If your looking for a decent hotel in Tacloban, Alejandro is the one. Elsa and I always stay there everytime we're in town. The hotel is located in a quiet part of town, in P Paterno Street away from the noise and crowds, but is still only a short pedicab ride away from the centre of town. All rooms have aircon, hot & cold water and cable TV. Theres a choice of standard double, superior double, deluxe, exec or matrimonial. Website is here: http://alejandro.tacloban.biz/index.html and http://www.taclobanhotels.com/HOTEL-ALEJANDRO.htm (has more pics) The hotel also has a roof-top swimming pool with bar, the roof deck, as well as the function rooms, so its an ideal choice if your planning a wedding in the Tacloban area. On the ground floor theres Cafe Teresa (had many great reviews, one of the best in Tacloban - even Imelda likes it) and the Lobby Cafe. Also in the hotel, on the first floor, you'll find a photo exhibition - a vivid portrayal of World War II in Leyte, and the impact on the country, with pictures of the Leyte landings. Address is: Paterno Street, Tacloban, Philippines, Call+63 53 321 7033
Is this the place that was occupied by Japanese officers in WW2? I saw a documentary about Leyte several yrs ago, it looks very familiar. I've heard many good things about Alejandro too, an ex Pinay came from Tacloban and said it was the best place to stay in town
Rob We where there late last year and I'll agree its probably the best reasonable hotel in Tacloban but to be honest I wasn't that impressed. It was all quite tired looking, we used both the exec and matrimonial rooms and they could've done with quite a lot doing to them. That said taking it all into account it is the default choice if your staying in Tacloban, mainly because its a very reasonable price, not like the ever declining Leyte Park hotel. We wheren't that impressed with the eating at the Alejandro but can really recommend Ocho Seaffod Grill. Its about 2 minutes in a trike from the hotel and its a seafod resturant where you pick your fish and then decide how they cook it. Very nice. We also went to the resturant at the Leyte Park hotel that is on stilts out in the bay, can't remember the name of unfortunately but again this has gone the same way as the Leyte Park hotel near by. Shaky's Pizza wasn't bad as well. They have started building a hotel on the side of the new (small) Robinsons mall in town as well so it'll be interesting to see how that fairs. There are also a couple of place to eat on the ground floor of the mall as well thinking about it but we never managed to eat there.
Thanks for the update Stu. It seems Tacloban has a poor choice of hotels, and the consensus is that Alejandros is the best of the lot. We only ever had breakfast there one time, it was usual American breakfast, a bit pricey, but it was ok. We mostly had meals around town, McDo's, Guiseppes (Italian), Stephanies (Chinese) and other places I can't remember the name of. I'm looking forward to the new hotel opening next to Robinsons, but what an odd location, quite a drive away from downtown. As for Alejandros in WW2, it was a makeshift home for many Tacloban families during the war. Not sure where the Japenese had their base, I'd imagine Price mansion?
Rob Until the new hotel at Robinsons is completed (and obviously waiting to see what the prices are like) I think we'll still use Alejandros. The best of a very average / below average bunch really. Agree about the breakfast though. We've not tried Guiseppes or Stephanies though, how did you find them? Mcdonalds is a strange one to me, I used to see expats in there but none of them would even acknowledge me. I think the guys that end up in tacloban are looking for the quiet life. They do seem to go about in small groups of 3 or so though and obviously tend to be of late 50's onwards. Don't know if that has any bearing on it?
Thanks for the insight Rob. The prog I saw about Tacloban was the one where Ewan McGregors co-presenter went through the Pina's by bike...etc. I'm sure he stayed there. I did a lot of researching about Tacloban and hotels a few yrs back, the pics of the old US/Spanish colonial style buildings are all very similar on line so I could be mistaken. Looks like an interesting place if you like US war history and the MacArthur story ...etc. I never made it there, in the end I met the young lady I knew from Tac in Manila
Stu, Guiseppe's corner of MH Del Pilar St and AVE (Avenida Veteranos Extension), and opposite Divine Word Hospital. Stephanies is just a few doors down, if I remember correctly. Elsa's family also recommend Hugo's Mexican as well, corner of Burgos Street/ MH Del Pilar Street. For a complete list of restaurants in Tacloban, the Tacloban Hotels website has a comprehensive list: http://www.taclobanhotels.com/RESTAURANTS.htm. Funnily enough, I also encountered some Americans in McDo and on the streets near the malls, but they didn't seem very friendly. One exception is an American guy living near the new Robinsons Mall in Marasbaras, he had an excellent website with in depth info about eating out in Tacloban and where to buy cheap stuff, but his website seems to have disappeared or the domain expired. This website has some reviews of Tacloban's places to eat http://www.ourawesomeplanet.com/awesome/2008/07/tacloban-city-1.html
I am from Tacloban City and have stayed with Hotel Alejandro and Leyte Park if my husband is here. I know Leyte Park is old and needs improvement but my husband loves it there. The view,pool and food. The restaurant in the bay is called San Pedro Bay Restaurant. Lots of restaurants to choose from here but i would personally suggest Guiseppes (Italian), Sunzibar (Mexican), Ocho (Filipino), Stephanie's Grill (all you can eat), Shakeys and Max's. There are coffee shops i like too like Starzrock, Cafe Lucia and Bo's Coffee. Its a matter of choice and your taste where to eat and stay, one thing that irritates my husband is the "not available"
Rob Thanks for the links mate I'll have a proper look at them later. I've always struggles to find decent info on Tacloban, hopefully that will change with the new mall and hotel etc.
Jencha Hi, We did stay at the Leyte park hotel about 7 years ago in one of the cottages and we really enjoyed it. We also ate at the San Pedron Bay resturant (thanks for the name) and it was a great meal. Unfortunatly it seemed to go down hill pretty quickly after that. There seemed to be no maintenence done and the rooms where filthy. Oh well, it sounds like we got unlucky and you and your husband got a good room.
