For some Metro Manila residents who would want a quick weekend getaway but are sick of Tagaytay after having been there dozens of times, Clark in Angeles City, Pampanga may be a good alternative. Clark, formerly occupied by American forces until the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991, has become an alternative weekend destination for those who want a quick trip out of town, and enjoy the casinos and golf courses in the area, which are also quite popular with tourists from neighboring Asian countries. Others may also want to check out the Duty-Free shops, or enjoy the local cuisine waiting beyond the Clark Freeport Zone's gates. These activities awaiting vacationers have allowed several hotels to be built in the area.
For this particular weekend trip, we decided to check in at Hotel Stotsenberg, named after Colonel John Stotsenberg, who led his regiment in Quinque in the Philippines but was killed in action at the age of 41 in 1899. The hotel is located at a sprawling lot along Gil Puyat Avenue corner Andres Soriano street inside the Clark Freeport Zone. The hotel has a convention center as well as a casino, which a lot of hotels at Clark seem to have. The hotel also has a number of restaurants and a bar which serves a variety of food and drinks.
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| The hotel's facade |
Before entering the hotel, guests would have to go through a security check--a guard stationed at the entrance would check the guests' bags or purses, then the guests would have to go through a metal detector before finally entering the lobby. The lobby was nothing special--it wasn't as grand and impressive as the lobbies of many five-star hotels in Metro Manila, but it wasn't too shabby either. To the right was the reception area and to the left were some couches and the dining area (no dividers here--the set-up somehow reminded me of The Peninsula Manila where the lobby was also where the dining are is located), as well as a bakeshop where they sold cakes and pastries. They had an ATM machine near the entrance which is a plus for the guests, since there wouldn't be a need to head out the hotel to look for the nearest bank, since the hotel is a bit far from where the action is at Clark (a.k.a. the mall). There was also a mezzanine level, though I did not really bother to check it out. The lobby seemed dull, though--some piped-in jazz or piano music would have helped liven up the place. A bit of dusting would have helped too--the couches and chairs looked rather dirty, which isn't good for people who are sensitive to dust (myself included).
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| The lobby--all spruced up for Halloween and Christmas. The lobby has an Italian feel to it |
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| The dining area is located right at the lobby |
As mentioned, the hotel has a convention center and for that particular weekend, there were a number of conventions and activities going on, including a Sangguniang Kabataan regional gathering. A celebrity guest was also scheduled to perform at the casino that same night, and the hotel was also filled with guests who were staying for the long weekend. Parking, however, was not a problem--we would easily find a parking space whenever we would arrive.
Check-in was fast and we were immediately escorted by a bellboy to our room, 311-D. It was a fairly long walk to the elevator, but it did give us the chance to check out the place. The hotel compound is huge--we did get to see the pool (which was also enormous) that had two slides and some nets (for volleyball). There was a lifeguard on duty in case of emergency. On another side of the hotel was the so-called "Central Park" which had a jogging path and fountain where guests could relax or exercise. This whole area was encompassed by more of the hotel's buildings.
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| The garden, "jogging path", and fountain area, surrounded by buildings |
The hallway that led to our room up on the third floor was not air-conditioned, and rather hot and stuffy. The windows there couldn't be opened either, so guests would have to bear with the temperature especially on a hot day. The hallways, however, were equipped with CCTV cameras for security purposes.
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| The hallways |
The room we got had two single beds, an old TV, a small refrigerator, a dresser and a decent, well-stocked bathroom. Since there were four of us staying, we had to ask for an extra bed upon check-in which was brought to our room before we could even fully settle in. Aside from the bed, they also brought in an extra towel, a bar of soap, and a small bottle of shampoo which we did not really ask for, but they figured we could use (which we did). Overall, the room was decent, but badly needs updating. The only window that the room had would give you a view of the hallway, so they remained covered throughout our stay, unless we would want our privacy compromised. The lack of natural lighting did make the room seem dreary--the dark walls and the dark wood on the beds and dresser only made this worse. Wi-Fi connectivity is also available, but for a fee.
