Press Releases
Oct
Top 16 Cheap Hotels in Manila, Philippines
Top 16 Cheap Hotels in Manila There are lots of reasons to look for cheap hotels in Manila. Maybe you’re a backpacker looking to experience the best of Manila on a shoestring budget. Maybe Manila is just a stopover in your tour of the nature and beaches of the Philippines. Maybe you’re a digital nomad looking to set up shop in Manila for a while without spending a fortune. Whatever the case may be, you have plenty of awesome options for cheap hotels in Manila! We know you’re busy, so we’ve pulled together a list of the Top 16 Cheap Hotels in Manila. Any of these spots are sure to please, with prime locations and convenient amenities. Enjoy! 1. Our Melting Pot Image courtesy of www.hotelscombined.com The vibe at Our Melting Pot is inspired by the backpacker hostels of Europe. The cozy common area gives travelers the opportunity to foster friendships, connect, and network. Our Melting Pot offers air-conditioned private rooms and dormitories. The dorms’ bunk beds have privacy curtains for when you need a little ‘me time’. Private rooms offer Internet access and cable TV. The hostel is steeped in Filipino culture, with favorite local events like karaoke nights and Friday Student Nights. They have a rooftop area, a mini library, a pool table, mini supermarket, a business center with desktop computers, foosball, darts, and board games. There’s 24-hour reception, 24-hour security, laundry facilities, and daily housekeeping Address: 4/F Mavenue Building, 7844 Makati Avenue corner Guerrero Street, Poblacion, Makati, 1209 Metro Manila Phone: (02) 659 5443 2. Makati Junction Hostel Makati Junction Hostel is known for its very distinctive, vibrant, industrial-inspired interiors. This is a multifunctional hostel—it not only serves as a hostel, but it also stands as a café, a bar, a co-working space, and a roaring art scene. The hostel hosts live musical performances, art exhibits, food events, tours, and even pop-up thrift shops. There’s a lot of fun to be had! Tourists, creative folks, and entrepreneurs gather under the hostel’s quirky light installations to work, make friends, and plot adventures. There are plenty of beds and spaces to choose from: private rooms, co-ed dorms, and female dorms. Address: Annex Matheus bldg. General Luna St. cor., Don Pedro, Makati, 1210 Metro Manila Phone: (02) 501 6575 3. Hostel Malvar Image courtesy of www.asiatravel.com Hostel Malavar will suit anyone seeking elegant ambience. The building’s warm lighting and wooden flooring will make for a relaxing, cozy stay. It’s located just a 10 minute walk from the Baywalk (a seaside promenade overlooking Manila Bay) and a 45 minute drive from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Hostel Malvar has a business center as well, ideal for independent traveling workers. Their rooms—a total of 21— are air-conditioned with en suite bathrooms, cable TV, a minibar, and room service. The hostel has free wifi and a café serving daily Filipino dishes. They also provide laundry and dry cleaning services. Address: Malvar Street, Manila, Metro Manila Phone: (02) 528 1000 4. MNL Boutique Hostel Image courtesy of MNL Boutique Hostel Facebook page MNL Boutique Hostel proudly offers “hotel grade comfort” at very budget-friendly prices. It’s known for being clean, wholesome, very hospitable, and steeped in Filipino culture and tradition. The hostel has become super popular among backpackers because the staff are so determined to provide you with an enjoyable stay in Manila. MNL Boutique Hostel has both private rooms and dorms, with heated power rain showers, air-conditioner, TV, free breakfast, and a self-catering kitchen. It’s located just a stone throw’s away from the Central Business District, so you can conveniently reach all the malls,…
Oct
Shopping in Manila: The Top 11 Malls
Your Guide to Shopping in Manila Shopping in Manila isn’t quite like shopping anywhere else! Manila offers up some of the most exciting shopping experiences in Southeast Asia. Giant “megamalls” are the norm here, and they’re open 7 days a week (except on a few religous holidays). The malls usually open their doors at 10 or 11 in the morning, so you can get an early start on your shopping in Manila. The malls of Manila are found pretty close to each other, and they contain pretty similar stores, so if you just need to pick up something basic any one will do. They differ radically in ambiance though, so if you’re looking to have a shopping spree or make a day of your shopping outing, give this list a browse. We’ve rounded up the Top 11 Malls for Shopping in Manila: 1. SM Mall of Asia A sprawling supermall