Love is in the Air at Resorts World Manila

Things are starting to look rosy with Coronavirus cases finally going down. And for the longest time, it seems like we're on our way to the old normal. I get all giddy thinking of all the stuff we can do with Sam. From traveling to a simple dine-out, these can all be possible soon without heightened fear and paranoia. But you don't even have to wait as there are several trusted establishments that you can visit with the whole family to celebrate milestones and this day of Love. One place you can count on to make Valentine's Day special is Resorts World Manila. 

Hello, Resorts World Manila!

Resorts World Manila lined up several amazing deals for everyone this Valentine's. From its signature restaurant, Casa Buenas, to La Cupula (which offers private dinners), you, your loved ones, and your taste buds are sure to have a wonderful time.

Long Weekend at One Tagaytay Place Hotel Suites

Tagaytay has been one of the top picks of Manila dwellers for quick getaway. With it being just an hour or two away from the city, this place has been favored by many for weekend road trips and staycations. Though most prefer to go on day trips, staying for the night is also a great idea. And last weekend, R and I visited One Tagaytay Place Hotel Suites. 

Hello, One Tagaytay Place Hotel Suites. 

One Tagaytay Place Hotel Suites has been operating for over a decade now and it continues to be packed with tourists. In fact, it was almost fully booked last Sunday. 

Staycation Chronicles: Bayleaf Cavite

I hardly consider Cavite as a location for a quick getaway. In fact, I couldn't think of a single thing to do in the area. But who would have thought that there's a gem waiting to be found along the long Governor's Drive? 

Hello, Bayleaf Cavite.

Bayleaf may not be exactly a new name in the hospitality industry as its Intramuros branch has been around for over five years. Built as an extension to Lyceum of the Philippines, Bayleaf served as the culinary arm of the university. And it was not long after the success of Bayleaf Intramuros when the Laurel family decided to open another one, this time in Cavite.

Staycation Chronicles: Crowne Plaza Galleria

Living in Manila could be very toxic. The insane city traffic, never ending heat and busy lifestyle could easily drive one nuts! I myself have been on the edge these past days due to tight deadlines, shoots and upcoming trip that needs a detailed itinerary. And a staycation at Crowne Plaza Galleria was just what I needed to de-stress. 

Hello, Crowne Plaza Galleria. 

Managed by the prestigious Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), Crowne Plaza Galleria is the hotel of choice of several business travelers. Its premiere location of being at the heart of Ortigas and right beside Robinsons Galleria gives it a strong advantage against its competitors in the area. 

Steak-ation Weekend with Sterling Silver

One of my favorite things to do these days is to go to the supermarket and look for interesting food finds. Others may call it an errand but I consider it as break from work. And one new find I discovered last week was Sterling Silver steaks.

Hello, Sterling Silver steaks!

Sterling Silver is one of the most trusted brands by restaurants, homemakers and taste makers. And if you pay close attention to your favorite restaurant's menu, chances are, you've seen its logo. 

Staycation Chronicles: Marco Polo Ortigas Manila

Rainy days never fail to make me lazy. I tend to hibernate on gloomy days and find it challenging to get up. And the only activity I would be interested in would be to take a staycation. And a few weeks back, I got to spend the night at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila. 

Hello, Marco Polo Ortigas Manila.

Every visit at Marco Polo Ortigas is guaranteed to be memorable. This popular destination in Ortigas sure knows how to make every single interaction pleasant. From parking down to riding the elevator, we received nothing short of top notch service. Living to its 5 star rating from the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide, R and I looked forward to our staycation. 

Staycation Chronicles: Seda Vertis North

What do you love to do on rainy days? 

I love staying in on bed weather days and just watch the rain pour down while I indulge in a hot cup of coffee by the window. And a staycation at Seda Vertis North came timely two weeks ago!

Hello, Seda Vertis North. 

My first Seda experience was in Davao back in January this year. It started off with the delayed check in, clogged sink and noisy guests staying next door. But one thing I liked about my stay was how Seda won me back with its superb service. Hence spending the night at Seda Vertis North made me excited. 

Staycation Chronicles: Hotel Benilde Maison De La Salle

With Manila being enveloped by grey clouds and drowned by the bustling sound of impatient cars stuck in traffic, one cannot deny the fact that summer's over. Just the mere difficulty of getting out of bed is enough proof. But there is one way to get me off my bed... that is to indulge in a staycation. 

Hello, Hotel Benilde Maison De La Salle.

If you frequent Malate or study at College of St. Benilde, De La Salle University, St. Scholastica's College or Arellano University School of Law, you must have noticed this tall white building at the corner of Arellano and Estrada streets. Formerly known as a convention center, this building has been renovated, redesigned and renamed as Hotel Benilde Maison De La Salle in 2014. 

A Paradise in Jiangsu: Wuxi Hubin Hotel

China never fails to amaze me. From its mouthwatering regional cuisines to jaw-dropping infrastructures, each trip to China leaves me mesmerized and makes me yearn for more. I sure am lucky to have an opportunity to visit areas such as Shandong, Chongqing, Guangzhou and Shanghai among others as seeing these places gives me better appreciation of the country and its beautiful complexities. And one of my favorite experiences to date was with Wuxi Hubin Hotel.

