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New Year Travel Resolutions For 2018

February 8, 2018 admin Leave a comment

It’s the perfect time for new adventures and we have some New Year travel resolutions that you might want for yourself.

Travelling can give you the release you want from the staleness of every day life. And while it can be costly, it is one of the best investments you can ever make in your life. Remember, spend on experience, not things! Okay, so here we go!

Travel with someone you want to know better

Travel brings out the best (and worst) in people. If you really want to know someone better, travel with them! Going out steadily with someone? Plan a trip with him/her. Your son is entering a new phase and you want to spend quality time with him? Plan a trip with your unico hijo!

It is best to know the place you are going to minimize stress. However, if you are both adventurous then you can go somewhere the both of you have never been to. Travelling together allows you to bond better and it gives you a better, pretension-free peek of a person’s character.

Travel on your own

Always travelled with a companion before? 2018 can be the year to finally try going at it solo! Solo travel is a unique experience and while there are some risks involved (getting bored in the middle of the trip), there are huge rewards.

Solo travel gives you a different perspective on things, forces you to try new ways of doing things, it can also free lots of time for actual adventures as your schedule is your own. The important thing here is to pace your itinerary and to plan ahead the next day – to make sure there are no long downtimes.

Plan your travels ahead of time

If last year your travel calendar was full of spontaneous (and costly) trips, 2018 is the best year to try well planned travels through the next 10 months. Plot it all out in your calendar, secure cheap flights to your destinations, and research in advance the places you want to go while booking hotels ahead of time. Nothing beats a well planned trip! Also plan trips with different travel companions, something new to try this year if you are used to going somewhere with a regular travel buddy – you know, for some variation.

And because you saved money on your plane tickets and hotel room, you can go to more destinations. That’s more adventures for you!

These travel resolutions can add color and something new to your trips this 2018. Trying something different is a good way to put a fresh spin on your travel experience. Make this year more memorable!

4 Practical Tips For Solo Travellers

December 12, 2017 admin Leave a comment

Travelling solo is fun, although it has its own pro’s and con’s. But in its entirety, travelling solo has more good than bad. One key advantage of travelling alone is that you only answer to yourself. You eat what you want and you do what you want, where you want, when you want. You do not have to think of your companion – is she really okay if we call it a day because my feet feel sore? Is she hungry already because I’m starving? Is she sure the hotel room is good enough because for me it’s perfect?

These questions can easily get your focus away from your trip and into the welfare and convenience of your travel companion and that can easily ruin the whole vacation. Travelling solo however would mean higher costs – you have no one to split the expense of the hotel, the food, the taxi, and etc.

But should you do it? Heck yes! Here are our pointers that can make the whole solo adventure more enjoyable.

Travel during peak season

Counter intuitive advice but it makes a lot of sense when you travel alone. The most obvious downside is the higher cost of everything. But even that has a solution: you plan your trip way in advance. Plan it out early, book your flight and hotel months before you actually go and do it. That should already save you some money.

So why travel in peak season? Simple – you will have no shortage of people to engage with on the road. One of the biggest fears of first time solo travellers is getting lonely in the middle of the trip. But with a lot of people in hotels, restaurants and tourist destinations you are always guaranteed a lot of company. That translates to plenty of opportunities to start a conversation, even finding someone to share dinner with.

Take public transportation

Many go for convenience and choose to take taxi cabs to get anywhere in the city. If you really want to have fun, choose public transportation instead. Ride the bus, jeepney, or tricycles. It’s fun just having that local vibe in your trip plus you get more chance to meet people and actually talk to them. Do not be afraid to talk to locals, in fact that should be your goal. Locals can give great tips where to go and when, not to mention great places to eat at an affordable price.

Meet people

This simply means initiate conversations with people. Do not alienate yourself, get into the mix, talk, learn, and be carefree with your interactions. Remember that one of the most important fun factors in any trip is meeting new people and building good relationship with them.

