The location is excellent, and some of the higher up rooms offer great views, but this hotel is badly in need of a renovation. The room designs and fittings are all very dated; it does not look like they have renovated anything other than the lobby since the 90s.
Moreover, the hotel has a very moldy smell throughout. I really did not feel comfortable in the room or at the hotel. I wouldn't stay here unless you were very cost conscious and you haven't been able to find anything better in the area which would surprise me. I should also make note of an unfortunate incident that occurred at the hotel after I left. After my stay, I ended up moving into an apartment across the street.
In April , I returned from work to find the street blocked off with police cars everywhere. It turned out that the local owner and the foreign owner of the hotel was embroiled in a dispute. The foreign owner sent armed guards to evict the staff, and apparently one of the hotel guards accidentally shot another guard in the leg.
You can confirm this incident with a Google search. The incident lead to a stand-off between security staff in the hotel and outside police for several days. At this point I believe all guests had left, but it was hairy business, with rumors swirling that the cops would be leading an operation into At this point I believe all guests had left, but it was hairy business, with rumors swirling that the cops would be leading an operation into the joint.
At some point, most of the hotels lobby windows got smashed and boarded up. The hotel did not open again for several months, but once it did, you wouldn't have thought anything happened. Everything as normal. It is what you make of it. Security guards in the Philippines are often well armed with little training. Shootings, accidental or otherwise, occur any time guns are around - and you will notice armed security guards at most public places in the Philippines.
