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What makes staying here special?
Well, simply to find out what its like to stav in one of the most exclusive hideaways in the world. The cheapest casitas (built on treetops) go for $625 (34,400 pesos) a night and the largest villas for $2,950 (163,700 pesos). And that's not counting the round trip private plane transport (S300 for foreigners and SI 75 for local Filipino residents), meals, cruises, scuba dives and spa treatments. But why part with a small fortune to stay here? First is pri­vacy. You have the whole island, Pamilican, to yourself, with no other resort to block your view, no vendors to bug you, and no nosy press or paparazzi to invade your privacy. Second, is the unique Aman service-they anticipate ("mind read") your needs. For instance, the
moment you finish your swim either at the beach or in their pool, a staff is there to quietly hand you a towel. Third is reputation, Amanpulo belongs to the multi-awarded Aman chain whose resorts are among the best in the world. Finally, consider status. You will be hobnob­bing with an elite tribe of true jetsetters and celebrities. How many beaches in the world will you get a chance to share a two-kilometer white sand beach (more refined than Boracay) with the likes of supermodels Naomi Campbell and Claudia Schiffer? Not many. Most romantic room.
There are only a total of 40 casitas in this pricey hide­away. Patterned after the Filipino native hut called the bahay kubo, each casita, which is designed by multi-awarded Filipino architect, Bobby Manosa, is an understated master­piece—clean, flowing, minimalist, and airy. Inside, the inte­riors are equally tasteful and uncluttered with glass walls and windows that make the outdoor nature views feel like an extension of your villa. Then there the little details that count the most, like the fact that all the lights have dim­mers so you can create your own light show and that you have your own CD player, a Bose no less. The biggest indulgence here is staying at the Nature Villa with 4 bed­rooms with sweeping views of the whole island. But if you don't plan to bring your whole entourage with you, the
beach casita ($825 a night) would be a good choice with its own terrace, a private footpath that leads directly to the beach where, waiting for you, is your own beach set-up-your own hammock and lounge chairs with over-sized white parasols.
If you feel like splurging this summer, try their Romance Experience package that includes a five-night stay complete with daily meals, a serenaded sunset cruise with cocktails and canapes, a private beach barbecue, one mas­sage each, and a sunset wedding renewal of vows by the beach. After all these, go back to your casita and be sur­prised with flower petals on the bed, in the tub and can­dles everywhere. Oh yes, we almost forgot the price. It is $5,420 or 300,810 pesos for this romantic package. What can you do here?
Everything here can be customized to suit your schedule and needs, from island hopping complete with a picnic basket with wine or champagne, having a private dinner on a sunset cruise or by the beach, learning how to dive, kayak, or windsurf. Name it and the Aman staff will do everything possible to please.
What makes staying here special?
This is "the hotel" to stay in Davao City where you can expect international standards because it belongs to the respectable and popular Omni Marco Polo hotel group, which is famous for its string of hotels along Canton Road in Hongkong. Besides the peace of mind that everything works and is in fine order, the hotel is cen­trally located with easy access to the city's business, shop­ping, and leisure areas. Most romantic room.
The Deluxe Executive Suites are suited for couples willing to spend a little more for a bigger bedroom with its own receiving and dining area for $214 or 11,900 pesos a night. But if you want something more basic, a superior room goes for only $59 or 3,275 pesos a night. What can you do here?
Thanks to its mayor Rudy Duterte, who is a colorful person as he is effective a public servant, Davao City is transforming itself into an orderly, peaceful, and clean city (even the side streets are tidy) that is attracting more investments and offering more tourist attractions. The
city itself, the biggest in land area in the country, is easy to explore either by car or on foot. The "must do" here are eating at the durian fruit market and at the tuna (fresh and cheap from nearby General Santos City—the country's tuna capital) eateries, taking day trips to the Pearl Farm Resort and the new nature-oriented resort called Eden, which is highly recommended. Shopping-wise, there are a lot of good buys here from food delicacies to orchids to finely made products made out of delicate, exotic fabrics at cheap prices. The nightlife is nothing to scoff as well. In fact, it is getting more varied, sophisticated, and safer (all bars cannot sell liquor beyond 2 a.m. to minimize drunk behavior and driving). Davao City is the best base to explore the rest of Southern Mindanao like neighboring General Santos City and the new province of Sarangani.
