Hotel and Inn Review: Xenia Hotel Clark (Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga)

Date of Stay: February 24-25, 2019

RATING (Scale of 1 to 10)

Location: ********

Rooms: ******

Condition and Cleanliness: *******

Staff Performance: **********

Room Comfort: *******

Food and Beverage: *******

Other Amenities: *******

Value for Money: *******

Xenia Hotel Clark

This Korean-run hotel, opened in May 2015, is housed in a 10-storey building (also known as Donggwang Clark Ode County) which also houses condominium units (hence the separate water and gas meters and video door bell, even in the hotel rooms).  

The impressive, well decorated and lighted lobby, quite odd though being located at the second floor, was decorated with synthetic Sakura flowers. 

The hotel seems to be a favorite with Korean tourists and flight attendants (it is PAL's official hotel partner in Pampanga).  Xenia Hotel also owns Puning Hot Spring, a spa that uses volcanic ash from Mt. Pinatubo.

Entrance driveway

The hotel has 200 non-smoking, rooms, simply decorated in the Minimalist style, with magnetic door locks, remotely controlled, ceiling mounted airconditioning, private ensuite bath with free toiletries, bidet and two shower (rainshower and regular) heads, LCD flat screen cable TV (only in living rooms), NDD/IDD phone, hair dryer, in-room safe  (in master bedroom), work desk, refrigerator, minibar, coffee/tea making faclity, complimentary bottled water and free wireless internet access (also available in public areas). 

24-hour Front Desk

Hotel lobby

Bedroom 2 (Room 738)

Bathroom (Room 738)

Upon arrival at the hotel, we were informed that the Executive Suite we asked for wasn’t to be ready till 5 PM (repairs were being made according to the manager) so we were asked to initially stay in a 67.5 sq. m. Two-Bedroom Suite (Room 738, PhP11,000) that had a separate living room, a master bedroom with a king size bed and second bedroom with a single bed.  

The room was unsuitable for my family of six but we had no other choice as, at the moment, the hotel was fully booked, it being a long weekend.

Master Bedroom (2-Bedroom Suite) - Room 738 

Living Room (Room 738)

TV and work desk (Room 738)

By 5:30 PM, we finally transferred to the 75.41 sq. m. Executive Suite (Room 1039, PhP15,000).  

It  also had a separate living room, a master bedroom with king size bed, a second bedroom with queen size bed and  third bedroom with a single bed.  

It also had a verandah with a good views of the swimming pools and lush greenery outside. 

Master Bedroom (3-bedroom Suite) - Room 1039

Second Bedroom

Third Bedroom

Other room types are the 49.5 sq. m. One-Bedroom Suite (has a separate living room, PhP7,000) and the 39.4 sq. m. Deluxe Room (has a king size bed or two single beds, PhP6,500).  

Don’t expect any bathtubs in any of the rooms. Pets are not allowed. 

One child aged 12 years old or younger stays for free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding.

Living Room (Room 1039)

The hotel also has a 24-hour Front Desk (second floor), 24-hour restaurant serving Asian cuisine (fourth floor), coffee shop (second floor), a fitness center (fourth floor), business center (second floor), 3 function rooms (second floor, Diamond, Sapphire and Emerald), elevators, adult and children’s swimming pool with sun deck (fourth floor, open 6 AM – PM), a casino (ground floor) and free onsite parking outside and at the basement. 

The Xenia Spa offers hot stone massage, Swedish massage and body scrubs. There's an ATM machine, convenience store (7-11) and a currency exchange service at this property.  Across the street is the Liberty Duty-Free Shop.

Work desk and TV (Room 1039)

Minibar

Door with video doorbell

Our hotel room was clean but the bedrooms were not spacious (only the bed and a side table could be accommodated).  There was no space to move around and the soundproofing was bad. 

The airconditioning, however, in the room was cool and the beds were very comfortable.  The toilets were also small (no soap holder plus not much elbow room in the shower stall).  

Only the master bedroom had a closet. Seemingly a repurposed condo unit, I wondered why they removed the kitchen. Electrical outlets were lacking.  Even the work desk at the living room had no outlets beside it.

View from room

The dark, not so well ventilated hallway had an old hospital or prison feel about it. Both rooms we stayed in, though beside a fire escape, were very far from the nearest elevator, necessitating a very long walk. 

Don’t expect carpeting at the rooms and hallways. Unusually, the room doors swung outwards and looked like cold storage meat locker doors.  The staff, however, was very accommodating and friendly. Check out was hassle-free. 

Though Agoda rated the hotel as 4 stars, it felt like a 3-star hotel.  This is more of a condotel rather than the usual hotel.

Our room package included buffet breakfast (6 - 10 AM) for 4 at the coffee shop.  It had a wide food choice that included bacon, longanisa, sausages; an bread and egg station; plain or fried rice; congee, juices, coffee, hot chocolate, salad, jams, noodles, etc.  Filling but nothing special.

L-R: Jandy, Grace, the author, Kyle and Cheska

They offer daily housekeeping, 24-hour room service, concierge, pressing and laundry service, luggage storage and airport transfer (surcharge).  Within the Clark Freeport Zone, the hotel is located 1.3 kms. from Clark International Airport, a 10-min. walk from Nayong Pilipino, a 12-min. drive from the golf courses of Fontana, Mimosa (4.3 kms.) and Air Force City, 4.4 kms. from Aqua Planet, 8.3 kms. from SM Clark, a 9-min. drive from Fontana Leisure Park and Casino and a 2-hour drive from Manila via the North Luzon Expressway.  

Adult and children's wimming pools

It is also located 9 kms. from Angeles City, 52.8 kms. from Subic International Airport (Zambales), 49 kms. from Olongapo City (Zambales) and 91.9 kms. from NAIA International Airport (Metro Manila).

Ground floor of the building

Xenia Hotel Clark: 4030 Claro M Recto Highway, Clark Freeport, Angeles, 2009 Pampanga.  Tel:(045) 499 0000. Website: www.xeniahotel.com.ph.