A travel & adventure blog by Kara Santos
Hidden along a quiet residential street in Cubao is a stately Filipino mansion that has opened its doors to the public as a living museum and boutique events space. The MiraNila Heritage House and Library in Cubao is a heritage house originally built in 1929 in the California Revival Style, with lovely gardens and preserved interiors.
After three years of feeling trapped in separate households during the pandemic, my family and I finally got a chance to travel to Seoul, South Korea. Blame it on the popularity of K-dramas we binged on during the lockdown, and our frequent dining out in samgyupsal restaurants in the metro, but everyone was eager to experience Seoul for themselves and spend quality time together.
While we’ve biked around some bike trails and attended a few sporting events and fun runs over the years, it’s been a while since I’ve revisited Nuvali in Laguna. Nuvali is a popular destination for day trips and as a stopover on the way to Tagaytay for dining and shopping for those based in the south of the metro.
My family and I have made it a point to travel together more this year. Since we live in different households with my parents based in the province, we’ve had a lot of catching up to do. This is the first year since the pandemic that we’ve been able to celebrate milestone celebrations together like birthdays.
Baguio City never gets old. The view of pine trees, mountains, and cold weather is always a great experience for those coming from the lowland areas. You can feel the Christmas spirit here all-year around, which makes it a great place to visit with friends and family. With a super long weekend coming up at the end of the month and the upcoming holiday season, Baguio is an easy destination for travelers coming from Manila.
For families traveling with kids, seniors, and pets looking for a place to stay in Baguio, The Forest Lodge at Camp John Hay is one of the top hotels to consider. This chill 5-story mountain resort with 178 rooms caters mostly to families, couples, group travelers, and leisure tourists.
Continue reading “The Forest Lodge at Camp John Hay: Family-friendly mountain resort in Baguio City”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.
Continue reading “Charlie’s Hangar Surf Hostel: Budget-friendly beachfront bunks in La Union”Want to try biking in La Union on your next beach vacation? Most tourists go to Elyu to enjoy the beach and the waves. But if you’re looking for new things to do in La Union aside from learning to surf, food-tripping, going grape picking, or sightseeing, biking might be a good activity. Biking can let you discover a different side of La Union.
International tourists and locals looking for a place to stay with a rich sense of history close to Manila’s major landmarks might want to check into Rizal Park Hotel. This boutique hotel located along Manila Bay is relatively new and has a unique history as it adaptively reuses the former Manila Army and Navy Club building, a National Historical Landmark originally built in 1911.
Since pandemic restrictions have eased, we’ve been traveling back to our hometown of Naga City in Bicol more frequently these days. During our last trip to Naga in August 2023, my sister and I stayed in one of the newest hotels in Camarines Sur called Litton Hotel by Carterson. This modern and stylish boutique hotel is the first to offer loft-type rooms in Naga City.
NOTE: This travel guide was originally written in December 2016 and updated in September 2023.
When you think of tourist destinations in the Philippines, Abra is not often at the top of most traveler’s bucket lists. In fact, it remains one of the least visited provinces in the country. For outsiders, there’s still an air of mystery surrounding the place.
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