My top pick for a hotel is the Clarkton Hotel about 1.5 miles up Fields Ave. from the bar area. I like the Single Deluxe rooms there very much. There are some minor bars near the hotel but they can't really compete with the main bars. I like it because it is in a quite area, the rooms are in excellent condition, all for a reasonable P1100 or about $26/night. They will exchange Traveller's Checks unlike most places but the rate won't be nearly as good as cash. Their safe boxes look very secure, their pool is clean and large. The restaurant is good, the staff is nice and they have a free shuttle to and fro for their guest. In addition, the TV's are new and 20" with remote, the floors are marble, there is track lighting, teak wood is used in the closets, the AC is new and very quite. It's a real bargain for what you get, they should be charging about $80/night!
Clarkton Hotel is at 620 Don Juico Ave, Clarkview.
(Don Juico is just the extension of Fields Ave.)
Phone: 011-63-45-322-3424

Recommended rooms: 210, 214

What is the gym like here..how modern?

I stayed here my first night in AC in one of the suites. The room was nice and huge, but I ended up moving to Kokomos the next day which was in the middle of everything. I also had some water problems which were not fixed despite telling the front desk soon after I arrived.

They had big weights on the keys, mine ended up being at least 5 lbs. I showed my key to Epimetheus and Porker when I walked from Clarkton to Kokomos(yes I did). You gotta leave this key at the front desk.

Also, being on the third floor was a pain. They do not have an elevator.

Here's that damn key I was lugging around. Best to leave this at the front desk!

Here are the pics of the room I had

I didn't use the pool, but it looked nice.



Also, they have a bunch of computers next to the restaurant, so it's really easy to get online at anytime from this hotel.

The rooms here are OK but the pool area is very nice(some good pics in a prior report) and the food there is quite good. The pool is about twice the size as the Orchid Pool. I would recommend going to the pool here even if you're not staying here.

I moved here after staying at the Oasis for two weeks and am glad I made the move. This is a great deal for the money. Nice rooms, Friendly courteous staff, internet in room or downstairs, business office, and one of the best buffets in Angeles. I love buffets and they pull out all of the stops here. They literally have everything. Lost of fish, sushi, meats, veges, omelettes... Great food and buffet looks out over the pool which seems to always be alive with people. I like atmosphere and this made me feel like I was back home in the states with the exception of the brown bunnies. I had a much better time here than at the Oasis. Another good thing is that even though it is farther away from the bars there is a free shuttle once an hour. When you are staying this far away it makes a difference, especially if you are the type to barfine multiple women and their friends. Also they seem to have openings when others are full.

One more thing: Like the Oasis, the A/C was downright disappointing during the hot days. It really took away from the experience. Wouldn't recommend in the hotter months until they get new ones.

(Message edited by edlover on March 14, 2006)

Thanks for the post. I really like being withing stumbling distance of my room near the Fields bars, but having a room with a nice pool is a good idea during the hot times in AC (lol, although air con very important too, my biggest bitch about Kokomos).

Edlover, what is the deal with the free ride service? I've seen the little pick-up waiting area on Fields, but do they have a set schedule? Is it an air-conditioned ride?

Also, the cheap charlie question: How much does that buffet cost?

I beleive the van is hourly after 6pm. I stayed there a year and a half ago and would recomend it. Forget the price of the buffet, but at the time it seemed reasonable, but definatly not for the cheap charlie budget.

I actually plan on staying here my next trip, just so I'm far from fields. (No cousins up on perimeter). Like the idea of the onsite gogo bar, kareoke bar, and of course the pool.

Bud

Sorry for the delay. If memory serves me... the van goes down every hour on the hour, waits a half hour in a parking lot opposite (I think) subdelicious with a/c blaring and then returns. I know it ran late when I was there as I remember a late confrontation between warring honeykos in front of everyone and being very glad to get back to the confines of the van. Yes, van has A/C.

As far as buffet goes... Hard to recall. I burned a lot of money buying breakfast for honeykos, honeyko's immediate family, honeyko's distant relatives, honeyko's teachers and assorted friends........

When it was just one I was so glad I was alone I would have paid anything. But I did meet a fellow American that was on a budget that had been living in AC for about 6 months and he would go out of his way to hit the buffet as he felt it was the best. Like everything else... a matter of opinion.

The A/C's in the room could vary. And in the smaller room I moved to later was much better than in the suite. Still love this place cause the pool.

