Baguio Burnham Suites: Your Dream Baguio Getaway Awaits!
Baguio Burnham Suites: My Warts-and-All, Totally Honest Review (and Why You Should Book!)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to spill the beans on Baguio Burnham Suites. Forget the glossy brochures; this is the real deal. I'm talking honest opinions, unexpected joys, and maybe a minor meltdown or two. Because let's be real, travel is messy, right? And this review? It's gonna be gloriously, beautifully messy.
First off, the Basics (and the Surprisingly Good Parts!)
Let's get the boring stuff out of the way. Accessibility? Yeah, they've got the basics covered, which is a huge win in a place like Baguio. Elevator? Check. Facilities for disabled guests? Yep, they advertise them. (I didn't need them, but it's good to know they're there).
Internet access? Okay, this is crucial, people. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms? PRAISE THE INTERNET GODS! Seriously, even when my phone decided to throw a tantrum, the hotel Wi-Fi saved me. I could still binge-watch my guilty pleasure shows! There’s also internet [LAN] options, which is pretty retro, but hey, options are good! Did I mention Wi-Fi in public areas? Yes, and it actually works!
Cleanliness and Safety: My Inner Germaphobe Took a Deep Breath
Okay, I’m a bit of a clean freak. So I was REALLY observing. Anti-viral cleaning products? They claim it. Daily disinfection in common areas? Seemed like it. They took physical distancing of at least 1 meter? Seriously, I saw staff members actively enforcing it which is a huge plus in these times! And the rooms sanitized between stays? I'm inclined to believe it. They also had all the essentials: hand sanitizer stations EVERYWHERE, staff trained in safety protocols, and rooms sanitized… Honestly, I felt relatively safe, which is a massive relief. Even the shared stationery removed!
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: From Buffet Bliss to Coffee Shop Chaos
This is where things get interesting. Restaurants? Plural! They had some options. Breakfast [buffet]? Oh, yes. And it was pretty decent! Asian breakfast? Absolutely. Western breakfast? Yep, too. I went for the buffet every morning. It was a glorious, carb-loaded start to the day. I'm not going to lie, I was that person, piling up the pancakes.
Coffee shop? Yes! The coffee was surprisingly good. It was a lifesaver after those early morning hikes. There's a bar too. Now, I didn't make it to the bar, because, you know, pancakes, but the option's there! They also advertised room service [24-hour] - which I didn't try, but I appreciated the thought. I might get the room service next time for sure.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
Here's where Baguio Burnham Suites really shines. Daily housekeeping? Spotless. Concierge? Super helpful with recommendations. Cash withdrawal? Convenient. Their luggage storage was clutch when I arrived before check-in. I also appreciated the laundry service after that muddy hike. The air conditioning in public areas? Essential for a place that can get chilly! They had the elevator too - which is crucial.
Things to Do (and Relax!)… My Personal Highlight Reel
Now, let’s be real. Baguio is about escaping. So the spa/sauna and spa in the hotel, that was a game changer. I'm not a sauna kind of person, but the massage afterward nearly made me cry with relief. The masseuse was an actual angel. A real human one. I could write a ballad about that massage. Seriously.
A random, stream-of-consciousness-type experience of the massage experience here:
Okay, so I walked in, already stressed, my shoulders glued to my ears from the travel. The room was dimly lit, smelling of something herbal and calming. The masseuse, bless her heart, had the strongest hands! I think I almost fell asleep multiple times, but kept myself from doing it. The best part? When she hit that spot on my shoulder. That spot. I may have yelped. I think I saw God or something. When I finally wobbled out, I felt like I could conquer the world. I almost booked another session right then and there! (Strongly recommend you do so if you visit here too.)
They also had a fitness center, which I glanced at longingly – I’d brought workout clothes, but mostly I just wanted to eat more pancakes. The pool with view was beautiful, but I didn't get brave enough to jump in. Too cold!
For the Kids (and Those Who Are Still Kids at Heart!)
Family/child friendly? Definitely. I saw lots of happy families, all living it up. I didn't need babysitting service but it was good to know it was available.
Available in All Rooms: A Cozy Sanctuary
Okay, let's talk about the rooms themselves. Air conditioning? Thank goodness! Blackout curtains? Essential for sleeping in. Coffee/tea maker? LIFE-SAVER. The free bottled water? Always appreciated. Wi-Fi [free]? You know I loved that. Most importantly, the bed was HUGE with extra long bed option!
