Coming from a five-day tour of the Capiz province, I had to find an accommodation in Kalibo for my mini-side trip to Aklan before going back home to Manila. I asked around and everyone seemed to be pointing to a single lodging, the La Esperanza Hotel along the town’s main avenue.

Located at Osmena Avenue, it’s literally a stone throw’s away from the bus terminal that plies the provinces around the island of Panay. It took not a minute for me to get up from my seat, alight the bus and enter La Esperanza’s homey lobby. The only thing in locating this inn is that it is a bit hidden from view, its street front being blocked from view by a Landbank branch.

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La Esperanza Hotel is a complex of three buildings. I got to stay at the innermost wing, which faces a quiet courtyard. The hotel’s façade actually looks more like a big urban house with balconies, moldings and gabled roof than a hotel.

They have Family Rooms (6pax), De Luxe Rooms (3pax), and Dormitory Fan Rooms (150 per pax).

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I checked out their De Luxe Rooms first before deciding where I would bunk for the night. It’s a bit above my budget at a thousand pesos plus high, but the room is really nice. The furnishing looks new and it has an en suite toilet and bath. I also love the fact that each room has its own balcony where you can just sit, have coffee, or read a book.

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But again, tempted as I was to book La Esperanza’s Deluxe Room, I have to settle for a more budget-friendly accommodation. I ended up throwing my bag down at one of their dorm rooms. They have two of those, one for guys and gals.

It has a common toilet and bath, which is the norm for these types of lodgings. It was clean and comfy, the only things I didn’t like so much about it are the lack of locker for your valuables and the ventilation. The four double-decked beds are cooled by a single ceiling fan, so it gets a bit hot at night.

It has no free breakfast included, but there are numerous inexpensive carinderias around the place so food isn’t really a problem if you’re not too picky about it. If you’re particular about food though, there are also a few restaurants surrounding the hotel.

It is definitely no Misibis Bay, but for ₱150.00, booking a night at the La Esperanza Hotel is a steal, especially with its very convenient location. And oh yeah, did I mention that they have free wi-fi too?

La Esperanza Hotel ►ROOM RATES
Address: Osmena Ave., Kalibo, Aklan
Contact Number: (036) 262-3989 | (036) 268-9254
GPS Coordinates Map: 11.700710, 122.367133
How to Get There: It’s a few meters away from the Kalibo Ceres Bus Terminal. Look for Landbank

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