Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown

The staff were extremely helpful and polite, and the location is amazing. The bedroom was clean, the shower pressure was just right, and the food was delicious for a fair price. It gets hot inside, though. The AC couldn't keep up, especially in the room with a view, where the glass made things hotter. I'd suggest choosing a room without the wraparound window. Our AC was also noisy, as if something were leaking, which could bother a light sleeper.

The location is great, and the hotel's shared areas were clean and well kept. I couldn't understand why the rooms were in such poor shape. Mine was small and dirty, with baby cockroaches, mold in the bathroom, and a floor that looked grimy. It needs a deep clean.

The hotel staff were the one bright spot. They were kind, professional, and helpful, and I appreciated the cleaning crew coming in during the night to deal with the bedding with a smile. They seemed to be doing their best in a difficult setting. My first room, on the 6th floor, had cockroaches in the bathroom and even on the bed. I moved to the 16th floor to get away from them, but the beds there had blood, mold, and other unidentified fluids on them. Even though the room was booked through the airline, that lack of basic sanitation was unacceptable. The view from the window was a stark one too, a white wall separating the development from families living in extreme poverty. The trip here began with a canceled flight and an air-conditioned van ride through local neighborhoods in Cebu into this “Singapore-style” enclave. As someone who values the people of the Philippines, the contrast was sobering. The district offers a gated, segregated version of a “privileged” experience, a place of endless consumption cut off from the local community. The pool and bars look impressive on the surface, but my accommodation was far from that. Stay here at your own risk.

The beach and pool facilities were really nice, though the beach takes a bit of a walk to reach. The male bellmen were attentive and did their jobs well, but the rest of the service wasn't great. While we were changing rooms, I overheard staff gossiping about us. I'm Filipino American, and locals don't always recognize me as Filipino right away. I also felt the host stand attendant was rude when she looked at me strangely after not understanding my request for water at the bar. My friend noticed it too. The stay was disappointing overall. The hotel felt rundown for a Savoy. On our first night, we found long black hairs on the bathroom floor and bedroom carpet. I called housekeeping and said they could come in while we were at dinner. When we got back, there were four cockroaches. We caught them in glasses to photograph and show the staff. I requested a refund for the food I'd bought and for the second night. I accepted their offer of an upgraded junior suite and a breakfast refund, but the suite was outdated. We were in what I believe was the Business district, and men offering sex approached us even after we politely declined. I wouldn't recommend this for families.