Escape to Paradise: Elliannah Pines Hotel Awaits in Baguio!
Escape to Paradise: Elliannah Pines Hotel Awaits in Baguio!
Okay, Buckle Up Buttercups: My Honest-to-Goodness Baguio Escape at Elliannah Pines Hotel! (Messy Review Incoming!)
Alright, let's be real. You're looking for a Baguio getaway. You saw "Elliannah Pines Hotel" and you're wondering: is it worth it? Is it the paradise promised? Well, grab your favorite coffee/tea in restaurant (because you'll need it), and let's dive the heck in! I'm gonna be your human guide through this, warts and all. Because, let's face it, travel reviews are often way too polished.
First Impressions – The Accessibility Angle: Okay, so, accessibility. I didn't specifically need wheelchair access, but I always check these things. My initial thought? Facilities for disabled guests seem present. There’s an elevator, a good sign! I did some poking around online. Seems like some of the rooms should be accessible, but always, ALWAYS call and confirm your specific needs before booking. Baguio's hilly, friends. Just saying. No real-time commentary, because, as a non-disabled person, I have no business pretending to be an expert there.
Arriving and Feeling Safe (or Not): The front desk [24-hour] was a godsend. Seriously, arriving after a long drive is exhausting! The check-in/out [express] option is fantastic. They were generally pretty efficient, which is what you want after a long car ride. Plus, they had hand sanitizer everywhere. I'm a germaphobe, so, points there! They had Security [24-hour] and CCTV in common areas and CCTV outside property. More points for safety; it makes you feel a little more relaxed, especially traveling alone (more on that later). Regarding Cleanliness and safety: My room was clean, and the hallway smelled… not bad. I saw evidence of Daily disinfection in common areas, and the staff seemed genuinely invested in safety protocols. The Anti-viral cleaning products made me breathe easier. The Hotel chain aspect, well, that's sometimes good, sometimes not. (More on that later…)
The Room: My Little Mountain Sanctuary (With a Few Quirks!)
Okay, let's talk about the nitty-gritty. My room! (Available in all rooms! Yay!) It had Air conditioning, a coffee/tea maker (essential!), and a refrigerator (hello, local craft beers!). This is where the details actually matter, right?
- Wi-Fi [free]: YES! And actually, it worked! Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Was a godsend! I was able to work from my laptop (Laptop workspace, check!), catch up on emails, and – crucially – stream my favorite trashy reality TV show. The Internet was decent!
- The Bed: The extra long bed was a bonus, because I'm a tall person! The linens were clean and fresh (essential for good sleep!). The blackout curtains were a lifesaver for sleeping in, but they didn't completely block the light. Minor quibble.
- Bathroom Bliss (and Some Bathroom Blunders): The private bathroom was a solid size, and the shower had decent water pressure. BUT… the toiletries were the generic hotel kind (soap and shampoo, nothing fancy). If you're picky, bring your own. I didn't use the bathrobes, but they were available. I didn't use the slippers either. But hey, they were there!
- The View: I had a pretty nice view (yay, window that opens!). Not directly of the pines I was hoping for, but it was still pretty.
- The Little Extras: Complimentary tea (always appreciated!), and the mirror was decent. Not much to say about towels – they were decent. I didn't need the additional toilet, but… good to know it's there.
- The Stuff I Didn't Use (But It Was There!): Hair dryer, Ironing facilities, in-room safe box, desk.
This is where the messiness of real life hits. Because…. my first room had a slightly leaky faucet! Not dramatic, but the constant drip, drip, drip while trying to work? Annoying. I called, and they were super quick to move me to a different room. This is where the Daily housekeeping comes in handy! They made it right. The Smoke detector and smoke alarms were reassuring. I didn't need to use the Wake-up service, but it's a nice option for the people who need it!
Dining, Drinking, and Munching: A Mixed Bag, Honestly.
Okay, the food. This is where Elliannah Pines Hotel really could shine… but didn’t quite for me. Here’s the breakdown:
- The Good: Breakfast [buffet] was included, and the Asian breakfast option was pretty good! You could get your eggs, bacon, and stuff. The Coffee/tea in restaurant was decent. The Bottle of water in the room was nice. The 24-hour room service is a huge plus, especially after travelling!
- The Meh: The main restaurant (they have Restaurants!) had options, but the meal I ordered was… okay (A la carte in restaurant). They offered International cuisine in restaurant and Western cuisine in restaurant, but nothing blew my mind (though, let’s be honest, I was craving adobo). They had a bar so you could get a drink. The Snack bar was good for a quick bite, but nothing fancy.
