Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hotels and beach resorts
air-conditioning unit, although if you're by the
beach, with a pleasant sea breeze blowing and
the windows open, air conditioning isn't really
necessary. If you do get a private bathroom it will
only have cold water, and the “shower” is sometimes
little more than a tap sticking out of the wall
producing a mere trickle of water. Breakfast is
unlikely to be included in the rate, though there
may be a canteen or coffee shop on the premises
where you can buy food. At the higher end of the
budget range, rooms are usually simple but can be
reasonably spacious, perhaps - if they are on or
near a beach - with a small balcony.
The terms
hotel
and
beach resort
cover a
multitude of options in the Philippines. A hotel can
mean anything from the most luxurious five-star
establishment down to dingy budget pensions or
guesthouses with bars on the windows. Beach
resorts in turn range from sybaritic affairs on private
atolls, with butlers and health spas, to dirt-cheap,
rickety one-room cottages on a deserted island.
“Resort hotels” are a mid-range or top-range hybrid
of the two, sometimes with their own area of
private beach.
Many hotels and beach resorts accept credit
cards, although there are exceptions, such as in
rural areas where electricity supply is not depend-
able and also in the cheapest budget accommo-
dation, where you must pay cash. It can be worth
checking that the air conditioner, where available,
isn't noisy. Rooms on lower floors overlooking main
roads are best avoided as they can be hellishly
noisy; always go for something high up or at the
back (or both).
Note that in smaller towns and cities beyond
Manila, hotels often use the English term “single”
room to mean one double bed, and “double/twin”
to mean a room with two double beds; in these
cases “single” rooms will obviously be big enough
for two people - you will rarely find a true single
bed on offer in the Western sense. In the guide,
prices quoted are always based on the cheapest
room for two people sharing (a “double” in
the Western sense), regardless of what the hotel
calls it.
Mid-range
There are plenty of
mid-range hotels
(typically
P1500-3000) mostly in towns and cities. The rooms
typically have air conditioning and a private
bathroom with hot water, and usually TV but no
cable. Beach cottages in this bracket are usually
quite spacious and will often have a decent-sized
veranda too. Most mid-range accommodation will
feature a small coffee shop or restaurant with a
choice of Filipino and Western breakfasts that may
be included in the rate; if it's not expect to pay
around P100-150.
Top end
In Manila and Cebu, as well as the most popular
beach destinations such as Boracay, you can splash
out on
five-star comfort
at hotels and beach
resorts owned and operated by international chains
(P3500 and up). The cottages at the most expensive
resorts are more like chic apartments, often with a
separate living area. Many of these establishments
include a buffet breakfast in the rate, and sports
facilities and outdoor activities are on offer, though
you'll have to pay extra to partake.
Budget
Budget hotels
(typically P450-1000) offer little
more than a bed, four walls and a fan or small
ACCOMMODATION PRICES
All accommodation prices published in the guide represent the cost of the
cheapest room
for two people sharing
- or beach hut sleeping two -
in high season
, namely November to
April. Prices during the May-October rainy season are usually about twenty percent lower.
Conversely, during Christmas, New Year and Easter, rates in the popular beach resorts such as
Boracay can spike by around twenty percent. In some cases hotels will include
breakfast
in
the price but it's worth asking about this when you book. You'll also find that as a “walk-in”
guest you'll usually be able to get a cheaper rate than the rack rate listed on hotel websites,
especially in the off-season and in less touristy areas.
Value Added Tax of twelve percent and an additional service charge is sometimes included
in the published rates, but not always. If you see a room advertised at P1000++ (“
plus plus
”) it
means you'll pay P1000 plus VAT plus service charge - always ask for clarification if you aren't
sure which charge is which. These additional charges have been factored into all our rates.
Where
dormitory accommodation
is available, we've given the price of a dorm bed.