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PAL has 3 daily flights to Davao City
PERHAPS BECAUSE the northern end of Botacay's main beach is relatively isolated, the more high-end resorts are located here, starting with Waling-Waling, Sea Wind, Pearl of the Pacific, and Friday's. To avoid being redundant, we have omitted the section of "what can you do here" underneath each resort description. Acclaimed as one of the best beaches in the world, besides the usual water activities, Boracay beach is a great place to walk barefooted with its powder-like, white sand that stretches for four glorious kilometers (about an hour and a half lazy walk from end to end). The other activity is simply to sit
by the beach or on a lounge chair and idly watch the assortment of bodies in various stages of undress pass before you. If you miss golf, there's a superb golf course here at Fairways and Bluewater with dtamatic sea views. But if you love the nightlife, go this summer for parties and events that last till ten in the morning during Holy Week. Finally, if you find all these "stressful", have a coconut oil massage by the beach or retreat to the award-winning Mandala Spa for a pampering rubdown.
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PAL has 3 daily flights to Kalibo.
The Island's Night Life
FOOD TRIPS
1.  Prana at Mandala Spa (vegetarian).
2.  Banza (Portugese).
3.  Aria (Italian).
4.  Hey Jude (pizzas).
5.  Sulu Thai (Thai).
6.  True Food (Indian).
7.  Real Coffee (breakfast and pastries).
8.  Friday's (buffets).
9.  Waling-Waling and Gasthoff (seafood).
10.  McSandro (chili crabs).
11.   Summer Place (sushi and Mongolian barbeques).
1 2. Manana (Mexican).
13.  Caribo (Filipino fusion).
14.  Mangoray (fruit shakes)
15.  Jammers (burgers and fries)
BARS
1.  Hey Jude (house and modern R & B)
2.  Aria (chill-out)
3.  Summer Place (last stop)
4.  Cocomangas (R & B)
5.  Bombom (local vibe)
6.  Red Pirate (old boracay culture)
- By FREIDA DARK
What makes staying here special?
Guests who prefer more privacy stay here because of its isolated location. Its beachfront is a favorite spot for those who wish to sunbathe topless, away from ogglers and from the main beach crowd. The facilities and the ser­vice here aren't bad either. Built in 1982, the resort is the first ever AAA luxury resort in Boracay so guests can expect a higher level of service. Well, after more than twenty years, regular guests still keep saying: "thank God, there's still Friday's."
Most romantic room.
Although most rooms offer sea views, their premier room offers the best view of the beach and depending on the season, the room rate ranges from $180 to $216 (10,000 pesos to 11,990 pesos) a night.
What makes staying here special.
Just like Friday's Resort, Waling Waling lies near the northern end of Boracay's main beach. With only twenty nine rooms, guests are treated more like family with the staff easily picking up their regular guests' favorite meals and drinks. Most romantic room.
There's a one-bedroom suite decorated with Balinese accents with a receiving area and a small kitchen that goes for $260 (14,430 pesos) a night. But what gives this resort its own character is outdoors: a line of native cabanas filled
with over-sized pillows decorated with shells and hanging lamps where you can dine, read, drink, take a nap, or watch the sea and people walk by. It is the type of cabana where you can linger the whole day. Some guests even sleep here for the night.
What makes staying here special.
Well, everyone thought this "ugly duckling" of a loca­tion, with its rocky cliffs, couldn't be salvaged, consider­ing the beauty of the main beach. But with imagination, the "disadvantage" was turned into an attraction with guests coming here for the novelty of staying in these heights and taking the famous "lift to heaven" (an eleva­tor made out of steel and bamboo) to stay in any of the 15 villas that offer spectacular views of the main beach. Most romantic room.
