Our Best Vacation: Seven Summer Spots Worth Visiting

Vacation Spot # 1: Dinosaurs Island, Clark, Pampanga

The family:
Angelo, Judy, and six-year-old Manu Malabanan

Why we went:
Our son is obsessed with cars and dinosaurs, so we decided to check out Dinosaurs Island—and it didn't disappoint!

What we loved:
There is one part of the park where the dinosaurs actually spray water! That was very fun for me and my family! But overall, the quality of the dinosaurs display was great! The whole park plays on your senses. You feel like you're in a real forest with matching jungle sounds, then you see the dinosaurs breathing, blinking, and making sounds as though they were real!

What we did:
Oddly, we went after lunch. But the weather was cloudy and the whole area is covered in huge trees and foliage. At 1 PM, we entered the park and were toured around. The dinosaurs were so huge and life-like that our son ended up crying when he saw the T-Rex! They are activated by motion sensors, so once you come near a certain distance, the lungs start moving and the eyes blink, making the dinosaurs seem real. The tour was on foot and took about an hour. It ends with a special act by two baby T-Rex dinosaurs (two men with robotics) which are also life-like.

After Dinosaurs Island, we headed to the Creamline Ice Cream Factory in Clark to cool off, then ended the afternoon with a horseback ride at El Kabayo (also inside Clark).

Travel Tips:
• Dinosaurs Island is only one hour and 30 minutes away from Manila—so easy to go to. Wear comfortable shoes and light clothing because it can get humid.
• Plan the whole day and start early because there are so many activities for the family inside Clark. You can go swimming or Kayaking in ClearWater Resort and Country Club. You can also have a family picnic, rent out bicycles, and enjoy other activities at the park beside Dinosaurs Island called Clark Picnic Grounds. There is also Zoocobia to visit if your child is interested in animals.

Money Matters:
The entrance fee was P350 per personso we spent P1,050 for the tour. This doesn't include our snacks and the P300 horse ride at El Kabayo.

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Vacation Spot # 2: Sunset Bay Resort, San Fernando, La Union

The family:
Beng, Marica, and nine-year-old Carmen Llenado

Why we went:
We had wanted to go to Baguio to visit our cousin but the weekend we planned to go was during the Panagbenga festival. To avoid the crowds, we decided to go to La Union instead. That way, our cousin and her family could come down and meet us at the beach.

What we loved:
Playing in the ocean. La Union is known for surfing but the area we stayed in had small waves so we had a good time.

What we did:
The plan was to have no plan! The time spent at the beach was really just quality time together. We ate, played on the beach or in the pool with the kids, and chatted.

Travel Tips:
• With the SCTEX and TPLEX, we made very good time. Had it not been for roadwork along many sections of McArthur highway, we would have gotten to the resort much sooner. It took us seven hours. No boat transfer needed.
• Make sure the waves in the area you will be staying at are safe for young children.
• Leave early so you get to the beach in the morning and still have a good part of the day to play in the sand.
• Relax and have a good time. It's the beach!

Money Matters:
It came to about P20,000 for my family (me, my husband, and Carmen). P4,000 per night for the rooms (no breakfast), gas, and toll fees, and food. We like to eat. :)

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Vacation Spot #3: Osaka, Japan

The family:
Jude, Tricia, 11-year-old Josh, eight-year-old Lucas, and three-year-old Paulina Turcuato

Why we went:
My children love Japanese food and we wanted them to visit Japan and get to know the culture and origin of their favorite food. Joshua had his first bite of sushi and sashimi when he was five and it became his favorite food ever since. He even taught himself how to eat with chopsticks at that age. Lucas's favorites are sukiyaki and tempura. He keeps asking me, “How can something named YAKI be so yummy?”

What we loved:
Our favorite activity was going to Universal Studios because it's always fun to go to a theme park! What was nice about Universal Studios in Japan compared to Universal Studios in LA is that they have an area that is for little kids (Universal Wonderland), where there are simple carnival rides that are not scary. They feature the characters of Sesame Street, Snoopy, and Hello Kitty.  

What we did:
We went to Universal Studios, Takoyaki Museum, Shinsaibashi shopping center, Dotonbori entertainment center, Osaka castle, Umeda sky building, Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan (one of the largest aquariums in the world), and Kuromon Ichiba Market. We also went on a day trip to Kyoto to see the Silver Pavilion, the Geisha, and Imperial Palace.

Travel Tips:
• My family really loves Japanese food and a trip to Kuromon Ichiba Market is highly recommended. The Kuromon Ichiba Market is not always written about or recommended by others; in fact, we only stumbled upon it the day we were leaving. It's an indoor market that features the freshest fish, fruit, and beef. We had the sweetest and biggest strawberries, slices of kobe beef that melted in your mouth, and the freshest salmon, tuna and uni sashimi.
• Eat at the food courts below the department stores. At 8 PM to closing, the food goes on sale by as much as 50% off. There is so much variety and the selection is amazing. What we did was buy food at night (on sale) and eat it for our breakfast the next day.
• We stayed in Fraser Residences Nankai Osaka, an apartment type of hotel. Things that I consider when we travel as a family is to make sure that the hotel is near the train station, and if possible has a little kitchenette and washer/dryer.
• We flew via Jetstar Asia and it took us four hours to get there. It was not a long trip.
• If you have a toddler, you may need to bring a stroller along as you will walk a lot.
• Hotel rooms in Japan are very small, so if you’re traveling with families, it is better to get a two-bedroom type of apartment.
• Bring an umbrella, for unexpected rain showers or to protect yourself from the heat of the sun.

