As Pinoys hit the road for the holidays, Home Credit shares destination suggestions and digital gears to better enjoy those holiday travels

It's that time of the year again when the cool amihan breeze starts brushing on your skin, Christmas carols are airing on the radios, and a colorful array of holiday trinkets and decorations are being decked up on houses and streets. 

Now that travel restrictions have eased — travel bells are also ringing! Whether you're simply craving a weekend away cozying up with loved ones, or going on a festive yuletide getaway, make sure you have all the right travel essentials and gears for a smoother and more memorable holiday vacation. 

If you are looking for your next destination, read up on travel ideas and make the best of your holidays!

Take wonderful selfies in Baguio Christmas Village

Want to head up north? Experience the yuletide spirit of the colorful Christmas village in the City of Pines. Get your camera phones ready for some selfies or strike a pose with the vivid attractions and mesmerizing holiday lights while playing in the snow for that ultimate winter wonderland vibe.

You can also bring out the child in you and take a stroll in the gingerbread houses and candy cane displays and take photos with miniature snowmen while enjoying Baguio’s cool breeze — plus, you can visit the nearby night market and restaurants to complete the experience.

Go hiking in Sagada 

Hike your way to the clouds and embrace the ‘ber-month breeze in Sagada, Mountain Province. Get your high-definition cameras ready and some drone action as you explore destinations within the mountain range.

Never miss a moment and get your powerful lenses ready to capture the famous hanging coffins, the picturesque view of Marlboro Hills, and the scenic Mt. Kiltepan viewpoint.

If you are craving more adventure, an additional hour-and-a-half away ride won’t hurt! Get your power banks ready to recharge your gears as you quest the ancient Buscalan Village, where the oldest and last mambabatok or Ifugao tattoo artist, Apo Whang Od, resides.

Hit the road to La Union

Grab your friends and have an awesome ‘ber-month road trip to La Union. Don’t forget to pack a good portable speaker to play your friendship playlists while you exchange amazing stories and share some laughs.

After indulging in San Juan’s famous beaches along with good music and sumptuous food, you can also explore La Union’s other famous destinations like the ancient Ma-Cho Temple, the historical Baluarte Watch Tower, or do some grape picking at Gapuz Grape Farm.

Catch some waves in Siargao

For those who are looking for some action, Siargao is the right travel destination for you. Have the ultimate island experience with your family and friends while immersing in the island with the locals.

If you want to learn the basics of surfing or diving, better grab your waterproof action cameras to capture fun moments beneath the splashes and waves. Ready your selfie sticks and hop on boats as you discover Siargao’s beautiful islands like the famous Naked Island and Sohoton Cove, ride motorcycles and stroll along the iconic palm tree-lined road and finally, join a party at Cloud 9 coast where great food and entertainment awaits. 

Get the full Christmas experience in Pampanga

Witness an awesome showdown of lights this December in the Christmas capital of the Philippines, San Fernando — home to the mesmerizing giant lanterns. Take clear, crisp photos of the giant attractions by bringing your night-powered camera phones with you. Capture every detail and make the vibrant colors of the lanterns pop in every shot.

If you are looking for another exciting Christmas-themed place in the city, worry not because Pampanga’s first Christmas-themed park in Mexico is open for you. After visiting the holiday destinations, satisfy your tastebuds with Kapampangan delicacies like tsokolate de batirol and bibingka at puto bumbong.

Be holiday ready with Home Credit

Gear up for your holiday getaway through Home Credit Philippines’ flexible payment terms and low-interest rates! As the lifestyle partner of every Filipino, Home Credit offers phones, gadgets, and other essential travel gear at the most affordable cost and flexible installment plans that fit every traveler’s budget.

Home Credit Philippines is a financing company duly licensed and supervised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). To learn more about the latest updates from Home Credit Philippines, visit its official website www.homecredit.ph. You may also follow its official Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts. Customers are encouraged to download the Home Credit App on Google Play to know more about the latest promos and see what is new in the Marketplace.

vivo Philippines, one of the leading smartphone brands in the country, recently announced its partnership with AirAsia Philippines to help boost tourism by capturing the beauty of the Philippines with its newest midrange champion---the vivo Y35. 

vivo, in a bid to encourage and entice more traveling Filipinos to dabble in content creation, is giving away a freebie set consisting of a fitness tracker or a TWS bluetooth earphones to the first 200 AirAsia passengers who will purchase a vivo Y35. To claim the freebie, the purchasing passenger needs to present their AirAsia boarding pass from travels done from August 13 to September 12. The freebie promo will run from October 1 to October 30 in selected participating vivo concept stores/kiosks nationwide. 

