The Island Explorer

I'm a fan of the Intercontinental Group, because they really do offer value for money. And this promo exemplifies this trait. Imagine, rates as low as P2,000 a night for Holiday Inn and just P2,500 for Crowne Plaza. Plus, if you confirm your bookings before Aug.2, you get 50% off on all buffet meals at their restaurants. This is certainly an offer you cannot resist. So go and splurge for less at any of the hotel of the Intercontinental group.

I couldn't believe the picture. When my friend Donna shared this link in Facebook, I was astonished indeed. This is great PR for our country. But really, the Chocolate Hills never looked this surreal and otherworldly. Wow! The name of these unique mounds comes from the fact that the green grass covering them turns deep brown during the annual dry season, but is does not hurt that they bear a striking resemblance to Hershey Kisses. The stunner is how perfectly uniform each of the conical hills are, and inevitably, first time visitors simply cannot believe they are not man made. However the scale of this construction project was best left to Mother Nature: There are too many of the hills to count—estimates range from over 1,200 to 1,700! See the entire list here .

The rainy season is NOT a reason for you not to travel. This season is actually the cheapest time to explore, with a lot of resorts and hotels dropping their rates to fill in their vacancies. Though airline sales are already over for this season, you can still get great deals from PAL via their Econolight Fares (can only be transacted online) or from Zest Air (though I'm weary about their safety protocols). Cebu Pacific will have relatively higher fares, as their system increases prices as the seats fill up when the departure date is nearer. You can still get cheap fares even with one week or less to go before your spontaneous vacation. But before that, where can you go in the Philippines at this time? Here are some of my top monsoon destinations. 1. Davao The southern city actually gets relatively less rainfall, and typhoons rarely pass through this region. The waves may be rougher though than during Summer, so island hopping around Samal will be shortened and confined during the ...

Subic is like home to me. It's my weekend getaway, more than Tagaytay. With the NLEX and SCTEX (expressways) linked together now, it only takes an hour and a half drive to Subic from Balintawak in North EDSA. That's like going to Makati during morning rush hour. And with more options than Tagaytay (though less on food), like shopping, beaches, mountains and adventure parks, Subic will always be my number one choice for that quick travel fix. One of the coolest places in Subic is Vasco's. Dining by the sea with sails as ventilation (fans) makes you feel you're inside a galleon. That ambience is unmatched here, and gives Vasco's the charm it is known for. Their menu is comfort food, offering a wide array of international dishes. You can have Asian favorites from curries to Filipino staples, or savor steaks and continental cuisine. Their food is not the best though in Subic, so I must warn you. I am not promoting it as a food heaven, but more of a place where you can e...

Perhaps the most compelling reason for you to go to Bellarocca are their villas - stunning, gorgeous, like a house for the gods. Named after greek gods, these villas are worth P50,000 a night, but we only paid P25,000 for each, after being upgraded. So, call us lucky and all, but our experience would not be the same if we didn't stay in these hedonistic dens. Since we were a group of 18, we booked 6 villas in all, some had two-bedrooms, while the rest had only one. The villa above is our villa, Zeus, a two-bedroom suite with one of the most breathtaking views of the Sibuyan Sea. It came with a 4-meter lap pool and a separate jacuzzi. When I first entered, I didn't know how to react. I wandered over to a balcony, which was connected to a bedroom. We immediately seized that room, knowing it had a great view. And it was the only bedroom among all the six that had a balcony like that. The bedroom was large, with a huge king size bed. The sheets were very comfortable and spotless....

There are many places that I have been to that I fall in love with. These places are the ones that are breath taking, memorable and most of all, beautiful. Recently, I have been to one of the most beautiful places in the country. And it's not in Boracay, nor in Palawan, nor in Cebu and Davao. It's in an island pretty close to Manila, around 30 minutes by plane, or 6 hours by car and boat. I have fell in love with this place, this sanctuary perched on a rock that emerges from a glistening sea. The place is Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa in Elephant Island, Marinduque. Bellarocca is one of the newest luxury resorts in the Philippines. To reach Bellarocca conveniently, one can take a Zest Air flight to Marinduque. Once in the airport, one will be greeted with a friendly and over eager staff. They take you through an hour's drive to a port where speed boats await to jet you to their island. It's the beginning of an experience that you will never forget. Bellarocca was...

I live a very hectic life, when I'm not travelling. Sometimes, I even forget to eat! That's why quick meals are essential to my lifestyle. I don't prefer fast food, so I try to find meals that are worth my time. Good thing I passed by Friday's in Robinson's Galleria, and saw this ad. Friday's was offering a new promo, their Fifteen Minute Meals. If you don't get your dish in 15 minutes, then it's free. The promo is available from Mondays to Fridays, from 11AM to 2PM. For people like me, who's always on-the-go especially during lunch, it's a great proposition to dine casually without worrying about the time. We got the Hungarian Sausage and Chicken Penne Pasta. At P225, it's certainly worth it. The serving was big enough for two, but if you're hungry, you'll be able to finish one plate. The dish did come in less than 15 minutes, 11 minutes to be exact. They have cooked the dish upon ordering, since it didn't taste like a microwave ...