...I risked my life by staying in Sampaguita Tourist Inn [Rizal Street, Legazpi City. (052) 480 6258]. Sampaguita Tourist Inn welcomes guests with a huge sign at their front door declaring: This building is a fire hazard.
Rates start at Php 275 (single, fan room) / Php 400 (double, fan room). The rooms are simple: bed, pillow, blanket, fan, table and chair, towel, soap, and a toilet and bath. Higher than Php 275, of course, for rooms with TV and/or airconditioner.
Because "This building is a fire hazard" kept gnawing at my brain, I just stayed a night in Sampaguita Tourist Inn. In my search for other affordable accommodations I checked out two inns also along Rizal Street: Twilight Zone Hotel [(052) 480 9374] and Great Pacific Tourist Inn [(052) 820 6348]. Both are slightly better (no signs that they were a fire hazard!) and slightly higher in price than Sampaguita Tourist Inn.
On a positive note: All three are along Rizal Street where one can easily catch a jeepney ride to towns east or west of Albay.
Still not satisfied with those two inns, I was led to RMJ Apartelle [Rose Street, Imperial Court Subdivision Phase 2, Legazpi City. 0917 558 9100 / 0928 507 9988. [email protected]], in a subdivision just off Rizal Street. RMJ Apartelle looks newer than the three inns because it is quite young, less than two years old.
All rooms have AC, toilet, hot and cold shower, cable TV, cabinet, bed with pillows and sheets, table and chair, and a mini kitchen. Towels are provided. The room I stayed in was clean and so was its toilet and shower. Not bad for Php 650. There are three room types available: Php 650 (up to 2 pax) / Php 750 (up to 4 pax) / Php 900 (up to 6 pax). Breakfast is also available for a separate fee. The downside: it's in a subdivision and if you're too lazy to walk, you'd have to take a tricycle. Streets can be quite dark at night.
All four accommodations mentioned above are very near Gaisano Pacific Mall (where you can find 1st Colonial Grill, a popular restaurant in Legaspi City) and Legazpi Grand Central Terminal (where you can ride jeepneys for other points in Albay and vans for Camarines Sur and Sorsogon).
A Fraction of Albay:Camalig: Let's Pinangat, Shall We?Ligao City: Kawa-Kawa HillLigao City: La Terraza Restaurant
Legazpi City: Affordable Accommodations (you're here!)
