Hotels near Santa Cruz, City of Manila

When in Manila, I mostly took taxis and didn't really try public transport. My only concern was that the area felt a bit sketchy at night. There's a Starbucks right downstairs, and if you walk two blocks to the left and then turn right, you'll find a large shopping mall. The room was average but had good air conditioning and hot water. As for the soundproofing and AC noise that others mentioned, I personally didn't find them to be a big issue. For the price of just over 200, it's really good value for money.

I recently stayed at City Garden Suites and would like to share both a commendation and some constructive feedback regarding my experience. First, I would like to highly commend Ms. Zsan for her outstanding service. After being assigned to a room that, while clean, had an unpleasant odor, I approached the front desk again for assistance. Ms. Zsan handled the situation with genuine care and professionalism. She went beyond simply checking the system—she actively coordinated with housekeeping via radio to personally verify room availability. Her initiative, attentiveness, and willingness to help truly define excellent customer service. She made us feel heard and valued, and her dedication reflects the kind of frontline service that leaves a lasting positive impression. On the other hand, I would like to offer constructive feedback regarding my experience with Ms. Acel. As a guest, first impressions matter, and my initial interaction with her during check-in was not very reassuring. When I inquired about the possibility of being assigned to a newly renovated room, I was informed that none were available, without much effort to further check or explore options. This gave me the impression that my request was not fully considered. The following day, when I needed to extend my stay, I spoke with her over the phone and requested an update regarding my concern, emphasizing the urgency as I needed to secure the current room rate online. However, after waiting for around 30 minutes without any callback, I had to follow up myself. During the follow-up, she asked for details I had already communicated earlier, which made it seem like the information was not properly noted or attended to. On the third day, I needed to extend my booking again. To avoid the same experience, I went directly to the front desk. Unfortunately, she was again the one available. Despite my previous experience, I still chose to give her another chance, hoping for a better interaction. However, the experience remained the same. Because of this, instead of extending my stay further, I decided to transfer to another hotel. I hope this feedback is received constructively. Frontline staff play a crucial role in shaping the overall guest experience. While Ms. Zsan demonstrated exceptional service and professionalism, there is an opportunity for improvement in consistency, attentiveness, and proactive assistance. With the right focus on these areas, guest satisfaction can be greatly enhanced.

We stayed for one night. When I booked the room, it clearly indicated that the maximum capacity was 3 people, and my booking was for 3 guests. The breakfast was also indicated as being for 3 people. However, the booking stated that we could check with the hotel upon arrival if the additional person would be free of charge or subject to an extra fee. I honestly wouldn’t have minded paying for an extra person’s breakfast. However, when we arrived at the hotel and were checking in, I was charged for the third person, even though my booking clearly indicated 3 guests. Apparently, the third person was not included in the amount I paid through Trip.com. It was a bit confusing because what was indicated on the app did not seem to match the actual booking at the hotel. It clearly showed that my reservation was for 3 people. Anyway, we were already there, so there was nothing much I could do except not let it ruin our mood because we just wanted to relax. Now, when we entered the room, the TV was another issue. Almost none of the channels were watchable because the signal was so poor. It felt like we had to search for a signal just to get a clear picture. Nakakaloka! Thankfully, the Wi-Fi worked, and I was able to connect my Apple TV, so at least we were still able to watch something. Another thing happened when my companion accidentally dropped their charger. When they looked under the bed, they found two oranges that seemed to have been left behind by the previous guest. That made us wonder if the rooms were being cleaned properly. There were also no power outlets near the bed and no outlet in the bathroom for a hair dryer, which was quite inconvenient. As for breakfast, it was ₱799 per person. But the options were quite limited: rice, eggs, hotdog, corned beef, potato wedges, two kinds of fruit—papaya and watermelon—pandesal, and sliced bread. At one point, the bread almost caused their microwave to catch fire! They also had coffee and juice. I was honestly disappointed because, considering the price, I expected more. For the same price, you can find all-you-can-eat breakfast options with a much wider variety of food. In terms of service, though, the staff were very nice and helpful. That’s something I really can’t complain about. The hotel itself is already quite old. I understand that it may be considered affordable, but even if the hotel is old, I still hoped that the overall experience would feel worth the price. For me, the breakfast was definitely not worth ₱799 per person. For comparison, Manila Prince Hotel, which is more affordable than Bayview, exceeded my expectations. The hotel is also quite old, but the quality of their service—especially the breakfast—is on a completely different level. Anyway, we still enjoyed our stay because we were there to relax and spend time together. But would I book again? Probably not, unless I really need to stay there because of its location and accessibility to the places I need to go.

