Last-Minute Staycation Plans? Here’s What You Need to Know
Being cooped up at home for seven months can leave you aching for a change of scene, even if it's just in Metro Manila. After a long pause, hotels are reopening their doors to guests in need of a break away from home. Here's everything you need to know before booking that last-minute staycation.
Who can book a staycation?
According to the Department of Tourism, guests of all ages will be accepted, save for pregnant women and individuals with co-morbidities. Those looking to book must reside in the same province as the hotel. So if you're from Metro Manila, you can only spend a staycation in a Metro Manila establishment.
A government or company ID with address will qualify as proof of residence.
ALSO READ: Hotel Staycations Are Now Allowed in GCQ Areas, Here Are The Rules
Where can you stay?
Hotels in general community quarantine (GCQ) areas must first secure Certificate of Authority to Operate for Staycations from the DOT before accepting bookings. Establishments being used as quarantine facilities are barred from accepting staycation bookings.
These places have secured permits from the DOT and are already accepting guests:
- Okada Manila
- Grand Hyatt
- Makati Shangri-La
- Nobu Hotel
- Shangri-La at the Fort
- Solaire Resort
- Edsa Shangri-La
- Joy-Nostalg Hotel & Suites Manila
Those staycation permits can also operate the following establishments: restaurants and other food and beverage outlets (excluding bars), gyms and swimming pools.
Four- and five-star hotels can operate at full capacity, while three-star hotels outside of Metro Manila can operate at full capacity.
Though allowed, hotel management have the discretion to open up full operations or run on limited capacity.
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These Luxury Hotels in Metro Manila Can Accept Staycation Bookings
Top Metro Manila Hotels Can Operate Fully For Staycations
Cashless transactions are preferred
To minimize contact and risk of spreading the virus, guests are advised to pre-book and pre-pay for their stay. Best to ready your digital wallets and banking apps to pay for other costs.
You need to get tested
Guests must present a negative rapid anti-gen test on the day of check-in. An antigen test is considered less reliable than the RT-PCR or swab test—the gold standard in testing—but is more reliable than the rapid antibody test. It sits between the two tests and it's faster and cheaper than the RT-PCR test.
The antigen test has been cleared for use to screen travelers and tourists.
There's a guest limit per room
There's a fixed number of people who can stay together, depending on the size of the room.
- 20-sqm rooms: one person OR 2 persons from the same household
- 21 to 29-sqm rooms: 2 persons
- 30 to 39-sqm rooms: 3 persons
- 40 to 49-sqm rooms: 4 persons
- 50 sqm and larger: 5 persons
Health protocols must be followed
Face masks plus face shields, proper social distance, and frequent disinfections are required to prevent the spread of the virus.