Rooms also had: Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Wake-up service, Window that opens.
The Quirks and the Imperfections
Look, it wasn’t perfect. The lobby could get a little crowded, especially at check-in. And the decor is… well, let’s call it "classic". But honestly, those are minor quibbles. The overall experience far outweighed any minor imperfections.
Getting Around:
Airport transfer and taxi service are available, making your travels easy. Car park on-site is provided, though the road may be a little hard to pass. Also, there's a car power charging station.
The "Meh" Zones (and the Occasional Grumbles)
- Pet Policies: Unfortunately, pets aren't allowed.
- Things that aren't available: Couple's room, Exterior corridor, Fire extinguisher, hotel chain is not available. No Proposal spot, Smoking area, Indoor venue for special events,
The Verdict: Book It! (But Maybe Pack Extra Pants)
Seriously, Baguio Burnham Suites offers a fantastic experience. It's comfortable, clean, conveniently located, and equipped with everything you need for a relaxing getaway. The friendly staff, the amazing spa and massage, and the convenient amenities made all the difference. And yes, the pancakes were an absolute highlight!
Overall Impression: 4/5 Stars. Would (and probably will) stay again.
NOW FOR THE SALES PITCH: BOOK YOUR DREAM BAGUIO GETAWAY!
Tired of the everyday grind? Craving crisp mountain air, panoramic views, and a whole lot of pampering? Then look no further than Baguio Burnham Suites!
Here's why you should book NOW:
- Unwind in style: Indulge in our top-rated spa with its award-winning massage and revitalizing treatments.
- Fuel Your Adventure: Start your day with a delicious breakfast buffet (hello, pancakes!) and enjoy convenient dining options throughout your stay.
- Stay Connected: Enjoy FREE, reliable Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, so you can snap Instagram-worthy photos and share them with everyone.
- Easy Accessibility: Whether you're a seasoned traveler or have special needs, we are here to help!
- Safety First, Always: Rest easy knowing that we strictly adhere to safety and hygiene protocols.
- Located in Prime Area: You’re right in the heart of Baguio.
Special Offer for a Limited Time Only:
- Book within the next 24 hours and receive a FREE couple's massage!
- Get a 15% discount on all spa treatments!
Don't wait! Escape to paradise. Book your stay at Baguio Burnham Suites today! (Click the button to book now!) **(Insert a Booking Button) *(Insert a Link)* (Insert a Promo Code)
Atlanta Airport Escape: Home2 Suites Luxury Awaits!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's perfectly polished travel blog. We're going to Baguio, staying at the Burnham Suites, and it's gonna be a glorious, slightly chaotic mess. Here's the game plan (sort of, who am I kidding), warts and all:
Day 1: Arrival and Altitude Adjustment (Plus, the Great Luggage Debacle of '24)
- Morning (like, probably mid-morning): Land in Manila. Ugh, the airport. Don't even get me started. Smelly, crowded, and the pre-boarding announcements are like a constant, high-pitched whine. But hey, we survived! Now, the joy of figuring out where to get the bus to Baguio.
- Midday (ish): Found the Victory Liner bus terminal! Victory! (See what I did there?) But the line… oh, the line. Okay, patience, grasshopper. Grabbed some questionable street food while waiting. That lumpia? Slightly dubious. My stomach's already starting to rumble. Maybe I should’ve packed more snacks.
- Afternoon: Finally on the bus! The air conditioning is on full blast. Feeling smugly prepared with my sweater. About an hour in, the air con starts to feel like a polar vortex. Note to self: pack a blanket next time. The scenery is stunning though, mountains rising like sleeping giants. The traffic is awful so taking forever!
- Late Afternoon/Early Evening: Arrive in Baguio! Air fresher here. It's genuinely cold. The hotel, Burnham Suites, is lovely, a little faded charm, but the location can't be beat. Right on the edge of Burnham Park… almost perfect. Almost. Then the luggage. Where IS my luggage?! Turns out, it had a little "adventure" of its own. (Delayed flight, duh.) Cue the frantic calls, the panicked face-palming. And after 30 mins of waiting and asking around it did arrive. Bless. The whole experience of the whole day, the travel, the food, the people, and the weather has turned to be a great culture experience for the day.
