Mangrove Place and Residences

The rooms and hotel are pretty nice, the location isn't bad, and the staff try to be polite and do their best within the circumstances and instructions from above. If you get the right room, you might enjoy your stay. Still, I left after one day of a planned eight-day stay. I'm not someone who complains about every little thing, but we all have different preferences and pain points. Noise was the final straw. I expected a quiet apartment among the mangroves, but got one close to a noisy road, with roosters crowing on both sides of the building at all hours. The AC was loud and kept waking me as it switched on and off. Turning it off meant hearing the outside noise instead. I need sleep, so I left. I chose the place because it advertised a kitchen. When I arrived, I learned a proper kitchen, with a cooker or stovetop, microwave, plates, glasses, and cutlery, was only available for monthly rentals. That was mentioned on their website, sort of, but I booked through Trip.com and didn't know. I asked if I could rent some items by the day. Staff checked with the owner by chat, who declined my suggestions, but they agreed as soon as Trip.com got involved. Strike one. Also, items shown in Trip.com photos and amenities, like a drinking water bottle or dispenser, weren't in the room. I was told to get water from a shared dispenser in the hallway. Great for cooking. There were no hangers in the closets either. What hotel has no hangers? Strike two. I give it two stars rather than one because the place itself is nice and the staff try to be kind despite the circumstances and orders from above. The location isn't bad, either. If you get the right room, you have a better chance of enjoying it, so it's your call whether to risk it.

I stayed four nights, November 26-30, because I work at Mactan Newtown and had to stay late at the office those nights. The rooms are clean, nicely kept, and very nice. It's handy if you work nearby or mainly need to be in the area, with Mactan Newtown, LG Garden, and other food stores within walking distance. Parking is spacious, and security guards are on duty 24/7. Bring your own soap and toothbrush, as they don't provide them. Kyla was the first receptionist to help with my questions, and I'd highly recommend her. She's responsive on their Facebook page and just as professional and approachable in person. My experience with the other receptionist wasn't pleasant. I think her name was “Edalene,” though I'm not completely sure. She mentioned a late check-in penalty and seemed unsure of what she was doing. When I came in, she didn't greet me, looked away, and demanded, “You’re the one with the late booking, right?” I found her manner rude. I told her I'd booked on November 18, and only then did she apologize. When I asked questions or tried to clarify things, she'd change the subject or say it was an admin rule. But Kyla told me there were no such rules, especially about late check-in penalties. I strongly suggest the other receptionist get more training. Despite that, I had a really good stay and will definitely come back. Thank you, Mangrove Park and Residences!

We booked through Airbnb, and check-in and check-out were easy, with great service. The room was spacious and looked just like the photos. It's also conveniently located near various stores and just a few minutes from the airport. Definitely recommend it.

The WiFi in our 2-BR corner unit on the fifth floor, room 515, never worked, though mobile data was enough for us. The place was spacious and the beds were comfortable, but all three window air conditioners were too noisy to run overnight. With the windows open, the main bedroom was okay, while the other one got pretty hot. I hope management fixes the units. I wouldn't recommend staying here otherwise.