The Christmas and New Year holidays are always filled with festivities and are always a good reason to travel with loved ones. While travelling with family may seem like a challenge, they say that it’s also the best way to get to know a person much better– not only on what kind of traveller they are, but also their preferences in food, destination, and what nots. this month, we bring you some recommended Philippine travel destinations that may be good to explore with the family.

Palawan

With Palawan being the last ecological frontier of the Philippines, it is truly befitting for the destination to be visited by families as it is a good resource of flora, fauna, animal and other species identification. Whether it’s the Puerto Princesa Underground River that is surely tried and tested when it comes to tourist encounters, or El Nido with its bountiful islands and beaches, Palawan is ready to offer serenity, adventure and nature all-in-one. Fret not if the family has little ones as the bangkeros (boatmen) will also be ready to entertain the kids and has the logistics know-how in handling the little guests.

Bohol

Located in Central Visayas and just over an hour away from the capital, Bohol is a must-see destination for any tourist wanting to go to the Philippines. Offering not just scenic landscapes, Bohol is a destination rich in history and world-class sites such as the UNESCO listed heritage site, Chocolate Hills which are limestone stone deposits from the time when rivers were above sea level. Folklores also surround the formation of this one-of-a-kind formation which will surely be of interest to kids and kids at heart. But apart from this, Bohol is also home to the marine sanctuary of Balicasag Island. Teeming with marine wildlife, the island is famously known as one of the homes of the Green Sea Turtle with the Turtle Point or the Rico’s Wall dive site, serving as the species’ swimming ground. Apart from this, the island is also home to nudibranchs, barracudas both delinquent and full grown, and crabs.

Photo retrieved from Nomadic Experiences

Iloilo

Being helmed as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2023, going on a food tour in Iloilo is a must. While this may require being adventurous with food, families travelling with kids may instead try the tsokolate (hot chocolate) at the Camiña Balay na Bato, or the biscocho (twice-baked pastry covered with butter and sugar) at The Original Biscocho Haus. To warm the tummies, we recommend trying Pancit Molo which is a Filipino-style wonton soup composed of pork and/or shrimp dumplings, wonton wrapper, onion, toasted garlic, sesame oil, and chopped scallions for toppings. Apart from the gastronomy tour, the province is also packed with attractions that a family would not want to miss.

Baguio

If you want to experience the tropics but miss the chilly vibes, why not head up north and go to the summer capital of the Philippines? Baguio City used to be the capital of Benguet province until it had been established as a separate political unit. It is home to the Panagbenga Festival or the annual month-long flower festival of Baguio City, where people honor the “season of blooming” or the people of Baguio and the Cordillera’s history and traditions. Experience also going to a local market and buying souvenirs at the Baguio Market where one can also see fresh produce that usually sells cheaper than Metro Manila. Another unique local happening one may experience in Baguio is the night market which usually starts at 9PM and lasts until 4 in the morning at the Harrison Road in the city. Perfect for the holiday season, the night market offers clothes at thrifted rates, and food trip where you can taste Baguio’s famous Strawberry Taho (silken tofu with tapioca pearls), and other Filipino street foods.

Tips on Traveling with Children

Travelling with kids can be stressful, especially if the mode of transportation is via airplane since there are increasing complications in airports caused by flight delays, lost baggage, and other whatnots. Fortunately, if planned properly, parents may have a less bumpy overall trip. Here are some tips we gathered that may be of use when travelling with kids:

Plan: Apart from ensuring that all travel arrangements were already booked, travellers with children should ensure that the child is also comfortable and ready for the trip. It may be helpful to talk to one’s kid/s so they’d know what to expect during your trip. For travelling via plane, unless it’s a long haul flight, it may be better to book a morning departure to avoid the chances of being delayed. For accommodations, it may be good to ask the property if the room has a crib for children being trained to sleep separately. If it is the first-time that your child is flying, it may be good to consult with a medical practitioner to ask for some tips on handling motion and air sickness, and ear discomfort. 

Pack: Apart from toys, first aid/medical kit (ensure that thermometers or even test kits are also brought), medicines, baby monitor, insect repellant, sunscreen, pull-up diapers (this is recommended for travel purposes for on-the-go convenience), it is good to carry around with you a baby wrap around, body carrier or a hip seat, but do not leave your travel strollers behind. As the Philippines may require several transfers due to its archipelagic nature, travelling around with just a stroller may be unsuitable for some destinations. Ergo, if the family is planning to go to a beach destination, it may be better to carry the child with a body carrier instead. A few airplane hacks, do not forget to bring a child’s comfort item should they want in-flight snuggles. Pre-pack food or snacks that your child likes as some airplane food may not be their cup of tea. Carry around a leak and spill proof water bottle. If you are considering your children to be less exposed to gadgets, why not consider bringing art supplies as in-flight or on-the-road entertainment? Lastly, don’t forget to bring extra bags for dirty diapers, trash, or if the child needs to throw up; it may also be good to include some travel sickness candies in the medicine kit that has tummy-soothing ingredients. 

Activities: As the family is on a holiday, it is recommended to insert rests in between, especially for children as tiring them out may lead to tantrums. As previously mentioned, explain to your children what they would expect from the trip, and be flexible with your itinerary as much as possible as not everything may go as planned (e.g. weather changes, and the like). 

Lastly, Relax: As we all know, children learn from adults, so when the adult that children are accompanied with tends to be stressed or panics, the child may also be confused and restless. Enjoy the holiday as much as you can, and allow the children to be kids and play, as before we know it, they’ve already grown up before our eyes.