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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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 without its current transparent roof. This space was already so full of charm prior to its renovation. Its airy ambiance made this one of the most popular hangouts among hotel guests especially in the cool of the day.
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.
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.
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.
Emerald’s VIP Videoke rooms are second to none. Rent these out too and make your event more special!
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 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.
Vacationing is a must-do for many. This is not just about having a good time but also about relieving stress, hitting a “refresh” button when life gets a little too toxic. One of the most important considerations in vacationing to a place you barely know is where you will be staying for the whole duration of your trip.
This is important because this is often where you will be investing a lot of money in as far as your vacation is concerned. It does not matter if you are travelling solo or with a buddy, securing a place to crash in town can be expensive. Your accommodation options can also easily make or break your trip. Many tend to lean more on savings than comfort so they end up regretting the whole experience while in town and that is a sad story to tell when you get back home.
The Deluxe Room at Emerald Boutique Hotel. Rooms start at P1500 at the Emerald. Talking about a budget hotel!
Comfort is the key
While it is natural to be as frugal as you can when looking for a hotel, this must not be at the expense of comfort, of a good night’s sleep. What use is a P300/day room when you are sweating like a pig through the night? Having an air-con or non-aircon room is not a primary consideration. The first thing that you should be mindful of is comfort. A fan-only room is not a problem as long as the room is well ventilated – meaning there are windows to keep the room cool and comfy. Consider these other comfort factors:
Is the room quiet enough at night? Location plays a big part to this one.
Is the mattress thick enough with what you are used to? Waking up sore and not rested is a very potent fun-time killer while on vacation.
Does it have it its own comfort room? Now this really depends on a person, but many would rather have a comfort room that they can use exclusively.
Location, location, location
If you are looking for a hotel the least place you want it to be located at is at a marketplace. Aside from the stench of Philippine public markets (you know what I am talking about), you also have to deal with a lot of noise, and yeah, rats and cockroaches. Be mindful of your accommodation costs but please be sure your hotel is located in a clean, peaceful area.
The marked location of Emerald Boutique hotel. Just a few steps from Peñaranda Park, the Provincial Capital of Albay, and Rizal Avenue. Perfect location that is.
The location of your hotel must also be accessible. The hotel must be near or just short ride from the airport. It must be located near major streets so that hailing a jeepney to go anywhere in town is easy. The last thing you want to do is to be too dependent on taxis or tricycles which can easily get very expensive as the days pass.
Know more about the daily rates
Looking at the cost of the room per night is not enough. Sometimes the hotel rooms you thought to be affordable would end up being more expensive. Check for the inclusions! Is there complimentary breakfast? What are the amenities in the hotel? Is there airport shuttle? What are the applicable discounts? Calling the hotel and asking the right questions should help you choose a hotel better.
Know more about bundled tours
Many hotels have bundled tours with their packaged rates. This can be a great option to up the fun factor of your vacation. This way you can best enjoy the city minus the hassle of planning for your itinerary which can be time consuming and can get plagued with problems. Are you too lazy to do research where to go and what to do? Go for bundled deals!
The soon-to-be-launched website of Emerald Boutique Hotel. Modern, easy to navigate, and clean. A very good representation of the key features of the hotel.
Know what people are saying about the hotel
Thanks to the Internet knowing about a hotel is easy. Look up the hotel in directories like Bookings.com or Trip Advisor and go to the “reviews” section. How is the hotel rated? What are the issues raised by previous guests? Remember there are no perfect hotels. Choose the one that has issues you can live with. A guest might rate a hotel poorly but only for the absence of a swimming pool. If you do not care too much about swimming, then don’t reject that place just yet.
The Emerald Boutique Hotel facade. 30 rooms – this might be a “small” hotel but every room is made to delight you.
Facebook Pages are also a good platform to look up a hotel’s reputation. Sometimes the appearance of their FB page tells a lot about how they manage their hotel as a whole. Brand conscious hotels or those that have a nice, well managed, professional looking FB pages and websites are often good signs that a hotel offers good accommodation and services.
There you have it. Mind these pointers, do your research, take your time, and book in advance. Remember, the quality of your vacation is often tied up to the quality of your accommodations.
