Cebu is one vacation destination that you should not miss. Perhaps, there is no need for me to over-emphasize what the rest of the world knows already. So when you are in Cebu, do not just sleep in your hotel room. Go outdoors and enjoy what this island in the Pacific has to offer.

Cebu is White Sand Beaches

You can go to any world class resort in the nearby Mactan Island (the island where the international airport is located). We have Plantation Bay, Microtel Inn, Shangri-la, and now Imperial Palace. Of couse, there are other mid-range resorts within island. Just go to Cordova, Marigondon or in Maribago. You can also go island hopping.

If Mactan is not enough, you can pack your bag and head north to either Malapascua or Bantayan Islands. There you can find powdery white sand beaches, and they are not as expensive and commercialized as the beaches in Mactan.

Or you may also go south to Moalboal, go diving, and if you are lucky, swim with the whales that frequently pass by the Tañon Strait. There is also an exclusive resort at the Badian Island.

Cebu is Lechon

When you are in Cebu, don’t forget to try its tasty Lechon (roasted pig). It’s already rich in flavor that you don’t need to add sauce to it. Famous Cebu lechons include, Mila’s Lechon, CNT Lechon, Alejos’s Lechon and Ben’s Lechon. Taste it while it is still hot and crispy.

Cebu is Friendly People

Friendly people, beautiful Cebuanas, handsome Cebuanos, what more can you ask? But you just have to be careful when in the downtown area. Even the snatchers and pickpockets there look friendly.

Cebu Is In World History

Ironically, the world’s first famous tourist got killed in Mactan, Cebu. You must have already heard about Ferdinand Magellan, the great Portuguese explorer, whose team was the first to circumnavigate the world. He was killed by Lapu-lapu, the chieftain of Mactan, in 1521. It was not a cold-bloodied murder, but a result of a battle.

You can find the Lapu-lapu’s shrine in Mactan (near Shangri-la) and Magellan’s Cross in Cebu City (near City Hall). Cebu is rich in history and you can visit various museums and historical sites.

Cebu is Food Trips

What do you want? Japanese, American, Chinese, Korean, or Filipino cuisines? Or you can just enjoy a sumptuous buffet meal just about anywhere. Lots of restaurants in Cebu offer very affordable eat-all-you-can meals.

Cebu is Nightlife

You can be sleepless in Cebu by just staying around the Fuente Osmeña area. Or you can go to the IT Park where lots of young people are employed in call centers and BPOs. There are establishments there that are open 24 hours a day.

Cebu Travel Is Affordable

You can get round trip airfare as low as P2,000. But on the average, air travel to Cebu is still cheap. If you are coming from Mindanao or in the nearby islands in the Visayas, travelling by boat, though slow, is also very affordable.

Cebu hotels are also affordable. I saw some ads offering as low as P600/day for a nice and comfortable rooms in the Fuente area.

Cebu is Fun

Need I say more? Come and visit Cebu and experience all that they were saying about this Queen City of the South. See also my Day trip in Cebu guide.

Related posts:

1. Cebu, World
2. Day Trip in Cebu: A Quick Guide
3. Bantayan Island, Cebu: Holy Week Destination

An officemate once told me about best-tasting halo-halo that he ever had. The name of the store escaped me then, until my wife mentioned to me Razon’s. “They’re opening an outlet in Cebu” she gladly told me over the phone. “Our next next-door neighbor owns the outlet” she added.

I suddenly remembered what my colleague had mentioned days before. “Are they from Pampanga?” My wife confirmed that they are from Pampanga.

And so last Sunday, I went to the nearest Razon’s outlet in Parañaque and tried for the first time their famous halo-halo. It wasn’t too sweet, which I like. The shaved ice is like cream, and it’s indeed the best that I had. No fancy flavors and rainbow-like colors. As a matter of fact, it has only three main ingredients: sun-ripened saging na saba, macapuno and leche flan with dayap rind traditionally cooked to sweet perfection.

