If you’re reading this, we can imagine you’re finally headed back to the Philippines after months of being stranded overseas. Home finally beckons — and if there’s one thing you’re hoping for, it’s a safe, smooth journey back. One of our very own colleagues at TripZilla Philippines, Kevin Romas, actually had the experience of repatriating during the pandemic. An insider tip he shares for those heading back home? Pre-book your quarantine facility. This will save you loads of time, money, and stress.
“I wanted to pre-book before my flight, but during that time, there was still confusion about pre-booking hotels before arrival,” Kevin shares. Having not secured his quarantine facility in advance, he got to see firsthand how doing so would have made his experience a whole lot easier. Now that pre-booking procedures are much better organised, he advises grabbing this opportunity.
For balikbayans heading back to the Philippines, whether OFWs or non-OFWs, Robinsons Hotels & Resorts is an ideal choice as your quarantine facility. From providing an easy-to-follow guide for returning Filipinos to offering easy pre-booking services, this group of hotels works to make sure that repatriating Pinoys receive the safe and warm welcome they deserve. And during this challenging time, what more could we ask for?
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[DEAL ALERT] Finally headed back home? Robinsons Hotels & Resorts offers the warmest of welcomes with their Happy to Be Home packages for returning Pinoys! For as low as ₱1,900 nett, balikbayans can pre-book a stay with Go Hotels. A stay at Summit Hotels and Resorts, on the other hand, can go as low ₱2,500 nett. Stays come complete with full-board meals, and rooms are guaranteed safe and deep-cleaned in accordance with standards approved by the Department of Tourism. Booking and stay period is until 31 Mar 2021. |
Returning to the Philippines during the pandemic
Compared to our usual travels, journeying home in the new normal involves a number of additional steps. Filling out health declaration forms, swab testing, and waiting for COVID-19 test results at a quarantine facility are just some of the things you must prepare for. Thankfully, Robinsons Hotels & Resorts has put together a helpful step-by-step travel guide for returning Filipinos.
Arrival & quarantine procedure guide for balikbayans
- After securing your flight back home, check if your airline provides an online check-in option. Take advantage of this option if available!
- Pre-book a stay at Summit Hotels and Resorts or Go Hotels. A stay at a hotel operating as a quarantine facility for balikbayans is mandatory while you wait for COVID-19 test results and accompanying documents.
- Fill up a Declaration and Waiver Form that indicates that you are healthy and fit to travel.
- After checking in to your flight, accomplish the Electronic Health Locator Form and Arrival Card online and save the QR code; this will be presented to the Immigration officer when you arrive.
- Once you arrive, you will attend a briefing by the Philippine Coast Guard.
- Fill up the Affidavit of Undertaking, which you will have to submit before leaving the airport.
- Fill up the e-CIF form, then present your passport and QR code to the verification and barcoding booth.
- Pay for your RT-PCR test, which costs ₱4,500. You will receive three barcode stickers that you will need in order to proceed with your test. When done, you will be given a sticker to be placed on the back of your passport.
- Clear with Immigration, and present the QR code you received after filling out the Electronic Health Locator Form and Arrival Card. Claim your luggage, then clear with Customs.
- Submit the Affidavit of Undertaking before exiting.
- Proceed to your booked hotel through your preferred mode of transportation.
- Check in at your hotel, and fill out a Health Declaration form. You can do so in advance through QR codes provided by the hotel. Then, enjoy your stay while waiting for the release of your test results!
Note: There will be an added step for booking a Department of Health-accredited hotel at the airport for those without prior bookings; long queues are to be expected — so we highly recommend skipping the line and pre-booking your quarantine facility!
View Robinsons Hotels & Resorts’ full travel guide here.
Why choose Robinsons Hotels as your quarantine facility?
Given what it’s like living in the new normal, it’s no secret that we now have different priorities when it comes to selecting a hotel. Cleanliness, comfort, and customer service should be at the top of your checklist when on the lookout for the ideal quarantine facility — and thankfully, Robinsons Hotels & Resorts offers all this and more.
Our colleague Kevin was able to book one of Robinsons Hotels & Resorts as his quarantine facility; after arriving at Ninoy Aquino International Airport from London, he waited for his swab test results in Go Hotel before journeying back home to Baler.
While the thought of staying at a hotel can be daunting at this uncertain time, you can be assured that Robinsons Hotels has elevated their standards for health and sanitation. In the hope of helping fellow repatriating Pinoys and providing them with a sense of comfort, Kevin shares his hotel quarantine experience with us.
Quality customer service
Despite not being able to pre-book his stay, Kevin was fortunately able to secure a room at Go Hotel. The hotel’s affordable rates, reputation for quality service, and proximity to his loved ones were among the reasons he chose it as his quarantine facility.
Accommodating staff
Hotel guests are undoubtedly Robinsons Hotels’ top priority. At this quarantine facility, guests are warmly accommodated and their needs are attended to. This is something Kevin was particularly grateful for, given that they are required to stay inside their rooms at all times.
“Their staff made sure that my ordered food would be served on time and would still be in its best form,” he says. “They also accommodated all my queries regarding the results of my swab test and all the documents required so I could go home to my province in Aurora. They also gave me printed copies of the documents I needed.”
