Dreaming of adventure with Microtel North Luzon

MANILA, Philippines - It does not take one too far to get a change of climate. While summer bears down on all of us, most go to the beach, and some grab a chance to get acquainted with our northern vacation spots where the air is cooler and there is still so much to discover. For every destination, you are sure to find a place to set your bags down as you explore. On your way up make sure to consider the hotels of Microtel Northern Luzon.

Composed of three different properties — Microtel Cabanatuan, Microtel Tarlac and Microtel Baguio — these hotels aim to give you that classic no-frills hotel stay with all the basics that every traveler needs. As Roy Martin, Microtel Baguio general manager, and area general manager of Microtel Northern Luzon, say, “Wherever you go, whatever adventure you do, it’s the same experience you feel in every Microtel.”

And it is adventure that awaits most travelers who find themselves staying at Microtel.

Microtel Baguio

Mt. Province is home to many culturally diverse people. One of the more famous northern destinations aside from Baguio City is Sagada. This isolated area has always been a well-known tourist attraction but its remoteness has made it a true test of will for many who want to explore its many secrets.

A good five to six hours from Baguio, Sagada is prominent for its hanging coffins. Locals have traditionally been buried this way, inside hollowed-out tree trunks and placed on the sides of cave walls. It is still practiced to this day although some locals will tell you only a few do so now. View decks are situated across the municipality that overlook these coffins and some mountain paths have you going near a few of them.

The coffins are not the only main attraction, though. Many caves can be found here and many amateur and professional spelunkers have enjoyed the chance to explore them. One well-known cave is Sumaguing, fairly easy to navigate up to a point. Going further past a certain pit where water often floods the chambers during the rainy season will take some guts.

Natural wonders abound in Sagada. From waterfalls to historical sites, to picnic and trekking areas, there are many reasons to go to this place at least once just for the experience alone. The feeling of isolation, being nestled deep within the mountainous range, is in itself a way to escape the chaos of the city.

Of course, there’s the food. Not only is the food delicious, it is at most times given in big servings at affordable prices. Make sure to bring a camera because the photos you take will be the stuff of Instagram legends. The famous Lemon Pie House and Yoghurt House are two restaurants that should definitely be in your bucket list.

Traveling to Sagada is made easier with the help of Microtel Baguio. Martin says, “We help guests make arrangements with the travel agencies. If our guest tells us ‘I want to go to Sagada with Microtel,’ we can do that. We can arrange that with the help of our providers.”

Not only that, Microtel can help you explore Baguio with prior arrangements. Martin promises that they will find ways to have a package for a guest who wants to explore. “Whether it be the strawberry farms, Baguio Cathedral, Bencab Museum, Sagada, or even Mt. Pulag, we have a package,” Martin enthuses.

Microtel becomes the de facto hub of your adventure experience. “Before going to those destinations, you are here. This is the homebase. The hub. That’s the experience we offer. We help guests make arrangements with the travel agencies,” Martin says.

Customizing to guests’ needs and having the right connections has made Microtel one of the standout hotels that provide more than just an overnight stay.

Microtel Tarlac

As the very first Microtel in the country, Microtel Tarlac knows very well how travelers regard the province. Known as a pit stop for travelers going north, Tarlac, with the help of the hotel, is changing the way people regard the historic province.

Ace Infante, Microtel Tarlac resident manager, says the hotel has coordinated with a local NGO, the Tarlac Conventions and Visitors Bureau (TCVB), in letting people know that there is more to Tarlac than just being a stopover.

“We had a duathlon last month and a triathlon at the Tarlac Recreational Park (TRP),” says Infante. “At TRP there are ATVs, dune buggies, a zipline, kayaking, an Olympic-size swimming pool, bike trails, etc.”

Infante was also instrumental in having Microtel participate in TCVB’s “Tara Quing Tarlac,” a familiarization tour for bloggers and media people to see the sights of Tarlac. From downtown Tarlac where famous restaurants and establishments abound, to historical sites such as the Capas National Shrine, Aquino Museum and Aquino Ancestral Home, the program displayed a different side of the province few people see. The icing on the cake was a trip to Mt. Pinatubo in nearby Zambales. In the evening, participants were treated to kart racing at Kart City, the only karting establishment in Northern Luzon and which can only be found right at the heart of Tarlac City.

Microtel Cabanatuan

For a more leisurely pace, Microtel Cabanatuan is a godsend for corporate accounts or people who want to explore the sights of nearby provinces at a hotel that is clean and comfortable and offers the kind of “five-star” service that only Microtel can deliver.

Lita Budomo, Microtel Cabanatuan resident manager, has led the hotel to a “Most Improved Hotel” win in 2013 by the Wyndham Group, the international chain that is backing Microtel in the Philippines.  Many guests have found their way to the nearby Lakewood Golf Course for a round or two, if not using the hotel’s facilities to facilitate corporate workshops or government gatherings.

More than just a stay, guests need to try out some of the great food from the hotel’s nearby restaurant, Liquid Bar & Restaurant. Make sure to order the garlic longganisa breakfast from the province’s own Cabanatuan Meat Product.

Three hotels, one name

“There is synergy between all three Microtels in North Luzon,” says Martin. “Some guests from one property go to our other North Luzon properties. It’s the best evidence that our teamwork here is really good.”

Microtel has proven itself the perfect go-to partner for any traveler who wishes to have more than the usual hotel stay. Clean rooms, comfortable chiropractic-approved beds, world-class service — these are merely the tip of the iceberg of what the hotel chain can do for its guests, proving that, once again, it’s always a better stay at Microtel.

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For more information on Microtel Baguio, Microtel Tarlac, and Microtel Cabanatuan call (632) 8997171, 870-0100 or 897-1039, e-mail at info@microtel.ph or visit http://www.microtelphilippines.com/. Photos by FERNAN NEBRES