After spending an unfortunately disappointing night at a heritage hotel that is Orchid Garden Suites, it was time to check out and spend in the night in a more modern hotel just to experience the contrast from my admittedly somewhat disappointing though lovely experience at the said hotel.
Fortunately, Orchid Garden Suites is just a walk away from the mass transit line so I took two trains before I ended up in the middle of busy Cubao district in Quezon City and check in at the newest hotel to open in the area.
A Hotel at the Heart of Cubao
I would be spending the night at Ibis Styles Manila Araneta City, a fairly new hotel which opened in February 2025. This is the first hotel to open in the Philippines to open under the Ibis Styles brand, the economy hotel brand of Accor Hotels. If you are not familiar with Accor Hotels, they actually have quite a storied and established presence in the country, thanks to its hotel brands such as Novotel (which incidentally has a presence in Araneta City as well), Fairmont and Raffles (both having a presence in Makati), Sofitel (which used to have a presence in Pasay), Mercure, and Movenpick.
Despite being a young hotel, in such a short time, it has grown to be a popular hotel in this part of the metropolis. Part of the reason, perhaps the most important one for the hotel’s popularity is its location. It sits right at the heart of Cubao and the Araneta City district, right beside the storied Smart Araneta Coliseum and in the middle of the recently expanded Gateway Mall. And this proximity is laid out in a very convenient way that you don’t need to go outside the hotel and walk a few meters to go to those places. Rather, the hotel is interconnected with these two establishments such that one can go between the hotel and the mall and coliseum without having to go outdoors. To put it in a way, the hotel, the malls (both Gateway Mall and Farmers Plaza), the coliseum, even New Frontier Theatre are combined to form this one huge entertainment complex that is the heart of Araneta City and Cubao.
It also helps that it is an affordable hotel to stay in, despite being part of a hotel group that has many premium brands. Then again, there are many more affordable options in and around Cubao. So what does Ibis Styles Manila Araneta City going for aside from its brand name and the hotel group backing it? This Roamer was about to find out.
More Than Meets the Eye
If you look at the facade of Ibis Styles Manila Araneta City, one might be forgiven to think it looks unimpressive. After all, there is not much to say about the hotel’s exterior as just a plain gray building that dashed with colored lines just to make it “unique”.
You can imagine the contrast the moment you step inside the hotel. That dull gray building with colors actually evokes a fun and more colorful vibe inside with the bright lights and colorful interiors that young and “young at heart” guests can well appreciate.
And while the hotel is fairly new, Ibis Styles Manila Araneta City also honors the history and heritage of Cubao, especially of the Smart Araneta Coliseum. For instance, some seats were made in the shape of boxing gloves, referencing the many boxing matches held in the Big Dome. Of course, the most famous of which is the match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in 1975, the Thrilla in Manila which itself is commemorated in the hotel.
In addition, the images and artworks found in common areas of the hotel and in the rooms evoke the coliseum itself and different events held there throughout its history, from the concerts to the sporting events. And if you have a keen eye, you will notice that the hotel’s front desk resemble that of a flight case (or maybe it actually is one), the large trunks used to carry equipment to be used for a live performance like the ones regularly held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. There are also some items related to cinema, a reference to the old cinematic heritage of Cubao.
The lobby itself, while not as large as other hotels, is cozy and there is actually a dedicated lounge of sorts where one can do some work away from home or the office desk, apart from the cafe on the opposite side.
Thoughtful Touches
In contrast to the room I stayed in at Orchid Garden Suites, the standard room at Ibis Styles Manila Araneta City is quite compact. That being said, it has the same colorful design and a unique room layout that has the sink located outside the toilet area. That aside, the room is cozy and the bed is really comfortable. It managed to pack in a lot of elements in such a compact space from a study desk to mini fridge and a wardrobe cabinet.
What I really appreciate about this hotel is its commitment to sustainability. This may be a seen as trivial but I like the fact that they have a water bottle in the room that you can use to fill it with water at a water station located along the hotel floor corridor. Not all hotels offer that feature and as someone who consumes a hefty amount of water each day, this is very much appreciated and should be available in all hotels.
A View at the Top
The hotel offers a gym, restaurant, and some meeting spaces where events can be held, standard hotel amenities. But Ibis Styles Manila Araneta City takes things a notch higher by having a bar and swimming pool right on the topmost level of the hotel, things you shouldn’t expect from a supposedly “budget” hotel . Sure the bar and pool is not as large but it offers an impressive view of the metropolis skyline which is delightful to see both day and night.
While there are many budget hotel options in Cubao, the Urban Roamer is confident in saying that Ibis Styles Manila Araneta City stands out from the rest. Everything about it from its connectivity to the design to the little touches makes this hotel a nice place to stay at in the midst of the busyness and chaos of this part of the metropolis. For all that this hotel has to offer, it provides a great values for your money and I would not hesitate recommending it to anyone who seeks value and accessibility and much more than you can expect for a hotel of this budget class.
For more information and for reservations, visit the Ibis Styles Manila Araneta City website
