What does a smartphone search of possible barkada summer getaways show us? Well, there are both new and familiar places we can find:
Beaches
For the longest time, Boracay has been THE summer destination for many of us, especially during the 1990s when it was fast-gaining popularity. And with good reason. The fine, powdery white sand, the overall chill-out vibe, the sunsets—they all seemed like a summer dream come true. The only downside for your barkada would be a) The crowds and b) The travel time and preparations.
You can still make the last days of summer memorable for the next few weekends or so: a day trip or a weekend getaway with the barkada is still one of the best summer memories you’ll ever make. And to make your choice among the best barkada-friendly places, isn’t it wonderful to have the Internet? Nowadays, you can even search for a weekend getaway on your smartphone.
With Boracay’s popularity—having been rated in international travel magazines—it really is a crowded place. However, if you’ve planned for the trip well and maybe if you’re going there towards the end of the peak summer season, then maybe you won’t experience as much hassle. Boracay already has a lot of loyal “pilgrims” who make it a point to go there each summer—and the trip is really worth it. Of course, if you’ve never been there, then that’s the best reason to go.
Fortunately, the Philippines has a lot of wonderful beaches. If your barkada is looking for beaches that are more easily and conveniently accessible, then there are two areas close to Metro Manila that you might check out: Playa Calatagan and Playa Laiya, both of which are in Batangas. Getting there takes only about 2-3 hours, give or take – depending on the traffic. The beaches at Playa Laiya and Playa Calatagan are quite impressive: while the quality of the sand is not like Boracay’s, the color and texture are more than good enough and the waters are clean and crystal blue. The fact that you can go there on a day trip is a big plus factor.
Other beaches close to Metro Manila are found in Subic, which is about two hours away from the Metro.
Southern charms
Boracay island lies South of the Philippines as part of Aklan province. However, there are other southern islands that can lay claim to being beach paradises. Two of the more popular places in the south when it comes to beaches are Cebu and Bohol. There’s Ibiza Beach Club in Cebu, for example, and then Panglao island in Bohol. An important advantage in choosing Cebu and Bohol is the presence of modern infrastructure and conveniences, especially cellular phone and Internet networks.
Cooler climes
With the sweltering heat in Metro Manila, it makes sense to go somewhere cooler. And the top two destinations would be Baguio City and
Tagaytay. Baguio is, hands down, the cooler place because of its high elevation—it’s a city on a mountaintop. The more adventurous can even go farther North, towards Sagada or Banaue.
If you’d rather not go through the eight-hour land trip to Baguio, however, then Tagaytay is the ideal alternative. Just two hours from Metro Manila, Tagaytay is a place for sight-seeing—particularly the awesome Taal Lake and Volcano—and cooling off. It’s also a wellness hub with several spas operating there.
Natural wonders.
Nature’s unspoiled beauty take center stage in places like Palawan and Davao. Besides the beaches, there are breath-taking sights of islands, seas, forests, and rivers. If you and your barkada are game for something more adventurous and opt to journey through roads less travelled, then why not go backpacking? The website www.backpackingpilipinas.com provides useful information on how to do just that.
Have your barkada take their picks from these exclusive postpaid deals from Allphones that come with bundled smartphones: a) Plan 499 with a Lenovo A680; b) Plan 599 with a Lenovo A316i; c) Plan 999 with a LG G Pro Lite; d) Plan 1299 with a LG G2 Mini LTE (Availability: Week of May 26); and e) Plan 1799 with a Sony T2 Ultra.
You may also make outright purchases of the following smartphones: the LG G2; the Nokia 1320; the Alcatel Idol X; and the Sony Xperia E1.
