This place is a bit difficult to find first time - take the left turn after hotel Amsterdam, and you will find a long bar and restaurant that seems to have popped out of the swiss alps. A small hotel (hardly 2 floors). But very happening. The restaurant is good, always filled with foreigners - mostly Europeans and Americans.

(Balibago has specific hotels that are favourites with Japanese, Koreans, Europeans... their menus and languages used at the entrance are an easy way to figure this out).

I had booked over the phone, which was a good thing as it was a long weekend and Swiss chalet was full when I arrived at Balibago. (PS - the "chalet" is a misnomer as these are just rooms - the rooms are not plush like some of the hotels here, but are comfortable, air con is good, and baths are clean) First of all, this is NOT Angeles city, but a small town 15 minutes jeepney ride from Angeles. To come from Manila, the best way is to take a air con bus (Bunny, etc - any major bus company. the buses are very comfortable, air con, and take about 3 hours along the highway). Just tell the conductor you wish to go to Balibago - he will tell you where to get off (it is the stop after SM Angeles). From there you can take a Jeepney (I always prefer this as it feels more homely and there are always a lot of peopel to talk to) or a taxi or a motorcab (Motorcycle with side car). Either ways, it takes about 15-20 minutes and they will deposit you to Fields avenuye - which is the spinal cord of Balibago.

Swiss chalet is better as it is close to the smaller bars - away from the cash sapping main street ones. The staff is good and friendly. A motorcycle stand just outside the hotel is convenient (many tourists also hire a mobike for a day or two to drive themselves).

For food at odd times, there is an excellent sandwich and breakfast stall on fields avenue just 20 steps away - it serves breakfast 24 hours! (Yes - you heard that right!).

The time when Balibago is emptiest is usually morning - 7 am to 11 am. The place dons its most festive attire and is crowded from 10 pm at night upto 4 am int eh morning.

The staff are always friendly and helpful and the location allow me to get to the shoping or the pub easily.

Stayed at the Swiss Chalet three nights. Two nights in a standard room and one night in the Suite. Standard room was just ok.. Clean and basic. All furniture is chipped and wallpaper is peeling at several places. Towels were very old and a couple of the towels had huge holes. These towels I would have thrown away at home. Opened curtain to window and the rod fell off....held together by rubber bands...took awhile to get the rod back up on the window. Split type AC so the room was cool and confortable. Standard room was quiet and I wasn't bothered by external noise. Room was ok but wanted to get something better. Changed room to the Suite and then I really had problems. The bathroom is upstairs. Toilet ran slow and was clogging. Staff came twice to clear the clog. Three overhead lights were out so at night can't see into the main closet. Maintenance changed the lights but still the main light in the middle of the room is out. Remote controls for the TV/cable not working...held together by tape. Really, I'm not joking here! Saw a huge cockroach crawling around the stairs but that didn't bother me since I'm from Hawaii. Suite is huge but the furniture is very cheap looking and not well maintained...furniture is chipped, frayed in may places and since the room is on the top floor very hot during the day...airconditioner located in bathroom upstairs but when you ran it it was sooooo loud. Too many problems. I requested another room change but they were full. I move to another hotel nearby and it was great...felt like I was back in the USA there. The staff in the Swiss Chalet is fantastic...very nice and helpful. I repeat, they really tried to help me with the problems...it's just that the hotel is very run down and it looks like the management isn't trying to maintain the property at all. Not recommended. Strongly suggest you stay somewhere else.

I booked in via the internet for 10 days before returning to manila but i desided to stay 2 more days unfortunuately they where fully booked the reason i wanted to stay was due to the fact that its a great hotel the food is excellent hans hoffman is a great chef the staff help with any request ..the rooms are wonderful the a/c is so quiet not like other hotels in angeles,hot water plenty of thick curtains in you want to sleep in or have an afternoon nap