BELMONT STAYCATION (2020)

One upon a time before the pandemic....

It's the month of February and that meant Team Navarro will treat the Bawal Panget Group with a staycation in BELMONT HOTEL!! And yep, even if we've been doing so for a number of years now, WE'RE STILL EXCITED!

Because why wouldn't we?

We'll be having a getaway with our family...
We'll be meeting up with long time friends...
We'll be eating at our favorite restaurants...
Our staycation is courtesy of Team Navarro...

And best of all...

We'll be celebrating the birthday of a special and generous lady!!!

So yeah, even if we've been doing this every year, we're still VERY excited because we have new experiences, make more special memories, and we'll have a bonding weekend with the family!

Let the fun begin!!!

EDSA SHANGRI-LA HOTEL'S BUFFET BREAKFAST

Though I eat most of the time, ALL THE TIME, I think there's some truth to it when I say that breakfast is my favorite meal for the whole day.

Sure, a platter of steak and crabs with wine IS something. But give me a bowl of garlic rice, egg, topped with either tapa, tocilog, danggit, then paired off with coffee, and I could have it all day, everyday!!!!

AYSUSHIMITA SEN SA SARAP OMAYGASH!!!

He he he he!

That's why for our breakfast in EDSA SHANGRI-LA HOTEL, I was very excited because not only is HEAT very popular around the metro, but we will be having my most awaited meal of the day at an exclusive restaurant in a 5-star hotel.

My curiosity became hungry like me!

Though of course, I would gladly have my breakfast at street eateries, this would be a nice change.

Check out our bondat breakfast in HEAT, EDSA SHANGRI-LA HOTEL!

BREKKY WEKKY!!!!!!!

EDSA SHANGRI-LA HOTEL STAYCATION (2019)

These days, I'm really not keen on having hotel staycations. When the boys were young and they're all so wide-eyed at new surroundings, yes, that's why we also booked ourselves a weekend before everyone started doing it. As in I would really save for it!! But now that they're older, they fully appreciate just staying home or going out with their family and friends. Let's not forget too that it could get SOOOO tiring to pack and unpack (ha ha ha ha). So yes, the appeal of having staycations is now lost with us. And it's not something that we would really set out to do like before.

Of course, there are exceptions!!

The Yub told me that a supplier gave him a voucher for an overnight stay at EDSA SHANGRILA Hotel!! He said that it could be our additional MU anniv celebration. He he he!

Meh. I answered. For the many reasons stated above, I was not that enthusiastic anymore because I could be so LAAAZZZZZY. But then I realized that

    One) it's a blessing since it's free... ha ha
    Two) it would still be a fun weekend off with the boys
    and
    Three) We haven't stayed yet in EDSA SHANGRILA, one of
    the classic top hotels in Metro Manila.

Okay then. We're sold!  Kami pa? We're always game with anything.

(Yun ay kung, hindi ako tamarin. Ha ha ha ha ha!)

We're in EDSA SHANGRI-LA!!!

Wohoo!!!!

ANYA RESORT TAGAYTAY (PART ONE)

Summer was about to end and I thought that it's high time for THE YAPPY BUNCH to have our own family getaway.

Don't get me wrong, going on trips with our family and close friends are fun, but it's a different kind of bonding when it's just the 4 of us. The Yub and I agreed that with our very busy times these days, it's something that we should really do with the kids on a regular basis.

Now where to go????

The Yub and I have been hearing rave reviews about ANYA RESORT in Tagaytay from my sister and a friend. I checked it out and yep, it really did look nice. However, everytime I looked at their weekend rates, inangkupush... P14,000.00 for one night? I'm all for indulging once in a while but I somehow can't stomach P14,000.000 (ha ha ha especially that I'll be paying for the hotel while the Yub will take care of the restos). Sorry, I'm just being honest. Ha ha ha ha ha! Ang dami ko nang magagawa for P14,000.00 (like get hair implants on my big noo).

Then one night, lo and behold I saw that for one weekend, the rate for their Junior Suite Twin was only about P9,000.00! Yipeee! How meant to be for us! We immediately booked and made our plans on where to go to Tagaytay.

