Manila Crown Palace Hotel

Our room furniture was coming apart, with peeling tables and a bathroom door that seemed to be rotting. The bathroom glass could use a better cleaning, and the Wi-Fi was very weak. It also felt like a sketchy place. One night my partner woke up to a loud noise that sounded intimate (!) At least the receptionist was super nice, and there was hot water. I wouldn't bring a child here.

The Wi-Fi was fast, and there are plenty of restaurants within walking distance, mostly Korean BBQ places. The hotel is near a mall and lots of convenience stores, too. It's in the Malate Red District, so nights can get a bit busy. The place was decent apart from the pest problem. Cockroaches were everywhere, including in the bed and all over the sink. The shower knob was broken, and management had improvised a handle using part of a ballpoint pen.

No toiletries, and my room was full of cockroaches. They were on the walls, in the bathroom, and even in my bed. I told the front desk and the room boy, but nothing was done. Since I arrived late at night, switching hotels would've meant spending extra money I couldn't afford.

We had a wide, clean room with a great view over the city, and the area felt safe, with a police station nearby. It's a lively spot for shopping and sightseeing, with lots of restaurants close by. I think the hotel also has its own steakhouse. There are a couple of 7-Elevens a few blocks in either direction. Robinsons Place Manila is about a 10-minute walk, and Rizal Park and the National Museum are around 15 minutes away. The building has definitely seen better days. One ceiling corner had water damage, and the white bedsheet had yellowed with age, though it was clean. Our 0.5 HP AC unit was new but took a while to cool the spacious room. It eventually got so cold we had to dive under the quilt. The water pressure was strong and the shower was heated. The free soap and shampoo were big enough for several uses. The rate was 2000 for 12 hours, but the desk let us pay 1500.