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| The two single beds inside our room |
Noise can be a bit of a problem--the rooms do not completely keep the noise coming from the halls out. Once in a while, I could hear a child running down the halls or screaming, or another guest talking to someone loudly on the phone. While this isn't much of a problem when we're wide awake, it is quite difficult to bear if we wanted to get some sleep.
Breakfast is served at the dining area at the hotel lobby. Seating is very limited (considering the size of the hotel and the number of guests at the time) so if it does not bother you, there would be a chance that you would be sharing a large round table with another group of guests. We shared the table with another family of four, which for me was quite awkward. Food choices at the buffet table were also limited. Food options were limited to one type of bread, soup, rice, and three meat dishes (fish, sausage, and pork with gravy), two kinds of fruit, and two beverages (orange juice and hot chocolate). For those who are used to the buffets at five -star hotels, breakfast at Hotel Stotsenberg may come as a shock. But then again, this is not a five-star hotel, so it helps to lower your expectations. The food was decent, but it not really something to rave about. The waiters, however, would approach the tables and ask the guests if they needed anything. My mother's requests for more hot chocolate to be brought to our table were attended to quickly.
The staff at the hotel are willing enough to assist the guests with anything, though a lot of them would not really acknowledge your presence unless you talk to them first. For those expecting a simple greeting from them when you would pass them in the halls; well, you wouldn't really get any. The staff could use some extra training on this aspect.
Conclusion
Hotel Stotsenberg is a decent hotel, but could use some major updating, starting with the lobby up to the rooms. For a hotel of its size, you'd think they'd have their own large dining area with adequate seating, but they just had to squeeze it in the lobby, which isn't really that grand anyway (only The Peninsula Manila could pull this off, in my opinion--having the dining area right where the lobby is). While the rooms had amenities that one would typically find at hotels, there is a need to keep up with the times. While the hotel doesn't really seem to be deteriorating, it doesn't seem to be moving forward either--it's just...standing there, and it seems perfectly happy being stationary. Parking at the hotel deserves a thumbs up though, and also the well-stocked, spacious bathroom in the room. Quick service and response time by the staff is also worth mentioning, though they could improve on making the guests feel more welcome.
So...did I regret spending a night at this hotel? I would say not. While there is still a lot of work to be done before it could rank itself up there with the five-star hotels, it helps to lower your expectations a bit and you'll go about your trip without a hitch. Like many other establishments, it does have its own plus points and a few flops here and there--but then again, nobody's perfect.
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| The old television and dresser. On the dresser were some brochures and a clear book describing the hotel's amenities. |
The staff at the hotel are willing enough to assist the guests with anything, though a lot of them would not really acknowledge your presence unless you talk to them first. For those expecting a simple greeting from them when you would pass them in the halls; well, you wouldn't really get any. The staff could use some extra training on this aspect.
Conclusion
Hotel Stotsenberg is a decent hotel, but could use some major updating, starting with the lobby up to the rooms. For a hotel of its size, you'd think they'd have their own large dining area with adequate seating, but they just had to squeeze it in the lobby, which isn't really that grand anyway (only The Peninsula Manila could pull this off, in my opinion--having the dining area right where the lobby is). While the rooms had amenities that one would typically find at hotels, there is a need to keep up with the times. While the hotel doesn't really seem to be deteriorating, it doesn't seem to be moving forward either--it's just...standing there, and it seems perfectly happy being stationary. Parking at the hotel deserves a thumbs up though, and also the well-stocked, spacious bathroom in the room. Quick service and response time by the staff is also worth mentioning, though they could improve on making the guests feel more welcome.
So...did I regret spending a night at this hotel? I would say not. While there is still a lot of work to be done before it could rank itself up there with the five-star hotels, it helps to lower your expectations a bit and you'll go about your trip without a hitch. Like many other establishments, it does have its own plus points and a few flops here and there--but then again, nobody's perfect.
