Mesaverte Studio by FB Suites

We liked how easy it was to get around during our 3-night stay. SM Downtown, Centrio, and Gaisano are all within walking distance, and the location is very good. The unit was okay, but the one we stayed in, tower 3, 9th floor, unit 9E, wasn’t very clean when we arrived. The AC was dusty, there weren’t enough towels on our first night, and there was no shower curtain. Many tiles on our floor were broken and still hadn’t been fixed. The swimming pool area toilet also smelled bad and needed better cleaning, since many people used it. It’s a good place to stay for the location, though cleanliness and maintenance could improve.

The unit was decent for our 1-night stay at Mesaverte Residences Tower 3, 4th floor unit 4Q, but safety and communication need attention, especially for guests with kids. The bedroom’s sliding balcony door didn’t have a working lock or safety lock, which is dangerous on the 4th floor with a child. The main door also needs an extra inside lock besides the doorknob. The extra foam mattress on the floor was deteriorating, with little bits coming off and scattered around. It should be replaced regularly, and the condiment containers need updating. Parking was hard to find because the slot number was only painted on the floor and difficult to see while driving. More visible markings on walls or signs would help. Check-in was confusing and took about 40 minutes. I didn’t know all guest IDs had to be submitted online before arrival. Agoda chat had errors when I tried to contact the host after booking. On check-in day, the guard at the front desk required an online endorsement from the owner. We called and texted the numbers provided without getting a response, but when we asked that guard for help, the owner answered their calls. Communication eventually happened through Yahoo Mail, but details such as the PIN code, driver’s name, and car information came one at a time instead of in one clear set of instructions. The place has potential, and functional child-safe locks, cleaner kitchen items, better parking markings, and complete instructions sent ahead would make the stay much smoother.

The smell of piss hit us as soon as we arrived at Goff’s place, booked through Booking.com at T24F. The freezer had some strange stuff in it, and one of the beds was filthy. The owner said the pull-out bed hadn’t been prepared because the booking was for 2 persons, though the listing didn’t say that. I booked partly because we needed 2 beds. The supposedly clean bed was only twin size, meant for one person or 2 children, so how could I comfortably share it with another 5’10 adult? We were exhausted after a day of activities in Bukidnon and didn’t have the energy to find somewhere else. I bought bleach to make the bathroom smell tolerable and tried sleeping on a bench, not even a sofa. I couldn’t sleep well enough to do what we planned on our last day, and had to rebook my flight. The owner was also very slow to send access instructions, which I should have taken as a warning, but the booking was non-refundable. I asked for at least half my money back, even though we’d stayed the night, but the owner kept making excuses. Do not book this place.

The unit was spotless, the bed was comfy, the A/C was at just the right temperature, and the bathroom was very clean. I also liked having Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube on the TV. It felt like a home away from home during my solo tour of CDO, Camiguin and Bukidnon. The condo complex is right in the middle of CDO’s key landmarks, including Agora Terminal, SM CDO Downtown, Limketkai Center and Ayala Centrio. There’s also a pasalubong center and a 7/11 within walking distance, handy for tourists looking for food. The hotel staff were accommodating and helped me through check-in when my paperwork was delayed. I’d stay here again if I return to CDO soon. Highly recommended.