The Paragon Hotel And Restaurant

I slept fine during my three nights here. The air conditioner smelled a little funky, and one tiny bug would show up at the sink at night, but neither was a deal breaker. Staff were friendly and accommodating, and the hotel has its own uniformed security from both public and private offices. They take cash only, and breakfast choices are very limited.

The room was clean and the bed was comfortable, so it’s okay if all you need is a place to sleep. For a frequent traveler like me, though, the price just isn’t worth it. They charge too much for what you get. There was no internet connection anywhere, in or outside the room. They gave us the site and password, but it never worked. The TV wasn’t high definition or high resolution, had only five channels, mostly Filipino, and HBO was the only foreign one, showing very old movies. There’s no refrigerator either. The room might look cozy at first, but the closet was missing door pieces. A scent diffuser sat by the bed, but I wouldn’t move it because it seemed to be covering a dog smell. One bed had a comforter, while the other had only a thin blanket. The bathroom door had no lock, and renovation debris was still on the floor. I stepped on two small black pieces. There was mold on the sink and toilet bowl, ants along the walls and sink, and no hot water.

I ended up not bathing at all during my stay because there was no hot shower. I wouldn’t have minded if they didn’t have one, but even a clean bucket of warm water would have let guests get a much-needed warm wash before bed. The bedrooms need updating and the pipes need repairs too. This is one of the worst hotels I’ve stayed in, and I won’t return when I’m in Cotobato.

The rooms were clean and comfortable, and the staff were very accommodating. The place was easy to find.