For the last day of our recent trip to the Philippines, we opted to stay at a hotel near the airport so we could conveniently take a Grab car to catch our flight back to Tokyo the following day. However, since there weren’t many hotels near NAIA Terminal 1, we ended up choosing a hotel near another terminal. We booked a room at Belmont Hotel Manila, located in Newport City, near Terminal 3.

Due to a couple of hours’ delay on our flight from Davao, we arrived at the hotel past 11 p.m. We cleared the x-ray machine at the hotel entrance and proceeded to the concierge for check-in. It was a bit odd to find an x-ray machine at a hotel, but the staff was courteous and the process was smooth—we got our room key cards in no time. So far, so good.

We took the elevator to our seventh-floor room and were pleasantly surprised to find it clean, fragrant, and just the right size for the two of us. Living in Tokyo, we were used to tiny business hotels, so this was a delightful change. Since we were only on the seventh floor, we didn’t expect much of a view—and true enough, when we opened the curtains, we were greeted by a large cross illuminated in neon blue, right outside. We were situated next to a big church.

Those curtains were staying closed.

We were a little hungry, and since most of the better restaurants in the area had already closed, we opted for a quick bite at McDonald’s, conveniently located next to the hotel. However, we were surprised to find that the streets of Newport City—despite being a relatively new development—weren’t particularly pedestrian-friendly. Simply getting to McDonald’s involved navigating narrow sidewalks and even walking through side streets with passing cars.

Next to McDonald’s was the entrance to the walkway leading to Terminal 3, but even that wasn’t pedestrian-friendly. It felt like a missed opportunity not to extend the walkway to nearby hotels and establishments—it just ends abruptly after the highway. This area is definitely built for cars.

Fortunately, the mushroom pepper steak meal at McDonald’s was quite enjoyable. It came with an extra serving of rice, which we didn’t really need, but we ended up finishing it anyway since it couldn’t be removed from the set. It’s a shame they don’t sell that particular meal in Tokyo—it would have become a staple for us.

We then walked over to Newport World Resorts. Family had told us the movie theater there was open 24 hours, so we were hoping other shops might be open as well. Upon entering, we were greeted by a band playing near the entrance to what appeared to be the casino. Very Filipino. Since we’re not casino enthusiasts, we skipped that part and explored the rest of the mall.

As it was already past 11 p.m., most of the shops were closed, though there were still people walking around. A few restaurants and cafes remained open on the upper floors. We could tell the mall was designed to be more ostentatious than usual—but by “ostentatious,” I mean in a Vegas kind of way, so whether that’s your thing is up to you. Not exactly our style, but still interesting to see and explore.

The first floor features a large casino area and a stage where live bands perform—the music could be heard throughout the mall. There were shops too, though mostly the expensive, touristy kind. The upper floors had more shops and restaurants, and the top floor—I believe the fourth—housed the movie theaters, which were indeed open 24 hours.

We were already full, most of the shops were closed, we’re not the casino-going type, and we didn’t feel like watching a movie that late. So we decided to walk back to the hotel and call it a night.

We slept well, woke up around 9 a.m., and went down for the breakfast buffet. There was already a short line forming, but we didn’t have to wait long and were seated quickly. The food was good, plentiful, and included Filipino favorites like biko and lugaw. We liked it, and were glad we had opted to include breakfast.

We checked out around 11 and reserved a Grab car to NAIA Terminal 1. The hotel driveway was a bit crowded at that hour, so we had to cross the street in front of the hotel to reach our car. Thankfully, the hotel staff was helpful and assisted us with our luggage. We wanted to give a tip, but as soon as he loaded our bags, he left quickly—so I guess he wasn’t expecting one. Thumbs up to him.

It was a twenty-minute drive, and just like that, we were on our way back to Tokyo.

Originally, our plan was to arrive early at the hotel so we could spend the evening exploring Newport City, eating good food, and maybe having drinks—a little date night. But things didn’t go quite as planned. Our flight was delayed, Newport City wasn’t as walkable as we’d hoped, and most of the shops were closed by the time we got there.

Maybe next time, we’ll schedule an earlier flight and just stay in BGC, which is said to be pedestrian-friendly and is currently the place to be in Metro Manila. The airport is always just a Grab ride away, anyway.

Next time.