Amélie Hotel Manila, which is named after the owner's granddaughter, is an Art Deco inspired 70-room boutique hotel. Located in the old-world neighbourhood of Malate (a short walk away from Robinson's Place Manila, a major shopping mall in Manila), the attractive establishment is surrounded by landmarks that are both rich in history and culture (i.e. Intramuros, Luneta, Rizal Park).
I miss the old Boracay where roads weren’t congested, and where passageways going to the beach weren’t jam-packed. I’m all for boosting the isle’s tourism and progression. But it was a bit of an eyesore to see so many construction sites sprouting up like mushrooms. I had a hard time recognizing certain areas that were so familiar before that I felt somewhat confined. It wasn’t the island vibe that I was longing to experience, as sceneries have definitely changed since I visited 3 years ago. So imagine how refreshing it was to stay on the same islet but on a more quieter and calmer side of it. Given all of the major changes in the bustling side of Stations 1-3, I’m glad I found Savoy Hotel in Newcoast Boracay. You’d be surprised that such a place existed just 30 minutes away from D’Mall in Station 2.
My husband and I decided to book this Pasay lodging at the last minute, to forego the stress of having to travel from Quezon City with a big luggage in tow. Good thing it was perfectly situated in the city, as it was just a short drive to the airport (NAIA 3), and a short walk to SM Mall of Asia. The location itself is one of the reasons why Golden Phoenix Hotel became my favorite accommodation in Manila.
Rubel and I were already searching for affordable hotels in Tagaytay for weeks before settling for Tagaytay Haven Hotel in Mendez. We needed an accommodation in the city in time for his friends wedding (last November 2013) --- somewhere near the church and Sonya's Garden. And since I loved Tagaytay Haven's other hotel by Ulat, I assumed that their Mendez branch would be as pleasant. I mean, their photos online (rooms and facilities) looked impressive. Then again, the actual thing disappointed us.
Rubel already went ahead of me since he was part of the wedding entourage. I, on the otherhand, came the day after. The driver had a hard time locating the hotel. So we got lost a few times. It was true when my beau said that the hotel was a bit hard to locate.
I wanted to extend my stay in Makati, so I decided to use my reward points from an online booking site to reserve a hotel. With the points that I saved, I was able to get one night at The Hotel at Green Sun, only adding a minimal cost that's worth P136. So right after checking out from Alcoves, I made my way to the lodging via MRT.
My beau really ain't the romantic kind. But he's thoughtful and quite generous. And when I do ask him to plan certain events, he would usually go above and beyond with the preps and all. So when I asked him to plan our 5th anniversary last December, I was already looking forward to spending a memorable time with him. And guess what? He made it happen!
I commend Rubel for not peeping a word about his surprise, despite my constant questioning. But he did however mention an overnight stay at a hotel somewhere in Manila. So when that day came, he asked me to meet him for lunch at Mall of Asia after his duty. He was coming from a graveyard shift, so he looked very tired. Nonetheless, his excitement to surprise me gave him that extra boost of energy.
Our 4-hour road trip to Batangas definitely put a strain on us, to the point that we wanted to stay an extra night in the resort just so we could rest. But of course, we couldn't. Though it was refreshing to know that we were extending our weekend getaway in one of the nice hotels down south. And so three toll ways and three hours later, we arrived at Microtel South Forbes.
I love staying in hotels and classy inns that have affordable rates to them. Who doesn't, right? So, speaking of --- Rubel and I found a gem for our 5-night stay in Ho Chi Minh City, and the hotel was called Nguyen Khang Hotel. After reading so many good online reviews of the lodging, I was immediately smitten by the idea of booking with them right away. But what made me decide to finally book them? Here's 7 good reasons.
1) LOCATION - Nguyen Khang is situated at a small alley in Phạm Ngũ Lão, a street that was made famous for being a backpackers haven. The location was quite perfect since we were near some of Saigon's famous spots: 10 minutes away from Ben Thanh Market and Saigon Square, a street away from Bùi Viện (famous for its night life and cheap beers), and a few walks away from several mini-marts and food establishments.
