Many budget hotels are near major transportation terminals. This is because passengers may need a place to sleep in while waiting for the next bus to arrive or simply need a place to crash after a long travel day.
In Cubao, Quezon City, for example, there are several budget hotels catering to passengers traveling to and from the bus, jeepney, and UV Express terminals dotting EDSA Cubao and Araneta Center.
The same is true in Avenida in the City of Manila, although to a lesser extent only because there are not as many transportation terminals in Recto as there are in Cubao.
In Avenida, one of the go-to budget hotels is Vista Hotel.
Many people say Vista Hotel is a scaled-up and slightly better version of the more popular (or infamous) Sogo Hotel. So how is it like to stay in Vista Hotel?
LOCATION
Located along Recto Avenue, Vista Hotel sits right in the heart of probably one of the busiest sections of the City of Manila so there are a lot of people any time of the day. It is a mere 3-minute walk from LRT 2 Recto Station or LRT 1 Doroteo Jose Station. The nearest mall is Isetann Recto, although one could also take a jeepney or e-trike from Vista Hotel to go to nearby Divisioria. The closest bus terminals include Philippine Rabbit, Santrans, Solid North, and Genesis Bus.
Because this is downtown Manila, the area is generally traffic-choked, polluted, squalid, and reeks of bad smell. There are also a lot of homeless people and vagrants roaming around. Shanties surround the inner streets, and there's also the Manila City Jail around the corner to boot. Clearly, the area is not for the faint of heart.
In terms of food choices, there are a couple of prominent fast food chains in the area, including Jollibee, McDonald's, Chowking, and Mang Inasal. Walk a bit more to Isetann and Quiapo and you will be able to spot even more choices.
RECEPTION
Vista Hotel has a small lobby. There are seats available, and depending on the day and time, you may encounter a queue. Let's be real: apart from travelers looking for a place to spend a few hours of rest, both Vista Hotel and Sogo Hotel likewise cater to couples availing of short-term room rentals for quick hook-ups. So expect to wait on evenings of paydays and weekends, especially during the valentine season.
Otherwise, booking a room is fairly easy. Just walk in, head to the reception desk, and register. You will then have to decide whether to go for a 3-hour, 6-hour, 12-hour, or 24-hour stay in either a standard or deluxe room. You will then be ushered in to your room by a uniformed attendant.
PAYMENT AND COST
Payment is made once you have been shown your room. The attendant will take your money and then return with a receipt and two small bottles of water. Make sure to give a tip.
The rates at Vista Hotel are comparable to other budget hotels in the metro. The price of a 6-hour stay is around P500, while a 12-hour stay costs P750. A full 24-hour stay costs above P1,000. The rates are lower if you check in between 2 am and 11 am. If you have a Beep card, present it to the attendant upon payment to get a 20% discount.
There are no fixed check-in or check-out hours; just count the hours from when you checked in. This means that if you availed a room for 24 hours and checked in at 11 pm, then you should check out at 11 pm the next day.
ROOMS
The rooms are kitschy, to say the least; almost always, there are huge mirrors either on the wall or on the ceiling. Some beds are the usual rectangular queen-sized beds but there are round beds, too. A regular room has the usual amenities: an old cathode-ray cable TV, a bathroom, and a 2-seater dining table.
It must be noted that rooms at Vista Hotel Avenida have obviously seen better days. Everything is old and musty: the TV is very old, the dining set is dirty, the airconditioner is noisy and creaky, and the rooms smell like cigarette smoke. You can also hear the traffic outside, so if you went there to catch some sleep, this might be a concern.
The bathrooms aren't that great, either. The tiles in the bathroom are yellowish, some toilets do not flush, and the shower stalls are, well, scary-looking. The warn showers work, though, so there's that.
SERVICE
Nothing special.
FOOD
The food here is expensive. And given the deteriorating condition of the hotel's facilities, it is reasonable to presume that their kitchen might not be the most sanitary either. If you have to stay here for a long time and need to grab a bite, it is best to just buy from any of the fast food chains within the vicinity.
OVERALL
For all its faults, Vista Hotel is actually the most decent budget hotel choice you could get within the Avenida area. It helps that its rates are reflective of the quality of service and room you will get. The hotel is in a gritty neighborhood, so if you are looking for something more upscale, the nearby Grand Opera Hotel might be your best bet. Otherwise, if you need a room for a short stay and are willing to forego certain comforts, Vista Hotel would have to do.
Rating: * * / * * * * *