For people who need to stay in Manila for a few days either for business or leisure and are working on a tight budget, there are plenty of accommodation options available. One of these is Stay Malate Hostel.
House at a quite aged building, Stay Malate Hostel is located at the corner of Nakpil and Adriatico Streets in downtown Manila. Around it are restaurants, bars, convenience stores, and malls, including Robinsons Place Manila. Right behind the building is Salo Food Park, which offers an array of food options for late-night food cravings.
From the hostel, one could book a quick Grab or cab ride to anywhere in Manila. LRT rail line, jeepney, UV Express, and bus options are also within easy reach.
Walking in the hotel, one is greeted by all sorts of guests hanging around the premises: European backpackers, South Koreans, families with their children, overseas-bound Filipinos waiting for their flights, domestic tourists, and working professionals. The overall vibe is chill and laidback.
AMENITIES
Given the variety of its guests, Stay Malate Hostel offers different kinds of accommodations. Among these include dorm rooms, standard solo rooms, and family rooms. Some of the premium rooms come with airconditioner and own bathroom. Otherwise, guests have to make do with shared bathrooms.
The beds for the solo rooms are big enough to accommodate two people. Granted, space at this hostel is at a premium, so moving around the room is a bit of a challenge, given its relatively cramped shoebox layout.
The bed foam is soft, but the sheets and pillow cases are thin. Additionally, the strong scent of fabric conditioner greets you upon entering the room.
As for the hotel's bathrooms, they come in two types: shower with toilet, and separate toilet and shower stalls. Both types come with water heater, handwash soap, and steady supply of tissue rolls.
Those that come with both toilet and shower are obviously more spacious, but they are old and have seen better days. The separate toilet and shower stalls are relatively newer and brighter, but they are way too cramped for comfort.
Then again, bear in mind that Stay Malate Hostel is a budget hostel; essentially, you get what you pay for. The price for an overnight single bed in a 6-bed dormitory costs upwards of P200, while solo fan rooms start at P600. Room rates could go significantly cheaper when booked through sites such as Agoda.
DISADVANTAGES
Located right at the heart of Manila’s rowdy entertainment district, noise coming from nearby bars and joints could be heard from inside the hostel even during the wee hours of the morning. While not completely seedy, the immediate neighborhood is far from wholesome, with female sex workers lurking in groups, beggars and street children sleeping in alleys, and suspicious-looking men standing still in dark corners.
The hostel’s staff are generally friendly, except the guy leading the operations who does not hesitate to shout at and scold his staff even in front of guests. His rudeness can be very off-putting.
The hostel’s wifi may be accessed from the fifth flour lounge. But take note that Internet access is sporadic when you’re lucky and completely off if you’re not. There’s simply no way of telling when it would work.
As for the shared bathrooms, while they are generally clean for the most part, some of the guests manage to ruin things by either not flushing the toilet properly or making a mess. Proceed with caution.
OVERALL
Stay Malate Hostel is not a particularly bad option for those looking to find accommodation for a few days in Manila without breaking the bank. It’s not the exactly the Hilton, sure, but at competitive rates, one is hardpressed to find a similar hotel that offers the same services.
RATING: * * / * * * * *