Much of the value of this hotel comes from the superb location. It's right across the upscale Podium Mall and a few minutes walk from the more busy SM Megamall and Shangri-La Plaza Mall. Also near places of worship if you're visiting on a Sunday. MRT is a few minutes walk away, and it's easy to book Grab in the area as it is within the CBD.
The room is dated, but well maintained. There's a recent renovation done on the bathroom and the choice of nice fixtures are noticeable -- the idet doesn't surprise you with sudden pressure and the rain shower is really good. Water temperature is well-controlled. The bathtub has a nice marble top which is good for placing a bottle of drink or your tablet to watch a few Netflix shows while soaking. You can get a bathbomb from one of the nearby malls. Choice of toiletries could be improved, but all is good. The sofa cover is made of a sort of velvet which was worrisome for me to sit on. I had a few itches under my thigh after seating on the desk chair, so just used the bed after that. It may be good to replace the furnishings with more maintainable surfaces. Airconditioning is good, but the outdoor unit located under the floor near the windows is noisy.
Entertainment options could be improved if the room is marketed as a staycation option. The TV remote only works from 1 meter away, and the TV is not smart, so you won't be able to cast Netflix and YouTube. The subscription package on the analog cable also doesn't include most HD and premium channels. There's no bluetooth speaker available and the intercom system is very dated. Refrigerator is small, but was cools well. Complimentary service is sp**** (just 2 packs of instant coffee and 2 small bottles of water). This won't be a problem if you're staying at the hotel as a halfway home and are mostly out to have meals with family and friends and do some shopping before heading out of Manila to your final destination, as I had. I haven't tried the hotel's restaurants and in-room dining, but would find an opportunity to do so when I come back.
Service of the staff is outstanding. I arrived early morning as my flight has been pushed back, and the staff welcome (starting from the doorman) was refreshing. Reception staff is very professional, and staff I've met inside the elevator were friendly. Housekeeping was also quick to respond to my request. Check-in and check-out was fast.
Overall, my stay had been comfortable and I would definitely book again. Rates at trip.com could be 50% lower than published rates for gold tier members, so this is a good opportunity to enjoy a stay at the hotel. Some rooms like mine have windows facing the other building's firewall (2 meters away). It still lets in light and is good for privacy, but if you intend to have a better view, don't forget to mention it during check-in. I would be happy to see this hotel renovated to maybe a transitional style (based from it's current classic theme), have the furnishings modernized, and the amenities improved, and I wouldn't mind paying more for such a good location.