Uncover the Manor's Secrets: Camp John Hay's Hidden Gem in Baguio!

The Manor at Camp John Hay Baguio Philippines

The Manor at Camp John Hay Baguio Philippines

Uncover the Manor's Secrets: Camp John Hay's Hidden Gem in Baguio!

Uncovering the Manor's Secrets: Camp John Hay – More Than Just a Pretty Picture (A Messy Review)

Alright, folks, buckle up. This isn't your perfectly polished travel brochure review. This is real life, after staying at The Manor at Camp John Hay in Baguio City. Prepare for honesty, a few rants, some moments of pure bliss, and a whole lot of me trying to figure out how to cram all the details into this digital void.

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  • Meta Description: A brutally honest review of The Manor at Camp John Hay in Baguio! Discover its hidden gems, accessibility, dining experiences, spa & fitness, plus the highs and lows of a messy, real-world stay. Is it worth it? Find out! This is not your typical review.

The Setup: The Pre-Trip Jitters & Arrival (or, "Why did I think this was a good idea?")

First, let's get one thing straight: planning a trip, even a short one, with family is a chaotic masterpiece painted with equal parts excitement and dread. We chose The Manor because, well, the photos. Seriously, those pictures? They make you believe in fairy tales. But reality, as usual, had other plans. Getting there was a trek, of course. Baguio traffic… let’s just say it's an experience.

Accessibility: Navigating the Terrain (and My Own Skepticism)

Okay, before I get lost in the beauty, let's talk accessibility. This was a big concern for us, and The Manor, thankfully, seemed to be making an effort.

  • Wheelchair Accessible: The good news: ramps, elevators, and accessible rooms are available. My relative with mobility challenges found it mostly easy to navigate the main areas.
  • Facilities for Disabled Guests: There seemed to be some consideration given. However, I did notice some areas where navigating could be tricky. Some of the paths were uneven, so keep that in mind for people using wheelchairs or walking aids.
  • Elevator: Thankfully, elevators are available and well maintained.
  • Overall: It's not perfect, but it shows an awareness, which is a plus compared with other places in Baguio.

Now, let's get to the GOOD Stuff:

Finding Your Zen (or Trying To): Spa & Relaxation

  • Spa: Honestly, this was one of the highlights! The spa facilities were beautiful, well-maintained, and the staff were genuinely lovely. I splurged on a massage, and let me tell you, it was divine. My therapist somehow managed to work out years of travel stress in an hour. Pure, unadulterated bliss.
  • Sauna, Steamroom, and Spa/Sauna: They have them! I'm not a regular user, but they were available and clean, which is what matters.
  • Pool with View, Swimming Pool [outdoor]: While not a huge pool, the outdoor pool area was lovely. The view was breathtaking, especially in the early morning.
  • Foot Bath & Body Scrub, Body Wrap: Didn’t try these, but they were offered, so bonus points for options.
  • Gym/fitness, Fitness center: Well-equipped and a good size. I did a quick workout, and it was perfect, especially after the buffet.

Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Culinary Adventure (with Some Hiccups)

  • Restaurants: Several options. The Piano Bar was perfect for cocktails. Le Chef was great, but a bit pricey. The buffet was an EXPERIENCE.
  • Breakfast [buffet], Buffet in restaurant, Western breakfast, Asian breakfast, A la carte in restaurant: The breakfast buffet was… well, let's say I did some serious damage. The selection was vast, with both Western and Asian options. Fresh fruit, pastries, made-to-order omelets… It was a carb-lover's paradise.
  • Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop: Decent coffee but needed to be stronger.
  • Poolside bar: Lovely for an evening drink.
  • Happy hour: Yup!
  • Desserts in restaurant: Oh, they were tempting.
  • Room service [24-hour], Bottle of water: Always a plus!
  • Alternative meal arrangement: (I didn't need to use this, but it's good they have it)
  • Dining Experience: On the whole, the food was really good. We had a memorable dinner at Le Chef, the main restaurant, which was excellent. The service was professional and the ambiance was perfect.
  • Snack bar: (Didn't use it)
  • Soup in restaurant, Salad in restaurant: (Available)

Rooms, Rooms, Glorious Rooms (and The Occasional Imperfection)

  • Available in all rooms: Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens. (That's a LOT!)
  • Room Decorations: tastefully done
  • Soundproof rooms: Yes and good
  • Non-smoking rooms: Yes, lots of them.

The Internet Saga (or, "Can We Just Get Online Already?")

  • Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!, Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet services, Wi-Fi in public areas: Okay, let’s be real: the Wi-Fi was fine. Adequate. Acceptable. Not lightning-fast, but usable for checking emails and posting some Instagram pics. We had a bit of a hiccup with the LAN but, thankfully, the Wi-Fi saved the day. It's 2024; fast, reliable internet is a basic human right, right? (Okay, maybe not a right, but you get my drift.)

Cleanliness, Safety & All That Serious Stuff:

  • Rooms sanitized between stays: (I believe they do)
  • Daily disinfection in common areas, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Anti-viral cleaning products, Hygiene certification: Felt clean, safe, and secure.
  • Staff trained in safety protocol: Yes!
  • Hand sanitizer, First aid kit: Available.
  • CCTV in common areas, Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms, Fire extinguisher, Safe dining setup: Made me feel safe.
  • Cashless payment service: Very convenient

Services and Conveniences: Making Life Easier (or More Complicated, Depending on Your Perspective)

  • Concierge: Very helpful, assisted with booking tours, etc.
  • Daily housekeeping: Excellent. Our room was always spotless.
  • Laundry service, Dry cleaning, Ironing service: Available and convenient.
  • Luggage storage: Helpful.
  • Cash withdrawal, Currency exchange: Useful to make things easier.
  • Convenience store, Gift/souvenir shop: Handy for those last-minute essentials.
  • Food delivery: We used this a couple of times; worked well.
  • Doorman: always there to open doors.

For The Kids: Keeping the Little Humans Occupied

  • Family/child-friendly, Babysitting service, Kids facilities, Kids meal: Good for the kids overall. There's a lot of space to run around and explore.

Things To Do (Besides Eating And Sleeping…Which Is Tempting)

  • Things to do: Yes! The surrounding Camp John Hay offers a lot. We walked (carefully!) around, visited the Eco-Trail, and explored the shops.
  • Ways to relax: Spa, pool, just sitting and enjoying the view.
  • Bicycle parking: You can rent them.
  • Car park [free of charge]: Huge bonus.

The Quirky Stuff & The Imperfections That Made It Real:

  • The "Almost" Perfect Sunset: One evening, I was determined to photograph the sunset. I sat on the terrace with my coffee for hours. I swear I saw it, it was beautiful
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The Manor at Camp John Hay Baguio Philippines

The Manor at Camp John Hay Baguio Philippines

Okay, strap yourselves in, buttercups. This isn't your glossy, perfectly-edited travel blog. This is me, raw and unfiltered, navigating The Manor at Camp John Hay in Baguio. Prepare for the ride.

Day 1: Arrival & Altitude Adjustment (Mostly the Altitude)

  • 10:00 AM - The Bus Ride from Hell (And the Beautiful Scenery That Saved Me) Alright, let's be honest, getting to Baguio is a trial by public transport. The bus – I won't name names, but let's just say the seats were designed for people with half a butt – was a sweaty, bumpy, air-conditioned (maybe?) journey that left me feeling like I'd aged ten years. The upside? The view. Holy moly, the Cordillera Mountains are INSANE. I swear, I spent half the ride gawking, totally forgetting my aching back and the questionable aroma emanating from the guy beside me. At some point I swear I saw a flying jeepney.
    • Anecdote: I almost threw up. Twice. Blame the winding roads, the lack of sleep, and the questionable breakfast burrito I inhaled before leaving Manila. Good thing I packed those anti-nausea candies!
  • 2:00 PM - Check-In: The Manor's Grand Reveal (And My Mild Panic) The Manor. It looked like something out of a fairy tale. Grand, imposing, and… slightly intimidating. I mean, I'm just me. A traveler with a questionable burrito history. I felt like a lost hobbit about to wander into Rivendell. The staff, thankfully, were the opposite of intimidating. They were all smiles and genuinely helpful. Huge sigh of relief.
    • Observation: The lobby smells like Christmas. That piney freshness is glorious. And maybe a bit depressing in the middle of July.
  • 3:00 PM - The Room: Comfort, Coffee, and a Bit of "Is This Real Life?" My room! Clean, spacious, with a balcony overlooking… trees. Glorious, green, pine-filled trees. I might actually cry. After a coffee, I laid out on the bed and just stared at those trees for a solid hour.
    • Emotional Reaction: Pure, unadulterated bliss. After the bus ride, this was heaven. I swear, the silence was deafening. In a good way. A very, very good way.
  • 5:00 PM - Dinner at The Dining Room (And My First Baguio Belly Ache) Okay, this is where things took a slight turn. I got carried away and ordered the roast beef. It looked amazing. It smelled amazing. Maybe I ate too fast, or maybe my stomach just wasn't ready for that much richness. Either way, my stomach was not happy.
    • Quirky Observation: The silverware was shinier than my future. And I spent half the meal wondering if I was supposed to eat the tiny, decorative flowers on my plate. (I didn't.)
  • 7:00 PM - Bedtime: Early is the Word No exaggeration. I was out. I woke up once to use the bathroom, with the view of the forest in the middle of the night. No other noises, just the sound of the wind and the trees. It was wonderful.

