Baguio Accommodation: Hotel 45

Hotel 45 became my unofficial accommodation whenever I visit Baguio because I stayed here for my last 3 visit to Baguio starting from 2013 to 2015. My first visit was in February 2013 where I travelled with friends. I have known about this hotel thru my friend I travelled with on my first stay here for he has stayed here before. What I like about Hotel 45 was its proximity to all establishments. It is just 10 minutes away from Victory Liner Baguio Terminal. It is just behind SM Baguio – actually walking distance and just across the main road. It also on an accessible highway where I you can catch taxis and jeepney that will take you other places in Baguio. It is also near Baguio Cathedral (5 minute walk) and the famed commercial street of Session Road (10 minute walk). Having mentioned this, Hotel 45 is an ideal accommodation to stay in Baguio.

The hotel building from Hotel 45 website. Front is the annex building while the back building is the main building.

Hotel 45 is a 3 star hotel so don’t expect much on its amenities, building and other services. It is very much catered to budget travelers to Baguio. Their amenities works in favor of my travel plans because I am mostly into budget travel. Hotel 45 has free breakfast packages on all their room rates. But don’t expect much on the free breakfast meal. It is just a freebie from the room packages which consists of a choice of one breakfast viand, egg, rice and a 3-in-one coffee. But that breakfast package is so helpful already for budget travelers who don’t want to skip breakfast in their travel trips.

I find Hotel 45’s cheaper rates very suitable for budget travelers to Baguio. Whether travelling with friends or family, you’ll find their room rates very affordable. During my December 2014 and March 2015 visit, I was able to stay there with work colleagues and friends. And our share was quite budgeted enough for our room accommodation in Hotel 45. On those two occasions, we stayed at the annex building of Hotel 45 which is just in front of the original hotel building. The annex building was newer thus; rooms and other amenities are newer as well.

Triple sharing room during my February 2013 visit.

Triple sharing accommodation of Hotel 45.

Staffs are generally friendly but needs more training or seminar in customer services as they could have been more accommodating than what they are. But most of them are helpful to guests especially when asking for directions going in and out of the city. Doing walk-in to the hotel is fine as long as it is not fully booked. They accommodate guests right away as long as there's a vacant room which happened twice on my visit there last December 2014 and March 2015. I haven't tried booking thru their website or email but if you want to make an advance reservation better call them once you arrive in the city as it tends to get fully book during peak season period.

Amenities are just basic mid-range 2 to 3 star accommodation. Rooms are clean and well-maintained. No air-conditioned in rooms and no needed – you’re Baguio, remember.  But if you insists, they have airconditioned rooms to offer. 
 

Our family room accommodation during my March 2015 visit.

Hotel 45 is recommended for those who are on a budget trip to Baguio. The hotel has cheaper room rates and very much near to important establishments in the city – SM Baguio across the annex building is a major plus. If you are after a budget-friendly accommodation and don’t expect much in amenities for a short time stay in Baguio, I highly recommend Hotel 45. But if you value much the accommodation and wanting to experience high-end hotel amenities then I suggest you to skip to this accommodation in Baguio. 

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Hotel 45

Bagong Bayan St., Brgy. Salud Mitra, Baguio City
Main Hotel -Landline: 446-6306 or 422-3821. Cell Phone: 0917-700-8805 

Extension Hotel -Lanline: 442-3460. Cell Phone: 0917-588-2759
Email: hotel45new@gmail.com  

Website: Hotel 45

Camiguin Accommodation: Pabualan Cottages

Simple aircon rooms with private bathrooms which is perfect for Camiguin budget conscious visitors. Their rooms has can accommodate group as well up to maximum in a room but depends on availability. They even have an extension of their compound of cottages for more rooms.

Pabualan Cottages outside facade.

Simple accommodation good for 3 person.

One of the room accommodation inside the compound.

Free breakfast of Tocino and Fish Danggit at Pabualan Cottages!

