Staycation and SBG Weekend Griller at Swissotel Al Ghurair

Located in the old district of a dazzling city is a gem of a hotel that offers comfort, convenience, and sweeping views of both old and new structures. With Union Metro Station around the corner and the Dubai Creek only a stone's throw, Swissotel Al Ghurair is considered one of Deira's best hotel accommodations for travelers. 

From a Dubai resident's point of view, I see Swissotel Al Ghurair as an ideal spot for special dinners and events for several years. And just recently, I realized how suitable it is for staycations as well! 

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A Perfect City Break at Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre Hotel

Now that the world is slowly coping up with the COVID-19 situation - safety protocols have been implemented here and there - Ed and I have also learned to embrace the new norm. Recently, we started to spend more time outdoors for a natural dose of Vitamin D which I believe we are deficient with by now. And being home buddies and couch potatoes for several months, we finally opted to break away from the mundane household routine with hotel staycations.

Last week, we spent a night at Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre Hotel. Freshly reopened and launched with an ALLSAFE label, we were confident that we'll experience a much-needed city break with peace of mind.

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Budget-Friendly Family Staycation at Premier Inn Dubai Dragon Mart

Long before COVID-19 shook the world, my parents flew over to Dubai for a quick visit. It became a sort of tradition to spend a night or two in a hotel every time they arrive. Ed and I are often caught up with work, hence staying in a hotel has been an excellent way to spend more quality time, catch up and bond with them in a relaxed atmosphere.

Tested and proven for comfortable yet budget-friendly stays, we spent a night in the newly-opened Premier Inn Hotel in Dubai.   

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Things I Love about Premier Inn Al Jaddaf

I have heard about Al Jaddaf a few times before, but most of the time, it was all about the dhow building yard. I thought it is a far-off deserted place located at the end of the Dubai Metro's Green Line. Little did I know, Al Jaddaf has quickly flourished into one of the most sought after communities in Dubai! 

It is in this thriving localle that Premier Inn Dubai opened a new hotel! Judging from the outside, Premier Inn Al Jaddaf is quite different from all the other Premier Inns I've seen. It looks very Dubai with its sand-hued facade and windcatchers! And when we stayed there last weekend, it realized that it is much more than a charming traditional exterior! 

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Colmar Tropicale: Day Trip in a French-themed Resort in Malaysia

Two years ago, when I said I will go back to Malaysia, I truly meant it!

Ed and I traveled back to the Heart of Southeast Asia last May; this time together with my parents for my Mama's birthday trip. They haven't been to Malaysia before and I was longing to go back; hence it was an easy destination of choice.

While planning for the return trip, I asked my Instagram friends for tips on where to bring the family; preferably a special location where my Mama (who apparently has more Facebook followers than me) can take pretty photos and have a nice birthday celebration. Visiting Colmar Tropicale turned out to be the #1 recommendation!

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Fun, Free, and Cheap Things to do in Singapore

Singapore is one of my favorite cities in the world. Other than the fact that it has the bestest airport, coolest attractions, and super organized transportation system, Singapore was my very first out of the country destination, that is why it holds a place in my heart.

Whether a quick layover or a proper holiday, I wouldn't mind visiting Singapore over and over.  However, it can be costly!

It was named as the world's most expensive city to live in for several years, and probably one of the priciest holiday destinations. Hence, spending a few days in Singapore has always been a challenge for budget travelers like me.

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OYO Rooms: Budget Stay in the UAE

I'm a huge fan of budget travel, but here's the catch - I'm not the one who's willing to compromise comfort and convenience. Being always after the value of money, I was thrilled when I heard about the launching of OYO Rooms in the UAE.  

What is OYO? 

OYO Rooms is actually not a newbie in the budget travel category. It originated in India in 2013 as a startup which aimed to standardize the services in budget hotels and guesthouses. It has become South Asia's largest hospitality group, and now it's being introduced to the world; one country at a time.  

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Family Staycation in Hili Rayhaan by Rotana

Al Ain is undoubtedly one of the popular holiday destinations in the UAE. It is where Ed and I usually go whenever we need to take a breather. Fondly called as The Garden City, Al Ain is a total opposite of Dubai; no skyscrapers, no bizarre structures, lots of lush greens, and time seemingly moves slower! 

Now that my parents are here again on a short vacation and I think they have seen much of Dubai already, we decided to let them have a whole new experience; a change of environment by having a lazy family staycation in Al Ain. 

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3 Days in Taiwan: Travel Essentials, Itinerary and Expenses

Taiwan was not on my 20 before 2020 wish list, let alone in my travel radar before the visa-free access for Filipinos was granted and before I stumbled on (and got addicted) to Din Tai Fung. Hahah! 

With only a few months left in Taiwan's visa-free program, the perfect opportunity for me to visit came last March! My vacation leave got approved just in time for Spring! I've been longing to witness those delicate pink blossoms for a couple of years already, so, together with my favorite travel buddies - Ed and my parents, I excitedly flew to Taipei despite the rainy weather forecast.     

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Chasing Cherry Blossoms in Taiwan

I came to Taiwan just to see the cherry blossoms!

Such a shallow reason, I know. But yes, that's the truth. :)

Ed and I have not traveled during springtime before, so when our vacation leaves were approved for March, I thought we should take it as an opportunity to visit a place where we can witness the true beauty of the season. And when you talk about spring, it is the cherry blossoms that first comes into my mind! 

Japan was, of course, the ultimate goal for cherry blossoms sighting but we had to keep it out of the picture because of the visa application. Taiwan, on the other hand, offers a visa-free entry for Filipinos until July 2019, and although not well-celebrated, the country also boasts a variety of sakura flowers during spring! A win-win situation right there!    

