| Swagman Hotel |
Guest Rating: 5 |
ronald N.
|
Australia
Couple
Date of Stay: 21 Nov 2008 |
| Value for Money: |
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4/10 |
| Location: |
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8/10 |
| Staff Performance: |
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6/10 |
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| Hotel Condition/Cleanliness: |
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4/10 |
| Room Comfort/Standard: |
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2/10 |
| Food/Dining: |
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6/10 |
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Ask them to pick you up at the airport and they will.
Near American Embassy.
Walking distance to Robinson Shopping Center.
Taxi distance to SM Mall of Asia.
Breakfast at half price if you stay at the Swagman.
Fly D Buss to Angles City 3 times a day, fare is now 600 pesos per person and takes 2 hours. A bit run down and lack of maintenance, rooms need to be refurbished. Good airport pick up service if you let them know.
Hotel is now a bit run down after 30 years service, still the same since 1980s.
Convenient if stopping overnight but do not expect a lot for your money, there a better hotels in the same district for less price and better service.
Hotel Feature Tip : Keep away from the touts selling coins, sun glasses, belts or ships to sail home on.
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| Whats the hype about? |
Guest Rating: 2 |
stephen J.
|
United States of America
Couple
Date of Stay: 14 Nov 2008 |
| Value for Money: |
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2/10 |
| Location: |
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2/10 |
| Staff Performance: |
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2/10 |
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| Hotel Condition/Cleanliness: |
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2/10 |
| Room Comfort/Standard: |
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2/10 |
| Food/Dining: |
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2/10 |
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dirty, old, rat infested, shower wont work, windows wont close After talking to several foreigner friends about a decent place to stay at a good price, i decided to book a room for one night at this hotel. Not only is it in a sleazy area, scamsters everywhere, as soon as you exit the front door. I reluctantly checked in, with no help from the hotel staff in bringing the bags to the room. I turned the AC on which was so noisy and old that you couldnt hear the tv, while standing there i looked at the view from our room and was shocked to see a small settlement living in the alley next to this place, they were stretching tarps and the smoke was boiling from beneath these. I soon discovered the windows were so bent up and warped that they lacked two inches to close so i wrapped wire ties around the handles to keep the alley people from coming in, they already had a ladder leaning against the brick wall so i was very leary. The bed was a wooden slab with about four inches of foam and a dirty looking comforter thrown atop. The shower at first appearance was the best looking part of the room but later found out the shower head was broken and the drain clogged. Thank God i was only staying until the next morning. If you can avoid this place do so at all cost. The restaurant area was fairly neat with many australians and europeans eating there but i couldnt get past the rest of the place to eat there. Fortunately there was a Wendys nearby, although it was old and nasty looking but i didnt feel comfortable walking too far from the hotel.
Travel tip : I wanted a place close to the immigration office and this was convenient
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| swagman -the good the bad and the ugly |
Guest Rating: 8 |
david S.
|
United Kingdom
Business Traveler
Date of Stay: 06 Nov 2008 |
| Value for Money: |
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10/10 |
| Location: |
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10/10 |
| Staff Performance: |
|
10/10 |
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| Hotel Condition/Cleanliness: |
|
4/10 |
| Room Comfort/Standard: |
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4/10 |
| Food/Dining: |
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10/10 |
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excellent airport transfer service\npleasant staff\ngood restaurant easy access to ermita nightlife often overcrowded foyer - difficult to get in and out\nrooms left with no cleaning 3 days out of 10\ncockroaches the size of a matchbox in the bathroom\nI was initially given a cellar room with no windows but i refused to stay 10 days there and was givien another roomr Swagman is an economy class hotel with lots of good features but is badly organised with regards to room cleaning ( so many traineees not allowed to clean rooms!) and I wonder about cleanliness as the cockroaches are enormous and climb walls (and even in beds?? - I woried about that!).\nHowever I would recommend it to the econmy traveller but make sure you don't get a room in the dungeon (cellar rooms have no windows!)
Nightlife Tip : make sure u only use main roads as in back streets u may be robbed. Make sure u never use unauthorised moneychangers especially if a boy on the street stops u and takes u to one. I had 4000 stolen from me by Indian noneychangers so always count agaian and agaian and again if necessary b4 taking ur money
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| A nice hotel that looks after its guests. |
Guest Rating: 7.3 |
christopher R.
|
Australia
Solo Traveler
Date of Stay: 27 Oct 2008 |
| Value for Money: |
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8/10 |
| Location: |
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10/10 |
| Staff Performance: |
|
8/10 |
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| Hotel Condition/Cleanliness: |
|
4/10 |
| Room Comfort/Standard: |
|
6/10 |
| Food/Dining: |
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8/10 |
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A great location, friendly staff and a great restaurant on site. Free Airport shuttle. An old building which is now showing signs of wear and tear. The Swagman Hotel is a nice place, provided you can look past the cracked paint and broken, dirty tiles. It is situated in a good location near the heart of Manila. Within walking distance to Rizal Park, Intramuros and the Manila Bay board-walk, it is easy to get to most popular sites. Nice restaurant as well. Shuttles depart from the hotel to several take you around the Philippines.
