” P770 instead of P11000 per Person for a Full-Course Dinner by the Bay with a 1-Hour Luxurious Yacht Cruise in Manila Bay ” very catchy right? Yes, it definitely caught my attention while I was browsing at MetroDeal’s website. This happened last June 2016, I was looking for something to do for my birthday celebration (My 25th Birthday Celebration). Apparently, all plans were not really working that time and MetroDeal was my last resort so I bought this “Dinner by the Bay with a 1-Hour Luxurious Yacht Cruise in Manila Bay” deal offered by Legworks Luxury Cruise. I have bought multiple vouchers in MetroDeal before and so far I didn’t have any issues. I tried calling the phone numbers listed on the fine print before buying the voucher but none of the numbers worked and since I trust MetroDeal I continued with the purchase.
I bought 2 vouchers last June 7th and was supposed to use it for my birthday last June 27th. After purchasing, I emailed Legworks for the reservation and that’s where all the frustrations and headaches started. See the screenshots of our email convo:
I was so excited as I compose this email. Little did I know that a major frustration is waiting for me.
Uhh, next time try to add at least a simple “we regret to inform you sir” and “rest assured that…” statements.
Legworks be like: The hell I care, You already paid the voucher so you have no choice but to wait and use it or endure another headache in getting a refund.
Thank you for being so helpful and sarcastic!
See? They didn’t even had an empathy statement or at least a simple apology on their emails. Clearly I fell into a trap. They knew to themselves that the yacht was on dry dock yet they still posted that sale in MetroDeal, they still continued to offer the service where in fact it was unavailable. Can this be considered a SCAM? If it isn’t a scam knowing that the yacht is under maintenance and someone bought a voucher that you posted in MetroDeal you should have at least offered an alternative.
So instead of having a hard time and incurring more headache with the refund process in MetroDeal, I chose to wait for July so I can still use the voucher cruise though I already lost the interest. I have read a lot of not-so-good reviews with their experiences in getting a refund from MetroDeal so I just decided to use the voucher the following month even though it was already past my birthday. Oh by the way, THANKS FOR RUINING MY BIRTHDAY LEGWORKS!
Here comes July. It was July 25th when I emailed them again to reserve a slot for July 29th. Guess what, the yacht was still on maintenance! I was really upset to the highest level. Nothing could explain the regret that I felt, I should have not bought that voucher, if only I knew this would happen! They told me that they will extend the validity of the voucher until October since it was a miss on their part. Of course it is a crazy huge mistake Legworks! At least their email this time is more empathetic.
Last August 11th they sent me an email informing me that the yachtmaintenance is scheduled to be completed last week of September until first week of October. They also offered a different yacht, smaller than the one under maintenance but……BUT, I have to pay an extra Php200 per person, I bought 2 vouchers so i’m gonna pay an extra Php400 on top of Php1540. After all the hassle and headaches that they gave me, they want me to pay extra money! What a horrible customer service! I told them that i’m not gonna pay for any extras and that they should honor what’s on the voucher. So they just told me that they’re gonna inform me once the maintenance is over! What a joke!!
Seriously!
dry rock?
As of now, I checked at MetroDeal and they are still selling the 770 deal!
So more than 3 months now since I bought the voucher and still I haven’t use it. I really don’t have any interest anymore with it but to think that I paid Php1540 in a instant and haven’t been able to use it upsets me a lot. Finally, I made this post to warn everyone about what Legworks are doing. It already happened to me and I know few people through Facebook who also suffered the same situation as mine. I warn you, DO NOT EVER ATTEMPT TO TRY THEIR SERVICE or else you’ll have your time and money wasted.
Travel Expo’s is where we can find discounted travel packages, plane tickets and other travel deals. This year, the Philippine Tour Operations Association (PHILTOA) held the 27th Philippine Travel Mart, the longest annual travel event in the country. The event lasted for three days (September 2-4 2016) allowing everyone to book an affordable travel deal to their favorite destinations. The event was held at the SMX Convention Center Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City.
