a vacation spent in one’s home country rather than abroad, or one spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions.
According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, STAYCATION is a newly coined word that first came into use back in 2005. It is a mash-up of the words STAY and VACATION, and means that one is on vacation but also stayed home. But the staycation definition can extend just beyond the two coined words. It means attending to any household related matters that you would not have been able to do because you were busy at work. For example, you can use staycation as a chance to undergo that long-overdue physical exam that your doctor has been pressing you about. But what is staycation, really?
For the more creative, the staycation meaning can be about being on vacation within the limits of one’s town or city. It is not necessarily about staying home, for you can also go on staycation at a local hotel or even a friend’s house. The only difference is that you can easily be available if you are needed at home.
Here are eGetinnz top 10 picks for elegant and affordable staycation around the Metro Manila.
Set in Tagaytay, The Place at Tagaytay offers accommodation with a balcony. Private parking is available on site. ₱1700.00 https://www.egetinnz.com/accommodation/99520/san-jose-tagaytay-cavite-philippines/unit-2007-apartment-in-tagaytay
Your self-contained accommodations right in the heart of Mall of Asia Complex. Ultra-modern condominium units, fully furnished and with well equipped kitchen. Your best alternative to staying in hotels. ₱6500.00 https://www.egetinnz.com/accommodation/123610/barangay-76-pasay-metro-manila-philippines/2-bedroom-unit-elegantly-styled-fully-furnished-condo
Club Rooms are temporarily located on the 11th floor with access to the Club lounge located on the 23th floor of the hotel via a dedicated lift. Now open as the most prestigious landmark in Quezon City. The 438-room hotel is the biggest in the area, showcasing stylish accommodations, exquisite flavors and grand banquet and meeting venues in the heart of the city’s new center for business and leisure. ₱6752.00 https://www.egetinnz.com/accommodation/131760/bagong-pag-asa-bago-bantay-quezon-city-metro-manila-philippines/comfortable-club-room
Looking for a place to relax without having to drive miles away from the city? This is the perfect place for you! Here, you can unwind and free your mind while enjoying the cold breeze of Tagaytay City.₱1582.50 https://www.egetinnz.com/accommodation/133709/maharlika-west-tagaytay-cavite-philippines/cozy-studio-room
The hotel is a very accessible place at the peak of Tagaytay, with it’s breath-taking view of the famous Taal Lake and Volcano. With Tagaytay’s climate and scenery, it is the perfect place for every adventurer souls and serenity lovers.₱5504.00 https://www.egetinnz.com/accommodation/100872/san-jose-tagaytay-cavite-philippines/fantastic-superior-room
This fully-furnished studio with balcony is located in Pinecrest, a Swiss-inspired residential enclave tucked within the serene and quiet neighborhood of New Manila, Quezon City.₱4700.00 https://www.egetinnz.com/accommodation/114874/kaunlaran-quezon-city-metro-manila-philippines/fully-furnished-studio-w-balcony-new-manila
This place is perfect for your next family or barkada bonding! Fully furnished condo with hotel-like facilities but very affordable price! ₱2321.00 https://www.egetinnz.com/accommodation/132911/maharlika-west-tagaytay-cavite-philippines/nice-and-neat-condo-unit-in-tagaytay
A hotel in Tagaytay need not be expensive. What if you could enjoy this tranquil mountain getaway for a friendly price? The answer is here, at This hotel. With rooms for 3 persons as low as 5,273.5, it’s the best place for a budget Tagaytay vacation!₱6800.00 https://www.egetinnz.com/accommodation/101813/sungay-south-tagaytay-cavite-philippines/relaxing-deluxe-double-room-lake-view
Offering garden views from the balcony, air-conditioned rooms come with a wardrobe, seating area, a desk and a flat-screen TV with cable channels. The kitchenette includes a dining table, electric kettle and refrigerator. En suite bathroom has shower facility, slippers and free toiletries. ₱4700.00 https://www.egetinnz.com/accommodation/108263/tagaytay-cavite-philippines/standard-family-room-in-tagaytay
This place is a newly open 1 bed room unit available for staycations and hosting. Resort type amenities that gives a quick relaxing escape and very accessible to big malls, public market, churches, hospitals, schools and with 24-hr transportation access. ₱2000.00 https://www.egetinnz.com/accommodation/132742/quezon-city-metro-manila-philippines/unit-541-room
There are journey trips that could be spent on sight seeing, peeking through the glass window of the plane, maybe a bus, or even by the railings of a ship; but some trips may take longer than the usual. Here are a few good TV series aside from Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead that could help you pass time.
