Summer is here. It’s a time when friends and family are spending their days in sunny beaches, or reveling in the colder spring weather of neighboring countries such as Japan and Korea. For people who are hard-pressed to come up with fun activities they can do with loved ones while staying put in Metro Manila, here are some fun things to do to make this summer memorable and exciting.
Take a walk
Walking tours are the latest trend when it comes to exploring what the city has to offer. They offer comprehensive explanations of our history but with an interesting twist.
Manila for a Day was established by a group of friends in 2013, albeit initially as a means of proving that professional tour guiding can be a sustainable and reliable source of income for Filipinos in Manila. Today, it is the number one rated walking tour provider based on Tripadvisor reviews.
What makes them different from other walking tours is that they use our country’s history as a lens in understanding the Filipino people today. They are able to give amazing tour experiences because they have created a narrative-driven guiding method and discipline. Instead of the typical litany of dates and descriptive spiels that are normally provided by traditional tours, they hold your hand to journeys of discovery and try to make you understand the Filipino people and their culture.
Book their 3G: Good, Gold and Glory tour; it is the best tour of the historical walled city of Intramuros with a 100 percent satisfaction rating among their clients. This engaging walking tour is the result of five years of research on the Filipino’s culture and heritage that is distilled and delivered straight to you while exploring the historic sites.
Photo by Jordyn Saunders
To know more about Manila for a Day, visit www.manilaforaday.com.
Tralulu is another walking tour in Manila. Tralulu is comprised of a team of people whose purpose is to ensure that the socio-economic growth brought by the vibrant tourism industry is accessible and inclusive. The team works with local communities and small-scale operators to ensure that the lion share of their revenue goes directly to the primary stakeholders. At the same time, they provide both convenience and authenticity to their customers, by giving them only the best and most reliable services possible.
It is also worth noting that as a tour guide company, they want travelers—local and international, to travel like a local and learn more about the places they are visiting through lessons that they can bring home with them and to get more people interested in visiting those places.
Most of their Metro Manila tours last for four hours, while the Manila My Manila Guide Choice tour takes a full day or eight hours. They also have a Free Walking Tour that lasts for two hours.
Photo from Tralulu Facebook page
To know more about Tralulu, visit www.tralulu.com.
Take a break
If you prefer to get out of the hustle and bustle of Metro Manila, hop on a car and go for a drive to Bay, Laguna, home of Lotus Pod Bed and Breakfast. Lotuspod Bed and Breakfast was once the rest house and farm of veteran journalist Cheche Lazaro before converting it into the little sanctuary outside of Manila. Lotuspod is on a three-hectare property that is idyllic and ideal to get away from it all.
Experience the best of nature combined with luxury, comfort and enjoyment. The property consists of a casita complex, a large pavilion, a reception area, a spa lounge that offers different spa massages, an infinity pool, and fun activities for kids and grown-ups such as zip lining and biking. There are eight casitas for guests to enjoy with very prominent Balinese designs — making you feel like you’re in Bali instead of Laguna. Each casita is spacious with a small garden, an en-suite bathroom with its own hot spring tub, and a scenic view can accommodate at least three adults.
Nighttime at Lotuspod is magical as they also offer dinner service under the stars — perfect for a romantic getaway with your loved one. It is also a wonderful space to hold weddings and other intimate events. They also offer camping, half-day tours and agritours.
To know more about Lotuspod Bed and Breakfast, visit www.lotuspodbedandbreakfast.com.
