The Ultimate Gay Travel Guide
The Gay Passport is your complete Gay Travel Guide. Looking to Drink, Play or Sleep we have reviews to help. Award-winning & Updated 2023.
Manila may be one of the best places on earth to book a gay-friendly 5-star hotel room. Here, luxury hotels are available for similar prices to a budget hotel in a major European city, so this is your chance to go all out. The city’s luxury hotels range from classic grandeur to more modern, designer options, and are mostly concentrated in Makati and on the waterfront. Whichever one you choose, you are guaranteed ultimate comfort, top-notch facilities, and unmatchable Filipino hospitality and a gay-friendly reception.
Manila may be known for its exceptionally good value luxury hotels, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of great budget gay-friendly hotels. If you don’t really need the frills, you can get a clean, modern, and comfortable room in a great central location for an excellent price. That said, many 3-star gay-friendly hotels in Manila have great facilities like swimming pools and gyms.
Almost all hotels in Manila could be described as gay-friendly. The hotels listed below are all popular with gay travelers to Manila with locations near local gay businesses or generally excelling in service and hospitality for LGBT+ guests.
While anti-discrimination laws for LGBT+ rights are lacking nationwide, Manila and other key cities have created non-discrimination ordinances offering limited protection to LGBT+ citizens. However, tourists visiting Manila are unlikely to encounter any hostility due to their sexuality.
Many LGBT travelers choose Malate as the district for them since it is within walking distance from Manila’s main sights such as Baywalk and Roxas Boulevard. The financial district of Manila in Makati offers many great hotels, along with shopping malls and restaurants, and is convenient for traveling around the city.
If you’re in town to party, look out for hotels that are near gay bars and venues in Malate and Quezon.
♥ Stylish, welcoming rooms with luxe amenities
♥ Residential suites with kitchenettes available
♥ Biggest (and possibly best) spa in the Philippines
♥ Awesome pool with see-through bottom
I’M Hotel is a fabulous recent addition to the Makati line-up of 5-star hotels, featuring sleek modern design in warm tones. Every room is bright and cozy, with high-class amenities like German Grohe rain showers and toiletries by Crabtree & Evelyn. The suites also include a well-equipped kitchenette, making them a perfect choice for longer stays. I’M Hotel stands out thanks to its cool acrylic-bottomed outdoor pool as well as its outstanding spa, the largest in the Philippines. Plus, the expansive international buffet restaurant is exceptional. I’M Hotel is one of Manila’s most booked luxury gay-friendly hotels.
Following Red Planet’s usual MO, this hotel offers simple, modern, unpretentious rooms at excellent value. Everything is clean and well-maintained, and all amenities are basic but high-quality. Staff are very friendly and attentive. Although gay venues have become thin on the ground in this part of the city, the location in trendy, leafy Makati is ideal for sightseeing and enjoying the neighborhood’s vibrant nightlife.
This budget hotel is located less than 5 minutes from the few gay nightlife spots left in Malate, such as Che’lu Bar and PILOTO Men’s Entertainment Bar, making it a popular gay hotel in Manila. The offering here is simple: clean, basic rooms with comfy beds, fast WiFi, and plenty of plug outlets. Staff are friendly and helpful, and there are plenty of cool bars and restaurants in the surrounding area. Great value for money if all you need is a nice bed to rest your head in.
This high-end resort features an original design by Filipino artists and reflects Sofitel’s usual commitment to blending classic French elegance with the local style. Every spacious room comes with a signature MyBed, quality amenities, and a private balcony with either a city or a bay view. A signature restaurant with 21 different food stations makes every meal unique, and a full suite of spa facilities and services will keep you pampered. The hotel’s highlight, however, is the huge free-form lagoon swimming pool, surrounded by tropical gardens and loungers.
Conrad Manila is part of the monumental SM Mall of Asia complex, making it an unmatchable choice if you are in town to make the most of Manila’s first-rate shopping. This chic Hilton hotel features relaxing white interiors and extremely well-appointed rooms, each with an espresso machine, set of Bluetooth speakers, and invigorating hydro shower – make sure to get a Bay View room if you can. There are a swanky bar and two on-site restaurants, one high-end Chinese and the other focusing on fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
Okada Manila is one of the standout hotel-casinos in Manila’s Entertainment City, the Phillipine’s answer to Vegas. The Okada complex includes a jaw-dropping 21 dining options covering every possible cuisine, a club, a luxury shopping center, three outdoor pools, full fitness and wellness facilities, a barbershop, and almost 1,000 guest rooms. These feature Japanese-inspired designs with rich colors, huge windows, and spacious layouts. Book one of the rooms with a spa bath for the ultimate indulgence, or go all-out in the Manila Bay Suite, which houses up to five people. One of the best stays in town.
Diamond Hotel benefits from a privileged position on Roxas Boulevard, Manila’s iconic waterfront promenade. Every room boasts a large amount of floor space, heavenly beds, classic decor in warm tones, and lovely bay windows – upgrade to an Executive Suite for even more room and views of the Bay. Both the International and Japanese on-site restaurants are delicious and gorgeously designed, and the large freeform swimming pool has perfect chilled-out tropical vibes. The Health Club includes a well-equipped gym, a spa, and even a reflexology studio.
Sheraton Manila Bay’s location – less than 5 minutes away from some of the only remaining gay bars in Malate (including long-standing favorite Che’lu Bar) – makes it a great luxury gay hotel in Manila. Formerly the Pan Pacific Manila, this hotel offers a range of classic rooms and suites, all with floor-to-ceiling windows, extra-large beds, and marble bathrooms with separate shower and tub. The outdoor pool and its surrounding terrace are extremely stylish, as is the laid-back Sunset Bar with city views.
Offering classic 5-star accommodations with elegant modern decor, Fairmont Makati is one of those hotels that get everything right. The rooms are spacious and exceedingly comfy, with extra-big plush beds and floor-to-ceiling windows. There’s a big pool, an expansive luxury spa, and an exceptionally pleasant and well-equipped gym that overlooks the city. The food is great, especially the breakfast buffet and the pastries at the cafe. To top it off, the staff are welcoming and friendly, helping you make the most of your stay.
Located in leafy Makati, this gay-friendly hotel offers a range of bright, airy, and spacious self-catered apartments. These range from studios to 3-bedroom apartments, the latter of which can house up to six people. In the larger apartments, full living amenities are provided, including a well-equipped kitchen with a stovetop, an oven, a dishwasher, and a washer and dryer, as well as cozy living and dining spaces. The decor is modern and soothing, in tones of beige and pale blue. Top-notch facilities include a restaurant, a spa, a large outdoor swimming pool, and a very good gym.
The Gay Passport is your complete Gay Travel Guide. Looking to Drink, Play or Sleep we have reviews to help. Award-winning & Updated 2023.