Knowing full well that it was Sinulog weekend, my friend Marinette and I thought we were lucky to have gotten a hotel so close to where all the happenings were. Heck, we thought we were lucky to have gotten a hotel, period.
We stayed at The Maxwell Hotel along N. Escario Street.
The Maxwell Hotel is a 72-room hotel in the heart of Cebu City that caters to business and leisure travelers on a budget. It is rated “two-stars” by the Department of Tourism, and an “economy hotel” by the Cebu City Mayor’s Office. Since it opened in 2008, it has established a reputation for providing travelers accommodation that are simple clean and affordable. It is also popular because of its ample parking space and central location in the city.
The hotel’s lobby
All dressed up for Sinulog
As of January 16, 2016, the Maxwell Hotel has a “Good” (3.5 out of 5) rating on TripAdvisor, with 66 of 79 reviewers giving it an excellent, very good, or average rating. The hotel is now ranked #30 out of 82 hotels in Cebu City!
It also has a 7 out of 10 rating on Agoda, based on 129 reviews. It gets a 3.5 out of 5 rating on Expedia too, with 91% of guest recommending the hotel, based on 57 verified reviews!
Here’s why we’re not surprised:
The room we stayed in is a Superior Twin Room which cost Php1,800 per night, including a buffet breakfast and two complimentary bottled water. The room is simple and laid back, with a TV, AC, a bathroom with temp-control, a spacious cabinet, and a desk.
Despite our room directly facing the busy N. Escario street, the noise outside didn’t bother us at all.
Aaaaaand because of the recent major Wi-fi upgrade – both in terms of hardware and speed, Wi-fi connection is fast! Perfect for the working professional!
Our temporary home in Cebu
There’s even a work station for you professionals out there!
Food at the breakfast buffet is also very decent – breakfast staples such as scrambled egg, pancake, French toast, hotdog, and tocino. They don’t have butter for pancakes, though – which, in retrospect, was probably for the best since we had quite a cholesterol-heavy diet during our Sinulog stay.
Moreover, considering the circumstances, having our base along N. Escario Street was a source of great convenience for us. Everything was literally walking distance. I’m sure of this because we did walk around! From the Maxwell Hotel, the farthest we walked was to and fro the Lahug branch of Golden Cowrie, and to and fro Osmeña Boulevard (where we watched the solemn procession, and the grand parade) – which took 20 minutes, tops!
Not only is Maxwell Hotel within walking distance of the Sinulog hotspots, it’s also very conveniently located near fast food establishments and convenience stores. There are also several local food joints within its vicinity.
In addition, we are absolutely sure that the staff are genuinely friendly, because we sort of badgered them for commuting directions, insisting we wanted to take PUVs instead of cabs (but we almost always ended up walking), and they gave these to us in the most polite and patient way possible.
All in all, I’d give the Maxwell Hotel two thumbs up for its facilities, service, and strategic location.
For Maxwell Hotel’s room rates and reservation process, click here.
 The Maxwell Hotel
North Escario Street, Barangay Camputhaw, Cebu City
Telephone: +63 32 255 8700 | +63 32 255 7800
Fax: +63 32 255 7800 local 106
www.maxwellhotelcebu.com
Telephone: +63 32 255 8700 | +63 32 255 7800
Fax: +63 32 255 7800 local 106
www.maxwellhotelcebu.com
Planning a trip to Cebu? Check out www.airasia.com and www.facebook.com/airasia for affordable flights and ticket promos. And make sure you check out these 4 must-try restaurants when you’re in the Queen City.
