Location: UG/F, Robinsons Cybergate Plaza, EDSA cor. Pioneer Street, Mandaluyong City
An inexpensive and very decent hotel for every Juan and foreign travelers brought to you by the Robinsons Land Corporation (Gokongwei Group).
Found in several locations in the Philippine provinces: Bacolod, Dumaguete, Puerto Princesa and Tacloban.
Opened two years ago (2010) in Cyber Park Mandaluyong, I was able to grab their promo for a queen room worth 435php only (which is normally at 1088php). As what I think the first inexpensive boutique hotel not motel (especially in the Philippines) I'm eager to review this. Of course it took me sometime to visit the area since spending money for a room where I have my own bed and house to sleep in the metro is odd.
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Setting expectations! An excerpt from their Confirmation mail:
Value Hotel Concept with 8 unique selling propositions:
1. Hotel quality beds
2. Hot & Cold rain shower
3. Wi-Fi access
4. 22-inch LCD TV with cable
5. Safe and secure environment
6. Convenient location
7. Access to transport
8. Fun and friendly
Each room is fully air-conditioned and equipped with a 22-inch LCD TV with cable, in-room intercom system, option of two (2) single beds or one (1) double bed, full vanity mirror, two (2) pillows, duvet, intercom, in-room safe, bath towel, hot and cold shower, single-use soap and shampoo, and tissue paper.
Rooms are not equipped with the following: room service, radio, wardrobe, bathrobe, hairdryer, mini-bar, tea or coffee making facilities, or drinking glasses.
Let’s start the stay-cation review!
The receiving area is spacious with entertainment TV and several comfortable seats. Designed in yellow and while with some flower accents on the side.
They have a mini-store inside the lobby for your essentials, local collectibles and souvenirs.
There are promotional screens on concierge area and the receptionist would only require the confirmation email and an identification card, in less than 10 minutes I already got my card key.
For computer usage, they have one unit near the reception counter.
Sorry to say, but for a building with only 6 floors and a lower ground for the parking it never fails that elevator system of Cybergate Buildings in Pioneer are extremely slow.
Fifth and sixth floors have 110 accommodation rooms each. The hallways are full of signs and you will easily locate your room. The room is too simple with color blocking of white, blue and orange. With 3 incandescent pin lights, 1 bed side lamp to light the place. The bed is good and clean: no foul smell, no falling hairs but with small/few stains. I must commend the strong Wi-Fi connection not just in lobby but all over the area and even in the rooms.
Next factor, I appreciate the most is the rain shower.
Phones provided in the room are intercom, meaning can call other rooms and the concierge only. One landline phone for domestic outside calls (+632) is available for free at the concierge.
Since the hotel restricts guests to eat inside the room, the floor lobby has several intimate coffee tables and lounge areas where you can read newspapers or watch TV while eating your food.
It’s not my first time to see bath basics being sold at a hotel. This is the same as Tune Hotel for giving service at a cheap cost.
There is a spa service in the 5th floor which is open from 3pm to 3am PHT. Prices: manicure (175php), pedicure (300php), foot spa (700php), and massage (300php).
For food, they are partnered with Tokyo Café which has a dedicated entrance from the hotel lobby. During Friday night, you can try the Banchetto Street Food Fiesta. Of course, you can always opt to go to the Robison’s Forum Mall for other food choices and activities.
For my side notes or preference...
It’s nice to have two computer units on each floor (lobby, 5th and 6th floors)
The area near the elevator on the 5th floor is so dull in the morning for the guests going for breakfast or checking-out. They can add instrumental background music from 6am to 3pm, just in time before the music from the spa service starts.
I like to have my room with fluorescent lights than incandescent lamps.
Global Destiny Cable has a lot of Taiwanese and Chinese channels and less Korean stations, where Philippines is getting a lot of Korean visitors.
Door signs are already worn-out. They might plan to change it to more presentable and long lasting material than dilapidated-paper.
Walls are too dull to keep in plain white. I do not even suggest for them to add framed paintings on, but they can try wall paintings to promote Philippine culture or set the room with travel theme. The design can stay in just one wall and they can keep the other walls to be in bare color. They can add blown-up immigration stamps, old postage stamps, old designs of local money, cartooned travel destinations, etc. Just like those in City Inn Hotel of Taiwan and Tune Hotels of Malaysia (I have not seen the one in Angeles, Cebu, Manila, and Makati).
What are they doing on the old Smile magazines of Cebu Pacific (5J)? They could at least leave 2 copies of different release from the current 6 months for their foreign visitors to be aware of other destinations in the Philippines. They could even use that to promote their airline since not all their guests flew via 5J.
In summary, my overnight stay in Go Hotels is safe and good.
Mentioned Hotels:
City Inn Hotels in Taipei
Tune Hotels in Malaysia
Thank you so much for this blog post. It is truly informative and very helpful for a traveler on a budget like me. -Jones Lander of Hotel Management System, Jinisys Software Inc., Ground Floor Cebu Holdings, Cardinal Rosales Avenue, Cebu City, Cebu 6000, (032) 415 8647
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