The long, hot days of summer are finally here and if you’re one of the
many who’s up for travel and adventure this season, there are many fascinating
tourist and vacation spots around the country you can add to your bucket list.
A recent study by travel and experience platform Klook noted that 87% of Filipinos are raring to travel with
many of their destinations of choice within the Philippines as booking for domestic
destinations have exceeded pre-pandemic levels in 2022.
Domestic travel, according to the Department of Tourism, is
expected to make a full recovery this year with the country’s hotel and resorts
association reporting that occupancy has
breached 2019 numbers and is largely driven by domestic tourism.
With 2023 being dubbed as the year of Revenge
Travel, there’s no better time to plan your trip, pack your bags and
head-off for an unforgettable adventure. But before you do, ensure your travels
are hassle-free by getting Travel Master Insurance with COVID-19.
“It’s summer and we’re sure that many Filipinos are already picking out
the destinations they want to travel to, especially since the Philippines has
so many beautiful sites to see–from beautiful beaches to beautiful towns and
cities–there’s something for every kind of traveler. Traveling should be fun,
stress-free, and hassle-free, this is why we created Travel Master insurance–to
provide our travelers the peace of mind and protection from any kind of
eventuality so they can make the most out of their trips,” said Mario Berta,
Igloo’s Country Manager for the Philippines.
Created in partnership with GCash and Malayan Insurance, Travel Master
with COVID-19 provides travelers coverage including for personal accidents,
flight delays, lost luggage, emergency medical treatment, hospital cash
allowance, travel inconvenience benefits, and COVID-19 protection.
To get the Travel Master coverage, simply access the GInsure page
available on your GCash app and select Travel and Travel Master with COVID-19.
Fill in the form with your travel details and it will immediately provide you
with coverage benefits and the premium contribution and you’re set to go.
Travel Master with COVID-19 is available whether you’re planning to
travel locally or internationally–making it a flexible and much-needed travel
companion anywhere you go.
So if you’re looking for destinations to add to your vacation bucket
list, here are six spots around the Philippines to get you started:
Samal
Island Tourism Information Center, Facebook
Island Garden
City of Samal
Davao del Norte
Located at the heart of the Davao Gulf, the Island Garden City of Samal
is known as the largest resort island in the country– home to more than 30
resorts across a 118-kilometer stretch of coastline.
A mere 15-minute boat ride from Davao City, the resort island is a
great stop for those who want to soak in the beautiful landscapes and seascapes
of the Philippines. Go snorkeling and bask in the beauty of the 150-hectare
Coral Garden and Marine Park that includes the Audanao Fish Sanctuary and the
Giant Clam Sanctuary. On land, travelers can enjoy exploring the 11.5-hectare government-owned
botanical garden and nature park where they can see diverse flora and fauna.
The resort island is also home to the largest colony of fruit bats in
the world and they can be seen in their natural habitat at the Monfort Bat
cave.
Alona
Beach Guide, Website
Alona Beach
Bohol
The Philippines is home to amazing beaches (it has more than 7,000
islands after all) and if you’re on the hunt for a new beach haunt that has
white sand beaches like Boracay, Alona Beach in Panglao, Bohol is a great spot
to add to your travel bucket list.
The white sand beach stretches a good 1.5 kilometers and is in full
view of the blue, blue waters of the sea of Bohol. Nature lovers and adventure
seekers may also immerse themselves in the rich marine biodiversity of
Balicasag Island–a few minutes boat ride from Panglao island. Here you can
snorkel and view its 400-meter coral garden and marine sanctuary.
Meanwhile, those who want to get the most out of their vacation and
explore more of Bohol can also visit the famous Chocolate Hills, the Mahogany
Forest, or take a slow, leisurely ride and a beautiful lunch along the Loboc
River with the Loboc River Cruise.
Lacson
Ruins, Facebook
The Ruins
Bacolod
Often called the “Taj Mahal of the Philippines,” The Ruins or the
Lacson Ruins was the ancestral home of local sugar baron Don Mariano Ledesma
Lacson built in the early 1900s in Talisay, Bacolod City. Inspired by Italian
architecture, the Ruins was built in the memory of Don Mariano’s wife Maria,
who died giving birth to their 8th child.
During the Second World War, the mansion was burned by Philippine
guerillas to prevent it from being used by the Japanese. The mansion burned for
three days straight but left behind its beautiful foundation. The Ruins has now
become a popular tourist and event spot, especially for weddings because of its
romantic history.
For those who want to experience more of the old-age architecture of
the Philippines, they can–after visiting the Ruins–take a day trip to the
neighboring city of Silay and visit its large collection of perfectly-preserved
heritage houses including the Golez Heritage House and the Balay Negrense
heritage house and museum.
Museo Orlina
Tagaytay City
For those who want a more leisurely adventure in cooler climes, Museo
Orlina in Tagaytay City, is the perfect place for you.
Located at Hollywood St. Hollywood Subdivision in Tagaytay City, the
museum houses the many glass sculptures of famed Filipino visual artist Ramon
Orlina. Spend an hour or two exploring the four-floor exhibit area including
the Reflections Gallery where Mr. Orlina exhibits videos, images, and documents
charting his art journey; and the Naesa Gallery which features an ever-changing
exhibition featuring up-and-coming Filipino artists.
If you fancy viewing his work alongside nature, take a walk at the
Sculpture Garden and Amphitheater, and cap off the visit with a spectacular
view of Taal Lake at the roof deck.
Bell
Church, Website
Tam-awan Village and Bell Church
As the Summer Capital of the Philippines, many vacationers travel to
Baguio in search for respite from the hot weather. The cooler climate alongside
the beautiful nature makes it a must-go destination for anyone regardless of
their preference for adventure.
Those who’ve been to Baguio several times would undoubtedly know of its
most famous landmarks including Wright Park, Burnham Park, Camp John Hay, and
more. But for those who want to discover more of the city and its culture,
there’s no better place to visit than the Tam-awan Village and the Bell Church.
Tam-awan Village located in Pinsao Proper, Baguio City is perfect for
those interested in art and history. The village features indigenous
craftsmanship and Ifugao architecture alongside art pieces made by local
artists set within a sprawling and beautiful mountainside forest.
Bell Church, meanwhile, is a 63-year-old Taoist temple located in La
Trinidad, Benguet. Here visitors can enjoy the beautiful architecture and the
quaint lotus pond and even have their fortunes read by the monks of the temple.
Whether your summer plans are for adventure or relaxation, domestic or
international, make your travels all fun and worry-free withTravel Master
Insurance with COVID-19 available at the GCash’s GInsure marketplace.
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About Igloo:
Igloo is the first
full-stack insurtech firm to emerge from Singapore. It has offices in
Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, The
Philippines, Vietnam and
Malaysia and tech
centers in China and India. With
a mission of making insurance accessible for all, the firm leverages big data,
real-time risk assessment, and end-to-end automated claims management to create
B2B2C insurance solutions for platform companies and insurance companies.
Igloo’s insurance solutions enable companies
to eliminate their
exposure to operational risk,
create new revenue streams,
and optimize and enhance
existing products and
services. Igloo has
partnered with over
55 well-known brand
names across the
markets in various
verticals, including insurance, telecommunications, e-commerce,
hospitality, health tech and financial services.
For more information, please visit
https://www.iglooinsure.com/.