Plan your day in advance

The reason why many solo travellers get lonely is that they allow themselves to run out of things to do. When you allow yourself to sit and wonder what you should do next, more often than not, the thought that comes to mind is how stupid you are in taking the trip alone. Take your journal with you and list down what comes to mind as you enjoy the sights and sounds of the city – note the things you might want to explore more (so that you get back to it some other time). Also write down the recommendations of locals as you talk to them so that you do not run short of to-do’s while in your trip.

There you have it, 4 simple pointers that should make your solo trip amazingly fun. There is a different dimension to enjoying a city on your own, something that you really can’t have when travelling alone. Make it a goal to truly experience that “dimension”. Have fun!

What to Expect In Boutique Hotels

October 18, 2017 admin Leave a comment

For many years people were drawn to the concept of “bigger is better”. The modern times beg to differ and while luxury is still equated with space and grandeur, the hotel industry is moving towards a different direction, counter-intuitive in fact, but very effective in today’s emerging trends in hotel accommodation. The ideas of less is more, value for money, and unique experience is making it big in the industry. The emergence of boutique hotels ride on these concepts – where the value of the offer is not on space but on the “other” things that make a hotel stay worthwhile. With many people getting more acquainted with these smaller, more compact hotels, what are the things you can expect?

Smaller rooms

While many hotels under this classification have well-appointed rooms, most have smaller square footage than the industry standard. But the story does not end there. While the rooms are smaller, the bed you sleep on is as comfortable as those you sleep on bigger hotels. While you have a smaller floor plan, the room is as comfortable as any bigger hotels in the city. For Emerald Boutique Hotel this is a very noticeable feature. We have 5-star quality mattresses on our rooms and bed linens that you can really feel are not for “budget” accommodations. Our rooms are small but it is made to impress.

Another thing that is worth mentioning for Emerald is its unmatched 5-star toiletries. You can go in any hotel in the city with the price point of Emerald and you will appreciate more how we put emphasis on subtle luxury. We have small rooms but we want to exceed expectations on the other things – things that matter a lot to our guests.

Value for money

For Emerald Boutique Hotel this is not just a consequential element. It is an intentional pursuit to provide as much comfort and convenience to our guests as possible but at the least costs. The core of our business is value. At P1,500.00 per night for our Standard Rooms, you get a fully air-conditioned accommodation complete with Cable TV, fast Internet access, shuttle service, free breakfast, and more! Peso to convenience ratio is very high.

Intimate service

There is just a nice, calming vibe in boutique hotels. Stay more than a day and the staff will start calling you by your first name. The service team will start picking up on the minute details of your preferences. They are quicker to answer to your needs (as they already anticipate it) and they give you more than what big hotel hospitality crews can ever give you. If you are into a more intimate environment, ditch the bigger hotels and come home to smaller, “boutique” options.

Unique Experience

The Emerald Boutique Hotel is located right in the heart of Legazpi City. You do not need complicated transportation arrangements if you want to explore the city and the nearby tourist destinations all over the Albay province. If you are the adventurous type you can just walk to the nearest local cafés that offer amazing food. You can just take a map and start exploring on the get-go. Fancy some city-specific adventures? You can ask the front desk for some amazing tours and you are on your way to a wonderful time outdoors. Who needs a big hotel when all you want is offered at a smaller place with more affordable nightly rates?

The seat of the local government of Legazpi City. The pride of Legazpi is no other than the Legazpeno, kindhearted and welcoming bunch of people. — The seat of the local government of Legazpi City. Emerald’s location is just a short walk from this place. Talking about experiencing the city!

Good Food

Boutique hotel boasts of one thing – good food prepared in the hotel restaurant. For The Emerald Bistro Café, it offers a fusion menu with local delicacies like Bicol Express and Laing. It has two dining areas. One of those, which we call “The Garden”, features a transparent roof that allows the sunlight in. This semi-outdoor space is also great for small events and family gatherings.

