The Green Olive Garden

I’m glad we had a clean room for our night at The Green Olive along Kabangan rd, but I found it overpriced for what was offered. Ms Collin was very accommodating with my questions and reservation, and the single staff member on duty was attentive. No complaints there, perhaps because we were the only guests checked in. The room and bathroom were clean, but the pool was not. We used it on the day we were leaving and had to ask staff to clean it, then wait. There was dirt and leaves on the floor, plus candy wrappers and bugs floating in the water. I was told there was a restaurant, but it was a few kms away, and they wouldn’t deliver lunch because they were busy, so we ordered from a nearby fast food place instead. I chose the premiere room because I was told it had a Tagaytay view, but it had no window. To see anything, you had to step out into a dining room-like space. Internet was available but slow, and my Smart data worked better. They served free bland coffee, but no breakfast. I also accidentally left my phone charger. I messaged to ask if they’d found it so I could have it picked up, but still haven’t received a reply. The hotel needs to improve its service and amenities.

The free breakfast was good, and Ricky and Rhea, who looked after us, were absolutely wonderful. Aside from those positives, our stay was a disaster. My family and I left a day early after a blackout late at night, caused by a blown transmission. There was no backup generator, and the children couldn’t sleep well. The pool was very dirty. Even after we asked for a cleaning, dead insects were still floating in the salty water. Bring your own goggles if you plan to use it. That was especially disappointing since the establishment promotes its pool so heavily online. The wifi was only available in the function room and very limited, and the Xbox Kinect/PS3 advertised on the website weren’t there. We had to use our own pocket wifis, cellphone providers, and gaming devices that we were lucky to have brought for the kids. The outside signage was gone, so we got lost finding the place. Parking was cluttered with debris from whatever work was going on. Inside, there were wall cracks and smudges, peeling cabinet wood, smelly, worn-looking bathrooms, and an insane amount of dust and spider webs. None of our rooms had locks, and after checking in we spent our time cleaning them ourselves. We were told beforehand that the establishment was “a little bit old,” but the owner may need to reconsider what “a little bit” means. The owners and managers should do better for future guests and staff. My family and I won’t recommend the establishment.

For the amenities, it felt a little costly. There’s a charge to rent the videoke machine and corkage as well. It’s a private resort that calls itself a hotel.

The staff members were courteous and friendly, and the food was great. The rooms are spartan, and there’s no sign outside to let you know you’ve arrived.