Timeless, 2016 (NBC)
This show actually got uncancelled, the producers finally saw the potential of this low-key but amazing show. Compelling characters, unfolding plot, and perfected phenomenon of time travelling. The story is about Lucy, Wyatt, and Rufus trying to save the known history from bad people called the Rittenhouse who wants to change the course of the past. The paradox of time travelling has somehow been perfected by Timeless.
2. Sense 8 2015 (Netflix)
Original story from the Wachowski brothers, they have filmed in over twenty countries and thirty cities. This sci-fi TV show is about eight individuals that share each other’s mind and consciousness. The story itself is already an art but its cinematography is the best thing about Sense8. This show developed a collective group of fanbase for its diversity and accurate representation which the smart audience hold dear. Sense8 is action-filled, with humor and genuine emotion on top. Sadly Netflix cancelled it after season 2 but due to the loud cry of the fans in social media particularly on Twitter, the producers were granted one last hurrah for the show. The epic finale is yet to come this year 2018.
3. Orphan Black 2013-2017 (BBC)
Consistent all through out. Yes, it has already ended strong in season 5 but never was there a dull episode or even a moment in Orphan Black, all you need is to watch one episode to give it a try and you will find yourself with the roller coaster of a ride. Created by the masters John Fawcett and Graeme Manson, this show is about a Sarah Manning who witnessed a girl who look exactly like her jump in front of a train and later on took over her life, and unknowingly discovers a major scientific conspiracy about their lives.
4. Altered Carbon 2018 (Netflix)
An ingenious plot that was groomed by a gradual pacing of story-telling, the story is set in the far future where immortality is already within reach. Everyone has a stack located at the back of their necks, it downloads one’s mind and consciousness that even when the body perishes the person could still actually live. Takeshi was revived after centuries of his first death by a billionaire to investigate his own death.
5. The 100 2014 (CW)
This show used to be great. The survival show of CW, it is not your typical post apocalyptic TV series where boy meets girl and another boy it was not that. The 100 (pronounced as The Hundred) was about 100 delinquent and prisoner teens sent off their spaceship to see if the Earth was again habitable after 97 years of nuclear war that destroyed the planet. Only to learn that humankind never really left.
6. Penny Dreadful 2014-2016 (Showtime)
Penny Dreadful is a gothic masterpiece where all the dark classics have been mashed together. From the origins of Dracula to Dorian Gray, this story revolves around Vanessa Ives as a wicked and daunting force of evil is after her whole being. A character-driven story from the brilliant playwright and screenwriter, John Logan. This is not for the weak heart and shallow minds though, Penny Dreadful is dark but weirdly enough a breath of fresh air in the mainstream stories of television today.
7. Gotham 2014 (Fox)
DC has made a good choice about doing a prequel TV series of the Batman, origin stories of everybody in Batman is present. Fox’s Gotham might have strayed from the comics but the showmanship is overall great. With the James “Jim” Gordon as the center character, still a regular detective is on the pursuit of the mastermind behind Thomas and Martha Wayne’s deaths, while grooming young Bruce Wayne to be the dark knight Gotham will eventually need.
8. Black Mirror 2011 (Netflix)
Probably the best anthology you will ever watch, created by Charlie Brooker, Black Mirror is a collection of one shots stories if not revolving around morals and realism, it is about the out of the box ideas about the technology we use and the unending possibilities of it. Black Mirror challenged every aspect of the future with its story telling but still managed to be about the characters rather than the phenomena.
9. Fear the Walking Dead 2015 (AMC)
The sister prequel show to the Walking Dead, it is years younger than the mainstream and original show but it is far different. It revolves around actual family trying to stay together amidst the apocalypse. The show began a bit slow but is getting better the longer it airs, character developments are compelling stories by and by and more zombies appear than ever.