SM Mall of Asia (simply known as “MOA” by the locals) is the 4th-largest shopping mall in the Philippines, and the 11th-largest shopping mall in the entire world! Located in Bay City, Pasay, MOA opened in 2006. At that point it was the 1st-largest shopping mall in the world. A large LED globe display on the roundabout welcomes shoppers to MOA when they arrive. MOA is a collection of four buildings joined together by walkways: the main mall (shopping and dining establishments), the entertainment mall (a 2-storey complex facing Manila Bay), and the North and South Parking Buildings (together they have 5,000 parking spaces). The store selection is similar to that found in most SM Supermalls, but MOA’s main attraction is its cinemas! MOA is the first mall in the Philippines to feature an IMAX Theater—and it’s one of the largest IMAX Theaters in the world. The array of cinemas also includes the Director’s Club (an exclusive theater with 30 La-Z Boy chairs) the Premiere Cinema, and the CenterStage Cinema (used for live performances and concerts). Apart from these special theaters, MOA also houses 6 regular cinemas. MOA is so much more than a mall. Besides stores and cinemas, it features: An Olympic-sized ice-skating rink—the biggest in all of Southeast Asia. It accommodates both competitive and recreational ice skating, plus ice hockey. In 2007 it was even the venue for Skate Asia. Concert grounds A ferris wheel called “The Mall of Asia Eye” One Esplanade (a party and event venue) An indoor arena called “The Mall of Asia Arena” with a whopping capacity of 20,000—it’s sometimes used as the venue for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). EXPLOREUM Science Center, the first center of its kind in the world. EXPLOREUM features a digital planetarium and a diverse range of exhibits in the field of science and technology. SMX Convention Center—the country’s largest privately run exhibition and convention center with a 6,000 seating capacity. SM Mall of Asia on TripAdvisor 2. SM Megamall The fourth-largest mall in the world Image courtesy of travelbox.ph SM Megamall is located in the Ortigas business district of Metro Manila, in Mandaluyong City. SM Megamall consists of 5 shopping buildings: Building A, Building B, Building C, Mega Atrium, and Mega Fashion Mall (Mega D). If that sounds massive compared to the malls you’re used to, that’s because it is! The supermall is the second-largest shopping mall in the Philippines and the fourth largest in the entire world, occupying a land area of approximately 10 hectares (5,451,220 sq ft). SM Megamall opened its doors in 1991 and went down in history for having the first ice skating rink in a mall. In 2009, the skating rink was removed…
Oct
Palawan, Philippines: The Complete Travel Guide
Image courtesy of onlinetravelconsultant.com Palawan, Philippines: The Complete Travel Guide Palawan is an island in the Philippines. A gorgeous, tropical island. When you look at a map of the Philippines, you’ll see the main clump of islands in the middle. To the southwest, you will see Palawan jutting off diagonally. This unusual sight on the map is also a must-see destination in person! What is Palawan? Palawan Province is an archipelago that consists of 1,700 islands. It is bound on either side by the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. It is also the largest province in the Philippines with a coastline of about 2,000 km. Palawan has been dubbed as “the most exotic place on Earth” because of its pristine beaches, towering mountains, lush rainforests, and impressive limestone forests. Palawan is made up of 431 barangays (villages or districts) in 23 municipalities and the capital city of Puerto Princesa. It has one of the richest fishing grounds in the country, providing 45% of Manila’s fish supply. It is also the only oil-producing province in the country with natural gas reserves of approximately 30,000 trillion cubic feet. One thing Palawan is famous for is Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, the second longest subterranean river in the world. It’s nearly 5 miles long! The underground river has one of the world’s most impressive cave systems, full of limestone karst landscapes, old-growth forests, and a distinctive array of wildlife. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. In 2014, Palawan claimed the top spot in Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards for the world’s best natural wonders. The People of Palawan Image courtesy of wikipedia The population of Palawan, including Puerto Princesa, is about one million based on the 2010 census. Palawan is the largest province in the Philippines and home to several indigenous ethno-linguistic groups. These are the Kagayanen, Tagbanua, Palawano, Taaw’t Bato, Molbog and the Batak tribes. Most of the members of these groups live in remote villages in the mountains and coastal areas. In 1962 a team of anthropologists unearthed a set of fossils at Lipuun Point in Quezon town, Palawan. The fossils are believed to be a Homo Sapiens specimen between 22,000 and 24,000 years old! He’s been nicknamed “the Tabon Man”. This and other findings in the area (like burial jars, stone tools, and jade jewelry) have earned Palawan the title “the Cradle of Philippine Civilization.” Researchers think that the Tagbanua and Palawano tribes are possible descendants of the Tabon Caves’ inhabitants. Fast forward to today, and Palawan is home to migrants from all over the Philippines. Native-born Palaweños dominate the populace, though. Cultural minority groups (like the Tagbanua, Palawano, Batak, and Molbog tribes) also account for 18% of the island’s population. Palawan is host to a mix of religions. Roman Catholicism has a slim majority among the population, but other Christian denominations like the Baptists and Protestant churches are also present. Some sources say that nearly 50% of the population of Palawan is Muslim (mostly concentrated in the southern part of the province). Palawan also has many Buddhists and some notable Buddhist temples, like Chùa Vạn Pháp (a Vietnamese temple). There are about 52 languages and dialects spoken in the province. Tagalog is spoken by more than 50% of the population. Other languages spoken include Cuyonon, Hiligaynon, and Palawano. Clearly, Palawan is a diverse island! Famous Attractions in Palawan Conde Nast Traveler is an award-winning US travel magazine. In CNT’s 2015 Reader’s Choice Awards, Palawan was voted the “World’s Best Island.” No wonder! Palawan is famous for its dozens of beautiful beaches, endless…
May
Manila attractions, essential places to visit in Manila
Manila Attractions – Image courtesy of manilahums.weebly.com Top 10 tourist attractions in Manila, Philippines. Manila, the chaotic, congested capital of the Philippines, and also known as the “Pearl of the Orient,” is usually just a stop-over for tourists planning to see the exotic, scenic provinces of the Philippines. However, you must not underestimate Manila and its many charms. Manila, the center of education, business, and transportation, may have a reputation as a crowded, polluted, traffic-crazy, and poverty stricken city. But beyond the still-harmless haze of pollution, the sporadic traffic, the shantylands, Manila has a lot of hidden gems—and you’d definitely feel sorry if you miss them in your trip to the Philippines. Manila is developing quite rapidly and offers a lot of rewarding experiences. From stunning architecture dating back to the Spanish colonial period, megamalls, museums, art galleries, and amusement parks, it’s definitely easy to have fun in Manila. There are many things to love about this city, plenty of things to see and do, and here are just 10 of the best Manila attractions. 1. RIZAL PARK Located along Roxas Boulevard, by the Manila Bay, Rizal Park is also known as Luneta. This is a major tourist spot in Manila and definitely a favorite leisure area for Filipinos. Rizal Park was named after the Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal whose remains are enshrined in the park with his bronze-and-granite 100-year-old monument an imposing sight, constantly reminding the Filipinos of Rizal’s fight against the Spanish colonization. Just 100 meters from his monument is the exact location where Rizal was executed, re-enacted by statues. The 58-hectare urban park is one of the largest in Asia, perfect for picnics or simply removing yourself from the city’s noise and pollution. The park features a musical dancing fountain, a giant raised-relief Philippine map in an artificial lake, and artworks from famous Filipino artists. Also, check out the marble marker Kilometer Zero in Luneta—the point of origin for gauging the distance to every province and city in the country. 