Crosswinds Ocean Hotel

Anyone who has travelled cheaply in Asia will find this place quite acceptable. Short taxi ride from the airport (Do not pay over 100 pesos! You have to negotiate with the taxi driver). Smoking is allowed in the Rooms! Heaven! None of this having to go outside rubbish!The door lock worked and had a bolt on the inside too. Towels were provided and were clean. The bathroom was old (like they usually are in Asian budget hotels), but there was heaps of hot water. Loo didnt have a seat though. Telly didn't work, bit we weren't bothered - besides, l am sure they would have done something if we had bothered to ask. Beds were a bit hard - just a thinnish piece of foam - but the sheets were lovely and clean. No spare blankets (hubby likes the air con COLD!), but again, l am sure l would have got one if l had asked. We got the twin room for about AU$40 Australian FOR THE ROOM, and each had a double bed to sprawl out in. We could have got 4 people in there at approx AU$10 each. Breakfast is included, but l didn't have it, so l don't know what. There was a phone in the room and the aircon worked fine. Didn't have a window though. Didn't see any cockroaches either, but did see a couple of friendly pussycats, who enjoyed a pat. (Missing my own). Friendly staff, free wifi (but take your own adaptor plug), easy to get a taxi to the airport the next day. I just read this is in the middle of the red light district! This explains why hubby had lots of girls ask him if he wanted a girl for the night, when he went round the corner to the 7/11. Hahaha Only thing hubby didn't like too much was that there was no real coffee served - just pre-mixed packet stuff. OK for me, but he doesn't take sugar. Highly recommended for backpackers and budget travelers - you could do a week in Manila and only pay AU$280 total, for 2 of you in that room. Bargain! Me - l would stay there again. If you are a namby pamby wimp about a bit of age, dirt or noise though, stay somewhere else! Try the Hilton... lt's 4x the price, but its modern and the Telly will work - maybe.