Hotels that cater to different budgets & lifestyles
One thing’s for sure when you stay at Robinsons Hotels & Resorts: You get way more bang for your buck. Both Go Hotels and Summit Hotels and Resorts are known to offer affordable rates, without the need for guests to sacrifice comfort or quality service.
Go Hotels
Those simply after the bare essentials will be more than happy staying at Go Hotels. At wallet-friendly prices, their hotel rooms offer the basic necessities for a quality stay: a comfy bed, a clean bathroom, air conditioning, an LCD TV with cable, and free Wi-Fi! Learn more about this Robinsons Hotels & Resorts quarantine facility here.
Summit Hotels and Resorts
More discerning hotel guests may opt to stay at Summit Hotels and Resorts, where style meets comfort. In addition to providing guests with all the essentials, they take it a step further with their sleek, Instagram-worthy interiors! While stays here are certainly wallet-friendly, their hotel rooms offer guests a luxurious home away from home. Learn more about this Robinsons Hotels & Resorts quarantine facility here.
Elevated health and safety protocols
Before you even set foot in any quarantine facility under Robinsons Hotels & Resorts, you’ll already know you’re in good hands. This is all thanks to their Circle of Clean — their elevated protocols for hygiene and cleanliness, which were thoughtfully put together in response to guests’ needs in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the hotel group’s strict implementation of protocols recommended by the World Health Organization and the Department Health, health and safety are prioritised from pre-arrival all the way until post-departure — so guests can enjoy a worry-free stay from start to finish.
From check-in to check-out
Contactless pre-payments are encouraged, and Health Declaration forms may be accomplished online prior to arriving at the hotel. Upon arrival, guests must go through sanitising foot dips and mandatory temperature screening; wearing of face masks is also required for everyone. Before check-in and after check-out, room keycards are sanitised and luggage is disinfected.
During your stay
Clear acrylic barriers are in place at reception desks, and hotel staff are dressed in personal protective equipment. Physical distancing markers, on the other hand, are located all throughout the hotel. High-touch surfaces are disinfected hourly, and alcohol and hand sanitisers are readily available for guest use in high-contact areas.
Rooms are guaranteed clean and disinfected — a Circle of Clean seal is placed on each door to indicate the room has been cleaned. Pre-packaged meals are offered to guests for contactless delivery, and these are meticulously prepared in accordance with government-approved safety protocols.
Work- and relaxation-friendly amenities
Whether you’re looking to simply relax or to busy yourself while under hotel quarantine, Robinsons Hotels has got you covered. Comfort is one of the things you can expect at any of their hotels, and thanks to their Circle of Clean, you can certainly kick back and rest with ease. Robinsons Hotels are also relocated in close proximity to several Robinsons Malls; guests are welcome to make use of the Robinsons Personal Shopper via the MyKuya app and RDelivery via the Mober app for convenient, contactless shopping. You can check out Robinsons Malls’ virtual directory here.
However, if you’re more like Kevin, who preferred to busy himself instead of anxiously waiting for his swab test results, amenities such as a workspace and Internet connection are both available for guests. “I got back to work as soon as I landed there,” he shares. Should you need more than just a quarantine facility, though, Robinsons Hotels & Resorts also offers packages for guests in need of long-term accommodations and workspaces!
More pre-booking perks
1. You’ll save loads of time
“Pre-booking your hotel has a great advantage — it will lessen the time you have to wait in the queue because there are a lot of arriving overseas Filipinos,” Kevin tells us. On average, you can expect to wait in line for around 40 minutes up to an hour and a half just to book your quarantine facility. Booking your stay ahead of time will mean time saved; not to mention, less necessary contact, too.
2. You’ll have better chances of landing your preferred hotel
“Pre-booking the hotel also assures that you have a reservation at the hotel of your choice, since there are a limited number of quarantine facilities and a lot of returning Filipinos,” says Kevin. Given that only a fraction of hotels around the country are currently operating — and at limited capacity at that — this is something you should definitely be taking into consideration.
If you have a particular hotel or specific amenities in mind when selecting your quarantine facility, booking in advance will guarantee you a slot in your desired accommodation. This means not having to settle for less, or spending extra time evaluating your options at the airport.
3. You can avoid unnecessary overspending
“Without pre-booking, there is a great chance that it will cost you a lot since you will be left with hotels that are expensive,” Kevin shares. Those travelling on a budget will certainly want to minimise costs — and take note that mandatory swab tests will already be setting you back a few thousand bucks. By booking your quarantine facility in advance, you have better chances of landing a hotel that fits your budget, and you can avoid being blindsided by any additional fees.
How to pre-book your quarantine facility at Robinsons Hotels & Resorts
During the community quarantine in the Philippines, Robinsons Hotels & Resorts has dedicated customer care agents who will happily facilitate your advanced bookings. Simply browse through the list of operating Robinsons Hotels & Resorts and find your desired quarantine facility. Then, get in touch with their agents through your preferred channel in order to pre-book your stay!
After securing your quarantine facility and preparing the necessary documents, all you’ll really need to do is be patient and keep your fingers crossed that your flight will push through as scheduled. Wishing you safe, smooth travels back home!
For more information, visit Summit Hotels and Resorts’ official website, Facebook, and Instagram; Go Hotels’ official website, Facebook, and Instagram.
Brought to you by Robinsons Hotels & Resorts.
