Limketkai Luxe Hotel

The pool was great, and the staff were incredibly nice and friendly. I stayed in two different rooms, both clean, though the furniture looked old and worn. A couple of shower tiles were loose.

The buffet breakfast had lots to choose from, from pancakes to rice, with hot and cold drinks. The pool is open until 11 pm, which is a real plus. It's crescent-shaped, with a small round pool for kids, towels provided, and changing rooms available. I was very satisfied with the stay and felt it was worth the price. Check-in was quick and smooth after a small hassle filling in the form. They X-ray your luggage for safety. The room was very clean, with a spot to relax or work, a comfy bed, fresh-smelling linen, and a bathtub in the shower area. The iron had burn marks that transferred onto my clothes. The cable TV wasn't set up automatically, but staff helped us right away. I wish bathrobes were provided.

Breakfast was superb, and the pool at night was a very good experience. The water was warm, and the new evening lights made the area pleasant. Luxe Hotel has good facilities, but our stay also exposed clear gaps in service. The room service handoff felt inattentive: our food was left inside the table cabinet, and we were simply told to get it there. I'd expect a proper setup or at least a more helpful handoff. When I accidentally brought the card meant only to power the room, I asked the concierge for help and was sent to the front desk. They then called that same concierge to take me to the elevator. If that's the protocol, fine, but the process could have been more efficient and proactive. At check-in, our first room was very hot because the air conditioner didn't work. The TV was also out, and the room phone couldn't call the front desk, so we reported everything using a mobile number. Maintenance came to inspect, then said someone else still had to check it. After about 30 minutes in the room, we asked to move, and the hotel accommodated us. We treated it as an unusual incident, but it made for a poor first impression. The two-card arrangement was another inconvenience. One card powered the room; the other opened the elevator and facilities. There wasn't an extra card to make access easier when guests needed to go separately. We were told the hotel was full, but the setup still didn't meet expectations for a hotel of this standard. Some staff seemed new, which might explain a few lapses, but better supervision and accountability are needed. Front desk coordination, room readiness, concierge initiative, and consistency all need attention.

KaVe's manager Mark prepared and served our salads right at the table, customizing them from pepper to Parmesan. He's the kind of staff member who makes The Luxe feel like the only place to stay in CDO. The restaurant is open all hours, and the staff are great. The lobby feels lively and energetic, like being in Europe or the U.S. Porters and bellmen are very professional, the concierge knows their job, and the front desk is competent and professional. For me, it's the only first-class hotel in Mindanao outside Davao. Six stars out of five.