I’ve always enjoyed my hotel stays in Microtel Inn & Suites. But I must admit, this specific property in Baguio exuded a more charming setting compared to the other properties that I've been to. Despite the cold breeze up north, I loved how warm and kind the staff were towards their guests. I also couldn't rave enough on how superb our room was, and how near the hotel was to a lot of restaurants and sites. There’s just so much to love about this hotel, that I can't help but give it 5 stars!
The best way to recommend something in particular is when you've already tried it. In my case, I've only tried staying in three different accommodations from three separate Boracay trips. The first place was at Ocean Breeze Inn by Station 3 (2008), which I happen to have an old entry for. The second would be at Hannah Hotel by Station 1 (March 2011), and then Boradise Beach House by Station 1 (May 2011).
First off, let me tell you something about our stay at Hannah Hotel. We were always welcomed with a warm smile or greeting upon entering the vicinity, and was always prepared a warm breakfast every morning. Our booking actually included a daily complimentary breakfast; and the remarkable thing about it was that the owners of the hotel were serving our meals themselves. It was a world-class experience, and it was very personal. Other than that, they always had something good to say about the world around us, especially the Mom. The hotel was definitely brimming with positivity.
One more thing that I've also appreciated was their consideration to lift our reservation when we couldn't get to Boracay on time. We got stuck at the Manila Domestic Airport, waiting for our turn to fly to Kalibo. They were willing to change our booking, and to be rescheduled for the following day, in case we couldn't make it that day. The weather was pretty bad in Kalibo, but when the rain simmered down, we flew right back again. Good enough, our second try at landing in Kalibo was successful. To top it all off, the rain stopped. As soon as we rode the van that was bound for the Caticlan Sea Port, I immediately texted Hannah and Paolo that we were finally on our way.
If you must know, Hannah Hotel has become very close to my heart. Not only were they hospitable in every aspect, they treated me, their guest, just like a close friend. I will never forget the long talks I had with Hannah and Paolo's Mom. I must say, our conversation was very intellectual.
Besides that, the hotel itself also shows off a vintage vibe to it. There are hanged paintings everywhere, and also some lamps and shells that add up to the beach ambiance. Hannah hotel also has its own balcony on the 2nd floor. Our room was arranged with bamboo-framed beds, with a sarong hanging by the ceiling, a private T&B, TV, electrical outlets. There was also a veranda upstairs that all the guests can use. They also had free WIFI , but you'll have to go downstairs by the lobby to get a full connection.
Hannah Hotel is not beachfront. FYI. But you will only need to cross the main road to get to the beach; and it will only take you less than five minutes to get there. Their landmark is by the basketball court and church. Other than that, the hotel, which happens to be by Station 1, also offers very affordable and budget-friendly rates. For a group of four, I only had to shell out about P2200 worth for a 4D/3N stay (including free breakfast). That's P550 per day!
Anyway, should you be planning a beach getaway, and you happen to be Boracay bound, make sure to check-out Hannah Hotel. You can contact them through these numbers:
If you're looking for a no-frills accommodation that is both comfy and affordable when visiting Lingayen, then you should check out THE PRESIDENT HOTEL. It's close to several tourist destinations (walking distance), and is just an 8-minute walk to the beach.
My friend and I arrived in Lingayen around 12:15 AM. From the Victory Liner terminal, we then hailed a tricycle to the hotel (travel was less than 5-min). We were actually glad that there was a guard who stood by the gate, and a male receptionist that welcomed us that early morning. We were told that the rooms at the main building was fully-booked, so we were given a spacious unit at the Annex building. It was just a 1-2 minute walk from the main hotel.
If there's a specific hotel chain in the Philippines that I keep coming back to, it would be Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham. I've always enjoyed my time with them because whichever property I’m staying in, I’m sure to get the best from them. I just love their distinct taste when it comes to the design of their rooms and facilities, as the decor is very consistent in terms of style and arrangement. I also love Microtel's hotel staff (from the front desk to housekeeping), as they always provide a pleasant customer experience.
