Laoag

Laoag is a city and the provincial capital of Ilocos Norte.

Laoag Sinking Bell Tower

Get in

By plane

• Philippines airlines from Manila. Flies daily.
• Cebu Pacific from Manila. Flies daily
• Mandarin Airlines from Kaohsiung.
• Hong Kong Express Airways from Hong Kong.

By bus

• Farinas Buses - to/from Manila via Vigan.
• Florida Buses - to/from Manila. via Vigan.
• Partas Buses - to/from Baguio and Manila via Vigan. Station in Baguio at (Gov. Pack Road), stations in Manila at Cubao, Sampaloc and Pasay.
• Philippine Rabbit - to/from Baguio via Vigan station in Baguio at (Gov. Pack Road)
• GMW Trans Buses -to/from Tuguegarao via Pagudpud. The a/c bus fare from Laoag city to Tuguegarao city (300 km) is ₱455 and takes 7 hours.

Get around

• Calesa - Horse-drawn carriage
• Jeepney
• Tricycle
• Rent-a-car

See

• Ilocos Norte Museum. Tu-Su 9AM to 5PM. ₱50. 
• Tobacco Monopoly. 
• Sand Dunes, La Paz. The only desert in the Philippines. 4x4 vehicle recommended to appreciate the desert beauty. 
• Sinking Belltower. Named so because it slowly sinks into the soft soil of the city. A decade ago, the entrance was still tall enough to let a man on horseback enter. Now not even a man could enter. 
• Tabacalera, Assorted Stores. 

Do

• 4x4 off roading. 
• Beach. 
• Relax, unwind, enjoy nature. 
• Sand boarding. 

Buy

• Banana chips. 
• Hand woven baskets. 
• Taro (kamote) chips. 

Malls & supermarkets

• Robinsons Place Mall & Robinsons Supermarket, Brgy 51 (just off manila north road), ☎ [phone]. 9AM-8PM. 
• S M Savemore Hypermarket, J P Rizal Street. 9AM-8PM. 
• Puregold Supermarket, J P Rizal street & M Nolasco Street. 8AM-8PM. (updated Sep 2016)

Eat

• Cailian Grill (along Bacarra Road). 
• Dap-Ayan. Try the Laoag Empanada along Rizal Street near Provincial Capitol. 
• Dawang's, San Nicolas. Try their crispy dinuguan. 
• La Preciosa (along Rizal Street near Ablan Avenue). 
• Macy's Diner, Gen Segundo Ave. cor M.H. del Pilar St (Coming from the Sinking Bell Tower: Walk northbound for approx 200 m (2 small blocks).), ☎ [phone]. 8AM-8PM. An American 1950s inspired restaurant. Serves most of your favorite American, Chinese, & Filipino foods. As low as ₱79 per meal. 
• Saramsam (along Rizal Street Infront of Texicano Hotel). 

Drink

• Giannis - along Mckinley Street, Brgy 10, behind Provincial Capitol. Giannis offers good food, ambiance, music and vibe. Try their baby back ribs (no MSG) with Giannis fried rice.
• herencias cafe, paoay ilocos norte. Try pinakbet and dinuguan pizza 

Sleep

Mid-range & splurge

• Gertes Resort, Brgy. Balatong, ☎ +63 77 786 - 10 53. The hotel offers air-conditioned accommodation rooms, all equipped with cable TV, Wi-Fi connectivity, telephone, and also comes with complimentary breakfast. Some of its facilities are Gertes Restaurant, Bare n' Bloom Spa, swimming pools, and business center. From ₱1000. 
• Hotel Tiffany, Gen. Segundo Ave Cor. M.H. del Pilar St, ☎ [phone]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Offers 24 guestrooms, all of which have air-conditioned, cable television, and private toilet and bath. Some of its amenities include high-speed Internet access, room service, and wake-up call. From ₱1170. 
• Ilocos Rosewell Hotel, Brgy.1, San Francisco National High-Way San Nicolas, ☎ [phone]. Offers 22 air-conditioned guestrooms, all of which have cable TV, free Wi-Fi, mini-bar, and a telephone. Some of its amenities include massage service, laundry and dry cleaning, wake-up call, and airport and city transfers. From ₱1,200. 
• Isabel Suites, Bacarra Road (beside Jollibee Bacarra road), ☎ [phone], [phone]. 
• Java Hotel, Bacarra Road 55-B, Salet (Fariñas Caltex Station), ☎ [phone]. A hospitable place with touches of Balinese, Moroccan, and Spanish style decoration. Offers rooms, suites, and dormitory-type quarters. From ₱1980. 
• Renzo Hotel, Brgy.19, Santa Marcela, Rizal cor. Guerrero Street, ☎ [phone], [phone], fax: [phone]. 
• Playa Tropical Hotel Ilocos, Barangay Victoria. A Balinese-inspired hotel located in the heart of Currimao, 25 minutes from Laoag Int'l Airport and 45 min-1 hr away from Vigan. The hotel has a seafront view of calm waves and fine sand beaches where you can do water sports activities like kayaking, pedal boating and skim boarding. ₱3800. 
• Plaza del Norte, Barangay 41 - Balacad, ☎ [phone]. It offers 96 rooms, all of which have air-conditioning system, cable TV, private toilet and bath, phone and coffee/tea maker. Its amenities include high-speed Internet access, swimming pool, and restaurant, bar and café. Rates start at ₱2,500. 

Budget

• Texicano Hotel, Rizal Aveune., ☎ [phone]. Fan single/double room with out side bathroom. Fan single/double rooms with own bathrooms. A good place for backpackers to stay. 50 rooms. Can pay with Visa/Mastercard ₱350/410/470. 
• Pichay Lodging House, P Lazaro corner Heranado streets, ☎ [phone]. Fan double rooms with own bathroom. 25 rooms. ₱350. 
• Star Light Lodge, Ablan Avenue, ☎ [phone]. Fan single/double rooms. 19 rooms. ₱270-550. 
• Hotel Del Norte, 28 Fonacier Street, ☎ [phone]. Fan single room with own bathroom. Fan single/double room with own bathroom and cable TV. AC double with own bathroom and cable TV. ₱380/500/600/750. (updated Mar 2015)
• Supertram Lodge, Hernando Avenue, ☎ [phone]. Fan double room with own bathroom. A/c double room with own bathroom. ₱500/600. (updated Mar 2015)

Connect

Go next

• Vigan
• Pagudpud
• Tuguegarao