Royal J Hotel

The suites were comfortable, stylish, and well maintained, and the lobby made a nice first impression. The staff were really friendly and welcoming. Royal J Hotel is very handy if you need to be near IT Park. A couple of small drawbacks: none of the rooms have bidets, and they provide bath gel instead of bar soap. Still a solid option near the city center.

We got our ₱1,000 deposit back in the end, and staff apologized and signed the checkout form. But this was the worst hotel experience we've had, and the staff urgently need retraining. We checked in around 3 PM on November 20, took a quick bath, then left around 5 PM to meet teammates, have dinner, and attend the Hillsong London concert at Waterfront Hotel. We didn't inspect the room or sheets. We got back at around 1 AM, exhausted and sleepy. Once in bed, we noticed a dark blue stain on the sheet. It smelled freshly washed, and it looked like an old stain. I was pregnant and worn out, so I didn't take a photo or report it. I just wanted to sleep after the long day and concert. Checkout took an unusually long time. After we followed up several times, the front desk said they had a “concern” about the sheet. I told them I'd seen the stain the night before but hadn't minded because I was so tired after arriving at 1 AM. The laundry man then returned with the sheet wet and claimed we'd deliberately covered and folded it. That couldn't have happened: the bed was huge, the fitted sheet was never removed, and we hadn't touched it. Staff called the housekeepers, who insisted their policy meant they'd never put on a stained sheet. One staff member even said “magabaan daw mi.” They judged us while their supposed investigation was still underway. The concert we'd attended was songs about Jesus. The manager told us to take the sheet and wash it ourselves. We refused to pay for something we hadn't caused and said they should have told us as soon as they checked the room. We were trying to catch our Oceanjet ticket to Bohol. Our mistake was not reporting or photographing the stain because we were exhausted, but that didn't make us responsible for it. Check the room and everything in it, including the sheets, as soon as you arrive, even if you're tired. Without a photo, it's one person's word against another, since there's no CCTV in the rooms. I worry that an honest guest could still be blamed if staff have a setup or “modus.”

The staff were polite and nice, and the bed was big and comfortable. I wish they'd provide at least two pillows. The bathroom had tissue but no bidet, so we asked for a balde and tabo to wash ourselves, since we're not used to using tissue that way. The lobby was hot and had no air conditioning. Breakfast was plated, and you were expected to eat whatever they served; the coffee wasn't brewed.

We booked several non-refundable nights but left after the first because of so many problems. The room was spacious, which was about the only good thing. The bathroom drain smelled awful, there was no light in the shower, and the fan was so loud we had to switch it off to sleep. Curtains let in the morning sun, so by 5 AM the room was bright enough to show the dusty floor. There was no ventilation in the hallways, elevator, or lobby unless guests complained. The TV and box buzzed constantly and switched off at random, and the outlets were nearly impossible to use. A ₱500 deposit for an extra key card didn't help: it still failed, so I had to walk back to reception drenched in sweat. The fridge was tiny and didn't cool, and the slippers had been reused, which felt unhygienic. The restaurant only had overpriced Chinese seafood, with no other choices. There was no staff in the garage, and parts were flooded, with buckets catching leaks. We parked in a space and were then told to move because it was “the owner's.” This place isn't ready for people who care about comfort, hygiene, or basic things working. I wouldn't recommend it.