An Overnight Stay at Chalet Baguio Hotel

A trip to Baguio is never about the hotel. The weather, food and tourist attractions are too good not to explore. So for our overnight stay, we decided not to splurge on some fancy and expensive hotel. Instead, we got a deal from Ensogo for Chalet Baguio Hotel. 

For only Php1500, we got a deluxe room with free breakfast for 2 and unlimited brewed coffee. Not bad, eh? Actually, the free coffee is what got me to purchase this deal. The location is pretty good too. Its near Kennon Road so it was quite easy to find our way there. We didn't want to bring the car around a city where there's an abundance of taxi and a scarcity of parking space. 

Its a chic little boutique. A lot better than I expected. The furnitures and decorations are classic pieces that (from what I've heard) were brought in all the way from Iloilo.  There's a Dulcinea Restaurant in the lobby that is open for all 24/7, even for non-hotel guests. The staff are friendly and helpful. Checking in was no problem at all.

There are a couple of parking spaces available in front of the hotel and also in the basement parking. Though I don't think it can accommodate the vehicles of all the guests in case they all happen to bring their own. 

The room that we got is on the far end corner of the second floor. Its very simple and very cozy. I loved the touch of stones in the interiors. The headboard is designed with a carving of what seems like pine trees with lights at the back to create silhouette figures. So cool. My favorite part of the room is on the corner window where we have a beautiful view of the mountains beyond. 

What I didn't like about the room was the air-conditioning. I can't remember why we opened them in the first place, but it was just wrong. It smelled really nasty after a few minutes. We had to open all the windows and doors in the room to get rid of the scent. We left the windows open for the rest of our stay. The natural cold weather feels a lot better anyway. 

Another plus point for this hotel is that you can avail the breakfast meal at any time of the day. Even after you've checked out of the room. So there's no need to rush in the morning. Honestly, every hotel should do the same. The food isn't anything special. But the coffee is really good. 

Overall, its a good value for the price we paid. There are lots of hotels in Baguio to choose from. It just depends on your budget and needs. And as for us, this one just got it right. I'd recommend this hotel for families, friends or couples who just need a place to crash with a safe parking space where they could leave their cars while they roam around in the city. 

Till next time :) 

Chalet Baguio Hotel 
Upper Military Cutoff Road, Baguio City 
http://www.chaletbaguiohotel.com/

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Our Favorite Places in Baguio

In any occasion or event that brings us to Baguio, there are two places that we visit every time: Halfmoon Cafe and 50's Diner. My boyfriend's birthday trip this year is no exception. 

Halfmoon Cafe is under the same management of the Mines View Park Hotel. Its famous for its signature dish, "bibincrepe" which is available in different yummy flavors. I'll skip the story of how we got here. The important thing is, when it comes to coffee, this is the place to be. This may or may not be the best cafe there is in Baguio, but its the most special one for us. They also have a branch in Timog Avenue, QC. We tried it once but its just not the same. 

Cafe Bonbon

Chocolate Ice Blended

Choco-cheese bibincrepe 

Choco-mallows bibincrepe

After burning a couple of hours (and gaining a lot of calories) in the cafe, we decided to walk our way towards the famous landmarks of Baguio nearby. I hate walking. But the cold weather kinda made it seem okay. 

The walk from Mines View Park to Botanical Garden is already an achievement for me. We could've walked further but its already getting dark and we were both hungry already. Hence, the visit to our other favorite Baguio place - 50's Diner! 

50's Diner is the best restaurant in Baguio. If not for all, at least for us. The theme of the restaurant is, of course, the 1950s. Its ambiance takes you back to the 1950s. I was born in the 80's so I don't really know much about that decade and this place gives you an idea of how it was like back then. There are posters of famous Hollywood stars and movies on every wall. The black and white tiles is a huge addition to the 50s vibe. There's a bar in the corner of the restaurant where they make super yummy milk shakes and fresh fruit juices.

The best part of dining in this restaurant is the food. They have a wide variety of seafood, steaks, sandwiches, burgers, deserts, etc. Servings are in huge portions so be careful in ordering too much. The best part is, its not that expensive at all. But most importantly, the food is delicious! Actually, to say its delicious is actually an understatement. That's how much i love this place.

That sums up our afternoon in Baguio City. We'll probably try to explore new places on our next visit, but there are two places that are sure to remain in the itinerary. ;)

Till next time. :) 

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