These popular getaways ideas for long weekends and holidays near Manila do not need airfare, so no need to wait for those piso fare promo for 2018! đ Just pack an extra shirt, or an overnight bag, and you are good to go!
Prepare funds though for your on-the-road expenses and entrance fees / rentals. You can go âbudgetarianâ, or splurge a little on your mini-vacations.
Even before the start of 2017, the year-round calendar for the legal holidays in the Philippines is already being marked by most of us the year prior. We are promo fares warrior, after all. đ
Almost all of us look forward to the extended weekends that we get to have once a holiday falls next to the weekend or close to it. Now that we are nearing the end of the year, expect that as much as many may have already bookmarked the holidays for 2018, there is still something to look forward to before 2017 wraps.
Refer to this post for the complete list of long weekends and national holidays for 2018 ((Regular and Special Non-Working).
Now, along with knowing when the long weekends are going to be, it is also a good thing to know where you can spend those extended weekends. Where it is convenient and where it is affordable.
Where to go for a short vacation perfect for long weekends?
For example, in Manila where life in the metro can be very hectic and fast-paced, we all want to be able to get away and get a breather from our busy and toxic lives, to rest, relax and rejuvenate. The holidays and long weekends are the perfect time to take that breather! Go for sulit getaways!
We have listed the Top 5 Long Weekend Ideas and Destinations nearby and within Metro Manila that are both worth your time and money.
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Take a TRIP to TAGAYTAY
This, of course, is first on our list. For just a little over a thousand pesos approximate budget per person, there is a lot that you can do for a day in your life in Tagaytay. Many people from Manila love to go there because it is very near and it boasts an array of options to go around.
You can jump on a bus to Tagaytay or Nasugbu from Manila. Do not make the mistake of riding the bus to Lemery, except for the shuttle or van that’s headed for Lemery, Batangas, because the van passes by Tagaytay City.
You can get a bus ride from either Shaw Boulevard or Star Mall in Alabang. Ask the conductor if they will pass by Tagaytay, just to be 100% sure.
The most popular spots to visit in Tagaytay are: Sky Ranch, People’s Park in the Sky, Picnic Grove, Zipline Tagaytay, Paradizoo, Taal Vista Hotel, Sonya’s Garden and Bag of Beans.
What makes Tagaytay, “the place to be”, is its inviting chilly weather and homey feeling, especially toward the end of the year. When you are in Tagaytay, what you need to make sure to experience it fully is a taste of the famous Batangas bulalo, breads and pastries and the breath-taking view of the Taal Volcano. You can also find flower gardens, flower shops, and fruit stands as you roam this highland city.
Then if you have extra time, make your way to Caleruega Chapel and Retreat House, entrance fee P30. This is about 19 kilometers from Tagaytay Rotunda, this popular spot already belongs to Nasugbo, Batangas. The view going there is stunning, youâll see large open fields and from afar, gentle mountain peaks can be seen.
Caleruega features an amazing garden, a hanging bridge, and a huge koi pond; this is beside the iconic Caleruega Chapel. Your Instagram feed will love the place!
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Swing around Sta. Rosa
This is a city in the province of Laguna, about 38 kilometres south of Manila via the South Luzon Expressway. You may include this as a stopover to your Tagaytay getaway as it is along the way.
Travel time to Sta. Rosa from Manila is close to an hour. The money you will spend on your trip to Sta. Rosa will vary because it will all depend on what itinerary you will follow for the day, which tourist spots you will visit.
The top places to visit here are: Enchanted Kingdom, Nuvali, Solenad, Kidzoona and more choices.
This coming December, watch out for the opening of Nuvaliâs Field of Dreams. They have one the previous years, they will probably have one amazing Christmas theme display for the upcoming holiday season too!
If your main purpose is to go to Enchanted Kingdom (EK), you will be spending between P1,000 to P2,000 per person provided you avail of their all-day pass, plus fares to and from this theme park, and meals throughout the day. If you are lucky and really thrift, you can even already include a souvenir of some sort. Info for the Enchanted Kingdom 2017 rates for weekday and weekend as well as on-going promo.
From EK, you can make your way to Nuvali just to go around the place, feed the koi fish, get a snack or pause for coffee before heading back home. Your day in Sta. Rosa depends on what you want to do and where you want to go.
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Bathe in the Beaches of Batangas
When you feel like summer is never over and your summer vibe is year-round, then what suits best for your happy feet are weekend escapes to the soothing beaches of Batangas.