As far as buffet goes... Hard to recall. I burned a lot of money buying breakfast for honeykos, honeyko's immediate family, honeyko's distant relatives, honeyko's teachers and assorted friends...

When it was just one I was so glad I was alone I would have paid anything.

Lol, I bet. The 'ugly cousin' add-ons do add up!

Thanks for the info on CLarkton. I'm fairly well addicted to Central Park right now, but probably non a half-damned bad idea to head down to Clarkton for some swimming in the daytimes now and then. Don't know how much they might charge for that, but can't possibly be as much as Hunterman's 'favorite' hotel!

I would just walk right through. They never seemed to care and I met up with people there all the time that did that. That friend I mentioned used the pool as his own as he was renting an apartment. Would even use the free shuttle. I guess they figure you'll buy mango shakes and they'll make some pesos... which I recommend. They are good.

Just use my name at the front door, Porker, and they'll let you right in.

Hman, getting in ain't the problem. As you yourself pointed out, it's how much you get charged for 'towels'!

I ended up staying in a Suite I room at the Clarkton this week. Definitely gets 2 thumbs up if you don't mind a trike ride to get to/from the bars. The Suite I/II rooms are huge, everything is clean and new, and there is no Angeles "swamp water" smell. Also had a blackout, but the generator kicked in within 2 mins and life was back to normal.

I am staying at Clarkton in October, anyone stayed lately?

The new rooms in the back, called studios, are really nice but cost 3250 and 3900 pesos. So starting at $70 a night is wouldn't call it a ripoff but it sure isn't great value. The pool here is really nice and the food alright. There are definitely more clubs opening up within a short walk from the door, and suppoesedly the have a free jeepney shuttle at night to Fields. But I never used it.

Personally I found there to be one huge negative here. The trike mafia stand has to be the absolute worst in AC. The have posted fixed and exhoiborant rates (like 70 pesos to checkpoint.) Worse is that they are in cahoots with the hotel management who have their employees push use to take trikes. If you stay here, I would say stick to the Jeepneys and walking. If you are not comfortable with those and you want to fuck girls from places other than Lost in Asia or Roadies, then stay some other place.

I am staying at Clarkton and I think its a great hotel for the money. It is a ways to Fields but free shuttle every 1/2 hour 6:30pm-3:30am. The shuttle actually works great also. I am in deluxe room new which means remodeled. First floor, 1850 a night includes vat, 5% discount if more than 7 nights and 5% discount if pay cash in advance.
The bed is foam bed which isn't my favorite but its OK. Very quiet air con, nice hot water, Internet speed is normal for Pi. They have many laptops in restaurant for customer use for small fee.
The pool is nice, not real big but still nice to spend a few hours a day.
The restaurant is the best in all of the hotel restaurants I have eaten in. I have stayed in Hanna, PB, LG and Phoenix, none compare with Clarktons food. The breakfast and dinner buffet's are huge, lots of very good food to eat. I won 4 dinner buffet's and 1 breakfast buffet's on E-bay, average about $4.25 each. Turned in e-bay sheet at front desk, pay amount at front desk and they stamp them paid and just turn in at restaurant.
1 plus is Mirrors bar is in Clarkton and its a nice bar, Roadies, Wee Georges and LIA are right next door.
Here are some pics of my room, will take some of the restaurant, pool and workout room soon and post.



[img]http://www.angeles2.com/board/uploads/1224722473up.jpg[/img]
Bed with 2 white reading lights above and 1 red light in center, nice for evening fun.
[img]http://www.angeles2.com/board/uploads/1224722084up.jpg[/img]
Frig, TV, cable and DVD player.
[img]http://www.angeles2.com/board/uploads/1224722599up.jpg[/img]
Stand up shower with hot water.
[img]http://www.angeles2.com/board/uploads/1224722108up.jpg[/img]
Shitter with hose that girls use I guess.
[img]http://www.angeles2.com/board/uploads/1224722172up.jpg[/img]
Nice mirror on wall next to bed.
[img]http://www.angeles2.com/board/uploads/1224722319up.jpg[/img]
Small pool party with the Stargate girls.
[img]http://www.angeles2.com/board/uploads/1224723005up.jpg[/img]
Still small pool party with the Stargate girls.

Thanks for the report and pics !!!

Just wanted to make a comment on the hotel, Central Park Hotel rooms are bigger, the shower double the size and it's at least $5 or more cheaper.