Honest Review: Golden Phoenix Hotel

I scored a free hotel stay from rewards earned using my Citibank Cash Back Credit Card. I used the points to book a room at the Golden Phoenix Hotel (GPH).

My expectations were high since we've visited the hotel before (just last year, if I am not mistaken) when relatives stayed there for a halfway hotel for their early flights out of Manila. I remember it was still a new hotel and there were on going construction, but that was fine (understandable).

Golden Phoenix Location is perfect , if you want to save yourself worrying time, whether you'll make it to your flight or not, as it is near the Manila airports.

I reserved a deluxe twin room, thinking

there will be 2 twin beds (as shown in the hotel website), 

Deluxe Twin Room from GPH website.

There is obviously no way (a family of 4) would fit in a twin bed,

There was really no other options but to upgrade and pay an additional P1500. 

I was really surprised at check-in that we are having just one (1) twin bed. My fault for not checking bed configuration

Our room after the upgrade. 

Our room is really small - quite far from the website photos. There was hardly enough room to move (much more take a photo of the entire room).

Even the bathroom is small.

I initially can't find the toiletries.

I found them  under the bathroom sink.

The room size was forgivable, however, the linens and  towels were not.

They were old and needing replacement.

 

 

I didn't like the bathroom and didn't use it much, so I can't comment if its clean. 

Pool needed major cleaning too. 

The fountain was not working when we got there and a section or two of tiles were broken. Really unattractive.

Definitely, NO swimming for this staycation!

VERDICT:

• Check-in was just fine.  We were the only ones checking-in at the time so that should be expected.
• Management should do something about the hotel upkeep.  It smells like cement in there.  The carpet running through the hotel corridors also filthy. 
• Not much to do as it is a long walk from SM MOA. In the website it says they offer free shuttle service to nearby attractions. However, we were not informed at check-in and didn't see any during our stay either.

Staff were quite nice and friendly though, but that's the only good thing I can think of right now.
Breakfast was fine, nice spread but nothing exceptional. 
We looked for the gym (the website says there is one), but can't find that one too.

Let us just say, I am not thinking of heading back anytime soon. 

-The End-