Campion's Place

The rooms were clean, the beds comfortable, the air conditioning worked, and the beach was a 5 minute walk away. With a few basic fixes, such as linens, running water, and toilet seats, and by removing amenities it no longer provides, the property could set fair expectations and a 2 star rating. But what we encountered was far from what the listing promised. The listing said the property was renovated in 2022. If so, the owners should ask for their money back. The place was clean but falling apart, which might have been forgivable, perhaps as a 1 1/2 star property, if it hadn’t been advertised with offerings that didn’t exist. There was no WIFI, no safe luggage storage, and no bottled or safe drinking water, even for brushing teeth. Luggage was left in a pile behind a half-open, unmanned front desk. The swimming pool wasn’t working. Even if it had been, it was tiny, about 8 ft x 14 ft and 2 1/2 ft deep, too small to dive into or swim laps in. The pool bar and karaoke room and machine didn’t work either. There was only a very basic breakfast of rice, eggs, and fish or meat, no full restaurant or expansive a la carte menu. Hot water was unavailable, and only some rooms had limited, low-pressure shower water. Guests in other rooms got a plastic bucket to bathe from a spigot. Some toilets had no seats, the beds had no blankets or comforters, and there was no dining room or shared indoor area. The only gathering space was plastic chairs and tables beside mosquito-filled, fetid pool water. There was no gift or convenience shop, laundry service, or daily housekeeping. The owner didn’t return our calls at check-in and refused to cancel or refund the stay, saying we had accepted welcome drinks, which we were neither offered nor given, and eaten the complimentary breakfast, which some of our group tried on a couple of days. This is deplorable. A property that delivers only 10% of what it advertises shouldn’t be supported.

Our stay was disappointing, with issues affecting comfort and convenience throughout. The room on the 3rd floor had poor ventilation, the air conditioner couldn’t cool the whole space, and the electric fan didn’t help. Water pressure was low, and twice there was no water during morning showers, including when we were getting ready for early flights. Staff smoked inside, leaving the smell throughout the building, which was inconsiderate to non-smokers and people with respiratory issues. We’d been told the hotel was a short 5-minute walk from Station 1, but the steep path felt like climbing a mountain, especially with luggage. Even tricycle drivers charged more because of the uphill location. We had confirmed late check-in after telling the hotel about our delayed flight, but were still charged an unexpected PHP 1,000 when we arrived. We were also charged PHP 50 to heat food in the microwave, which we think should be a basic amenity. The complimentary breakfast was disappointing too: on the first morning, the corned beef was uncooked. Before booking, we specifically asked if the internet was stable, but there was no internet access at all during our 4-day stay. Offering a prepaid modem at extra cost wasn’t a satisfactory or convenient solution for travellers who rely on internet for work or communication.

After paying in full for 3 rooms for 3 nights almost a month in advance, and staying in touch with the hotel consistently for days and weeks before our arrival, we were met with a series of problems. They stopped replying to calls and texts a few days before our trip. We still went because the hotel had confirmed a few weeks earlier that everything was all set. When we arrived, the pool was trash and disgusting. They said its pump had broken just 4 days earlier, but never told us, even though we’d been very clear that we needed a pool for the kids. We’d also requested early check-in ahead of time but got no reply. That part was okay, except there was no proper receiving area, no suitable fans or chairs for seniors and kids, and they wanted us to wait 2 hours in front of the smelly pool. They said the wifi reached only the first floor. I asked if I could connect because I needed to get help from the Boracay Tourism Center. The receptionist let me use her phone hotspot and said the wifi was broken. I can’t explain how disappointed we felt. When we tried calling the manager, the receptionist said she was in Manila in a meeting and hung up on us. The receptionist said the manager had also cancelled her call. The receptionist was literally non-chalant and didn’t help us at all. Our rooms were supposed to be on the 1st, second, and third floors. We asked if we could have rooms next to each other, but were told it wasn’t possible because someone else had checked in. We didn’t see anyone else there. We went to complain at the Boracay Tourism Center, where they responded quickly and were really helpful. Big shout out to Ms. Denise and the whole team. Ms. Denise came back to the hotel with us. We eventually reached the manager and Agoda, and they agreed to refund the full price in 30 business days. Luckily, we found a super chill and nice hotel right away, The Sitio Suites, just walking distance from Coco Mama, near grotto. Just a heads up to everyone. AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COST!!!! NEVER AGAIN!!!

Getting up that hill was a bit of a workout at 60, lol. Still, the hotel is older but kept in good shape, and the staff were great.