Sightseeing/Attractions Tip : Just walk north from the hotel for 5 minutes and you'll find Rizal Park - a very relaxing oasis in the centre of town!
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| Free Airport Shuttle Great for First Timers |
Guest Rating: 7.3 |
timothy E.
|
United States of America
Solo Traveler
Date of Stay: 25 Sep 2008 |
| Value for Money: |
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8/10 |
| Location: |
|
8/10 |
| Staff Performance: |
|
8/10 |
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| Hotel Condition/Cleanliness: |
|
6/10 |
| Room Comfort/Standard: |
|
6/10 |
| Food/Dining: |
|
8/10 |
|
The biggest selling feature for me was the free shuttle to and from the airport. It was my first time visiting the Philippines and booking with the Swagman hotel meant not having to deal with crooked cab drivers! The only room that was available when I booked was a standard room which could have used a little refurbishing.
The moment you step outside the hotel, you are confronted with aggressive street hawkers trying to get you to buy their goods. This was my first venture to Asia. Having never flown to the Eastern Hemisphere before, I promptly did my homework on the subject. I sought out the advice of America ex-patriots living abroad in the Philippines via online communities.
The Swagman Hotel came highly recommended for newcomers, as they offer a free shuttle to and from the airport. Some cab drivers have become infamous among the American Expats in Manila for not using the meter and wanting to invent very high prices when a "white face" is in the cab.
After a long flight from the USA to Manila, the Swagman offered a nice little oasis in which I could rest and shower before finishing my trip to Cebu City to meet a certain special young lady.
When helping yourself to the drinks in the mini-bar, be sure to clean the tops of cans --or do what I did--drink only drinks that have a screw off lid! The mini-bar is stocked with some unique drinks that I had never tried before, but tasted really good.
Also, bring your American Dollars if you want. They do currency exchange at the hotel's front desk. The rate is good, and because of the FREE shuttle to and from the airport I could wait to exchange the money in the safe atmosphere generated by the good people at the Swagman!
It was as good and painless as I had heard. The only thing I would have done differently--is--I would have booked a better (Superior) room if one had been available!
Restaurant Tip : If you have a hankering for a classic American hamburger, there is a Wendy's right next door. I would take just enough cash to pay for the meal, and lock the rest at the hotel safe though. There are many street hawkers who will try to sell you things the moment you step outside the hotel and onto the street.
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| Friendly and Relaxed Atmosphere |
Guest Rating: 7.3 |
audrey S.
|
Australia
Couple
Date of Stay: 07 Jul 2008 |
| Value for Money: |
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8/10 |
| Location: |
|
8/10 |
| Staff Performance: |
|
8/10 |
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| Hotel Condition/Cleanliness: |
|
6/10 |
| Room Comfort/Standard: |
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6/10 |
| Food/Dining: |
|
8/10 |
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Good facilities...restaurant and bar.
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| Nice hotel for the money |
Guest Rating: 8 |
donald M.
|
United States of America
Couple
Date of Stay: 05 May 2008 |
| Value for Money: |
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8/10 |
| Location: |
|
10/10 |
| Staff Performance: |
|
8/10 |
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| Hotel Condition/Cleanliness: |
|
8/10 |
| Room Comfort/Standard: |
|
6/10 |
| Food/Dining: |
|
8/10 |
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I would stay again, but I am just more aware of what to ask for in advance and so I am more prepared. The staff was courteous and they try to help as much as they can.
Hotel Feature Tip : Nice shuttle to and from airport.
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| Very Convenient |
Guest Rating: 7 |
david N.
|
Canada
Couple
Date of Stay: 24 Apr 2008 |
| Value for Money: |
|
8/10 |
| Location: |
|
8/10 |
| Staff Performance: |
|
10/10 |
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| Hotel Condition/Cleanliness: |
|
4/10 |
| Room Comfort/Standard: |
|
4/10 |
| Food/Dining: |
|
8/10 |
|
Location is good, the travel services and the fly-the-bus great. The restaurant has Australian food and food from the Philippines, all good. I have stayed here many times, but usually for 1-2 days max. Great service to the airport and the restaurant and sports bar are very good. Good staff. Always busy at this hotel. I enjoy the bar and the good company of fellow travelers there. If they improve the rooms I would use this hotel more. The Australian wines are great also.
Hotel Feature Tip : Try the fly-the-bus to travel to the different Swagman Hotels
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| Very good location |
Guest Rating: 7 |
mamoru T.
|
Japan
Solo Traveler
Date of Stay: 09 Feb 2008 |
| Value for Money: |
|
8/10 |
| Location: |
|
8/10 |
| Staff Performance: |
|
8/10 |
|
| Hotel Condition/Cleanliness: |
|
6/10 |
| Room Comfort/Standard: |
|
4/10 |
| Food/Dining: |
|
8/10 |
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If you want to go to Angeles, the bus will start from the hotel. It is only 500 pesos.
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