We had planned a getaway to the island of Samal of the coast of Davao. Our flight from Manila arrived after the last boat and we chose the Park Inn as our home for the night in Davao! As the closest hotel to the boat pier and with a big SM Mall and plenty of restaurants across the street, it was an easy choice – and we didn’t regret it!
Location: The Park Inn is only 6km (or 15 minutes drive) from the Davao airport in the new, upscale part of town It’s connected via a footbridge to the SM Lanang Premiere mall, with plenty of shopping and restaurants! There are many businesses, hospitals and the upscale Ayala mall nearby as well. It’s a very convenient location for both business and leisure, although the view of the mall and parking lot is not the most scenic…
Service: The front desk staff was very friendly and professional at check-in. Due to the hotel being full and thanks to our Club Carlson Gold Status, we were upgraded to a Suite – a two-category upgrade and very pleasant surprise! The security staff was also very friendly – one guard kept the door to the footbridge open just a little longer to let us in. The next morning, the bell man got us a metered taxi to the ferry within a few minutes without issues. While this level of service is not unusual in South East Asia, even at mid-scale properties, it is still very nice to arrive to. Despite the modest brand, the Park Inn is one of the three top hotels in Davao, which explains the better than expected service!
Room: We were assigned a suite on a high floor, located on the corner of the building and at the end of a stylish hallway in dark colors. We entered into a living room with a work desk, sitting area with TV and access to a separate half-bath. This set up makes it easy to use the suite for a business meeting or to entertain guests. A sliding door leads to the bedroom, with a comfy queen-size bed, chaise lounge and another desk. Both rooms are held in light wood and with the brand-typical touches of bright colors, making for a modern and fresh 
feel. There were a safe, two TVs, a DVD player, coffee/Tv facilities and a hair dryer, all working fine. There were plenty of electric outlets scattered around the room and wifi was free, although not very strong! The rooms were in good condition and well kept. The bathroom off the bed room was very large, with a large sink and vanity, a deep soaking tub and a big, separate shower with glass door. This was one of the largest and nicest rooms I’ve had at a mid-scale hotel – having access to a suite at the Park Inn makes the brand stand out!
Amenities/Restaurant: The hotel has a pool and pretty large gym, so you can get a good workout or relax as you see fit. From the second floor, a footbridge connects the hotel to the convention center and mall with more than 150 stores and 50 restaurants or food stands – we had a nice dinner at one of the restaurants with indoor/outdoor seating overlooking the longest dancing fountain in the Philippines. We went to the hotel’s own restaurant, RBG, for the breakfast buffet. It was very much a local offering with fruit and local breads (no croissants here), a make-to-order egg station and plenty of hot, local dishes, making it feel more like a brunch and giving you plenty of options to leave with a full stomach. The restaurant is set up pretty tightly, with simple furniture, making it feel more like a cafeteria. The food quality and service were fine and it worked well for breakfast, yet I’d recommend the many nearby restaurants for dinner!
Conclusion: The Park Inn was a very pleasant surprise and much better than the modest mid-scale brand would suggest. The nice rooms were a good start and the suite upgrade and friendly service made it stand out. The price of $80 during our stay, including breakfast, is competitive with the other top hotels in town and a great deal for the suite! Rates can be lower during less busy days and the Club Carlson rate of 15,000 is good value! I’d recommend the Park Inn Davao and stay again without hesitation!