Marion Roos Hotel

We had a nice stay. The hotel is close to the beach, but far enough away that the night party noise doesn't carry over. Our room was big enough for four, and the plated breakfast at their beachfront restaurant was included. The ACU didn't cool the room enough, though, which made sleeping difficult, and the Wi-Fi in our room was pretty slow.

Our room was full of ants, and the Wi-Fi kept having problems. The blackout was understandable, but the heat wasn't. Even with the AC running, the room stayed hot at night, and two of my friends ended up sleeping on the floor because the cold air didn't circulate well. We asked the front desk for an electric fan and were told they didn't have one, which seemed crazy to me. I think every room should at least have a small fan or a wall fan to help spread the AC air. We booked because of the good reviews, but maybe it was just an unlucky day for us.

The sizzling squid had a nice spicy, savory kick, with tender pieces and plenty of vegetables. It worked well with rice or on its own. We also liked the thin, toasted pizza with sausage, pepperoni, melted cheese, and fresh basil. The spaghetti Bolognese was hearty, with rich meaty tomato sauce, Parmesan, and warm buttery garlic bread for scooping it up. The onion rings were crisp and golden, with a creamy dip, and the chicken tenders were crunchy outside and juicy inside. The tartar sauce went well with them. Everything looked inviting, the portions were generous, and the familiar comfort food left us full and happy. I'd come back.

Our February 20-23 stay was the worst experience we've ever had. The rooms were about what you'd expect for the price, and cleanliness was only okay, but the service and safety standards were nowhere to be found. The Wi-Fi was unusable, the bell boy was rude, and staff were often away from their posts. The worst part was the crash. The foreigner owner was supposed to drive us to the port, but got out of the vehicle without setting the handbrake. It rolled backward, narrowly missed one of us, and smashed into two tricycles that fortunately cushioned the impact. We were traumatized and stressed, but the owner/driver disappeared afterward and never spoke to us or checked whether we were okay. A staff member named Glen tried to help, and the Filipina owner eventually came to apologize and comp our entire stay. The foreigner owner remained a "no-show." Compensation can't make up for what felt like life-threatening negligence and cowardice. Stay away.