I got the chance to visit the event on its first day last September 2. Registration fee is only Php50 per person. It was my first time attending such event and my only purpose then was to get a SKyjet Php727 plane ticket to Batanes. Unfortunately slots were already fully booked that day as early as 11AM, just one hour right after the event started. Citibank credit card holders also had a priority booking hence the early cut off. We were given a priority certificate and number and that we will be assisted first the following day, so we decided to just spend our time checking other booths.
Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Airasia were present in the event offering exclusive discounted plane tickets to the on-goers. A lot of other Travel Agencies and booths from different regions were also in the area promoting different tourist destinations. There were a lot of super affordable travel deals that one can choose from, for as low as Php900. I was quite amazed when I saw Punta Bulata’s booth, a well-known resort in my beloved hometown as well as other newly discovered beautiful beaches. Negros Occidental also had their own booth, amazing!
There were different cultural shows from different cultural groups and organizations showcasing their talents in music and dancing, chorale competitions; Harana ng Kundiman and folk dances, to name a few. Food kiosks were also available in the area.
Indeed, Travel Expo’s is a place where one can find super affordable travel deals. Will definitely not miss next year’s event.
Minalungao National Park has been an instant nature-celebrity in social media recently. The turquoise-green water of Penaranda river walled by a 16 meter tall limestone circulating around the net has become famous. No wonder a lot of people are wanting to see this place. Let me share to you how to go to Minalungao National Park and other frequently asked questions.
HOW TO GET THERE (via Public Transpo)
The park is in Nueva Ecija, 2-3 hours away from Manila. To avoid heavy traffic build up, it is better to leave early in the morning.
From Cubao/Pasay, take a 5 Star or ES Transport Bus bound to Gapan/Cabanatuan. Alight at Gapan Nueva Ecija. Fare is P150 – P200, Travel time is around 2-3 hours.
From Gapan, ride a jeepney going to General Tinio (not sure about the fare, maybe around 30-50 pesos, one way). Then from General Tinio take a tricycle going to Minalungao National Park. Fare is P50 – P150/pax. Travel time is around 45 minutes to an hour.
If you want to have a hassle free trip, you can rent a tricycle from Gapan which will take you directly to Minalungao. Fare is P500 – P700 (depends on how good is your bidding “tawad” power is). Travel time is around 1-1.5 hours and the tricycle will be waiting for you on your way back to Gapan.
PARK RATES AND FEES
Entrance
Fee
P50/pax
Tricycle/Car
Entrance Fee
P30
Comfort/Shower
Rooms
P10/use
Cottage
P300
Bamboo Raft
P300 – P800
TIPS
Bring your own food and water.
Good for a day trip or side trip.
Not advisable to visit during rainy season as the road gets muddy and the water level is unpredictable and the current is strong.
Visit the park during weekdays to avoid heavy crowd.
SUMMARY OF EXPENSES (divided into 3 persons)
Bus
Fare (Back and Forth)
P300
Tricycle Fare
(two way)
P700 ( P233
each)
Breakfast
P120
Cottage
P300 ( P100
each)
Comfort/Shower
Room
P150 ( P50
each)
Guide
(optional)
P150 ( P50
each)
Total
P823
Please note that fares and rates may change without prior notice. Fares and rates are as of April 2016.
If you’re reading this, then this is probably your first time travelling abroad 😉 but if not then thank you for still dropping by. Travelling abroad for the first time is kind of exciting but for sure there are a lot of things brewing on your mind and you can’t help to feel a little anxious. Lots of questions, maybe’s and what if’s rumbling on your mind. Just relax, take it easy, and read these guides and things that will help you on your first travel abroad. These are purely based on my research and most are on my personal experiences.
NOTE: You are reading this post at your own risk. Information found here are true and correct to the best of my knowledge but it is much better if you check and confirm it with the concerned departments.
PASSPORT
Of course you cannot go out of the country without this. Having a passport nowadays is a must as it serves as one of the primary ID’s accepted here in the Philippines and other countries. But using your passport as an ID alone might be a boring idea. You don’t want to wait for it to expire without getting any stamps, right? So might as well use it and travel around the world. You have to ensure that you have a valid passport before even planning your trip. 😀 Securing a passport nowadays is made easy thru the online appointment system (which what i did) and DFA sites are scattered around the key cities in the metro. Please check DFA’s website for further information on how to get a passport.