With the scorching summer heat, who wouldn’t want a sweet and very cold halo-halo?

Now, since it’s their opening day, you might want to go there and get some freebies when you order halo-halo and other meals. They also have this special palabok, sizzling sisig, sizzling bulalo, and sizzling bangus. Below is a coupon which you have to print and bring on opening day. (VALID on opening day only) I don’t really know the exact freebies but, I know you won’t regret it when you get to taste their halo-halo.

Click for here for the >>> FREE COUPON

p.s. Please leave a comment if you intend to go there and use the coupon.

Related posts:

1. Day Trip in Cebu: A Quick Guide
2. Cebu Sinulog 2009: Travel to Cebu
3. The Cebu Pacific Experience

FARE

Forgive me if I start with the fare. It’s the Accountant in me that triggers this fare comparison. Is Cebu Pacific the cheaper airline? Most of the time, YES! And that is if you are not carrying more than 15 kgs of luggage, and that you booked ahead of time and perhaps, you booked it on a promo period. CEB has more promo fare offers than PAL.

Under normal days, the fare difference is only minimal. Then you also have to consider the free snacks, and the flight schedule. If you ride with PAL’s bigger planes, chances are, the fare is more expensive.

Travel tip: If you plan to travel on a date outside the promo days, consider buying the tickets two weeks ahead. The closer the flight date, the more expensive it becomes. Also, take the first or last flight out, as the fares of these are normally cheaper than the day flights.

LUGGAGE:

If you are carrying luggage, make sure that you are within the required limit. If you purchase a promo fare, it is more likely that you are not allowed a checked-in luggage. Your free handcarry load will only be 7kgs. For checked-in luggage, limit for CEB is 15kgs while it’s 20kgs for PAL. If booking at CEB, don’t click on the GoLite fare if you carry a large bag exceeding 7kgs. The P100 difference is negligible.

For the excess luggage, it is P100/kg for CEB and P40/kg for PAL.

Travel tip: If you have excess on your big luggage, and you have no hand-carry bag, transfer some of your luggage content into a carry bag, whether it is a cheap knapsack or a large plastic bag. It will save you some money.

FLIGHT SCHEDULE AND DELAYS

Delayed again? I’ve experienced delays in both. But in my latest trip, CEB arrived 20 minutes ahead of schedule. The PAL flight of my colleagues, scheduled on that same morning, was delayed by 30 minutes.

On the other hand, a friend swore that she’ll never fly with CEB again because of these delays. But she could not ignore the low fares. So I guess, one can actually risk the hour or two delay.

Travel tip: If you have an early next day meeting, it is safe to travel the day before. But if you don’t want to spend for a hotel accommodation, leave very early in the morning. For example if you are coming from Cebu and you have a very important meeting in Makati at 9am, don’t fly on the 6am flight. Take the flights leaving between 4am to 530am. The trip is only an hour and 15 minutes. By 8am, you’ll be in Makati. Or if the flight is delayed by 30 minutes, you will still be on time. Based on my experience, the early morning flights are seldom delayed.

E-TICKETS (Online bookings)

Unless you have the patience to wait for 30 minutes before your call gets into their system, go call their hotlines. If you have the patience to wait for 2 hours, go their ticketing office. But if you have a credit card with enough balance, and you have patience that can only last for 10 minutes, it is better and more convenient to book online. For CEB, you can easily book online, and pay thru Credit Card, Bancnet ATM, and even, pay thru any BDO branch. For PAL, only VISA and Mastercard are accepted as payment for online bookings. Also, for CEB, online booking can be done 24 hours before your planned flight. For PAL, it is 2 days before travel date.

Travel tip: It is cheaper if you purchase through credit card. If you have none, you can ask a willing friend who have those acceptable plastics. But be sure to have a photocopy of his card and valid ID when you travel. Airline personnel may ask for it anytime.

