A Cold North American Like Getaway In the Philippines: Camp John Hay - Baguio City

With the Christmas Holidays coming, finding the most amazing place to spend your holiday without having to fly off to some distant land here in the Philippines but yet giving you that somewhat frosty xmas feel of the season is rather easy. Baguio City is exactly that place to go, and more specifically - Camp John Hay.

Most people think of Baguio City as the Summer get away from the heat waves that would be pounding most of Metro Manila, but very few would think of Baguio as the go to place for the X-Mas Holidays. Camp John Hay and the Area of Camp John Hay in Baguio City is quite a treat for those that visit the place this cold season. With Pine Trees surrounding the Manor and the exquisite lodge style theme of the Hotel, one would definitely feel that they are in a different place. Most people would think it would be quite expensive to stay in Camp John Hay but with websites like Agoda.com and Expedia.com it is quite easy to get to find a good deal for the cold season.

Getting to Baguio from Metro Manila is also quite easy. People have several choices to choose from in terms of how one would like to get to this Philippines Winter Destination. The most common would be by bus. The most favored bus line for this would be through Victory Liner. With Victory Liner one can check out the daily schedules and bus stations that would be suitable for where you are located at in Metro Manila. For those going to Baguio, you can make online reservations to avoid the hassles of having to fall in line at the bus station. For those that prefer to go to the bus stations there is always a trip leaving every 30min to an hour. The other way is to drive there to Baguio yourself which is technically a lot faster than taking the bus. This is because when you drive you are allowed access to the SCTEX exit through clark and is a short cut to Tarlac. The SCTEX is mostly smooth flowing traffic as there are no public transportations going through it and the road is well developed and quite scenic. You would also be allowed access to Kennon Road which is a shorter route up the mountain to Baguio City compared to the Marcos Highway. Check the weather though prior to heading up Kennon Road as rainy weather and fog could make it a difficult road to go through. If bad weather does hit your road trip it would be best to stick with Marcos Highway instead.

Here is the road to Baguio City from NLEX to SCTEX to Kennon Road

You'll Basically go to the NLEX to the DAU Exit

From The Dau Exit you'll go a little further to enter the SCTEX Exit. If you Take the NLEX through to Tarlac City you'll find that your trip is going to take you about an hour or so longer than going through the SCTEX

The View of the area around the SCTEX Road is quite scenic and relaxing. You won't encounter the hassles of public transportation such as Busses and Tricycles blocking your way here.

Once you exit the SCTEX you'll find yourself on the Provincial Highway leading From Tarlac, Pangasinan to a fork which will let you choose between going through Kennon Road or Marcos Highway

Kennon Road is the much shorter route, but bear in mind that if it is raining and a heavy fog is predicted, it would be a much safer route to take the Marcos Highway as Kennon Road is still being developed and may be at risk of landslides during bad weather.

Once you hit Baguio City, there are many street signs and people that are more than willing to guide you across town to Camp John Hay. It isn't difficult because everyone local to Baguio knows where it is.  You can also download the Android Mobile Application called Mapfactor which can be used as a personal Navigator as long as your Android Phone supports GPS tracking. This should also help you find your way around town and point your to where you have to go from Metro Manila to Camp John Hay.

Once in Camp John Hay you will immediately notice how the Pine Tree forrest surrounding Camp John Hay creates an ambiance of a North American feel. The cold temperature of the air, the smell of the trees and grass, all add to the ambiance. In Camp John Hay you'll have access to the different outlet stores, hotels, horseback rides, zip line, hike trail, golf and so much more. You'll have to stay for a little over the weekend to get to experience everything that the place would have to offer. One of my favorite places to stay in Camp John Hay is the Hotel called the Manor. The rooms and lounge areas of the Manor in Camp John Hay really give off the vibes of a colonial time from the pine wood to the furnitures. The garden is also quite a fun picturesque place to hang out with the family with a small pond and a single large tree right in the center of the garden. They also offer amazing food choices with the garden view and service is excellent. Though the price can be quite hefty at roughly Php 10,000 a night there would be times when they offer special promos and corporate rates of upto 50% off.

View of the Camp John Hay from the 4th floor Suite we Rented. The One facing the Garden is even more amazing.

The Camp John Hay Manor Garden

The flowers in the area are so beautiful. You can check out more in Baguio's Botanical Garden which is quite close to Camp John Hay.

Some of the Cabins that you can rent for the weekend.

Some of them are even built like real pine wood cabins

The interiors provide a warm and comfortable contrast to the cold air outside

The Hotel Room Suites are also just as comfortable and quite elegant.

All the suites of the manor have an amazing view of Camp John Hay.

Jogging, shopping and dining are the main activities that one would get to do in Camp John Hay. The hike trail too is a favorite agenda on the list of things to do. Horseback riding and Golf is also a must try for those that want a little more extra in their vacation.

Just as an added feature - we paid a visit to Wright Park which is just close to Camp John Hay for Horseback Riding and to check out plants to bring home.

For 50 Pesos one can get money trees such as these and mini bonsai's such as those below

The cold Weather didn't stop us from Enjoying Ice Cream though and we really wanted it after a tiring Horseback riding session. We had ice cream in one of the establishments in Camp John Hay. There are several places in Camp John Hay that you can choose from to enjoy desserts such as these.

As you can see my friend Jinky is really enjoying the cold weather and sweet flavors of Nestle Ice Cream

Overall the stay in Camp John Hay is quite a fun filled family experience, that is inexpensive as compared to having to travel out of the country with your family and friends. It gives a genuine x-mas feeling too at the right time of the year, and also a favorite summer get away for most.

Till Next Time...

-Metz-