As for me, i got my passport last January 2014 and it took 2 years before I was able to travel outside the Philippines. It was my first out of the country travel experience. The feeling was so exciting and nerve wracking. I have done so much research and read a lot of blogs everyday (haha, yes! I am that excited on my first travel abroad).
VISA
Depending on the country that you want to visit, VISA is probably one of the most challenging and time-consuming part. There are a lot of VISA-free countries out there that you can visit but if you really want to go to the US, Europe or any other countries that requires a VISA then you might want to consider processing this in advance.
I haven’t tried processing this one yet as the only places that I’ve visited so far is Hong Kong and Macau so I’m not really familiar with the process yet. I suggest you check with the embassy of the country that you want to visit. The process and requirements are listed on their websites so it’ll be easier for you to check.
PLAN THE DATES OF YOUR TRAVEL
Assuming that you already have a passport and you’re travelling to a VISA-free country, the next important thing that I can suggest for you to plan will be your travel dates. This is one of the important part of your trip to consider especially if you’re working. You need to file a leave and wait for it to be approved so might wanna plan this part first. But if you’re going to a country that requires a VISA then I think you have to set your travel dates first as you might be needing these in your VISA application. Please check and confirm further information on the embassy of the country that you want to visit.
Also, you might want to do a little checking on the weather of the country that you want to visit. Like me when I went to Hong Kong it was rainy and foggy so the weather was freezing and so the stunning views were blocked by the fogs. But still I enjoyed it. If you want to enjoy the most out of your trip, weather is indeed one of the things that you might want to check.
PLANE TICKET
Assuming that you have already accomplished all three things mentioned above, then plane ticket will be next one. Booking for a plane ticket is made easy nowadays. Just grab your smartphone and book a flight right away, but beware of the high fare though :). If you are are a budget-traveler like me then seat sale is our best choice. Travelling and exploring the world doesn’t need to be that expensive,right?
For me, since I already have a passport, booking a plane ticket is what I do first. Lucky if there is a seat sale but if there’s none, I am booking my flight way “way” before my travel dates. Then from there, I will file a leave at work and force my manager to approve it lol, (reason for the leave: I already have a plane ticket booked for this trip, haha).
HOTEL RESERVATION
I suggest that it is BEST to book an accommodation on your destination before your flight. Having trouble with the immigration might be the last thing that you want to happen so make sure that you have a copy of your hotel accommodation ready. You will also need to fill out an immigration card in which you will be ask to indicate your address abroad.
What if I will be staying at a friend’s house? It will be much better if you have an invitation letter with the address of your friend’s house abroad. Also, make sure to have your friend’s contact number just in case they ask for it.
WHAT TO DO AT THE AIRPORT AND IMMIGRATION PROCESS
Be sure to be at the airport at least two hours before your flight. But based on the traffic and airport situation that we currently have, it will be much better if you allot more than that to be on the safe side. You don’t want to miss you flight and get left behind by the plane because you’re stuck in the traffic, so be as “reasonably” early as possible.
After passing through the first security check, I suggest that you settle the travel tax first. Travel Tax counters are located at the far left hand side (if you’re facing the check-in counters) of the airport. The fee is Php 1620, keep the receipt after paying and proceed to the check-in counters. (Click HERE for more information on what to do at the airport for first time travelers).
As for the immigration, it will be better if you bring the following just in case you will be subjected to a secondary inspection:
Latest COE (Certificate of Employment) – if you are employed
Latest ITR (Income Tax Return) – if you are employed and don’t have a COE or if you run your own business
Business Registration Permit – if you are self-employed
Birth Certificate (NSO)
NOTE: Do not show these documents to the immigration officer if not ask. Just give them your round trip tickets, hotel accommodation voucher and company ID first. Answer the questions honestly and be polite, don’t forget to smile :). Answer only what is being ask and be straight to the point. Don’t be afraid, just relax.
