Our 5-Star but Affordable Stay at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila Hotel

26 February, 2018 by Gem Muzones

It’s a common notion that 5-star luxury hotels also come with a 5-star price, that’s why Beep and I only get to stay in such hotels once in a while because of discount deals or when we find hotels with top class amenities with surprisingly affordable rates. During the long holiday break, we found ourselves stuck in Metro Manila while most city dwellers escaped to the beach and islands. The rooms in the 5-star Marco Polo Ortigas Manila Hotel can be booked for as low as PHP4,000-PHP5000+ a night. A steal price for a 5-star hotel!

Azumi Boutique Hotel: Your Stylish Home Away from Home South of Manila

11 December, 2017 by Gem Muzones

For years now, there’s been a never-ending comedic offline and online battle between citizens of Manila’s North and South. From stereotypical personalities to which is the better part of Manila to live in. This argument never ends. Here’s one example.

As someone who has lived South of Manila my entire life, of course, I’d battle you out just to prove my point that the South is better. Compared to the North, we have a more chill vibe and it’s always nice to come home to the South with its homey ambiance after a tiring day at work. Since there are no infrastructures like the MRT/LRT and major thoroughfares like EDSA, it’s less chaotic, less polluted, and greener thanks to subdivisions and parks that don’t cut down lush trees to build business districts or malls. Not to mention, we’re pretty close to the airports! These are just some of the reasons why more and more people are considering settling down on our side of the Metro.

If you don’t have a home yet in the South or are just in Manila for vacation, you can get a taste of this comfy living by staying in Azumi Boutique Hotel in the heart of Alabang. Beep and I booked a 2-day staycation in Azumi during a long weekend just this November.

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Diamond Hotel Philippines: A 5-Star Experience in Manila

8 October, 2017 by Gem Muzones

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Travel guides will tell you that watching the famed Manila Bay sunset along Roxas Boulevard is a must-do when you’re in Manila, Philippines. I’ll be honest, I’ve lived here all my life but I’ve never really went out of my way to go to that famous strip and actually wait and watch the sunset until it gets dark. I know, I know, for someone promoting exploring the #PhilippinesFirst not just to tourists but to my fellow Filipinos, I should be ashamed of myself. That’s why a few weekends ago, Beep and I planned a staycation in one of the hotels along Roxas Boulevard for the best view of the sunset and get a much-needed short trip too.

Why the Eco-Friendly Cocoon Boutique Hotel Is Worth the Splurge

9 April, 2017 by Gem Muzones

We don’t really get to stay much in luxury hotels or resorts during our travels. We just don’t see the point of splurging on an expensive room that we just sleep in for a couple of hours because we spend most of our time outdoors exploring the beauty of Mother Nature. For us, Mother Nature IS the best luxury resort. As long as we have a roof over our heads, even if it’s just a tent that we pitched ourselves, then we’re fine.

However, when we do have extra cash to burn, we treat ourselves once in a while too, usually on special events where we don’t have any budget trip planned. We look for accommodations in the city where we can have a weekend of peace and quiet to take a breather from our busy corporate lives. One of our favorite city staycation destinations is the Cocoon Boutique Hotel in Quezon City.

Like Royals: Staycation at Hotel H2O

15 October, 2013 by Gem Muzones

We’re budget travelers. We don’t really like spending over P500 for a room that we’ll just be sleeping in every night during a trip. Why would we want a spacious room with unnecessary inclusions like a huge flatscreen cable TV and the comfort of an A/C unit when we’ll just be spending majority of our days outside of it? If we have a place to pitch a tent or can find a stranger’s couch (or floor) to sleep in, we will still be able to make the most out of our trip (and have more money for our next travels). After all, a trip isn’t about the accommodation.