The free WiFi is fast enough for posting your photos and videos on social media. The owner Mr. Teddy Pabualan offers affordable packages with tour and accomodation in Camiguin just contact him thru email - teddypabualan@gmail.com or visit his blog - www.camiguintransport.blogspot.com for information and for prior reservation. Mr. Pabualan is responsive to emails so you can discuss the rates according to your preferences.

They have their own private vehicle for private tour of the island. The staffs were friendly and accommodating. They only serve breakfast but a lot of restaurants, cateens and carinderias are nearby walking distance for other options.

Our mini jeepney tour services around Camiguin island.

Room are catered for budget travelers to Camiguin.

Breakfast at Pabualan Cottages!

We had an enjoyable stay in Camiguin because of Pabualan Cottages!

I have no qualms staying in budget rooms of this accommodation in Camiguin since this is just for a short stay. I just wished are "Kuya" driver assigned to us is more conversational but I think he's just shy since where from the city but nonetheless he's kind and polite to us. And their rooms are clean plus the location is just near the port of bancas going to the famous White Island. I highly recommend Pabualan Cottages for budget trips to Camiguin!

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Pabualan Cottages

Barangay Yumbing, Mambajao, Camiguin
Contact No: 0917-5219391 (Globe)/0939-2440521 (Smart)
Email: teddypabualan@gmail.com
Website: Pabualan Cottages - Camiguin

Aurora Accommodation: Jamjen's Lodge

Jamjen's Lodge is one of the affordable accommodations in Baler town that is near the famed surfing spot of Sabang Beach. I was able to book a room via walk-in to this lodge in Baler by accident. When we arrived in the morning in Baler, me and my five other travel mates, we originally don't have an advance reserve accommodation in Baler. I went to my lodge that I originally stayed in 2013 on my first visit to Baler but they don't have a big room enough for 6 people. They are offering a split room but it is more costlier on our side. So I did a house-to-house check other accommodations nearby, until I accidentally found Jamjen's Lodge along the long street of Buton.

Jamjen's Lodge facade area.

I was able to book a bardaka room, good for 6 person for 3,500 a night. It's was quite pricey for us its already a good choice since the lodge is just newly open for months only during our stay. Plus the room is big enough for 6 person on a 2 double deck bed with aircon, TV and private bathroom. Room is also clean and maintained maybe because it was new at that time. But overall, the room is pleasant and spacious. You also have a private front terrace in your room. Unfortunately, there's no free breakfast or meal in their offered accommodations.

Jamjen's simple accommodation.

Our private terrace in our barkada room.

Double deck bed. Each bed is good for 2 person.

Maximum capacity of this Barkada Room is 6 person.

Jamjen's Lodge is also near Sabang Beach - just a street across the beachfront accommodations of Baler. On the side street of Buton Street are many eateries and stores for visitor's convenience. A little walk up front is Yellow Fin Bar - one of Baler's popular restaurant and bar in town. During my recent visit to their Facebook page, the loadge developed further. From 2 rooms during my 2014 stay, they now have around 6 rooms and a mini pool in their yard plus a space area for events like birthday parties, reunion and team building programs.  I recommend this accommodation when you are in Baler because it is affordable, clean and staffs are friendly especially when you are on a budget trip to Aurora. 

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Jamjen's Lodge

#96 Buton St., Brgy. Sabang, Baler Aurora.

Contact no: 0929-2410298

Facebook: Jamjen's Lodge

Mui Ne, Vietnam Accommodation: Mai Am Guest House

Easily located along the highway and main beach strip of Mui Ne. You will never lost in finding this accommodation in Mui Ne as the SinTourist Bus Terminal is just beside it. So catching a ride back to Ho Chi Mihn City is not a hassle for visitors. 

It offers affordable but clean and well-maintained accommodation with free breakfast.  During my stay, the room designated to us were good for at least 5 people when we are just 3 in our group. Our room is very clean and no odor to smell during our stay. Mai Am Guesthouse offered us a rate of 35USD a night which is equivalent to around 1400PH. This rate also comes with free breakfast good for the 3 person quoted. I think the rate given to me is a good cheap deal already since this is a budget trip and considering Mui Ne is resort town of Phan Thiet City. 