HOW MUCH MONEY SHOULD I BRING
The amount of money that you will bring depends on the country you’re visiting. For instance, during my Hong Kong trip I brought HKD 3000 for a 4-day trip. If you are going to a country with high cost of living of course you’re gonna have to bring sufficient amount of money depending on the length of your stay.
Should I exchange my money here in the Philippines before my trip? As for me, I had my money (Philippine Peso) exchanged (to HKD) here before I leave. I just want to be on the safe side since it was my first time travelling abroad and I’m not quite certain of the exchange rate abroad and I don’t want to consume time looking for a good money changer there.
So these are all for now. I believe I have covered all the necessary details, if not then feel free to ask or suggest in the comment section below. Will be updating this if I encounter any other things on my next travel abroad. Again, please be reminded that these guides are mostly based on my personal experience. It is much better to check the with the embassy for the immigration’s process and requirements.
If you’re visiting Hong Kong then you just might as well visit Disneyland or it is probably one of the main reason why you’re in (want to go to) Hong Kong, or if you are reading this then you might have already read my magical Disneyland experience (if you haven’t read it yet click here).
In this post, I will be sharing the directions on how to get to Hong Kong Disneyland and other frequently asked questions.
HOW TO GET TO DISNEY LAND FROM TSIM SHA TSUI
Many budget friendly hotels are located in Tsim Sha Tsui area. In our case, MTR was just few walks away from our hotel so it was very convenient for us. We allotted our whole second day for Disneyland only so we woke up early went there just few minutes right after they open and stayed up until the fireworks display. Here’s the directions on how to get to Disneyland from Tsim Sha Tsui:
From the MTR Tsim Sha Tsui station take the train bound to Tsue Wan (red line).
Alight at Lai King station and transfer to a different train bound to Tung Chung (orange line).
Alight at Sunny Bay station and transfer to Disney Resort line (pink line).
Disney Resort Train has only one stop so when it stops get out of the train and after few walks, taadaaah! you’re in Disney Land!
The fare is HK$19 – oneway (deducted from the Octopus card)
WHAT TIME DOES THE PARK OPEN
The park opens everyday from 10:00 AM to 8:45 PM. Please take note that the schedule may change anytime so I suggest that you check the park’s schedule on their official website (click here) first before going or planning your trip. Also, some attractions may open late or close early so if you want to visit them all make sure to check the schedules online.
HOW MUCH DOES THE TICKET COST AND WHERE TO BUY
There are two types of tickets and you can purchase depending on your choice/need. If you’re planning to explore the park in just a day, you can purchase a 1-Day Ticket:Standard Day or if you need two days to explore this magical kingdom you can purchase a 2-Day Ticket.
1-Day Ticket:Standard Day Cost
HK$539 : General Admission (Ages 12-64)
HK$385 : Child (Ages 3-11)
HK$100 : Senior (Ages 65 above)
For online purchase: Standard Day Tickets are valid for one visit during a 6-month validity period from the purchase date. Standard Day Tickets are valid on all dates during the validity period.
2-Day Ticket Cost
HK$739 : General Admission (Ages 12-64)
HK$525 : Child (Ages 3-11)
HK$170 : Senior (Ages 65 above)
For online purchase: 2-Day Tickets are valid for visit on any 2 days within a 7-day period. First visit must be on or before the last day of the validity period printed on the back of the ticket. Ticket Tag or Photo ID is required for Park admission.
Where to Buy Tickets
There are two ways to purchase a ticket, first is you can purchase from the ticket booths located at the park second is through online (credit card payment). Ticket prices are the same but the only advantage of purchasing online is that you don’t have to wait on the line, just go directly to the ticket booth and claim your actual Park ticket. Guests must be the authorized holder of the credit card used in the Website purchase. Guests need to present the credit card used in the Website purchase together with the confirmation number issued for the Website purchase to redeem the purchased tickets. Upon HKITP’s request, Guests need to present personal identification documents to verify their identities as the authorized holder of the credit card used in the Website purchase.
