Baguio City, known as the City of Pines, the Summer Capital of the Philippines, has become a commonplace for tourists and travelers alike. This city might sound ordinary to others with less thrill to offer, but what keeps the people on coming back in this high-altitude city is because of its cool and comforting climate comparable to Manila. Going outside the borders of the city will let you discover new attractions to offer. Here’s our Baguio Itinerary from our spontaneous 2 days and 1 night trip in this beautiful mountainous city with full details of our itinerary, expenses, summary and tips found at the last page of this post. Updated: 08/08/2018

Note: The budget expenses listed here are designed for a group of four people. If we include the food expenses on our budget, the total trip expenses would be at ₱3,460.5. We reached this high amount because we tried various restaurants during our stay in Baguio City. If food expenses are excluded, it will only cost you at ₱2,217.5. The way you spend your money on food depends on your preferences but it is worth to try different offerings here in this cool city.

CONTENT

1. Page 1 – Late Dinner & Upstairs Bed and Bath
2. Page 2 – Beyond the City Tour (Tuba, La Trinidad)
3. Page 3 – Roam the City (Our Itinerary and Budget Expenses)

Day 0

It was February 2017 and the winter winds of the past season was still imminent. My friends and I had a spontaneous 2-day trip to Baguio City, the summer capital of the Philippines. The 4-hour bus ride almost came to an end when we felt the bus bolting through a number of sharp curves, a sign that we are crossing the mountain range of Cordilleras.

Euanne, a colleague of mine, short and mestiza, is a first timer in exploring up north. She lives in the island of Leyte and she haven’t explored the northern part of the country. In comparison, I am an inept man in travel. I haven’t visited yet the islands of Visayas and Mindanao yet I am well-travelled in almost all parts of Luzon. Out of spontaneity, we immediately planned for this trip together with my other colleagues, Sarah and Yuki. Together, we ventured up north and had some good time away from the stressors of our work.

February 2, 2017, 0015H – Arrival in the City

We arrived around past midnight in Victory Liner Bus Station in Baguio City. With our cameras ready, we waited for Euanne’s first step in the north. As she descended in the bus stairs and stepped on the ground, our wails and banter covered the station. I cheered “Touchdown Baguio!” with full thrust and support.

Our bus fare was PHP 445 (USD 8.97), via Victory Liner from Cubao, Quezon City to Baguio City in Benguet. Travel time was around 5-6 hours. To avoid the hassle of long lines, I recommend booking your trip online at Victory Liner Website.

Once booking is done, you will receive your voucher via e-mail. Print and bring it on the day of your trip. There’s a reservation fee of PHP 50.00 (USD 1.00) if you opt for an online reservation. At least you’ll avoid the hassle of long lines and it’s more convenient this way.

The wind was too cold, drizzle damped the road and our breaths misted. The weather was rather unwelcoming with temperature dipping to around 10 degrees Celsius. Tired and famished from the long ride, we had our late dinner in Good Taste Restaurant. The restaurant is open for 24 hours and it’s perfect for people like us who arrived at an unexpected time.

They offer mostly Filipino dish and the servings were really huge. We opted for their Sinigang na Baboy for 5-6 persons. We thought that their servings were small at first. But when our orders came, we were really surprised. I think they miscalculated it but that’s how they serve their food here in Baguio, large quantities at an affordable price. For more details about our experience in Good Taste Restaurant, click here.

After delighting ourselves with such sumptuous meal, we went outside and took a cab going to Upstairs Bed and Bath in Leonard Wood road. It was still raining when we arrived in our accommodation.

Comfortable Stay at a Fraction of a Price

We made our reservation in Upstairs Bed and Bath a week before our trip. We availed the shared room for PHP 400 (USD 8.00) per person a night and my expectations were somehow satisfied. Our dorm-type room is located at the topmost floor of the building and it has 2 single beds and a double-deck bed. It also has one window overlooking the other establishments at the side of Girl Scout of the Philippines. It has no artificial ventilation such as an A/C or a fan yet the cool climate is enough in providing a comfortable stay. It has no fridge and cabinets, it’s as plain and simple as it is.

On the same floor, we shared a common bath with the other travelers staying on the other rooms. Good thing we were the only people staying that night. The bathrooms were clean and they also have a hot/cold shower. Upstairs Bed and Bath has their own pros and cons yet at the price we pay I think it’s already good enough. Overall, our short stay in this simple abode was satisfying.

Preparation is key for a great travel experience. If you choose Upstairs Bed and Bath you can call, text or e-mail them for reservation.

Contact details: 0932-878-4687 / (074) 446-4687 / [email protected]

It’s better to call them either in their landline or cellphone and have the name of the staff you transacted with. An advance payment is needed and we deposited our payment in their bank account. Once deposit is made, inform them immediately through call so you will receive your confirmation letter via e-mail.

With stomachs full and a tired body, we shut the lights off and succumbed ourselves to sleep.

NEXT PAGE: DAY 1 – BEYOND THE CITY (TUBA, LA TRINIDAD)