Now that travel restrictions have loosened, travelers are eager to get back on the road and reclaim the time and opportunities halted by the pandemic. Airline companies such as AirAsia Philippines are pulling all the stops to sustain this boost and help fulfill people’s overdue travel goals and vacations. 

Exploring the Philippines with AirAsia through the lens of vivo

vivo recently launched the vivo Y35, the newest addition to its smartphone line up. This new variant in vivo’s Y series offers exciting and innovative features that will enable users to do more with its fast-charging capabilities and huge storage capacity. In addition, the vivo Y35 also includes new and enhanced AI-powered cameras that are suitable for creating and capturing unforgettable memories. vivo will be putting the new vivo Y35’s camera to the test with the help of AirAsia.

vivo Y35 in Dawn Gold

vivo and AirAsia will be creating and promoting activities outside of the airline company’s high-traffic destinations using the vivo Y35 to record the best sceneries and moments in every angle, in vivid detail.

vivo and AirAsia have also invited content creators Roxie Smith and Dustin Yu to fly to Zamboanga and Davao, two of AirAsia’s 16 domestic destinations. Using the vivo Y35, Roxie and Dustin will document the exciting moments of their adventures and all of the cities’ best and iconic spots, breathtaking sceneries and, perhaps, even undiscovered gems. Roxie and Dustin will be sharing photos and videos on their personal accounts and AirAsia’s social media pages. Explorers and travelers at heart and those in dire need of an out-of-town getaway should definitely look forward to these posts from Roxie and Dustin.

vivo and AirAsia announced their breakthrough partnership during the vivo Y35 virtual media launch last September 9, 2022.

“We are more than excited to be working with vivo and Roxie and Dustin, who are both very talented content creators. The rebound of tourism will benefit immensely from the content of revenge travelers as such will inspire more to follow suit. With the imaging power of vivo Y35, we expect more Filipinos to engage in content creation as they go back on the road. Together, with all the social storytellers of today, we can shine the spotlight on more destinations present in our beautiful country, shares Steve Dailisan, Head of Communications and Public Affairs of AirAsia Philippines.

“We are truly grateful for AirAsia Philippines for giving us this opportunity to collaborate with them on a project that is significant to the recovery of the travel industry. With the new vivo Y35, immortalizing life’s best moments has just gotten more exciting. We are looking forward to seeing how Roxie and Dustin will showcase the best of Zamboanga and Davao with the vivo Y35’s powerful cameras,” added Kelly Oliveros, vivo Philippines Senior Brand Marketing Supervisor.

The vivo Y35 is now available for purchase for only Php14,999 at vivo’s website , official online stores in Lazada, Shopee and TikTok, and vivo’s official stores nationwide. 

To learn more about the vivo Y35, visit its website at www.vivo.com/ph or follow vivo on their  Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram and YouTube channels. 

Ever wanted to live and work anywhere? Or just have a long leisurely trip? Airbnb and AirAsia Philippines are offering one Filipino (and up to 3 companions) the ultimate dream adventure to Fly & Live Anywhere in the Philippines for 30 consecutive days. 

From remote workers to creatives, families, empty nesters, vacationers and more; Airbnb and AirAsia are seeking one special winner who will fly and live anywhere in the Philippines for one month between September to October 2022. 

The winner will win an incredible Php 200,000 worth of Airbnb travel credits and 12 round-trip domestic flights with AirAsia, and can bring up to three companions on the trip.

During their month-long adventure, the winner and their guests will get to live in some of the most unique Airbnb Stays in the country, and travel with AirAsia to their bucket list destinations.  Get ready to discover home in a new light while exploring new cities and hidden gems with your loved ones like never before. 

“As more Filipinos enjoy greater flexibility to work from anywhere, the blurring lines between travel and living have led many to embrace remote work and more spontaneous getaways with their loved ones. As travel rebounds, we are thrilled to partner with AirAsia to offer this amazing once-in-a-lifetime adventure. We know travel connects people and brings significant economic opportunities for local communities, and we hope this contest ignites greater excitement and appetite to rediscover home,” shares Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb’s General Manager for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan. 

Steve Dailisan, AirAsia Philippines’ Head of Communications and Public Affairs, notes, “The tourism industry of the Philippines boasts diversity and richness across many facets – culture and heritage, scenic spots, exclusive adventures, and culinary delights. These drivers position the Philippines as a viable destination for travelers living a nomadic lifestyle away from the usual metros. Digital nomads, barkadas, or families who have the liberty to travel while keeping their grind must know that the Philippines is ready to welcome them. We are glad to partner with Airbnb to underscore this very message.” 