IS IT ALLOWED TO BRING FOOD INSIDE THE PARK?
Yes, but it depends on the kind of food that you’ll bring. Rice meals and meats are not allowed inside the park. You have to pass two security inspections and the guards are thoroughly inspecting the bags even up to the smallest pockets so don’t even try to sneak something not allowed. However, water, chips and bread are allowed. There are many restaurants & refreshments and food kiosk inside the park but the food are very expensive so make sure to eat a lot before going to the park and bring a bottle of water and something to fill your stomach (like bread and/or chips) but if you have money to blow then you can eat anything you want there by all means :).
IS THERE A MONEY CHANGER AND CHARGING STATION INSIDE THE PARK?
Yes there is a money changer and charging station. Just go to the City Hall located at the Main Street USA. I don’t have the information about the exchange rate but maybe it’s a little bit higher. If your phone ran out of battery you can charge it there for free. Just present a valid ID and bring your own charger with you. Don’t worry about about the three prong adapter, they have lot’s of those :). You can leave your phone there while charging and just present your ID when claiming it.
WHAT TIME IS THE DISNEY PARADE AND FIREWORKS DISPLAY
As far as I know there are two sets of parade, one in the afternoon at 3:00 PM the Flights of Fantasy Parade and the second one is at 7:30 PM Disney Paint the Night Parade (which I liked most and one of the highlights of my Disney experience).
Fireworks display is at the closing part which is 8:45 PM. It is a 10-15 minute display at the Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. Make sure to be there in front of the castle at least 30 minutes or more before the fireworks display starts as the area easily gets crowded. It’s up for you to find a very good viewing (for video/picture) spot.
NOTE: The time or type of parade may change depending on the weather and Disney Management. Like in our case, it was kinda rainy when we went there so for the 3:00 PM parade instead of Flights of Fantasy it was replaced by Mickey’s Rainy Day Parade but we were still able to see different Disney characters.
So there you go folks! So far these are the things that I think might be helpful for you as I also had these questions in my mind before.
If you have further inquiries or suggestions please feel free to write it down in the comment area and I will try to respond the soonest time possible as soon as I read it.
My first trip out of the country and my first Hong Kong experience. It wasn’t my first time riding a plane but it was my first time facing an immigration officer which to me was the scariest part of it all. I know a friend who has been offloaded twice at the airport so I was so afraid and praying that it won’t happen to me and thank God I experienced no issues with the IO. I was only asked two questions, how long have I been working, coz according to the immigration officer I look like a minor (I don’t know if it was a compliment or something that I should be scared of so i just smiled)second question was the health card that our company uses, maybe to validate if I’m really working.
CHECKLIST
Our flight was scheduled at 4:10 PM so after my shift from work around 11:00 AM, afraid of getting stuck in the traffic, I immediately went to the airport. Me and my partner lined up on the long queue for the first security check. We were a bit early for the check in as the counters opens 3 hours before the flight so we decided to double check our documents. Here’s what we brought:
Passports
Airline Tickets (back and forth)
Hotel Accommodation Voucher
Company ID
Money (in HKD)
and a Pen (yes you read it right, a Pen. You will be filling out different forms so it’ll be kind of a hassle if you don’t have your own pen, so it is very important.)
TRAVEL TAX
Since the check in counters were still closed we decided to settle the Travel Tax first. The travel tax counter is located on the left hand side from the check in counters. You have to ready you passport and the travel tax fee hand it over to the teller and keep the receipt as you will be showing it to the check-in teller. I suggest that you settle this one first before checking-in so you won’t go back and forth from the check-in counter to the travel tax counter and back to the check-in counter.
Travel Tax Fee = Php1,620
CHECKING-IN AND IMMIGRATION
We wanted to kill some time waiting for the counters to open so we decided to eat first as we haven’t eaten anything yet for lunch . By the time we got back the check-in counters were finally opened so we lined up on the queue. We handed out our passports, travel tax receipts and plane tickets going to Hong Kong to the check-in teller. We didn’t check-in any baggage as we wanna travel light, so the process just took around 5 minutes or so. We asked for the immigration form after the teller handed us our boarding passes. You will need to present this form to the immigration officer so if the check-in teller didn’t give you these, don’t forget to ask.