Day 2: Artsy Adventure and a Chocolate Fix

  • 9:00 AM - Breakfast at the Coffee Shop (The Start Of A Beautiful Coffee Addiction) I had the best coffee. So good, I had three cups. Now I can't escape the beautiful addiction!
  • 10:00 AM - Exploring Camp John Hay: A Wander and a Wow Moment The weather was perfect, cool and breezy, the sun peeking behind the pine trees. I stumbled upon the Butterfly Sanctuary but they weren't flying, just resting… Still nice to wander around though.
    • Quirky Observation: I swear, every other person here is holding a camera. And they're all taking pictures of the same pine trees.
  • 11:00 AM - Lunch at Grumpy Joe's (The Pizza That Made Me a Friend) The pizza there was amazing. At first I was a bit hesitant because I'm a picky eater, but it was worth the shot.
  • 1:00 PM - Session Road: Baguio's Heart (And My Wallet's Nemesis) Session Road is, well, it's Session Road. It's crowded, noisy, and full of tempting shops. I bought a ridiculously overpriced scarf (because apparently, my neck needs protection from the Baguio chill). I then spent another hour browsing for souvenirs, eventually settling for a hand-carved wooden box that I may or may not actually use.
    • Emotional Reaction: I loved it. The energy, the people, the sheer chaos of it all. Also, I managed to resist the temptation to buy a whole mountain of strawberries. Small victories.
  • 3:00 PM - Chocolate De Calda: Chocolate Heaven I am not a huge fan of chocolate, but I had to try this. And I did. And it was so worth it.
    • Anecdote: I'd heard so much about Chocolate De Calda. I mean, it had the word "chocolate" and "heaven" in the same sentence! It was as if the universe was speaking directly to my sweet tooth. This was hands down the best experience the entire trip. I went back twice!
  • 5:00 PM - Back to the Manor, Reflecting, and Planning The day came to an end, and I felt exhausted, but happy.

Day 3: Farewell Baguio (And a Promise to Return

  • 9:00 AM - Breakfast, then packing I went back to the coffee shop again for another cup of coffee and went back to my room and packed and prepared myself for departure.
  • 10:00 AM - Check-Out Unfortunately, it was over. I hugged the guard downstairs and thanked them.
  • 11:00 AM - Bus Again The bus was pretty much the same, except this time, I was prepared.
  • 1:00 PM - Goodbye! You Will Miss Me I missed Baguio as I was walking through the Manila traffic.

Final Thoughts:

The Manor at Camp John Hay? Absolutely worth it. The views alone justify the price. Baguio? A city that gets under your skin. It's messy, it's beautiful, it's full of surprises, and it's a place I'll be dreaming of until I go back. I’m already planning my return. And next time, I’m bringing an extra suitcase for strawberries and chocolates. And maybe, just maybe, a better-designed butt-supporting cushion for the bus ride. Wish me luck.

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The Manor at Camp John Hay Baguio Philippines

The Manor at Camp John Hay Baguio Philippines```html

Uncover the Manor's Secrets: Camp John Hay's Hidden Gem (and All the Messy Truth!)

Okay, so is this 'Uncover the Manor' thing ACTUALLY a hidden gem? Or is it just...another tourist trap?

Alright, alright, let's be real. I went with HIGH expectations, fueled by those Instagrammable photos. And...it's complicated. "Hidden Gem" might be a bit much, considering the crowds. BUT, and this is a big but, it’s got SO much potential. Imagine a REALLY cool, slightly dilapidated mansion *filled* with stories. That’s the vibe. Honestly, it's more like a slightly dusty, fantastically intriguing attic. My first thought? "Wow, this needs a really good dusting." My second? "Okay, I'M hooked." For me, it’s NOT a tourist trap in the *souvenir-hawking* sense. It’s a cool experience that needs a bit of... TLC... and maybe a better explanation of what you’re actually *doing.* You're basically going on an escape room/treasure hunt thing, but it’s not always super clear what the goal is. But I'm getting ahead of myself...

What *exactly* do you DO at Uncover the Manor? Spill the beans!