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Exploring Taiwan with OWNRIDES Customized Private Tour

If you've been following me on Instagram, you probably know that Ed and I just got back from the land of XLB and bubble tea - Taiwan! We explored some parts of the country with my parents who are still very much cool and groovy at their 60s. Although I know how "game" they are with my DIY itineraries, I always try my best to find more comfortable ways of traveling whenever we are with them.

So, for Taiwan, I opted to book a tour! Not the boring group tour kind, but a type that satiates my hunger for exploring a new place on my own; more like a do-it-yourself trip, but hassle-free and convenient! 

Here's how it went...

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10 Instagrammable Spots in Tbilisi

Did I mention how much I fell in love with Tbilisi when Ed and I visited last Autumn?

Tbilisi, they say is "the city that loves you", and it's definitely not hard to love back. The city, especially the old town, is so charming that I felt welcome the moment I arrived. It is also too colorful - homes are dainty and drenched in pastel tones - that I immediately felt I belong!

Wahhh! It looks too perfect for my Instagram theme!

Don't get me wrong. Ed and I don't travel just for the 'gram. But I can't deny that I really swooned over Tbilisi's cute and colorful corners because it's like my Instagram grid came to life!  

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Short Break in Tbilisi: Travel Itinerary and Expenses

Georgia, the country, is one of the places I haven't heard about until it became a popular vacation spot for Filipinos in the UAE. Being a budget-friendly destination situated at the intersection of Europe and Asia, I often hear my friends rave about it. 

Those raves did spark curiosity, so one day, I found myself spontaneously booking a flight to Georgia's capital - Tbilisi. 

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Beach Day in La Mer Dubai

I was one of the many people who got sad and shocked when Jumeirah Open Beach was closed to the public. Remember my 5 Reasons Why I Love Jumeirah Open Beach blog post five years ago? It was my favorite beach way back then.

Little did I know, my fave beach was not taken away from me and the rest of the beach-lovin population for good. It was closed for sometime to make way for a new beachfront property. 

Our beloved open beach was changed for the better, and it is now called La Mer!

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2 Days in Kuala Lumpur: Travel Itinerary and Expenses

Kuala Lumpur was not our primary destination during our trip last April. It was simply a layover city because I couldn't find affordable flights from Dubai to Hanoi or Siem Reap that time. I haven't been to KL before, and Ed's visit a decade ago was a work trip. So I said... why not make the most out of our two layovers? 

We had nearly 24 hours to explore the city on our first stopover, and 30 hours on our second. For a slow traveler (who loves to stop and smell the flowers), this quick trip is definitely not enough. But for somebody who has no time to spare, aka no vacation leave left (That's me!), you just have to do what you can do! 

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Where to get the Best View of Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur

Booked a ticket to Kuala Lumpur? One way or another, you'd probably wonder where the best spots to view the city's famous twin skyscrapers. I mean, it's a travel cliche, but a visit to Malaysia's capital would be incomplete without seeing the majestic and world-famous Petronas Towers! 

When we had quick stop in KL during our Indochina trip, Ed and I wanted to view the towers both in a picture-postcard angle and in an unusual perspective. So, off we went searching for the perfect location.

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A Day in IMG Worlds of Adventure Dubai

One year after its grand opening, Ed and I were finally able to visit IMG Worlds of Adventure Dubai! It is currently known as the world's largest indoor theme park; breaking the record of Ferrari World which is also located in the UAE. 

Ed, being a fan of roller coasters, and I, being a sucker for theme parks, we felt it was just right to devote an entire day for the 1.5 million square feet fun zone. We arrived past 11 am, only a few minutes after the opening time, and left at around 7 pm.

Here's how our 8-hour visit went... 

   

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Staycation in Abu Dhabi: Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana

Last weekend, I found myself once again inside a bus en route to Abu Dhabi. The capital has been our go-to-destination for short city breaks. This summer alone, we already visited twice! Although the almost 2-hour bus ride became a norm for us, Abu Dhabi never became a mundane destination. The huge emirate has a lot to offer!

Our staycation spot, this time, is in the center of the business district! Sounds ironic, isn't it? But in our home for the weekend - Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana, business amazingly goes well with leisure.

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A Quick Guide to Siem Reap: Itinerary, Expenses and Travel Tips

Being the gateway to Angkor Archaeological Park, Siem Reap is a quaint little town in Cambodia that has become a major tourist destination. Travelers set their home base in Siem Reap when exploring the world-renowned Angkot Wat and other famous Khmer temples.

Ed and I spent three days in Siem Reap during our #SweetEscapesinIndochina trip last April 2017. I could say that a 3-day itinerary is perfect for first time visitors. We were able to see the popular temples in the Angkor complex, ventured out to an off-beat attraction, and experienced non-Angkor-related activities!

Here is a basic travel guide for Siem Reap: 

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How to avoid Temple Fatigue in Siem Reap: Things To Do beyond Angkor Wat

While planning for our trip to Siem Reap, I noticed something... all the places I wrote down on our itinerary are all TEMPLES! Uh-oh! This is bad, I thought. Don't get me wrong. Ed and I are excited to see the famed temples of Cambodia. In fact, the temples, especially the Angkor Wat, are the very reason why Siem Reap is on our 20 before 2020 list. But, we all know that "too much of something is bad!" 

There is actually a minor, yet awful case of fatigue circulating among the tourists in Siem Reap. It's called Temple Fatigue. It's when you have seen too much temples that you no longer want to see any of its kind.

We wanted to avoid temple fatigue as much as we can! So, we made sure that our trip has a good blend of cultural (temples) and modern-day (city) experiences. And it worked!

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