And how was our weekend?

It was SUPER fun. I think it's our best weekend for the summer!!!! Of course, all getaways with the family are the best, but for that trip, ANYA RESORT made a very big contribution!

:P

We're going on a trip in our favorite rocket ship.....

TO THE SOUTH!

Uy ang fresh ko pa!

OUR HOTEL IN KOREA 2019 ( RAMADA ENCORE BY WYNDHAM )

When we go out of the country, looking for our hotel accommodations is very important. Before when it was just me and the Yub, we're fine wherever it was cheap. However when the little lords arrived, we became very particular with the cleanliness, security, AND safety of where we're going to stay. Of course, price was still very much a factor (HELLOOOOO we're proudly kuripots... ha ha ha ha) and it's great that we're still able to find accommodations with those qualifications. He he he he he he!

For our recent KOREA trip, we availed the services of a travel agency so we were at their mercy when it comes to our hotel. They gave us the name and upon checking their site online, it was just okay. I mean, we'd prefer somewhere else, but this was what's included in our package and I think it's near the touristy district of Korea.

Lo and behold, when we arrived in Korea, we were informed by our guide that there have been changes in our accommodations. Instead of hotel X, we will now be staying at RAMADA ENCORE by WYNDHAM. She proudly stated that it's a 4 star hotel (as opposed to Hotel X which was only 3 stars) and it recently opened. The only drawback was that it was SOOOOO far from our touristy places (think a 1 hour drive everyday) that whatever plans we made were going to change.

At first we were all peeved with the change in location. However, when we got to the hotel, we appreciated all the space and the sosy wosy interiors (compared to Hotel X). And yes, it may be far from the tourist spots but at least we get an additional hour's sleep in the bus everyday before getting to our destination (this was perfect because we always wake up early for the "call time").

Sharing with you our hotel stay in KOREA! This just goes on to prove though that in whatever obstacles (or changes) that come in your life, you should still learn to make the best of it and appreciate everything. O di ba, we were still all happy in the end.

YIIHAW!  

RAMADA ENCORE BY WYNDHAM!!!!

MEDLEY OKADA HOTEL (BREAKFAST BUFFET)

Breakfast was thankfully included in our OKADA HOTEL staycation and we got more excited especially when dear Ivy showed me the dishes served. You see for hotel breakfasts we're so used to the ever present eggs, bacon, garlic fried rice, salad bar, soup bar, etc (I'm not complaining there because I just LOOOOVE breakfast food). But in OKADA MANILA, they also included sushi, sashimi, plus many more items that you would expect for a lunch or dinner buffet!

Woah! That is surely bang for your buck!!!

So we all got up early (yep 9:00am is early) for our OKADA HOTEL breakfast, and we were all wowed with what we saw. Check out how many plates we finished because as I would always say during staycations, "Hanggang dinner na yan!"

KIDDING!!

Or am I?

:P

Yep! Breakfast is the best meal of the day!

I'm the King of the World!!!!!!!!

OKADA MANILA HOTEL STAYCATION (PART TWO)

It's day two of our staycation in OKADA MANILA HOTEL with the Yub's family to celebrate our wedding anniversary and mil's (or Mother in Law) birthday. Like I said in the previous blog post, I'm not really much into staycations now because I would rather stay at home and Netflix my ass off in bed. But then this is free and it would mean a lot to the Yub, so fine. I'll just Netflix my ass off in THEIR bed.

Har de har har.

Anyways everything's so meh for me UNTIL I got news from dear Ivy (wife of Yub's bro) saying that instead of 2 rooms, she managed to get an upgrade for a 2 bedroom suite. NOIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICE!!! And if you've seen how big the room is you'll understand my sudden 360 degree excitement. Ika nga ni Pareng Thor, "It's still worthy..." -- pertaining to the weekend.

He he he he he! Yes, I'm SOOOO shallow I know.

Galeng Ivy!!! I'm impressed!!!! How to be you pohz? He he he he!

Anyways, so this is day two where we made most of the time left we have in this OKADA MANILA staycation.

