Staycation places for this year's holiday season

Photo by Asad from Pexels

So the entire family is on holiday break. What to do? Go on a much needed stay-cation, of course! Depending on the type of trip your family is into, we’ve got holiday suggestions that you can book and experience as a clan.

Hotel staycationers

Because being stuck in traffic in the metro is a road trip enough.

If you want to head north, there’s The Mansion within the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga. This brand new boutique hotel offers inspired country mansions from America and idyllic manors in European villages. You can book a deluxe family room or your own villas. There are swimming pools, an in-house resto called Sunset Grille, playground and rec room, and get this, a baseball field.

The Mansion at The Villages
Prince Balagtas Road
Clark, Pampanga 2009

Book here

In the south, check into the serviced apartment hotel of Aruga by Rockwell in Makati City. You can ‘live’ in spacious condo units here, fully furnished with contemporary Asian aesthetic. There’s a pool, a gym, and complimentary breakfast buffet. If you get a bit of condo fever, you can go through a special passageway to the nearby Rockwell Power Plant Mall.

Aruga by Rockwell
Waterfront Drive, Rockwell Center
Makati City, 1200

Book here

Photo by Bambi Corro on Unsplash

Beach bums

Your family vacation mode: Choose the beach. Every time.

Revisit the newly rehabilitated Boracay island in style. The Auhana Boracay boasts of 500 luxurious suites and villas that offer magnificent views of the ocean. For families, there are family suites and beachfront villas available. The kids will not only enjoy the tranquility and tiki hut kiddie pools, but there’s a kid’s club and mini theater. The parents can explore the tunnel built within the property that leads to a grotto on top of a mountain.

The Auhana Boracay
Station 3 Boracay Island
Malay, Aklan 5608

Book here

Cebu white beaches are not to be skipped. A private beach on Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort in Oslob would be sublime. This island is members-only, including its Dolpo Kids Club that gives privileges for kids from playroom and playground use and even complimentary birthday cake. For the parents, you can have beach dates in a bamboo gazebo called ‘payag-payag’ and get a Sumilon Island Massage.

Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort
Sumilon Island, Oslob
Cebu 6025

Book here

Photo by Cris Tagupa on Unsplash

Glamping adventurers

Make the pillow and blanket forts come to life and go glamping (glamour + camping) with the fam.

Anguib Beach Club in Cagayan is a boat ride away from Sta. Ana. The four-star property has accommodations right next to the beach. The glamping part comes when you book a tent with a shared bedroom. The resort has a private beach for its guests. You can rent equipment to kayak, snorkel and ride on watercraft. There are tour packages too that will bring you to nearby islands and a lighthouse.

Angui Beach Club
San Vicente – Gutan – Lubac – Anguib Road,
Sta. Ana, Cagayan 3514

Book here

Now if you want glamping with a bird’s eye view, then The Birdhouse in El Nido, Palawan is it. There are only FIVE luxury suite tents on stilt platforms with a private bathroom available! They call it “boutique glamping” and what a marvel it is. All the “nests” face the ocean and you can peruse a bar, yoga classes, board games, and non-smoking rooms. By the way this is glamping all right – there is Wifi limited connection.

The Birdhouse
Maremegmeg Beach, El Nido
Palawan

Book here

Plan your family stay-cation now. The next step: book it!