All of Nami's rooms can be considered captivating because of the!80-degree view of the island it provides.
To better enjoy your perch, each villa has its own private balcony with an outdoor Jacuzzi. But if you want a bigger space, they do have a one-bedroom suite with its own liv­ing room. Suite rates depend on the season from $185 to $250 (10,268 pesos to 13,875 pesos). Deluxe room rates range from $135 to $200 (7,493 pesos to 11,100 pesos).
What makes staying here special?
You get a chance to stay in a native bungalow built on a secluded cliff. Only five minutes away, you can explore an underground cave and swim in its pool surrounded by stalagmites and stalactites. Most romantic room.
Practically all of the bungalows have their own bal­conies that open up to the sea so you and your date can even pretend to be in a romantic movie. To complete the setting, there's also an outdoor Jacuzzi and a Ioveseat. An overnight stay goes for $200 (11,100 pesos), which is not bad considering what you can have. What can you do here?
Resist the temptation to just stay in the resort despite its own private beach, infinity pool and man-made islet-and explore Bohol, a province that is getting the praise it
deserves with all the attractions it offers: beaches, old churches, river cruises, viewing the famous mammal, the tarsier (served as the model of the movie character, E. T), colorful festivals, Chocolate Hills, and great dive spots. Even TIME Magazine cited a town in Bohol called Pamilacan as the "best spot to encounter an animal." Actually, the article was referring to the dolphin-and-whale-watching. So don't pass the chance to visit Bohol with attractions and resorts, which are affordable and cheap, compared to most international destinations that even offer less.
What makes staying here special.
Talk about natural settings that are dramatic, El Nido Resorts has two—Lagen and Minoloc. How do you like staying in a place with limestone cliffs formed 250 millions years ago, secret coves with white sand beaches, 103 species of birds, a forest for a backyard, several man­grove rivers and 20 dive sites? Stay here and see for your­self. We promise, you won't be disapointed. Most romantic room.
The Water Cottage is built on stilts on the sides of the cove and forest. The floor and the furnishings ar$ all made of wood that go with your view of the forest. The package rate of $230 to $255 (12,880 pesos to 14,280 pesos) a night provides very good value for money for it includes three meals for every night's stay, roundtrip boat transfers, introductory dive, island hopping, snorkeling, mangrove tours and use of non-motorized equipment like snorkels, kayaks, windsurfing boards and fishing gears.
What can you do here.
There are not many places in the world where the water is this clean and where you can literally snorkel or dive right in front of the resort and have 250 million year old limestone cliffs, chirping birds, and small fish skim­ming in the water to greet you in the morning. If you tire of the water, literally at the back of the resort is a forest where you can take a hike through trails that lead to iso­lated coves and white sand beaches. Filipinos must not pass the chance to visit resorts like this in Palawan.
What makes staying here special.
This five-star resort with a Mediterranean design is like a desert mirage rising from the La Paz sand dunes that surround it. And the design illusion is no accident because it was patterned after the La Mamounia Hotel in Marrakech, Morocco. Built in 1983, it was allegedly rushed for completion to accommodate the international and local celebrities that attended the wedding of Irene Marcos to Greggy Araneta who were wed in the late pres­ident's nearby hometown, Batac. Most romantic room.
The Sea View Suite lives to its namesake with its pic­turesque view of the sunset facing the China Sea. $218 (12,100 pesos) to have the living room and bedroom to yourselves. If you want something simpler, a standard room with a twin bed goes for $91 (5,050 pesos) a night. What can you do here?
Right outside the resort, you can explore the sur­rounding La Paz sand dunes or take a dip in the sea. Ilocos is famous for its old churches in nearby Laoag, Bacarra,
and Batac. Then there's the mystical lake in the town of Paoay where, legend has it, an old town was submerged. If you head south, about an hour's away is Vigan, the capital of neighboring Ilocos Sur, famous for its preserved old houses and where you can buy antiques. If you choose to go north, less than one hour is Pagudpud famous for its 40-kilometer stretch of beach. The Ilocos region also has its own culinary specialties which must not be missed together with bringing home souvenirs like fine woven Ilocano blankets which are well-known for their sturdy quality. Getting here by land easily takes a ten-hour drive; with PAL now serving Laoag, travel time is cut down to less than an hour.
