Booking at Zen Rooms

We've been looking at rooms available through BOOKING (dot) COM a number of times but it was our very FIRST TIME to TRY booking at the hotel EMPHASIZING a tag line..."ZEN ROOMS Sleep Well, Pay Less".


THE LOCATION

Since our stay is confirmed on our way on the 3rd of May I called the hotel.
I made a call past 2 in the afternoon, a sleepy receptionist whom I caught YAWNING answered the phone. I even started greeting..."GOOD AFTERNOON IS THIS ZEN ROOMS?"
This was because the HOTEL RECEPTIONIST lack TELEPHONE ETIQUETTE.
I started asking for HOTEL exact location in BONI, I was enlightened about it through certain landmark location mentioning ROBINSONS FORUM.
We locate it and later on found ourselves walking, it was far from the landmark and it requires a number of steps going there.

After paying for the AGREED upon ROOM RATE we also PAID for  a SECURITY DEPOSIT amouting P1000.


ZEN ROOMS ROOM

We were given a CARD not a KEY at 2720. Not so much to EXPECT a BED and a separate CR with TV, MICROWAVE OVEN, REFRIGERATOR, A DINING TABLE but there was no SINGLE SPOON nor MUGS inside. This was a bit AWKWARD for you have to call the hotel to REQUEST for those.

Our tummies were hungry so after dropping all our things...we left for lunch.
In fairness, there was existing FAST FOOD CHAINS and RESTAURANT within the area...a walking distance and to NOTE there's more with a few more WALKS inside the Robinsons Forum.

Then we went back right away to at least feel our stay at the hotel.
I was actually fixing some of my things when suddenly the KIDS SCREAMED.
I said WHY? they said there's a COCKROACH and pointing it to the direction where it was CRAWLING inside the CR.
A few more minutes there's a FEW MORE CRAWLING.

Upon checking my e-mail I was asked if how was so far our stay at ZEN ROOMS.
This gave me the very opportunity to put everything on writing our COMPLAINTS staying at their room.

One of their customer service representative gave us feedback on this...

A few minutes after our SENT e-mail...we HEARD somebody KNOCKING on our ROOM.
They IMMEDIATELY moved us to the NEXT ROOM, room 2721.

Much of my concern is this, did they not CHECK this before they send us there? Because if ZEN ROOMS did...then there's no INCIDENT like this.

In room 2721, It was the same type of ROOM but there was no SINGLE insect there.

Since we never wanted to ruin our stay at the hotel...we moved on because that particular day was my youngest SPECIAL DAY!


ZEN ROOMS AMENITIES

The kids and the family enjoyed SWIMMING. We made a visit on weekday so EXPECT that there's no VOLUME of GUESTS coming in. So were like, in our own SANCTUARY.
I just admired their CR with locker rooms, clean and well-maintained.

I just don't have the chance to personally visit the GYM which was supposedly on my BUCKET LIST due to time constraint. 

ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END

The following day we checked-out. 

We TRIED to inquire about our OTHER CONCERN which was how can we get a hold of the MONEY they took us from our VISA CARD.

We were told that they're just only going to PUT ON HOLD that money...but still it WASN'T RETURN to us until the time we checked out at ZEN ROOMS.

There was even a VERBAL DENIAL from the receptionist that it wasn't ZEN ROOMS who hold our money...and that BOOKING (dot) COM was the one CAPABLE OF DOING it.

But TRY TO LOOK AT THIS...

But we CHECKED over and over again until this very day.

I just couldn't put the grab copy of our bank statement (due to some privacy concerns) which proves that we were DEBITED with the same amount of our stay...and that MONEY was still on-hold after we made an inquiry about it.

We are still WAITING for our MONEY to go back. 

For those who are READING this MAKE SURE that before leaving the HOTEL you have your MONEY BACK.

After this experience, I don't know...NEXT TIME we will be booking at HOTELS and SEARCH ENGINES that is TRUE with their SERVICE and PROMISE.

  

The amazing BOOKING (dot) COM

Last February we had booked at AZURE through BOOKING (dot) COM.
And we felt that we were screwed because what was posted in their site specifically the HOTEL RATE were HIGHER when we were asked to pay.

I never let this particular thing end as if we were victimized or scammed.
Right then and there, I sent an email to complain about what took place in our stay in AZURE.

