Beach Hotels

Choosing the best beach hotels in the Philippines is a hard task if you have to consider how many beautiful beaches there are in the Philippines. With 7,107 islands, the plethora of choices for beach hotels to be built on can be almost infinite. The lucky hotel owners don’t even have to try so hard because the backdrops are so breathtaking that they can line-up four wood planks and throw a bunch of leaves for a roof, and many a traveler will be satisfied with that. So the best beach hotels in the Philippines aren’t about marble floors, and weatherproof dining areas, or even plush white towels or 1000 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, but more about the service you receive for the price point that you prefer. 

The best beach hotels don’t have to be the swankiest hotels. The White House Hotel Boracay is surrounded by the most expensive hotels in the island and yet has continued to be a favorite for Manila residents because of its more affordable rates in the best beachfront area (Station 1) in the popular island. Why? The affordable grub as well as the almost-all day happy hour, provides the perfect accompaniment to carefree and relaxed setting provided by their beachfront cabanas.

But if you still want to go to Boracay but not feel like you are in congested island-city Boracay at all, then spend your hard-earned dime at the Shangri-la Resort Hotel. Located well-away from the hustle and bustle of crowds and party music in the rowdy central area, this resort is all about the Spa, and the breathtaking views from either the beautiful beachfront or the mountainside area of the expansive resort. Stay in the private villas to be pampered by your own personal butler as well as the de riguer personal chef to cater to all your dietary restrictions and demands.

Batangas, not known for its pristine white sand but instead for its mere-2 hour drive from Metro Manila, has a beach called the Laiya in San Juan, Batangas if you are the kind of beach-goer that just has to have the white sand as a must for a beach trip. The Acuatico Beach Resort prides itself for its Balinese-inspired villas and guest accommodations, and an infinity pool that provides stunning views of the ocean whether day or night.

Palawan, said to be “The Last Ecological Frontier of the Philippines because of its scenic landscapes and high bio-diversity” is picture-perfect sight to behold with white sand, blue water, and green mountainous formations. El Nido, Palawan is a protected area and has been labeled by many international news agencies including CNNgo as one of the most beautiful beaches on earth. Stay at one of the island resorts of the El Nido Resorts which include the Miniloc, Lagen, Apulit, and Pangulasian Islands that cater to your every possible want and need while maintaining the integrity and splendor that the island has to offer.

Travel thoughts: What can 2000 Pesos Can Get You?

The cost of living in the Philippines is no longer cheap as the price of the goods and services shoot up as years go by.  The value of the basic commodities such as food, housing, clothing, and transportation are sky-rocketing each day and it’s beginning to take toll in every simple Juan.

            Back in the 1980’s, a hundred peso bill can get you a lot of stuff to buy. It can already provide decent meals to a family of 5 for the whole day.  One can watch a movie with his/her partner and still has spare cash to buy snacks for both.  100 pesos can take you to a lot of places by then.  Having a thousand however means more goods, more places to visit, and memories to cherish either alone, or with your family and loved ones.  On the other hand, having two thousand at-hands is already a fortune back then. Branded clothes and stuff are easily within reach with that budget.  It was more than enough to finance a get-away to a nearby tourist spot or destination.  Budget Travel isn’t somehow a necessity for almost everything back then is affordable and accessible to everyone.  

            Nonetheless, it was 3 decades ago.  A lot has changed by now. Nothing seems to fit the tight budget nowadays.  Your hundred peso bill is just enough to get an ordinary meal for yourself, much less a meal for a family of five! This amount can no longer take you to your favorite spot without throwing in some extra cash for the taxi ride’s cost is really ridiculous! But you can always take a public ride instead; this way you can also enjoy the sceneries.

