In the chaotic town of Legaspi, Albay Hotel is the best possible choice. It is a large, white five-story building in the city center, brighter than the other hotels.

On the ground floor are the large reception hall with marble flooring, a restaurant and a coffee shop. The rooms are a bright and spacious, offering all the necessary comforts and amenities. The furniture is a sober and functional; the tapestry, beige curtains and the clean wooded floors are an absolute contrast to the worn-out carpeting you find in most of the other hotels. There is a little drawing room of lacquered bamboo; the large bathrooms are tiled in white. All the rooms with the exception of two that have no windows at all, have bay windows offering a good view of Mayon Volcano. Some rooms at the back of the hotel have a view of a river and an amusing restaurant on stilts.

The hotel has two restaurants. Cafe Ola is more pleasant as its windows look out onto a small garden. Comfortable benches are set near the windows around bistro tables; a variety of specialties from Bicol is offered. At the back is a quiet area with an outdoor bar and swimming pool, which was not appealing when last visited.

An Alternative to Albay Hotel is the Alicia Hotel on the outskirts of the city, just two minutes away from the airport. The hotel’s reception and the restaurant-bar have a quiet air and a subtle elegance, with soft colors, marble floors, beautiful wrought iron furniture and a comfortable armchairs. The rooms are pleasant and do not cost as much as those at the Albay Hotel, being generally smaller.

How To Get There

By air and land, 55-minute daily flights on Philippine Airlines from Manila to Legaspi, 15 minutes by car from Legaspi airport to the hotel.

By land, 547 km from Manila. Take South Superhighway and get off a Calamba Exit no. 50A (Batangas, Lucena, Legaspi). You will go through the province of Quezon (passing Lucena), then through the Bicol Peninsula, passing two provinces and their capitals; Camarines Norte (Daet) and Camarines Sur (Naga). Another route, which is also a shortcut to Naga and Legaspi is the Quirino Highway. Saving 1.5 hours travel time, it is made by making a right turn before reaching Sta. Elena and meets the National highway at Sipocot.