Hotel Fenson

The rusty smell from the sink and shower taps was a concern. I don't know if it came from the pipes or from them being used infrequently, but it might not be ideal for a long stay. The soap they provided didn't smell nice, so it was good we brought our own. Blackout curtains would have been useful. I didn't ask, though, and they may be available on request like the shower curtain. The central location was a plus, between SM City Clark/Airport and Ayala Marquee Mall. Some people find the place rundown, but I liked its charming look, especially the paintings by Bert Young in the 2nd floor hallway. (Whoever you are, jjang!!) It's only two floors, which made carrying multiple or large luggages easy. We stayed in Room 211. It was quiet from dawn until morning, so we slept peacefully. There were a few vehicles outside, but that's unavoidable. There were about 7 electric outlets in the room and one in the bathroom near the sink, though be careful of water splashes. A water heater was available, and they provided a hair blower on request. WiFi was very fast, just a little slow late at night, and the per-night price felt worth it. From reservation through checkout, things went smoothly. The staff were responsive and attentive to what we asked for.

The restaurant served good food, the room was clean and spacious, and the neighborhood was quiet. The people working here were friendly and ready to help. It felt safe, and the price was good! I really don't get what people are complaining about.

During our Christmas stay, we were kept waiting even though we arrived before 2 PM so we could check in on time. The room wasn't ready, and we didn't get in until 2:15 PM. The towels hadn't arrived either. We followed up several times and waited around three hours to receive them, and then the poor quality towels left fluff everywhere. Noise from the room upstairs was really loud when we tried to rest. We were told we'd move once another room was available, but nobody updated us and it never happened. There's no phone in the room, so every concern meant going to the front desk. We skipped swimming because the pool didn't look clean at all. We'd looked forward to the trip, especially Christmas, and had stayed here a couple of times before. The only problem on those visits had been rooms that didn't get cool enough, but this time was much worse. I used to think the hotel was okay and had even recommended it to friends. After this stay, we're not sure we'll come back.

Our cousin's birthday plans fell apart here. We’d booked and paid in full months ahead, but when we arrived, the hotel had given our room to someone else. Such a stressful hassle. I’d give zero stars if I could.