Lola Itang Pension

The place is adorable, with thoughtful styling. It's basic, the beds are 'filipino firm', but the air conditioning works and breakfast is delicious. Getting here from the airport was no problem. Before I arrived, the staff arranged an underground river tour for me, and the guide they found was amazing.

For 800 pesos without breakfast, this is a very good-value room for digital nomads. The room is basic but has what a traveler needs: a clean bed, luggage bench, hot shower, cable TV, and even a hair dryer. The foam mattress and pillows could use an upgrade. The entrance and dining area are narrow and could use some sprucing up, and the grounds and lush trees need more care. I spent hours on the balcony watching birds and enjoying the sea breeze from nearby Puerto Bay, though you can't see the bay. It's in a great spot near a jeepney stop, and Tiya Ising's is close by when you're hungry.

For the price, the room was okay. The shower head rusted and broke off at the hose on the first night, but they fixed it right away, thank you. The TV reception was awful, though they sorted it out the next day, thanks again. Breakfast was basic Philippines style, and sometimes they didn't have what we'd ordered. I think some of the problems came from difficulty understanding basic English. Most people were pleasant, but they didn't understand much of what we were saying. Instant coffee was always available, as was water for the room.

From the outside, this pension looks like nothing much, but inside it's a huge place with buildings at the back and a courtyard surrounded by shady old trees. There’s lots of greenery and nice decor, timeless but kept fresh. The WiFi is good and walk-in room rates are good too. It's a little away from the center.