TThe Honest Check-InHotel 101 Manila – Guest Experience Review
Date of Stay: August 3, 2025
Duration: 1 Night
This was my first time staying at Hotel 101 Manila, and unfortunately, it wasn’t the kind of experience I hoped for.
The night before my check-in, I sent an email politely requesting an early check-in, fully aware that it would depend on availability and front desk discretion. I arrived at the hotel around 10:00 AM and queued at the front desk. I was assisted by a male front desk officer. I provided my ID and mentioned that I had sent an early check-in request via email. He didn’t acknowledge the email and simply told me that standard check-in is at 2:00 PM, and there were no rooms available.
What was disheartening was that while I was still at the counter, another guest beside me—who had just arrived—was given her room key and allowed to check in. It made me question the consistency and fairness in handling such requests. I didn’t want to make a scene, so I simply sat in the lobby, frustrated, thinking of where and how I could freshen up and iron my clothes before my 10:00 AM appointment.
I approached another front desk officer (a female this time) to ask if early check-in would be possible if I were willing to pay. She checked and still said no. I also asked if I could use their iron and board, or perhaps request their housekeeping to press my clothes and will just pay .. something I know is possible in many hotels. But again, I was turned down.
With no other choice, I left the hotel to attend to my day’s appointments feeling uncomfortable and unprepared.
When I returned at around 4:00 PM to officially check in, things didn’t improve. After ironing and changing, we left again and only returned to our room past midnight—tired and ready to rest. However, the air-conditioning wasn’t working. No matter how I adjusted it, the room remained hot.
I called for assistance and the engineering staff came. He checked the unit and said it was dirty and needed cleaning, but since we were only staying for a night, they couldn’t do anything immediately. He adjusted the temperature to 21°C and said it should be okay, assuring us that it wouldn’t shut off again in the middle of the night.
Still worried, I called the operator to ask if there was any chance we could change rooms instead. She said she’d call back. While waiting, my companion and I discussed what to do—tired, hungry (our Wendy’s food was already getting cold), and dreading the hassle of packing up and transferring rooms at that hour. After not receiving a callback, I phoned again and said we would just stay in the same room and take the risk.
It was a long, uncomfortable night. By 2:44 AM, we still couldn’t sleep. The room was hot, and the low temperature caused insects and mosquitoes to appear. I inspected the air-conditioning unit myself and was horrified to see visible dirt and mold buildup. We had no choice but to sleep in that environment, breathing in whatever was coming from that filthy AC.
Upon checkout, I spoke with Sir Jason from customer service to raise all these concerns. He was polite and listened attentively. I appreciated that at least.
But the truth is, this experience left me deeply disappointed. I didn’t feel welcomed or properly accommodated. Despite the hotel’s great location, I don’t think I would choose to stay here again. There are many other hotels nearby, and I would prefer to support a property that values fairness, cleanliness, and the comfort of their guests.
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