🇵🇭 Quezon City, Philippines
Happy Turtle Hostel
📍 66, 9th Avenue, Quezon City, 1109
Your stay — Happy Turtle Hostel
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Quezon City.
The Property — Happy Turtle Hostel
Happy Turtle Hostel sits in a quiet Quezon City side street, painted in bright yellows and turquoise with a small open-air courtyard where backpackers trade stories over breakfast. The lobby is relaxed and informal: mismatched sofas, a shelf of secondhand books, and a bulletin board covered in local tour ads. It’s a solid budget base for independent travellers who want a sociable dorm or private room near transport links, without the noise of the main nightlife strip.
Chronicles of Quezon City
Quezon City was founded in 1939 as the planned capital of the Philippines, replacing Manila, and kept that status until 1976 when Metro Manila was created. Its wide, tree-lined avenues were laid out by architects Juan Arellano and Harry Frost, and it became a hub for government buildings and the main campus of the University of the Philippines. Today it remains the country’s largest city by population, a sprawling mix of mid-century bungalows, shopping malls, and a booming tech and media scene that gives it a youthful, creative energy.
Best Time to Visit
Full Quezon City guide →Best months
December to February — dry and cooler, with daytime highs around 30°C and low humidity, perfect for exploring the city’s parks and food markets without afternoon downpours.
Peak / festival surge
April is the hottest month (up to 35°C) and sees Holy Week travel spikes. Hotel prices in Quezon City rise 20-30% around Easter as locals visit relatives. The Pahiyas Festival in Lucban (May) pulls some tourists north, but QC itself stays busy with domestic visitors.
Budget shoulder season
March and June offer a balance: March is still dry but very hot; June starts the rainy season but keeps reasonable prices and thinner crowds. Hotels discount 10-15% in June.
Weather & packing
Quezon City experiences sudden, heavy tropical downpours even in the dry season, so always pack a compact umbrella or a light waterproof jacket. A pair of sandals that can handle a wet street is essential, as pavements flood quickly.
Live City Briefing — Quezon City
- The MRT-3 line is undergoing partial weekend closures for track upgrades through mid-2026, affecting travel between Quezon City and Makati. Check the daily timetable before heading south.
- The Quezon City government has launched a new bike-share scheme along Quezon Avenue, with docking stations near the hostel’s area — a cheap way to dodge jeepney queues.
- Construction of the Quezon City Central Market expansion is nearly complete, expected to open new food stalls and a craft beer section later this year, though the existing market remains open as usual.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Happy Turtle Hostel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor facing the inner courtyard or the back of the building. These floors are high enough to escape ground-level street noise but low enough to avoid the heat and limited lift reliability common in older Quezon City walk-ups. The courtyard side buffers 9th Avenue traffic.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid any room on the ground floor, especially those facing the reception or common areas. The hostel has a busy entrance and shared kitchen, so ground-floor rooms get foot traffic noise and door slams until late. Also skip rooms directly overlooking 9th Avenue if street-facing flaps are your concern.
Best views
The best view is from a top-floor room facing the back of the building, overlooking the low-rise residential area behind 9th Avenue. You'll see rooftops and a slice of the Quezon City skyline – nothing special, but peaceful. Front-facing rooms get a gritty street view of shops and jeepneys.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3 are the quietest. They sit above the street-level bustle but below the roof area where smokers and social guests may gather. The building has no lift, so these floors are still walkable.
🔊 Noise notes
9th Avenue is a secondary road in Cubao, Quezon City, so you'll get jeepney and tricycle noise (not heavy trucks, but constant buzz). The adjacent 10th Avenue has a bus depot – buses rumble through from early morning. Also, the hostel is near Araneta Center which has a train station (MRT-3) – audible rumble during peak hours, but muffled inside. No club or bar noise here, but local karaoke from nearby houses can drift in on weekend evenings.
Insider tips
Check in before 5pm to grab a bottom-bunk spot in dorms – they fill fast. If you're in a private room, ask for the room with a desk (some have a small work table) – useful for planning your Manila route.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Happy Turtle Hostel
Free WiFi throughout. Speed is roughly 15 Mbps down, 5 Mbps up. Login via simple username/password on browser page; no daily time limits.
