Swagman Hotel

The front desk staff were warm and helpful. They made several calls for us when we decided at the last minute to book a bus. The rooms were clean and adequate, and the restaurant and bar downstairs served really good food. I ordered the smaller of the two burgers, but it was huge, so I saved half for breakfast the next day. The Swagman is in a handy spot, with convenience stores and fast food just a few minutes away on foot. The bay and some popular local bars are less than a five-minute walk. I stayed here for the first and last nights of my Philippines holiday, and found it a reassuring place to settle in after arriving in an unfamiliar country, with a sense of safety and security. They offer airport pickup, though the van has the parent company name, 'Oriental Hotels and Resorts', on its side. I was looking for a van marked 'Swagman', couldn’t find it, and ended up taking an unbelievably expensive taxi instead.

I tried the breakfast twice and found the choices decent, but you have to be specific with the waiter about how you want your eggs, which sausage is available, and what coffee comes with the meal. The first time, I got scrambled eggs instead of sunny side up and English sausage instead of Hungarian. On my second visit, they tried to add 80 Pesos for the coffee at checkout, since they said only instant coffee was included, not brewed. The day before, one brewed coffee had been included. It's more fun in the Philippines!

There wasn’t anything Australian about this theme bar. They had no Australian beer, and the food was the most awful, unappealing, nearly inedible dish I ate in the Philippines. I only managed part of it, hoping it might improve. Save your time and skip this place.

The food was really delicious, and the staff were friendly and courteous. There’s outdoor dining, and the hotel is close to Eastern Doctor Hospital and American Embassy. Getting a taxi was no problem, and I didn’t have security concerns. It’s been around for at least 20 years, and I had a pleasant stay. I’d recommend it.