Bumper-to-bumper traffic, street and karaoke noise all over, the stifling heat—the capital of the Philippines can be daunting at first but once you dig deeper, you will unfold a fast-paced and fascinating metropolis defined by its rich history and legacy.  Manila Chinatown  Oh, Manila—love it or hate it, as they say! Whether you are a first-time traveler to the Philippines excited to see what makes this country more fun aside from its capital city, a millennial Manilenya seeking to escape the buzzling city, or a returning tourist wanting to stray away from the metro, here are some ideas on where to go next after exploring the Philippines’ chaotic yet iconic mad metropolis.   Thankfully, there’s a wide array of choices for you—places to visit, transportation to take and accommodations to book—ranging from luxury to budget —in any city or province you wish to discover after Manila.  ...

As we opened our van’s windows to take a peek into the abandoned, locked property in front of us—the former site of the infamous Hyatt Hotel that was devastated in the 1990 earthquake—we knew it was not just the famed cold Baguio City weather that made the hairs on our skin go up and our spines chill a little. It was something else—something unexplainably and eerily ominous. After all, this was no ordinary stroll around the summer capital of the Philippines. ...