Quirky offering

Do you love videoke? Sing your heart out in two of Emerald’s sound proof KTV rooms complete with state-of-the-art sound system. This is a great option for family and friends to have fun and get lost in this popular Filipino past time. For only P2500.00 you can use the KTV room for 3 hours. The package comes with food too – enough for 10 people.

Emerald's VIP Videoke rooms are second to none. Rent these out too and make your event more special! — Emerald’s VIP Videoke rooms are second to none. It is also an uncommon amenity for hotels. Boutique hotels are indeed full of surprises!

Boutique hotels are not your typical hotel options. It provides an entirely different experience. Before you reserve that room consider these things and allow yourself to ask: “is this the kind of hotel I want to spend my nights while in the city”? Our answer to that is obvious. YES. You stay with us because our “smaller rooms” make us unique and allow us to give you most hotels cannot give – value for money. And like an icing on the cake, we strive to exceed your expectations. Give us a try. Maybe on your next trip in the city? See you then!

The 3 Reasons Why You Should Stay In Boutique Hotels

August 26, 2017 admin Leave a comment

At a time of Airbnb and backpacker hotels, the pull of big, grand hotels is getting weaker – and the reasons are obvious. People care less about luxury and care more about value for money and how a hotel can help them have a great time in their destination city. So next time you book a hotel, choose a smaller one that can deliver the comforts of a typical hotel minus the high costs and the seemingly detached service many bigger hotels are known for.

Boutique hotels have better locations

Because of its small size, boutique hotels are often squeezed in right smack in the middle of a city you fancy. Location is very important in hotel selection. You just can’t afford to not enjoy the sights and sounds of a city because your hotel is tucked in a remote area with very limited transportation options, or too far you cannot just stroll around and get to know the place right when you go out the door. Emerald Boutique Hotel is right in the middle of Legazpi City. When you decide to eat local food you are just a short walk to the nearest Café. Location matters so when you book a hotel, Google it and find out how close it is to the heart of the city.

Small hotels have practical, intimate service

Boutique hotels do not need to be very rigid with its service processes. Most of its people would be willing to multitask just to please a guest. You can easily talk to the Chef and ask for some special additions to your ordered food. You can ask for small favors from the staff and there would be no need to formalize that request and then get delayed with service protocols (like in big hotels where services are very structured). This makes small hotels very intimate when it comes to delighting guests.

If you stay for three days it would feel more like a home than a hotel and you know everybody already from the housekeeping staff to the waiter in the charming restaurant downstairs. Contrary to popular belief that small hotels lack the refined service of grand, luxury hotels, what it lacks in grandeur it makes it up for quick, reliable, and personalized service.

Boutique hotels give the best value

While it is good to make your vacation as affordable as possible, you have to remember that the quality of your sleep will dictate the overall experience of your vacation. It is easy to be a cheapskate and stay in very affordable hotels and inns but if you do this there is a big chance you will regret it later – plumbing does not work, the room is too humid (no air-conditioning), bed is uncomfortable, awful smell inside, and many more “issues”. Staying in a boutique hotel, though priced higher, can give you the best experience with its air-conditioned room, very comfortable beds, and simple yet very nice rooms with amenities that you need and want for a comfy stay.

At Emerald Boutique Hotel we go beyond what people expect in a small hotel. We have 5-star hotel quality mattresses, well maintained and brand new rooms, cable TV, fast Internet connection, an impressive menu at our restaurant, and many more things that can surely impress you.

If you plan to visit Albay or the Bicol Region, Emerald is a very good hotel to book in. Our location is an ideal jump-off point to the many tourist attractions in the Albay and Sorsogon provinces in Region V. Visit our website at www.emeraldboutiquehotel.com or like our FB page at www.facebook.com/emeraldhotellegazpi to know more. See you soon!