After filling out the immigration forms we headed to the immigration booth. As a first time out of the country travelers, we patiently waited on the queue feeling excited and nervous. When my turn came I handed out my passport, round-trip tickets, hotel accommodation voucher and company ID to the IO. As mentioned above, I was only asked two questions and finally my passport got it’s first ever stamp! yahoo! haha! sa wakas! We then head to the final security check and waited for our flight at the departure area.
DURING THE FLIGHT
Our plane took off almost 2 hours after our scheduled flight. As usual, the most common reason of the delayed flights in NAIA, air traffic! Few minutes after the plane took off, the flight attendant distributed the arrival cards. You will need to present this to the Hong Kong immigration officers. We immediately filled out the cards and kept it together with our passports.
This is what an Immigration Arrival Card looks like, distributed by the flight attendants at the plane few minutes after taking off.
ARRIVING IN HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND IMMIGRATION
Airport Express Train. Their subway trains are very long and big enough to accommodate a lot of passengers per ride.
The cold and misty Hong Kong weather greeted us as we got off the plane after it landed around 8:00 PM. We then followed the crowd and it lead us to a train which took us to the airport’s main arrival area (yes! Hong Kong International Airport is that big that you need to ride a train to go to different terminals). We headed to the immigration counters and presented our passports and arrival cards. The IO just asked me one question (how long are you staying here) and handed me back my passport.
OCTOPUS CARD AND AIRPORT EXPRESS TICKETS
After clearing the immigration we went to the airport express counter and purchased 2 standard Octopus cards. This is a must-have card whenever you’re in Hong Kong as it serves as your “prepaid credit card” which is accepted in all forms of transportation (Bus, MTR and some taxis) and even when purchasing at 7/11 and other convenience stores. We also bought Airport Express tickets which we used for the train going to our hotel.
This is what the standard Octopus Card looks like.
Octopus Card Cost
HK$150 each (HK$50 for the deposit and HK$100 consumable. The deposit and remaining balance is refundable when you surrender the card. If you ran out of balance you can top up at any MTR stations or in 7/11. HK$150 consumable was more than enough during our 4 days stay in Hong Kong.)
If you’re travelling with a kid you can also get an Octopus Card for your child which cost HK$70, HK$50 for deposit and HK$20 consumable. For further information about octopus cards you may access their official website here.
2 Airport Express Tickets Cost
HK$150 (group of two single journey tickets, HK$75 each)Apart from Octopus, you may use Single Journey Tickets to travel on the MTR. A Single Journey Ticket entitles you to one ride to a pre-selected destination on the day of purchase. The fare is based on the distance traveled.
HONG KONG TOURISM BOARD AND VISITOR INFORMATION
After securing the cards we went to their tourism board section and grabbed some brochures and maps. It’s free so don’t be shy to get some as those will be your guide in exploring Hong Kong.
FROM HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO TSIM SHA TSUI
Our original plan was to take a bus going to our hotel but since we arrived late we decided to take the airport express. We stayed at USA Hostel located in Tsim Sha Tsui. The exact address is Flat C2, Floor 13, Mirador Mansion | 54-64B Nathan Road, Tsui Sha Tsui. From the airport we took the airport express train and alighted at Kowloon station then we took the airport express shuttle and alighted at Holiday Inn which is few walks away from our hotel. We were so dead tired and sleepy so we just bought something to eat in 7/11, rest ourselves and called it a day.
If you want to take a bus you can ask the airport staff where the bus station/stop is and from there look for the A21 (Airbus 21) mark. Hop-in when the bus arrives and alight at Tsim Sha Tsui, 13th stop with the airport as the first stop.
TIP: Don’t be shy to ask the airport staff for the directions. It will be much easier if you have a print out of the Hotel Name and Address and you just show it to them when asking where to go next. Also, Hong Kong is very tourist friendly, streets are filled with arrow signs with English translations so you really won’t get lost. Just always bring a map with you.
