Tags: Travel Tales and Tips, Vacation
By Joel Pinaroc
CARAMOAN, CAMARINES SUR- For many residents here, turning their houses into “home stay” accommodations provides them an alternative livelihood particularly during the summer months.
With its remoteness and relatively unspoiled beauty, Caramoan is becoming one of the favorite tourist spots in the Philippines. The surrounding islands with isolated coves have attracted droves of foreign and local tourists.
But the popularity of Caramoan soared to new heights about three years ago when producers of the popular reality television show “Survivor” decided to use some of surrounding islands for the show.
During peak seasons, visitors often encounter difficulties securing accommodations.
“Home stay” accommodations provides tourists an alternative to staying in the few hotels and inns found on the island. In a home stay arrangement, residents often rent out rooms in their houses for tourists.
Regalado Emernciana, or Reling, says he’s been offering home stay lodgings to tourists since 2009, when the boom on tourism in Caramoan started.
On a trip to Caramoan, loQal.ph was able to secure a room from Reling for P1,000 a night. Although the amenities are very basic, the rooms are very clean, well-kept, and have air-conditioning. Extra mattresses are beddings are available upon request and use of the kitchen and living room area is free.
“The use of the kitchen and living room is already included in the room rental,” Reling says.
Reling says home stay providers in Caramoan have agreed to charge a uniform rate for tourists. He adds that the local government has implemented this simple rate scheme for home stay providers.
Reling says while home stay providers do not need to register to the local tourism office, the rooms and accommodation are still inspected by the tourism officers.
“This is to make sure that the rooms are okay for tourists,” he says.
He shares that his home stay business helps him and his wife provide for their two children currently studying in Naga City. Reling and his wife are teachers in a nearby secondary school in Caramoan.
The two rooms in his house in Brgy. Solnopan are rented for least 20 days in a year, Reling says. He shares that there are now some 38 families offering home stay accommodations in his barangay alone. Competition is not a problem, and there are a lot of tourists coming particularly during the peak season.
In fact, Reling shares that after accommodating the loQal.ph team, another group of visitors have already reserved his house.
He says his home stay business is not a full-time venture and the modest amount from the small business often goes directly to the school needs of his children, or for the maintenance the rooms and the house.
For inquiries, visitors can call Reling at +639108337825.
(Photos courtesy of Genaro Galang)
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