PAL flies 4 times a week to Laoag
What makes staying here special.
You can't believe that tucked in a small road outside Tagaytay City is this delightful place filled with rare flow­ers, such as New Guinea Creeper, Jade Vine, Passion Flower and Butterfly Bush, and where you can have lunch or dinner and stay for the night in its cottages lovingly built and uniquely furnished by its owner, Sonya Garcia. It's the closest that you can get to an English "bed and breakfast" here in the Philippines but with a little more style and personal service. If you can't stay overnight then you must try her home grown all-organic dishes. For $10 (550 pesos) per head, indulge in the eat-all-you-can meal of green salad, bread, your choice of pasta, dessert and dalandan (local orange) juice. Most romantic room.
All rooms in the cottages are designed for country comfort: hand-embroidered duvet covers and table linens,
antique furniture, fine china and fresh flowers fill your room. We assure you that the owner has a very fine taste. All the rooms have a similar rate of $45 (2,500 pesos) per person on weekdays and $51 (2,830 pesos) on weekends and holidays. What can you do here?
You can read a book, listen to your favorite CD, or simply sleep the whole day. Sonya Garcia calls it "the art of doing nothing." But since you are here, choose any of the lessons she offers, which is already included in the flat rate: gardening, cooking with herbs, wreath making, flower arranging, or meditation.
What makes staying here special.
This is the most accessible and preserved pine forest area in the Philippines' summer capital of Baguio. Formerly a rest and recreation facility of the American military when they operated bases in the Philippines, this beautiful camp is filled with historical sites within its 250-hectare area. The place to stay here is called The Manor, a Swiss-chalet type built with red cedar wood imported from Canada. The Manor has 177 luxury rooms and suites with a Friendship Garden in the middle and at its edge is an exhilarating view of the Cordillera Mountains. Most romantic room.
The Honeymoon Cottage looks like it came out of a fairy tale book with its English country home architecture surrounded by a garden. This charming cottage that sits on a small knoll contains a fireplace, a large bedroom with a balcony, and a Jacuzzi big enough for a couple. Daily rate is $180 (10,000 pesos). Not bad for all the space and amenities it provides. For those who wish to stay at The Manor, room rates start at $72 (4,000 pesos).
What can you do here?
You can come here and do as the saying goes: "stop and smell the flowers." In this camp you will encounter profusions of flora in places like the Bell Amphitheater. With tight, 24-hour security, the camp is a great place to walk and hike as you visit one historical site after another with the scent of 250,000 pine trees accompanying your walk. For shopping and dining, right below The Manor, is the Mile Hi Center. If you want to play golf in the clouds, the camp has a beautiful golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus. Back at The Manor, you can order room service for an excellent meal provided by noted Irish chef, Billy King (one of the country's best) or book a massage. That's what a nice vacation is all about.
What makes staying here special?
This 20-hectare island has a complete marine ecosys­tem: sea grass beds, coral reefs, and tropical fishes with a three-hectare mangrove area at the edge. Most romantic room.
Like most island guest dwellings, its cottages stand on stilts where your "next door neighbors" are a variety of marine life-large jacks, lion fishes, and jellyfishes. A three-day and two-night stay is $243 (13,490 pesos) per person and it includes roundtrip boat transfers, full board meals, free use of resort facilities, a choice of an introduction dive or tropical spa treatment.
What you can do here?
Swim, snorkel, sunbathe, dive, or fish. If you want to give water activities a break, they also have basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts.
PAL flies daily to Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
What makes staying here special?
You get a lot of space when you stay here. To be more precise, the resort is 13 hectares with large tropical trees and vegetation at its entrance. In the center, are mani­cured greens, flower gardens, swimming pools, a play­ground, an outdoor chapel, and for the golf addicts, pitch and putt holes. Pathways lead to all these amenities, including the resort's private beach. The resort has been named as one of the "Top 10 Best Resorts in Asia-Pacific" by Business Traveler Magazine and is also the country's first and only resort with an ISO 14001 certification for their environmental management system. Most romantic room.