10. Peaky Blinders
A gangster family epic set in 1919 Birmingham, England and centered on a gang who sew razor blades in the peaks of their caps, and their fierce boss Tommy Shelby, who means to move up in the world.
You can watch these underrated TV shows even when you get to your destination, probably when you got to your home away from home, we can always help you with that. Find a place of your liking here in www.egetinnz.com
It’s a dream to travel and most don’t get to as much as they’d like. With the power that books have you can travel to various destinations just with a turn of a page. Here are some recommended books to read about travel. We have travel guides, novels and memoirs for you to go pour over.
Unlikely Destinations: The Lonely Planet Story by Tony and Maureen Wheeler
You may already be familiar with The Lonely Planet travel guides and in this particular book, it covers the personal journey of Tony and Mureen Wheeler, founders of the popular guide series. They share their experiences through anecdotes while traversing the land of independent travel. Travel to country to country with them and pick up useful information and inspiration when you make your own travel adventures.
The Beach by Alex Garland
What makes this suspense thriller a must read are the illustrative descriptions of the beautiful “Beach” yet is woven into the other authentic side of Thailand. Budget traveling, unsavory trade and the like are touched on in this novel. The seemingly untouched Phi Phi Islands is the star of the same titled movie featuring famous Leonardo Di Caprio.
Ultimate Travel: Our List of the 500 Best Places to See… Ranked by Lonely Planet
You may find some of the usual tourist attractions on this list or UNESCO certified destinations but Lonely Planet’s global community of travel experts also gives us some less known gems to explore. Some of the compelling places include Iguazu Falls in Argentina/Brazil, Machu Picchu in Peru, Temples of Angkor in Siem Reap, Cambodia and more.
Destinations of a Lifetime: 225 of the World’s Most Amazing Places by National Geographic
The pictures speak for itself in this collage of 250 color photographs collated by National Geographic’s expert and world class photographers. Take a photographic journey to 225 of the world’s amazing places. Expect scenic cityscapes, white-sand beaches, rain forests, and even authentic cobbled streets in this much recommended book.
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Based on an impulsive decision Cheryl Strayed hiked more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State alone. A story of strength, determination and healing, Wild is an inspiring tale for those who encounter life changing circumstances and seek change in their life.
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
A novel of self discovery against the backdrop of Italy, India and Bali, it explores the need for personal inflection and the true meaning of success in life. Eat Pray Love has been an inspiration to many seeking for more in their lives and those who wish to travel beyond what they could have imagined. In the setting of 3 beautiful destinations readers will experience cuisine in Italy, peace in India and healing in Bali.
The Lost Girls by Baggett, Corbett, Pressner
You hear about people leaving their “lives” to travel. Here are 3 women who did just that. Jennifer Baggett, Holly C. Corbett & Amanda Pressner left their successful jobs, friends, love lives and everything familiar to embark on a backpacking adventure around the world. They traveled to 4 continents through the mountains and jungles of South America, beaches of Australia, going to Kenya, India and New Zealand.
The Travel Book: A Journey Through Every Country in the World (Lonely Planet)
Our 3rd recommendation from Lonely Planet, this book covers every country in the world. A double page spread showing places to visit, sights to see, a country’s culture and statistics and more. With over 229 countries and destinations and 814 images to pour over this book will fill many days and feed your wanderlust.
Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle by Dervla Murphy
A bicycle trek starting in Ireland through Iran and Afghanistan, onto the Himalayas then Pakistan and lastly India, is the premise for this memoir. She prefers the hospitality of locals and focused on the local culture. That’s not to say the whole trip was a pleasant one. She has been attacked by wolves and injured in Afghanistan.
The Size of the World by Jeff Greenwald
With a goal to perform a kora around earth, a voyage that would consist of weeks at sea, days on trains, and hours on alternative modes of transportation anything except an airplane. His adventures led him to an active volcano in Guatemala, saving a baby snow leopard in Tibet, and spending his fortieth birthday in the Sahara.
Looking for a more extreme underwater experience this summer? Why not try one of these best dive sites in the world?
Barracuda Point – Sipadan Island, Malaysia
Sipadan is a very small island on the East Coast of Sabah Malaysia. If you want wall of coral where sharks come cruising by and barracuda surrounding the place, Barracuda Point in Sipadan is perfect for you. The site also boasts with white tips, turtles, grouper, jacks and bumphead parrotfish.
