Tag Archives: budget travel

Zero Fares for 2012 and 2013

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Travelholics would surely stay late tonight as the two Philippine carriers, Cebu Pacific Air and Airphil Express launch the Zero Fare seat sale at 12 Midnight in celebration of Easter.

Why book on a seat sale? 

  • It’s cheap. It won’t tear your pocket. But gone are the days when one can buy a fare as low as 96 pesos roundtrip for a domestic destination.
  • You can enjoy the beauty of the country without worrying about your bank account.

How to score a cheap flight?

  • Look for flights on Wednesdays, Thursdays. Usually, the weekends are not on sale.
  • Register via their websites for easy and fast booking.

I don’t have a credit card. How would I be able to book?

  • Debit cards with Visa / Mastercards are accepted (Try EON Card of Unionbank or BPI’s special online debit card)
  • Choose over the counter payments but this procedure has a deadline.
As per their fanpages: Airphil Express sale has a travel period of July-Sept. 30, 2012 and February 1-28,2013. Cebu Pacific Air has announced that the travel period of their zero fare would start from November 1-Dec. 15,2012.
Getting a cheap flight has been my key in experiencing the world.

Bear this in mind: Be decisive. Don’t let chance pass. It’s now or never. Go. Travel. Live your life to the fullest.

***P.S. No I’m not an endorser of these airlines but I just want to share the good news to all of you so you can enjoy the best of the Philippines. Explore the unexplored :)

The Key to Budget Travel: Seat Sales

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Travel does not need to be expensive. Budget travel is possible, if you know the key. The first step to budget travel is getting a cheap fare. Thanks to SEAT SALES!

Being a travelholic that I am, I always make it a point to book impulsively [decisively, if the situation calls for it]. Today,  I was fortunate enough to successfully book the most coveted PISO fare of Cebu Pacific.  After patiently waiting (for more than 3 hours)  from the slow loading time of Cebu Pacific’s webpages, I got in and voila, booked to Naga for Php 155.00 roundtrip (No check-in baggage)! This was my lowest purchase so far, beating my booking at Airphilexpress for a trip to Coron (Php1,137.00 roundtrip) last year.


If I can book that cheap fare, so can you. Here are tips (which you can follow if you want):

1. FOLLOW the social networking sites of the airlines

-Almost all of these airlines hold a sale, two or three weeks before an occasion (e.g. Valentine’s Day, Chinese New Year, New Year’s Eve). So check your calender for holidays.

>>>Twitter & Facebook accounts

*Cebu Pacific -@cebupacificair   / http://www.facebook.com/#!/cebupacificair

*Airphilexpress- @airphilexpress / http://www.facebook.com/#!/airphilexpressph

*Philippine Airlines- @flypal / http://www.facebook.com/#!/flyPAL

*South East Asian Airlines -@flyseair / http://www.facebook.com/#!/flyseair

- Cebu Pacific usually posts their announcements on Twitter before noon time. The Piso Fare based on previous sales usually happens every June and Sept. But this year, they suddenly held a piso fare in February. So it’s best to be alert.

-Airphilexpress, on the other hand, announces on Facebook.  They have regular sales every Fridays and Sundays.

-PAL has midnight sales every Sunday.

-SEAIR usually announces their seat sales on Facebook.


2. CHOOSE your travel dates carefully.

-Usually the sale tickets fall on a weekday.  You’re lucky if you can book Friday-Sunday travel. But most of the time the fares for these days are priced at a higher rate because of the law of supply and demand (I don’t want to explain further, go Search for it. haha).

Be flexible and be patient. You can try Sunday-Tuesday, Wednesday-Friday, Thu-Saturday.  It really depends. In my case, I successfully booked the tickets for a departure on a Wednesday and a return flight on a  Saturday.