4 Ways To Get The Best Out Of Your Vacation

June 5, 2017 admin Leave a comment

Vacations are not fun by default. Seasoned travelers can always identify better trips and can single out their worst adventures. So if you are planning to go on a vacation of your own you need to do it right and steer clear from the most common blunders of leisure travel. Heed these pointers.

Start with a solid plan

There is certain charm of going on a spontaneous adventure but more often than not this can lead to problems that can easily break your trip. So always have a plan before you go. Where are you staying? Are you already booked? What about your flight details and airport transfer? Is your tour package all set? Do you where you are going? Are you packed according to your destinations? These questions are very basic but it can make all the difference.

The more details you cover, the better your trip will turn out. It means you have more time to focus on the fun side than addressing logistical concerns. All you have to do is just let things unfold. Of course there will still be problems along the way but these would be easier to deal with than starting blind and unprepared.

Get psychologically ready

This is one of the most overlooked parts of taking a vacation. Many go on a dreamy trip only to have their minds thinking about work problems, worrying about imagined fears, doubting the plan, and minding the small stuff, the negative vibes. If you are in a vacation turn your happy thoughts on. Decide to let go of your worries, convince yourself you are out to have fun. When bothersome thoughts come, shove them away. Be mentally aware of its effects on your mood and attitude towards your vacation.

If you are not mindful of your mindset one wrong turn and you will be fuming mad. One wrong order from the hotel cafe and your day is ruined the whole day. Remind yourself the reason why you are taking the trip – to unwind, to relax, and to break free from the stale repetition of life.

And be sure to remind yourself things can easily go wrong. That is a reality for every vacation. Be mentally prepared to deal with situations with a cool head. Things will not always go your way. Even in those situations, smile and shrug it off!

Connect with people

Many vacationers are more keen on the attractions and the things that a destination has to offer, often forgetting to enjoy one of the best parts of taking a trip to somewhere you have not been before – knowing people in the locality. Building local friendship can easily cement your experience of the place. Striking casual conversations with locals can enhance your feelings towards the city. Learning a few local words can also boost your confidence in connecting with people everywhere you go. Knowing the local words for “thank you”, “please”, and “take care” can prop up your appeal to locals, encouraging them to engage you.

Keep a journal

This can be a digital journal if you are not the “writer” type. You can make an FB album with your photos on your destination city and then make sure to include captions that best describe the photo and the story behind it. This can help you record your trip and the whole experience. It is easy to get through the photos later on and remember all the fun you had, the people you knew, the places you visited, and the things you learned.

There you have it. Vacations are expected to be fun. Do not come short of that. Follow these pointers and have a blast. Vacations do not come often. Make sure to do it right the first time. And remember to take note of your bad experiences. That way on your next trip you can work on that and make sure your adventures will only get better.

Legazpi: Just A Stone Throw’s Away From You

March 28, 2017 admin Leave a comment

Legazpi is one of Philippine’s most visited cities by local and foreign tourists today. The amazing beaches, the majestic Mt. Mayon, the many stone churches in and around Albay, and other scenic places to visit (not to mention the many festivals year round) makes Legazpi a tourist favorite.

legazpi-city-big1 — An aerial view of the city. It is beautiful and captivating with the miles and miles of shoreline framed by the majestic Mayon in its rear. What a sight to behold!

But do you know that this city is much easier to visit than ever before? Both the increased number of flights from Manila and Cebu and the many bus lines that have Legazpi as one of its key destinations in South Luzon makes it very possible and affordable to enjoy the natural beauty of this city.

So some basic things:

Where to stay?

There are many hotels in town, many of which have just the perfect location for either a quick spin around popular local destinations or a long-term exploration of the Sorsogon-Albay-Catanduanes provinces.

13383773_10154243954719793_20391708_o (2) — One of the newest hotels in Legazpi – the Emerald Boutique Hotel. It might be small compared to some of its competitors but this hotel aims to go above and beyond their guest’s expectations. Book with them and experience the difference.

