It’s always a better stay at Microtel Baguio

MANILA, Philippines - As the original Northern Luzon vacation destination, Baguio City is a place renowned for its cold weather, familiar tourist draws and cultural landscape. Each year brings in new experiences to the city — once known for its quiet appeal — that now features one of the country’s most famous annual celebrations, the Panagbenga Flower Festival. Microtel Baguio is the place to stay whenever you want the best experience possible in the summer capital.

Seeing this dazzling display of local pride and festive commerce is a must for many a tourist in their lifetime. The colorful and spirited float parade which makes its way down Session Road draws in millions of visitors each year. Anyone who stays at Microtel — situated right by Upper Session Road — has the advantage of seeing the float parade as it starts, well before it makes its way to the heavy crowds downtown.

Not only is Microtel Baguio the best place to start your Panagbenga celebration, it is also the most strategically located of all the hotels in the area. With the hotel connected right beside the Victory Liner Bus terminal and situated in a relatively quiet part of the city, tourists can slowly walk and make their way toward many of Baguio’s famous sites, restaurants, bars and retail establishments. Session Road is a leisurely 10-minute walk away, taxis and jeeps are in abundance ready to take you anywhere from the Baguio City market to Mines View Park. It’s easy to reach places like Burnham Park, the Baguio Cathedral and Camp John Hay since all are within walking distance. The hotel staff can even direct you in getting to much newer destinations such as the Bencab Museum at far-off Asin Road and the Tam-Awan Village in Pinsao.

Roy Martin, Microtel area general manager for North Luzon, explains that to have a truly easy stay in the city, tourists must book rooms ahead — even months ahead. He says, “One to three months before Panagbenga, people were already reserving the rooms. That’s the joy of Panagbenga, people really look forward to it.”

As the area general manager for Microtel’s Tarlac, Baguio and Cabanatuan properties, Martin, who concurrently serves as the general manager of the Baguio property, took an active part in delighting tourists during the Panagbenga season. In partnership with Victory Liner, Microtel Baguio held the city’s first-ever augmented reality show at Malcolm Square at Lower Session Road. The show, hosted by Martin himself, gave away prizes and entertained hundreds of tourists participating in virtual dances, games and snapshots. The Panagbenga-themed show — which served as a big “thank you” to tourists from Microtel and Victory Liner — used generators to power itself at no cost to the city and was free for everyone.

Back at the hotel, Martin proudly showcases another Microtel highlight, the Te Quiero Tapas Bar & Restaurant. Not only do hotel guests have their free daily buffet breakfast here, the restaurant is open to the public and serves a wide variety of Spanish dishes, including callos, Spanish croquettes, albondigas, beef salpicao and bruchettas. Fridays and Saturdays are Tapas Nights — unlimited tapas with an acoustic band playing at only P350 per person.

After all the celebrations, getting much-needed rest is as much an event at Microtel. The hotel’s famous chiropractor-approved beds are legendary in the tourism industry, providing some of the most comfortable sleep anyone will ever have. The clean and modern rooms are deceptively simple yet completely adequate for that no-fuss, no-frills vacationer. Small meetings for up to 60 people can be arranged at the function room. Water, tea and coffee-making facilites are available.

Martin adds that the positive feedback they have been getting from websites such as TripAdvisor is an affirmation of Microtel Baguio’s consistency in quality and excellent service. “Guests say that we are a limited service hotel with an international class of service,” he beams.

Martin’s advice to tourists coming up to Baguio: “Book early.” Making a early reservation is just one way to characterize the draw of Baguio City and all the conveniences that Microtel provides — it’s looking forward to a great stay and a wonderful vacation experience.

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Microtel by Wyndham-Baguio is located at Upper Session Road, R. Villalon St. (right beside the Victory Liner Bus terminal), Baguio City. For more information, call (074) 619-3333 to 34, (074) 619-3342, (0927) 516-4129 or (0922) 816-8436, fax at (074) 619-3344, e-mail at baguio@microtel.ph or log on to http://www.microtel-baguio.com.