For any question, suggestions, corrections or clarifications please don’t hesitate to write it at the comment section below or you may personally contact me here. Will be posting a lot of Hong Kong experiences and travel guides soon. Keep posted by following me thru email.
In this post I will be sharing our itinerary during our 3 days stay in Sagada. Please take note that this was arranged by the travel agency, you can customize your own itinerary or make this a guide in making your own itinerary and as to what are the places that you should visit. If you are a first-timer, you may also follow this itinerary.
If you wish to book a tour with the travel agency i highly recommend A Whole New World Travel Express because of their easy and reliable payment terms. Their service is very good and their guides are friendly and accommodating. You can even request to visit other sites that are not listed in the itinerary which we did. We requested to visit Gaia Cafe which was featured in the movie That Thing Called Tadhana and our request was granted! 😀
SUGGESTED ITINERARY
Day 00 (July 9 2015)
08:30PM Assembly in Quezon City (Q.C)
09:00PM Estimate time of departure from Quezon City (Q.C) to Banaue
Day 01 (July 10 2015)
06:00AM Estimate time of arrival at Banaue
06:15AM Breakfast
07:00AM Tour around Banaue Town
07:45AM Stop over at BANAUE VIEWPOINT for Picture Taking
08:15AM Estimate time of departure Banaue to Sagada
11:00AM Estimate time of arrival in Sagada
11:30AM Check-in
12:00PM Lunch
01:00PM Proceed to Sumaguing Cave for normal caving
05:00PM Estimated time of return from the cave
05:30PM Back to Lodging (Wash up)
07:00PM Dinner
Day 02 (July 11 2015)
06:00AM Wake-up call. Breakfast
07:30AM Start of Bomod-Ok Falls Trek
11:30AM Lunch
01:00PM Visit the Orange Orchard at Rock-Inn Farm
02:30PM Visit Sagada Weaving and Pottery
03:00PM St. Mary’s Church and Echo Valley (where the hanging coffins are located)
04:00PM Head back to lodge
07:00PM Dinner and Rest
Day 03 (July 12 2015)
04:30AM Wake-up call. Breakfast
05:15AM Proceed to Kiltepan for Sunrise Viewing
07:00AM Estimate time of departure from Sagada to Baguio
12:00PM Late Lunch at La Trinidad
02:00PM Visit Strawberry Farm. Souvenir Hunting
03:00PM Estimate time of departure Baguio to Quezon City (Q.C)
09:00PM Estimated Time Arrival to Quezon City (Q.C)
HOW TO GO TO SAGADA
As per my colleague at work there is a direct trip from Manila to Sagada. When i did my research, indeed there’s one bus liner who caters direct route to Sagada. As of October 2015 CODA LINES launched their Manila-Sagada trips providing better and safer journey to the famed town of Mountain Province. Located at 277 E Rodriquez Sr. Ave, Cathedral Heights, Quezon City, the bus departs from their terminal every 9:00AM only, with more or less 13 hours travel time. They also have return trips to Manila departing from Sagada at 3:00PM daily.
If you want to take a longer route or would like to have a stop over in Banaue to take a picture of the famous Rice Terraces, you can take this route:
Manila – Banaue
There are only 2 buses operating with a Manila-Banaue route. These are DANGWA TRANCO operated by Florida Bus and AUTOBUS TRANSPORT, both have terminals located in Sampaloc Manila. These buses leave the city every 10:00PM only, everyday and the estimated arrival time in Banaue is around 7:00AM. The ticket costs around Php600 per person. The trip last for 9 hours with a regular stop over for meals, snacks and personal necessities. The same buses also departs from Banaue every 5:00PM daily. I suggest that you secure a return trip ticket in advance especially during holidays and/or peak seasons.
Banaue – Sagada
There are jeepneys waiting at the Banaue bus terminal bound for Sagada. Sometimes there are also mini-buses or vans waiting to be filled with passengers. Travel time is around 3 to 4 hours and it costs Php250 per person. It leaves the terminal at 8:00AM arrives in Sagada at noon just in time for your check-in.