Legazpi sits right in the middle of the tourism frenzy so it does not matter what you are after, you will surely get it here. Aside from hotels there are also small bed and breakfast businesses and mid-sized Inns in the city. Hotel rooms can cost you P6000 and up if you are into luxury accommodations. But you can also have a decent place to sleep for as low as P500 a night, a must-have option for the more frugal traveler.

How about available tours?

There are many tour operators in town. If you are into guided tours there are several local companies that can cater to that need, some can even get you halfway to Mayon’s crater (if the ban is lifted anyway). Do you want more daring adventures? Perhaps an ATV ride all the way to the foot of Mayon, or zip-lining over the water at Embarcadero? That can be arranged too.

xIMG_0804 — Riding the ATV to the foot of Mayon is loads of fun. You should try it!

How about navigating a hanging bridge on the side of Lignon Hill with Mayon as the background? You can even have a swim with butandings (whale shark) at Donsol. If you love the ocean then the vanishing island in Malilipot is the ideal kind of adventure for you. All these attractions and activities can be had easily with local tourism service operators.

How to get to Legazpi?

Talking about accessibility, Legazpi can be reached by air and land. Your options:

By Plane

There are many flights to Legazpi from Manila and vice versa. You will have no problem going in and out of the city by air. There is a 4:55 AM early flight from Manila to Legazpi. The same plane would fly passengers to Manila for its turnaround flight. There is also a daily flight from Cebu to Legazpi at 3:25PM. With Manila and Cebu welcoming flights from all over the world and the Philippines, flying to Legazpi is easy and thanks to budget airlines – affordable!

Untitled — The flight schedules for Manila to Legazpi. This should make your flights plans easier!

By Bus

Travelling by Bus to Legazpi is more convenient than many people think. There are many bus companies that focus on the Bicol market, coming up with services that improve the travel experience of Bicolanos who frequent Manila. This consequently allows for the overall improvement of the by-land travel of tourists from Manila to Legazpi and vice-versa.

12193659_506882292810383_5352250870372188859_n — Cagsawa’s Royal Class Bus. This boasts very generous legroom with seats that recline almost completely allowing passengers to sleep through the Manila-Legazpi trip.

Two of the leading bus lines serving the Manila-Legazpi route are Cagsawa and Penafrancia. They have multiple trips all throughout the day. The most convenient of all are the night trips that depart from Manila at around 7:00 PM. These buses have a very spacious leg room with recliner seats and foot rests that will allow you to sleep thought the 12-hour trip to Legazpi. The same bus departs from Legazpi to Manila at around the same time. Bus fares differ from one bus lines to the next but with the quality of your trip at stake, go for the more expensive and convenient trip available.

Emerald Boutique Hotel Opens Its New Events Venue

February 28, 2017 admin Leave a comment

When it seems like Emerald Boutique Hotel is done surprising people with its affordable rooms and beyond-expectations service, it is now announcing another exciting addition to its offering – opening the doors of its one of a kind events venue they call “The Garden”.

The Garden was originally an outdoor space that allowed guests to enjoy the fresh air outside. However due to Bicol’s unpredictable weather, the management chose to install a roof over the outdoor space. However it was also important for the hotel to keep the outdoor charm of the area so the perfect compromise would be to install a transparent roof that will keep the water out but will let the natural light in. This also allows guests to have dinner under the stars, a pretty romantic place to enjoy a meal for two.

17016616_1882361525339468_1579513430_o — The Garden with its transparent Resin Roof Panels that allow natural light to flood the place without exposing guests to the elements. The Garden is fully air-conditioned.

The Garden can accommodate up to 60 people. It is fully air-conditioned and it comes with comfortable tables and chairs. But the deal clincher for this venue is its very reasonable rental costs.

The Garden has attractive food packages and there are also inclusions that will surely make your event not only memorable but cost-effective.