Interesting concept, but unfortunately I would not stay here again. The room itself was quite interesting because it had two levels. I had never stayed in a room like this before, so it was a unique experience. The upper level is basically where the bed is, although I can’t say that climbing upstairs to go to bed was particularly convenient. There was also a lot of unused space in the room that could have been used much more effectively. Unfortunately, there are quite a few things that made our stay less comfortable. First of all, there is very little housekeeping. During our entire stay, nobody came to clean the room. The room also had almost no amenities - no toothbrushes, toothpaste, or even shampoo. We had to use our own shampoo, fortunately we had brought some. The Wi-Fi was another issue. It worked reasonably well on the lower floor, but once you went upstairs to the bed, the connection became very weak. This is especially inconvenient because the room is advertised as having Wi-Fi. The windows are also unusual. They are made of multiple plastic panels rather than proper sealed glass windows, and they cannot really be closed completely. Because of this, insects and other small creatures can easily get into the room, especially in the evening. Unfortunately, we actually found cockroaches in the room, including some very small ones. Another thing that left us very uncomfortable was the luggage storage situation. We arrived about 40 minutes before check-in and were told that we could not check in early, so we left our bags in the hotel’s luggage storage room while we went for a walk. We were given a simple ticket with a number. The storage room did not appear to have any cameras, and there were several staff members sitting there. When we came back to collect our belongings, we noticed that the staff were laughing and looking at us, which felt strange at the time. Only later, when we were checking our money before leaving, did we realize that 1,000 Philippine pesos were missing from our belongings. The amount itself is not huge, but it was extremely unpleasant. I am very careful with my money and am certain that I did not simply lose it. Unfortunately, we have no way to prove what happened or identify who took it. However, given that the money was missing while our belongings were stored there, the situation left us with a very uncomfortable impression and serious concerns about the security of the luggage storage. Overall, I have mixed feelings about this place. The two-level room is an interesting idea, and there is a lot of space, but much of it is simply unused. The lack of housekeeping and basic amenities, weak Wi-Fi upstairs, insects, unusual windows, and especially the incident with our money were all significant negatives. I personally would not stay here again. There are definitely better options in Manila, even if this place looks interesting at first.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ **Great family stay!** We had a wonderful stay at Hotel H2O Manila! Our 3-year-old son especially enjoyed it—he was so excited watching the fish in our **Aqua Room**. 🐠❤️ The room was clean, comfortable, and the aquarium view made the experience really unique and special for him. The staff were also very friendly, welcoming, and accommodating. They made us feel comfortable throughout our stay. Definitely a great place for families with kids. We really enjoyed our stay and would love to come back again! 😊

I stayed here for one night during a layover. The hotel is located on Mabini Street in Malate, about a 10-minute walk from the main bustling area, but the immediate vicinity felt a bit unsafe. It was convenient to have a Japanese restaurant nearby.

The location was good and very convenient. The room itself was decent, but not very clean—especially the windows, which were quite dusty. In our first room, the air conditioner wasn’t working properly so it was too warm, and we had to request a transfer. Thankfully, the second room had a functioning aircon. However, we noticed several issues during our stay. Some of our companions had problems with their shower not working, and when they were supposed to be transferred, the next room’s aircon also wasn’t cooling properly. There were quite a few inconveniences overall. The reception staff didn’t seem very accommodating or responsive to concerns. It may have been due to a high volume of guests, but it would have helped if concerns were acknowledged more promptly. The lobby was also quite warm, which made it uncomfortable not just for guests but also for the staff in corporate attire. The surroundings can be a bit noisy since the location is close to busy areas. Overall, since this was our first time staying here for a nearby event, we appreciated the convenient location and affordability. However, the overall experience was around 6/10. I hope they can improve the room conditions and address maintenance issues moving forward. We also didn’t get the chance to take photos of the room for reference. I hope improvements can be made, as the place itself has a lot of potential and the location is really good.

We had a wonderful stay at the hotel. The room was clean, spacious, and well-maintained, with a comfortable bed and all the necessary amenities. The staff were incredibly friendly, welcoming, and always ready to help with a smile. We especially enjoyed the delicious breakfast buffet and the relaxing ambiance throughout the property. The location was also perfect—conveniently close to key attractions and public transport. Housekeeping was prompt and attentive, ensuring our stay was stress-free. Overall, it was a pleasant experience that exceeded our expectations. We would highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for comfort, convenience, and great service.

First of all, I would like to say that the staff was friendly and apptoachable but the thing was checking in and out took too long since they dont have their own table or place to properly process the papers. The place were bigger than the usual I bookedl before . The room has I double deck and 1 double bed. It was clean and the bed is comfortable. I just wanted to recommend to upgrade the cooking stove into induction, it was old and rusted which wasted electricity. They provide sleepers for 4 people. You need to bring your own shampoo and toiletries. If need cleaning and help just inform the staff. Few upgrades is irecommended

Good stay overall. The staff were friendly, and the room was comfortable. Housekeeping could be a bit more thorough, but it did not significantly affect our experience. We would still recommend this hotel and consider staying again.