St Giles Makati

The location worked well for me. There's nightlife, bars, and restaurants all around, and you can walk to Salcedo Market, SM Jazz Mall, and Century City Mall. It does have a red light district feel, though, so it may not suit someone who wants a quieter area. Check-in was quick, and the staff were friendly. I arrived early and paid 500 pesos for early check-in, which was a better rate than at other hotels. My room was on the 22nd floor, but other hotels blocked the view. It was small, and more than one suitcase would be awkward. The bed was comfortable, with outlets nearby, the aircon got nice and cold, and the toilet was great. The TV had YouTube and Netflix. The room wasn't soundproof, though, so I could hear traffic even up on the 22nd floor, as well as my neighbors, and they could hear me too.

The location is the hotel's main plus, and the prices are okay. It seems popular with business travelers and locals. But the rooms are very old, the Wi-Fi is lousy, and the front office staff weren't much help. Check-in took over 30 minutes waiting in line. The elevators are another big problem: with lots of guests and only three lifts, you might wait 10-15 minutes just to get one.

Service was top-notch, and the staff tried to accommodate every request. The location is okay too. The rooms were fairly clean and decent, but really old. Lots of people, mostly foreigners, were checking in and out. The building is old throughout, with cracked tiles and worn lobby chairs, and it's dirty with cockroaches in many areas, especially on the second floor where the breakfast buffet is. The food selection was tiny and disappointing: just one or two protein dishes, some vegetables, and mostly sweets or carbs, without the usual Filipino items you'd expect. For the price, there are better budget or boutique hotels nearby. This isn't somewhere to stay for the amenities, and if you want a nice hotel, this isn't it. I personally wouldn't return.

The biggest letdown was the room setup. We booked a twin room for two adults but got a king bed, and there was only one guest's worth of towels. Room Wi-Fi was great, but the TV was impossible to use. Parking is limited to sub-compact sedans in the basement, so larger vehicles may have trouble. Some elevators weren't working, which meant long waits during the morning rush. On the plus side, the room was clean and well maintained, the location has plenty of good restaurants within easy walking distance, and I liked the eco-friendly water stations on every floor. I stayed one night and found plenty to like along with a few things that need work.