One lift serving all 4 floors; no stairs-only sections.
No physical newspapers. Free access to PressReader on one lobby tablet (not on personal devices). No FT.
Standard check-in 14:00. Baggage drop from 07:00 allowed. Late check-out until 12:00 costs PHP 300; after 12:00 full night charged.
Free storage inside reception (open 06:00–22:00). No locker or secured room after 22:00.
Step-free entrance at front via a ramp. Lift serves all floors. No specialised wheelchair-accessible rooms. Shared bathrooms have small step-up (5 cm) into shower.
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park is Quezon City Hall Car Park (15-min walk, PHP 30 per hour, PHP 150 overnight). No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (no mandatory tourism tax for this property class in Quezon City)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking (refundable with 48h notice). On check-in, a PHP 500 incidental hold per guest (cash or card) is taken, released at checkout if no damage.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish Church (199 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: The Feast Novotel (477 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: Iglesia ni Cristo - Locale of Murphy (541 m · ~7 min walk)
- Church: Cubao Reformed Baptist Church & GMA (671 m · ~8 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Ali Mall — 152 m · ~2 min walk
A Luna Baba Court — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk
Art In Island Interactive Museum — 520 m · ~7 min walk
New Frontier Theater — 682 m · ~9 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
ATMs — 133 m · ~2 min walk
Mercury Drug — 174 m · ~2 min walk
Uncle John's — 101 m · ~1 min walk
Araneta City Busport — 144 m · ~2 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Philippine Peso, PHP
Use ATMs for the best rates; avoid currency exchange counters at the airport and tourist bureaux due to poor rates.
Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in malls, hotels, and sit-down restaurants; smaller shops and street vendors are cash-only. Contactless payment via GCash and Maya apps is common.
Tipping is not mandatory but appreciated: 10-20 PHP for hotel porters, round up taxi fares or leave 10-20 PHP change, and 10% service charge may already be included in restaurant bills.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A cup of brewed coffee from a local bakery or café costs around 50-70 PHP.
A basic rice-and-meat meal at a carinderia (local eatery) costs 70-100 PHP.
A main dish at a casual restaurant is typically 120-200 PHP.
Sidewalks near universities (e.g., along Katipunan Avenue) and market areas (like Muñoz Market) have stalls selling barbecue, fish balls, and isaw for 10-20 PHP per stick.
Budget supermarket chains include Puregold, Savemore, and Robinsons Supermarket.
For affordable clothes, visit public markets (e.g., Muñoz Market or Cubao Farmer's Market) or tiangge (bazaar) areas along Aurora Boulevard.
The cheapest way around is by jeepney (9 PHP for the first 4 km). From the airport, take the airport shuttle bus to a major LRT/MRT station (e.g., EDSA-Taft) then transfer; total cost under 100 PHP.
Always pay in pesos; avoid dynamic currency conversion. Eat at carinderias for cheap, filling meals. Use jeepneys and tricycles for short trips rather than taxis or ride-hail apps.
Emergency Contacts
Quezon CityDial 911 for all emergencies; 117 for direct police, ambulance, or fire. For non-urgent police help, call QCPD Hotline at (02) 8722-0650. For medical emergencies, also contact PhilHealth hotline 02-8441-7442.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Quezon City, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Happy Turtle Hostel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · ATMs — 133 m · ~2 min walk — pharmacy · Mercury Drug — 174 m · ~2 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
NAIA Terminal 3 Departures Bay 14 → Trinoma Mall, Quezon City
💡 Alight at Trinoma, then take a 10-minute tricycle ride to Fernandina 88 Suites (around PHP 30–50). The bus is direct and air-conditioned, but only runs when seats are filled — have cash ready for the conductor.
Taft Avenue MRT Station (via bus or taxi from airport) → Quezon Avenue MRT Station
💡 Avoid MRT between 7–9 AM and 5–7 PM — the crush load is brutal. From Quezon Avenue station, walk 15 minutes or take a short jeepney ride (PHP 9) to Fernandina 88 Suites on Scout Borromeo.
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) → Fernandina 88 Suites, Quezon City
💡 Use the Grab app from the airport's ride-hailing pickup zones. Avoid the touts inside the terminal — they charge triple. If arriving late, book the GrabCar option to get a fixed price.
