The Townhouse Hostel in Manila

zuletzt aktualisiert am 05.01.2010

Serving world travellers since 1986 - Guests from 86 Countries have been welcomed by Bill, Lorna and their Manila staff. Your “home away from home&quot, and home base in the Philippines!

The townhouse was opened by Bill and Lorna as a hobby, after they had travelled and worked in Asia, Europe, and the U.S.A. for almost ten years. They have stayed in bamboo, beach huts, Asian guesthouses, Spanish pensions, American and European campgrounds, backpacker dormitories, Korean yogwans and Japanese ryokans on shoestring budgets. They met each other &quot,on the road&quot, while travelling in Hong Kong and Korea in the early 80s, hooked up Dec. 19, 83 and got married December 19th two years later. During a trip to Lhasa, Tibet, when Lorna was 6 months pregnant with Camilla in 1986, they decided that it was time to raise a family. They knew that they would miss the energy, excitement and adventure of world travel so they opened the doors of their small, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom townhouse for travellers as a hobby.

Their first guests were five Swedish young men Bill met in Hong Kong who had met on the trans-Siberian railway and were heading to the Philippines, since then travellers from 86 countries have stayed at The Townhouse. After a few years, guests had written to Lonely Planet, Jens Peters' Publication and other travel guides recommending The Townhouse as a low budget, safe, clean and friendly place to stay in Manila. Now, after continuous improvements and expansion projects their guesthouse provides a warm, family atmosphere where travellers meet, exchange travel stories and enjoy the &quot,magic&quot, energy of world travel in a safe, comfortable setting with 27 unique bedrooms ( no two rooms the same ) with fan cooled and air-conditioned rooms and with private baths and share bathrooms and a newly relocated dormitory with 12 bed spaces in our unit 11.

The Townhouse hotel is located 1.5 miles (2.5 km) from the domestic and International airports on Manila Bay's palm tree lined Roxas Blvd. The Townhouse hotel is the only place in Manila that provides the blend of a warm, friendly meeting place for 'world travellers' in safe, clean, tourist style comfort at the lowest rates in Manila. We are happy to continue helping our guests really feel like they are 'home'. Welcome to the family of world travellers!!

We are recommended in Jens Peters' Philippines Guidebook, both in English and Deutsch, Lonely Planet's S.E. Asia on a Shoestring and their Philippines guidebooks among others.

Manila arrival: After immigration and customs, pass through the first set of sliding glass doors before going outside look for small taxi / transport booths,(one is Nissan taxi.) Give them our address, stress 'Tambo' so they know we're close by the airports and will not overcharge you which is common. When you arrive at our place you will be asked to sign the taxi receipt. Welcome home!!

2006 update, Since I (Bill) have been travelling Asia and Europe three months/year I feel I need to clarify something due to the new generation of world travellers and their growing expectations regarding budget accommodations. We are not a 'factory' style Youth Hostel with generic beds and rooms but guesthouse which has evolved over time. Since the late 90s, I have noticed that REAL businessmen and investors have opened up such establishments all over the world to cater to the student / budget traveller with impressive picture perfect buildings and facilities.

Wegbeschreibung

Manila arrival: Usually we advise our guests to take one of the taxi/transport services which is after immigration and customs and just outside the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA.) Now there are metered taxis for P110+ from NAIA to our place.

1. Outside of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Road( NAIA Road ), after the second set of sliding glass doors, look to the left for a transport booth. We like Nissan Taxi. Pay only P120 ( U$2+).

Don't go right, they try to rent you a car with driver P500+.

At the Nissan taxi kiosk, give our address:

Villa Carolina Townhouse, Roxas Blvd. # 31, TAMBO, Paranque, Metro-Manila, Philippines. This is 10 minutes from all 3 airports and near Bayview Towers.

Stress 'Tambo' so they know the location is near the airport. You will be given a receipt which you must sign when you arrive at The Townhouse Hotel!

Or From all three airports, you tell the taxi driver to follow Naia Road and turn right on Roxas boulevard until Bayview Towers is on your right. You're 1 minute away!

Continue straight on Roxas 150 meters. Turn right on the first small street, Bayview Drive. The Townhouse is 30 meters ahead on your left. Welcome home!

Or - You can use our townhouse airport service: We've had problems meeting new arrivals at the International Airport ( NAIA ) because of its design but if Bill or Lorna are at home we are more than happy to pick you up at the arrival extension area. If we're not home call to request our driver to pick you up or please follow the directions above.

1. Change a little money inside the airport be sure and ask for small change in P1 peso coins for the phone. Okay?

2. When you first go outside the airport you can not see this area. You go through the second set of sliding glass doors and see a 4+ lane road with a dividing island. Whether you exit on the right or the left move toward the centre and walk across the 4 lanes ,proceed downward, turn left or right continue downward on the sloping ramp.

3. We're only a mile and a half away but with the traffic it should take 10 -20 minutes depending on traffic. Look for a Medium Blue Honda Civic. We charge P100 for 1 or 2 persons and P120 for 3 or 4 persons.