Venice Star Grand Hotel

There was a great deal for this hotel at Booking.com, but the rating was very low. I looked into it some more. There was only one review, and one person's opinion won't sway me. I might even give them a good review for my stay to boost their rating. The hotel was just off Plaza Sta Cruz and the Chinatown Arch. A block further is the LRT Carriedo station. And strolling around Sta Cruz you find all kinds of hard-to-find things like replacement parts, clothes, and the list goes on. Sta Cruz church is right on the plaza with a good mass and confession schedule. Nearby is Quiapo Church with hourly masses daily, and many more shrines and basilicas in the area. You're also a moderate walking distance to Intramuros, passing through Escolta, the shopping capital of the good old days, or the beautified river walk. I booked and was pleasantly surprised. The staff were helpful and friendly. There is a 24-hour cafe downstairs. There was one elevator that worked well. The hallways and room were clean. The room was spacious. The A/C and hot water heater worked well. The bed was reasonably comfortable, and the linen was good, with a provided quilted blanket.

There were coffee cups in the room but no hot water pot. The shower was provincial style with no curtain or ledge, so you had to squeegee the water to the drain after a shower to allow the floor to dry faster. There can be some traffic noise even on the upper floors, depending on the traffic conditions below. The stair areas were not kept clean. There was no closet, only a hanging rod above the sofa, and no hangers were provided. The café only served bottled coffee or tea, not brewed coffee or tea bags. It's the first time I've encountered such. The food and prices are okay, but there is nothing to write about.