- The “Could Be Better”: I didn't see a Vegetarian restaurant, but the Vegetarian options may exist. More variety will be useful.
- The Cool, but I Didn't Experience It: I’d love to taste the desserts in restaurant if I had tried, the soup in restaurant, and the Salad in restaurant. I didn't try the Poolside bar.
Things to Do (Beyond the Room):
- Relaxation Station: This is the part I was really looking forward to. They have a Spa! (Hallelujah!). The Massage was heavenly. Seriously, melt-in-your-chair good. I feel rejuvenated after that. The Body scrub and Body wrap options were alluring, but I didn’t have time to try them. They had a Sauna, a Steamroom, and a Foot bath. I managed to hit the steam room. Awesome.
- Poolside Paradise (or Just a Pool?): A Swimming pool [outdoor]! The Pool with view wasn't quite the Instagrammable infinity pool I was expecting, but it was fine. I didn't use it, but it was available.
- Fitness Freak? They have a Fitness center (yep, a Gym/fitness), so you can keep up your workout routine. I looked into it… I consider it.
Services, Conveniences, & Some Quirky Bits
- Helpful Stuff: Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Currency exchange (always handy!), Dry cleaning, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Safety deposit boxes, Taxi service. It offers a Convenience store, so you don't run out of snacks. Pets allowed unavailable, so don’t try bring them.
- For the Business/Event People: Business facilities, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Seminars, Audio-visual equipment for special events, Indoor venue for special events, Outdoor venue for special events, and all kinds of associated tech.
- Extra Touches: Gift/souvenir shop, Car park [free of charge].
Hidden Gems and Quirky Observations:
- The Staff: Generally friendly and helpful. I felt like they genuinely cared about making my stay pleasant. The staff trained in safety protocol.
- The Shrine: Yup, a small shrine! Didn't expect that. Adds a bit of local flavor!
- The Elevator: A serious plus. Baguio = hills!
- The Minor Issues: In terms of the room sanitization opt-out available, I didn’t opt out. I wanted my room spotless.
The Verdict: Is Elliannah Pines Your Baguio Escape?
Okay, the big question! Would I go back?
Yes, with some caveats.
Things I loved:
- The spa! Seriously, book a massage.
- The staff's helpfulness and friendliness.
- The clean room. After the first leaky faucet hiccup, it was a pleasant experience.
- The location. It's central, but off the main road.
Elliannah Pines Hotel: Baguio, You Crazy Diamond! - A Messy, Emotional, and Possibly Questionable Itinerary
Okay, folks, buckle up. This isn't your sanitized, Instagram-perfect travelogue. This is real. We're talking about Baguio, the City of Pines, and my messy, beautiful, often-confused journey through Elliannah Pines Hotel. Let's get started… if I can even remember how to start this thing.
Day 1: Arrival, Altitude Adjustment, and the Great Pancake Debacle
- Morning (Like, REALLY Morning): Landed in Clark. The airport smelled faintly of fried something-or-other, which, honestly, set the tone. The three-hour drive to Baguio was… well, it was a drive. Scenic, yes. Winding, absolutely. My stomach did a few flips I wasn't expecting. Finally, the cool air hit, and I knew we were close.
- Mid-Morning: Check-in at Elliannah Pines. The lobby was… classic. Think slightly faded grandeur, a touch of wood paneling, and the lingering scent of what I think was pine. Bonus points for the super-friendly front desk staff who, bless their hearts, didn't bat an eye at my slightly frazzled appearance. (Seriously, travel is exhausting.)
- Lunch: Whew! I did not get my cravings here in the hotel. The hotel's restaurant? Okay, so here's where things get… interesting. I ordered pancakes. Simple, right? Wrong. These pancakes were… dense. Like, "could double as building material" dense. They also had a very particular flavor. I ate them anyway because, well, I was starving, and the coffee was decent. I later learned from one of the hotel staff that this is one of the usual food to serve here.
- Afternoon: Post-pancake slump. The altitude hit me. Hard. I took a nap, which turned into a three-hour coma, punctuated by strange dreams about… I don’t even remember. Altitude sickness, I guess? I was completely useless.
- Evening: Attempted exploration. Walked around Burnham Park. That's the place to be in Baguio, it's the heart of the city. But the park was filled with what I thought were really noisy people. Ate dinner at a local restaurant. The food was great! My energy slowly but surely started to get back. Slept soundly.
