Metro Manila isn’t exactly the best place to spend the New Year. With all the fireworks going off, it can get really loud and smokey. If you’re looking for a respite why not head to Tagaytay?Just two hours away from Metro Manila, Tagaytay’s position in the mountains gives you a great vantage point from which to see the fireworks. Best of all, you won’t have to be in the midst of all the noise and smoke of Metro Manila’s fireworks.

In the Philippines, the Holy Week is as much about family reunions as it is about personal reflection. But if reunions aren’t your thing and you just want to stay in, ditch the beach and have a staycation in the city.Book a hotel in Manila and explore Intramuros at leisure rather than battling through the crowds on the beach. If you’re genuinely looking for reflection, make Makati an option. With all the surrounding noise gone, you can actually reflect and pray in the Greenbelt Chapel.

The crowds on beaches will be thinning out by this time, so take advantage of that and head there. Why not make your way to Palawan? It’s already less crowded than Boracay to begin with. The low season means there’s even less people. Best of all, cheap flights and hotels are easier to get if you’re planning to visit around this time.

If you’re looking to skip the reunions that usually happen around this time, head on over to Baguio for a ghost-hunting weekend. You can have an appropriately spooky weekend in haunted locations like the Diplomat Hotel and the Laperal Mansion.

You can take a journey back in time during this long weekend to get an idea of what the Philippines was like during Andres Bonifacio’s time. Head over to Bataan and visit Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar. The whole resort is a perfect venue for you to immerse yourself in Bonifacio’s time. Why? It looks like the Philippines during the 18th century.

Christmas is definitely a time to spend with your family, and you can make it extra special by taking them somewhere special. Head on over to Boracay. The New Year crowds still haven’t come in around this time, so you and the family can walk the beach at leisure. What better gift than to take your family to one of the world’s best beaches?Ready to book your trip? Discover cheap hotel deals and cheap flights from carriers like Philippine Airlines, AirAsia, and more with Traveloka!]]>