Money Matters:
We were able to buy our plane tickets on promo so we spent less than $200 per person for round-trip fares. Accommodations were about $150 a room night, and food was about $100 a meal for the whole family.

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Vacation Spot #4: Crimson Resort and Spa, Mactan, Cebu

The family:
Christian and Mitch, seven-year-old Micky, and three-year-old Becca So

Why we went:
My wife had great recommendations via friends and Instagram about the resort, and my three-year-old wanted to go to the beach.

What we loved:
Swimming in their three-part infinity pool. They have a two-foot pool for toddlers, a three-foot pool for kids, and a five-foot pool for everyone else. In the mornings, they put up a volleyball net on the three-foot pool so you and your family can play. You can also have them install a basketball hoop poolsidefor some basketball fun.

Their pools are quite large, and I never felt that there were too many people in the pool at any given time. My ocean villa also came with a private pool, so when the kids were taking a nap in the villa, I was in my own pool.

My second favorite activity was taking a siesta on their beach-side bed/couch. Other nice touches of the resort include a ritual hand wash with some oils before entering the villa, a free bottle of wine, and in-room check out (no lines).

What we did:
The resort was so nice, we didn't leave for the city anymore. We had plans to eat dinner in the city, but because of the distance and relatively affordable food (compared to food from other hotels), we ended up staying in the resort the whole time we were there.

There was fish feeding for the kids, and a very nice play area for them as well. They don't charge you for other activities, such as playing billiards in their sports bar. And the place had some board games and DVDs to keep the kids occupied.

Travel Tips:
• We took Cebu Pacific, which was roughly an hour flight. From the Cebu airport, Crimson picked us up via private car, and it was 20 minutes to the resort. No boat transfers.
• Disconnect from your digital life.  Enjoy the place.

Money Matters:
Airfare was affordable, because we took Cebu Pacific.  The hotel is quite expensive, but we got a deal from Deal Grocer.

We spent a lot on food, but not as much as we would have at other hotels in Mactan. We had free breakfast and cocktails from 5 to 7 pm, so we really just had to cover for lunch and a light dinner.

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Vacation Spot #5: Costa Pacifica Resort, Baler

The family:
Efren, Matet, and five-year-old Akisha Sabine Reyes

Why we went:
It's a quick five-hour drive from Manila and there's no need to book a flight, so we found it very accessible and convenient. Plus, it's just two hours away from my hometown (Nueva Ecija) so we were able to have a quick visit with my family before going back to Manila. I had also been reading about Dicasalarin Cove, a secluded beach with beautiful rock formations, a modern lighthouse by the architect Ed Calma and an artists' village, which all piqued our curiosity even more.

What we loved:
A day tour at Dicasalarin Cove. You can swim at the white beach, have a sumptuous picnic lunch there, and even play games like beach volleyball, frisbee, etc.

What we did:
We enjoyed the beautiful historical sites like the Baler Church, the museum, and the house of Dona Aurora Quezon.

There are also art and yoga classes in Costa Pacifica (though I think it's seasonal). There's also a very nice pool and an expansive beach (Sabang Beach) where grownups can enjoy surfing lessons. Kids can frolick in the refreshing waters of Diguisit Falls which is just by the highway, so there’s no need to trek.

You can also go on a food trip. Food in Baler is relatively affordable, and there are buffets (substantial buffets at that!) that cost only P185 per person. Buffet at Costa Pacifica is also something to check out -- their bagnet is to die for.

Travel Tips:
• Baler is just a five-hour drive through picturesque mountains passing along the stunning Pantabangan Dam. You may also access it via public transportation (Genesis Joybus), which leaves Cubao daily at 12 midnight.
• If you're going with kids, make sure you don't go during the Amihan season as the waves tend to get really huge -- unless you are there to surf!
• Don't forget to bring home some suman de Baler and the famous Nanay Pacing's peanut butter and coco jam for pasalubong. Yummy!

Money Matters:
The Joybus fare is 700 per person, one way. Hotel rooms in Costa Pacifica start at P3,500 per night.

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Vacation Spot # 6: Lanikai Beach Resort, Tagum, Davao   

The family:
RJ, Steff, 14-year-old Rodrigo, 13-year-old Sabina, eight-year-old Alessa, two-year-old Eliana Bitong

Why we went:
A good friend invited us, so we went!

What we loved:
I loved that we were able to explore -- we also toured the banana plantation and the port.

What we did:
• We went spear fishing, fishing, paddle boarding, banana boating, kayaking, jet skiing, island hopping.
• There’s a canopy walk through the forest where you can see wild monkeys.
• We also did the night safari and saw wild boars. We all tried our hand at the shooting range. The kids absolutely loved the beach and the pool. We also did the water trampoline!