Okay, here's the *slightly* confusing part (prepare for some rambling, folks!). You're given clues, riddles, and puzzles. You wander around this old, creaky mansion, searching for...well, the *secrets*. I'm not gonna give away ALL the juicy details, but think secret passageways (maybe...), dusty rooms, old photographs... the whole shebang. The "uncovering" part involves solving those clues to find objects, or codes or hints. I have to admit, some of the puzzles were *tough.* Seriously, I felt like a brain surgeon trying to decipher hieroglyphics when one particular clue was involved (more on that later). My friend, bless her, was completely lost, which lead to a lot of head-scratching and occasional outbursts of, "I have NO IDEA!" And as a bonus, you get to soak in the atmosphere. Camp John Hay is beautiful, even at its slightly worn-down points. I got a serious case of sensory overwhelm. Imagine a chilly drizzle, the smell of pine needles, and the thrill of "Wait... what if *this* is the clue?!" Utterly thrilling!

How long does it *actually* take to complete this "Uncovering" thing? I have a short attention span.

They say about 1.5-2 hours. Ha! Okay, maybe if you’re a MENSA member and your brain is wired for riddles. We took closer to 3 hours. Okay, maybe more. (Don't tell my partner who waited outside for me.) Let's just say we got *distracted*. There were moments of frantic clue-solving, punctuated by long stretches of wandering around, admiring the antique furniture, and taking way too many photos. And, you know, needing a coffee break. Several coffee breaks. So, plan for at least 2-3 hours. Especially if you're like me and enjoy getting completely lost in the process.

What was the HARDEST part? Did you get stuck? (I'm terrified of being dumb.)

Oh, darling, be afraid. Be VERY afraid. There was one clue involving...I can't even tell you without giving it away, but it involved some very old documents. And I swear, the writing was smaller than an ant's eyelashes! We spent a solid chunk of time squinting, comparing things, and whispering theories. My brain cells felt like they were slowly dissolving. We finally got it, thanks to the combined intellectual horsepower of my friend and a good dose of dumb luck and a LOT of Googling when we slipped away towards the end. We ended up getting a hint from a staff member whose eyes kindly gave a tell-tale wink, though. So yeah, we got stuck. More than once. But hey, that's part of the fun (and the frustration!). It's a humbling experience. And hey, even the smartest people need help sometimes, right? Right??

Tell me about the atmosphere. Was it creepy? Did you see any ghosts? (I'm obsessed with that sort of thing.)

Okay, so I didn't see any actual *ghosts*. (Boo! Disappointment!) But the atmosphere... *chef's kiss* It's all peeling paint, old wooden floors that creak ominously, and a sense of history that just seeps into your bones. There's a certain… *vibe*. It's like stepping back in time. I kept expecting a Victorian lady in a long dress to peek out from behind a curtain. There were moments where the wind howled through the windows, and I definitely jumped at a few unexpected noises. It's not outright spooky, but it’s definitely atmospheric!

What did you *really* think of the whole experience? (Be brutally honest!)

Okay, here's the unvarnished truth. I loved it. But I also have some serious nitpicks. **The Good:** The setting is gorgeous. The puzzles, although challenging, were clever. The whole experience fostered a sense of adventure and discovery. I walked away feeling energized and inspired. (And a little exhausted from all that thinking.) **The Bad:** The clues could be a little *too* cryptic at times. The story could be fleshed out a bit more. The lighting in some rooms was... a bit dim, which made clue-finding even harder. And, if I'm honest, it could benefit from a bit more polish. **The Verdict:** Go! But temper your expectations a little. Bring a friend who's good at puzzles (or at least patient). And be prepared to embrace the occasional frustration. It's a truly fun time. Just get ready to unlock it!

Is it worth the money?

This depends. My value system is a bit broken. If you're on a SUPER tight budget, it might seem a bit steep. HOWEVER, when I considered the experience, the location, and the unique nature of it... I'd say, yes. It's worth it if you're looking for something more than just a standard tour. It's a unique and entertaining adventure, and that, to me, has a value. The price is a bit so-so, but, I wouldn't say, *too* bad.

Any tips for surviving Uncover the Manor?

**First, bring a pen AND paper.** Trust me. You’ll need to make notes, sketch things, and jot down ideas.
**Second, wear comfy shoes.** You’ll be doing a lot of walking (and pacing).
**Third, bring a friend (or two).** Teamwork makes the dream work! And miseryTravel Stay Guides

The Manor at Camp John Hay Baguio Philippines

The Manor at Camp John Hay Baguio Philippines

The Manor at Camp John Hay Baguio Philippines

The Manor at Camp John Hay Baguio Philippines