First on the list is Burot Beach in Calatagan, Batangas. This is approximately 141 km from Manila on the Tagatay-Nasugbu highway. Travel time is a little over three hours. You can take either a bus or van to Calatagan from Pasay Rotonda via the MRT Taft Station. Check their Facebook page for photos and info, warning though Burot Beach is more of raw beauty, no big hotels nearby.
Next, we have Laiya Beach Resort in San Juan, Batangas, this is also a beach option that is near Manila, that does not require you to book airfare. It will take 3-4 hoursâ worth of travel to this place. The quickest way to get there is on a bus from Cubao via the ALPS bus company as it has direct trips to San Juan municipality from where you can hire a tricycle or take the jeepney to Laiya beach. There are several beach resorts in Laiya. The most recommended one is La Luz Beach Resort.
Or how about going for adventure in Masasa Beach in Tingloy, Batangas? You can DIY or become a joiner for those groups traveling to enjoy the beauty of Masasa Beach. Check here for a transient option or find other accommodations online.
For diving enthusiast, make your way to Anilao beaches in Mabini, Batangas. This destination is perfect for divers at heart. No white beach sand for you here but its main attraction is the underwater ecosystem. You can enjoy some island hopping here, snorkelling and of course, nonetheless, diving!
Anilao is known as the, âbirthplace for scuba divingâ, in the Philippines and it is famous not only to the country but the world.
Approximately 123 kilometres from Manila, travel to Anilao will take about 2 hours and 24 minutes via R3 and Calabarzon. From Manila, you can take a bus from Buendia / Cubao (e.g. Jam Liner) make sure it goes by the signboard of “Batangas City”, not anything else. You will get off at the Batangas City bus terminal from where you will need to ride a jeepney bound for Mabini, Batangas and it will take you to Anilao port. From there you will need to hire a trycycle to take you to the resort.
All these beaches will cost you travel expenses, for fares specifically, under P1,000. If you are on a budget, it will be best prior to your trip, that you search over the internet what resort will fit your budget. There are resorts that will cost you a minimal amount of entrance fee, some under a hundred pesos and will allow you to set up a tent so you can save on accommodation expenses.
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Catch a Glimpse of Corregidor
Do you want your weekend relaxation with a touch of Philippine history? Corregidor Island will be the perfect place to go, experience and see. It will also be a great place for your selfies. It is located at the entrance of Manila Bay, in the province of Cavite. It is known to be an island that takes the shape of a tadpole.
You can go on a day tour with friends at a minimal cost. The best and safest way to get to the island will be via the Sun Cruises. For passage rates and schedules check their website.
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Go for A Theme Park Adventure in the Metro
If you want something closer to home, with no extended travel time, theme parks that you can find in the Metro are good idea for the next long weekend, example Star City in Pasay, Manila Ocean Park, SM MOA Amusement by The Bay for those who wants to enjoy a Ferris wheel ride and a beautiful sunset over Manila Bay.
However, you need to prepare funds since the entrance rates in Star City, Manila Ocean Park ranges from P300 to P500 per person, depending on the package that you will get.
Or why not go for a history tour in Luneta and Fort Santiago? Take a picture with the Kilometer 0Â marker! Then drop by the National Museum, itâs free entrance fee the whole year!
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Sit back and Staycation
This is an idea of a vacation where you don’t necessarily have to vacate your area or entail so much travel. You are in the same place but it makes you feel like you are in a getaway. These getaway choices are not ânearby Manilaâ but still in the metro.
Two best ways you can enjoy a staycation is by billeting in a hotel for maybe a night or two, with friends or family. Hotels in Manila like the Holiday Inn have promo packages and deals that they offer from time to time, especially near the holidays, so watch out for it. Also, we recommend that you book hotels which offers free breakfast buffet, nothing beats starting your day with a hearty meal!
Staycation in a hotel can give you a luxurious sleepover, plus experience hotel amenities and fine dining. It’s not every day that you pamper yourself.
Another great idea would be to get a spa package like at Ace Water Spa and then have a buffet after that, like say, at the Vikings. Better yet schedule a group activity at Wensha where you’d get the best of both, spa and buffet, for the price of one.
Life is short and you only live once, as they say. We work hard, but we must always make it a point to have a work-life balance. That is why we take advantage of these long weekends and we get to prepare for them. Thank goodness, we get a whole year’s forecast of these holidays in the country the year prior, and our excitement gets plotted the year before in advance.
Have you started making plans for 2018 long weekends and holidays? The 1Pisofare Team is ready with a list. đ
What do you think of these long weekend getaway ideas? Not enough? Not fit for budgetarians? Or you want a more luxurious getaways options? If you have other ideas you want to share or add to the list, leave your comments below, so other promo fare readers will have tons of choices. Youâre the best! Thank you for sharing!
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