Day 2: Session Road Shenanigans and the Search for Something… More
- Morning: Woke up feeling a little less like I was living on Mars. Breakfast at the hotel: cautiously ordered toast. Success! After that, a stroll down Session Road - it's the main street. Session Road! Full of shops, and the usual. I did find a small bag I liked, but decided to save it for later.
- Mid-Morning: Visited the Baguio Cathedral. Absolutely stunning. The stained glass windows were breathtaking. I sat there for a while, just… taking it all in. It was in that moment that everything I thought I had planned seemed to melt away. It was great.
- Lunch: Found some random carinderia. I don't like the area. Well, the food looked okay. I ordered some food there. It feels like I need something to refresh myself.
- Afternoon: Here's where things got… weird. I decided to go to Mines View Park. Great! But, for some reason, I got this urge to buy some clothes. I was told to try the bazaar market. It was a treasure trove of, well… I didn't find anything that I liked.
- Late Afternoon: Checked in once again at the hotel.
- Evening: Spent just lounging around and enjoying and relishing the cool breeze of Baguio. Enjoying my own company.
Day 3: The Art of Being Lost and the "Best" Coffee Ever
- Morning: Breakfast? I’m getting pretty good at the "toast and coffee" routine. Not exactly gourmet, but it’ll do. Planned to visit the BenCab Museum. But well, I just thought of the pancake.
- Mid-Morning: Okay, so this is where the "lost" part comes in. I decided to try and walk to the museum. Wrong turn. Another wrong turn. Ended up in a residential area I didn’t recognize. It was beautiful, honestly. But far from any museum. Finally decided to take a taxi.
- Lunch: Got a meal in a cafe. It was lovely.
- Afternoon: BenCab Museum! Finally! It was incredible. The art, the gardens, the views… I spent hours wandering around, letting the creativity wash over me. I was particularly struck by [insert specific artwork]. It’s one of the perfect things in Baguio.
- Late Afternoon: Found a tiny little coffee shop. THIS. COFFEE. Changed. My. Life. I have had the best coffee ever. I’m sorry, I spent so much time drinking coffee.
- Evening: I went to a bar, and I drank a lot. It's okay. I needed to. I didn’t mind.
Day 4: Farewell, Baguio, You Crazy Diamond… and Elliannah Pines (Maybe I'll Miss You?)
- Morning: The inevitable goodbyes. Packing up my things. Not feeling the usual post-trip blues, more like a contented, slightly bewildered "well, that was something."
- Breakfast: Toast and coffee at Elliannah Pines. The server gave me a knowing smile. I think they understood.
- Mid-Morning: Last walk around. Last chance to just soak it all in before heading back.
- Lunch: Again, nothing in the hotel, I took a walk again.
- Afternoon: Departure. I left Baguio with a head full of memories. Some beautiful, some bizarre, all of them authentic.
- Evening: Back in Clark. I missed the cool breeze. I guess the hotel was okay.
Final Thoughts:
Elliannah Pines Hotel wasn't perfect. The pancakes were an abomination. The location was a bit off the beaten path. But… it was real. It had character. It was a quirky, slightly dusty, wonderfully flawed backdrop to a truly unforgettable trip. Would I go back? Absolutely. Would I order the pancakes again? Never. But I'd happily settle in that quirky hotel for another four days of Baguio madness any day.
And to anyone reading this: Go to Baguio. Go to Elliannah Pines. Embrace the weirdness. Embrace the imperfections. And for the love of all that is holy, try the coffee. It’s better than you can imagine.
Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Hunguest Hotel Repce Gold, Bukfurdo!
Okay, so... Elliannah Pines. Is it *really* an "Escape to Paradise"? Because honestly, "paradise" gets thrown around a LOT.
Look, let's be brutally honest. Paradise? That's a big promise, and my expectations are forever tainted by those cheesy travel brochures. Elliannah Pines? Well... it depends. Baguio itself, with that crisp mountain air and the pine scent? Yeah, that's pretty darn close. The hotel itself? Okay, here’s the REAL deal: I arrived absolutely *exhausted* from the bus ride – you know, the one where you're praying the driver doesn't decide to be a Formula 1 racer on those winding roads? And I remember thinking, *“Please, PLEASE let this be worth it.”*
The first thing that hit me? That lobby. Wood paneling straight out of a vintage movie. (Like, a REALLY good vintage movie, not one of those low-budget horror flicks.) And the smell! A blend of pine needles, warm chocolate, and… maybe a hint of old books? It was comforting. It was… promising. So, maybe not *instant* paradise, but definitely heading in the right direction.