Like what I would always say though, the Yub, Mati, Andrei and I, collectively known as THE YAPPY BUNCH, are actually fine anywhere as long as we're together.

HOWEVER....

It wouldn't hurt if it's also in a 2 bedroom suite in OKADA MANILA fosho. He he he he!!!! 

OKADA MANILA HOTEL!!!!

OKADA MANILA HOTEL STAYCATION (PART ONE)

Mother-in-law (or mil) treated the family to a weekend staycation in celebration of her birthday and my wedding Anniversary with the Yub in OKADA MANILA HOTEL.

To be honest at first I was like MEH. We've had our fill of staycations before that now the thought of packing up and going somewhere else to sleep in is just something that bores me. I have come to realize too that when you have a happy home, you don't need to go somewhere else to celebrate -- staying put with the family is a party enough.

Anyway, 2 rooms were booked then lo and behold, my dear sister-in-law Ivy did some magic and was able to get the Manila Bay suite for us!!!!!!

WOAH with a capital W and O! He he he he he he!!!!! Do you guys know how much the Manila Bay Suite of OKADA MANILA HOTEL is??? Check in their website to find out!!! Yep!!! Galeng ni Ivy!! With her efforts, we will be able to stay in this prime suite with the family!

So finally I looked forward to the weekend. At least this would really be a happy treat for the family.

And was it as awesome as we thought it would be?

Yep! It definitely was!!!! Especially that it was a weekend for more bonding with THE YAPPY BUNCH!

WOHOO!!!!

OKADA MANILA HOTEL!

BELMONT STAYCATION (2019)

THE YAPPY BUNCH are once again in BELMONT HOTEL for a staycation with our BP (Bawal Panget) Family to celebrate dear Gem's birthday. Every year, Team Navarro would always treat the whole group for a hotel stay during the weekend that's why it's a birthday celebration that we always look forward to!

Of course, I know that I have already blogged about BELMONT HOTEL and our stay there with friends. Still, this weekend gave us a lot of happy family memories that we would like put on record on this silly little blog. This is after all, my online diary.

Sharing with you our simple but very fun (and wet) BELMONT HOTEL staycation with THE YAPPY BUNCH!! Hope we still have some more more mooooore!!!!!!!!

BELMONT HOTEL!!!!!!!!!

We arrived in BELMONT HOTEL past their check-in time because we came from lunch with KTG mates.

DISCOVERY PRIMEA STAYCATION (2018)

Last year, my Bawal Pangit (BP) Family was not able to have a Christmas getogether because our schedules got so hectic. When we finally agreed on a date, something came up that plans got cancelled to the disappointment of everyone.

Fast forward to 2018. Because we didn't want to have a "take two" of that fateful night, we started planning for our Christmas getogether as early as September (I think). We didn't have a venue yet but we already blocked the weekend  (just because we felt that one day wouldn't suffice). At first we were thinking of Baguio, then Tagaytay, and then Okada (notice how the venue is getting nearer??). Finally, we all decided that we didn't need to look for anywhere else because the favorite hotel of the BP Group was just nearby and waiting for us.... 

DISCOVERY PRIMEA!!!!

SAVOY HOTEL 2018 (PART TWO)

THE YAPPY BUNCH received a free staycation from a secret angel, aka my favorite frenemy, from my office.

If you've been reading my silly little blog, you would know who she is. Ha ha ha ha ha!

Anyway, we were super excited for this insta-weekend because SAVOY HOTEL just opened (so it was fairly new) and we got 2 rooms all to ourselves. You know us, we love anything that comes with a pool but in SAVOY HOTEL, we enjoyed their pool plus their other cool family friendly facilities!

But would you believe that for our last day, we only used the pool and stayed in our rooms yet we still had a blast?? Ay it's SOOOO true!

Check out part two of our SAVOY HOTEL staycation where we discovered once again the extreme happiness of lazy Sundays to the fullest.

SAVOY HOTEL YEAAAAAAH!!!!

