In celebration of the Philippines’ 121st Independence Day, Department of Tourism invited me along with other bloggers and media staffs to the launched of the Vista Intramuros, a hop tour program which enabling hotel guests to experience the rich history of the Great Walls of Intramuros and the Grand Dane, the Manila Hotel.
Visita Intramuros Tour:
This is an exclusive tour that features the following attractions starting from The Manila Hotel:
A newly curated museum that houses the collections of the Manila Hotel that reflects the rich history of the Grand Dame.
Rate per night: PHP 400,000 / $7600
Home of General MacArthur during his tenure as the military advisor to the commonwealth government of the philippines from 1935-1941. It is decorated with rare paintings, photographs, Asian antiques and Filipino crafts.
It is well-known for its impeccable service and lavish decor. A favorite venue for elegant gatherings, it best embodies the Grand Dame’s decades of tradition and devotion in providing guests with only the finest dining experience.
Entrance Fee: Php 75/person
One of the oldest fortifications in Manila built in 1571 on the site of the native settlement of Rajah Soliman. It is notable for being the headquarters of the armies of several foreign powers in Philippine history, including the Spanish, British, Americans and the Japanese. Jose Rizal was also imprisoned here at the Fort while waiting for his execution.
Other attractions included in the tour, which can be found in the compound:
The newly-opened museum that houses the collections of the Intramuros Administration.
Image from Wikipedia
Entrance Fee: Php 75/person
Standing the test of time as a bulwark that defended not only its land but also the stories of the past. This historical concrete structure withstood cannon fires, earthquakes and the battle of Manila.
Entrance Fee: Php 100/person
The museum of the oldest distillery in the country features the actual process of making rum and whiskey, from fermentation to bottling.
Entrance Fee: Php 100/person
It is a museum that documents the history, lives and contribution of the ethnic Chinese in the Philippines. Chinese ceramics from the 10th to the 17th centuries stand as a testament to the maritime trade between China and the Philippines.
Image from Philippine Primer
Entrance Fee: P75/person
A colonial lifestyle museum which features the domestic life of the upper class in the 19th Century Philippines. The three-story building is a replica of the house of Binondo merchant Don Severino Mendoza
TOUR PACKAGE
The tour package may be booked with the Concierge department of The Manila Hotel. It is best experienced on a siklesa – a motor drawn kalesa. Tour prices start from Php2,250 with three options to choose from: vehicle with driver (Php2,550/Grandia; Php2,350/Innova; Php2,250/Siklesa*), vehicle with driver and guide (Php4,150/Grandia; Php3,950/Innova; Php3,850/Siklesa) and vehicle with driver, guide and an all-in-pass (Php8,775/Grandia; Php6,275/Innova; Php6,175/Siklesa). In-house guests will enjoy 15% discount off the tour prices, and also of the Filipino High Tea at the hotel’s lobby.
*The Siklesa is a motor-drawn kalesa with a design inspired by Philippine heritage, with contemporary technology added in for a smooth ride outdoors.
* Tour duration: Four (4) hours
Visita Intramuros is in line with the direction of the Department of Tourism to strengthen cultural tourism by expanding tourism products and engaging a specific market to increase revenue. Partnerships such as this is a testimony that the successful partnership of the private and public sectors is imperative to preserve and promote our heritage.
For more information, The Manila Hotel can be contacted at 527-0011