            For a budget travel with only 2000 pesos on hand, this is just enough to give you a room for an overnight stay in a cheap but decent hotel.  If you are just resourceful and keen to look for hotels offering promos and packaging in your destination, then your 2000 can be stretched for another day or two. It all depends however where you want to go.  Don’t expect that your 2000 pesos can already take you to Palawan, or Cebu, much more Boracay! Instead, find a nearby tourist destination where you can take a relaxing vacation, not in the expense of your savings.  A road trip with couple of friends and visiting neighboring towns or places would be perfect if your budget is only 2000 pesos.      A trip to the beach with your family or friends is also a smart way to spend your 2000 pesos if you want to get away from the hustles and bustles of city life. Bringing home-cooked meals will save you some bucks instead of buying from the resorts.  Food costs in resorts tend to be unreasonable usually.

            If you are just prudent and wise enough on where to spend your 2000 pesos, then you can still have that get-away you really want. 

What the heck! 6 Star Hotels

Want to know about the famed "six star" ranking?  First of all, I spoke to a hotelier who told me there is no such thing.  These so called six star hotels are so because they proclaim themselves to be.  With no futher delay here are some of these unabashed brands.

The Burj Al Arab in Dubai has claimed the title of the world’s most luxurious hotel.  With reception desks on every floor, rain showers and Jacuzzis in every suite, a Rolls-Royce fleet, butlers on call around the clock, and a soaring height of 321 meters, this sets the standard for decadence in luxury hotels. Though it may be said that the Philippines can get 6 stars just based on the smiling faces of its vibrant and helpful hotel staff, let’s take a look at the actual contenders for luxury hotel living in the Philippines.

The Maxims Hotel at Resorts World Manila claims to be the only 6-star hotel in the Philippines. The all-suite luxury hotel by the Genting Group has all the trappings you would expect from a hotel like this including a signed welcome note from the general manager to accompany your welcome basket of fruits and the 24-hour butler service. But the biggest perk of staying in this hotel should be its proximity to Impressions, the exquisite restaurant run by famed French chef Cyril Soenen.

The Aman Resorts group maintains its standard of luxury and class through an exclusive island-resort in the Pamalican Island in Palawan. The resort has reportedly hosted Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, and Robert De Niro, although a resort of their stature would never validate claims like that to the press. The island, named after the sanscrit word for peace, aman, and the Tagalog word for island, is fringed by seven square kilometers of pristine coral reef in the tranquil Sulu Sea. This place doesn’t need any fancy bells and whistles to prove its exclusiveness, it just is.

The newly opened conjoined luxury hotels called the Raffles Hotel and Fairmont Hotels bring luxury hotels in the Philippines to another level by being right in the middle of all the action of the Central Business District of Makati in Metro Manila. The Fairmont will be targeting the corporate market while the Raffles will be targeting the luxury leisure travelers. The hotels have pools, gyms, and access to the best golf courses in the metro. It is also within walking distance from the swanky Greenbelt Malls complex and and the Ayala Museum. With floor to ceiling windows in the guestrooms, the first Willow Stream Spa in the Philippines (a Fairmont hallmark), as well as the first Long Bar outside of Singapore’s legendary Raffles Hotel, these hotels promise to boost Metro Manila’s tourism profile. Oh and it of course must be mentioned that they have 24/7 butler service, all highly-rated luxury hotels must have 24/7 butler services.

Top Ten Travel Agencies in Manila

The travel industry in Manila has boomed. With the younger generations looking to travel internationally and domestically, travel agencies will always give the best rates and service to keep a loyal clientele.  As the modern world keeps pushing forward, travelling from one place to another will definitely be easier and faster. Travel agencies in Manila will definitely slug it out to provide the best personalized services to their clients.

Trends Travelmart International Corporation has been in the travel industry since 1989. With age comes experience. Over the past 20 years or so they have accumulated a following of loyal clients that trust their service. The services that they provide are complete, from documentation, travel insurance, airport assistance to cruises and domestic and international ticketing.

Fiesta Tours and Travel Corporation is another travel agency that has been around and built a strong name in the industry. Established in May of 1982, they have been serving their clients with efficiency and reliability. Their main business includes documentation, international and domestic ticketing, local and international tours. They strive to give their clientele worry free travel at the best possible rate.