Welcome to Mai Am Guest House!

Beach front of the accommodation.

Mai Am Guest House.

Beach front area of the accommodation.

Mui Ne Beach  portion at Mai Am Guest House.

They also cater for long stay accommodation like for European home care centers who does international travel with their patients. During our stay, we met these people from Switzerland who are also touring Mui Ne as part of their long vacation in Vietnam.

And they also cater tour packages to Mui Ne's spectacular sights like White Sand Dunes and Fairy Stream. We were offered 25USD for 5 hour tour of Mui Ne's sights good for 3 persons via jeepney (the strong wheels of jeepney are needed for a sand dune trip). This rate is equivalent to around 1000PHP which I find it an affordable deal already since we will be covering 4 sights of Mui Ne for the tour - White and Red Sand Dunes, Mui Ne's Fishing Village and Fairy Stream. Tour starts at 4 in the morning so go to bed early to get an early start because part of that morning tour is sunrise watching in the sand dunes.

Room good for 2 plus extra bed for 3rd guest.

Triple sharing room.

Room good for 3 person.

Private bathroom in every room like ours.

They got free wifi and has a nice beach front area where you can either relax, take your breakfast or just swim in its inviting waters - though the sand is not white but golden khaki color. But nonetheless the beach is cleaned and maintained by the resort. Their best asset is the location of tourist terminal beside the resort. So it is no hassle in catching your 5 hour bus back to Ho Chi Mihn City upon rerturn. 

Outside facade of Mai Am Guest House rooms.

Our jeepney service for our Mui Ne tour owned by the hotel.

Open-air dining area of the hotel.

I recommend Mai Am Guest House for those who are going to Mui Ne for a short overnight stay like we what we did. It is also best for those an budget travels but want to experience quality accommodation on their stay Mui Ne like our experience and style of travel. But if you are picky and prefers grand resorts and has the budget to splurge then try to look for other options that will cater for you. But as far short stays trip to Mui Ne only, Mai Am Guesthouse is best for you.

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Mai Am Guest House

148 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Mui Ne, Phan Thiet City, Vietnam

Contact No: +84983618974 

Email: guesthousemaiam@gmail.com 

Website: https://www.guesthousemaiam.com/en-us

Puerto Princesa, Palawan Accommodation: Victoria Guest House and Cottages

Victoria Guest House and Cottages offers some of the most affordable and budget friendly accommodation when in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Very near the old Puerto Princesa Airport, it is just 10 minutes travel away. It is also near the down town area of Puerto Princesa. Though it’s not near in any convenience store or merchandise shops, there are sari-sari stores around the corner. And it is very accessible to the main road so fetching a tricycle to your destination is not hard to do.

Entrance to Victoria Guest House and Cottages.

Signage that you're right at the hotel already!

 We had a welcome drinks upon our arrival at the hotel which was a nice welcome. Their lobby or waiting area is open air style living room with wooden furniture.  Their room charging is PHP 350 per person per day on all their rooms with inclusion of free breakfast. Rooms rates for are affordable for my budget range. The rooms are wide, spacious and clean including the bathrooms. They offer from single, double, quad to family room sharing. The rooms are styled in nipa hut separated from one room to another. I think it was styled that way for the guests feel the authentic vacation Pinoy style in Palawan. It feels very Filipino themed accommodation!

And they also offer, tour packages around Puerto Princesa including a tour of Puerto Princesa Underground River in Sabang. During our stay, we availed the latter and the following tour packages – City tour of Puerto Princesa, Iwahig River and Firefly Night tour and Honda Bay island hopping. All packages are inclusive of meals, guide and to and from the sight transportation. Charging is per person rate. Their rate is standardized just like the rest of tour operators and hotel that offers the same tour packages of Puerto Princesa.

Lobby/reception area for guests.

