Guest User
November 24, 2022
Due to a six AM flight to Manilla, Becca and I decided to stay in Davao for two days before my final departure from the Philippines. We wanted to stay in the Water Front Insular Resort where we had stayed previously and really enjoyed. But it was not available for our dates. Therefore, I half-assed looked for a place myself and came across the Grand Regal Hotel. It seemed like a really good deal for the Premium Deluxe Room for only $75.00 a night, but immediately after booking, I found this was the biggest mistake of my vacation. Right after clicking accept the accommodations, it showed me the bill for the place and the no refund policy. For a room that should have only cost me a 150.22, it turned out to be a total of $270.02 after Extra Person Fees and Tax Recovery Charges. This charge included the estimated amount they pay the hotel for occupancy related taxes owed by the hotel and any amounts charged to them for resort fees, cleaning fees, and other fees. The balance of the charge is a fee they, the hotel supplier and/or the website I booked on, retain as part of the compensation for their services which varies based on factors such as location, the amount, and how I booked. I booked on their website for one. And I wasn’t notified of any of this policy until after I paid for the room. Then it showed there was a no refund policy. This should be illegal. I knew I was screwed. When we arrived, we found the place at one time may have been the crème del a crème of Davao City. Now, it shows considerable age as renovations obviously haven’t been attempted in some time. Carpeting is quite worn and some painting could be attempted. We were not met by any bell hops to help with our luggage as we carried our own inside. Then a bell hop brought a cart over and loaded for us. Reception was over staffed yet we still had to wait twenty minutes to be checked in by a rude/non-receptive staff. When we got to our room, it was nothing spectacular, no bathtub, worn dressers, carpet, and no mini bar as advertised. Plumbing fixtures date back to the 70’s. Did I mention that the shower drain backs up and excess water drains onto the bathroom floor over the glass shower door floor barrier? As for the view, it was nothing to look at other than a car lot and maybe a shipping dock; quite pathetic actually. These are the good points of the room. Still, we went out to the Viking Restaurant to enjoy our weekend as we had heard so many good things about it. The Viking restaurant should have been called Gluttons R Us. This place stays fully booked all the time as reservations are required and there is a waiting list to get in. I don’t know why. The food isn’t all that good. There is a ton of it and quite a variety. It is buffet also. This means everyone in Davao gets to breathe over it and put their hands on it. Some even ate right off the buffet as they moved on to the next item. God, I do hate buffet. The only aspect I could find that half w