What are you doing for New Year’s Eve?

This special feature is brought to you in part by Deal Grocer.

Two years ago, friends and I came upon two great value deals and welcomed 2011 with an NYE countdown party at the Sofitel, and staying overnight at the Manila Hotel. We’re thinking of doing it again this year, and I’ve been looking at the deals posted on Deal Grocer.

There’s a New Year’s Party with dinner buffet and free-flowing drinks at the Intercontinental Manila, but there’s no way I’m headed home (or heading far) after the party. That means look for a place to crash that’s relatively near.

There’s a great value deal for a City Suite with breakfast at the new Best Western Premier F1 Hotel at the Bonifacio Global City, but unfortunately, it’s not valid from December 1, 2012 to January 1, 2013, because it’s the hotel’s peak period.

I found two places that have deals valid throughout December: Acacia Hotel in Alabang (deluxe room with breakfast for Php 3,500) and The Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences in Makati (Malaga or Madrid Studio Room with breakfast, 10% discount on food and beverage at Brasserie Boheme, Php 300 worth of goods from the mini bar). When I read the terms though, they’re both not valid for redemption on December 31!

So I search some more, and finally found two hotels that can accommodate us for New Year’s Eve. First is actually an overnight package at Corregidor Inn, which includes accommodation, round-trip ferry transfers, guided island tour, choice of zipline, ATV or kayaking activities, Malinta Tunnel night tour, lunch and breakfast buffet, and terminal, entrance and shrine fees for Php 4,500. Not bad, but I want to be near the city on the 31^st.

The other is in the city alright, but not in Manila. The Radisson Blu Cebu has an attractive package of a Business Class room for only Php 5,400, which includes breakfast and access to the hotel’s exclusive business lounge. It was perfect, since I am sorely missing Feria’s homemade ice cream, and Cebu as well. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll be able to get reasonably priced plane tickets this time of the year.

Maybe I should just stay in this year, and celebrate with steaks and pancakes cooked in the Cuisineart 5-in-1 Griddler. Time to buy myself a Christmas present, no?

Photos courtesy of DealGrocer.com.