They were replying but I couldn't get what I wanted. I am actually asking for JUSTICE and I will only think of achieving that at the time they do not just responded on my email APOLOGIZING but only by SENDING BACK the EXCESS MONEY Azure charged us.

Until I think a week or two, after several emails I sent them, I got a reply saying that they were sending back extra amount of money the hotel charged us.

At first I couldn't believe it. I thought I will just keep on receiving EMAILS of PROMISES...not until they asked for what existing bank I have in the present and after 14 working days, I had it BACK!

At the time I was so pissed-off with the service they're providing with us, I think I said it many times that I wouldn't be ANYMORE use their SEARCH ENGINE and will look for another one TRUE ENOUGH with their PROMISES.
But after what they did, it's like I AM DISCOVERING FEW MORE GOOD THINGS on BOOKING (dot) COM...ONE THAT IS TRUE AND VERY RELIABLE!

Now, again I took my time using the same search engine to have a memorable celebration of my youngest.

Booking at BOOKING dot COM

I was actually planning and trying to look for a cheap flights going to Boracay.
Well, it was a dream vacation for me and for the family to visit Aklan.
But I was then taking into consideration expenses I and the family will spend.
And since it was not in-accordance with my budget...I immediately drop the idea.

A close friend of mine from work suggested on booking on a cheap hotel which I will find from using the internet...and so I did.

From typing key words like that of "CHEAP HOTELS," comes a link that led me in finding
"BOOKING dot COM."

From your computer screen on the left side you will find instructions DESTINATIONS,
CHECK-IN/CHECK-OUT Dates as well as NUMBER OF GUESTS booking for a particular hotel.

Just fill out and you will see so MANY"CHOICES," by pressing the SEARCH button.

From there will you see available hotels browse from the pictures and see what best suits your location and budget you're looking for.

Specifically I have chosen an apartment type in Mandaluyong that I think and believe has a high value for spending your money right.
Imagine a P1,500 stay for one night with the following amenities that will surely call one's attention as to it has kitchen and cooking wares we can use, with FREE WI-FI, a private pool, a FREE PARKING and a GYM facility as well.

Right then and there, I booked for it.
I remember I had it booked last 22nd of November and right then and there I spoke to, I believe owner "Imelda."
She was so nice and very friendly.

Everything was smooth at the time, when suddenly after days of booking on the 30th of the same month November...I received an e-mail telling that the apartment wouldn't be available on the day, I had it booked. And citing a reason that the owner "Imelda," has a family emergency that she has to attend to.

I immediately called my contact and I actually did it twice and the second was a just a minute away.
But there was "NO ANSWER," and that the phone was just ringing.

I was then telling myself..."WHAT WILL I DO NOW?"

Out of desperation, I send e-mail to BOOKING dot COM and complaint about what had happened.

After this, emails came in but surprisingly a phone call from "AMSTERDAM," was reflecting on my Cellphone and so I answered. The conversation was about resolving a booking problem I was complaining about.

I was told that they will provide me a new hotel booking in replacement for a cancelled hotel I previously booked using their on-line service.

I was in a mall on my way home, and counting the calls I had that night was three.
There was just a slight problem which I also raised concern with them.
This was on giving me a replacement that they were not sure if FREE of NOT.

That night BOOKING dot COM were able to resolved it.
The replacement hotel they gave me was I think a perfect replacement at that time.
But because I was traveling home, I just told them via e-mail that I received it.
And have decided to call the following day.

But since I never spoke and communicated right away to a given replacement hotel reservation agent...a few hours after I made a call the following day, it was booked.

At this point, I said to myself, "I'm too tired doing this over and over again," I almost gave up.
But at some point, I wanted to give my family a vacation we all deserved...so I still communicated with them.

And three days before it unfolds...I was booked with a condo, same location but there was just a difference on it's price.
From an apartment priced at P1,650 (which includes city tax) to P1,900 (that includes P500 cleaning fee)...I booked with it.

I was actually after of amenities such a swimming pool access, gym access and a place where the family could not just relax but also can cook.

I ended up with "LIGHT RESIDENCES," in Boni most of the amenities I was looking for were given to me except for a gym access which was given to residents and members of a condo not on TENANT.

So far, the family enjoyed staying.
I have to commend the EFFORT of BOOKING dot COM agents for trying their BEST to make it happen.

I just hope you hold on to your promise that additional expenses I spent staying from a different hotel from the first confirmed booking will be return to me.