Holiday Inn Cebu City by IHG

Ayala Center is close enough to walk to, which made the location handy for shopping and food. I booked Hop Inn Hotel Cebu City through Agoda at a very good rate. The room was bright, clean, and looked well cared for, and the bed was comfortable. The pillows were softer than I like, and some hallway sounds came through since the rooms aren’t fully soundproof. I’d happily come back for a short city trip.

Hot water came with strong pressure, and the staff had no problem bringing extra towels or toilet paper or doing daily cleaning when I asked. The Terraces Ayala mall is walkable, and there’s a 7-11 next door for ice and snacks. I believe this is owned by Holiday Inn, which is next door and costs more. A few minor drawbacks: no fridge or hand towels, though they gave me extra body towels; the shower had no handheld head, room temperature was hard to control, and Wi-Fi was spotty. The hallway carpet looked like it had never been updated.

Other services were okay, but the lack of emergency transport to the hospital was a serious problem for us. On December 11, my mother had a stroke after returning to her room past 9 PM. My family had to take a cab to the emergency room, about 10 minutes after the stroke. She passed away two days later. The doctor said that in cases like this, brain death can happen within minutes, so an urgent response matters most. I feel that’s what the hotel lacked.

I keep coming back to Hop Inn Hotel Cebu when I’m in town for fun runs. Ayala Center Cebu is within walking distance, and having a 7-Eleven in the building is handy for quick essentials. The rooms are clean and comfortable, simple and practical rather than fancy. I also know what to expect because the Hop Inns I’ve stayed at all feel much the same. It’s a reliable, affordable option with a convenient location.