Dusit Thani Residence Davao

The room itself was spacious, clean, and beautifully finished. That’s the one positive I can offer. For the price and the Dusit name, the rest was a serious letdown. Check-in took almost 30 minutes. There were more than ten guests in line and only two people at the desk, each taking about five minutes, while bellboys and greeters stood around with nothing to do. The receptionists looked exhausted and unhappy, as if they were left to handle the whole front of house alone. There was no face towel or hand towel, just one regular towel. Even smaller, cheaper hotels provide a full set, so there’s no excuse at a five star hotel like Dusit. Outside the window were two lifeless pigeons, and the view beyond them was a gas station with huge fuel tanks and tanker trucks. The windows don’t open, which was fortunate because the smell would have made the room unbearable. For a property at this price under this brand, none of this is acceptable. Dusit management needs to see this and take it seriously.

The Bicol express on my last night was perfect, and the breakfast buffet was well done. Staff really try to please, and they handled several small issues quickly and professionally. My room was a bit dated but spacious, with a very comfortable bed. The clean fitness center felt modern and cool, and the pool view was beautiful. This is the place to stay in Davao.

The staff were attentive and did their best, but after a 3 day stay I can’t see this as a 4.5 star hotel. To me it’s 3 star, given how dilapidated it is. About 80% of the premises feels worn and dated, and the hotel needs a refurb and deep clean. The room had a broken aircon when we arrived. Other leaking aircon units leave chairs in the breakfast dining room soaked. The old room phones are extremely hard to use and have no dial tone. There are no USB ports, no smart TV, and the place is completely unmodernised. I’ve stayed in more modern 3 stars all over Asia. The shower floor was oily, slippery, and uncleaned. We had the most expensive room available, and one of the main views from several windows was a hotel completely covered in pigeons and pigeon poo. Its balconies were thickly coated too. A pressure wash and some bird deterrents would go a long way. It’s a truly apocalyptic view. The owners and management should be ashamed to let the outside get this dirty in full view of paying guests.

The room was comfortable, clean, and nicely designed, so it felt relaxing throughout our stay. DusitD2 Davao has a modern, stylish feel, and we enjoyed the hospitality and attention to detail. The staff were warm and helpful from check-in through check-out, and they took care of requests promptly. We had a very satisfying visit and would gladly recommend it to anyone coming to the city. We’d be happy to return.