SAVOY HOTEL 2018 ( PART ONE)

We weren't really planning to do anything special that weekend (especially that we have programmed ourselves to just be lazy all the way). But then we got a gift from a VERY generous officemate who gave us a free staycation in the hotel she had a unit in.

She wants to remain anonymous but if you want to take a guess (I'll give a small prize if you get it right), she is my favorite "frenemy" in my place of work.

If you're a regular reader of my silly little blog (oh poor you), you should know. Just guess via Facebook messenger. He he he he he he he!

Anyway moving on, my favorite frenemy gifted us with a staycation for not one but two rooms and we cannot be more excited!! Although we're not really sure how SAVOY HOTEL would fare up compared to the other hotels we have stayed in (because it was fairly new), I was still super looking forward to have a mini-vacation with my favorite guys in the world.

And how was that weekend? Oh you'll see. YOU'LL ALL SEE!!!

He he he he he he!

:P 

And we're here at SAVOY HOTEL!!!!

HEROES HOTEL PART TWO

THE YAPPY BUNCH were having a family staycation somewhere that was so far from the ordinary....

HEROES HOTEL!

This humble establishment is simple in size but overflowing in purpose and inspiration. And yep! Don't forget the FUN!!!

To be honest, I really did not expect to have one of the most unforgettable staycations ever. This just goes on to show that a hotel doesn't need to be grand or sosy wosy for guests to have a great time -- sometimes having a place that was constructed with lots of love and dedication then run by happy and inspired people is more than enough.

Check out part TWO of our memorable family staycation in a place that you should DEFINITELY check out soon...

HEROES HOTEL!

Da da dan danan.... Danananan!!!!!

Were you able to tell that's from the Superman theme? Tee hee!!!

HEROES HOTEL PART ONE

It was supposed to be the "usual" weekend for us: wake up to a late breakfast, Kali for Master Mati in the afternoon, then dinner and movie night for our Saturdate. However, we were invited by HEROES HOTEL for a weekend hotel staycation, so that meant our schedule for that particular Saturday and Sunday would be a wee different. But since we know how our usual staycations go, it's still going to be a fun "routine" for us. With that, I immediately made a mental checklist to pack our swimsuits, our midnight snacks, gameboards, movies, etc. etc.

But guess what? We didn't use ANY of them.

Saying that we had a different kind of weekend in HEROES HOTEL would be an understatement. It may not be the 5-star, flashy, and grand hotel that is popular in the metro but still, the family and I all had a unique and unforgettable stay.

And seriously I'm sure you will agree because HEROES HOTEL is indeed "the little hotel that could" in so many fun yet honorable ways!

Where else could you find a hotel that will make heroes out of you?

Read on and find out!

Yohoo! We're in HEROES HOTEL!!!!!

A CHALET HOTEL BAGUIO WEEKEND (2018)

Summer vacation was about to end and THE YAPPY BUNCH was not yet prepared to bid the little lords back to school. Of course we value the purpose of private education but we were having so much fun with the boys at home and going out whenever we can for foodtrips or meet-ups that we'll really be sad once the grueling schoolyear starts again.

With that, we originally planned to go to a beach in La Union with some friends and we have already booked the resort ahead of time. However, when that didn't push through so close to our planned dates, my friend suggested to go to BAGUIO instead.

HALA! Could we still get a hotel when we only got a week left before our planned trip??? To think that we were planning to go on a long holiday weekend???

We checked online and found out that our favorite BAGUIO hotels were already fully booked. Upon more searching, the ones available had rotten reviews and looked like accommodations for moomoo!!!  But we were not ready to give up! Our minds were all so set to have one last getaway with the kiddies this year before school starts.

Still studying our options online, we came upon CHALET HOTEL BAGUIO. It was a simple hotel that was priced affordably and still had a few rooms available. We checked the reviews and saw that it was safe for families, the rooms were said to be clean, and, MOST IMPORTANTLY, there were no claims of moomoo. It was great too that besides breakfast, dinner for 2pax per day was also included.

YUP! SOLD!!! Now hopefully we'll still have an enjoyable stay in BAGUIO even if it was not our first choice.

