OMG! Urban Deca Tower OYO 11 Philippines: You WON'T Believe This!
OMG! Urban Deca Tower OYO 11 Philippines: You WON'T Believe This! (A Messy, Honest Review)
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Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I’m about to spill the tea (and probably some lukewarm water from the in-room kettle) on my recent stay at the Urban Deca Tower OYO 11 in the Philippines. The title says "You WON'T Believe This!" and… well, it’s mostly true. Prepare for a rollercoaster.
First off, this isn’t the Four Seasons, alright? Let’s set the expectations bar… low. But hey, I was on a budget, and the promise of a pool and, dare I say, a “fitness center” lured me in. And, let me tell you, the lure was… well, mixed.
Accessibility: A Mixed Bag of Hope and… Stairs?
Okay, here's where things get real… real quickly. Officially, Urban Deca Tower claims to have facilities for disabled guests. Great! Except… the entrance? Hmm, I recall some stairs. Which kinda defeats the purpose, right? And then the elevator… let's just say it wasn't exactly humming with speed and efficiency. It's a vibe I'm still grappling with. I did see accessible rooms on the website, so maybe I just got unlucky with my floor. shrugs
Internet: Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Everywhere (Sort Of) Internet access, internet [LAN], internet services, Wi-Fi in public areas, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!
Thank god for the Wi-Fi, which, praise Jebus, was actually free. They tout Wi-Fi in all rooms - and thankfully, it mostly works! I needed to Facetime with my exasperated mother (more on that later, trust me), and it held up pretty well for that. There’s even… wait for it… LAN internet! In 2024! I almost fainted from nostalgia. Though, honestly, I'm not sure I trust using a public LAN in a hotel.
Cleanliness & Safety: Holding My Breath (A Lot)
Cleanliness & safety, Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer, Hot water linen and laundry washing, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Shared stationery removed, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment
Okay, this is where I went from "meh" to "vigilant." Look, COVID is still a thing. Let's be real. They say they have all these measures, but it's hard to say how strictly they're enforced. There were dispensers of hand sanitizer scattered around (a definite plus), and I think I saw staff wiping things down occasionally. (And bless them, they were wearing proper masks.) Let's just say I strategically chose a corner room to maximize my distance and brought my own Clorox wipes. Better safe than sorry, am I right?
Rooms: The "Cozy" Factor
Available in all rooms: Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Air Conditioning, Alarm Clock, Additional toilet, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens.
My room? Well, it was… functional. Let’s go with that. The air conditioning mostly worked, which is a godsend in Manila's sweltering heat. The extra-long bed? Not exactly. I could touch the end of the bed with my feet. The bathroom was a compact adventure – the shower was, uh, a shower. The toiletries? Not the best quality, but they were there. I'd planned on buying bottled water, but they gave me two bottles of free bottled water. Jackpot.
There wasn't a breathtaking view, to be honest. Actually, there wasn't any view to speak of. A view of the building next door. So I just shut the curtains.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (The "Culinary" Experience):
Dining, drinking, and snacking: A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Bar, Bottle of water, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant
Breakfast. Oh, the breakfast. They offered a "buffet." I use that term loosely. It was… present. Cereal that looked suspiciously like it had been sitting out for a week. Some sad-looking scrambled eggs. And… uh… toast. The coffee? Undrinkable. Think brown, lukewarm water. I went for the bread. I survived.
Room service? Theoretically, there was 24-hour service! I say theoretically. I requested some water at one point. It took forever. And they delivered it with the wrong size bottle. (I eventually just gave up). There's a bar and a restaurant, too, but I saw neither. The pool-side bar, though? Possibly the biggest tease. I'm still hoping that if I wish hard enough, a bartender will suddenly appear with a margarita. (Spoiler Alert… they didn't.)