Located in Fort Bonifacio Global City, Kirschner Travel Manila started out as a service office. In 2005 they became an independent full time service travel agency. They invite everyone to explore the world and specially invite German residents to visit the Philippines. Some of their services are travel advice, corporate and group travel arrangements, international and domestic ticketing at special rates.

Wow Philippines Travel Agency Incorporated on the other hand was founded in 2005. Their office in Ortigas Center since then has been working hard to give clients 275 Boracay packages, 32 Palawan packages, 93 Bohol packages, 60 Cebu packages, 30 Manila packages, 18 Puerto Galera packages, 10 Baguio packages, 11 Vigan packages, 4 Davao packages and 15 Camiguin packages. No wonder they call themselves Wow Philippines.

Airlite travel and tours aims to provide services such as booking, tour facilitation, travel documentation and the like. They have promo fares, international and domestic packages and special packages. Special packages include honeymoons, adventures and pilgrimages.

Mango Tours is a travel agency based in the U.S. that provides tours focused in Asia, specifically the Philippines. They have 11 branches that help facilitate the smooth travel of their clients. Along with their office in Salcedo Village, Makati City they are able to offer hotel and resort packages at competitive prices.

Horizon Travel in Ermita has been around and accredited IATA since 1980. They offer cruises, tours and hotels, international airfare, domestic airfare, travel insurance, documentation assistance and the like at affordable prices. Their experience will truly be worth while for clients.

Mr. Travel Manila is also located in Ermita but on Adriatico street. They provide VISA assistance for expats, travel insurance, passport processing and ticketing. Airfares and cheap promos are regularly made available by them.

Balikbayani.com is an online travel agency where in clients book and purchase tickets online. Everything is done through computers since they are directly linked to reservation computers of most major airlines.

Last but not the least is Travelsmart.net. They provide online reservation and bookings of hotels and resorts, car Rentals, domestic and international flights. Most of the services are just one click away online making them one of the top travel agencies in Manila.

Travel Guide - Restaurant List on a Road Trip to Baguio

There are many roadside stops you can consider on your to or from Baguio but aside from the usual gas stations for a much needed break, guides never include where to eat in your travel package before arriving in the summer capital. As Pangasinan is the halfway point up to Baguio, or at least the point where people can’t ignore their stomach grumbles any longer, this list will provide you with some restaurants that you can consider stopping by for a quick nosh.

Robinsons Luisita, located by the gateway of the Hacienda Luisita, provides ample parking space, 24-hour ATM service, and various dining outlets. There’s a supermarket too in case you need supplies and couldn’t wait until you got to SM Baguio. There’s the ever-reliable Max’s Chicken, a Jollibee, a Chowking, a Mang Inasal, a Dencio’s Grill and a Pancake House too.

The gimmicky floating restaurant Isdaan, in Gerona, Tarlac has this famous wall where you can throw everything from plates to an old school television set while you are instructed to scream “Tacsiyapo” (a local cuss word) while doing so. This gimmick bode well with customers, as this is what made this restaurant famous. Many frequent this quirky restaurant on the way up or down from Baguio.

Aside from throwing items, this floating restaurant has many other attractions including statues that seem to have been bought off a theme park yard sale. There’s an Incan/Budda-ish stone giant as well as a dinosaur, and some giant fish thrown in for good measure (it is called Isdaan after all).  There are signs on the wall dare you to do things such as cross through a concrete plank in the middle of a small lagoon which if you endeavor and succeed crossing it twice, would win you a kilo of tilapia.

Part of the Barrio Fiesta group, this restaurant may have silly attractions but rest assured, the reason people keep coming back here is because the food is still fantastic. Come for the Pinatolang Baka, (which is served inside a buho, a bamboo lined with banana leaves to encapsulate the broth inside) or the Kuhol sa Gata. The Marinated Inihaw na Spare Ribs may look like your common fare, but bloggers agree that this is one dish to come back for. Also, other staples like Ensaladang Mangga (green mangoes with salted egg, red onion, and bagoong), Grilled Squid, and other traditional Filipino fare are consistently good.

                                                                                      

Many fine restaurants await you in Baguio so don’t ruin your appetite at a stopover if you can.