How to apply for your dream adventure

Starting today, August 11, through August 21, 11:59 p.m. PHT, eligible applicants may apply by visiting airbnb.com/flyandliveanywhere and completing the application form.

Participants must be over 18, have an Airbnb account and available to travel within the Philippines from September to October. The successful participant will be contacted directly by Airbnb on August 29. For more information, see the Contest Rules.

Traveling more and venturing further

For the first time since the pandemic, travelers can now fly and live anywhere and Airbnb and AirAsia are making this possible in the Philippines. 

Recent Airbnb data revealed that more than a third of local Airbnb guests polled stayed with Airbnb in the Philippines to travel and work remotely1, and that travelers are now venturing further with Filipino Hosts in over 60 new Philippines cities and towns welcoming their very first guests since the start of the pandemic2. 

Searching for travel inspiration for your Fly & Live Anywhere application? Check out Airbnb’s first-ever Travel Guide to the Philippines. Travellers are also encouraged to check the travel requirements of each destination, which can be found on AirAsia’s Fly Safe Page.  

2 According to internal Airbnb data between March 2020 and March 2022.

Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-148895 Series of 2022.

As unique homes increasingly become destinations in themselves, travelers are searching for extraordinary spaces that make for a truly special getaway. With Airbnb’s newly launched browsing experience via Airbnb Categories, it’s now easier to discover these homes than ever before. 

Specifically, Airbnb’s new OMG! Category leads travelers into a world of incredible getaways that are equal parts wacky and wonderful. The OMG Category – which currently has one of the highest rates of engagement amongst guests browsing Airbnb1 – showcases the craziest homes around the world from the fairytale-inspired to the downright unimaginable.

If you’re craving an extraordinary getaway or aspiring to become an OMG! Host yourself, hear firsthand from these Filipino Airbnb Hosts who own some of the most OMG!-worthy Airbnb listings in the country.

“We wanted guests to experience the outdoors in style”

Vintage Airstream Suite on Top of a Hill owned by Host Dennis Canonizado

The Lahluna Star Room owned by Hosts Hazel and Jose Romualdez The brainchild of husband-and-wife duo Hazel and Jose Romualdez, The Lahluna was inspired by the famous hobbit-inspired attraction in New Zealand. With a keen interest in ecology and sustainability, the couple made it a point to integrate both concepts into their property. The result is a calm, lush, and environmentally friendly retreat away from the city.  The Lahluna taps on solar panels and wind turbines for energy, and grasses and vines creeping on top of the domes help act as insulators to keep the rooms comfortable and breezy. Guests are also encouraged to reduce, reuse, and recycle during their stay.  “It always excites us when guests keep coming back to our place to relax and enjoy quiet moments away from the city. Especially during the pandemic lockdown, parents would book our space for their kids to play under the sun with our bunnies, and for everyone to breathe some fresh air,” shares Hazel. “It’s our attempt at a Filipino version of van life!” Jeepney Camper Glamping owned by Host Michael Go Interior designer Michael has been an Airbnb Host since 2015. He hosts several unique homes on Airbnb but his Jeepney Camper is the most eccentric – and the most popular.  With recreational vehicles (RVs) gaining popularity in recent years, Michael thought of building his local version of an RV using the country’s “king of the road” — the Philippine jeepney.   To get around the jeepney’s low ceiling height, he decided to add a second floor and an extendable roof. The result is a comfortable lodging space complete with a queen-sized bed, air conditioning and mini kitchen. Located right in Sierra Madre’s rainforests, this special home includes a pool and bonfire area for the ultimate camping experience.    “My advice for aspiring Airbnb Hosts is to always be hands-on, because that’s the secret to keeping your guests satisfied. When you see all the positive feedback, it will surely make hosting worthwhile,” says Michael. Be an Airbnb OMG! Host through the $10M OMG! Fund If you have a similar out-of-this-world idea, you might just be the one Airbnb is looking for! Airbnb’s US$10,000,000 OMG! Fund is seeking ideas from existing and aspiring designers, architects, DIYers, and makers from around the globe. The US$10 million fund will help finance 100 of the craziest home ideas, giving 100 people an opportunity to turn them into actual Airbnb OMG! Category listings. The USD $10,000,000 OMG! Fund will be open until 22 July 2022 at 11:59 pm PHT. The 100 fund recipients will be selected by the panel over the next several months, with the intent of having their newly-constructed spaces complete next year. To apply, visit airbnb.com/omgfund.