13457633_10154262540819793_2018391200_n — With Emerald Bistro Cafe providing for the food in the new events venue, you can be sure you are not only getting a nice place to have your party, you are also dining with amazingly good food prepared by Emerald’s in-house Chef.

The food is provided by the Emerald Bistro Café. This means amazingly delicious menu options prepared by no other than Emerald’s in-house Chef.

There are also two VIP videoke rooms you can use (separate fees apply). These can add another fun element to your event. These rooms have direct access to The Garden so your guests can conveniently enjoy this added amenity.

Interested to book at The Garden? Call/text Emerald Boutique Hotel at these numbers: (052) 201 – 0402 or +63 917 322 5232.

Emerald Boutique Hotel Ends 2016 With A Bang!

December 19, 2016 admin Leave a comment

Emerald Boutique Hotel might just be a new “player” in Legazpi’s hotel industry but it is making waves, big waves, that have placed it firmly on the map in its first year of operation. The hotel is proof that newbies are not necessarily on a disadvantaged position. The opposite is true for Emerald.

With many hotels rising all over the city in 2016, the hotel needs to prove itself to the influx of tourists in Albay. The strategy of Emerald Boutique Hotel is to offer a very competitive price point for its guests while making sure that their expectations are met, and exceeded. So what are the milestones of EBH in 2016?

Embracing the rise of Legazpi City’s tourism-centric growth

Emerald understands where the city is heading so it expected a sizable business growth. This anticipation pushed the hotel in a single minded pursuit – not just to promote the hotel on its own but the City of Legazpi, the Province of Albay.

13507116_10208733802214788_8895578284391298136_n — Zalrian Sayat of Images by Ryan facilitating the FujiFilm Global Photowalk – Legazpi leg. Emerald Boutique Hotel joins in this endeavor in its attempt to make Legazpi more known in the local and international tourism circle.

Its sponsorship of FujiFilm’s Global Photowalk last June 25, 2016 is proof of its goal to put Legazpi on the map, promoting its sights and sounds, culture, and the brand of Bicolano hospitality. Together with Photography giants FujiFilm, Benro, LowePro, and BlackRapid, and with local suppliers Kreate Digital Prints, Willy and Sons and CS Event, the photowalk was successfully rolled-out in the city, joining thousands of other photography enthusiasts and hobbyists all over the Philippines.

Ryan Sayat of Images by Ryan presenting the Emerald Boutique Hotel Gift Certificate to the lucky winner. More than 50 photography enthusiasts participated in the event.

Emerald understands that the sale-ability of its rooms is dependent on the attractiveness of Legazpi to local and foreign tourists. The hotel will keep this strategy and build its business from the success of its city.

Hosting Celebrities Adds Prestige and Dependability

Emerald Boutique Hotel has hosted sports celebrities, local entertainment personalities, and successful music artists since it open its doors in early 2016. It has hosted the Petron Volleyball Team, Nyoy Volante, The DLSU Lady Spikers, Rafael Rosell, and many more. This is testament of the hotel’s go-get attitude when it comes to pleasing VIP’s.

Nyoy Volante with the beautiful ladies of Emerald’s front desk. Nyoy stayed in the hotel for his one-night only intimate concert in Legazpi City.

The smaller size of the hotel is not seen by events organizers as a liability but an advantage. The hotel’s premises are secure, the location is perfect, and the area is amazingly quiet, perhaps a semblance of privacy not many larger hotels can provide for.

Taking on the Internet: Online Marketing Success

With the help of a bicol-based consultant, the hotel was able to build a robust, dynamic, and intelligent online presence that has quadrupled both the engagement and online Facebook-based inquiries of Emerald. It averages 2,000 direct Google searches and over 4,000 discovery searches. Its photos online are viewed 197% more than similar businesses in the city. This has helped the hotel rally its early business success.

