More about hotels in Laguna
About Laguna accommodation
Laguna sits just south of Metro Manila, close enough for a weekend dash down the expressway but relaxed enough to feel like a proper getaway. It's the province Aussie travellers land in for a hot spring soak, a splash down Pagsanjan Falls, or a day of rollercoasters at Enchanted Kingdom, all without needing a flight.
Laguna has stays for every trip: hot spring resorts around Pansol, modern hotels in the Nuvali business district, and simple guesthouses near Mt Makiling. Here's how to pick the right one.
Where should you stay in Laguna?
- Pansol, Calamba: Laguna's hot spring capital. Dozens of resorts here pipe warm mineral water straight into private pools, and a fair few let day guests in as well as overnight stays. Stay here if soaking is the whole point of the trip.
- Santa Rosa: Home to Nuvali and Enchanted Kingdom. It's the polished, modern side of Laguna, with shopping centres, business hotels, and an easy run back up to Manila. Good base for the theme park and a comfortable night's sleep.
- Los Baños: A university town at the foot of Mt Makiling, with its own cluster of hot spring hotels that are usually quieter and cheaper than Pansol. Handy if you want the springs without the crowds.
- San Pablo: Known as the City of Seven Lakes. Quiet and green, with a slower pace than the towns closer to Manila. Worth it if you want a proper wind-down.
How much is Laguna accommodation?
A comfortable room in Los Baños or Santa Rosa can cost well under AU$40 a night. Laguna is one of the easier provinces on the wallet this close to Manila, and even its hot spring resorts stay reasonable compared with bigger beach destinations.
- Budget stays: From AU$15 per night. Simple guesthouses and lodges, mostly around Los Baños and San Pablo.
- Mid-range hotels: From AU$30 per night. Comfortable rooms with a pool, often in Santa Rosa or Calamba.
- Hot spring resorts: From AU$45 per night. Private or semi-private mineral pools in Pansol and Los Baños, some with rooms built right around the spring.
- Upscale hotels: From AU$90 per night. Full-service stays in Santa Rosa's Nuvali district, with restaurants, gyms, and proper pools on top of the room.
What is Laguna known for?
Your hotel is just the base. Here's what most visitors build a trip around.
- Pansol's hot spring resorts (Calamba): Warm mineral pools fed by underground springs near Mt Makiling. Many resorts offer both day-use and overnight packages, so it's easy to combine a soak with your stay.
- Pagsanjan Falls: A boat ride upriver through a narrow gorge, finishing with a raft trip straight under the falls. Local boatmen do the paddling, including through the rapids, you just hold on and get wet.
- Enchanted Kingdom (Santa Rosa): The Philippines' best known theme park, with rollercoasters, a log flume, and rides for younger kids too. A full day outing that pairs neatly with a Nuvali hotel stay.
- Laguna de Bay: The country's largest lake, bordering much of the province. Handy viewpoints and lakeside restaurants pop up around towns like Los Baños and Victoria.
- Mt Makiling: A dormant volcano and forest reserve behind Los Baños, popular for an easy hike or a botanical garden stroll without needing to summit.
- Seven Lakes (San Pablo): A cluster of crater lakes around San Pablo City, good for a quiet paddle or a lakeside walk away from the busier tourist spots.
What are the best hotels in Laguna?
- Seda Nuvali Laguna: A polished, modern hotel right in the Nuvali district. Restaurant, pool, and gym on site, and an easy drive to Enchanted Kingdom.
- Sol Y Viento Hotel: A long running hot spring resort in Pansol, with warm pools fed straight from the source. A solid pick if soaking is the main plan.
- La Vista Pansol Resort Complex: A budget friendly hot spring stay in the same Pansol strip, simple rooms with easy pool access.
- Makiling Onsen Hotel: A quieter hot spring option in Los Baños, at the foot of Mt Makiling, with its own onsen style pools.
- Technopark Hotel: A straightforward, well priced base in Santa Rosa. Good value if you just need a comfortable bed near the theme park and the highway.
Tips for booking a stay in Laguna
- Pick your base first: Pansol or Los Baños for hot springs, Santa Rosa for Enchanted Kingdom and an easy Manila run, San Pablo if you want to slow right down.
- Check what's included at hot spring resorts: some Pansol properties charge extra for pool access or towel hire, so it's worth checking what's bundled into the room rate before you book.
- Book ahead on weekends and summer months: Pansol and Enchanted Kingdom both get busy with Manila day trippers from March to May and on long weekends.
- Sort transport in advance: Laguna is an easy drive down the South Luzon Expressway from Manila, but jeepneys and tricycles are how you'll get around locally once you're there.
- Time your Pagsanjan Falls trip: book the boat ride through your hotel or a local tour operator, and go earlier in the day before the river gets crowded.
- Look for theme park bundles: some Santa Rosa hotels offer package deals with Enchanted Kingdom tickets, worth comparing against buying separately.
Read more