One of the most known symbols of Bicolandia is the beautiful, symmetrical mound of rock and sand called Mt. Mayon. This volcano is indeed a sight to behold – breathtaking, majestic, and yes, dangerous. But you probably do not know these four things that make Mayon more interesting.
The Magayon Folklore
The name Mayon is from the bicol word “magayon” which translates to “beautiful” in Enlgish. Bicolanos know this by heart and. But the folklore behind it is not just talked about too much. “Magayon” is actually the name of a princess who was forced to wed a wicked lover named Pagtuga.
Princess Magayon, or the “beautiful princess” is shown in this artistic illustration. Her tragic story is the interesting narrative behind the beautiful Mayon Volcano. Illustration credits thevolcanoprincess.com
Pagtuga captured Princess Magayon’s father and her hand was the price for his freedom. However, even with an attempted rescue by the princess’ real lover Paganoron, the story still had a tragic ending when both lovers die in the violence that ensued. The place where Magayon was buried is where Mayon stands today, or so the story narrates.
Mayon’s Scary Side
Mt. Mayon is Philippines’ most active volcano. Even present-day Albayanos can attest to this fact. In a span of 400 years the volcano have had 50 eruptions. The first recorded eruption of Mayon was in 1616 as chronicled by the Dutch explorer Joris van Spilbergen.
Mayon Volcano erupting. Horror and fear replaces beauty when she shows her other side. Photo credits R. Madronero
Mayon is known to have huge and extended eruptions, one lasted for 7 full days (imagine that!). This eruption started on the 23d of June 1897. This uninterrupted eruption launched red hot rocks into the air and released a sea of lava that trapped and killed hundreds in the towns of San Roque, Libon, and Bacacay.
The Death Of 1,200
Mayon is no doubt beautiful but like everything in this world, nothing is perfect. Mayon’s weakness would be her fatal wrath expressed through huge eruptions. One of these catastrophic eruptions happened one fateful February day in 1814.
One of Mayon’s early eruptions. This photo captured its 1928 eruption. This volcano might be beautiful but it is also a killer. Photo credits Wikimedia
There were many villages in Albay and CamSur that were destroyed with raining ash, hot stones, and sand spewing from the crater. 12,000 people died in that day making it the deadliest eruption in Mt. Mayon history.
What’s In A Name – Cagsawa Ruins
Many do not know this but before the big Mayon eruption of 1814, Cagsawa was actually a town and Daraga (soon to be a city) a little village. With many people dead in Cagsawa after the huge eruption, people were forced to resettle in Daraga, changing the concentration of population in the area to this very day.
Tha Cagsawa Church framing Mayon Volcano (as always). This photo however shows the church as an intact structure, unlike the iconic photos widely distributed of these two. where the bell tower is the only surviving feature of the church. Photo credits Jenny Exconde
Cagsawa are from the two word “kag” which translates to “owner” and “sawa” which means “python”. Put the two words together and you have a place “owned by snakes”. Legend has it that Cagsawa Church was a haven of snakes and the name just stuck to be later recorded in the annals of history.
There you have it! The next time you visit and look up at Mayon’sperfect cone, be sure not only to be in awe of its ageless beauty but also be reminded of its interesting and violent history.
There is just something special about Small Hotels or Inns in a quiet street, especially those that strive for the comfort of their guests. This is what boutique hotels are known for – small in size but big in offerings and personality.
Enter the Emerald Boutique Hotel in Legazpi City. It is intimate and charming with nicely furnished rooms. What it lacks in luxurious space, it makes up with its unique style, comfort, and service.
The Rooms
The rooms at Emerald Hotel Legazpi have thick, 5-star quality mattresses with anti-bacterial sheets. The toiletries of this small hotel are also beyond the expectations of many people, considering the published rates of its rooms. The toilet and bath are nice and it is complete with rainshower head showers.
Emerald Boutique Hotel’s Standard Room. The comfy mattress says it all. Quality accommodations is here for the price of a budget hotel.
And if it is any consolation, the water that comes out from the faucets (showers too) is treated by the hotel’s own water purification system. Simply put, the water that you take a bath with is safe to drink, comparable to the bottled water you buy from the store.
