Makati Palace Hotel — Hotel in Makati

Was really excited for my first trip to Manila, and chose to stay in a lively area.|Arrived mid morning, and asked if I could check-in (early) and they said yes, but for a fee, so I said I'd rather just head off sightseeing, as I had limited time, and return later to checkin. They suggested and offered to hold my bags, great. I asked if I could use the pool but was refused, as they said I required to be checked in with a key. So they directed me to a restaurant toilet for somewhere to freshen up and get changed.|I had to tenatively venture through a dark closed restaurant and navigate the rear kitchen corridor to get to the bathroom.|Floor was littered with puddles, and the room stunk.||I started to do what I had to and organise my things for the day out sightseeing, but gave up and returned to reception and was happy to pay the fee for early checkin. Then got told by someone else the fee they quoted was HOURLY! I was 5-6 hours early. Frustrated, I refused, and headed back to the dingy toilet to get organised and head off.||Needed to charge my fone, and found a very dangerous powerpoint right next my seat, a child could easily fit and hand in the gaps (see pic). Tragedy waiting to happen. It sparked when I attached my charger.||The staff at the Bell Desk was pleasant and said he would personally look after my bag, no problems sir! Excellent. (Important note here, this was my only bag, with EVERYTHING in it, for an 8 day holiday.)||Headed out and with so much to see, the day went on and on, to the point where I emailed the hotel, just as a courtesy that I would be back later in the evening.|Whilst I had already "checked-in" at reception, they hadn't "checked me in".||On returning, at about 21:30 I was exhausted, and just wanted my bag and room key.|I had flown all night, and been out all day, just wanted a shower and sleep.|By now the night shift was on the Bell Desk, presented my bag check receipt, but my bag is missing!||I was devastated.||From this point on, it went downhill fast.|No one is communicating with me. |They are all having busy conversations with each other in their language.|I asked for a manager, there was none.||There was nothing happening. They wanted to give me my room key, but I wasn't going anywhere, until we had either resolved it or been looked after with a room upgrade gesture, considering the disaster. ||I started to make a itemised list of my bag contents and monetary value. |It even had my CPAP sleep breathing machine, which are very expensive.||So, eventually, after quite some time of toing and froing I'm told that the CCTV shows someone walk into the unlocked storeroom behind the Bell Desk and help themself to my bag and walk out of the hotel!||Great!||The only saving grace was that another bag was left behind.|Turns out another guest had given up waiting for a staff member to assist them and was in a hurry to get to the airport and just helped themself!||Great, they're on a flight to Singapore!||Anyway, the bag showed up a little while later, much sooner than I expected.|I suspect the other guest realised on arrival at the airport when they had to go through security, as my bag was all locked up, and had put it in a cab back to the hotel.|The hotel took credit for this though! LOL.||I was so upset.||They checked me in, buthad the nerve to give me the same room!|I asked for some kind of service recovery and gesture of goodwill considering the very stressful situation they had put me in.|Nothing.|No manager.|No one empowered to make a decision.|Mystery fone calls to persons unknown.|No one in charge in the evening. It wasn't 3am!||Was asked if I'd like the manager Rodolfo to call me in the morning?|I said, no, I'm too busy, so I will make contact with him later in the day.||Anyway, again, got so busy with all the wonderful things to see and do in Manila, the day got away. And honestly couldn't be bothered dealing with such a rabble, only to get further upset and spoil my holiday.||I'm glad I didn't.|On returning home, I emailed the hotel manager, Rodolfo, to articulate the issues, and share some photos, attached here. He couldn't care less about my experience. And completely avoided the lack of security in the hotel foyer. Bare minimum cut and paste responses. Given the unusual and significant issues here, you would think a tailored and appropriate response would be in order.||I asked for some gesture of goodwill as a service recovery. After much toing and froing, there was a very small offer. But I would have to stay again, and spend more money with them to get it!! ||Other matters:||The issues with the hotel other than already stated above, was that it's a hotspot for trouble. I get it. But when there are disturbing domestic disputes going on in rooms, and people are locked out of rooms and allowed to sleep in corridors outside your room, and they do nothing about it, is quite astonishing.||I had heard things going on all night keeping me awake, but at 0600 security come marching down corridor with 2 way radios blaring and bashing on the next room my day was shot. They finally gave up and left, the room occupant either wasn't there or refused to open the door. But they left this woman there to sleep on the floor. (see pic).||Maybe this is just normal in this part of town??||So, to the room.|Old and tired.|Bathroom tiles scattered with embedded mold.|Likely cockroach faeces on walls.|Cockroach traps laid out in room and bathroom.|Bins not emptied.||Be warned rooms on street fronts very noisy ALL night.|Hotel location is good if you do want to be right in the middle of the action, but not for any rest.||Facilities, can't say anyting for the restaurant in foyer, was never open when I was happened to be passing through foyer.||Gym: disgusting. Stifling hot, and no air-con. |Old, derelict, and damaged equipment, with missing components. (see pics).||Pool nice, not enought loungechairs. But, turns into a childcare centre in the afternoons. And, to refer back to my mention of not being able to access the pool as I need a roomkey for access, the door to the pool deck was delibarately jammed open. Clearly for free and easy access for people who are not supposed to be there! Even after I ensured the door locked behind me, it was again jammed open.||There may be well residences in the building, alongside hotel rooms, and the families come down. Fair enough, but just be warned. They likely invite all their friends and family to join them.|It was a circus at times!||No pool towels had to bring from room.||The lift and access situation getting around the hotel, to/from pool and/or gym on another level is very tricky. Not accessible at all.||Whilst I was dissappointed with the property and what happened with my bag, Manila was well worth visiting, and the area is really lively with lots of options for food and drinks, convenience stores, entertainment etc.||As with anywhere you get what you pay for. |But not all great deals are "great...

