I promised myself I’d save the week-long beach trips with my loved one for the actual “honeymoon” to make it more ‘special’. That’s not to say I wouldn’t say no to a long weekend spent at a nice accommodation away from our hometown for a little vacation.
So how do you combine the “getting away from it all” vibe of out-of-town vacations, without actually going out of town? It takes a bit of creativity to get around this one, plus a general knowledge of the local hot-spots, useful promos and what-not. With a bit of research and a couple months worth of savings, my boyfriend and I were able to plan for our first Urban Stay-cation - our version of a out-of-town trip without having to go beyond the borders of Metro Manila.
The objective? Have a fun weekend away from our usual comfort zones, without the hassle of going to remote areas, maybe take part in some fun, new activities and get that vacation vibe going.
The limits: Metro Manila only, and never beyond
The time-limit? Three days - enough to get that much-needed R&R without getting a massive vacation hang-over.
Our first stay-cation was planned for our 4th Anniversary celebration. We chose Hotel H2O, right at the heart of the famous Manila Ocean Park in Manila. We have always wanted to check out the ocean-themed attractions at Manila Ocean Park, and figured a weekend stay at an on-site accommodation was the best way to go since it will allow us to try out the activities at our own leisurely pace.
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| Left: entrance to the Manila Ocean Park; Right: it's iconic logo, where dozens of families and visitors have their photo taken. Is that a whale shark in the logo? Because there definitely wasn't one inside... |
