Holiday Inn Express Manila Newport City by IHG

This hotel is a popular choice for its exceptional proximity to Terminal 3 of the airport and the vibrant Newport World Resorts complex, making it a convenient option for transit travelers and casino-goers alike. Its location is consistently highlighted as a major advantage, offering easy access to entertainment and dining. While many guests appreciate the generally friendly staff and the included breakfast, recurring themes also point to significant issues with check-in wait times and varying room conditions. For families and business travelers needing a quick stopover, the hotel serves its purpose, but guests should be prepared for potential delays upon arrival and consider bringing earplugs due to external noise.

Facilities & Amenities
The hotel offers a range of facilities, though guest experiences are mixed. While a fitness center is available, some guests report issues with equipment functionality or lack of amenities like drinking water. The Wi-Fi connectivity is a frequent point of concern, often described as slow, unreliable, or inconsistent across different areas of the hotel. Security is notably tight, with guests passing through metal detectors and having their bags scanned upon entry, which some find reassuring while others find it cumbersome. The elevators can be busy, leading to wait times, and some guests have reported them being out of service. It is worth noting that the hotel does not feature a swimming pool.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
Feedback on room cleanliness and comfort is highly varied. Many guests find their rooms clean and appreciate the comfortable beds for a restful sleep. However, a significant number of reviews highlight issues such as pervasive damp, musty, or sour smells in rooms and hallways, often attributed to stained carpets or upholstery. Reports of mold in bathrooms, particularly in showers and around drains, are common, alongside sightings of cockroaches and other insects. Noise levels are a major concern, with poor soundproofing allowing considerable traffic noise from outside and sounds from hallways and neighboring rooms to disturb guests. Additionally, the air conditioning can be inconsistent, and hot water in showers is frequently unreliable, fluctuating between scalding and freezing or being completely absent.

Dining & Food Quality
The breakfast buffet is a key feature, often included with stays and generally appreciated for its convenience. The food quality receives mixed reviews; many guests praise it as good, with some even calling it excellent, highlighting local options like adobo. However, others find the selection limited, repetitive, or underwhelming, with issues such as cold food or watered-down juices. The restaurant area can become extremely crowded and noisy, especially during peak hours, leading to a chaotic dining experience and slow replenishment of items. The coffee served is frequently criticized for its weak taste. Despite these points, the breakfast is often seen as a satisfactory and convenient start to the day.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel's central location is its most consistently praised attribute, situated directly across from Terminal 3 of the airport. This makes it an ideal choice for travelers with early flights or layovers. Guests appreciate the walkable access to the airport via the sky bridge, though some note that the walk can be challenging with heavy luggage. The hotel is also conveniently located within the Newport Mall and Resorts World complex, offering easy access to a variety of restaurants, shops, and entertainment options, including a casino. While the hotel is close to Terminal 3, shuttle services to other terminals are often unavailable or unreliable, requiring guests to arrange their own transportation via taxi or rideshare. Parking is available and often complimentary.

Staff & Service
Guest experiences with staff and service are notably mixed. Many frontline staff members, including security personnel and some at the concierge and check-in desks, are consistently described as professional, friendly, helpful, and attentive. They are often commended for their willingness to assist with various requests. However, the check-in process is a significant point of frustration for numerous guests, frequently characterized by slow check-in procedures and long wait times, sometimes exceeding an hour, even for loyalty program members. Some guests report a lack of empathy or responsiveness from certain staff, particularly hotline operators. Housekeeping service can be inconsistent, with reports of rooms not being thoroughly cleaned or amenities not being replenished. The absence of bell service is also a common complaint.

Additional Information
The hotel features an on-site casino, providing entertainment options for guests. For quick needs, a 7-Eleven and McDonald's are conveniently located at the ground level, accessible from the hotel. Some guests have noted the application of a destination fee, which may not always be clearly communicated upfront. Room design includes frosted glass bathroom doors, which some guests find lacking in privacy. For families, the sofa beds provided in some rooms are frequently reported as being too short for older children, leading to discomfort and issues with accommodating all family members as per reservation details.