Emerald has built its brand around its “beyond expectations” tagline and the guests are responding in kind with many of them giving the hotel good reviews in Emerald’s Google Business Page, Facebook Page and in TripAdvisor. 2 months ago the hotel ranked 5^th among the top 12 preferred hotels in the city. In the 2^nd week of December it has placed 3^rd among the 12 top hotels in Legazpi. For a hotel that has yet to celebrate its first year in the business, it is proving to be a rising star in the local hotel industry.

Perhaps the crowning glory of Emerald’s online success is the launch of its website that allows guests all over the world to check on room availability, rates, amenities, and even related services. The website is proving to be a vital virtual platform for the hotel to catch the attention of local and foreign tourists.

img_9445_opt-copy — Stay with Emerald Boutique Hotel and know for sure why this small hotel is making a big impression among local and international tourists.

Emerald Boutique Hotel is not yet done, and it will never be done in giving its guests more than they expected from a boutique hotel. The “small” spaces of the hotel will never match its big heart in giving the best service it can afford for its guests.

Come on over to Legazpi, Visit Albay, and stay at Emerald Boutique Hotel.

Why You Will Probably Hate Legazpi City

November 7, 2016 admin Leave a comment

Legazpi City, the seat of power of the province of Albay, with a population of 1.23 million is a rising tourism destination in the Philippines. It is one of the most visited cities in the country today thanks to the efforts of the local government and its Department of Tourism counterpart.

Legaspi has seen rapid growth in the past few years. Housing projects are sprouting everywhere, shopping malls are coming in the latest one is Ayala Malls Legaspi. SM will follow which will start construction on January 2017. Robinsons is also expressing their intent in building a store in the city. This growth spurt is a sign that this city is getting a lot of attention, a good hint for people to come and visit it.

The growth of Legazpi City is unstoppable. Now is the best time to visit. Credits to the owner of the photo.

But there are some things I hate about this city. I think you need to know about these before pushing for your trip.

Mayon is an Intimidating Stalker

Everywhere you go in Legaspi City you will see Mayon and its majestic slopes. The moment your plane touches down, as long as you have clear skies, Mayon will be there staring at you, and you will be captivated by its beauty so that you will have no choice but to stare back at it – all the time.

6730414111_6b57f43898_b — Mayon and its seeming omnipresence in the city of Legazpi. Credits to the owner of the photo.

There are only a few hotels that do not have a Mayon view simply because this perfect cone of a volcano is a landmark in the city, an omnipresent topographical feature you can never miss while in Legazpi.

Of course if you love Mayon this will not be such a big nuisance. Ready your camera, pray for good weather, and rape that camera button because selfies with Mayon as background is really, really cool!

14055061_292443931122349_1559131106262357526_n — The spectacular view at the Baywalk in Legazpi. Photo by Miel Protacio

Too Many Things to See and Do

Legazpi is a very convenient gateway to many tourist attractions that you will have a hard time prioritizing things you want to do and visit. You can choose to go to Cagsawa Ruins, a World Heritage Site, or travel south to Donsol for some Whale Shark interaction, or go up to Lignon Hill for a 360 view of the city.

may2013legazpi-45_zps3e03f4da — Cagsawa Ruins, one of the world’s celebrated heritage site is just a short drive from Legazpi proper. Credits to the owner of the photo.

You can also choose to go for a day tour at Misibis Bay, do some ATV adventure at Mayon’s lava formation, or explore nearby islands with amazing white sand beaches, and the list goes on and on.

resized — The view on the way to the foot of Mayon in the ATV trail. Credits to the owner of the photo.

The truth is there is just too many places to go to you can never go to each one of them. You might end up going home frustrated at least that is how it was for me.

The solution to this “problem” is to have a list of your favorites, shorten your list more, and pursue the places you cannot afford to miss while in the city. This is the only way you will know right from the get-go that you came and did what you really wanted to see and do. No regrets!

