Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila

The pool area was lovely, and the pool staff were very nice, though they wouldn’t let us bring our own water. The room was fairly nice but worn and, for what we paid, not worth the price. We’d been looking forward to the buffet, but arrived around 9 a.m. when it closed at 10. A lot of food had already run out. You have to queue because it isn’t self service, and staff reminded us three times that it was closing, hinting that we should leave. It cost us 4,000 PP for two, about $35 each, more than we expected. This was meant to be a special stay, so the service was especially disappointing. No one helped with our bags when we arrived, and we had to carry them inside ourselves. We then waited 30 minutes to check in. Twice, staff took people who’d joined the queue after us and checked them in first. The checkout desk was empty, and I thought they might check us in there after seeing people moved ahead of us. At reception, the staff member was rather rude and then abruptly asked us to put another 10,000 PP on the tab for incidentals. I know that can be standard, but the way it was said surprised me. I explained what had happened to Duty Manager Emily Gaiser, who promised to comp our breakfast, but that never happened either. It left me feeling this place cared more about money and attitude than service. I’ve stayed in places half as nice where the service was good enough for five stars. Service is king.

The hotel has a good location, lots of space, and plenty of options inside. Breakfast was one of my best experiences, with a huge range of choices, and the service was very good. The pool itself is good, but there’s no proper changing room. What they call the changing room is a toilet, with nowhere to hang or put dry clothes, and you’re right beside people using the toilet. It’s very strange and needs to be improved.

We enjoyed the pool, though it could use renovation or at least a fresh coat of paint. Coco’s by the pool was a highlight, with fantastic food and service. Breakfast was pretty good too, and the location is handy, about a 10-minute taxi ride from Mall of Asia. We stayed two nights with our young son before heading home. Check-in was a bit hectic because the hotel was so busy. The staff were great, but the room let us down. It looked old and outdated, and parts of it, including the shower and balcony, were dirty. The attendant seemed to have done their best, but the room needs renovation to meet four- or five-star standards. For $200+ a night, it didn’t feel worth it. We’ve stayed at much nicer hotels in the Manila area for less. It’s a big hotel, so expect it to be busy.

The hotel was quiet at night, so I slept easily, and the bed was comfortable. My room was modern and very clean, with a balcony overlooking the city. I’d only add a table and chair outside. The bars and restaurants were nice. At Le Bar, both the day and night staff gave very good service. Lennard and Jay looked after me well at night. The chef knows how to cook a good steak, and my favorite was the Argentinian tenderloin.