Philippines: Manila – The Manila Hotel
The Manila Hotel is legendary – this is the oldest luxury hotel built in Philippines back in 1909 next to the historic Intramuros area of the city. The absolutely iconic 5-star hotel – a white, green-tile-roofed California Mission-styled structure – was designed by Daniel Hudson Burnham and was supposed to overshadow the Presidential Palace in luxury, as it was commemorated to and opened on July 4, the US Independence Day. General Douglas McArthur stayed here all the time since 1935 to 1941. Plenty of celebrities stayed here as well – Michael Jackson, Bill Clinton, the Beatles, Ernest Hemingway, on so on. In post-independent times, both Ferdinand Marcos and Corason Aquino launched their presidential runs in this hotel. The Manila hotel is beautiful and full of classic historic accents throughout the main hall, its restaurants, halls, and inside the rooms as well.
