Note: There’s no need to get all sad about it

Unlike other countries, Christmas in the Philippines has been a very big deal. In fact, our country is said to have the longest Christmas celebration in the world.  And of course, there’s nothing wrong about it.

Christmas is when families and other relatives from afar come home for reunion to celebrate this holiday season. The noche buena is always excessive — from the different types of lechon, salad, pasta, to many variants of kakanin. Everyone has to prepare gifts for everyone, and also, you should not forget your ‘inaanaks’.

But not everyone — whether by choice or any circumstance, prepares big or chooses to celebrate with others this holiday season. And while Christmas is for reconnecting with family and your faith, it can also be about gratitude, not just for the people you love or the blessings you’ve received, but for yourself as well.

And if by chance you’re celebrating Christmas solo this year, here are some ways to enjoy your own company, and places where you can spend the holiday:

Go out of town and book a staycation

If you have some extra cash, wouldn’t it be nice to go somewhere not really far but at least outside the busy and congested urban life? So go ahead and book that nice hotel you’ve saved in your Airbnb, order room service and watch all the series and movies you want.

If you’re still not decided where to go yet, Tripadvisor currently offers great deals and discounts for hotels located in Tagaytay, like Escala Tagaytay, The Lake Vista Hotel, and Taal Vista Hotel among others.

Click here to know more.

Conquer your fear with extreme fun rides

I know you’ve been dying to try that thrilling rides but your fear is stopping you. So be bold enough and go ahead conquer your fear by riding those exhilarating and extreme thrill rides, and create fun memories with yourself! Spending Christmas alone isn’t just all about locking yourself in your room and eat and watch all day. So go out and unleash the thrill seeker in you.

Skyranch Tagaytay and Enchanted Kingdom currently offer exciting promos and deals that you can avail.

Pamper yourself in Tagaytay

Instead of travelling for almost 4 hours going to Baguio to experience cold weather, most people go to Tagaytay. This is the best time to see the Taal Lake while consuming that cup of coffee, or have a picnic. Other than that, Tagaytay offers food to satisfy your taste buds’ cravings: from fruits to vegetables, from pasta to salad. You can even buy jams and other delicacies to take home or as gifts that will never disappoint.

Be one with nature and go hiking

There’s something about the great outdoors that just revitalizes our soul. Especially now that we’ve all been on lockdown for a very long time, and December is the perfect season for hiking in the Philippines. Yes, one can choose to hike any time in the country, but December marks the start of the cool and dry months that are ideal for outdoor activities. After all the holiday drinking and eating, keeping yourself fit can be a challenge. Fortunately there’s always a nearby mountain to climb that’s pretty convenient to visit.

As to date, here’s the list of mountains near the metro that are now open for hiking:

• Masungi Georeserve
• Mt. Purro, Rizal
• Mt. Batulao, Batangas
• Mt. Nagpatong, Rizal
• Mt. Maculot, Batangas
• Mt. Daraitan, Rizal
• Mt. Manalmon, Bulacan
• Mt. Sipit Ulang, Rizal

Escape to the beach

Going to the beach can be one of the options for solo travelers this Christmas. The beach can help you to relive stress, it’s where you can find peace and solitude, and give you the daily dose of exercise you need in a day. Christmas is also a perfect time to go to the beach if you are on a tight budget as you can usually score a better deal since resort owners know that Christmas is a great time to attract guests.

Most parts in Batangas are now open for underwater activities, just make sure that you are complying with DOT’s guidelines such as: guests who intend to stay for at least one night in a beach or island destination must present a confirmed booking at a DOT-accredited accommodation establishment. Also, walk-in guests are not permitted to enter the island destination, unless they are part of a day tour.

Spending Christmas alone isn’t so bad and doesn’t have to be lonely just because you’re by yourself. It’s also a way to reflect, unwind, and enjoy your own company.