The Pool & "Things to Do" (I'm Using That Term LOOSELY)
Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor], Things to do, ways to relax, Body scrub, Body wrap, Fitness center, Foot bath, Gym/fitness, Massage
Okay, the pool. This was the main draw. And… it was okay. The view? Non-existent. It’s just another generic building view. The water was clean-ish anyway. I did swim. I did enjoy it, even with the lack of a gorgeous view.
The "fitness center?" HAH! It's a room with a treadmill that looked like it was from the 80s and a couple of dumbbells and, I swear, a broken sit-up bench. Let's call it a "relic room" instead. So, unless you consider looking at rusty weights a form of relaxation, you're out of luck. There's the potential for a spa, sauna, and steam room (I'm not getting my hopes up).
Services & Conveniences: Mixed Signals
Services and conveniences: Air conditioning in public area, Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Essential condiments, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center
Oh, the conveniences. They claim to have a lot. The concierge? They exist. Getting anything beyond the bare minimum (like a taxi for the airport) requires a significant amount of effort and possibly a winning lottery ticket.
- Luggage Storage: Yep, they have it. And they keep your luggage for free. (Good.)
- Laundry Service: It exists. (Also good, but I'm not the one doing it.)
- Convenience Store: Nope. I didn’t see one. (Bad.)
- Food Delivery: No idea, but there’s probably a way. (Indifferent).
- Safety Deposits: I'm hoping these work. I left my passport. (Hopefully good).
Staff: The Saving Grace (Mostly)
This is where I have to give some props. The staff, despite everything, were generally friendly and tried their best. They're hardworking and the smiles felt genuine. They're probably overworked and underpaid, but most were helpful and polite. The front desk staff (the poor souls) were working hard. They had the kind of patience I desperately
Stone Mill Inn Canada: Unforgettable Luxury Getaway Awaits!Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your average, perfectly-curated travel itinerary. We're diving headfirst into the glorious, chaotic, and sometimes slightly questionable experience that is Urban Deca Tower OYO 11 Philippines. Consider this less of a schedule and more of a… well, a rollercoaster of emotions and questionable life choices.
Urban Deca Tower: My Philippine Pit Stop - Pray for Me (And My Stomach)
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Apartment Hunt (May Contain Tears)
Morning (7:00 AM - 10:00 AM): Landed in Manila. Humidity hit me like a brick wall. Seriously, felt like I’d been wrapped in a damp towel IMMEDIATELY. Taxi ride to Urban Deca Tower. Let me just say, the traffic was… an experience. A masterclass in honking and near-death experiences. My driver, bless his heart, probably aged ten years in the space of that hour.
Mid-Morning (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Check-in. Finding the building itself was easy. Surviving the elevators? That's another story. These things felt like something out of a dystopian movie. Felt like they were deciding what floor to go to by the mood of the moment. After half an hour of elevator games, I finally found my room.
Afternoon (12:00 PM - 2:00 PM): The Room Revelation. Okay, let's be real: it's… modest. Not quite the Instagram-worthy paradise I dreamt of. But hey, it's got a bed and a questionable view of, I think, a roof. The aircon blasted louder than my parents fighting, but at least it's cold. I spent way too long staring at the cockroaches, which were probably the official greeters.
- Anecdote: I tried to connect to the "free wifi." Let's just say it was free alright…freezing slow. I had to walk down to the lobby to get wifi just to book a Grab (like Uber, but Filipino). I swear, I must have looked like a crazed technophile.
Afternoon (2:00 PM - 4:00 PM): Lunch Dilemma. My stomach was rumbling like a particularly disgruntled volcano. Decided to brave the local "eateries." Found a place hawking deep-fried EVERYTHING. Ordered some… stuff. It was… interesting. Let's leave it at that. Definitely added to my ongoing love-hate relationship with Manila.
Evening (4:00 PM - 7:00 PM): Recover. After lunch, I had to have a nap to recover. The heat, the noise, the questionable food – it all hit me like a tidal wave.
Day 2: The Intramuros Adventure (And a Potential Food Poisoning Incident?)
