Hotel Galleria

There’s a great buffet here, and at Peso 299 per person it’s easy on the wallet. The rooms are spacious enough and the beds comfortable. The location is great too, with supermarkets, grocery stores, and eateries nearby, plus the bar-hopping street within walking distance.

Check-in was quick, and the staff were friendly. The room was big, clean, and didn’t smell. It has a flat-screen TV with YouTube and newer channels, and the hotel is affordable with fast-food places close by. The look is a bit dated, with a 90s feel. The aircon is also old and noisy, though it works. The toilet needs improvement, including the sink’s water pressure and possibly newer toilets and showers. There’s no elevator, so I wouldn’t recommend it if you have big luggage and need to use the stairs. They charge extra for stains on beds, sheets, towels, and so on. I found ink marks on the sheet that I hadn’t made, since I didn’t have a pen or marker with me. I took photos in case they tried to charge me for them. I hope they don’t wrongly bill guests for stains that were already there and cause them headaches.

The staff were generally nice, helpful, hardworking, and trustworthy, and I appreciated their service. The receptionist was kind too, but often looked sleepy and not very alert, which didn’t seem professional. There are a lot of things to address. The building clearly needs renovation, and there was no landline in the room. That worries me for emergencies or when a guest needs help right away. The amenities were lacking too: no bidet, no toothbrush or toothpaste, very thin, overused bath towels, and dirty carpets that felt unpleasant. Even for a smaller, older property, basic comfort and hygiene matter. This was our first hotel check-in on our first trip to Davao. I’ve stayed in 3- to 5-star hotels before, so I had higher expectations, and what should have been a relaxing visit became a challenge. I had to keep redirecting myself mentally to make the most of it. There’s potential if management takes these issues seriously and invests in renovation and better amenities. Until then, future guests should be prepared. I hope improvements are on the way.

I booked a Junior Suite, Pool View with free breakfast through Agoda. This was our first hotel check-in on our Davao visit, and sadly the stay didn’t meet expectations. The staff were generally helpful, hardworking, and trustworthy, though the receptionist often seemed sleepy and inattentive. The building badly needs renovation. There was no in-room landline for emergencies, and basic things were missing: no bidet or toothbrush and toothpaste, plus thin, worn towels and a dirty carpet. (Please see photos.) I appreciate the staff’s effort, but the rest needs serious work. I hope management upgrades the facilities and the overall guest experience.