My last visit to Dumaguete, Philippines, included two different lodging options. Each are budget versions and quite different from each other. One is a modern hotel, and the other is a guesthouse. They fit well into this latest Dumaguete trip. Dumaguete, the capital of Negros Oriental has a history that includes pirates, Spanish colonization and the first American university in Asia.
Whenever I head to Dumaguete I see something new. This time it was park with the historical marker about the expedition of Ferdinand Magellan and a visit to the National Museum of the Philippines. Portuguese explorer Magellan came to Philippines in 1521 as he looked for a route to the Spice Islands in Indonesia.
Go Hotels in Dumaguete, Philippines
Go Hotels Dumaguete is part of a Philippines hotel chain known for its clean, comfortable and affordable rooms. I found this hotel to have much to offer. The bright yellow and green color scheme of the hotel’s outside is festive, fun and welcoming.
Inside, the marble tile floor and stone accent wall of the lobby add a bit of sophistication. In addition to seating in the lobby, there are other spots in the hotel with tables and chairs for people to visit. When traveling with someone with a different sleep pattern, having a place with free Wi-Fi to hang out is helpful. Go Hotels Dumaguete delivers.
About the Rooms
The 102 rooms of the hotel include two twin beds and one queen bed options. There’s a stylish simplicity to the room decor. A long mirror above the beds as part of the headboard adds a sense of space. Although the twin room is small, two people can comfortably move around each other. A bedside table between the two beds has a lamp, a telephone and one outlet for an electronic device.
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Rooms also have a flat screen TV, an electric tea kettle, hair dryer, and toiletries. The tea kettle is in the bathroom on the sink vanity. There is a sustainability component to the hotel. Signage, including small paper leaf-shaped tags on the beds, reminds people to reuse towels and turn off the lights. Other signs provide info on what makes Dumaguete and the Philippines special. Tips on local foods and things to do in Dumaguete and other parts of Negros are included.
Go Hotel Dumaguete Location
Located in Dumaguete’s central business district, Go Hotel is next to Robinson’s Place, a shopping mall with several shops, a grocery store and places to eat. This is a bustling area that is recently experiencing construction.
Carlos Place, A Guest House in Dumaguete, Philippines
For a tucked out of the Dumaguete bustle but close enough to make various sites accessible, Carlo’s Place is an interesting option. This lovely guesthouse in a more rural area is a place to consider for a longer visit. Each of the three-room units has an entrance from the outside and parking. We switched to this location (I was traveling with several people) because guest rooms include kitchens.
My Accommodation
My accommodations on the 2nd floor included a fully equipped kitchen with a table and two chairs, a bathroom with a shower, and a separate bedroom with a queen-size bed. The large flat screen TV in the bedroom had Netflix.
Because Carlo’s Place is a guesthouse, decor takes a homey approach. The large flower mural on the wall above the headboard in the bedroom is well done and makes the room pop with the colors. What a cool idea to give a room some pizazz. Small bedside tables on either side of the bed, a wardrobe for clothes, and a longer table with a lamp and a large wall mirror above it provide spaces to settle in.
The kitchen with its window overlooking the back of the property has a rice cooker, a tea kettle, a small refrigerator, large enough to keep more than a few items, and cafe style chairs. They reminded me of chairs one would find in an old-time ice cream shop. Although I didn’t cook in my kitchen, my friends who had the unit below mine did.
If You Go
A stop at the National Museum of the Philippines Dumaguete is worth it. This museum, the 16th of the National Museum’s buildings, is a new addition to the Dumaguete scene. There is a mix of permanent and visiting exhibits that include anthropology, contemporary art, and natural history. The historical building is wonderful. First known as the Old Presidencia Building, it has served as the powerhouse for the local government since 1937. It opened as a museum in 2022.
You can book a room at Go Hotel from the hotel’s website or booking sites like Hotels.com and Booking.com. To book a room at Carlo’s Place, head to Facebook or Bookings.com. The owner has another guesthouse called Luis Miguel’s Place. You’ll see contact info for both on the Facebook page.
Rooms at Carlo’s Place are currently $20, and Go Hotel Dumaguete rooms are about $27 with today’s exchange rate.
- Check rates for Carlo’s Place online at TripAdvisor or Booking.com.
- Check rates for Go Hotel Dumaguete online at Expedia or Hotels.com.
