Magical attractions for the holiday staycationers
Living the suite life tends to get a tad boring amid the hustle and bustle of the holidays. As you sit in your hotel room after a tedious business meeting or while you make the most out of your staycation, the Christmas cheer outside your window entices you to go out and enjoy the merry holidays along with the people cheerfully humming “Jingle Bells” or “Christmas in Our Hearts” in the streets. If you decide to step out of your comfort zone—in this case, your hotel room—here are some things to do near your hotel that will make you feel that festive Christmas spirit.
Festival of Lights
If you happen to stay at one of the hotels in Makati like The Peninsula Manila, Dusit Thani, New World, Shangri-La, Discovery Primea, and Fairmont, then it’s worth visiting the Ayala Triangle Gardens where dancing lights and sounds are displayed from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. At this year’s Festival of Lights, experience the magic of Disney as a colorful Mickey Mouse-shaped structure illuminates the area and songs such as “Beauty and the Beast” and “When You Wish upon a Star” are played while the lights dance to the beat of these well-loved tunes. The Festival of Lights will run every day until Jan. 8, 2019.
Enchanted Forest of Lights
Another Christmas lights display is the Enchanted Forest of Lights in Eastwood City. Guests of Richmonde Hotel and Microtel by Wyndham can see larger-than-life models of woodland animals, sea creatures, trees, and famous landmarks around the world such as the Paris Eiffel Tower, Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, and the New York Empire State Building displaying sparkling lights. Enter a radiant urban forest during mall hours before it disappears on Jan. 13, 2019.
Christmas Street Light Musical Tunnel
Those staying in Crowne Plaza, Marco Polo, and Edsa Shangri-La in Ortigas can drive or even walk through a tunnel of lights while listening to Christmas songs in the Christmas Street Light Musical Tunnel right in front of Tiendesitas shopping center in Pasig City. Lights in myriad colors covering the length of Frontera Drive will dance to the beat of the jingles from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. until Jan. 7, 2019.
Prism of Lights
For a different kind of Christmas light show, the Prism of Lights at SM Aura Premier offers an interactive experience with their light installments heavily inspired by the magical night sky. As you enter the dreamlike world of prisms, music starts to play and the lights of the cubes change to the color of the night sky as can be seen from a particular scenery such as shades of blue when you’re in the middle of the ocean or green when you’re wandering in the forest. The Prism of Lights runs until Jan. 7, 2019.
World Bazaar Festival
Enough about Christmas lights display! Let’s talk about finding that perfect gift. The World Trade Center will hold a World Bazaar Festival featuring toys, gift items, jewelry, books, fragrances, kitchen ware, and so much more. Those staying at Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Conrad Manila, Marriott Manila Hotel, the Hilton Manila, and Belmont Hotel within Parañaque and, in the city of Manila, the Manila Hotel and the Prince Hotel, even the Pan Pacific Plaza can shop ‘til they drop from Sunday to Thursday, from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday to Saturday at 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. The World Bazaar Festival will be open on Dec. 12 to 22.