The Shire of Sagada — Hotel in Luzon

Contrary to all reviews so far, we were disappointed by our stay.

To start with the positive things: The place has a unique architecture and is embedded in lush nature. For all die-hard Lord of the rings fan a must do. For the rest: The hotel as-is has a weak costquality ratio. Here are a couple of things that you should know about the place: You cannot access the hotel by car. The road leading to the hotel collapsed a couple of months ago due to a storm. This led to a pretty dangerous situation for us, as the road is so narrow that you cannot do a U-turn by car (see picture). While this is obviously an out of the hand factor for the hotel, I had expected a pro-active communication to ensure the safety of all guests. Upon arrival, the receptionists merely mentioned that several guests already complained, but the hotel sent an email mentioning this fact (after having booked!!). The service and communication is bad. The staff seems highly uninterested and barely speaks English. Upon arrival, the receptionist did not greet us, did not show us around our room and the hotel. The food - especially breakfast - is not good. Dinner was ok, however, for breakfast you have the choice between an a soggy cheese and ham sandwich or an egg sandwich (and I believe a third choice). No fresh fruits, no veggies - nothing. Fun side point: We also ordered a tea for breakfast. Without letting us know - the waitress then charged us extra for the tea. I do not care about the extra dollar, but I mean c'mon: Have you ever stepped into a hotel where they charge you extra for tea? (If breakfast is included) The hotel is under construction and more buildings are added. Kills the vibe a bit. The bathroom is not on western standards. Shower has close to 0 water pressure and several amenities are missing (like toilet brush).

I hope the owner of the place addresses those issues and ensures that future guests have a more pleasant time with great service, proactive communication and really good local, fresh food. We will...

Tucked away in the cool mountain air of Sagada, The Shire is the kind of place that feels like it was lifted straight out of a storybook—and quite fittingly, it gives off serious Bilbo Baggins’ cottage-in-the-shire vibes, but with the comfort and cleanliness of a boutique mountain lodge.

Getting there does require a little effort—after parking, there’s a short 5-minute walk to the property. The cemented path is manageable for most, but do keep in mind that it’s narrow with a few uphill stretches, which might be a challenge for seniors or those with mobility concerns. That said, once you reach the place, you’ll know it’s worth the extra steps.

Service here is nothing short of exceptional. The owners themselves man the reception, and it shows in the warmth and genuine hospitality we experienced throughout our stay. They were more than happy to accommodate special requests like pre-ordering breakfast—small gestures that really go a long way when you’re far from home.

And speaking of breakfast—what a treat. It’s included with the room, and we were honestly impressed. The pancakes were soft, buttery, and paired with homemade fruit jam—a comforting start to chilly Sagada mornings. Their rice meals were equally satisfying; the tocino in particular had that “home-cooked by mom” flavor that just hits the spot.

Rooms are thoughtfully designed and immaculately kept. From the fluffy pillows and fresh linens to the spotless shower area, everything feels brand new. There’s also a shared common area on the upper floors—a perfect spot for groups or families to relax, play board games, or simply enjoy the mountain breeze. Just a heads-up: there’s a 9 PM quiet time curfew, so it’s best to wind down early and enjoy the peaceful stillness Sagada is known for.

All in all, The Shire of Sagada blends fairytale charm with heartfelt service and modern comfort. It’s the kind of stay that lingers in your memory long after the trip ends—and one I’d happily return to on our next...

Was here August 2023. Charming Hobbit-inspired place.

Bed is super comfy, the bathroom is well-stocked, the shower has adequate water pressure, Wi-Fi is ok, and there's Netflix on the TV should you need something to watch.

Sadly those are the only things it has going for it.

The complimentary breakfast was SOOO disappointing and the tocino (or whatever cured meat it was) even tasted expired that I had to suffer every bite of it.

I had originally asked for their other breakfast item, which they said was available, but after a few minutes I was told it wasn't anymore, so I had to settle for that horrendous tocino.

I mean for the rate they were charging, you would expect they'd at least get something as basic as breakfast right.

Also, when we asked the receptionist regarding PWD discount, she said she'll have to ask her boss about it. They eventually gave the discount, but the whole confirming with the boss first just smacks of lack of training.

We left The Shire soon afterwards and transferred to a different, albeit less deluxe and less expensive hotel, and what do you know, the breakfast they serve there WAS fantastic, you can really taste the difference. So yeah. Which is why I can confirm that the breakfast at The Shire is totally lame.

Also, for some reason, the ambiance in The Shire was off. Like there was this air of cold formality when you go out of the lobby such that no noise, no merrymaking, no laughter is allowed. We weren't exactly prohibited, but something about the place demanded such...