Tabaco Gardenia Hotel

The location was good and easy to reach, but the event had several problems. Food from the buffet couldn’t be taken home, and the meat and vegetables weren’t cooked well. One staff member wasn’t approachable and didn’t take suggestions well. Planning was lacking, and possible issues during the event hadn’t been anticipated. The decorations weren’t secured properly, so flowers kept falling off their stand. There wasn’t enough parking for the bridal car, and the elevator wasn’t working properly. The aircon wasn’t cold enough, and the rooms weren’t soundproof, so we could hear people in other rooms and even on other floors.

I spent 10 days there recently and would definitely stay again. It’s very central, handy for the markets and surrounding areas, and most rooms have a fantastic view of mount Mayon. The room was decent enough for the price, and the staff were polite and very obliging.

For a single walk-in room, the price was P1,300, while Agoda was higher at P1,346. It’s within walking distance of the market and LCC Tabaco, and very near the pier to Catanduanes. The room had hot and cold bathing water and a TV with cable, and the receptionist had a good attitude. There was no Wi-Fi in my room, though there may have been some outside, since it didn’t reach in. The elevator wasn’t working when I checked in, and my room was on the 4th floor. The stairs have high risers, which would be difficult for people with mobility issues. No complimentary breakfast, shampoo, or water was provided, just two small soaps and no dispenser outside.

There was only one small elevator, and it allowed just 4 people. The bigger problem was how dirty the rooms were. We had to move as many as 3 times because of ants, and my relatives’ and friends’ rooms were dirty too. There were big and small red ants and black ants all over, crawling in our bed, with dust on the tables and beds, termites around, and cobwebs on the ceiling and behind the tables. The hotel seems to have only 1-2 staff cleaning, and only during the day. It’s very outdated and needs a full renovation. This could have been a great venue because it’s near malls and terminals, but it was a 3-star hotel. After hours of travelling, we expected to relax, but couldn’t with ants in the bed and all that dirt. It needs thorough cleaning and renovation for guests’ comfort.