AIRPORT CONVENIENCE

Except in Manila, the two airlines share the same facilities in all airports. In Manila, the PAL airport is in T2, while CEB operates at T3. The latter is the newer of the two, but it does not mean that it is better than the other. You still go to the same hassle of x-ray machines, and walking a distance to your boarding area.

Travel tip: Wear casual shoes.

CUSTOMER SERVICE – On-Flight and Service Crews

I never experienced a grumpy attendant at PAL. Ground crews were pleasant as well. Flight attendants of CEB are courteous so far, but not so with the ground crews. I witnessed first hand how a ground crew was so rude at two foreigners who mistakenly fall in line even if their numbers were not yet called. That same girl also raised an eyebrow at one guy who wanted to board the plane ahead of the others. She may be an exception though.

Travel tip: Don’t provoke or annoy the crews. Smile when they smile at you.

ON-FLIGHT CONVENIENCE

My first plane ride was on a large PAL Airbus. We were on Mabuhay Class and it was the same comfort and flight experience that I was looking for in every flight. I never had like it in any of CEB flights. Obviously, CEB planes are smaller. The PAL planes have bigger leg rooms.

Travel tip: Travel first-class at least once. That is if you can afford it.

Related posts:

1. Free Cebu Pacific Airlines Tickets and Travel Vouchers
2. The Cebu Pacific Experience
3. Cebu Pacific Flight Promos and Discounted Fares

Cebu Pacific P1 seat sale

Sale period is from October 31 to November 2, 2009 (or until the allotted 100000 seats are sold out). The race is on and I am sure the before the bell strikes at midnight, plenty will rush to the Cebu Pacific’s website. As of 11:30 pm on this 30th of October, their website is down. (Duh!)

Travel period is from June 15 to September 30, 2010. So better grab a ticket now and save the planning later. CEB’s trademark P1 seat sale also covers all of its 14 international destinations namely: Busan, Ho Chi Minh, Kota Kinabalu, Taipei, Bangkok, Incheon, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Guangzhou, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai and Osaka.

Take note:
- Go-Lite: 7kg hand-carry baggage
- Optional: Add P100 upon booking for 15kg check-in baggage
- Fares are inclusive of tax and surchages
- Exclusive of airport terminal fees and applicable government taxes

Ok, ten minutes after midnight and I can’t still access their site. Waaaah. I want to go to Hong Kong.

Related posts:

1. Latest Cebu Pacific Seat Sale and Fare Discounts
2. Cebu Pacific Flight Promos and Discounted Fares
3. Free Cebu Pacific Airlines Tickets and Travel Vouchers

CEB kicks off ‘ber months with Halloween seat sale
30% off on all flights!

Travel during the ‘ber months this year, and get a load off your fare with our system-wide seat sale offer starting now until August 31, 2009!

The Halloween seat sale gives every Juan 30% off on all domestic and international destinations. This is valid for travel from October 1 to December 16, 2009.

Lots of reasons to fly! We fly direct from Manila to 28 domestic and 13 international destinations and from Cebu to 20 domestic and 4 international destinations.

Our other hubs are Davao (direct flights to Cebu, Manila, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga and Iloilo) and Clark (direct flights to Cebu, Bangkok, Singapore, Macau and Hong Kong).

We are the only airline servicing Manila-Cauayan, Cebu-Clark, Cebu-Dumaguete, Cebu-Roxas, Cebu-Puerto Princesa, Cebu-Surigao, Cebu-Cotabato, Cebu-Legazpi, Cebu-Siargao, Davao-Iloilo and Davao-Cagayan de Oro.

So hurry, pick your destination of choice and kick off the ‘ber season at www.cebupacificair.com now!

30% isn’t a small discount one can ignore. Imagine that domestic fare could go as high as P5,000-P7,000 during peak days. If you want to travel around the Philippines before you retire (temporarily or permanently), now is the time to do it. Travel to Cebu and many key cities in Visayas and Mindanao has become easier. Airfares are becoming cheaper and cheaper. You might also wonder if there are latest PAL promo flights, too. Go check it out and compare.