3. PURCHASE online

- Having a credit card can be a good thing for online purchases (especially for seat sales).  But of course, having one is a responsibility.  So, use it wisely (note to self as well). If you’re afraid of getting a credit card, then use debit cards (some airlines accept debit cards).

-For example: Unionbank has an eon card (a debit card).  It is affiliated with Visa so it can be used to book airline tickets.


4. BE PATIENT. PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE. You will need a lot of patience when booking a flight. Of course, you’re not the only one who would like to get that promo fare. Due to huge amount of traffic to their website, the system slows down.


If you think traveling is expensive and is just a waste of money, then don’t travel and be locked in the four corners of your room. But if you want to widen your world and meet people, go out, discover, explore, interact with the community, learn from them, and share the beauty and lessons of life outside of your comfort zones.

We only have one life…Live it to the fullest!

Where to stay in Bacolod City

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Finding a place to stay depends on every person’s taste and budget. As for me, I always give importance to comfort, cleanliness, and budget.

Since budget was my top priority when I went soloflight in Bacolod City, I booked at Check Inn Pension Arcade (Luzuriaga St.) near the old Bacolod City Hall. Budget-wise, it’s perfect. I got a deluxe room for Php 850.00/night (Php 2,550 for 3 nights). It would have been more budget-friendly if my friends didn’t back out from the trip.

Anyway, I arrived at around 6 am, earlier than the check-in time (2pm). Since the Inn was fully booked at that time (MassKara Festival 2010), the staff apologized and offered to have my bags secured in their lobby area. I gave my trust and went out to eat breakfast. At around 8 am, I returned to the inn and fortunately, someone checked out. So, I got my room.

Space: It’s just right. Not too small.

Amenities: Cable TV, two cabinets, air-conditioned, private CR

Cleanliness: The room’s clean. Bed sheets are clean. Most importantly, the comfort room is clean.

Security: Rating (1-5, as 5 is the highest) I’ll just give it a 1. Door knob’s nearly broken when the key is inserted.

Connectivity: Laptop can detect wifi in the room but it’s not working. Wifi in the lobby works though.

Location: It’s in Luzuriaga St. near the old Bacolod City Hall (which is at Araneta Ave).The stretch of Araneta Avenue is where the MassKara Street Dance happens It’s also near the public market and Plaza.  Far from Lacson St. (the Tourism Strip, where the party and Electric MassKara happen)

Hallway to the rooms

Comfort Room

When I was about to check out at around 3:30 am, I saw something surprising and scary. I first heard squeaks. Then I saw two big mice (as big as kittens) chasing each other in the lobby. Yikes! It gave me second thoughts whether the place was really clean.

Would I recommend it? Only if you have limited budget. But if you have money to spare, it’s best to stay in hotels/inns along Lacson Street. The party happens at the Tourism Strip.

For high-end hotels, Tripadora’s pick: L’Fisher Hotel (it’s also a landmark). But since many are booking this hotel, it’s best to book early. Early means six months before October (around April). Others even book a year before.

For mid-class hotel, Tripadora’s pick: O-Hotel.  This was recommended by a friend but unfortunately, this was also fully booked.

For Pension house, Tripadora’s pick: Saltimboca.

This was where my friend stayed during the MassKara Festival 2010. I should have stayed here as well. Price was almost similar to Check Inn but this pension house has better facilities, better ambiance. They even have a pool.

Here are the things that I got when I visited the place:

Room Rates:

Single Room- single bed, private CR, cable TV (Php 835.00/night)

Standard Room B- two single beds, private CR, cable TV (Php 1,065/night)

Here are the rest of the rates

Rates

Gazebo

 

Contact Details:

  • Address: 15th Lacson St. Bacolod City

  • Email: saltimpension@yahoo.com.ph
  • Tel. No: (+63 34) 432-3617/ 433-3179

Other helpful links for other hotels/inns:

“Window Shopping” at the Philippine Travel Mart

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SEPT. 3- The Opening Day of the 21st Philippine Travel Mart

SM Megamall

After work, my colleagues and I went to Megatrade Hall B to check out travel fares and packages.  We paid an entrance fee of Php 50.00 and went in. We arrived at around 8:00 pm so some of the booths were already closed(Cebu Pacific.)