And you know what? We certainly did!!!!!!!!!!!

HOLIDAY INN AND SUITES MAKATI STAYCATION

THE YAPPY BUNCH had a family staycation in HOLIDAY INN AND SUITES MAKATI  courtesy of Yub's Mom in celebration of her birthday. Of course, my little family is not choosy and is always game for anything especially if it means more bonding time between the four of us. Like we always say, we don't care if a place is dingy or classy -- we're happy as long as we're together.

And with our weekend in HOLIDAY INN AND SUITES MAKATI, we were able to relax, pig-out, swim, snore, get drunk, watch TV, be very lazy, go online, snuggle, chill,  take pictures, fart, LOL to the maximum,...  TOGETHER!

THE YAPPY BUNCH is in HOLIDAY INN AND SUITES MAKATI!!!

SNACKS AND BREAKFAST ( MANILA HOTEL STAYCATION )

THE YAPPY BUNCH were having a staycation in MANILA HOTEL and besides enjoying the Filipino themed gloriousness, we were happy that we were also able to savor their food.

Yeaaaaah!!!!! Because a staycations mean forgetting the diet as well! He he he he he he!

That night after dinner, the majestic and awesome lobby of THE MANILA HOTEL greeted us.

I tell you, there may be other more modern and popular hotels but they've got nothing on the grandeur of MANILA HOTEL's lobby!

MANILA HOTEL STAYCATION (PART TWO)

THE YAPPY BUNCH were in Manila Hotel to celebrate Andrei's win of Best Talent in Mr. BOSCONIAN and we are all having a blast. Many may think this is unlikely because public perception is that MANILA HOTEL is old and stuffy. But really, it was as majestic and historic as we dreamed it would be.

THE YAPPY BUNCH invades THE MANILA HOTEL!

When asked why he chose this classic Manila institution, he answered that it's the hotel where his idol, the BEATLES stayed in when they were in the Philippines.

Awwwww.... The little Ringo talaga!!

I was actually very proud of that reason and kept on mentioning it to everyone who'll listen (kulang na lang mangalabit ako ha ha ha ha ha).

MANILA HOTEL STAYCATION (PART ONE)

THE YAPPY BUNCH are going to MANILA HOTEL and it's a weekend I'm very excited about because I've been wanting to stay in this historical landmark for so long!!!!

Like, since I-was-old-enough long!

Would you believe that the reason why we had a staycation in MANILA HOTEL is because of Andrei?

Yup!!!!

Like I said, I've been curious to have a staycation in MANILA HOTEL for as long as I could remember. It is after all the most grand and posh hotel I have first encountered as a kid. But, lazy old me as usual would always put it off thinking that this big relic would always be there as it had always been.  As a result, tumaba at nagkaasawa na ako't lahat, I still haven't tried out the place.

Enter Andrei.

When Andrei won the Best In Talent in the Mr. Bosconian contest 2018, he had only one wish for his reward -- an overnight stay at MANILA HOTEL. Of course, I was overjoyed with his choice (great minds think alike nga naman!) but I wondered why of all the rewards he could get or all of the hotels that we could stay in, he chose MANILA HOTEL?

"Mommy because it's the hotel where The Beatles stayed in the only time they were here in the Philippines."

Awwwwww! My little Ringo!

So yay!!!! With that, I immediately booked a room for my little family. Even if it was actually my birthday week, our staycation in MANILA HOTEL would be all because of Andrei. He IS actually the reason why we're there.

Yes. My darling bunsoy helped me make one of my dreams come true. We may be here because of his idol Ringo but really, we are all celebrating our love for dear Andrei and how he is a blessing to us in every way.

:)

Wohoo!

We're going on a trip in our favorite rocket ship!

There it is!

BELMONT HOTEL STAYCATION (2018)

In the second month of the year, we packed up our bags again for a family staycation at... 

BELMONT HOTEL!!!!! 

It was dear Gem's birthday and once again, she treated the whole BP Group to a family staycation in the hotel near (whispers) RESORT'S WORLD Manila.

Yayyy! It's going to be another awesome weekend!