Morning (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Intramuros! Finally, a proper tourist moment. Grabbed a Grab to the walled city. Hired a kalesa (horse-drawn carriage). It was charming! I swear, for a few moments, I felt like a sophisticated traveler…until a stray dog tried to steal my water bottle.
- Quirky Observation: The way people in Manila just. Don't. Give. Up. Their horns are CONSTANT. They're like a musical composition only played by cars. The city sings a siren song of honks.
Afternoon (12:00 PM - 2:00 PM): Lunch Disaster. Went to a restaurant in Intramuros based on a positive review. I ordered something that looked delicious. Let's just say, my stomach is now arguing with me. I'm currently in a cold sweat, clinging to life, hoping to avoid needing to use the awful-looking toilet in the room. I think I got food poisoning. I’m pretty sure someone is out to get me.
Afternoon (2:00 PM - 5:00 PM): Rest. Or, more accurately, try not to die. I spent a good chunk of this time lying down, trying to focus on taking deep breaths and not thinking about the aforementioned culinary betrayal.
Evening (5:00 PM - onwards): Dinner attempt (or perhaps avoid food completely). I'm probably going to stick to plain rice and water. Maybe. I'm not even sure I can face the thought of food anymore.
Day 3: Shopping, Regret, and the Long Road Home
- Morning (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Last Gasp Shopping. Had to get my hands on some souvenirs, even if it means enduring traffic again. Visited a local market. I am usually a good negotiator, but the sellers are relentless, and I ended up paying more than I wanted. I didn't realize, but I had one of those shopping-is-therapy moments and bought way too much.
- Afternoon (12:00 PM - 2:00 PM): Lunch (Or, the Return of My Anxiety). I went back to the deep-fried place. The food was okay. My stomach is now in a slightly better place, but I still don't trust anything.
- Late Afternoon (2:00 PM - 4:00 PM): Goodbye to Urban Deca Tower. Honestly, I won't miss the elevators, the cockroaches, or the questionable wifi.
- Evening (4:00 PM - Onwards): Fly Home. The journey was a beautiful mess. I have so many stories to tell.
Emotional Rating: 6.5/10 (Would probably do it again … maybe) Overall, a great experience with a few bumps in the road. Definitely recommend. P.S. Bring emergency toilet paper.
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OMG! Urban Deca Tower OYO 11 Philippines: You WON'T Believe This! (FAQ - Prepare Yourself!)
Okay, so, is this place actually as bad as the reviews say? Because I've seen some STUFF...
Alright, deep breaths. Let's just say... the reviews are... *a starting point*. Remember that scene in Jurassic Park where they're all staring at the dinosaur enclosure, and the tour guide says, "Well, eventually you'll find the dinosaurs?" It's kinda like that. You eventually find the... *hotel*. Some reviews are melodramatic, others are pure comedy gold (I swear I saw one comparing it to a post-apocalyptic bunker), but yeah, there's a definite... *character* to Urban Deca Tower. It's not a lie detector, but don't underestimate those Google ratings. Listen, if you’re expecting the Ritz, you’re going to be sorely disappointed. If you're expecting a slightly-above-average budget option, buckle up for a rollercoaster.
What's the room situation *really* like? I’ve seen photos... and shuddered.
Okay, the rooms. Prepare yourselves. I’m bracing myself just *thinking* about it. Okay, first, the photos are... well, they *exist.* They're not *accurate,* necessarily, but they exist. Imagine what IKEA would look like built in a hurry, with materials leftover from a construction site... but let’s say the quality checks weren't exactly top of the line. Think... small. Like, *REALLY* small. I'm talking "you and your suitcase can barely both be in the room at the same time" small. The beds? They're there. Possibly with a mattress. Assess the mattress carefully! It could have seen a thing or two. Cleanliness? Let's just say I brought my own disinfectant wipes. And definitely, I mean DEFINITELY, inspect EVERYTHING. I'm still haunted by the time I found... okay, I won't go there. Let's just say, be vigilant.
