Cheap Hotels in Iloilo

Cheap Areas to Stay in Iloilo

If you're traveling to Iloilo City on a limited budget, you won't find a shortage of cheap hotels that offer comfortable accommodations at great value. Staying in one of the many budget hotels in the city's heritage core and old business district will give you a glimpse of the area's architectural history. A number of budget-friendly hostels and pension houses are situated near General Luna Street in the downtown area, a short distance away from several college campuses. Cheap hotels in the Ortiz area will give you quick access to historic churches and Ortiz Wharf, the jump-off point for visiting the nearby island paradise of Guimaras.

Cheap Hotels in Iloilo

Ong Bun Pension House is arguably one of the most popular budget hotels in Iloilo City, for good reason. Set in the business district, it's close to several shopping malls. The hotel offers fan-cooled and air-conditioned rooms, as well as free Wi-Fi and parking. There's also an on-site restaurant and bar. The Injap Tower Hotel is another good-value choice. This 21-storey establishment features fully air-conditioned rooms that feature kitchenettes with microwave ovens. Breakfast, Wi-Fi access and parking are free. One Lourdes Dormitel is another cheap hotel in the city's center. Some of its amenities include free Wi-Fi and parking, along with cable TV service.

Where to find cheap food in Iloilo

It isn't only in the city's many upscale restaurants where you can sample the most delicious and popular Ilonggo delicacies. Head over to the eastern district of La Paz to partake of a hearty noodle dish called Lapaz Batchoy, possibly the area's most popular culinary offering. Roadside eateries and inexpensive restaurants in the malls of the commercial district of Mandurriao offer local specialties such as the Chinese-inspired pancit molo soup. You can also indulge your sweet tooth with local delicacies such as pinasugbo, barquillos, and baye-baye, which are sold for just a few pesos in public markets everywhere in the city.

Cheap Things to do in Iloilo

There is an abundance of things to see and do in Iloilo City for the budget-conscious traveler. Evidence of the city's rich colonial past and deeply religious culture abounds in structures such as the Jaro Cathedral and Molo Church, which have been declared as National Historical Landmarks by the National Historical Institute. Then head over to J. M. Basa Street, formerly called Calle Real, to admire colonial houses built in the 1880s, and to go bargain hunting in the bazaars and flea markets. Or go for a stroll along the Iloilo Esplanade in the Mandurriao district, where you can watch free mini-concerts held by Ilonggo musicians. Overlooking the serene Iloilo River, the area plays a major role in the local government's tourism promotion efforts. And if you find yourself in the city during the fourth week of January, you might want to experience the Dinagyang Sa Iloilo, a cultural and religious festival that features street dancers in colorful body paint and tribal costumes.

Cheap Ways to Get Around Iloilo

Visiting Iloilo City's heritage buildings and cultural attractions on foot can be a pleasant experience, as the streets are wide and clean. However, there is no shortage of cheap public transportation options. Like many other cities in the Philippines, the streets of Iloilo are mainly served by passenger jeepneys, known locally as passad jeepneys. These vehicles differ from traditional jeepneys in that they are more spacious, and have a lower profile and elongated body, giving them a sedan-like appearance. Tricycles, which mostly traverse the city's secondary roads and communities, are also widely available.