All the guestrooms have their own private balconies but those desiring a bigger space, try out their Panorama Suite ($650 or 36,080 pesos a night) with its separate liv­ing and dining area and the bedroom's bath has a Jacuzzi. Standard rooms go for $220 (12,210 pesos) a night. By the way, the resort has begun their renovation program with guestrooms sporting their new look-modern tropical and lighter colors.
What can you do here?
The resort's sprawling 13-hectare grounds are enough for you to spend the whole day as you move from swim­ming, sunbathing, dining, and taking naps on lounge chairs by the pool or the beach. You can ask also the resort's guest service officer or concierge to arrange island hopping trips and suggest where to go in Cebu City. For resort dining, try out their refurbished al fresco restaurant, Cowrie Cove and their new hip coffee shop called Tides. We assure you that you will be delighted with the resort's new dining outlets.
PAL flies has 6 to 9 daily flights to Cebu
What makes staying here special?
It's the best resort in Siargao, a beautiful, uncrowded, and unspoiled island in the southern Philippines, also known as a surfers' haven. How nice is it? Well, when it newly opened, the respected travel magazine, Conde Nast Traveler, featured the resort with its palm-roofed villas and Asian-inspired interiors. Most romantic room.
Each of the villas has its own character ranging from Filipino ethnic to one that pays homage to Cambodia's Angkor Wat. Daily rates go for $200 (11,100 pesos) and includes three meals and use of the kayaks and hobbie cat. What can you do here?
Siargao is not for surfing only. You can use the kayak which the resort provides for free and paddle through
thick mangroves, explore lagoons and nearby islands. With the island's pristine waters, you can swim, snorkel, dive, and fish. Or you can go to the nearby uninhabited Guyam Island and enjoy a quiet picnic.
» The quickest way to Siargao is via Cebu and PAL has 6 to 9 flights to Cebu daily
What makes staying here special.
It is the first resort to be built in El Nido and its native-designed cottages continue to be charming in its simplicity. Like neighboring Lagen, Minoloc is surround­ed by dramatic limestone cliffs and its 224-hectare size, makes it the largest in the area. It has been featured in sev­eral media outlets, including CNN. Most romantic room.
The same with Lagen Island, the Water Cottage has got to be it with a veranda facing the cove and nearby islands. Inside are wooden floors with walls made out of woven bamboo slats and furnished with rattan and bam­boo furniture. Package rate ranges from $175 to $200 (9,712 pesos to 11,100 pesos) a night, which includes accommodation, three meals for every night's stay, roundtrip boat transfers, introductory dive, island hop­ping, snorkeling, mangrove tours and use of non-motor­ized equipment like snorkels, kayaks, windsurfing boards and fishing gears. What can you do here?
Minoloc is famous for its small and big lagoons. Guests take a boat trip to the big lagoon where they board
kayaks. Then they paddle through the far end where they gingerly squeeze through a small opening and voila, there's a small lagoon with crystal-clear waters to swim and snorkel in. This is certainly one safe adventure that must not be missed. Another activity that everyone must tty is the introductory dive. First, the dive master teaches the basics of scuba diving. So the guest won't become anxious, the first dive is taken from a beach entry and is only shal­low (a depth which is between 15 to 20 feet).
To make the dive completely secure, a professional diver is assigned to each guest and actually holds the back of the guest (so in case of any potential problem, the pro­fessional diver can easily pull the guest to safety). Since the introductory dive is part of the package and is already paid for, it is another activity that must not be passed up. The views underwater can be mesmerizing and may lead to one getting "hooked" and taking up scuba diving as a hobby.

 

 

 

 
   

225 Melville Road, Brunswick West, Victoria 3055. Tel: (03)9384 1299 Fax: (03)9383 6226: Licence No.30126