Baguio is reopening to NCR tourists this week! Here’s a list of safe hotels you can stay at
Starting Oct. 22, local tourists from the majority of Luzon—including the NCR!—can visit the City of Pines. After loosening travel restrictions in Region 1 through the Ridge to Reef corridor program, Baguio will be accepting 200 tourists a day from Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon to gradually recover from tourism slump.
"It was a privilege to be working closely with the local government of Baguio during this process. We witnessed firsthand how they came up with effective policies to find the delicate balance between ensuring public safety and reopening for tourism to bring back jobs and livelihoods lost to the pandemic. The Ridge and Reef Project is one of the pioneering efforts to get our industry back on track, and the whole country is watching closely. Everyone’s determination to get the job done responsibly has been truly inspirational,” says Department of Tourism (DOT) Sec. Berna Romulo-Puyat in a statement last Oct. 17.
According to DOT's initial protocols, visitors from the NCR need to pre-register and pre-book accommodations through the Baguio VISITA platform and will be encouraged to go through mandatory triage and testing of either RT-PCR or antigen valid for 72 hours. But before securing that itinerary, here’s a list of famous and safe hotels you can stay at in Baguio.
- The Manor in Camp John Hay
People don’t just flock to Camp John Hay to feel the cool atmosphere of Baguio but to also imbibe the Old World glamour of the place. The Manor ensures a safe stay with total disinfection before and after you check out, and car and luggage washdown.
- Baguio Country Club
If you’re very skeptical about hotel operational capacity, you can inquire Baguio Country Club and ask to be an exclusive member, or be invited as someone’s guest. The historical sprawling golf course site and cozy cottage rooms are enough reasons for you to give it a visit without worrying about sharing the spot with a lot of people.
- G1 Lodge Design Hotel
The small boutique hotel set against the busier side of the city celebrates what Baguio is known for through artisanal fixtures and cultural spaces. Currently in demand this season, G1 promises strict social distancing measures as you enter its sanitized premises.
- Grand Sierra Pines
There’s no safer haven than a place up in the mountains. Grand Sierra Pines offers a closer view of Baguio’s trails teeming with, you guessed it, pine trees and lush greenery. It has garnered a 9.1 cleanliness rating among visitors even before the pandemic, so you can expect it to go a notch higher for its extra safety measures.