I was extremely disappointed with my experience at The Orange Place Hotel in Quezon City. In fact, if it were possible, I'd ask for a refund.
I would let it slide that the signage on the front desk area happens to be different from The Orange Place (The Hostel Co.), but it is a bad sign when the staff at Front Desk can't locate your booking, asks you to email the voucher to an email ... only to have the email bounce back.
There is no elevator, but thankfully, the staff is very friendly and helpful. One of them helped me bring my things to my room. The room appears presentable at first, until you begin noticing the problems. In my case, I had an issue with the bed. The linen did not match. The pillowcases appeared new/white, but the bedsheets were obviously old/dirty white, and did not look like it had been changed. I only slept well for a few hours ... then I began itching. Either, it was due to the dust on the aircon cover, the broken window that I could not close (that was hidden by the faded and partly torn blinds), or the bed itself. I hope there were no bed bugs, but I had rashes on my body by midnight.
The only available WiFi is at Front Desk. Sadly, I never got the password for WiFi on my floor.
It is ironic that while there are house rules on use of the phone on the bedside table, there is no actual phone in the room. The TV appeared promising, until you turn it on and you see there is no cable. Worse, the reception is snowy.
The bathroom is basic, no hot shower, not even a bathroom mat on the floor. I had to use one of the towels as a mat to dry the floor. The shower head appears to be old, there are reddish orange rings around the pinheads. No bidet, just toilet paper. No timba and tabo. Toiletry kit is very basic, no slippers.
If you are sensitive to noise, you will have a problem because you can hear the noise your neighboring travellers make.
But the worst part of this hotel experience was, they placed me in a room whose lock was broken. I only got out of the room once. When I returned, I could not open it again and only the staff could open it for me. I was so paranoid about the door that I slept with a chair jammed against the door for security, and I did not go out to eat the complimentary breakfast. I was not sure I could unlock the door once I returned, and I found it too much of an effort to bring my things with me. Remember, no elevator.
Usually, I feel a little bad when check-out time approaches. In this case, I left at 11:30. I wanted to leave right away. No one was at Front Desk, and the guard had to call staff to officially say I could leave. I don't remember being helped with my things this time. Don't tell me there's no help anymore because I already checked out?!
It is such a shame that the hotel appears to be so promising at first glance, only to see shabbily made surroundings. The bedside table, for instance, is made of very flimsy material, and could not be opened smoothly.
There was a cafe, and yet it was closed.
The only pluses were the staff when I checked in, and the aircon.
In retrospect, I wish I asked for a room change, but was so disappointed already, I just wanted to check out once it was time.
I always travel on a budget, and sad to say, this is an overpriced hotel. I have been to hotels that offered much more for less. This could be a very good hotel, if management addressed the issues, especially the one on safety. Never assign a room with a broken lock and broken, open windows to your client. It gives the impression you don't care as long as you have the client's money.
I wish I could be refunded for this stay. It was horrible, to say the least. So disappointed.