My parents bought a platinum card last year with almost PhP 9.000 worth of vouchers which we could use to stay and dine in Astoria Plaza Ortigas, Boracay, and Palawan. Since we’re not planning to go out of Metro Manila anytime soon, we booked one overnight stay in a long weekend last April. We had a family staycation in Astoria Plaza in Pasig last April 7-8. We expected two things: the comfort of home and the excellence of service. Which one was dreadful and not up to standard? In this post, I’m sharing all about our experience.
Review of Astoria Plaza Ortigas (J. Escriva Drive, Pasig City)
Ambiance:
The reception area looked cramped and busy. The seats were not sufficient and the counters were only enough to accommodate up to two groups of visitors at a time. Café Astoria on the ground floor was undergoing renovation, so to dine, guests can help themselves to a temporary area transformed from a large function room.
Upon check-in, we received the complimentary WiFi access for our suite (limited to one device only). As we entered the room, we found welcome fruits, newspaper, and bottle mineral water on the dining room’s table.
The one-bedroom suite featured all the amenities a family would need to stay relaxed and entertained. The spacious living room was equipped with a 32-inch LCD television, DVD player, and a comfortable sofa bed. The fully functional kitchen was fitted with a microwave oven, induction stove for cooking, refrigerator, coffee and tea making facility, and some plates and glasses.
The bedroom had one queen-size bed and a shower room with bath tub. It wasn’t particularly tastefully decorated or stylish, but it was clean, with a pretty good view of the city. All in all, the one-bedroom suite had all the expected staples to deliver a personal “home away from home” vibe.
Since we’re four and there was only one bed, we converted the sofa into a sofa bed. Three of us shared the bed in the bedroom and one person stayed in the living room.
Service:
My mom booked on our preferred day weeks before for an overnight accommodation. When we got there, the receptionist said that no room was available at the moment. Even the other two groups of people who were in queue received the same feedback, and they also had confirmed reservations beforehand.
First impressions last, and they were not good. We felt annoyed and frustrated at the level of their service and professionalism. Why did they accept our booking in the first place? There must be a problem with their system. We were advised to wait like “chance passengers”; we could get a room only when someone else cancels reservation or checks out earlier than usual.
Luck must be with us that day. In less than one hour, the staff called us in and told us one guest backed out. However, instead of getting a two-bedroom suite (since we’re four people), the offer was a downgrade: one bedroom suite. It was still disappointing but we thought it was better than having none at all.
Food:
Café Astoria temporarily set in one of the function rooms serves buffet featuring local and international dishes. À la carte dishes are also available throughout the day. Pasig is a great choice for travelers interested in culturally diverse food, but dining in the hotel cafe can be more convenient if time or transportation is limited. Food selections and tastes were pretty decent, but not above and beyond delicious. A band played music and sang familiar songs during dinnertime, which gave entertainment to the dining crowd at the hall.
Price for Value:
A night stay in the one-bedroom suite (60 sqm) in Astoria Plaza in Pasig costs P3500++. Although the bedroom is intended only for two people, the room was quite spacious and well-maintained. Thankfully, the sofa can be turned into a bed. Reception area can be better controlled, especially during peak times, and there’s a lot of room for improvement in service. Given the price, we weren’t dismal with the staycation experience but not blown away. Check out this link for the virtual tour.
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