Baguio Holiday Villas

From the street, the mid-range Baguio Holiday Villas slightly resembles a two-story strip mall. Inside, the property has a warm and homey feel. The lobby -- which doubles as the Green Leaf Cafe -- features colorful, abstract art hanging on bright orange walls plus several nicely set wooden tables and chairs, and a few banquettes on the wall stacked with pillows. There are a couple of meeting rooms on-site (one is equipped for presentations and conferences). Although the hotel is situated on a busy street in central Baguio, gardens line the hotel's enclosed courtyard, giving the place a tranquil atmosphere.  Families with children, groups of friends, and backpackers are drawn to this property for its value and for the space and convenience of the villas, complete with kitchens. 

The hotel is situated along a busy road in central Baguio. There is a salon connected to the villas and a number of restaurants, other hotels, thrift shops, spas, banks, a car repair, and grocery are within a three-minute walk. A comedy bar is right across the street. This property is a five-minute walk from Burnham Park, named after the famous American urban planner, Daniel Burnham, who developed the master plan for Washington D.C. and Chicago, as well as Baguio. Baguio City Market is less than a 15-minute walk away, and BenCab Museum, home to artifacts and historical exhibits, is a 10-minute drive from the hotel. Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral is a 15-minute walk from the hotel and several bus and jeep stations are located within a five- to 10-minute walk. Many travelers pass through Baguio on their way to treks and hikes on Mount Pulag, a two-hour drive from town. The Baguio-Loakan Airport is about a 20-minute drive or cab ride away.    

Although they are immaculately clean and well-kept, rooms and villas here are simple and spartan, with functional furniture and no air-conditioning. The spacious villas are the main reason guests are drawn here, and they are spread over two floors, separated by a narrow staircase with wooden banisters. Decoration is minimal, including real or fake potted plants in one or two corners, parquet floors, and one or two brightly colored paintings. Beds are simple and made with clean white sheets and duvets. There is a living area with a small couch and chair, plus flat-screen TVs with a small selection of cable channels. There is free Wi-Fi in each unit, but it is weak and often unreliable. Villas have a small kitchen with refrigerator, microwave, sink, drying rack, hot plate, and plenty of dishes, pots, and pans (though there is a fee for using utensils and cookware). There are two bathrooms in each unit, also simple and small, with toilets, sinks, and stand-up showers equipped with a curtain and draining directly into the floor. There are fees for soap. Besides the Villas, the property also has regular rooms and suites. These are a bit more sterile, with tile floors, white walls, and more modern showers in equally small bathrooms. These rooms feature flat-screen TVs, a kettle for tea and coffee, and an oscillating floor fan. When windows are open -- as they often must be -- rooms are subject to a lot of noise from the street, nightlife, and neighbors.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner is served in the casual, cozy Green Leaf Cafe. Guests particularly comment on the quality breakfast, complete with locally grown coffee, though it's not included with room rates. There is also a small snack stand. There is free Wi-Fi in each unit, but it can be unreliable. There is no parking on-site and no dedicated full bar on the property.