This is Emerald’s Twin Deluxe Room. Two beds, generous floor space, elegantly furnished toilet and bath, with Cable TV and 24/7 Internet access.
The rooms are all equipped with cable TV and each floor has its own dedicated Internet line. In fact every part of the hotel has a decent WiFi signal, even the lobby, corridors, and outdoor spaces. Some of the third floor rooms have a Mayon view, while some rooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors have access to a veranda.
The Location
A 3-minute walk to any direction will get you to the very heart of Legazpi City. Restaurants abound and Jeepneys drive through Rizal St.. These can ferry you through almost all routes in the city.
Emerald Boutique hotel is located right in the heart of Legazpi City. It is just a 3-minute walk to the seat of power of the province of Albay and the local government of Legazpi. Restaurants are also near the hotel. If you fancy roaming around the city the hotel is just a few meters away from one of the of main streets of Legazpi (Rizal St.) where public utility jeepneys pass through driving people in and around the major routes in the city.
Swimming with Whale Sharks in Donsol Bay is a feasible adventure if you are staying at the Emerald Boutique Hotel. Photo by Q Phia via FlickrThe Cagsawa Ruins, a World Heritage Site, is one Jeepney ride from Emerald Hotel Legaspi. Photo by Ayan Villafuerte
Do you want to visit the famous Cagsawa Ruins? One jeepney ride from the hotel is all you need. Do you want to hike up to the top of Lignon Hill and witness the majestic beauty of Mayon? It is just another jeepney ride away from Emerald Hotel Legazpi. This is one of the most important features of the Hotel – its accessibility to the many tourist attractions in the city and beyond.
If you fancy visiting the Cagraray EcoPark then Legazpi City is a convenient jump off point. Photo by Sayson Ballesteros
Emerald is in Legazpi and the city is at the very heart of Albay Province making it a convenient jump-off point to many local attractions like the Vanishing Island in Malilipot, The Mayon Rest House in Tabaco, Vera Falls in Malinao, Kawa-Kawa Hill in Ligao, Danao Lake in Polangui, the Japanese Tunnels in Camalig, and the Cagraray EcoPark, even the Misibis Bay Resort and Casino.
The Vera Falls in Malinao. This is just a short drive away from Legazpi City. Photo credits to the owner
Everything is within reach of Emerald Boutique Hotel and this includes Donsol Bay where the whale sharks or Butanding show up during the summer months.
Dining and Entertainment
The Emerald Bistro Cafe. This is open all day to serve sumptuous meals to hotel guests. Coffee is also available here.
Emerald Boutique Hotel has its own Bistro-Café in the ground floor which serves the guests with the hotel’s complimentary breakfast. It is open from 6:00AM to 10:00PM. The restaurant also offers mouth-watering Bicol gastronomic treats. Gourmet coffee will also be available soon in the Café.
The Emerald Bistro Café opens up to an outdoor space, to “The Garden” which will soon have live acoustic entertainment on the weekends. With the parasols, the open skies, and the comfortable seating, this area will surely be a new favorite hangout area for guests and Legazpi locals.
The Garden, an outdoor space that connects the indoor dining area to the elements outside. You can dine here if you want to.
For those who love to sing their hearts out there is the Emerald KTV rooms. The sound proof rooms are fully equipped with high quality audio-visual equipment ready to provide music and vocals even for the most demanding and seasoned karaoke singers.
People are having so much fun in Emerald’s KTV rooms. This room is sound proof and equipped with top of the line audio visual equipment.
The Videoke rooms can be rented out exclusively for three hours for only Php2500. This rate includes a consumable food package that can fill up the appetite of up to 10 people. Not a bad deal at all.
The Ambiance
Emerald Boutique Hotel’s lobby. This intimate and welcoming space represents the very feel of this charming hotel.
Emerald Boutique Hotel offers intimate accommodation with 30 fully air-conditioned rooms. This gives the hotel a homey feel and with its friendly customer service this hotel delights and delivers. Even with the limitations of its size, the hotel has all the amenities that matter most even to a seasoned traveler.
The hotel’s front desk. That green lighting reflects the emerald standard pursued by this up and coming boutique hotel.
With room rates going for as low as Php1500 per night, the Emerald Boutique Hotel is bound to exceed all your expectations.
