Savoy Hotel Manila — Hotel in Pasay

The Savoy Hotel in Manila is not a 4-star hotel and gives the chain a bad name.

The entire hotel smells absolutely revolting. It’s stale and is so pungent that it’s almost impossible to breathe. You eventually get used to it, but it hits your nose and seeps into your chest in a way that’s physically overwhelming. It clings to your clothes, your hair, your skin, it’s suffocating. There were multiple other reviews showing the same thing, but until you experience it, it’s hard to truly explain the visceral reaction it provokes.

We stayed here once on 19/4 and it was sufficient for a one-night short stay. The side of the hotel we were on was quiet enough and was bearable before a domestic flight to Boracay. It wasn’t memorable, but it didn’t warrant a complaint either, as it was just a place to rest our heads for a few hours.

Due to a change in our flight home, we had to desperately find nearby accommodation. Given we knew it was quiet enough and close to the airport, we decided (reluctantly) to give it a second opportunity, thinking surely it couldn’t be worse.

The second time around was utterly appalling. The room was filthy with mould in the shower, also worth noting that water was not warm nor strong. Dirty, suspicious marks covered the lounge, we didn’t want to sit down, let alone touch anything. Worse still, we were placed on the highway side of the hotel where the noise was relentless, echoing into the early hours. It was impossible to rest. And then came the construction. Violent, excruciating pounding and drilling from the road that made the room shake. It kept us up all night, and to top it off, the air conditioning cut in and out, leaving the room stiflingly hot and humid.

As if that wasn’t enough, we ordered two simple pastas from room service in a desperate attempt to eat something safe. The vegetarian pasta (which made no mention of cream) came drenched in it. We had to send it back. And the food we ate? It made us both violently ill. We were physically sick, throwing up multiple times. The hours that followed were a blur of nausea, discomfort, and exhaustion.

In the morning, we kindly asked for an extended check-out due to the extreme discomfort and distress we had faced and mentioned that we were returning guests within two weeks. They did agree to a short extension of a few hours, for the extra two hours we actually needed (just so we didn’t have to sit around unnecessarily at the airport before an 8-hour flight) they insisted on charging an astonishing additional $70 AUD. Despite recorded evidence of there being multiple empty rooms available at the hotel.

The manager showed no compassion, no genuine concern for the awful experience we had just endured. We weren’t asking for much, just a gesture of decency after being sick, sleep deprived, and deeply uncomfortable. Instead, we were met with cold indifference and rigid policy.

This experience left us physically unwell, emotionally drained, and completely disillusioned. I implore you to reconsider your stay here, no convenience is worth what we went through. I will be contacting Megaworld Hotels & Resorts and the DOT Philippines directly to escalate this complaint. This hotel tarnishes the name of what should be a...

Pros:1. The location. Within walking distance of NAIA T3, Newport Mall and Cinemas, cafes, dine-in restaurants, convenience stores, fast food restos, drug stores, and shops.2. The hotel staff are among the friendliest, welcoming, and warm and helpful in any hotel we have ever stayed in. From the security staff to the front desk, concierge, housekeeping, and restaurant personnel, they made our stay special.3. The breakfast food aren’t as varied, but very delicious. Hats off to the kitchen staff!4. Parking is more than adequate. In fact, the hotel was almost fully booked, but there were a lot of parking space to choose from. 5. Check-in and check-out experience were both a breeze, contrary to what I’ve read in the reviews. Areas to improve on:1. Foot traffic always seems busy, perhaps due to the narrow hallways and corridors on the ground floor.2. During peak hours, breakfast at Savoy Restaurant can get pretty crowded. Best time to go there would be 6-7 AM and 9-10 AM. 7-9 AM is quite busy. But you have to give credit to the hostess in front, and the waiting staff for keeping things orderly.3. The room amenities are ample and basic. During our 4-night stay, the towel provisions weren’t very consistent. Some days we were provided with two sets of body towels and had towels; other days we only had body towels. There weren’t any vanity kits (Q-Tips, cotton pads), but it’s fortunate we had our own. The hotel would probably provide such if asked.4. The room had good sound proofing. But once you’re out in the hallway, some guests can be pretty loud. 5. Some areas smelled a bit funky. Not totally unpleasant, but definitely needs some air freshener.6. The room air-conditioning might not have been enough to cool the room, especially in the middle of the day. We stayed in a corner room, with one window facing the northeast, and another window facing northwest. The sun streaming through the windows could keep the room a few degrees warmer both in the morning and afternoon. One way to beat the heat was by keeping the blackout curtains drawn shut, but the room would appear quite dark and gloomy when all curtains are shut.Overall, our stay in Savoy Hotel was a pleasant experience and gave very good value for money. Will we come back? Definitely one of our top choices in the area. P.S. We didn’t get to use or see the indoor pool and...

Pros: The location. Within walking distance of NAIA T3, Newport Mall and Cinemas, cafes, dine-in restaurants, convenience stores, fast food restos, drug stores, and shops. The hotel staff are among the friendliest, welcoming, and warm and helpful in any hotel we have ever stayed in. From the security staff to the front desk, concierge, housekeeping, and restaurant personnel, they made our stay special. The breakfast food aren’t as varied, but very delicious. Hats off to the kitchen staff! Parking is more than adequate. In fact, the hotel was almost fully booked, but there were a lot of parking space to choose from. Check-in and check-out experience were both a breeze, contrary to what I’ve read in the reviews.

Areas to improve on: Foot traffic always seems busy, perhaps due to the narrow hallways and corridors on the ground floor. During peak hours, breakfast at Savoy Restaurant can get pretty crowded. Best time to go there would be 6-7 AM and 9-10 AM. 7-9 AM is quite busy. But you have to give credit to the hostess in front, and the waiting staff for keeping things orderly. The room amenities are ample and basic. During our 4-night stay, the towel provisions weren’t very consistent. Some days we were provided with two sets of body towels and had towels; other days we only had body towels. There weren’t any vanity kits (Q-Tips, cotton pads), but it’s fortunate we had our own. The hotel would probably provide such if asked. The room had good sound proofing. But once you’re out in the hallway, some guests can be pretty loud. Some areas smelled a bit funky. Not totally unpleasant, but definitely needs some air freshener. The room air-conditioning might not have been enough to cool the room, especially in the middle of the day. We stayed in a corner room, with one window facing the northeast, and another window facing northwest. The sun streaming through the windows could keep the room a few degrees warmer both in the morning and afternoon. One way to beat the heat was by keeping the blackout curtains drawn shut, but the room would appear quite dark and gloomy when all curtains are shut.

Overall, our stay in Savoy Hotel was a pleasant experience and gave very good value for money. Will we come back? Definitely one of our top choices...