Photo courtesy of Kaiye
I was supposed to leave for a quick trip abroad. So I booked Microtel, Mall of Asia, as it was just a short drive to NAIA 3. I was able to get a nice deal for this specific hotel at Traveloka, as they offered room rates that were more affordable compared to my usual go-to booking sites. With Traveloka, I was assured that there would be no hidden charges (no more surprises upon checkout), which was a good thing. Anyhow, here's how my booking went:
I decided to check-in at Red Planet Aseana so that I can get to my Passport renewal appointment on time. Although it was a bit pricey compared to its other branches, staying at this hotel definitely saved me a few hours worth of commute time from QC to Aseana, and a lot more snooze time.
I've always loved Divisoria for being Manila's all-around market. You can haggle and buy almost anything there without breaking the bank. Although Divisoria is quite far from where I live (I'm a QC gal), it's still a marketplace worth visiting every now and then. But thanks to all the LRT lines, I can easily take a trip to Divisoria without worrying about getting stuck in traffic, and inhaling all the vehicle fumes. But what I loved even more about exploring the grounds of this bustling shopping center was the opportunity to seek refuge nearby. That's when Rubel and I found the comforts of home in Orion Hotel.
I enjoy being in Makati, as there's always something new to see and to discover in the city. And if there's a destination in the metro that's worth staying in, it's definitely this area. I actually spent the weekend in the urban jungle for an early Christmas gathering with friends; and fortunately found a home away from home at aurumOne Makati -- a boutique hotel located in Evangelista Street.
DATE OF ARRIVAL: AUGUST 19, 2020 | We were pleasantly surprised at how short our time was at the airport, as we knew some people who came home three weeks ahead of us who shared some horrifying experiences. Those who traveled back to the Philippines during the first few months of the lockdown in Manila had some of the worst ordeals. Plenty of people online shared their sentiments and left comments on appointed government agencies’ social media accounts who stressed their grievances. A lot of people got stranded for weeks just waiting for their PCR-test results (several needing or being requested to get tested again). A lot stressed their outrage with the facilities they were brought to, as some didn’t offer the best living conditions. I remember reading about an Overseas Filipino Worker who was quarantined at a cheap motel with no windows. I rarely complain, but I don’t think I could stand being cooped inside a lodging without seeing the sun or any sign of life outside my room. It would completely set me on a panic attack, which would probably hurt me more mentally.
Capiz, the Center of Seafood Trip Tourism in
the Country, was not an immediate destination in my list of places to see in the Philippines.
I’ve been allergic to crustaceans for as long as I could remember, so I delayed the idea of traveling to the province. But when an opportunity to visit the seafood
capital was offered to me, I just couldn’t say no. And it was one of the best
decisions yet, as exploring parts of Capiz showed me so many interesting places
and eats, several of which I would’ve missed if I overlooked the chance to explore the booming region.
#ThrowbackTravel | My husband and I were able to go on a staycation before Dubai went on lockdown. We went around February and checked in at Avani Hotel in Ibn Battuta. I had previously won a contest from Lovin Dubai, and the reward was a 1-night hotel stay at Avani. We were ecstatic that I won as the prize came with a nice superior room (facing the poolside) and half-board meals.
When a challenging yet fulfilling year is about to end, I would make it a point to cap-off things by treating myself to a post-birthday trip abroad. I've successfully done this for the last two years. So last November 2012, I flew myself to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Statue of General Tran Nguyen Han
Visiting Vietnam, let alone Saigon was a part of my bucket list. Rubel and I have already planned on going to several tourist sites. But we just ended up trimming our list after consulting friends who've already been there. HOW COME? Well, most of them just warned us that most of the places that we wanted to see weren't that interesting. So, what did we do in Ho Chi Minh? Well, Rubel and I just wandered around at our own steady pace. Here's how our first day went.
It was only last year when we found comfort and enjoyment in what others referred to as 'staycations'. So after enjoying our stay at Great Eastern Hotel and Orion Hotel, Rubel and I went on another quick getaway. But this time, we opted to stay somewhere close by. And since we were both stressed out from our respective jobs, we decided to spend one night at iSuites just to unwind.
Budget Biyahera is about finding fun and distinct food and destinations, accommodations, products/gears and activities that people can enjoy on a ‘regular’ person’s budget and schedule.