Travel Tips:
Don’t be limited by your budget  -- just explore! The memories you’ll make will be priceless!

Money Matters:
• Airfare was P8-10k/person via PAL, rooms ranged from 8k-10k/room/night.
• The food was P500/head/meal although breakfast was free.
• It’s cheaper to go out than eat at the resort. The beach nearby, Banana Beach, has a restaurant that offer affordable meals.

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Vacation Spot # 7: Bangkok, Thailand  

The family:
Dennis, Batchie, 11-year-old Isabel, and five-year-old Mateo Magat

Why we went:
We had friends living there so we thought it would be fun to go on a vacation with other families as well. Plus, we heard that Bangkok has great shopping, food, and Kidzania!

What we loved:
The adults loved the temples and palaces because we got to know more about the country's history and heritage. Everyone else enjoyed shopping (malls are everywhere) and tasting the delicious Thai food!

For the kids, it would definitely be Kidzania because it was just so much fun for them (even for the parents watching them do adult stuff!)

Isabel's favorites were:
    -  working as a chef at the sushi restaurant (also my favorite because I got to eat it after)
    -  making their own Coke at the Coca Cola factory (Isabel and Mateo enjoyed this so much they even worked in the factory twice!)
    -  being an interior designer because she designed a real room

Mateo's favorites were:
    -  working as a fireman (you ride a fire truck around and put out a burning building)
    -  being a pilot where you go inside a real airplane
    -  being a soccer player (their soccer field was huge!)

There is a parents’ area with wifi, but following your kids around and seeing them do various adult jobs would be the more interesting choice.
 
What we did:
We went to:
a.  King's Palace -  for some cultural information about Thailand.  It was interesting to see how grand the palace was.

b.  Asiatique - it used to be a pier for trading, but it has now been converted into a shopping and eating destination for tourists and even locals. There is even a giant ferris wheel as one of its main attractions (none of the kids rode it though...it just looked too massive for them!)

c.  Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum - the kids enjoyed taking their photos with “famous celebrities”. They were amused at how real the figures looked.  

d.  Magnum Cafe (Siam Center) - the kids had fun making their own Magnum flavors. In this cafe, one can customize his Magnum ice cream, choose the coating (white chocolate, milk chocolate, etc.), and pick as many toppings as possible (fruits, chocolates, cookies, sprinkles, cake crumbs, candies, and so on).  

e.  Malls, malls, and more malls! - shopping is everywhere in Bangkok. There are malls for bargain hunters (Platinum Mall, MBK) and malls with bigger brands like H&M, Zara, etc. (Siam Center, Paragon, Central World, Mega Bangna).

One interesting mall that the whole family enjoyed was Terminal 21. Each floor has a country/city for its theme: London, Tokyo, San Francisco, Istanbul, Paris, Caribbean. Lots of interesting local brands and very reasonable prices too. Make sure that you visit the themed bathrooms on each floor.

f.  Pattaya - With only a two-hour drive from Bangkok, you can hit the beach! We stayed in Ravindra Beach Resort. It had affordable rates but very nice accommodations and great facilities

g.  Food in Bangkok is so good and very cheap too! You don't really have to go to expensive restaurants to enjoy good and authentic Thai food...even their food courts (most of the malls' food courts are really nice) serve very good Thai food. We especially loved the Thai curry, pad thai and mango with sticky rice.
    
h.  Kidzania! A must if you have kids! Isabel and Mateo enjoyed the many activities they offered. Kidzania is a place where kids get to experience being treated like an adult. You start the experience by going to the bank to open an account and you get your money either in cash or through ATM. You can spend the money going to school or getting jobs that give out something after you've accomplished the task (such as cooking classes, acting school, getting a degree).  
    You can also earn more money by working as a:
-  dentist
-  hairdresser
-  insurance agent
-  flight attendant
-  judge
-  policeman
-  mail or package delivery man
-  radio announcer
-  gas boy or mechanic at the gas station (not as enjoyable as Mateo thought)
-  McDonald's crew (where you make a hamburger and get to eat it too)

Travel Tips:
- Know the area you will be visiting before the trip itself to make everything easier. Try using Google maps to find your way around the place.
- Search the Net for activities and sights and plan your itinerary beforehand so you can do as many activities during your stay in Bangkok.
- While you have your itinerary, be flexible as well. It is a vacation, so don't get annoyed or stressed if the schedule or itinerary is not followed.
- Because you will be with your kids, condition your mind that they will be the focus of the vacation. Set your pace according to your children’s capacity (they get tired or bored easily, they need to nap, etc).
- Always have cash on hand. While Automated Teller Machines (ATM) abound, some local banks require prior notice if you wish to use your ATM outside of the country. Failure to do so may give you problems (ATM will not dispense cash, etc).
- Booking hotel rooms through the Internet is easy and cheaper.  
- Try out new dishes!

Money Matters:
We were able to get a good rate at the travel expo so airfare was about US$275.00. There are so many hotels to choose from in Bangkok, even cheap hotels have great rooms. We stayed in Novotel Platinum which had a modern design, and the best part is, it’s connected to the Platinum Mall!