Hotel Luna: First and Only Museum Hotel in the Philippines
Looking for places to go this summer? Most likely destinations that pop at the top of our heads would be the usual places like Baguio for its climate, Subic for its beaches, or La Union for surfing aficionados. These are all destinations towards the North of the Philippines, and about 400 kilometers north of Manila is Vigan. Vigan is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it has been recently declared as one of the New7Wonder Cities. It is one of the few Hispanic towns left in the Philippines where the original structures remain intact. And in this wondrous city lies Hotel Luna, one of the most beautiful hotels that will surely make your stay in Vigan truly memorable.
Named after the legendary Ilocano painter Juan Luna, Hotel Luna is the first and only museum hotel in the Philippines. It is strategically located beside Calle Crisologo—the street where rich people lived during the Spanish era. At one point it was even called Kasanglayan or “place of the Chinese” since it was the business hub of traders. Vigan was also part of the route of The Spanish Galleon Trade. Because Calle Crisologo is a major tourist destination for locals and tourists alike, it would be impossible to miss Hotel Luna’s breathtaking facade. It manages to stand out from all the other hotels surrounding it, exuding inviting warmth. What’s even more inviting is that even if you are not a guest of the hotel, you will be offered a free tour of the vicinity by its welcoming staff.
Upon entering Hotel Luna, one would be immediately greeted with a slew of paintings that are displayed in and around the hotel lobby. One of these paintings is “Lavandera” by Fernando Amorsolo.
Like most accommodations in Vigan City, Hotel Luna was once a former residence. Don Jose Florentino gave it to his daughter as a wedding present. The Florentino family was known to have large hectares of landholdings in the form of rice lands, tobacco plantations, and forestland.
The second floor of the hotel, which was once the sala or more commonly known as the living room, is where the museum is situated. Walls upon walls of various artworks by Napoleon Abueva, Vicente Manansala, and more from BenCab and Juan Luna are displayed in the museum. One of these paintings is “La Mandolinera” (1883) by none other than Juan Luna. There is also a 20-foot mural wall by Rene Robles made of copper, brass, and silver plated steel found in the courtyard.
The room types in Hotel Luna are (arranged by class) the Standard, Deluxe, Double Queen Deluxe, Loft Suite, and the Executive Suite. We stayed in the Standard room that we booked through Agoda at a promo rate, and it made the stay that much more pleasant for all the arrangements that we requested upon check-in were taken cared of the moment we got to the hotel. The room was spacious enough for two people, with a plush
The room was spacious enough for two people, with a plush queen-sized bed and luxurious linens. A few steps from the bed is the shower on one side and the toilet on the other side. The sink is located in the middle of the two, and this makes the room appear bigger since they made sure there was enough space to move freely from one area to the next. The headboard was lined with white lights that gave off such a relaxing vibe almost tempting you to go ahead and sleep instead of traipse about the streets and explore Vigan.
The room is also inclusive of free breakfast buffet available from 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. at the Comedor Restaurant located at the hotel lobby. The menu includes both American continental and traditional Filipino food such as chicken adobo, bangus, tocino, tapa, and of course, Vigan’s famous longganisa. We got to try the chicken adobo, tocino, and the buttermilk pancakes as shown in the photo. As far as breakfasts go, theirs were amazing since the way the food was prepared really did reflect why Hotel Luna is as revered as it is. They also served brewed coffee sourced from Davao, which made the experience even more fulfilling since they are proud patrons of local products.
Aside from the café/restaurant, other amenities, and services available are the business center, function halls, swimming pool, and gym. I particularly liked how the swimming pool lit up at night and the surrounding tables and chairs where guests can just lounge around. You would also get the sense of traveling in time when you walk through the halls of Hotel Luna because of all the intricate details they have that show you how old, yet how beautiful the hotel is.
Hotel Luna also has tour services that cater to different client’s needs. These are the different city tours and itineraries that are inclusive of driver, and van rental fees:
Vigan City Tour (PHP 3,500)
08:00 – Vigan Cathedral
08:30 – Padre Jose Burgos Museum
09:00 – Syquia Mansion
09:30 – Crisologo Museum
10:00 – Burnayan (Jar Making)
10:30 – Baluarte Mini Zoo
11:15 – Hidden Garden Lunch
12:30 – Camangaan Loom Weaving
13:00 – Bantay Bell Tower
13:30 – Calle Crisologo
14:30 – Hotel Museum Tour at Hotel Luna
Laoag City Tour (PHP 5,000)
08:00 – 10:00 – Vigan to Laoag Travel Time
10:00 – Juan Luna Shrine
10:30 – Marcos Museum
11:00 – Malacañang of the North
11:30 – Paoay Church
12:00 – Lunch at La Preciosa
13:00 – Sand Dunes
13:30 – Museo Iloco
14:00 – Laoag Sinking Bell Tower
14:30 – St. William Cathedral
15:00 – 17:00 – Laoag to Vigan Travel Time
Laoag City Tour with Pagudpud (PHP 7,500)
08:00 – 10:00 – Vigan to Laoag Travel Time
10:00 – Juan Luna Shrine
10:30 – Marcos Mausoleum
11:00 – Malacañang of the North
11:30 – Paoay Church
12:00 – Sand Dunes
13:00 – Lunch at La Preciosa
13:30 – Museo Iloco
14:00 – Laoag Sinking Bell Tower
14:30 – Kapurpurawan Rock Formation
15:00 – Bangui Windmills
15:30 – Blue Lagoon
16:00–18:30 – Pagudpud to Vigan
Notes:
All tours are good for a maximum of five people. If less than five people are attending, the same price must be paid.
Extra person is subject to extra charge, PHP 550/person.
Tour extension is subject to extra charge, PHP 800/hour.
Meals and museum/destination entrance fees are not included.
If you are on a budget, you can also try the one-day itinerary my boyfriend and I prepared for our trip. We spent as little as PHP 700 per person, inclusive of lunch budget.
How to Get to Hotel Luna
You can reach Vigan City by land or by plane. I have included directions on how to get there in the same one-day itinerary found here. Upon reaching Vigan, you may hire a tricycle to bring you to Hotel Luna, or you may make prior arrangements with the hotel regarding transfers. At our time of stay (April 2015) the transfers cost PHP 1,750 per person. You may call the hotel for updated rates as it may have changed since.
Hotel Luna would be the perfect way to spend your vacation in a city as unique and enchanting as Vigan. Not everyone can say that they have slept in a museum hotel. Wouldn’t you want to be one of those who can?
Hotel Luna is located at V. Delos Reyes corner Gen. Luna Street, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. For room bookings, you may click here. For more details on the hotel, contact Manila line: (+632) 584 4945 or (+632) 373 3333. Landline: (+6377) 632 2222. Mobile: +63917 564 0727. Visit their website and Facebook page.
