Are you looking for the best travel destinations?
It’s time to plan your leave times and schedules for the upcoming year and check out the best places to travel in and around the metro.
Our list will include different adventures for all your trips.
From food destinations, nature trips, and hidden gems, we’ve got you covered.
So let’s get started…
Best Travel Destinations for the Foodie at Heart
Chinatown Food Walk
Chinatown is a beloved staple for every foodie at heart. Its rich history and even richer food culture are sure to leave your palate craving for more.
Chinatown food walks have become so popular that you can choose your adventure. Just check out this map of all the restaurants, cafes, and hole-in-the-wall places you can visit.
What’s awesome about this food tour is that you can bring as many people along. Whether you’re two or twenty, Chinatown has something to offer that’s delicious, filling, and fits your budget.
Craving for dim sum? Try Dongbei Dumplings where you can get 14 pieces of dumplings for less than PHP 200.
Go vegetarian and try New Po Heng Lumpia House’s special lumpia. It’s a combination of sweet and salty, with just the right amount of vegetables to keep you satisfied.
Are you a noodle fanatic? Then you’ve come to the right place.
Try the traditional mami and siopao combo at Masuki with their special sauce. Or go for the hand-pulled noodles at Lan Zhou La Mien.
And oh, don’t miss the famous Shanghai Fried Siopao that’s fresh off the pan.
Whatever your budget or taste, Chinatown has just the right thing to fill your appetite.
Pro Tip: The best time to go there would be January to February when the weather is still cool enough to walk and the traffic isn’t that bad.
Poblacion, Makati
Poblacion, Makati is a hotspot for night owls and foodies alike
Poblacion used to be known as Makati’s red-light district. But with the district’s growth, Poblacion has also transformed itself to become a center for the arts and culture.
Whether you enjoy pubs and a night out with your office buddies or just hanging out and dining with your long-time friends, Poblacion is sure to offer you something to satisfy your cravings.
Quench your thirst and hunger with grubs from all across the globe.
Get your fill of tacos, Korean BBQ, and local delicacies in the area. Here are some of the best food places in Poblacion according to Booky.
El Chupacabra is a local favorite serving Tex-Mex flavors. Get street-style tacos, barbecue, and ice-cold beer all in one place.
Their best sellers include Carne Asada, Baja California Fish Tacos, and Camarones a la Diabla.
Craving for a different kind of barbeque? Check out VBQ.
VBQ’s Vietnamese Barbeque and Hotpot sources their ingredients directly from Vietnam.
Taste the unique flavors and spices of Vietnam with each bite with their marinated meats and seafood. Savor each bite with different sauces and dips.
Try out Crying Tiger Street Kitchen for delectable Asian street food.
Must-tries include Green Papaya Salad, Thai Fried Chicken, and Pad See Ew.
Dulo MNL is one of the best known communal areas for artists and foodies alike.
It serves as a creative community platform where artists meet to collaborate and discuss ideas.
Besides good food and great conversations, Dulo MNL also serves as an events place for performing arts.
You can visit their Facebook page for event schedules and their opening times.
Best Places to Travel For the Nature Lover
ATV Adventure Rizal
Want to break free from your regular trips in the metro? Come to Antipolo and take your nature trip to a new level at ATV Adventure Rizal.
Just a few hours away from Manila, ATV Adventure can be found inside Phillip’s Sanctuary in Antipolo.
This eco-adventure mountain resort is the perfect venue for team buildings, parties, picnics, and other outdoor adventures.
ATV Adventure Rizal has four trails you can choose from.
The Forest trail is great for beginners. It’s a 2-hour trail along muddy off-road trails along with pine trees and forested areas.
You will get to see the peaks of the Wawa Dam and the hills of Rizal.
Then there’s the Marikina Tour Adventure which lasts about 2-4 hours. Go down to the Marikina River where you can stop, take photos, and enjoy the view.
You can also try archery or paintball for bigger groups.
For the extreme adventurer, you can also go for the Long Trail Adventure or the Jungle Trail Adventure.
Check out more information here.
Masungi Georeserve
Masungi Georeserve is a conservation area in Rizal. Derived from the word ‘masungki, this rustic rock garden is the perfect description for the spiked limestone landscape found inside the reserve.
Visitors can choose from two trail experiences, the Discovery and the Legacy Trail.
The Discovery Trail lasts about 3-4 hours depending on the preference and capacity of the visitors. Park rangers will guide you on your trip to tell you more about the trek and the area.
On the other hand, the Legacy Trail lets you be a part of the ongoing restoration efforts. Here you can participate in planting and tree nurturing activities in the reserve.
It’s perfect for naturalists and beginner hikers or those who are interested in participating directly to help reforestation.
Masungi Georeserve only takes reservations for tours. If you’re interested in scheduling one, you can contact them here.
Best Underrated Travel Destinations for the Artist at Heart
Pinto Art Museum
Pinto Art Museum is an exhibition space and contemporary museum located just a few hours away from Manila.
It was founded in 2010 and exhibits the art collection of Dr. Joven Cuanang, a neurologist by profession and a patron of the arts.
The name ‘pinto’ or door signifies how art becomes an opportunity to connect people despite differences in worldviews, nationalities, and communities.
The artwork found inside this sprawling property is created by The Saligpusa, a revolutionary Filipino artist collective.
Artists find their aesthetic inspirations from the history of their people. From the Spanish colonial occupation, religious arts, sculptures, and even contemporary works.
The museum also incorporates nature in its art, with a two-hectare botanical garden that also showcases the local flora and fauna.
Check out more information here.
Vinyl on Vynil
Vynil on Vynil aims to showcase the unique perspective of South East Asian art. It combines art, toys, and music in one space.
It’s dedicated to modern-day pop culture artists who are looking for a venue to showcase and explore their art.
Artists of the gallery reflect their contemporary lifestyle and passions. Most of them are influenced by surrealism, after-modernism, underground and street art, and other emerging genres of the current times.
Previous exhibitions include works from different artists in the local scene.
Into the Woods’ by artist Lee Salvador showcases escapism through fantasy in his art.
Here, he explores the existence of familiar animals like foxes, turtles, and owls. It depicts how creatures like them listen and empathize with the main character and his musings.
It also shows the artist’s fascination with Japanese culture. The Japanese characters in the background are drawn from the artists’ experience of isolation, darkness, depression, and anxiety in modern times.
Check out more of the gallery and their artists here.
Whether you’re on the lookout for a new gustatory experience, cheap travel destinations, or unique vacation places, Culture Blends Coffee has the right mix to keep you company.
Culture Coffee Blends understand the Filipino’s need for adventure. Because of this, we’ve crafted three coffee flavors you can choose from.
Experience smooth, creamy coffee with just the right blend of sweetness with our Italian Blend.
Taste the nutty flavors of coffee for that much-needed caffeine shot every morning with our American 3-in-1 Latte.
Do you prefer your coffee with a hint of chocolatey goodness? Try our Belgian Choco Mocha.
Have it hot or iced and take it wherever you go.
Find Culture Blends Coffee in supermarkets, groceries, and convenience stores near you.
What are you waiting for? Plan your adventure in these best travel destinations today!
Did we miss anything? Share your best travel destinations in the comment section below.