Where to Stay in Baguio City for Vacation, Nursing Review or Board Exam
We arrived last night from Baguio City not for a vacation but in preparation for my wife’s Nursing Board Exam or Nurse Licensure Exam this month (November 29-30). We looked for a place in Baguio City where we could stay for at least 6 days. Nursing reviewees from Ilocos Norte already went there on November 2 to continue their Nursing review (final coaching) until the board exam schedule comes.
Staying in Baguio City is expensive, let alone living there. Tourists or vacationeers can attest to the high cost of staying in hotels or transient houses in the “Summer Capital of the Philippines”. For 2 days and one night, we stayed at a cheap hotel (cheap because the overnight rate is only PhP450). Despite our attempt to save some money, I’ve spent close to Php4,000 during our brief stay. We were able to find a good transient house along Queen of Angels Road (road along the way to Grotto) for Php350 per-head per-day (which we will use from the 26th of November up to the 2nd of December). The place is semi-furnished. The kitchen utensils will be provided by the caretaker. it’s a good thing we can cook our food unlike when we stayed at a Hotel where our only sources of food items are restaurants along Session road. An expensive way to eat, if I may say.
After looking for a place where we could stay in Baguio City, we managed to visit my wife’s cousin who is also a test taker. I even gave some tips for the Nursing board exam which they appreciated so much because they are renting a whole house and are on their own (no Clinical Instructors with them). An elder brother figure in me perhaps satisfied a bit of their need guidance. My plan to exclusive review my wife seems like going to be a group lecture/review after all.
At any rate, I’d like to share to you some tips and guides on where to find a good place to stay in Baguio whethere your objective is to get some vacation or review for a licensure exam:
Transient houses. Transient houses are fit if you have a tight budget. Rates are usually on a per-day per-head basis. You could get a room for Php350-400 outside downtown. Ask for taxi drivers’ help. They know the place better than anyone else. But be warned that some taxi drivers are actually “agents” of the transient houses and they earn money through referrals. In other words, they make money from commissions. If you are not comfortable with them and have time to walk or roam, you can go around downtown and ask for regular bystanders. There are many places where you can find transient houses in Baguio. Just make sure to check the place before paying for an advance. You won’t run out of transient houses there. Some are cheap but with good facilities while some are expensive with so-so amenities. If you’re lucky, you can get cheap transient houses with good facilities. All you have to do is explore a little. If you’re in a rush and do not mind the amenities offered, then settle for those near downtown.
Hotels/Apartelles/Hostels. The rates are higher when you intend to stay in hotels/apartelles or hostels. Depending on the star rating of the hotel, you might find the rates too expensive. Cheap hotels (like Hotel 45) charge between Php450-600 per day (regardless of how many are you in a group; you’ll be paying for the room and not for your number). Don’t expect facilities to be good. If you want hotels that can offer you great facilities, then be ready to pay Php2,000-3,000 per day for 4 to 5-star hotels like Hotel Veniz. You won’t be misled. Just roam around Session road and you will see a lot of hotels that you can choose from. Don’t be too hasty. Try to enter the intersection roads because there are more hotels there than along Session road.
Also, note that these rates only apply during regular seasons in Baguio City. During their annual festival, “Panagbenga”, rates increase by as much as 400% (accomodation and lodging). Food items and other stuff follow suit. If you are not ready to spend some serious money on lodging alone, then don’t go to Baguio City during Panagbenga. 
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Tags: Nursing board exam, travel, Where to Stay in Baguio City for a Vacation, Where to stay in Baguio City for the Nursing Board Exam
Staying in a hotel in Baguio City will really cost you a lot of money. My hubby and I stayed in a hotel near Burnham Park more than 5 years ago and it cost us P900 a night that time. Next time when we go back there, hopefully soon, we will just stay at my brother-in-law’s house in Camp Allen. It will save us money. Nobody stays there because it’s just their vacation house.
Good luck to your wife in her nursing board exams. Nangngeg ko diay news nga nagadu ti ag-take ti nursing board exams this month there.
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jessie reply on November 15th, 2008:
Lisa,
You said it right. Hotels in Baguio are really expensive. The cost of living in Baguio is even higher than in Manila.
