The Apo View

The location is excellent and the staff were friendly. Breakfast coffee was the best part. But the water pressure kept changing, so watch out around the toilet. I asked the front desk twice about it and nobody came. The linens were worn, which I could live with, but there were two cockroach families in the room and another big one in the lobby. The Wi-Fi really teaches you patience. Fine for events, but not for business travelers.

Right in downtown Davao, the hotel has a modern, luxurious feel and is popular with casino visitors, jazz fans, and groups, companies, and families gathering in larger numbers. Roxas Night Market and plenty of other landmarks and businesses are nearby. There’s also a restaurant, cafe, bar, and Casino Filipino inside, among other businesses. I had an excellent stay.

The location was convenient, and the friendly, welcoming staff made our family stay comfortable and memorable. The pool area needs better maintenance and some improvements, while parts of the rooms and shared spaces feel dated and could use renovation or modern touches. With upgrades to the facilities and amenities, Apo View Hotel could better match its history and reputation. We still had a pleasant stay and hope to see those improvements.

We checked in around 2 PM, but the start was disappointing. There were several people at reception and the process still dragged on. It felt like international guests got more attention than local visitors, which was upsetting. Nobody offered to help with our bags when we arrived, either, something I’d expect at a four-star hotel. The room wasn’t what we’d booked online. We were put in an outdated, dusty room on the seventh floor. The air conditioning seemed old and broken, with a makeshift knob attached to control it. The paint was yellowed, and even the bathtub looked like it had been repainted to cover the wear. The room felt neglected and should be closed for renovation. Nobody should have to stay in a room like that. They moved us to a better room after we asked, but service remained poor. When we asked for help with our luggage, the bellboy said there was no trolley. It was just the two of us, so he could have carried the bags, but our request for assistance was declined. Something is clearly wrong with the service. Breakfast was disappointing too, with few options and lower quality than we expected. This experience has made me think twice about staying in hotels, and I’ll probably choose Airbnb in the future. I’m giving Apple View Hotel one star and won’t return.