Mommy Pehpot, Author at Mommy Pehpot

5 Kid-Friendly Locations Near Manila

Manila is a great city to live in or visit, and there are endless family attractions to see. Sometimes though, the stressful and chaotic urban environment can be a bit too much. Everyone needs a break sometimes, especially parents who usually can only dream of a relaxing day on a sunny beach. Fortunately, the Philippines offers so many amazing locations that the only problem is choosing where to go.

Also must read: Fun Time with Kinder Joy

Going out on a day trip or even staying somewhere overnight can be a great bonding experience, where you and your family can create long lasting memories together. There is, however, also the risk of unexpected complications – we all know travelling with children can be nerve wrecking at times.

These top 5 destinations near Manila are the ones most likely to provide a positive experience. They are all extremely close to the city, helping you avoid the long exhausting drives. All locations are also well developed and tourist oriented – so you are guaranteed to find good hotels, restaurants and plenty of child-friendly activities.

#1 Corregidor island
How to get there : Sun Cruises has a daily ferry departing at 8 AM. The trip takes slightly more than an hour.

Budget : 2550 per adult and 1500 for child between 3-11. Adults pay 200 extra on weekends and holidays.

Things to do : Day tour and free lunch buffet, view the historical sites and visit the museums, add other optional activities to your tour such as kayaking, zip-line or sunset viewing.

Travel tips : This guided tour is a great learning experience, but it’s better suited for older kids who can appreciate the rich history and diversity presented before them.

More information : http://www.corregidorphilippines.com/

#2 Batangas
How to get there : At least 6 different bus companies run lines to Batangas, from all terminals in Manila. If you want to get to Lian or Nasugbu you can also take the bus bound for Tagaytay.

Budget : Bus ticket costs between 130 and 200 – depending on the company and your exact destination in Batangas. Other than that, it’s really up to you how much to spend there.

Things to do : Popular beaches such as Laiya or Nasugbo, more secluded white sand beaches on tiny nearby islands, Lighthouse at Calatagan and the churches of Lipa.

Travel tips : if you travel with kids aged 8 or older, consider going to Anilao where they can learn how to dive – it’s one of the best places for beginners in the country. Anilao also has some very good resorts for those who want to stay the night, but the downside is the beaches are a bit rocky and not as nice as other parts of Batangas. You can still spend your time in the swimming pool, so it can be just as nice.

More information : https://www.pehpot.com/2012/10/weekends-tagaytay-batangas.html

#3 Puerto Galera
How to get there : take an hour long ferry from Batangas Pier.

Budget : Ferry ride costs 330 per person. Puerto Galera is more of a weekend destination than a day tour since it takes 4 hours or so to get there from Manila. Beach resorts in White Beach or Sabang, the most popular areas are very accommodating to large families. Rates can go as low as 600 per night, depending on your standards.

Things to do : Spend your time at the beautiful beaches, go island hopping, snorkeling or scuba diving. Discover one of the 30+ less known beaches and enjoy a private beach experience. Kids would also love the watersports and extreme rides, they are perfectly safe and a lot of fun. You can also visit Tamaraw Falls for another relaxing, beautiful adventure.

Travel tips : If you avoid the 2 popular beaches, hotel rates drop significantly. In any case, try and book as early as you can and avoid holiday seasons if possible. There are a lot of travel agencies offering tour packages, which can help you save even more and enjoy group discounts.

More information : http://www.philippinestravelpackage.com/puerto-galera/

#4 Subic Bay
How to get there : There’s a Victory Liner bus bound for Olongapo leaving every 30 minutes. You can catch the bus at either EDSA pasay or Cubao. Getting to Subic will take between 3 and 4 hours, depending on traffic.

Budget : Depends if your’e interested in a day trip or planning an overnight stay. The bus ride costs 235 and you’ll also need to find a ride from Olongapo to the bay area. There are many family hotels in Subic, and some of them are very affordable. Beach resorts tend to be a bit more expansive, but if you book an hotel in Olongapo instead you can find extremely low rates.

Things to do : Both Ocean Adventure Park and the Zoobic Safari are great ways to spend the whole day. Kids will absolutely love these – there are many shows and animals everywhere. If you are looking for a nice beach, check out Baloy beach or White Sand. Of course, you can also just drive to Nagsasa Cove (35-40 minutes away).

Travel tips : Some of the nicest beachfront resorts are actually found in Camayan island, right next to the Ocean Adventure park. With so many hotels, the competition is fierce, so there are promos and deals to be found all the time. If you are staying for the night, try to fit in a tour at the Pamulaklakin forest as well.

