Hotel Grande

This was the second time we came to Hotel Grande for the buy one, take one Margarita happy hour, listed on the website from 4pm - 6pm on the 5th floor, and the second time we were told it wasn’t available. The first time, they apologized and said the promotion was still available. We told them then to update the website if it wasn’t, since we’d come especially for the deal and the listing was misleading. This visit, nobody was on the 5th floor when we arrived. We went down to the lobby to say we were there to eat, then waited about 10 minutes for someone to come. They told us the promotion wasn’t available, even though the website still listed it alongside the buffets. We asked for a manager and got the same answer. We won’t return. It’s disappointing to see this level of service at a supposedly nice hotel. Either something is out of stock, or the menu and website aren’t accurate. They should honor the promotion people came for or take it off the site, and treat guests with more respect.

The room had only two sockets, four plug ins total: one for the TV and the other conveniently near the closet. They require adapters. The CR was great, and both breakfast and the dinner buffet were good.

We’re looking forward to returning to Hotel Grande. We moved here after finding our first hotel in Camp John Hay substandard: it wasn’t ready on time, had no HVAC system apart from a window, and didn’t offer free breakfast. Hotel Grande deserves a 4.8 out of 5, and I’d recommend it to travelers looking for style at a modest price. The rooms are modern, very clean, and quiet compared with other hotels. They have a modern wall mounted HVAC system. The hotel exterior has a modern look, and it’s near Camp John Hay. Staff were helpful and met our expectations. Free buffet breakfast is served on the top, eighth floor, with a view over Baguio. That restaurant also serves dinner, and the dinner buffet is good if you want to eat in and pay out of pocket. Guests can invite others to eat at any of the restaurants. There’s a Japanese restaurant on the second floor with great Japanese food. On the first floor there’s a restaurant serving pastries and coffee. Hotel Grande also offers a nice Asian style lunch buffet, and the fifth floor has an outdoor patio bar open in the afternoon. Taxis pass the hotel about every 10 minutes and can take you anywhere in Baguio for a reasonable price. There are also conference rooms for business meetings.

The view is nice, with lots of greenery and a glimpse of SM Baguio. The staff were friendly and courteous. I tried the breakfast buffet, and the menu felt limited, more like something suited to complimentary meals for hotel guests. It’s one of the pricier buffets in town, yet the food selection didn’t seem good for that price. I haven’t tried lunch or dinner, but I suspect they may be similar. Would I eat here again? Maybe once a year.