My friends and I hied off to Baguio during a long weekend, and we were so unprepared that we got off the van (oh my god, that van -- we didn't have Victory Liner reservations so we took a sketchy van to Baguio) and walked around looking for a place to stay. Short of being desperate, we were ready to book at one of the ultra-expensive and posh hotels but even they were fully-booked by the Manila hordes who like us, apparently thought that Baguio would be a great idea.
We stumbled in tired and groggy into Upstairs, and knew that it was our last option. The mixed dorm was unexciting and even drab, but we were grateful to have a roof over our heads for the night. At the very least, it was clean and the beddings were freshly laundered. The noise level was also managed, making it somewhat bearable. The common area is open-air, thus, affording you a chance to savor the crisp Baguio breeze. The winning points for the hostel, however, are its accessibility, and the level of service from the staff. It is a short walk away from SM, and just a staircase away from Mt. Cloud and Hill Station. The Chocolateria right outside has the best churros in Baguio, and you can also take a familiar yet fulfilling meal at Pamana, which is a few steps away from Upstairs' front door. You can also manage to get a cab as soon as you go out, as the street it's on is a major thoroughfare. If you want a 350-per night place to stay in Baguio, look no further than Upstairs read more