I just got back from a solo trip in Batanes. :) If you follow me on my Facebook Page, you probably knew that I got stranded in Basco for almost a week. No thanks to typhoon Fung-Wong (locally known as Mario) that hit and basically shut down Manila last September 19, 2014. Moving on...
Batanes is the northernmost province of the Philippines and the only way to get there is by plane. So far, only Philippine Airlines (PAL) and SkyJet offer flights from Manila to Basco. Last July I went to the Travel Madness Expo with a goal to get discounted roundtrip tickets to Basco. Luckily I found one with PAL and costs less than ₱3,500 with no baggage. Not bad right?
I arrived last September 16, 2014. Here's the small Basco Airport Terminal Building that looks like a modernized version of their stone houses.
This is the arrival and waiting area for locals and passengers. :) The guy in white collar shirt is from Amboy's Hometel.
I booked directly and stayed at Amboy's Hometel.
Batanes is the northernmost province of the Philippines and the only way to get there is by plane. So far, only Philippine Airlines (PAL) and SkyJet offer flights from Manila to Basco. Last July I went to the Travel Madness Expo with a goal to get discounted roundtrip tickets to Basco. Luckily I found one with PAL and costs less than ₱3,500 with no baggage. Not bad right?
I arrived last September 16, 2014. Here's the small Basco Airport Terminal Building that looks like a modernized version of their stone houses.
This is the arrival and waiting area for locals and passengers. :) The guy in white collar shirt is from Amboy's Hometel.
I booked directly and stayed at Amboy's Hometel.
The hostel is located at Brgy. Chanarian, less than 10 minutes away from Basco Airport. According to locals, Amboy (surname) is one of the prominent families in Basco. They originally built the house as a vacation home but then tourism is booming so there's been a high demand for inns/lodges thus converting it to a hometel.
This is the main/duplex house that has a total of 6 rooms. On the left side is Sean's while the right is Jaden's rooms named after the Amboy kids.
I specifically requested for a room that has a double bed so I stayed in room S2.
Original rate for this room is ₱2,200 per night but since I went during off-peak season I paid only ₱1,760 and that includes airport transfer, set breakfast and free WiFi. :)
The room looked better than expected. Their website doesn't give justice to what I saw upon arrival.
Hi Mr. Amboy, maybe it's time to redesign your website. You have my number, call me! Haha.
The bathroom is small but very clean.
Apart from the duplex, Amboy expanded by adding more apartment style rooms that can accommodate bigger groups.
Sneaked into one of the rooms to see the beds. This is a triple room that had a double and single beds.
Here's the dining area of Amboy's. They have a mini grocery selling snacks and other whatnots.
Travel Tip: Bring your own snacks if possible or you can buy from the sari-sari stores outside since medyo mahal ng konti kapag kay Amboy bibili. Hehe.
You also have the option to dine outside or just hangout. Masarap mag-inuman diyan. Lol.
Flights to Basco are usually early in the morning so it's kinda sweet that they prepared breakfast upon my arrival. Nothing fancy here, just the usual silog meals na nakakabusog na rin naman kahit small serving. :)
This is the main/duplex house that has a total of 6 rooms. On the left side is Sean's while the right is Jaden's rooms named after the Amboy kids.
I specifically requested for a room that has a double bed so I stayed in room S2.
Original rate for this room is ₱2,200 per night but since I went during off-peak season I paid only ₱1,760 and that includes airport transfer, set breakfast and free WiFi. :)
The room looked better than expected. Their website doesn't give justice to what I saw upon arrival.
Hi Mr. Amboy, maybe it's time to redesign your website. You have my number, call me! Haha.
The bathroom is small but very clean.
Apart from the duplex, Amboy expanded by adding more apartment style rooms that can accommodate bigger groups.
Sneaked into one of the rooms to see the beds. This is a triple room that had a double and single beds.
Here's the dining area of Amboy's. They have a mini grocery selling snacks and other whatnots.
Travel Tip: Bring your own snacks if possible or you can buy from the sari-sari stores outside since medyo mahal ng konti kapag kay Amboy bibili. Hehe.
You also have the option to dine outside or just hangout. Masarap mag-inuman diyan. Lol.
Flights to Basco are usually early in the morning so it's kinda sweet that they prepared breakfast upon my arrival. Nothing fancy here, just the usual silog meals na nakakabusog na rin naman kahit small serving. :)
I hope you liked my review of Amboy's Hometel. I definitely recommend it to travelers like me who cannot afford to stay in Fundacion Pacita. Amboy's may not have the view of Marlboro Country or the Pacific Ocean but at least it's facing the West Philippine Sea so walking distance lang siya from the beach. ;)
Amboy's Hometel Batanes
4/
5
Oleh
Unknown