More information : http://www.metrodeal.com/catalog/?q=subic

#5 Laguna
How to get there : Many different buses, depending on where exactly you want to go. JAC and JAM liners are the best companies to check. The bus ride will take 3 to 5 hours, based on your location of choice and traffic.

Budget : Laguna is perfect for a day trip, so you can easily make this trip happen even on a tight budget.

Things to do : visit the lakes of San Pablo or the Cavinti underground river. Take the kayak tour to Pagsanjan Falls. Calamba has some nice water sports and beach activities such as wakeboards for example. There are also hot and cold springs resorts scattered all around Laguna – this could be a really relaxing way to pass the day.

Travel tips : it’s probably better to head back to Manila at night, and not bother with Laguna hotels. If you do decide to book a night there, don’t expect much. Hotels are fairly basic, so just look for one which is clean and has a nice swimming pool.

More information : http://www.philippinestravelpackage.com/manila/

Fun Ranch Big Ball Pit Party

May is a happy month. It’s my husband’s birthday and also my 3rd son’s birthday. We usually have a celebration by the beach. This year is different though, husband is out of the country until June (juice colored!!). I am looking for an activity that my kids will enjoy and in a way relieve them from the stress of LDR. They adore their dad, super love their dad. And the birthday boy worships his dad. He is so sad that his dad won’t be here on his birthday.

Good thing, Fun Ranch is so near! And they just added another kind of fun! Say hello to Fun Ranch Ball Pit:

So yeah, my May boy celebrant had his 9th birthday party here, complete with food, fun activities and well, a little side trip to the grocery.

Fun Ranch Big Ball Pit is inside the Playdium at Fun Ranch Ortigas. It’s a pit full of balls! 10,000 colorful balls to be exact and more than 10,000 fun. Entrance to Fun Ranch Big Ball Pit is 150 Pesos per hour if it is weekdays and 200 pesos per hour if it is weekend. It’s cheaper if your kids are going to play at Playdium. Unlimited play at the Playdium with one hour Ball Pit is only 400 and 500 on weekends.

What I love most about Fun Ranch is the food (sorry naman!). Lalo na their fried chicken..ang saraaaaap! And the spaghetti too! Here are the food that we had:

That Pork BBQ is super delicious, sauce pa lang ulam na!!

Aside from Playdium and Big Ball Pit, kids can also enjoy unli rides and JumpYard at Fun Ranch. For more info and ticket prices, check out Fun Ranch Facebook Page. For birthday party packages rate and promos, Fun Ranch branches and other offers, check out Fun Ranch website page.

5 Steps To Preparing For a Kitchen Renovation

Preparing for a major renovation can cause stress and take a great deal of time. With proper and thoughtful planning, you can eliminate a lot of these woes by slowly thinking things through, discussing ideas with family members who most often use the space that is being updated, and employing knowledgeable professionals to help with the process if you are not an expert yourself. This article will help identify some steps to help you in preparing for a kitchen renovation.

Get supplies together that you will be using during the project and clean out all unnecessary items that you will not need to access. For example, it is a great idea to clear out your cupboards and pack up holiday dishes and decorative items. It is unlikely that you will need these items during your renovation. By keeping the area you will be working in clear of unnecessary clutter and random items, you will be less likely to break something and you can work more efficiently in the space.
Set aside things you do not use anymore. Consider donating these items, storing them in the basement or attic, or selling them on second-hand websites or in local consignment shops. By cleaning out items that you no longer want, you can make room for new items or organize the things you currently have.
If you are replacing items in your kitchen such as appliances or cabinetry. It is important to do your research. For example, if you are replacing your cabinets, be sure to check out the best kitchen cabinets in Vancouver for the latest in styles and trends that may enhance your space. If you are going to replace your cabinets, be sure to carefully pack up your items and label the boxes accordingly. Another helpful tip is to group all like items together. For example, if you are boxing up dishes, putting an entire set of plates together is a great idea as opposed to packing plates, cups, silverware, or other items in the box. Staying organized will help you find things later on.
Protect pets from the work area. Often times pets are used to going into the kitchen to access their food and water bowls. Before you begin your project, move the food and water bowls to another area in the house so that your pets can get used to this. By showing them a new routine before you begin to renovate, you can eliminate potential problems or worse, possible injuries from occurring.
Create a temporary kitchen space. It is common for people to congregate in the kitchen and socialize, eat, or work on other tasks. Because so much happens in a kitchen, it is a good idea to discuss ideas with your family about how to create a temporary space in which these types of activities can commence. It is probably unrealistic to expect your family to eat out every night, so consider where you will create a small kitchenette area where they can heat up something in the microwave or make a cup of coffee.

By planning ahead, you will make the renovation process run smoothly and you will decrease the amount of stress that the project could cause on your household.