We have free breakfast in our entire duration in Victoria Guest House and Cottages. All of our meals are satisfying plus what I like added bonus for our tour packages with meals prepared by the hotel was “free dessert” in our lunch and dinner meals and breakfast as well if I remember. We always had “sweetened saging na saba” as our dessert to which I do not complain at all since this type of banana is one of my favorite Filipino dessert.

Regarding to the staffs, they are generally friendly and warm as well as the tour guides provided to us during our tours in Puerto Princesa who does this job as a sideline amidst they are still at school. What I also like in this hotel is that they answer immediately to queries and transactions via their Facebook Messenger. One staff, Ms. Michelle whom I transacted prior and during our trip to Puerto Princesa was very accommodating. She even helped me secure a slot for Underground River Tour for our group in the city office because of our late reservation for the tour we had to do a standby. Advance reservation is required for tours to Puerto Princesa Underground River especially during peak season like summer which was our travel date and the city office limits only the visitors to the underground river for like 200 to 500 visitors only per day to preserve its environment. But with the help and skills of Ms. Michelle we were able to get a slot for the underground river tour amidst the peak season of summer! Kudos to that! But the rest of the staffs even their drivers and cooks, all of them are warm, friendly and smiling all the time to the guests.   

Our breakfast on our first day in Puerto Princesa.

Dining area with food serve from the hotel's kitchen.

Balcony of our family room.

One of the beds inside our family room.

This the family room we stayed at Victoria Guest House and Cottages.

The surrounding area of the hotel.

Victoria Guest House and Cottages is highly recommended for budget and short stays in Puerto Princesa City. Their complete offerings of tours around the city satisfying, safe and authority accredited. They also offer tours to El Nido as well which I bet is also affordable and budget friendly to visitors. They also provide free roundtrip land transfers to and from the airport, so this is definitely a plus for visitors who will stay here and wants to enjoy the beauty of Puerto Princesa.

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Victoria Guest House and Cottages

Wescom Road, Barangay San Pedro, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines

Contact Number: (048) 433 8054

Website: http://victoriaguesthousecottagespalawan.blogspot.com/

Facebook Page: Victoria Guest House and Cottages

Bangkok Accommodation: Juldis Mansion Room Rentals

We accidentally discovered Juldis Mansion Room Rentals when we’re lost in the streets of Pratunam during our first day in Bangkok. Actually we were referred to this accommodation when we stumbled upon a Filipino restaurant in Pratunam where fellow Filipinos help us finding this affordable accommodation in Bangkok. And truly, it is cheaper than the hotels around the area. For 900 Thai Baht per night, visitors will enjoy a private room condominium rental stay at the city with complete amenities of fridge, aircon, bathroom, food utensils, mineral water and free wi-fi!

Comfy beds.

The room provided to us contains a complete amenity of a condominium room since Juldis Mansion is a condominium. It has one queen size and a single bed that can accommodate at least 5 people maximum. It is perfect for family or friends on vacation. Everyday we got bottled free mineral water and coffee, thought there are water dispenser and coffee maker in the room’s mini kitchen free of use to guests. Food utensils like plates, spoons and forks are also available for use. Bathroom towels are also provided for free. That’s it you feel at home as you stay in Juldis Mansion because you seemed to own everything.

What is also nice about this accommodation is its location right in the center of Pratunam Market! So doing a flea market shopping is just around the corner. Actually, if just go downstairs; there are stall markets already to shop. If you need money exchange, there’s one near the building’s street. If you prefer mall shopping – Indira Square and City Complex are just nearby and it is walking distance by 10 minutes. So it’s not a problem too to have last minute souvenir shopping in Bangkok as every market has various things to offer.

Home sweet home in Bangkok.

The commercial ground of Juldis Mansion just downstairs.

The location is also a perfect place for Thai food hunt. Since it is in the heart of Pratunam Market, there are numerous food stalls around the corner for visitors to sample Thai street food especially the famed Phad Thai. And since it is a market, convenience stores are everywhere like 711 for quick bites, drinks and amenities. Actually, Pratunam looks like a commercial and flea market place in one. It is like Thai version of our Baclaran and Divisoria, only cleaner and more tourists roaming around.

