John Hay Hotels Forest Wing (formerly The Forest Lodge at Camp John Hay)

Rooms and decor

Picture a hotel hidden among tall pines in Camp John Hay, the hillside retreat in Baguio that was once an American military rest camp — that's the feel of John Hay Hotels Forest Wing, still known to most by its old name, The Forest Lodge at Camp John Hay. Open your door and you're met by cool air and the smell of fresh pine. All 96 rooms keep a simple, warm look, wood tones and earthy colours that blend into the forest around them, and they're roomy enough to sit and relax in, with soft beds and a fridge and minibar to chill a snack for the cool evenings. Many rooms face a curtain of green pine, so you wake up feeling more like you're in a cabin in the woods than a hotel in town. If you like things quiet, natural and unfussy, this kind of simplicity should land well.

Food and amenities

The real charm here is being fully inside Camp John Hay — a big green expanse full of decades-old pines, with cool air year-round that earned Baguio its name as the summer capital of the Philippines. A few steps from the hotel takes you to Treetop Adventure, the zipline and rope-bridge course up in the pines that kids and thrill-seekers love, and a little further on is the Camp John Hay golf course, set in the forest too. Around it are short walking trails, open lawns for strolling and fresh air, and photo corners among the trees to fill a day. Forest Lodge shares a chain with The Manor, the premium hotel right next door, so it shares the same location and the same forest atmosphere — a resort-in-the-woods feeling without the heavier bill.

Location and getting there

The hotel sits up on the hill inside Camp John Hay, clearly set apart from the bustle of downtown Baguio, so it feels calmer, shadier and more private than a hotel in the city centre. That suits people who come mainly to relax and breathe the mountain air — wander under the pines in the morning, sip a warm coffee in the cool, then drive into town now and then. For the centre — the shopping streets and walking street of Session Road, plus Baguio's markets and well-known restaurants — you're about 10-15 minutes away by car. Baguio has no train system, so getting around relies on your own car, a taxi or a hired ride. Renting a car or arranging a regular driver is the easiest way, since you set your own timing and don't have to gamble on finding a ride in the evening.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. The first thing to weigh is the location up on the hill inside Camp John Hay: you get the full forest atmosphere and quiet, but it comes with distance from the city — Session Road is too far to walk, so it's a car or taxi of about 10-15 minutes every time. If you don't have your own car, budget for the rides and plan your trips into town ahead. Second is the building's condition: it's been open a good while, so some reviewers feel the rooms and decor are starting to show their age rather than looking brand new — if you're here mainly for the value and the forest rather than polished luxury, you won't be let down. Last is the seasonal crowds: over long holidays and high season Camp John Hay is a hugely popular destination, traffic in and out gets heavy and rooms fill fast, so if you're coming at peak times, book well ahead.

Our take

From reading through plenty of real reviews, John Hay Hotels Forest Wing (formerly The Forest Lodge at Camp John Hay) makes its case on value without apology — the same Camp John Hay pine-forest location, the same cool air and privacy as The Manor next door, for a lighter rate. Rooms are clean and roomy with a fridge and minibar, and a few steps take you to Treetop Adventure and the golf course. If the trip in your head is escaping the heat to a pine forest, waking up to cool air and driving into town on some days, this fits neatly. If you'd rather stay in the city centre and walk Session Road every day, or you expect a brand-new, polished room, the location and the building's age may not be the best answer. Overall we give it 8.7/10 — best for families and couples who want a mountain-forest stay at a price that's easy to reach.