TRYP by Wyndham Mall of Asia Manila

The staff were kind, understanding, and very accommodating, and I was thoroughly happy with my stay. The hotel and rooms were clean and comfortable, with great access to shops, the boardwalk, and the mall. There’s a hotel shuttle that drops you off and picks you up if you don’t want to walk, just check the schedule first. The airport shuttle costs extra and needs to be ordered a day ahead, but it was cheaper than a Grab. I’d stay at TRYP again if I’m back by MOA.

The location is handy, but it stinks badly next to Manila bay, and for the price the stay doesn’t measure up, Budget Wyndham or not. We checked in at 12:30pm and they waived the early check-in fee, which was good, though in 40 years of travel I’ve never been charged when a room was ready and it wasn’t 7am. On checkout day I only wanted to shower by the pool before a late flight, but they wanted 3000 pesos for a late checkout until 6pm. Other places I’ve stayed let me hang out by the pool after checkout until my flight. The room was poor: no duvet, just the unhygienic method of wrapping sheets around a shared blanket. Some power points and USBs didn’t work, the minibar was empty, and there wasn’t room for two suitcases. Room service was at western prices, and the free water barely covered brushing your teeth and making coffee. The doors slammed loudly, ours had a large gap underneath and at the side that let noise and light through, and the corridors were noisy too. Road noise was very loud. The old, tired pool wasn’t inviting, especially with disco music blaring and no nice atmosphere. I don’t understand how it has so many good reviews. Maybe most reviewers haven’t travelled much. This place feels very money orientated and isn’t cheap for what you get.

The food was excellent, according to several people at our conference. That’s a first for us, even after holding events in 5 star hotels where nobody complimented the food. Rooms and reservations really need to step up. We won’t name names, but one person told us they were on vacation and not to bother them with our call. That felt like dereliction of duty for someone in marketing or reservations. They could have passed us on to the front office, who were much more pleasant and accommodating to work with. Kudos to milagritos waiters, the kitchen staff, and the chef.

After long travel days, the spacious, well-kept rooms were a comfortable place to rest. I also really liked the rooftop pool, which was clean and well maintained, with a lovely city view. Getting to nearby attractions, restaurants, and public transport was easy. Breakfast was excellent, with a wide range of fresh local and international choices. The staff made the stay especially memorable. Everyone I spoke with was warm, courteous, and keen to help. I had a wonderful visit and would highly recommend it to anyone coming to the city.