Manila too dangerous for my fiancee to stay there...

[Caryh 5,206]

That townhouse place is sounding pretty sketchy. I'm thinking that my fiancee won't be staying there. But, she will be eyes-on-the-ground there and some of the information in this thread is pretty old. She can always check it out for herself in person. One thing that she pointed out when she read this thread a few days ago is that no cooking is allowed in the room, so food expenses could easily offset the lower lodging cost.

I wouldn't recommend it to a Filipina, its better suited to the western male travelling on a budget. I'm not sure what the place is like now. Used to be half way decent for the price, then went downhill. I was just looking at trip advisor, and I'm thinking it doesn't look like anything has improved.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

The Carolina Townhouse had been around for years and years. It was originally a hostel for backpackers traveling in the Philippines. I've known many people who have stayed there over the years. You can find it on tripadvisor BTW. Some people love the place, others hate it. Its had its ups and downs over the years is one thing I'm aware of. I enjoyed times I've spent there and the atmosphere until my last visit. Hopefully Bill and Lorna have corrected the problems now and its once again a nice budget place to stay.

They have this huge iron gate that they close after hours, for security, but like most places in the Philippines, the employee entrance is left open all night. There was this dog barking behind our room in the early morning hours, and the lobby was empty, so I wandered out the open back door and into the alley. I couldn't see a soul anywhere, but did see the offending doberman behind the steel security grill on the opposite side of the alley. After staring down the dog for a few minutes, it shut up, and I could get back to sleep.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I wouldn't recommend it to a Filipina, its better suited to the western male travelling on a budget. I'm not sure what the place is like now. Used to be half way decent for the price, then went downhill. I was just looking at trip advisor, and I'm thinking it doesn't look like anything has improved.

For out of the US accommodations in a third world country, in wasn't that bad, almost Motel 6 quality. I stayed at much worse in Mexico, in the US, and a few other places in the Pacific, in so called "modern" facilities. For the wife, it was much better than anything she had before, living in Manila, or Alicia.

[abner137 48]

So you're saying that Manila is no more dangerous than Bronson, MS?

lol....Bronson is a rough town....

[Caryh 5,206]

They have this huge iron gate that they close after hours, for security, but like most places in the Philippines, the employee entrance is left open all night. There was this dog barking behind our room in the early morning hours, and the lobby was empty, so I wandered out the open back door and into the alley. I couldn't see a soul anywhere, but did see the offending doberman behind the steel security grill on the opposite side of the alley. After staring down the dog for a few minutes, it shut up, and I could get back to sleep.

Sounds like you had the room that floods out in the rains Lower level in the very back? I got chased out of that room during a typhoon one time. Woke in the morning and we had about an inch of water in room. I remember waking up one night and roaming around the common area, I was still on USA central time. I was bored and couldn't sleep. Darn near stepped on the employee working the night shift, who was sleeping on a mat behind the pool table. It was the same girl who unlocked the gate and let me in at about 1 am after my flight arrival.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Sounds like you had the room that floods out in the rains Lower level in the very back? I got chased out of that room during a typhoon one time. Woke in the morning and we had about an inch of water in room. I remember waking up one night and roaming around the common area, I was still on USA central time. I was bored and couldn't sleep. Darn near stepped on the employee working the night shift, who was sleeping on a mat behind the pool table. It was the same girl who unlocked the gate and let me in at about 1 am after my flight arrival.

The bathroom is under the stairs? Yep, that one. The first room they gave us overlooked the front door and the snack bar. Huge room, but I wanted a queen bed (and a little more privacy), so they moved us the next day.

[Caryh 5,206]

The bathroom is under the stairs? Yep, that one. The first room they gave us overlooked the front door and the snack bar. Huge room, but I wanted a queen bed (and a little more privacy), so they moved us the next day.

Thats the room! Forgot about the CR under the stairs. Wonder if they ever corrected the flooding problem on that one? But then there was a typhoon when it happened, and you know Manila during typhoons, it could have been 3 feet of water

First time I ever stayed there I had this rather strange room. It had its own kitchen area that ran like an alley off the bedroom and along the CR. On the lower level if I remember correctly. I think my favorite room was one on the second level, nice super thick foam on the bed and pretty tall bed to. It was that foam that made it my favorite. Its really hard to find a decent bed in the Philippines. If I move there one day, kind of in the plans, I think I'll ship over a soft sided water bed mattress from the USA.

[StraightShooter 62]

So, it sounds like we need to be sure that my fiancee is in at least a 2nd floor unit, wherever she stays, because of potential flooding. I always prefer a 2nd floor room from a security standpoint anyway.