One practice we have as a family is that we take at least one vacation each month. The vacation does not have to be an expensive one, but one that will allow us to rest our minds and bodies even for just a day or two. Sometimes, we take staycations in hotels around Manila. Sometimes, we opt to go on bigger trips outside of Luzon. Most of the time, we try hotels where my husband is assigned.
Since my husband’s current assignment with the Bureau of Fire Protection is in Laguna, we have been exploring hotels and resorts around the area. A family vacation need not be far! Near does not mean less fun! If you only have time (and budget, of course) for a quick getaway that is just an hour or two from Metro Manila, Mountain Lake Resort is the place to take your family. Although this resort is just outside Manila, I assure you that you will have a grand time during your stay with nature right at your doorstep and loads of activities for all ages to enjoy.
The best thing about spending your family vacation in Laguna? You can cap it off with an epic road trip! The last time we had a vacation in Laguna was during the last weekend of our daughter’s Nature Challenge. The Nature Challenge is a 30-day challenge given by her school wherein the whole family are encouraged to drop their gadgets and discover the wonders of nature.
After checking out, we took a road trip through the “back road” going back to Metro Manila. Instead of taking SLEX going back home, we took the Laguna-Rizal road. From Laguna, you can head over to Pilillia, Rizal to see the majestic windmills of Rizal, then to Tanay to cool down in Daranak Falls and Batlag Falls, then drive through the scenic route of Morong, Teresa, and Antipolo.
You HAVE to try this one time. I assure you, the kids will have loads of fun!
Aside from Laguna resorts, another go-to for us are Tagaytay hotels. For a budget-friendly stay that won’t sacrifice comfort, we recommend Tagaytay Haven Hotel. Located in Mendez and easily accessible by car or public transport, it is not hard to find at all and is perfect if you plan to spend most of your vacation out and about. The hotel is also walking distance from a grocery and lots of restaurants.
If you have extra budget for your family vacation in Tagaytay, we recommend Taal Vista Hotel. Aside from their homey rooms and delicious food selections, the hotel will give you a breathtaking view of Taal Volcano. I once spent a week here with Kelly, who was then a toddler, while my husband was on a seminar and we did not run out of things to do! Since I was pregnant then and was not allowed to move around too much, we spent most of our time inside the hotel. It was not a problem at all because there are a lot of things you can do inside the hotel as a family–like swimming, or playing at the kids’ playroom.
Other options for a family-friendly Tagaytay vacation are Hotel Kimberly Tagaytay and Hotel Dominique. Both are homey and great for families!
On extra stressful months, however, we opt to go on farther trips within Luzon. We recently discovered the beautiful homes for rent offered by Airbnb in our recent Subic trip, but if you prefer to stay in a hotel on your trip to Zambales, we recommend Blue Rock Beach Resort. We have stayed here for three times already–once when I took my basic diving course (there are diving courses available right at the resort), the second time for our wedding anniversary, and the third time for a family trip. Blue Rock Beach Resort is a beach front resort that is great for families and light on your pocket. The steak at the hotel’s restaurant fronting the beach is a must try!
Special occasions call for a special family vacation. One of our favorite destinations for our “grand” trips is Palawan. Palawan offers a lot of getaway options, but for a family, we suggest heading to El Nido. A five-hour ride from Puerto Princesa, El Nido offers white sand beaches and buckets of fun for an adventurous family. In our last trip to El Nido, we stayed at Rovic’s Tourist Hotel, which is one of the recommended hotels by our friends from the Bureau of Fire Protection in Palawan. Although not a beach front hotel, Rovic’s is just a two minute walk to the beach. It is also located at the heart of El Nido so it is not hard to find a place to eat or hang out at during your stay.
Are you looking for hotels for your next family vacation? You can find more options in other destinations through the widget below:
Want to join TravelBook.ph’s Blogger Affiliate get togethers, getaways, seminars, and trainings while earning at the same time? Be part of the group by signing up here: affiliate.travelbook.ph
THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS.
thank you mommy for sharing this 🙂
My pleasure! Enjoy your next family vacation! 🙂