We were told that closing time is at 9:00pm but still, there were a lot of people lining up especially in the AirphilExpress booth designed with banderitas displaying the fares. I didn’t have Wish, my camera with me. So I didn’t take a photo. Nonetheless, if my memory serves me right, the lowest fare is Php 88.00 (For Travel April 16-May 30, 2011) for local destinations. They also have Php 320.00 fare for their Airbus 320 routes.

Another booth that I specifically visited was the SEAIR booth. I’ve been wanting to go to Batanes for so long but the airfare was sky high. They have a buy 1 take 1 promo for Batanes, PhP 14,344 all- in Roundtrip (for travel until June 2011). Still, it’s expensive for me. haha. So, I was there to just check it out.

For those of you who want to rediscover the North, I recommend that you visit the Manila North Tollways Corporation/North Philippines Visitors Bureau booth. They have an interactive booth, which gives you a glimpse of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan Valley,  Ilocos Norte, La Union, and Pampanga.

Here are the other deals and packages that I’ve collected from the flyers:

PALAWAN

Ultimate Adventure Palawan (Booth K126)

El Nido Adventure Package

3D 2N- Php 4,300 (rate group for 8 persons) (Public Shuttle)

Coron Package

3D 2N- Php 3,600

Puerto Princesa -3D 2N 2,450.00/ per person

Buy 1 take 1- Php 4,300.0

Barkada Package 9+ 1 FREE Package Php 3,200/per person

Island Paradise Tours & Convention (Booth 188)

Palawan City Tour Php 1,650/per person 3D 2N

Honda Bay Island Hopping +City Tour Php 2,650.00/pax 3D 2N

Underground River/City Tour Php 3,990.00/pax 3D 2N

Underground River/Honda Bay/City Tour Php 4,500.00/pax 4D 3N

Coron Island Hopping, Town Tour, Maquinit Hotspring, Mt. Tapyas Php 3,650/pax (min. of 6 pax) 3D 2N

EL Nido Island Hopping 3D 2N Php 5,650.00/pax (min of 6 pax)

BORACAY

Turquoise Travel

Boracay Holidays Triple Sharing Php 2,780 per person

SEAIR

Airfare Php 3,500 (RT)

Sweet Travel & Tours

Station 2  Php 2,400/ pax 3D 2N


BOHOL

Sweet Travel & Tours

Php 2,730 3D 2N at Panglao Island

J8Travel

Php 1,799 3D 2N (min. of 4 pax)

BANAUE/SAGADA

J8 Travel

3D 2N Php 2,999

Sweet Travel

Banaue 3D 2N  Php 1,520/ pax

Sagada 3d 2N Php 2,000/pax


CARAMOAN

Sweet Travel

3D 2N  Php 5,495/pax (min 11-20 pax)


PAGSANJAN FALLS
Php 1,999.00 day tour

DONSOL

Dive and Whaleshark interaction

Php 3,350/pax (min. of 6 pax)

HIGH-END RESORTS

MARINDUQUE

Bellarocca Php 10,500/pax triple sharing (with Airfare & accommodation for 3D 2N)

Php 11,500/ pax twin sharing

MISIBIS BAY, BICOL

Php 16,888 +++/pax (RT airfare, meals, and  3D 2N accommodation)


For people, who have been itching to travel, go and visit the Philippine Travel Mart, which runs until Sunday, Sept 5. This is the time that we should #helpDOT. Our tourism industry needs the much needed help from us Filipinos especially with the travel advisory imposed by the Hong Kong government.


Huwag maging dayuhan sa sariling bansa! Ang Ganda ng Pinas! Tara! Biyahe Tayo! :)