The place was a little ways out so you gotta have everything you need handy. They can get a tricycle for you but those charge exorbitant prices. We arrived about 30 mins. earlier so it was understandable that the room was still being prepared. But that I had to ask the staff if the room was ready a little past 2PM before they directed us to our room was Strike 1 for me.
The family room was large so we enjoyed having our "own space" within the room. It was also very near the pool (the window by my bed opens to it) so watching the kids was easy. The pool, however, was a real downer when you book the place online and you came for the pool (like what my daughter did). It looked really nice in the picture and the actual pool was, well, a pool; and the chlorine in the water was overwhelming. That was Strike 2. I didn't even bother to go in.
Come dinnertime, we ordered our meal. It tasted good BUT they only had one platter of rice ready at such a time! We had to stop and wait for the second platter of rice. Can you imagine having to stop in the middle of your meal because you have to wait for the additional rice, that is a Filipino meal staple by the way. I can let that slide because you can choose to chat with the family and pick on the grilled stuffed squid while waiting. My breakfast platter, however, was a very oily number. I had bacon, eggs and toasted bread (with butter and jam). But we'll let that slide too.
Upon checkout, I requested for receipts for our in-house meals. It was my way of verifying the cost of dinner because the amount relayed to me did not add right as opposed to what I computed from the menu when I placed the order and had it charged to the room. I was thinking maybe the additional fees and service charge added up and all that. The lady at the counter took forever (an exaggeration, of course) and was doing a side thing addressing someone who seems to be an employee but not in uniform at the time. A PWD walking with a cane as I am, I reached a point where I could no longer tolerate standing on pretty much one leg so I told her that I will leave my daughter to wait for the receipts while I take a seat at the tricycle they called for us since their van was not around. She was told that we should have given advance notice if we wanted receipts. I'm a bit taken aback because that has always been ready for me in the places I've been too. Don't they automatically prepare receipts for issuance after an order has been served and set for room charge? Those were dinner and breakfast and we checked out at 12nn. They had ample time to prepare it unless they had no intention to issue the receipts. That was definitely Strike 3 for me...and so this review.
This may seem like a rant but I really just want the matter addressed. The place has potential but the customer service needs to improve. Whatever fell short of expectations in the amenities department could have easily been made up for by excellent customer service; but that too fell short. I am aware that managers and/or owners get to see these reviews so I am putting this out for them...because I believe that they would want this improved. I would like to be proven wrong, if I may say so. The room for improvement is the biggest room in the world, and my three strikes could be corrected easily so let's get to it. I'm local and I believe that we have the best resources - natural and human.
Go for gold, Casa Mila Inn! I am rooting for you.