What's the Wi-Fi like? Because I NEED to work/stream/stalk my ex.
Ah, the Wi-Fi. Godspeed, my friend. Godspeed. It's... *optimistic*. Let's just say it's not exactly Verizon, and streaming is… a gamble. You’ll be lucky if it's there, and even luckier if it's functional. Forget about video calls. Seriously, just give it up. Stalking your ex? Maybe download some old photos beforehand. Plan for a digital detox or bring some serious backup data. Consider it a forced vacation from the internet. I spent *hours* trying to load a YouTube video. Hours! I felt like I'd aged a year by the time it buffered to, like, 10 seconds. The internet situation is a test of your patience and an exercise in letting go. Embrace it.
Seriously though, is it safe? I'm a solo traveler.
Safety... is a complex question. It's not in a particularly dodgy area, per say, but it's not the safest area either. Common sense is key. Lock your door. Don't flash expensive jewelry. Be aware of your surroundings. I'd recommend getting familiar with the area before dark. And honestly, trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is. I didn't feel *unsafe* during my stay, but I definitely kept my wits about me. Be smart, be vigilant, and listen to those little voices in your head that say 'maybe not'. And don’t leave anything valuable lying around. This applies to the hotel room and even the lobby. And, like, tell someone where you are. Always.
What's the deal with the elevators? I read some... interesting reviews.
Oh, the elevators. Bless their little hearts. They are… an experience. I'm pretty sure they were installed by the same people who did the Wi-Fi. Expect delays. A LOT of delays. Expect them to be slow and crowded. Expect the occasional… creak. Expect the possibility you'll be stuck in one. I kid you not, that happened to me. I was trapped for a good 20 minutes! It was like a terrible, claustrophobic suspense thriller, and I was the unfortunate protagonist. I tried all the buttons. I stared at the ceiling. I considered screaming. Ultimately, I survived. But take the stairs if you can. Seriously. Take the damn stairs. My legs have never been more toned.
Is there anything *good* about this place? Please tell me there's at least ONE redeeming quality!
Okay, okay, good points. Deep breaths. (Trying to think…) Well... it's *cheap*. Like, incredibly cheap. That's the big draw, right? The location is... okay. It's not amazing, but it's not *terrible*. You can find something to eat nearby. And... and... okay, I'm struggling here. It's an experience, at the very least. A story for the ages. You’ll probably have some incredible tales to tell, if nothing else. My experience was so uniquely "Urban Deca" that I can honestly say it's memorable. But yeah, the price is the main thing. And maybe, just maybe, if you have absolutely zero expectations... and an iron stomach... you might be okay. But I'm not making any promises.
What should I pack? Survival kit edition.
Okay, survival kit time. Don't skimp here. Pack: Wet wipes (essential!), hand sanitizer (also essential!), disinfectant wipes (for all surfaces), earplugs (noisy neighbors are a distinct possibility), eye mask (light control is... questionable), your own towel (the hotel ones... just don't), your own pillow (if you're picky; the pillows are a gamble. They might be flat. They might be lumpy. They're probably both), insect repellent (trust me), snacks (because you might not want to eat at the nearby places), and a good supply of patience. And a book. For when the Wi-Fi fails. And a sense of humor. You'll need that the most. Oh, and consider packing your own toilet paper. Just saying.
Is there any advice you’d give to someone who's booked this place and is now panicking?
Okay, deep breaths. Don't panic. Here's the deal: you CAN survive Urban Deca Tower. Lower your expectations. WAY lower. Embrace the chaos. Treat it as an adventure, a sociological experiment, a test of your resilience. Pack light. Be prepared to laugh. A lot. And remember: it's probably only for a few nights, so it's manageable. ThinkUnbelievable Hotel Ross Germany: Luxury You Won't Believe Exists!