Hello, Wuxi Hubin Hotel.

Located beside the scenic Lihu Lake in the beautiful Jiangsu province, Wuxi Hubin Hotel is a marriage of elegance, pristine nature and unparalleled comfort. Its huge compound covering 80,000 square meters and houses top class facilities and amenities that would make anyone's stay a memorable one.

Meet Shangri-La Hotel's Sister, Hotel Jen Manila

Staycations are what keep me sane these days. I would often find myself looking forward to these much needed short breaks from the harsh reality filled with traffic, weird weather and stress. And with hotels and hostels popping here and there, more and more are embracing the idea of staycation in Manila. One of the hotel chains I frequent is Shangri-La group. Known for its top notch service and scrumptious food, I'm a regular at Edsa Shangri-La and Shangri-La Fort. However, I had no idea that Shangri-La has Hotel Jen under its umbrella. And when I got a chance to stay at Hotel Jen, I expected nothing short of excellent.

Hello, Hotel Jen.

Formerly known as Traders Hotel Manila, Hotel Jen is conveniently located across the picturesque Manila Bay and near tourist attractions Manila Ocean Park and Intramuros. It is also just 20 minutes away from the international and domestic airports and half an hour away from the bustling business districts in Makati and Fort Bonifacio. 

I decided to book a quick staycation here prior to our cruise given that the port is just a couple of blocks away from the hotel. And after a short phone call to make our room reservation, we were set for our stay. 

A Trip Around The Philippines: Luzviminda 6: Timeless Flavors

F1 Hotel Manila is popularly known as the very first hotel to open in Bonifacio Global City. With its modern interiors and accessible location, it has been one of the top of mind hotels for travelers and locals alike. But aside from its comfortable beds and spacious rooms, F1 Hotel has established itself as a destination of choice for food enthusiasts with its mouthwatering buffet spread and dishes. It also holds an annual food festival Luzviminda to celebrate local flavors around the country. And this year marks its 6th installment. 

Hello, F1 Hotel Manila.

Southern Chronicles: B Hotel Alabang

I've been curious about B Hotel ever since I've dined in its Quezon City branch a few months ago. The quite under the radar hotel chain by Bellevue delighted me with its delectable dishes and I got excited when I got an invitation to attend the menu reveal of its Alabang counterpart (which I will blog separately). It may have been a crazy long travel given the Manila traffic, but I decided that it must be worth the trip.

Hello, B Hotel Alabang.

I got to the hotel a bit past 5, quite late from my target of 4 p.m., an hour past check in time.

City Life: H Hotels

One of the perks of being a freelancer is that you can be very mobile and dodge traffic from time to time. But when you live in a city that has insane traffic, you cannot avoid being stuck on the road. So R and I thought of something... why not stay where we have to go to the following day? And with that idea in mind, we spontaneously booked a room at one of the numerous hotels in Quezon City. 

Hello, H Hotels.

H Hotels is one of the small hotels in the busy Quezon City. I was attracted to book this hotel when I found out that it is situated just behind SM North. I figured that I could walk to the mall after checking in to grab dinner. However, the road you have to take to get to the mall is too dark and scary. I ended up buying a meal near R's office instead. 

Food Find: Köök Manila

I find it interesting how much I’ve changed over the past few years. Before, I’d make sure that I have plans on weekends and that I get to visit at least five restaurants to serve as my content the following week. As I grow older (with matching aching joints and slower metabolism), I now value staycations and enjoying my alone time in the comfort of my own home. And one staycation got extra special when I got a sweet treat from Köök Manila.

Hello mini vacation with Köök Manila!

I hurriedly went home as soon as the clock hit 6 pm and I placed the vacuum-sealed Greek Chicken in the sink to thaw as I prepare my cookware.

Since I do not have an indoor griller, I decided to pan-fry the chicken sans the oil. Though I do not recommend this as it took me quite some time to cook the chicken, it still gets the job done. Best to puncture or slice the chicken to make sure that all parts get cooked. (Mine took longer than it should have because I wanted my chicken to look pretty when I take photos of it. Priorities.)

Staycation 2013 Mini Projects

These past few weeks has been pretty productive. I'm learning how to drive (manual!) and I'm also learning how to cook one dish every weekend.Come Holy Week, I plan to be more productive as looking back, I just bond with my bed together with my BFFs Chips and Soda. It'll be different this year! So here's what I plan to do...

Since I won't be going out of town or visit my hometown (as my hometown is Manila!), I will do the following:

Hang around.

Not hang around the mall as the malls will be closed but hang stuff that needs to be hooked to make my space clutter-free. (Oh, we'll have a blast Command!)

Maximize space.

I'll be exploring the highs and lows of my room to see if there's extra space that I can use. As how IKEA says it, sometimes the space that we're looking for is there all along, it's more on just working with the space you have with a bit more of imagination. I so love IKEA. I even cried when I visited a branch during one of my trips!