The Rooms! Tell me *everything* about the rooms! Were they clean? Did the shower work? Did you get a decent night's sleep? I'm asking the important questions here!
Alright, ROOMS. Okay. So, I booked a Superior Room, because, you know, *slightly* more luxurious than the budget options. First impression: Cozy. Not ridiculously small, but definitely snug. And (hallelujah!) the bed was *comfy*. Thank GOD! After that bus ride, I needed a serious sleep injection.
The bathroom? Okay, here's where things get… a little less perfect. The water pressure in the shower was… let’s say, *gentle*. Like, you're asking the tap politely to release some hydration. Not a deal-breaker, but not exactly a power wash. One morning the hot water gave up the ghost entirely. I had to call maintenance. They fixed it, eventually, but it was an experience. I was VERY awake by the time it was all done. The cleanliness? Spotless. No complaints there. And the view! OMG, the view! Pine trees for days! It felt like sleeping in a forest… if forests had cable television (which they should; I'm just saying...).
Food, glorious food! What's the deal with the hotel's restaurant? Good eats or… avoid at all costs?
Okay, the restaurant. This is where my experience had... ups and downs. The first morning, I was *starving*. I'm talking, "hangry enough to eat the tablecloth" hungry. I ordered the "Filipino Breakfast Special." And... it was good! Not mind-blowing, Michelin-star-worthy good, but solid, comforting, and exactly what I needed. The *tapsilog* (beef tapa, garlic rice, and fried egg) was on point. The *longganisa* (sausage) was… a little too sweet for my taste, but hey, everyone's different.
BUT… (and there's always a but, isn't there?). One evening, I attempted the dinner buffet. Now, I LOVE a good buffet! But this one? Less good. Some of the food looked like it had been sitting out under a heat lamp since the ark was built. The *lechon* (roasted pig) was practically petrified. (I swear, if I'd tried to eat it, I would have chipped a tooth.). I ended up mostly sticking to the salad bar and some decent, if uninspired, pasta. Lesson learned: stick to the breakfast menu.
What about the staff? Were they friendly? Helpful? Did they, you know, *care*?
The staff? Absolutely, positively, the BEST part of Elliannah Pines. Seriously. From the front desk to the cleaning staff, everyone was genuinely friendly and helpful. And I mean, *genuinely*. No forced smiles, no "customer service" robots. They were warm, welcoming, and always willing to go the extra mile.
I remember one morning, I totally locked myself out of my room. Totally my fault. I was flustered, I was running late to a tour, and my brain was apparently on vacation. I went to the front desk, fully expecting a lecture. Instead? A smile, a quick phone call, and a key card that appeared faster than I could say "mortified." They didn't make me feel like an idiot, which, honestly, was a huge relief. That kind of genuine kindness makes a *huge* difference, and honestly, it almost redeemed the lukewarm buffet experience, almost.
Is there anything *to do* near the hotel? Beyond just, you know, breathing in the pine-scented air?
Okay, so, Baguio is a tourist mecca, right? Everything is *right there*, the city center is just a short jeepney ride away. The hotel itself? It's a bit off the main drag, which is actually a HUGE plus in my book. It was quiet, peaceful... you know, actually *relaxing*. But if you *want* to do stuff, there's plenty nearby.
You're close to Burnham Park (great for a leisurely stroll, rent a boat), Session Road (shopping, food, chaos – in a good way!), and all the usual Baguio attractions, like the Mansion House and Mines View Park. I took a taxi to the Strawberry Farm one afternoon. Total tourist trap, yes, but who doesn't love a giant strawberry ice cream cone? That place is an Instagram paradise! Seriously, the drive alone is worth it. Plus, I bought way too many strawberries. No regrets.
The one thing I missed? A spa. Okay, maybe it's the exhaustion talking, but a massage after a day of walking around Baguio would have been heavenly. They didn't have one. Big Miss.
Alright, the big question: Would you go back? Spill the tea!
Okay. This is it. The big reveal. Would I go back? Hmm… Listen, Elliannah Pines has its quirks. The water pressure might be a little weak, the buffet might be a gamble, and you're not exactly in the middle of the action.
But… that staff. The comfy bed. The view. That overall sense of peace? Yeah. I probably would. Maybe I'd pack my own hot water bottle for the shower (just in case!). I'd definitely stick to the breakfast menu. And I'd go back for the staff. They were the real gem of that place.
So, is it a perfect paradise? Nope. But it's a solid, comfortable base for exploring BaguSnooze And Stay
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