One of the best amenities of Juldis Mansion is the free wi-fi internet access with a very fast connection. So making a shout or tweet of your whereabouts in Thailand will always be up to date. I don’t mind having a long and confusing password to access the wifi. At least it has a very strong connection. Plus the owner, Ms. Gemma offers affordable tour packages too like Bangkok city tour which we avail for 50 Thai baht! You can suggest your own itinerary and places to visit and all of the entrance fees are shouldered by the clients. Ms. Gemma knows a local tour guide, Dalin who uses his Tuktuk in Bangkok city tour. She arranged a scheduled tour with us and I never thought that touring Bangkok via Tuktuk is one amazing experience. We also availed a tour to Ratchaburi Floating Market and Samphran Elephant Ground Zoo through her. 

Exploring Bangkok via Tuktuk.

If Ms. Gemma’s room rentals are not available, she can refer you to other neighbor room rentals that also offer the same rate. The only difference is your preferred style and setting of the room. But nonetheless I say, a stay in Juldis Mansion Room Rentals is worth your travel budget because of its location, complete amenities and cheap room rate.


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Gemma Parocho’s Juldis Mansion Room Rentals
Address: Room 19/27 Juldis Mansion., Petchburi Soi 19, Petchburi, Ratjevee Bangkok, Thailand, 10400
Contact Numbers: +66835463667/+639495861188
Email: parocho_gemma@yahoo.com.ph
*This is not a paid article promotion.

Sagada Accommodation: George Guest House

I don’t have any prior research reviews about George Guest House prior to my trip to Sagada, Mountain Province. So I don’t have much background on this accommodation and I will base reviews on my 3 days and 2 night stay in the inn in my 2012 visit. Plus it is also arranged with the tour operator I had for Sagada trip.

George Guest House is centrally located in the town of Sagada so it is very much near to every establishment around Sagada like the restaurants, other inns and shops. You easily indentify the inn because of its towering height in the center of the town so it is easily located, if you’re lost (which I doubt) in the town of Sagada.

George Guest House main building.

The main building of George Guest House. There is an annex building now.

To my surprise, we were given a spacious room good for 4 people when we are only two! There were 3 beds just for the 2 of us, my friend. Although the room was budget type, it was surprisingly spacious, pleasant and clean. No need for aircon rooms since the air of Mountain Province is cool and can be very cold at times! Our room is also near the hall that leads to the balcony terrace of our floor. It has the back view of George Guest House which is a beautiful but contrasting view of the surrounding houses of Sagada town. The view is a relaxing one especially in the morning when you wake up and this view of Sagada is what you will see in the morning.

Welcome to George Guest House!

Spoiled room amenities for an inn!

Our fan room in Sagada.

Mini TV was nice and the clean furniture was just right for backpacker visitors.

I also like the spacious halls of the floors of George Guest House because they have dedicated living room spaces where you can sit on the sofas of the inn or eat in their tables. Wi-fi is available but only at the ground floor and reception area of the inn. The inn also provides food-on-order in case you want to eat within the inn and mostly mid-range prices (you have to understand that some food resources like process ones in Mountain Province is being import all the way down from the valley) but still affordable.

My entire duration of stay at George Guest House was a pleasant one. Staffs are also friendly and helpful plus rooms are affordable for budget travelers to Sagada. I also learned that they have an annex building now - it means they're growing and expanding so more tourist in Mountain Province. I highly recommend them especially because of their proximity to eateries, shops and other establishments.

Living room area of 3rd floor.

Sorry wi-fi is only available at the ground lobby not on the upper floors.

Perfect Sagada view from the 3rd floor balcony.

George Guest House is easily located within Sagada town.

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George Guest House

Sagada, Mountain Province

Contact: Main Building - (63) 918-548-0406 / (63) 920-948-3133 (Look for Dora). Annex Building - (63) 920-607-0994 / (63) 939-902-0996 (Look for Irenuis)

Website: George Guest House