Asia Jem Hotel-Gapan City

The staff were okay, but I was mainly paying for a decent room, and the basics just weren’t there. There was no refrigerator, the hot water didn’t work, and the water pressure was weak. Wi-Fi was very unreliable: I got three bars at best if I stood by the door, then it dropped to one bar or disconnected when I went back to bed. There was no Wi-Fi in the lobby, and every device needed a new access code each day. Breakfast could only be brought to the room at 6 or 8 in the morning. Good luck with the 8 a.m. option if you have to work then. I was also greeted by insects in the morning. The key card had to be reset at the lobby every night, and the door often took at least 15 scans before it worked. I was charged 10 pesos per beer for corkage when I brought my own in. I know that’s a small amount, but charging it while the room lacked basics like working Wi-Fi and hot water felt unreasonable. I wasn’t asking for a refund for those problems, but it made me wonder whether the hotel would refund any of my room rate. For the price, this wasn’t the best hotel in the area. The staff service was okay, but good service would only be a bonus when the room itself is what I’m paying for. This place didn’t meet my basic needs, and it was my first and last stay. I’d advise others to book somewhere else.

Breakfast came out hot and fresh, which was a nice way to start the day. Our room at Asia Gem Hotel in Gapan was also comfortable, spacious, clean, and well kept. The bathroom layout was the main drawback. There’s no divider between the shower and toilet, so water covers the whole floor when you shower. It gets slippery and is inconvenient if someone needs the toilet afterward. The stay was solid, but that design could use some work.

The room itself was spotless, and the staff were quick, friendly, and accommodating. Still, the price felt far too high for a place with no amenities and food I found disgusting. The shower was cold with little pressure, and without a tub the water went everywhere. I slipped. Our door wouldn’t lock, but there wasn’t another room available, so we couldn’t move. It seemed there was only one staff member on site, and she appeared to be handling everything, while the rooms hadn’t been done. We were also charged extra for additional pillows, and bringing in our own food or drinks would have meant another charge.

We paid more than budget hotel rates for a very poor room. The AC took at least three hours to make it comfortable, the toilet was clogged and there was no plunger, and the suggested solution was to use the lobby bathroom. They also refused to give us another pillow, leaving us with two mediocre ones in what they call a deluxe room. Each time we left, the power shut off and the key card needed reprogramming. At check-in they made it clear that refunds were never given. Judging by these problems, they must deal with this a lot. I wouldn’t recommend staying here.