I totally didn't plan this trip to Baguio and honestly? best decision ever
so yeah, i'm writing this from a coffee shop in baguio and honestly i didn't even know i'd end up here. my friend just texted me like "hey, want to escape manila for a bit?" and i was like sure why not. now i'm sitting here at 24 degrees feeling actually human for the first time in weeks because manila has been KILLING me with the heat. the humidity is at 90% which sounds terrible but honestly it's different here? like it's warm but not that suffocating kind of warm you know?
Quick Answers
Q: Is this place worth visiting?
A: Absolutely yes if you need to escape city chaos. It's affordable, safe, and the weather alone makes it worth the trip. Coming from manila was literally like stepping into a different country.
Q: Is it expensive?
A: Compared to manila? dirt cheap. i paid 800 pesos for a decent room last night. food is like 100-200 pesos for a full meal. your money goes SO far here.
Q: Who would hate it here?
A: If you need nightlife and clubbing, go elsewhere. also if you're strictly a beach person, the mountains aren't your vibe. plus the traffic getting here is actual hell so... yeah.
Q: Best time to visit?
A: honestly anytime works but i heard march to may is super packed with local tourists. i came now and it's chill. december is apparently beautiful but crowded.
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the weather situation here is wild. it's currently 24.16 degrees but feels like 24.98 because of the humidity. someone told me the pressure is at 1014 which is pretty standard, and honestly the humidity being at 90% sounds worse than it is. a local warned me that the temperature drops significantly at night so i packed wrong and now i'm shivering in my shorts. classic move.
i'm working remotely while here and the wifi situation has been surprisingly solid. i heard from another digital nomad that the coworking spaces here are actually decent and affordable. i found a cafe with reliable internet so i've just been working from here honestly. best of both worlds.
i went to session road yesterday and honestly it's exactly what you'd expect from a tourist place in the philippines. lots of strawberry stalls, tea shops, and people selling weird crafts. a local told me to skip the overpriced restaurants near the main road and instead go to the public market for food. best advice ever. i had silog for 70 pesos and it was incredible.
my taxi driver told me "you want real baguio? go to the markets, eat with locals, don't stay in the tourist areas" and honestly he was right
the distance from manila is like 5-6 hours by bus or 1 hour by plane. i took the bus because i'm cheap and wanted to save money. it was... an experience. the winding roads got me carsick but the views were worth it. i could see the sea level at some points which was trippy.
things i learned that you should know:
- the weather changes FAST here. pack layers even if it's sunny when you arrive
- grab bikes if you can, traffic in the city center is insane
- the air quality is so much better than manila, i actually slept well
- everyone speaks english so communication is easy
- there are actual coworking spaces now, i saw people working at cloud 9
i've been here 3 days now and i already feel more productive than i did in a month in manila. something about the altitude and the cooler air just makes my brain work better. a guy at my hostel said the same thing - he comes here specifically for work because he focuses better. i get it now.
the safety vibe here is really good honestly. i walked around alone at night and felt fine. there are police everywhere and the locals are super helpful. one tita helped me find my hostel when i got lost. the tourism police are also around the main areas which is reassuring.
i met this girl who's been here for a MONTH working remotely. she showed me her setup and honestly it's giving me ideas. she said her rent is like 12k pesos a month for a decent place with wifi. that's like $200 usd. absolutely insane. she's basically living the dream.
the tourist vs local experience here is interesting. the main areas like session road and burnham park are super touristy but if you venture out a bit, you get a totally different vibe. i went to a local carindería yesterday and paid 50 pesos for a meal. the lady didn't speak much english but we figured it out. that's the stuff that makes travel worth it honestly.
i heard from a local that the real baguio is in the barangays outside the city center, not in the tourist zones
if you're coming here to work, here's what you need to know:
first, get a local sim. globe works pretty well and the data is cheap. second, download offline maps because google maps gets confused here. third, bring a jacket even if it's sunny when you land - the temperature drops at night and it gets COLD. fourth, learn a few tagalog phrases because not everyone speaks english in the smaller places. finally, have cash because a lot of places don't take cards.
i'm probably going to extend my stay here honestly. the combination of affordable living, decent internet, good food, and actually bearable weather makes it perfect for what i need right now. plus i haven't even explored the surrounding areas yet - someone told me there's a waterfall nearby that's worth the trip.
anyway, that's my messy recap. if you're a digital nomad looking for a break from manila, baguio is literally your best option. it's close, cheap, and actually pleasant to work from. just don't forget a jacket.
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*links for more info:*
- tripadvisor baguio
- reddit baguio travel
- yelp baguio restaurants
- wikitravel baguio
- pinoy travel blogs baguio
- manila bulletin baguio guide