Looking for a unique and affordable place to stay in La Union with direct access to the beach? Charlie’s Hangar Surf Hostel is an aviation-themed hostel in the surf town that offers bunk spaces for as little as P750 a night.
La Union, considered the surfing capital of the Northern Philippines, has always been a popular destination for weekend travelers coming from the metro. Aside from surfers, Elyu attracts digital nomads, backpackers, solo travelers, and families taveling with kids and pets who want to enjoy a hassle-free vacation place without having to book flights from Manila.
Those looking for a new and unique place to stay will appreciate the hostel’s convenient location right in front of the beach and near the restaurants and the price tag that isn’t too painful on the pocket.
My friend Celine (who wanted a quick break from her van life) and I stayed two nights in Charlie’s Hangar Surf Hostel on a laid-back food-trip getaway in June 2023 and found it a convenient base.
Location
Charlie’s Hangar Surf Hostel is located in downtown San Juan, just a 5-minute walk from the bus stop along the highway, where you can get down from buses coming from Metro Manila.
Ambiance
With a DC-3 plane parked right at the center of the hostel, the aviation theme is evident at Charlie’s Hangar. The hostel is clean and modern, with the outdoor reception, floor and rooms decorated with distinct airline touches. The place has large tables and grills right outside the hangar space for guests who want to enjoy barbecues or picnics.
Beds and bunks
Charlie’s Hangar doesn’t offer standard hotel rooms, but rather dorm-style beds and bunks. The rooms come in 4-bed, 6-bed, and 8-bed configurations with double deck bunks. If you’ve ever tried staying in capsule hotels, it has the same vibe. Each room has a small balcony where you get a view of the beach, and hang wet clothes. Air-conditioning is available in every room.
The set-up is ideal for groups and families who can take up the entire room. It’s also a cheaper option for solo travelers who don’t mind sharing rooms with strangers. Since most budget air-con hotel rooms cost around P1,200 – P1,500 a night (and are ideal for 2 pax), bed spaces come out cheaper for solo travelers.
Each bedspace has a secure place on the floor where you can stash bigger bags and a small cubbyhole where you can keep smaller items and secure them with padlocks. Each bunk also comes with its own charging port for gadgets. There’s a curtain you can draw for extra privacy.
Rates for bed spaces vary, but all cost less than P1,000 a night.
- Single beds in 8-bed dorms cost P750/night
- Single beds in 6-bed dorms cost P850/night
- Single beds in 4-bed dorms cost P950/night
We tried to get spaces in the 4-bed rooms so there would be less people, but the only free room available was the 8-bed doom rooms. While it was nice and quiet on our first night (Thursday) and we had no other companions in the room, it got fully booked the next day (Friday) with the arrival of the long weekend crowd.
Amenities
In case you have to catch up on remote work, the hostel offers high-speed WiFi on the premises.
For the bathroom situation, there are communal showers and toilets for men and women available on each floor. The restrooms were clean, modern, and well-maintained. The bathrooms had lots of cubicles, so it wasn’t hard to find an empty stall. Toilet stalls towards the end of the bathroom had bidets.
Pros & cons
Staying in a hostel always has its pros and cons. What makes Charlie’s Hangar an ideal place to stay is the great location. It’s very accessible to restaurants and the bus stop and relatively cheap for the location if you just need a place to sleep and freshen up. Those traveling with pets will appreciate having air con rooms where their pets can sleep comfortably with them. The hostel also provides water refilling stations, so you can easily refill tumblers and save on costs of buying water
On the downside, if you don’t take up all the bed spaces in the room, you could end up with roommates who are noisy or who snore at night, making it harder to sleep.
While I slept soundly (like I always do), there was only one very thin pillow per bed though you can request for extra pillows with an additional charge. I also found the ongoing construction of the second wing a bit of an eyesore from the view from our balcony since photos I had seen online showed beachfront views from the balcony. But I guess the place is pretty popular since they’re expanding.
While Charlie’s Hangar Surf Hostel offers a good spot for friends and those on budget, it’s not really for introverts, couples who value privacy and want their own bathroom, or larger families who want the space to move around and are willing to pay more for creature comforts. It’s more for the chill, outdoor, camping crowd who want to socialize with friends.
Aside from the rooms, those who want to commune with nature can also make use of camping grounds, hammock hanging spaces, and outdoor showers on site.
Because of its location near the main highway, unique vibe, and secure parking, Charlie’s Hangar Surf Hostel could also be a good destination for motorcycle riders and bike packers who want a cheap place to rest and freshen up in La Union for the night.
- Address: Surfers Road Urbiztondo, San Juan, La Union, 2514 Philippines
- Contact numbers: 09178650361, 09189470208
- Landline: 0726828560
- Website: https://charlieshangarsurfhostel.com
- Facebook: Charlie’s Hangar Surf Hostel
Additional photos from Charlie’s Hangar Surf Hostel’s website and FB Page.