- Evening: Dinner at a recommended restaurant. Ordered sinigang (sour soup). Delicious, warm, and exactly what my slightly stressed stomach needed. The atmosphere of the place is just so relaxing and I just enjoyed my dinner with no one at all. (It's fine! I'm fine!). Bed. Comfy bed. Needed it.
Day 2: Parks, Palates, and Philosophical Ramblings
- Morning: Finally got properly unpacked! (Luggage saga, still recovering from the stress, maybe I should start writing my will. lol) Breakfast at the hotel - mediocre. Honestly, a bit disappointing for a hotel of this size. Walked to Burnham Park. Okay, it's beautiful. I actually teared up a little. The scenery is really amazing.
- Midday: Lunch at a local eatery. Tried pinikpikan. Controversial, I know, but I wanted to experience it. Delicious. (No regrets!) The owner kept offering me more rice. Filipino hospitality, always overwhelming.
- Afternoon: Walk through Session Road, which I heard is the "heart" of Baguio. More like the "slightly-manic artery" of Baguio. So many people, so many shops. Didn't buy anything. My wallet is happy. But the experience is exhausting.
- Late Afternoon/Early Evening: Visit to the Mines View Park. Now, that's a view. Absolutely spectacular. The sheer drop, the mountains… breathtaking. The crowd of people… less breathtaking. Almost fell off the edge taking a selfie. Close call.
- Evening: Dinner at a fancy restaurant near Burnham park. The food was amazing! (Thank god for decent food today!) But… the service was a bit off. The waiter seemed to have forgotten my order. It took some time to get my order. But the food was great and I didn't hold a grudge. (Sort of.) Decided to order their specialty coffee.
Day 3: Faith, Fun, and Fiascos!
- Morning: Woke up, felt like a different person. Fresh air does the soul wonders. Went to the Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral (Baguio Cathedral). The stained glass windows are beautiful. Light and airy. (Plus, it gave me some much-needed quiet time.)
- Midday: Visited the BenCab Museum. Amazing art. The gardens were beautiful. I lost myself in the paintings for a while. I also got lost in the gardens. Eventually, I found my way back.
- Afternoon: Tried horseback riding. The horse was named "Midnight". (Generic, yes, but appropriate.) I have a feeling that it took me like 2 mins to be tired.
- Late Afternoon/Early Evening: Afternoon tea at a place with a view. Pretty, overpriced tea. But the view made up for it. Ordered some pastries. They were almost too pretty to eat. (Almost.)
- Evening: I was feeling adventurous and went to some bar. Meeting new people, getting drunk, and it's a fun night.
Day 4: Goodbye, Baguio! (And the lingering scent of pine needles)
- Morning: Devoured my breakfast as if my next meal would never arrive. (The stress from the luggage ordeal is finally wearing off.) A final stroll through Burnham Park. (One last, deep breath of that fresh mountain air.)
- Midday: Check out of the hotel. Hug the hotel staff as a sign of gratitude for all the assistance. Head to bus terminal.
- Afternoon: On the bus back to Manila. Traffic! The bus air-conditioning is still a battle, a personal vendetta.
- Late Afternoon/Early Evening: Arrive back in Manila. Already missing Baguio. The cold, the views, the chaos… all of it.
- Evening: Back to reality. (Sigh.) Already planning my next trip.
There you have it. Baguio, unfiltered. A journey filled with highs, lows, and the occasional existential crisis. Hope you enjoyed the messy ride!
Escape to Paradise: Sunny Cove Manor Awaits in South Africa!
Baguio Burnham Suites: Your (Potentially Slightly Messy, But Mostly Wonderful) Guide!
Okay, Spill the Tea: Is Burnham Suites *Really* Worth It?
Alright, deep breath. Worth it? Depends. If you're after pristine perfection, maybe not. But if you're craving a Baguio experience, nestled right in the heart of the action (meaning, hello, Burnham Park a stone's throw away!), with *relatively* clean rooms and a decent price? Yeah, probably. I mean, I booked it once expecting the Ritz, and ended up with a slightly wonky bathroom door and a view blocked by a charmingly chaotic collection of power lines. But you know what? I'd still do it again. It's the *vibe*, man. The VIBE. You can almost smell the pine needles and the *siopao* wafting up from Session Road from your window. Almost.