P.S. October 31, 2009 Update!
Cebu Pacific Air’s One Peso Seat Sale promo is back!

Related posts:

1. Cebu Pacific Flight Promos and Discounted Fares
2. Cebu Pacific Air’s Peso (Piso) Seat Sale
3. Latest Fare Promos From PAL

1. How long will it take me from Balintawak to Baguio traversing NLEX?
2. When is the best time to leave Manila and head north?
3. Where do I make a turn (or exit) in the long highway?
4. What hotel do you recommend?
5. What is the best time to go sightseeing?
6. What are the must-see and must-visit places in Baguio?
7. Where is the best place to buy local delicacies?
8. What restaurants do you recommend?
9. What are the places to avoid?
10. What is the best time to go down and travel back to Manila?
11. Any sidetrips you can recommend?
12. Any known shortcuts?

Well, I don’t have that much time to research. I appreciate very much your answers. If ever we do get lost, I just hope there are cell sites around. That means I should not rely on my Sun cell, but will make sure I’ll bring my other phone as well.

Come Monday evening, I’ll update this post with my discoveries.

Related posts:

1. Day Trip in Cebu: A Quick Guide
2. Cebu Pacific Flight Promos and Discounted Fares
3. Discover Camotes, Cebu

P888 Seat All You Can. Here’s what their website says:

NEW ALL IN PROMO FARES ON PAL DOMESTIC FLIGHTS (Exclusive of Aviation Security fee)
Selling Period: 22 to 27 June 2009
Travelling Period: 22 July to 15 December 2009

LUZON
For as low as PHP888 for flights
Flights between MANILA and LAOAG, LEGAZPI and PUERTO PRINCESA

VISAYAS
For as low as PHP888 for flights
Flights between MANILA and BACOLOD, CEBU, DUMAGUETE, ILOILO, KALIBO, ROXAS, TACLOBAN and TAGBILARAN

MINDANAO
For as low as PHP1,888 for flights
Flights between MANILA and BUTUAN, CAGAYAN DE ORO, COTABATO, DAVAO, DIPOLOG, GENERAL SANTOS and ZAMBOANGA

Selling Period: 08 to 27 June 2009 Travelling Period: 16 June to 15 December 2009

For as low as PHP1,288 for flights Flights between MANILA and OZAMIZ

Kindly check the conditions for travel before you book your flight. Sometimes, rebooking and/or cancellation fees are much higher than the cost of your original tickets. For those of you who feel jittery flying with the other domestic airlines, this is your chance of flying with the country’s flag carrier, and go to your dream vacation destination.  I will probably book a flight to Cebu this end of July. Air travel is cheaper nowadays.

Disclaimer: This is not a paid post, but rather informing travelers of the latest promos from our domestic airlines.

Related posts:

1. Cebu Pacific Flight Promos and Discounted Fares
2. Latest Cebu Pacific Seat Sale and Fare Discounts
3. Cebu Pacific Competes With Bus and Ferry Routes

When I spoke to my aunt in the phone while I explained the delay, she comforted me saying, “God has his own purpose for this delay. It’s raining here in Butuan and the plane might have difficulty landing in this bad weather”.

The coolheaded me prevailed. I just closed my eyes and slept while waiting for some miracles. They offered free food alright. Then they gave out free travel voucher to any destination of similar or lesser value as my flight. Free Cebu Pacific tickets did not make me jump for joy at that moment though. I lined up, got my free travel voucher, folded it and placed it in my wallet. Then I went back to my seat and took my nap.

Many weeks after that incident, the Lenten Season was knocking on the doors. I did not buy tickets in advance for my planned trip to Cebu for the long holidays as I was expecting an official trip to head office on those days. But as the holidays were nearing, ticket prices soared beyond my budget. And there was no call yet from head office. I decided I got to make a move since I promised my wife that I’d be home in those days.

