The Cove Budget Hotel had a pretty little cobbled entrance and a cheerful armed guard. Reception was permanently manned by a gaggle of giggling young Filipinos. Rooms were small and gloomy, with curtains pulled firmly across sliding shutters of marbled glass, like those on a bathroom window. The room also came with efficient mosquito screens, a fan, and pale grey nylon sheets. There were also computer-printed lists of dos and don'ts (mostly don'ts) tacked up on all available surfaces, and a confession like a USA customs declaration to sign at reception, but you don’t have to take it too seriously . You can eat, drink, wash clothes, and indulge in all other kinds of illegal activities in your room with impunity, as no maid is ever gong to enter it.
The shared shower room has several loos and shower cubicles with curtains, but the cubicles don't lock. However, you’ll be quite safe, because there is a notice on the door warning men not to enter. There is no hot water, but that’s rare anywhere cheap. There is a kitchen for guest use downstairs, but it's not always clean. I only saw one rat, who didn’t realise I was there –- as soon as he saw me he slipped discretely back down the drain.
The main advantages of the Cove are price (350 pesos or US$6/single) and location. It’s a short block from Pedro Gil metro station, past every tempting kind of fast food –- fresh or deep-fried bananas, carved pineapples, fresh coconut juice, deep-fried sweet rice balls, skewered meats, Dunkin' Donuts, fried rice, and noodles. There’s a 7-11 next door for chilled drinks and snacks of all kinds. Jeepneys and megataxis to Makati stop right outside the door, and those to the long-distance bus stations stop a block away by the metro station.