Tag Archives: Camp John Hay

Le Monet Baguio

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Claude Monet (photo from wikipedia)

Claude Monet was a founder of French impressionist painting, and the most consistent and prolific practitioner of the movement’s philosophy of expressing one’s perceptions before nature, especially as applied to plein-air landscape painting (wikipedia)
Many years back, I went to his house in Giverny, now a major tour destination in France. Easily the most memorable images the visitor will have are the many beautiful spots in his garden. The bridge, the lotus pond, water lilies . . . . The garden was his workshop where he taught other aspiring artists, and has become the subject of presumably thousands of paintings by impressionists, including Monet himself.
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Such was the influence of Monet to me that when I saw a construction in John Hay that was to be called Le Monet, I told myself that I will stay at least a night in this new hotel once it opens. And so here I am.Le Monet is next door to the Filling Station, a row of restaurants offering burgers, pizzas, Japanese food, and ice cream, among others.
The lobby gives one a preview of what to expect from the hotel rooms. Not grand. Just nice, clean, and impressive.
The famous Dinelli has moved from the Filling Station to the hotel, and is now its coffee shop.
The lobby cafe has a glass window that opens to the pine trees on the road.
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And, quite naturally, there is abundance of art, by the masters no less. National Artists all.

Ang Kiukok

Jose Joya

THE ROOMS
There are two types of accommodations. De luxe at P5,500 a night, and Junior Suite at P7,000. I would rate the room 4-star, and I dare say my de luxe room is better than the room I used to stay in at The Manor Hotel.

my de luxe room with a forest view, at P5,500 less 30% (off peak)

there’s cable TV at the bathroom

complimentary coffee and tea – – where’s the other cup?

the other cup was at the veranda, as I had coffee

pine trees all around

the view from my room

The Junior Suite

forest view bath tub in a Junior Suite

Room rates include a sumptuous breakfast for 2 at Dinelli. My breakfast consisted of macaroni salad, greek salad, and quail egg salad and tender beef tapa, longaniza, corned beef and tocino. Whew, I thought I ate more than I should !
Le Monet is also the only hotel I have been to in the Philippines where there is television in the toilet, separate from the plasma on the wall in the bedroom.I also loved having my morning coffee at the veranda with a forest of pine trees and a view of the mountains. I missed having a drink at the Malt Room, the hotel’s bar where smoking is allowed.Le Monet has wifi, a spa, and a swimming pool (soon). The horse riding trail, the butterfly sanctuary, the eco trail, and picnic tables are just outside the property.

There is a Le Monet Garden being created at the side and the back of the hotel.

how I wish Giverny would be re-created here

I only wish they would re-create Claude Monet’s garden in Giverny. And then the hotel and its garden will truly be a destination.Giverny garden or not, I still love this hotel and will surely recommend to friends and fellow travelers.

WHAT I MISSED :
Cotton buds, cotton balls, and a safe in the room.
Contact Details:
Le Monet Hotel
Ordonio Drive, Camp John Hay
Loakan Road, Baguio City
Trunk Line : 074 6610208
Manila Sales Office
Telephone 3765059
UPDATE : I received an email from Le Monet announcing the special rate, as follows :

Greetings from the City of Pines and Le Monet Hotel!

We have great news for you, your family, and friends. From
June 15 to October 15, 2012, Le Monet Hotel will offer its “VALUE PLUS
PROMO.”

The following are the details of Le Monet Hotel’s Value Plus
Promo:

*Deluxe accommodation for two (2), for as low as Php3,850
net, inclusive of buffet breakfast
*Free accommodation for children age 12 years and below,
when sharing room and bed with parents
*50% discount for children age 5 to 12 years on buffet
breakfast
*Free breakfast for children age 4 years and below

Prior reservation is highly recommended, to ensure
availability of rooms!    (end of mail)

 THE FILLING STATION

What an appropriate name. Here is where you fill up when you are hungry. And the whole complex is connected to the hotel.

al fresco dining or coffee at the veranda of the Filling Station, with direct access from Le Monet Hotel

pizzas, Japanese, and ice cream

the roadside al fresco seating

Camp John Hay – Baguio City

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Whenever I am in Baguio, I practically never leave John Hay. Alright, I would go to the SM Mall occasionally, like maybe once in three visits. Then maybe have lunch outside once in five visits. John Hay has everything, and just happens to be the only place in the city that is still dotted with pine trees. Thus, living up to the Baguio in everyone’s mind.

What’s in John Hay?