Quezon City streets near Fernandina 88 Suites → Cubao, Tomas Morato, or East Avenue
💡 Flag down any jeepney with 'T.Morato' or 'Cubao' signs. Pay the driver directly — no change for bills larger than PHP 100. Sit near the entrance if you’re carrying luggage; the benches get tight. Best for short hops, not airport transfers.
About Quezon City
Wikipedia ↗
Quezon City (UK: , US: ; Filipino: Lungsod Quezon [luŋˈsod ˈkɛson] ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read and pronounced in Filipino as Kyusi), is the most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 3,084,270 people. It was founded on October 1...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Happy Turtle Hostel?
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor facing the inner courtyard or the back of the building. These floors are high enough to escape ground-level street noise but low enough to avoid the heat and limited lift reliability common in older Quezon City walk-ups. The courtyard side buffers 9th Avenue traffic.
Which rooms should I avoid at Happy Turtle Hostel?
Avoid any room on the ground floor, especially those facing the reception or common areas. The hostel has a busy entrance and shared kitchen, so ground-floor rooms get foot traffic noise and door slams until late. Also skip rooms directly overlooking 9th Avenue if street-facing flaps are your concern.
Is Happy Turtle Hostel noisy?
9th Avenue is a secondary road in Cubao, Quezon City, so you'll get jeepney and tricycle noise (not heavy trucks, but constant buzz). The adjacent 10th Avenue has a bus depot – buses rumble through from early morning. Also, the hostel is near Araneta Center which has a train station (MRT-3) – audible rumble during peak hours, but muffled inside. No club or bar noise here, but local karaoke from nearby houses can drift in on weekend evenings.
Which rooms have the best views at Happy Turtle Hostel?
The best view is from a top-floor room facing the back of the building, overlooking the low-rise residential area behind 9th Avenue. You'll see rooftops and a slice of the Quezon City skyline – nothing special, but peaceful. Front-facing rooms get a gritty street view of shops and jeepneys.
What are insider tips for staying at Happy Turtle Hostel?
Check in before 5pm to grab a bottom-bunk spot in dorms – they fill fast. If you're in a private room, ask for the room with a desk (some have a small work table) – useful for planning your Manila route.
What time is check-in at Happy Turtle Hostel?
Check-in at Happy Turtle Hostel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Happy Turtle Hostel have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi throughout. Speed is roughly 15 Mbps down, 5 Mbps up. Login via simple username/password on browser page; no daily time limits.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Happy Turtle Hostel?
None (no mandatory tourism tax for this property class in Quezon City)
Where can I eat cheaply near Happy Turtle Hostel?
A basic rice-and-meat meal at a carinderia (local eatery) costs 70-100 PHP.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Happy Turtle Hostel?
The cheapest way around is by jeepney (9 PHP for the first 4 km). From the airport, take the airport shuttle bus to a major LRT/MRT station (e.g., EDSA-Taft) then transfer; total cost under 100 PHP.
When is the best time to visit Quezon City?
December to February — dry and cooler, with daytime highs around 30°C and low humidity, perfect for exploring the city’s parks and food markets without afternoon downpours.
Top Attractions in Quezon City
💡 Go on a Sunday morning before 9am when the main road is closed to cars and locals flood in for zumba and tai chi. The shrine's elevator ride to the viewing deck costs 50 pesos, but the park itself is free.
💡 The zoo area charges a 10-peso entry (about 20 cents). Bring your own water — the canteen inside is overpriced. Best in late afternoon when the heat drops and the animals are more active.
💡 Bring a friend with a wide-angle lens or a phone with a good camera — the staff know the best spots but won't shoot for you. Weekday mornings are empty. Entrance: 500 pesos (around $9), but kids under 4 get in free.
💡 Entrance is 50 pesos for adults, free for students with ID. The museum shop sells affordable prints by local artists. Combine your visit with a walk around the UP campus — the lagoon and old acacia trees are lovely.
💡 Day-trippers pay 300 pesos (around $5.50) — that includes a guided walk and use of the changing rooms. Come on a Saturday for the community lunch (extra 150 pesos) that uses vegetables grown on site. It's 90 minutes from central Quezon City by jeepney and tricycle; book a Grab if short on time.