A travel & adventure blog by Kara Santos
Taal Vista Hotel is the oldest hotel in Tagaytay and the second oldest in the Philippines. Officially opened in 1939, the historic property overlooking Taal Volcano and Taal Lake has managed to survive WWII, volcanic eruptions including the most devastating eruption in January 2020 and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The film and television industry in Vancouver has been booming for years now. While it was once primarily based in Los Angeles and New York, producers come from across the globe for its stunning locations, studios, production facilities, and crews. In 2019/2020, British Columbia’s film and TV industry was worth $2.8 billion, creating tens of thousands of jobs both directly and indirectly, and inspiring many visitors to buy one of the Vancouver homes for sale and begin calling this city home.
Banner photo: Winner, Special Award – Wide Angle, Paul Joseph Aristorenas
Amateur and professional underwater photographers, divers, and marine enthusiasts once again masterfully captured the beauty of Anilao in the entries to the 7th Anilao Underwater Shootout (AUS), recently mounted by the Department of Tourism (DOT).
Dubbed as the “World Cup of Underwater Photo Competitions,” the event highlighted the town’s teeming marine biodiversity, including its world-famous nudibranchs.
Continue reading “Anilao Underwater Shootout stages a successful comeback”Anilao in Batangas is known as the birthplace of scuba diving in the Philippines. The small barangay in the coastal town of Mabini is one of the most popular diving destinations accessible by land travel for those who live in Metro Manila. Anilao is said to be the home to more than half of the Philippines’ documented shore fish species as well as over 300 species of coral.
Summer is just around the corner and Boracay is ready to accept tourists once again to their tropical island paradise. The top destination in the Philippines was one of the first island destinations that reopened to domestic tourists last October 2020. Amid the pandemic, top hotels and tourism establishments have put safety measures in place to ensure that guests can enjoy relaxing and safe stays on the island.
The tropical island paradise of Boracay in Aklan is one of the first destinations that reopened to domestic tourists during the COVID era in the Philippines. Well-known for having a long stretch of powdery white sand beach, crystal clear waters, a stunning sunset and a wide variety of hotels, resorts and restaurants to choose from, Boracay has always been one of the top tourist destinations in the country.
READ MORE: ABS-CBN: What to expect if you’re planning to visit Boracay this summer
One of the major highlights for me from our 2019 visit to Melbourne in Australia was staying overnight at the Holgate Brewhouse, a brewery that operates a hotel, bar, and restaurant right on site in the town of Woodend. Holgate Brewhouse is an independent family-owned brewery that has been brewing beers in Australia since 1999, a time when the craft brewing industry in the country was still limited.
For those who live in the metro looking for a quick day-trip getaway relatively near Manila, Antipolo is a popular choice. The city of Antipolo is approximately just 16 miles east of Manila, making it accessible especially for those who live in the North. Antipolo sits on a plateau at a higher elevation and is best known for offering a scenic overlooking view of the rest of Metro Manila. But that’s not all it has to offer.
With all the travel restrictions these days, the thought of going on a luxurious hotel staycation in the city and dining on gourmet cuisine is something that a lot of people are looking forward to. Staying in hotels can give you that sense of travel we’re all missing these days and a momentary escape from the quarantine lifestyle of going out just for essentials. But while we still can’t check into hotels for leisure, it’s still possible to get a taste of some hotel’s gourmet offerings through takeaways and delivery services.
Since special events like weddings, birthdays and anniversaries have had to be canceled, a lot of people are turning to food delivery as their main cause for celebration at home.
Continue reading “Sheraton Manila Bay launches gourmet delivery”February is love month! If you’re looking for alternatives to dining out in mall-based restaurants in the city, nothing beats a scenic road trip for a romantic getaway. If you’re not the type who likes sleeping under the stars and camping outdoors, how about staying overnight in a cozy Bed and Breakfast or boutique hotel just a couple of hours from the metro?
Here are just a few romantic dining destinations and B & Bs I know of near Manila ideal for Valentine’s weekend, date rides with your significant other, intimate family getaways, girl’s day out bonding with friends or solo trip getaways where you can relax and recharge.
Continue reading “Romantic Getaways near Manila”
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