My friends and I hied off to Baguio during a long weekend, and we were so unprepared that we got…read moreoff the van (oh my god, that van -- we didn't have Victory Liner reservations so we took a sketchy van to Baguio) and walked around looking for a place to stay. Short of being desperate, we were ready to book at one of the ultra-expensive and posh hotels but even they were fully-booked by the Manila hordes who like us, apparently thought that Baguio would be a great idea. We stumbled in tired and groggy into Upstairs, and knew that it was our last option. The mixed dorm was unexciting and even drab, but we were grateful to have a roof over our heads for the night. At the very least, it was clean and the beddings were freshly laundered. The noise level was also managed, making it somewhat bearable. The common area is open-air, thus, affording you a chance to savor the crisp Baguio breeze. The winning points for the hostel, however, are its accessibility, and the level of service from the staff. It is a short walk away from SM, and just a staircase away from Mt. Cloud and Hill Station. The Chocolateria right outside has the best churros in Baguio, and you can also take a familiar yet fulfilling meal at Pamana, which is a few steps away from Upstairs' front door. You can also manage to get a cab as soon as you go out, as the street it's on is a major thoroughfare. If you want a 350-per night place to stay in Baguio, look no further than Upstairs

Good day Flotsam and Jetsam! I just wanted to share with…read moreyou our bad experiences at Flotsam. Your guards are too strict in front, especially those in red polo shirt. We paid 5,000 for the VIP table to Miss Jo but our other friends weren't allowed in because they said it was already cut-off. I talked to the head of the guards to just add a fee, but he answered me (CUT-OFF IS CUT-OFF). We asked them where Miss Jo was so we could talk to her to prove that we had paid for the reservation, but they said she had already go home. Is this Flotsam's standard procedure?

This kitchen and bar was highly recommended by our concierge at the Thunderbird. We were initially…read moreexcited with the atmosphere and decor, but, upon closer inspection it needs a little elbow grease. All of the staff were very friendly and helpful. The menu looked inviting, but the value for price paid not so much. I ordered the pork belly rice bowl and found it to be lacking. It would probably be a lot better if the oil was changed every day. My friends ordered the beef tapas and beef jerky comes to mind. My other friend ordered a burger and fries. The fries were probably fried in the same oil that my pork belly was. It was stale and soggy.

Online I saw the room layout on Agoda and thought a restroom would be inside with the room but it…read moredidn't since it's a hostel like environment. To upgrade it was $55 a night from $25. Three single beds and a private restroom. I stayed in room 301, there was no air conditioning since the outside temperature was already cool so the window and fan helped maintain the temperature. The bathroom door needs to be reinstalled since closing and opening it was just a struggle having to get it to fit into place lol. The designs among the walls with calligraphy portraits are funny and inside the room was minimal art travel quotes. No elevators are provided for disabled people and this place includes ₽145 per person for a breakfast buffet starting at 9am given a 2 hour minimum of eating time.

The awesome thing about this hotel is the options on affordability. You can go with a hostel style…read moreroom for less than $30 a day during off season, and an upgraded version like the photo for around $75 a day which includes a breakfast buffet. Right across from the city park and easy walking distance from malls and eateries.

The lobby is impressive enough. The Olive Restaurant's…read moreChopsuey n Crispy Pata were okay; buy nothing exceptional. Overall, the rooms part is a huge, huge disappointment. Seniors , like us, were accommodated on the 3rd floor, with no elevator! The beds were second class, narrow mattresses on a wooden platform; way below standards expected in regular hotels. Extra pillows cost P30/piece/per night. Extra blankets n towels had an additional charge. Towels were thin, worn out n discolored! No drinking glasses ( only upon request; which the check-in front desk guy did not bother to inform us.) Same with utensils! The shower had a water bucket and a "tabo" in lieu of a bidet?! When informed of our issues, including a request for a room change due to guests on the same floor with a young boy who was running around n was causing a lot of noise that disturbed our afternoon nap, he did not exert any effort at all to accommodate our basic needs/requests. While I agree that the hotel has the right to impose all these extra charges for anything n everything they offer, I also believe that guests should at least get their money's worth. This hotel is going to be crossed off my list, for sure! I would never recommend it.

This hostel was a high note of our brief trip to the Philippines. After traveling in tight, cramped…read morequarters with no A/C, coming here was a blessed relief. The fact that this hostel is right on Urbiztondo beach didn't hurt either. It's so refreshing to be able to relax on the beach, sunbathe and come back to your hotel room with nice clean sheets and air conditioning and a delicious meal. For 4 nights, a large room which could easily accommodate 6 people equalled $330.24. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are optional (and extra charge) but very reasonable in price. The food was delicious! My son who is a picky eater loved the tocilog breakfast and their cheese pizza. Good old comfort food. They offer free wi-fi, a pool table, an absolutely gorgeous view. The rooms were sparse but very clean. Shower and bathroom were functional, but no frills. My kid enjoyed the novelty of the bunk beds. I appreciated the A/C. Overall, a pleasant stay!

Worst hotel ever. Located in slum-looking area. Bathroom extremely dirty. No airconditioning! We…read morewere sweating in our sleep even with shirts off. Can't believe hostels like this even exist. DONT COME HERE. If you do, you'll realize what I mean. Can't believe we paid $50 per night for what's supposed to be 3 nights. But we only lasted 2.

Though I understand that the aesthetic of The Circle Hostel is going more for the backpacker type,…read moreI'm just not sold on the whole hammocks thing because they can be quite uncomfortable. The place looks like it's in a state of disrepair because they let the guests graffiti the place (and not in a tasteful way). I was able to get a discount because I insisted on a bunk, and the bed that they gave me didn't have sheets, so I had to use my own travel blanket. The common area was noisy until the wee hours, so maybe they should restrict loud conversations after a certain time or window so as not to disrupt others. The neighboring establishments also blare live music until the early morning hours, and it's a bit impossible to get some decent shuteye.I am also a bit worried about the security because people can just walk in there, and I doubt if there is round-the-clock security, as a sign up in the front says that guests can just walk in and settle in a bed when the front desk is already closed for the night, and then settle the bill (honesty system) the morning after. This can be a huge security risk since people can just walk in. They have metal lockers, but you have to bring your own lock. Who brings a lock with them when they travel?

The perfect balance between civilization and off the grid…read more My Cousin booked our overnight stay in Sagada. She said this place had high ratings across the board. I trusted her judgement and one night wasn't going to hurt anyone. The drive there was the only bad part of the experience and the reason why my review wasn't a 5 star. It took forever to find this place. It is secluded and the sign at main road is so tiny! What should have taken 30 minutes, took an hour and we were on the phone with one of the staff members of the hostel. We wanted to turn back it was so frustrating! After finding the place, the road is all dirt. The walk from the parking area to the hotel wasn't the nicest to my Mom and Aunt. Employees helped us with our luggage. The entire place is cement and wood. I loved the aesthetic! The cafe over looks the main part of Sagada. Mornings are beautiful! Their coffee is delicious and I bought 2 bags worth to take home. They ground any type for you. Their food is also yummy! Overall, I would say that this place is awesome for the young adults that want to unplug. Tips: - Know the directions because you can get lost. - They provide Wifi but it has a weak signal so be prepared. - Bring rubber slips to wear in the co-ed showers. - Drive a four wheel drive if you can!