If you enjoy circuses, I would recommend this establishment. Upon arrival, my wife and I were greeted with a flight of stairs leading up to two doormen who warmly welcomed us by watching me struggle to carry my luggage up the flight of stairs until I reached the door. I then proceeded to check in at the front desk and was again greeted by a young lady who welcomed our arrival with a displeased expression and an even more displeasing tone as she demanded our passports without any "good morning" or "how are you". Although I was greatly disappointed, I attempted to suppress my anger as I did not want to ruin the mood any further. This lasted only 10 minutes (the time it took for the "vintage" elevator to arrive) for there was an even greater surprise waiting for us. The rooms.. where to begin.. For starters, the foul stench of the musty carpets could be smelled before even opening the door. As I entered, I was AGAIN disappointed there being two twin beds instead of the queen we booked for. While my mind filled with further disappointment and frustration, my astonishingly patient wife attempted to calm me down. This attempt quickly became meaningless as my trance of deep regret was interrupted with a sudden screech from my wife. Wow. Not one but TWO rusty screws were wedged into my wife's foot. They were mistakenly stepped on being indistinguishable to the patterns of the musty carpet which these two screws rested on. The Operations Manager finally arrived after a long wait proceeding to approached my wife demanding to see her foot. No "are you okay" nor any apology. With my blood boiling, I clenched my teeth mustering up all my strength as I tried my best not to do anything I would regret. With my patience hanging on a very very thin thread, the situation was eventually resolved. As someone who understands the difficulties of running a business, I always try my best to leave positive reviews or none at all. But not this time. If you and your family are planning on coming to the Philippines, just know that there are other options other than this "establishment". By the way, a fully grown cockroach crawled up my leg 5 minutes prior to me writing this review. This review was written immediately after I stomped on their little mascot.

Cons: -food(?) was prepared undercooked or overcooked or was just spoiled to the point of being inedible -staff are all inexperienced and unprofessional -elevators take forever to arrive but its doors close like a trap -do not be fooled by the pictures of their rooms and facilities like we were

Pros -we...

Solid Three-Star Hotel Pros: Rooms, Wifi, Staff, Location Cons: Rundown Common Areas, inop elevators, Short Breakfast Hours

Important room recommendation at the end.

Although the entrance may be on the gaudy/tacky side, the hotel rooms are modern. The rooms are all clean, with large modern bathrooms. New/clean fixtures. The WiFi ALWAYS worked and was fast enough to stream everything I wanted, i.e., Netflix, Apple+, etc. The housekeeping and security staff are friendly and helpful. The front desk and concierge always appeared bothered (even with no one around) and not very friendly. The location is right in the middle of P. Burgos, Makati. Multiple restaurants and bars surround the hotel, and shopping malls are between 5-15 minutes’ walk.

Sadly the common areas appear neglected. Fountain and marque out front are dilapidated. The elevators are plagued with fingerprints all over; I don’t think they were ever cleaned while I was there. And elevators were either being worked on or inoperable. The pool area does not look like the hotel photos. Although the pool itself is maintained, the area is sad, rundown, and depressing. Remember to bring your room towels. The gym is also rundown and appears as an afterthought with broken, old, and rusting equipment. There’s a TV there, but no remote control or ability to turn on or change channels. Multiple unused/locked-up areas which could be utilized; they have a Karaoke bar/room that looks like it hasn’t been used in years. It could be opened for families or evening fun. I never had the paid breakfast. Breakfast runs between 6 to 10 A.M. Most guests are out all night, and generally don’t get up till noonish. Thus many miss breakfast altogether. Maybe substitute breakfast with a 9AM-1PM brunch.

Now the rooms. For some reason there was a mix-up when booking my room through Agoda. The first room I was provided was a Deluxe room. It was on the 6th floor facing P. Burgos. Even during the day (prior to the evening’s live band across the street) there was a lot of street noise. But, the room was clean, large, and carpeted. When I was provided my correct “Casita” room, it was on the 21st floor (thus quieter), but was smaller, with tiled floor. The room pictures and descriptions on the websites are incorrect and misleading. According to the websites, both rooms were the exact same square footage; they are not. My recommendation is to get the cheaper...