Days Hotel Iloilo
4 stars
The Atrium at the Capital, General Luna corner Bonifacio Drive, Iloilo City

Internet Reservation Office in Philippines
Tel: + 24 hours Hot Line
+ (632) 6355099 & 9104203 to 05
+ (Toll Free from US) 18773475239
+ (Toll Free from US) 18773874852
+ (Toll Free from UK) 44800014800
Fax: +63 (2) 6356699, 9104206

Service with a smile is a constant element in all Days Hotel properties, and our Iloilo branch is no0 different. With 70 rooms and suites, we know our guests by name and not just a number. We make this possible through our sophisticated Hotel Information System (HIS) a state of the art communication procedure. Experience gracious and incomparable Ilonggo hospitality, as we take pride in providing the service you deserve, only in Days Hotel Iloilo.

MO2 Westown Hotel
Glicerio T. Pison Avenue, Benigno Aquino Drive, Mandurriao, Iloilo City

Internet Reservation Office in Philippines
Tel: + 24 hours Hot Line
+ (632) 6355099 & 9104203 to 05
+ (Toll Free from US) 18773475239
+ (Toll Free from US) 18773874852
+ (Toll Free from UK) 44800014800
Fax: +63 (2) 6356699, 9104206

The MO2 Westown Hotel, also known as MO2 Hotel, is located along Pison St., Mandurriao within the Smallville Business Center, a popular night spot in Iloilo. Within the vicinity of Westown Hotel is a row of clubs, bars, restaurants, and coffee shops, within walking distance from each other.

Sarabia Manor Hotel
4 stars
101, General Luna Street, Iloilo City

Internet Reservation Office in Philippines
Tel: + 24 hours Hot Line
+ (632) 6355099 & 9104203 to 05
+ (Toll Free from US) 18773475239
+ (Toll Free from US) 18773874852
+ (Toll Free from UK) 44800014800
Fax: +63 (2) 6356699, 9104206

The Sarabia Manor Hotel has become one of Iloilo’s famous landmarks. It sits on around 2 hectares of land, blending delightfully with the manor house atmosphere and the city’s allure. It has become the favorite hotel of highest officers of the land, local and foreign tourists and convention venue for conventions and conferences for more than two decades already.

Hotel Del Rio
4 stars
M.H. Del Pilar Street, Molo, Iloilo City

Internet Reservation Office in Philippines
Tel: + 24 hours Hot Line
+ (632) 6355099 & 9104203 to 05
+ (Toll Free from US) 18773475239
+ (Toll Free from US) 18773874852
+ (Toll Free from UK) 44800014800
Fax: +63 (2) 6356699, 9104206

More than its historical and economic significance as a port city, beautiful Iloilo is especially known for the gracious hospitality and charm of the Ilonggo people. When you visit, stay at Iloilo City’s premiere landmark hotel. An institution already trusted and known to Ilonggos for superior service and delicious food. At Hotel Del Rio, we value every guest as a part of our extended family.

The Jaro Cathedral and Belfry are only some of the few 18th century structures still existing today in Iloilo. Built in 1864, it is now the church where the Archbishop of Jaro regularly celebrates mass.

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One of the few yet popular bakeshop and pasalubong stores in Iloilo City is the Biscocho Haus. Over half a dozen branches spread all over Iloilo catering to travellers and tourists, the Original Biscocho Haus has survived the test and taste of time.

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I will be visiting my folks back in Iloilo next week so while scouring the websites of several domestic airlines for a cheap airplane ticket, I got frustrated with the way they handled online booking and went back to the traditional way of ticket reservation.

I ended up taking a PAL flight as they got better departure times than Cebu Pacific or Air Philippines (though Air Phils is already under PAL right?)

Anyway, while waiting in line, I got a brochure for one of their PALakbayan promos. For as low as Php5,350, you can get a round trip from Manila to Iloilo with 2 nights twin accomodation at one fo the standard hotels in the city. The promo includes Manila-Iloilo-Manila route by Philippine Airlines (Fiesta Class airfare), airport-hotel-airport transfers, and daily breakfast. Extra nights are charged Php510 each for twin beds.

The regular round trip ticket that I got cost me Php4,920 so this PALakbayan promo is quite cheap, but I’m off to Guimaras the whole time so I wouldn’t need the hotel accomodations.

Promo ends March 31, 2006.

More stories about Iloilo and Guimaras when I get back from the trip.

My longest road trip ever was the one I had way back in 1998. I was here in Manila still studying in college at the Ateneo. The sem break is up ahead so me and some of my friends planned a road trip over the vacation week.

The itenerary — Manila -> Naga City -> Samar -> Tacloban & Ormoc City, Leyte -> Cebu City -> Iloilo City.

I had about Php5,000 as pocket money and we talked to a lot of our friends and dorm mates who lived along our route. It was just the three of us and we took a bus (Highway Express) from Cubao to Naga City. It was an 8 to 10 hour drive which costs us around Php350 a seat. The Highway Express is probably the best bus you could ever get for a long drive. Its interior is more like that of the jumbo jet with two aisles separating 3 individual seats (no seatmates) and it has an onboard CR and videoke. We spent about 3 days in Naga City and stayed at one of our friend’s house there.

Then, we were off to Matnog which is on the southermost tip of Luzon. From Matnog, our bus waited for the barge to carry it across to the port of Samar. From Samar pier, our bus went straight to Leyte, cruising along the San Juanico Bridge. The second stop was Tacloban. Since we didn’t know anyone in that town, we went straight to Ormoc City where one of my friends lived. He didn’t live in Ormoc City actually but a neighboring town called Isabela which is about 30 minutes by car.

In Isabela, Leyte, we spent another 4 days doing some rapelling and range shooting. One of my friend’s dad was a senior executive of a fertilizer company based there. We had a great time since we had access to all ameneties and stuff. We went on night-outs in Ormoc where I saw the small church where Richard and Lucy got married.

On the fourth day, we took a ferry boat to Cebu City and meet some more friends. We had a blast in Cebu – the Highlands, Waterfront hotel and even more night outs.

It was supposed to be an overnight stay for me so I bought a plane ticket to Iloilo for the following day. Since there’s only 1 daily trip from Cebu to Iloilo and flight’s at 5:00AM, I had no choice but to take it. My other option was to take a ferry but it would take about half a day since the boat would have to go around Negros Island to reach Iloilo.

Anyway, I opted for the plane which will only be 15 minutes in the air so good for me. The ticket then was roughly Php999 only but it was already expensive. Since we were out the whole night, I never got the chance to catch a nap. I had to leave for the airport by 4AM but unfortunately I overslept and woke up about 4:45 already. I rushed out of the house without saying goodbye to my hosts and even had to climbed over their gate.

About 10 minutes before my plane is scheduled to leave, I was still in the cab rushing for Mactan Airport. Just as I arrive at the airport, a couple of their personnel were already escorting me straight to the tarmac. It was so close that the moment I step into the cabin of the plane, the stewardess closed the doors. Yeah, I was the last one in and people were all staring at me.

Fifteen minutes later, I was back in Iloilo and went straight home to Guimaras.