My hot take: Go in with realistic expectations. It's not luxury. It’s comfortable, convenient, and a solid basecamp for your Baguio shenanigans. (Just maybe bring your own extra-strength disinfectant wipes, okay? You know, for peace of mind.)
What's REALLY the Location Like? Can I Actually Walk Around? (Because I HATE traffic)
Oh. My. God. The location. This is where Burnham Suites *wins*. They basically built this hotel on top of the pot of gold at the end of the Baguio rainbow. Seriously. You are *right there*. Walkable? Girl, yes! Burnham Park? Across the street. Session Road's chaos (in a good way)? A comfortable stroll. Restaurants? Endless choices within a five-minute radius. Market? Okay, maybe a slightly longer stroll, but still. No need to deal with the agony of Baguio traffic unless you're actively trying to escape the area. And trust me, that's a feat in itself.
Anecdote time: One time, I was craving *sisig* at 10 PM. Hopped out of my room, waltzed down the street, and was devouring *sisig* within ten minutes. Pure, unadulterated Baguio bliss. That's the luxury of location, folks. The *real* luxury.
Talk to me about the Rooms! Are they... Clean? Spacious? Bearing in mind my inherent germophobia.
Okay, let's be brutally honest here. The rooms are… functional. Clean-ish. They're not the gleaming, sparkling, Instagram-perfect spaces you see in those sponsored posts. Think… well-worn, but generally tidy. I've seen worse. I've stayed in places where I'm pretty sure the furniture had a whole ecosystem living on it. Burnham Suites is *better* than that. Much better.
Size? Depending on the room type, it varies. Some are cozy (i.e., small). Some are… less cozy. Check the room description carefully and maybe overestimate your space needs, just to be safe. And yes, I would still bring those wipes. You know, just in case. You can never be too careful.
What About the Staff? Are They Friendly and Helpful? (Or Do They Secretly Resent Me?)
Generally, the staff is lovely. Filipino hospitality is a real thing, and you'll find it here. They’re usually smiling, helpful with directions, and try to assist you with your queries. I haven't encountered any overt resentment, thankfully. They're accustomed to tourists. The people who work there are generally warm and efficient. Of course, I'm a very polite person, which probably helps. Maybe. I've seen some reviews mentioning sporadic service glitches, but I’ve got no real complaints. Good service counts a lot in my book, and they did a decent job!
Okay, The Food. Is the Breakfast Worth Waking Up For?
Breakfast? It's included. It’s… breakfast. Don't go expecting gourmet. It's usually your basic Filipino breakfast fare – rice, eggs, some kind of meat (often *longganisa*), and maybe some fruit. It does the job. It's fuel. It's better than nothing. It's certainly convenient.
My advice: Manage your expectations. If you're a breakfast snob, maybe skip it and explore the countless cafes and restaurants within walking distance. But if you're just looking for a quick, easy start to your day, it’s perfectly acceptable. Just don't be expecting five-star Michelin-worthy food. That's not what you're here for!
What About the Wifi? Can I Actually Post My Instagram Stories of the Pine Trees?
Wifi… it can be… variable. Let’s just say, don’t depend on it for life-or-death Zoom calls. It’s usually usable, but speed can fluctuate. Sometimes it’s lightning-fast! Other times… well, you might find yourself staring at a loading screen while fantasizing about the mountains. So, come prepared with a backup plan! Or, you know, just enjoy being *offline*. Maybe that's what you need, after all. Maybe.
Pro-tip: Download any essentials before you get there, just in case. And embrace the (potential) digital detox. It might be good for you. Or not. I am not your therapist.
Any Hidden Gems or Things I Should Know BEFORE Booking?
Book in Advance: Baguio gets crazy busy, especially during the cool seasons. Don't dawdle on your reservations!
Parking: Parking can be tricky. If you're driving your own car, inquire about parking options beforehand. Consider calling ahead if you can't find it to reserve a space!
Noise Levels: Being in the heart of the city means… noise. Be prepared for a little bit of street noise, especially if your room faces the road.
Embrace the Imperfection: This isn't a five-star resort. Go in with an open mind, and just enjoy the experience. It is part of Baguio!
