Hotel Sogo - Avenida — Hotel in Manila

So Clean, So Good!!, so goes the Sogo mantra. In the Philippines, the hotel chain is popular with couples as a meeting place for discreet encounters.

Hotels in the chain are standardized as far as possible, so a review of one Sogo will be pretty much like any other Sogo branch. What differentiates the Rizal Avenue branch is its location, which is seedier (relatively) than most other Sogo branches. Why have I come to the conclusion? Well, literally a stone's throw away on the same Rizal Avenue, ladies of the night ply their trade openly, and it's not even night time, if you get what I mean. I don't know if Sogo management located their branch there because of its proximity to the target clientele (again, if you get what I mean).

Service at this Sogo branch is also pretty much the same as that in every other Sogo branch - prompt and efficient, maybe just a little too courteous as everyone is required to make a deep bow (from the waist) when they meet guests. Bowing precludes eye contact and makes the experience much less personal, although it can also be gainsaid that given the "love hotel" target market, the staff not looking you in the eye might actually work to your advantage...

Food is affordable (there are budget meals for less than a hundred pesos, the equivalent of less than two US dollars), but a little too bland for my taste. The hotel offers both Filipino and fusion (mostly Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Western fusion) cuisine.

Wi-Fi and mobile phone signal is a hit and miss affair; stronger in some rooms, weaker in most others. Speed when the signal is good, is actually quite decent.

Just a note about a hotel policy that I find a bit restrictive:

They do not allow two or more male guests in the same room, unless proof of familial ties is presented.

Is this driven by anti-homosexual prejudice? I don't know, and management doesn't admit it, but it does seem a bit strange. What if you are business colleagues with no romantic interest in each other whatsoever, just looking for an affordable place for some shut-eye?

On the plus side, Sogo (and this goes for all Sogos) check in times are flexible (given that they offer hourly rates) so you won't have to wait till 2PM (as with regular hotels) before checking in.

Sogo is definitely not for family visits, as your young ones might ask you embarrassing questions why a scantily-clad 18-year old girl in heavy make-up is holding on to the arm of a 70-year old man who doesn't seem to be her father. But then again, we are in Rizal Avenue, and the surroundings are pretty much, for the lack of a better term, surrounded, with seediness.

Apart from its publicly-perceived target clientele, Sogo will appeal to people looking for a no-hassle place to crash for a few hours of rest and regeneration. Just don't mind if the couple in the room next to you start moaning and groaning and banging things around a little too loud for your...

Staying in sogo hotel avenida was really amazing because it is just near to quiapo church easy to go for attend mass and easy to reach hotel by LRT and Jeep and bus. Hotel is clean really room is safe and clean and service offered by hotel is really good and within few minutes service will be on your door once you dialed 0 . You can get massage just a call to front desk and foods are good and hotel staff when they will see you they will bow to you and they will proper address this is the way their to respect for you. My staycation in sogo hotel avenida was really best and it happened because of trip. com, I really appreciate for being a good chance to enjoy...

Whenever I need to stay overnight in Manila for office related works, this hotel is always my top choice. It’s tidy, well-maintained, and very accessible. I would like to commend Ms. Jocelyn and Geraldine from the Front Desk for their excellent service, as well as Marlo and Roel for being very accommodating and helpful.

That said, some of the rooms could benefit from refurbishment. A few toilets have plumbing issues — some don’t flush properly — and certain tiles have visible mildew. I hope the management can address these maintenance concerns soon to make future stays even more enjoyable.

I’ll be happy to give a 5-star rating once these issues...