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I just love Baguio and if I get enough money again I will visit there once more. Once in a blue moon lang naman eh. I just miss the horse riding hahaha. Hope you luck and your wifey Fren.
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jessie reply on November 16th, 2008:
Fren,
Magdal ka ng sangkatutak na cash pag bumalik sa Baguio. lol!
Ang mahal ng kung anu-ano dun ngayon fren. Cheap hotels in Baguio City my not be fit for you and your family. Walang facilities na matino ang mga cheap hotels dun.
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It’s been a long time na since I last went to Baguio. April 2001 pa. We were planning to go last 2006 pero hindi naman natuloy. Hopefully next year.
Ang mahal sa hotel no? Sa transient house lang kami dati, may kasama kami noon na gala sa Baguio kaya hindi mahirap. Eh pag pumunta kami next time, kami kami lang, kaya for sure, puro tanong gagawin namin. 
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jessie reply on November 16th, 2008:
Amor,
Malamang fren nag times 10 na lahat ang presyo ng mga items dun ngayon especially lodging compared to the time when you last went there.
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I was in baguio in time of the Panagbenga festival this year. Same problem as in before, I wish the local government takes serious considerations in improving the place to make it more tourist friendly. Hotels are too expensive, there’s not much nice place to choose, hygiene is not seriously considered in some places.
Good thing I was staying on a resort in Rosario – about 45 minutes away so I was not obliged to find a place there to stay.
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jessie reply on November 16th, 2008:
Bloggista,
Bro, that’s one thing that hinders me from going back to Baguio during Panagbenga. The place is too crowded and the government doesn’t have the control over prices of commodities and lodging rates. Hygiene is one more thing because during Panagbenga, Baguio City is overused by tourists. The aftermath of the Panagbenga takes its toll on lowly workers but during the event, you’ll see lots of things you don’t want to see.
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Hello. do you have pictures of the transient house you stayed in? Im looking for a place with a kitchen, and it’ll be the first time to take my children to Baguio, so Im looking for a nice place.
and my i please have the contact numbers, if it’s not too much trouble for you? pls? ty so much
kat
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jessie reply on November 16th, 2008:
Kathy,
I have yet to contact my niece and ask her to take some photos if she’s available after her review there. At any rate, it might not suffice. I suggest you rent a whole house there if you’re planning on staying there for at least a week and your number in the group is 5 or more. That way, you’ll save more money. There are transient houses in Baguio which can be leased for a week or a month and the facilities are good. The transient house that my wife and I took is simple but I’ll contact the landlady for pricing in one of their “better” rooms.
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Hello nong..God bless sa exam ng wife mo..I’ll pray for her now before I forget.. She can make it I’m sure.
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jessie reply on November 17th, 2008:
Twerlz,
Sana nga iha. My wife and I are really bothered and nervous because of the NLE. Ang hirap din kayang pumasa sa NLE kaya review review kaming dalawa ngayon.
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[...] are going to stay at a cheap apartelle in Baguio City for a week and our trip will be tomorrow. Right now we are preparing all the materials we both will [...]
I’m planning to go to Baguio this February 24-28 and until now, I can’t find a safe & cheaper place to stay… I don’t want to go with those 5 Star Hotels. I’m going to Baguio alone so there’s no need to stay in a Hotel.
I’m in search of a transient house or a lodge which they told me much cheaper than a Hotel.
Do you know any transient houses in Baguio?
Please let me know. here’s my email: siprincieto@yahoo.com
Many Thanks!
~Prince
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jessie reply on January 12th, 2009:
Prince,
Ok I’ll see what I can do. Maybe I’ll send you a contact number in two days. Let me check with my friends if they know of other cheap apartelles or transient houses in Baguio City
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Prince reply on January 12th, 2009:
Thanks jessie!
I’ll leave you my number so you can send me the info immediately. here’s my number: 09272747678
Thank You So Much!!!!!
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[...] Links Apr 142009 Where to Stay in Baguio? Published in Personal Comments My family is going to Baguio next week. I better ask my friend Jessie on where to stay in Baguio City. [...]
[...] first thing that comes to mind is Where to stay there. I have already published one article about this before (during the November 2008 Nursing Board Exam) but before deciding where to stay, you might [...]