Christmas break is just around the corner! School is out, offices are on break, and it’s the perfect time to spend quality time with your loved ones. Only a few hours away from Metro Manila, these destinations are ideal for those looking to sneak away from the big city.

Pampanga

~80km (1.5 hours via SCTEX)

Home to some of Luzon’s best delicacies, this popular tourist destination is a foodie paradise! Visitors come just to get a taste of their famous tocino and sisig. Arguably the most popular sisig place is Aling Lucing’s Sisig in Angeles City, where the dish is believed to have originated. Pampanga is also home to some of the best resorts in Luzon, such as the Holiday Inn and the Clearwater Resort and Country Club.

Photo by the food dude via Dude For Food

Batangas

~82 km (1.5 hours via SLEX)

Batangas is a second home to adventure seekers. Its rows and rows of white sand beaches make the perfect backdrop for Insta-worthy pictures. Resorts in Laiya in the town of San Juan offer other water activities like kayaking and flyboarding. If you’re looking for a different kind of high, climb Mount Maculot in Cuenca, which has a trail that’s perfect for beginners. Trekking the mountain gives you a perfect view of the Taal Volcano and Taal Lake.

Group of people facing in front sitting on the edge of Mount Maculot in Batangas with ocean nearby

Photo by Geejay Gelogo via Geejay Travel Log

Tagaytay

~70KM (1 hour 45 minutes via SLEX)

Tagaytay is a good destination for romantics. It has become the perfect date destination and has a lot to offer: go horseback riding through the Highlands, Balay Dako while admiring the gorgeous sceneries, and enjoy candle-lit dinners at Mon’s Restuarant.

Did you know? The Hollywood film Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection, starring actor and pop culture icon Chuck Norris, was shot in Tagaytay!