Photo credit: Bernard DUPONT (Flickr)
Blackish Point – Bay Islands Honduras
Blackish point is located in Utila, a tiny mangrove island in Bay islands. Its name was derived from the volcanic rock that forms the wall paralleling shore. The upper section of reef is covered with healthy hard and soft corals. The site shelters goliath grouper, huge lobsters and by chance, “Old Tom,” Utila’s resident legendary whale shark.
Photo credit: dianedivesphotos
Blue Heron Bridge – Riviera Beach, Florida, USA
A lot of weird marine life lurks in the shallows of Riviera Beach. Flying gurnards, bandtail sea robins and striated frogfish commonly populate this site which make it popular for divers.
Photo credit: amanderson2 (Flickr)
Capo d’Acqua – Italy
Capo d’Acqua is a small lake filled with clear spring water that highlights medieval ruins of two mills and a paint factory. The site is also home to some exciting fauna which includes fario or brown trout.
Photo credit: Scuba Diver Life
Darwin’s Arch – Galapagos Ecuador
Darwin’s Arch is famous for massive whale sharks that patrol the blue, turtles, burly Galapagos sharks, tiger sharks on the safety stop, free-swimming moray eels, eagle rays and schooling hammerheads.
Photo credit: Dive Photo Guide
Great Blue Hole, Belize
This dive site is rich in coral reefs of vibrant colors. Enormous tuna, sharks, octopus and other pelagics also inhabit the place. Descending another 25 m and you can explore the stalagtites and stalagmites of ancient caverns.
Photo credit: Kashif Pathan (Flickr)
Liberty – Bali, Indonesia
Liberty was a United States Army cargo ship torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in January 1942 and beached on the island of Bali. The wreck is very popular because it is encrusted in anemone, gorgonians and corals. The black sand provides an excellent backdrop for the variety of marine life. The wreck is inhabited by a huge school of big-eyed trevally and over 400 other species of fish which are mostly very tame.
Photo credit: stokes rx (Flickr)
Nakwakto Rapids – British Columbia, Canada
Nakwakto Rapids, one of the top cold water dives is listed on the Guinness Book of World Records as having one of the strongest currents in the world. It is home to the famous Turret Rock, a rock which stood defiant in the middle of the churning currents of the Nakwkto Rapids. The site is the realm of giant gooseneck barnacles, an oversize crustacean found few other places. Along with the barnacles are crabs, painted greenlings, sculpins and a colorful palette of anemones.
Photo credit: Diver Trek
Thistlegorm – Egyptian Red Sea
Thistlegorm is a British vessel which was attacked from air and sunk by a German bomber in 1941. This large wreck that lies in the Strait of Gubal is the main attraction in the Red Sea region for divers.
Photo credit: HannahHawke (Flickr)
Tubbataha Reef – Palawan Philippines
A UNESCO World Heritage site, Tubbataha Reef Marine Park is a protected area of the Philippines located in the middle of the Sulu Sea. The site is popular for its very high density of marine species, pristine coral reef, extensive lagoons and coral atolls.
La Union is one of the most visited provinces in the Northern Philippines. Being welcomed by a picturesque seascape and a taste for adventure, this province in the Ilocandia is also considered as the Surfing Capital of the North, with people from all over the world flocking to its surfing spots.
But of course, all the surfing and the adventure will make you hungry for good food. Here we have listed 10 spots that you should not miss dining at when in La Union.
Halo Halo de Iloko
Offering Filipino food and dessert, Halo Halo de Iloko is the spot to cool down after a hot day of surfing and roaming. When dining here, one must try their Halo-Halo – a Filipino dessert made with shaved ice, sweetened beans, ice cream, gelatin, rice crispies, milk flan, sugar, and milk.
Address: Zandueta St., San Fernando, La Union
Jinyou
If you are in search of good Korean food during your stay in La Union, Jinyou is the place to go. Located in the Metro, this Korean restaurant serves the best Samgyupsal in the province.
Serving authentic Ilokano food, Makkan is the place to go to complete your Ilocandia experience in La Union. One of their must-try entrees is their Crispy Dinuguan.