GOING BACK TO MANILA FROM SAGADA
Sagada – Banaue
Take a jeepney from the intersection in Sagada going to Bontoc. Travel time is around 40 minutes. From Bontoc you can find the van going to Banaue right beside their Tourism Office. It’s a 2 hour travel and the van leaves the area three times a day, 8:30AM, 10:00AM and 1:00PM.
Banaue – Manila
From Banaue Bus Terminal hop in the bus going to Manila.
BUS TERMINALS INFO
Autobus Transport Systems Incorporated Location: Dimasalang Street Cnr. Laong Laan Street, Sampaloc, Manila Contact Numbers: +63 2 735 8098
Coda Lines Corporation Location: 277 E Rodriguez SR. Avenue Cathedral Heights, Quezon City Contact Numbers: 0927 559 2197, 0929 521 3229 Website:www.codalines.com
NOTE: Prices and schedule may change without prior notice. These are the updated information as of the writing of this post. I highly suggest to call the Bus Terminal or visit their website to inquire prior to your trip.
Hi everyone! As what i have mentioned in my previous post Baguio: Up in the North | Greeting 2016, here’s the step by step instructions on how to reserve a ticket for Genesis Transport online.
Online transactions are very common nowadays. It makes our lives easier and more convenient. Booking for an airfare for instance is made easy by just simply going to the airline’s website, you don’t need to exert extra effort in going to their offices, you don’t need to be there physically.
It’s good to know that some Bus Transports are also copying the same system. One of those that i know so far is Genesis Transport. This might be existing for quite some time now (i’m not really sure) but if not then i might be one of the few who discovered it yet. This is quite convenient coz you don’t really need to go to Cubao or Pasay, endure the heat and pollution in EDSA just to book/reserve a ticket.
Here’s a step-by-step instructions on how to reserve a ticket. (This is only for Deluxe or what they call Joy Bus)
1. Log on to www.iwantseats.com.ph through your computer or mobile phone web browser.
iwantseats landing page
You can check the availability/schedule of the buses on your desired date of travel. Just complete the information in the drop-down boxes, Origin, Destination, Date of travel and number of passengers then click on Show Trips. It will then display the schedule of the trip on your chosen date. NOTE: You cannot book a trip yet as it will ask you to log in first.
2. Log in or register by clicking the 3 horizontal lines button on the upper right corner of the screen.
2. Reserve your seat/s by choosing the date and destination of your trip. Choose the number of passengers.
3. Enter the name of the passenger/s and choose your seat/s. Once passengers and seats are added, you may now view your itinerary.
4. Check your details and review the items and conditions. You may then proceed to payment.
Mode of payment
Pay online via Dragonpay
Dragonpay provides an alternative channel for purchasing goods or services from the internet. It allow buyers and sellers to conduct e-commerce without the use of traditional credit cards or Paypal, which have very low penetration in developing countries such as the Philippines.
You can pay through the following:
Online Banking
Over the Counter Banking
Over the Counter non-Banks
Supported Banks are: BDO, BPI, Metro Bank, RCBC, Union Bank, UCPB, China Bank, PNB, May Bank, Robinsons Bank.
You can also pay via Union Bank Deposit or BPI Bank Deposit.
NOTE: As of the mean time, they don’t accept credit cards yet. Further instructions will be given on the mode of payment chosen.
5. Once paid, send your proof of payment to payments@iwantseats.com.ph. Payment must be made within 48 hours before your reservation expires.
6. You will receive a confirmations e-mail with the voucher. This will serve as your e-ticket so you have to print it out.
7. Go to the terminal at least 30 minutes before your scheduled trip. Show the e-ticket to the Reservation Officer and present a valid ID. You can just also present your e-ticket to the stewardess on board and she will give you an official receipt.
That’s it! ^_^ Easy right?
Thank you for reading and have a safe trip ahead! Feel free to leave your comments, suggestions and questions. I will try to reply to your comments and suggestions and answer your questions on my free time.
