Additional Tips in Going to Baguio City

Although summer in the Philippines is officially over, I can’t help but post this piece about going to Baguio. I was there the other week for vacation. Unfortunately, this chickenpox virus attacked me from nowhere. Unprovoked. And gave me the disease of my life, cutting off my vacation and cutting me off from my usual social interactions.

First tip. Don’t get chickenpox when you go to Baguio. Or at the slightest indication of chickenpox, cancel your travel plans, stay home, and nurse yourself back to health.

When you go to Baguio, the most popular bus that can take you there is Victory Liner, with terminals at Pasay City (along EDSA before the intersection with Taft Avenue); Cubao (right after New York Street); and Caloocan City (along Rizal Avenue, not far from the Monument in EDSA). If you want to save some money, though, just go to the Dagupan Bus Line Terminal a block away right at New York St. The bus fare is lower by a full P100. As I’m writing this, gasoline prices are skyrocketing, so I’m not sure how long this will last. Just try to get onto the better buses of Dagupan Bus Line.

When you arrive in Baguio and you have nowhere to stay, don’t panic. For one, there are a lot of people who will call out to you. They will say “transient ma’am, transient sir.” If you want cheaper and homier alternative to hotels, then I suggest you go talk to one of them and strike a deal. If you get a deal for P500 per head, that’s way too expensive, just go get a hotel room somewhere.

If you prefer to stay at a hotel, go to Session Road, which is perpendicular to Gov. Pack Road, the drop off point of all buses. You can find 45 Hotel along Session Road on the left as you walk towards the market. There are also other cheap hotels there.

When I was there, I stayed at Baguio Village Inn. It was fine. The rate for a room-for-two was just P625 per night. You can check in at 8am and check out at 12noon the following day. The facilities are okay. Just don’t expect too much. This is not a starred hotel, after all. The only catch is that Baguio Village Inn is located at Magsaysay Road, which is 5 minutes away from the City Plaza. But since you have to pass through the market where traffic is usually the heaviest at any time of the day, you’ll have to wait for 10-15 minutes before getting there by taxi.

I would also recommend going to the Asin hotspring resorts at Tuba, Benguet. The town is around 50 minutes away from Baguio City and you’ll go through steep roads in the mountains. You’ll also have to pass through two tunnels in going there. If you’re afraid of heights, going to this place would be a good way to conquer your fears.

When you get there, just check in to one of the resorts there. The one that we went to features a swimming pool. Nothing special really. But the pride of the place is a Jacuzzi flowing with hot water from natural sources. Mind you, this water wasn’t boiled but if you rushed right into it, you risk scalding your skin. So take it slowly and enjoy the hot water.

There is also an amazingly beautiful natural river behind the resort. Just find your way through the steps and you’ll see the river and the hanging bridge. I just wish we had more time to explore the place when we were there.

Oh. Just one thing more. If you go there, you better ask the jeepneys what time the last trip back to Baguio is. We were almost left behind at 4 in the afternoon when we went there. One of the old ladies there said that it was a Saturday so the last trip is usually earlier.

I would have enjoyed going to other places in Baguio. But because of the freaking chickenpox, I had to go home the next day. Too bad I wasn’t able to buy my favorite Benguet brew and Kalinga brew coffee grains. Nah, I’ll be there again pretty soon!

Tags: Baguio City, tourism, Travel