Weight Gain is Inevitable

Bicol is known for its amazing gastronomic offerings and when you visit Legazpi prepare to eat – as in eat without minding the extra calories. This is the only way you will not end up hating yourself for not enjoying the great food this place is known for. The Sili Ice Cream of Colonial Grill, the Laing Pizza of Small Talk Café, the Emerald Burger of Emerald Boutique Hotel, the Pancit Canton of Mamay Ferings, the Crispy Pata of Bob Marlin, the Bicol Express of Koron Native Restaurant, the no-fuss food at Boklan.

Chili-Ice-Cream-at-1st-Colonial-Grill-in-Albay — Sili Ice Cream from the Original 1st Colonial Grill.

Good food is so easy to find here that even bike drawn stalls in Penaranda Park can get you to gastronomic heaven with the sandwiches of Eat N’ Run, or the favorite Filipino dish of Mike Sisig.

If you are adventurous enough even the small canteens along the road (carenderias) will have a version of some popular Bicol dishes like laing, bicol express, ginataang santol, and adobo sa asin.

ginataang-santol-recipe — Ginataang Santol is a local delicacy in Albay. Credits to the owner of the photo.

You will hate Legazpi because it will surely make weight gain easy. The secret to overcoming this “crisis” is just to let go of your calorie limits. When you visit Legazpi, accept the fact that you will eat – lots.

Laing_Pinangat — The highly regarded laing has become a trademark for Bicol. In Albay it is one of its most respected local dishes. You gotta try it when around the city. Credits to the owner of the photo.

You will probably hate Legazpi. You will be stalked by a majestic, beautiful volcano, your time management will be challenged with so many things to do and see, and you will gain weight. But then you will also probably love all of these things about Legazpi. And you will probably keep coming back.

Emerald Boutique Hotel Launches Its Website!

October 4, 2016 admin Leave a comment

Emerald Boutique Hotel finally launches its website after 3 months of construction by a Legazpi –based web development company Betterment Solutions with the support of online branding think tank Kim Iqs.

Emerald’s website is made to be simple and easy to navigate, a feature that will make it user friendly and at the same time browser friendly.

Emerald’s website is easy to navigate, a feature that was intentional right from the very start to help guests interact with the hotel with zero fuss. Due to the simplistic design of the website it is also light enough for web browsers to load. This makes the online front of the hotel more accessible– even for people with very limited Internet speeds.

The website also has an online booking function allowing guests to book any rooms they want with a click of the mouse. Reserving a room is also very easy – just select your check-in date, enter your personal details, choose your preferred room, let the hotel know your special requirements (if there are any), and click “submit now”. You will receive a confirmation of your reservation. All you have to do is settle the cost of your booking and you are all set!

Reserving a room at Emerald is now very easy. Just fill up the necessary fields, hot “submit now” and the room is yours as soon as you settle the fees. It’s as easy as 1-2-3.

The website also makes it easy for guests to contact the hotel. Do you need directions to the hotel? Click the CONTACT US tab and find your way through Google Map. Do you need to call the hotel? Get the contact numbers from the same tab and get in touch with the hotel’s front desk personnel.

You need directions? The Contact Us tab will help you find your way to the hotel with Google Maps. Other contact details are also included in this page.

Hotel features are also part of the website’s home page content making it easy for guests to know what to expect while staying in the hotel and what they can do while checked in. Do you want to get updated with the hotel? Are you interested with the hotel’s special offers? Subscribe to their quarterly newsletter (enter your email address, click subscribe).

Room details and descriptions are on an easy to interpret format with the use of icons and concise wording. You can easily choose between the rooms with a “book this room” button conveniently located on the right side.

With the hotel’s improving online presence and its affiliation to many hotel directories like TripAdvisor and Booking.com, the launching of its website would make its online marketing efforts more visible. Curious about Emerald Boutique Hotel’s new home in the World Wide Web? Go to www.emerladboutiquehotel.com and check it out for yourself.

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