Golf. A Nicklaus designed golf course set among pine trees. A mini golf. Shopping for export overruns and items at factory prices. Wine shops and delis. Restaurants and cafes. A horse-ride trail. A hiking trail. Paintball. Butterfly sanctuary.  A smaller version of the Statue of Liberty. Plus restaurants and coffee shops. And fresh mountain air.

mini golf, at the Forest Estates area

shops, cafes, restaurants and an in at the Commercial Center

a butterfly sanctuary in front of the Filling Station

statue of Liberty near the Historical Core

picnic tables all over John Hay


What is coming up?  The Treetop Adventure


Update: The Treetop Adventure has actually opened for business. Find them near the Historical Core, at the back of the Statue of Liberty.

The Historical Core

Entrance fees are collected. Visit the old Bell House and Amphitheater. re-live Baguio and John Hay when the base was then exclusive to the American military and their guests.

take Scout Hill to go to Historical Core

The Lost Cemetery/Cemetery of Negativism.

This was created by as a way of throwing away angst, anger, loneliness, and any other negative thoughts among the US military personnel as a way to  cleanse their minds and hearts. Tombstones thus carry messages of the angst they were getting rid of, and burying underground.

"tombs" around the cemetery

Cafes and Restaurants

There are essentially 3 sections where these are concentrated: near the golf course, at the commercial center near the Manor, and at the Filling Station near the CAP Convention Center.

The cafes near the golf course: House of Waffles, Starbucks, and Cantinetta.

The Shops at the Commercial Center: My favorites are Diners, where I almost always have my breakfast, and Dencio’s, when I crave for spicy crispy pata and sinigang na bangus belly, and sisig. There is also a cake shop called Everything Nice, Carlo’s Pizza, a cafe at Mile-Hi Inn, and a coffee shop at the end of the center.

breakfast at Diner's : tapsilog or corned beef hash?

Filling Station. This area has metamorphosed into a more interesting eating out place. There is Shakeys, a Japanese resto , an ice cream parlor, Hotshots, Wrap & Roll, and a deli called Dinelli. Seating is al fresco – – on the road to watch people go by, or at the veranda at the back with a thick forest of pine trees as your setting.When it is too cold, you may also take the seats inside the building.

no, you can't gas up here now

Worth a special mention is a stand-alone restaurant called Chocolate de Batirol at the Igorot Park near the gate going to the Baguio Country Club. This is one of the most famous in Baguio. try bibingka with chocolate de batirol. They also serve lunch and dinner, al fresco, with the golf course as your view.

Accommodations

John Hay has the best hotel in the city. John Hay Manor has a country charm, with rooms furnished in the Cordillera theme. Guests have a choice of regular rooms, rooms with a veranda, or 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom suites, with living and dining areas. The bar with a fireplace is a hub in the evenings. The bakeshop sells the best raisin breads, wines, ground coffee, ice cream, and interesting finds.

The Manor

John Hay Manor rooms start at P5,200 with 2-bedroom suites at P12,300.

Contact John Hay Manor at (+6374) 4240931 to 43. Toll free number : (+632) 8450892. Website: http://www.cjhotels.com

The Suites is partially open, right beside the Manor, overlooking the golf course. As a John Hay Manor property, bookings can also be made with the above number.

The Suites, overlooking the golf course

Mile-Hi Inn is a small hotel within the commercial center, under the shops. Room rates start at P1,900. Phone (+6374)4466141. Website : http://www.mile-hi.com.ph

rooms for two at P1,900, at the heart of John Hay

a room for as many as six, with extra charges per person

Private Homes

Some owners rent out their vacation homes. At the Forest Estates, 3-bedroom forest cabins, fully furnished, are rented out for P15,000 per day during the peak season (Christmas, Holy Week, Panagbenga flower festival) to as low as P10,000 per day on the rainy months. These homes have a fireplace, living and dining, 3 T&B, ref, oven, microwave, cooking utensils, pots & pans, plates, cups and saucers, drinking glasses, spoons & forks etc that renters need only to buy food to cook. These homes accommodate as much as 10 persons, and have carports for 2.

private "forest cabins" are no cabins but 3-bedroom, 3-storey vacation homes

At the Country Estates, 4-bedroom Country Homes with a maid’s room rent out for as low as P15,000 when off-peak, and P25,000-P30,000 during peak season, depending on demand. these are lovely homes set within the golf course.

Country Estates

one of the country homes

These homes can be booked “unofficially” thru the front desk clerks at the Manor Hotel. These are not hotel properties, but these clerks will contact those in charge of these homes and they get commissions from the referrals.

You may end up enjoying John Hay so much that you will want to live there, and have a home built. Homes at Forest Estates (forest cabin) are available at P13M, and you only need to wait 8-10 months for your home’s completion.

a forest cabin unit is half of this structure, each with 150 square meters of floor space, with 3 bedrooms and 3 T&B

Or buy any of the homes for sale, like the one below:

http://forestcabin.wordpress.com/2010/07/23/welcome-to-my-home/

Next time you go up to Baguio, enjoy the experience more by staying inside John Hay.