire Hotel Manila

Flat screen TV in my room at the Solaire Hotel Manila

Scott walking through his room at the Solaire Hotel Manila — The best way to check for security cameras? Put your hat back on, and listen for aggressive door knocking.

Make up mirror in my room at the Solaire Hotel Manila — *“Hey, I know that guy!”* I do believe this is the first time that I’ve ever seen my reflection in a makeup mirror.

Minibar cabinet in my room at the Solaire Hotel Manila — More snacks and drinks. Some of the stuff isn’t free though, so be careful.

Complementary tea and coffee with hot water maker

Assortment of drinks in the minibar in my room at the Solaire Hotel Manila — Ice cold soda and beer is available as well. Someday, if people start reading my hotel reviews (and I become insanely rich), I am going to partake in these sort of things. Today is not that day unfortunately.

Bedside table with telephone and alarm clock

Closet with bathrobes in my room at the Solaire Hotel Manila — Bathrobes! An umbrella! Slippers! Kind of an exciting closet if I don’t say so myself.

Bedside lamp in my room at the Solaire Hotel Manila

Artwork in my room at the Solaire Hotel Manila

The view

I had an excellent review of Manila Bay from my room. I got lucky, because the views from the other side probably aren’t all that great.

The only problem? I could look directly into the windows of the rooms in the other building, which meant that they could all probably look into my room just as easily. Don’t do anything gross (unless you want them to see).

View from my room at the Solaire Hotel Manila — The view from my room shows just how far away this hotel is from the center of Manila. See those high-rise buildings way off in the distance? You ain’t walking that far (unless you’re a total badass).

View of Manila bay from my room at the Solaire Hotel Manila — Zooming out a little bit makes it seem even farther. It’s not a big deal though, because the problem of being so far away from the city center is easily solved by winning that Model 3 downstairs. Easy peasy.

The bathroom

Not gonna lie. I think I enjoyed the bathroom just as much as I did the rest of the suite. It was huge, very well designed, and very brightly lit. Come to think of it, I probably could’ve done without the ‘brightly lit’ thing. Especially at my age.

Bathroom in my room at the Solaire Hotel Manila — You know it’s a good bathroom when it takes your mind off the fact that you’re mere hours away from winning a brand new car.

Solaire Hotel Manila bathroom overview — This is what you’ll see while sitting on the toilet. Is this a thorough review, or what?

Full-size tub in my room at the Solaire Hotel Manila — The tub. What it lacks in length is made up for in girth. Just sayin’.

Full-size shower in my room at the Solaire Hotel Manila — And finally, the shower. Not girthy. Not long. Just *big*.

Acca Kappa soaps and lotions in the shower

Scott waving in the mirror in the bathroom at the Solaire Hotel Manila — Practicing my “later dudes!” wave (which I will get to do when I drive away in my brand new electric car).

Pros and cons of staying at the Solaire Hotel, Resort, and Casino

The fact that I wasn’t expecting such a Las Vegas style casino experience made this a bit jarring at first. I don’t have a problem with that sort of thing, but as I said, you kinda have to be in the mood for it.

Pros

Pure. Effin. Luxury. Walking through the lobby is like walking down Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.
The front desk staff made me feel like a rockstar.
Even if you’re not into gambling, you’ll find plenty of other things to do (pools, spas, etc).

Cons

I found the staff to be somewhat overbearing. I understand that they were just trying to be helpful, but there were several moments where I felt like they were getting awkward and pushy.
They take security very seriously. This is good of course, but the downside is that I felt like I was always being watched.
The location isn’t all that great if you have any desire to explore other parts of Manila.

Solaire Manila review: It’s where you wanna go when you wanna feel like a rockstar