2. INTRAMUROS Also known as the “Walled City,” Intramuros is the oldest district in Manila. Built in the late 16th century by the Spanish colonial government, Intramuros (Spanish for “within the walls”) protected the city from foreign attacks. It’s a series of stone walls and forts enclosing a pentagon-shaped area 0.67 sq km in size, with a fascinating collection of courtyard houses, stone palaces, monasteries, convents, and schools. In 1951, Intramuros underwent reconstruction due to the damages caused by WWII, specifically during the battle to recapture Manila from the Japanese Imperial Army. At Intramuros, you can enjoy a very old-fashioned calesa ride, a horse-drawn carriage first used in the 18th century. Also, you can visit the Intramuros museum, Fort Santiago, and check out other historically significant plazas, monuments, churches, and public buildings. Casa Manila in Intramuros is also a must-visit—the house is a recreation of a typical upper-class colonial home in Intramuros. Delight in the antique furniture inside, artifacts from the Spanish era, artworks, and basically imagine a wealthy existence during that period. An entrance fee is required in Casa Manila: Php75 for adults; Php50 for children. It is open from 9am to 6pm. You can also enjoy an afternoon of golf at the Club Intramuros Golf Course, and shop for souvenirs and local art in stores and galleries making these options one of the more popular Manila attractions. 3. FORT SANTIAGO Image courtesy of www.philippines-travel-guide.com One of the most important historical sites in Manila, Fort Santiago is a citadel, as well as Intramuros’ main tourist attraction. Located at the mouth of the Pasig river,…
May
Boracay Budget Travel Tips for Backpackers
Smart Traveling – Boracay Budget for Backpackers One of the highly recommended places for backpackers is Boracay Island in the Philippines. But because Boracay is a much-advertised destination, the prices can be very high. So if you are a backpacker and want to keep within your Boracay budget, here are some guides for you on how you could enjoy this paradise island without spending too much. Boracay Budget Guide Image courtesy of growthdevelopment.com Budget your trip List down everything you would need to spend on such as transportation, accommodation, food, recreational activities and miscellaneous. Remember that most of your budget will go to accommodation. It is important that you choose a place where you know you will feel comfortable and will be within your Boracay budget to stay, our guide to Boracay accommodation may help. Also, you may want to consider travelling with a group. This will definitely lower your accommodation expense when you split the bill among yourselves. Before making a reservation, inquire via email or phone call if the hotel offers free shuttle service from the Boracay port directly to the hotel. Ask if they also provide free rides for touring the island. Also, inquire about free meals such as complimentary breakfast or if they provide special reception snacks. You don’t need to bring toiletries since these are usually provided free at the hotel. If you plan on staying at cheaper accommodations such as hostels, you may want to buy sachet ones (such as toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, etc.) for small or one-time use only. Check out Boracay Backpacking Promos Image courtesy of diwatravel.com Check online for hotel promos and discounts and other travel booking hacks to get the best deals in Boracay. When it’s off-season (June to October), there are usually more promos available and most room rates are cheaper. Sometimes, early-bird reservations come with perks and additional discounts when you book online. If you are a backpacker and want to stay at The Mad Monkey, ensure you sign up for the Mad Monkey club discounts from this page, you will instantly save 10% or more on your accommodation costs. If you plan to travel during the lean months, inquire about buffet serving and bottomless drinks instead of the usual complimentary meals. Sometimes hotels offer these packages when there are a few guests. There are also a lot of Airline promos for the off season. Cebu Pacific sometimes offer Piso fares or very minimal plane fare. Check out their website. Cheap Accommodation If you really don’t want to spend too much, avoid the peak season! Remember, accommodation is the biggest expense in your travel budget. Low season is from early June till October 31. This means there are less people and you’ll have the beach to yourself. This is also the time when rooms are a lot cheaper, sometimes even half the usual price. Stroll around Station 3 along the main road. This is where you will find the cheapest places to stay which is only 5 minutes walk from the beach. Invest in a couple of hours in finding a good place for a good price. It will be worth it. For more information on accommodations in Boracay, check out Mad Monkey’s Boracay Accommodation Guide. Cheap places to eat in Boracay There is plenty of cheap food in Boracay. Food is the next big chunk of your budget. Take a stroll down Station 3 where you will definitely spot some restaurants that sell food for reasonable prices. One way to save money on food is to take a cue…