So I remembered about my free travel voucher from Cebu Pacific. I took it out from my wallet, and called the numbers 70-20-888 to make a booking. The long wait for someone to pick up the phone at the other end of the line makes ones blood boil. As they say, patience is a virtue. Even at almost midnight, I still had difficulty getting in. No wonder a lot complained of their service, lousy or whatever.

The person at the other end of the line spoke to me in Cebuano, as he must have noticed my broken Tagalog. It made things easier for me. He asked details like my name, original flight number, origin and destination, flight date, issue date and airport representative who signed the voucher. I told him everything he needed and I booked for the last Manila-Cebu flight on a Holy Wednesday. He gave me my booking number and instructed me to fax or email them a scanned copy of my free travel voucher. Then I have to call them an hour later for confirmation and a copy of my ticket.

My joy was consummated when I finally got my ticket. Yeah, at least P4,000 of savings. Then Romans 8:28 flashed into my head: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” God is so good!

Another good thing happened to me on that morning before my flight. I got a call from my boss at head office asking me to go there the Monday after Easter to finish some works. That meant that my trip back to Manila will be shouldered by the company. It was another savings for me.

Looking back, there was nothing actually lost in that delay. I wanted to rant like the others, but I didn’t. “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God” kept repeating in my head.

Honestly, I hope that Cebu Pacific will offer more free travel vouchers to appease their increasing numbers of their disgruntled customers. Shouldn’t we be happy if we receive free plane tickets? Maybe not always! But we all deserve a much better service on top of the cheap price.

(Disclaimer: This is just my story and is not meant to endorse the airline.)

Related posts:

1. Cebu Pacific (CEB) vs Philippine Airlines (PAL): Travel Cheap or Travel Comfortably?
2. The Cebu Pacific Experience
3. Budget Travel: Manila-Cebu and Vice Versa

Driving Around Metro Manila Is Risky

Have you been to the pier area? Or perhaps you don’t know where it is. The first time I passed by there on a Getz vehicle driven by an officemate, I felt like so small in between the 10-wheeler trucks and vans, bumper to bumper and side by side along huge vehicles, whose drivers would exploit their size. Even by driving a bigger AUV, I still feel uncomfortable passing by that area.


Or let’s consider SLEX for example. Minimum speed is 60kph and max of 80kph. But even if my speedometer was already pushing 120, there is always another vehicle overtaking me. Sometimes it’s a big passenger bus. How many times have we heard of 5-vehicles smash-ups? I don’t know if someone is monitoring the speed of vehicles passing by SLEX. Or even EDSA. The first time I drove along EDSA, I kept a steady speed of 60-80kph. But a lot of vehicles were overtaking me. I didn’t like it. Later, as I related my first adventure to my boss, he told me I was too slow. What? 80kph is too slow? I seldom reach that speed when I was in Cebu.

Driving Around Metro Manila Is Expensive

I’ll just enumerate here three reasons:
1. Traffic – slow traffic means more gas usage.
2. Few U-Turn Slots – If you miss the nearest one, it will be another kilometer run for your vehicle. Sucat Road has plenty of U-turn slots. And I wish it were like that in Manila or in Makati.
3. Traffic police – A friend told me that he always place a P500 bill in his license packet. Why? Because you wouldn’t know what you’d be apprehended for. One couldn’t afford the one day seminar and the hefty fine.

Traffic Violations To Watch Out For

Having been here for only 5 months, I’ve already been apprehended twice. I reasoned out that I was new here and that I didn’t know that swerving is illegal and that I was in the wrong lane. Apologies and excuses were not accepted. Only Ninoy will do.

Here are some traffic violations to watch out for:
1. Not wearing seatbelt – Some traffic will really approach your vehicle and check the driver and the front passenger. In Cebu, this is rarely implemented.

2. No entry/One way – There are too many one-way streets in Makati and Manila. When you enter a small street, check out any sign.

3. Plate Number Coding – Most cities in Metro Manila imposed coding of vehicles. Mine is scheduled on Fridays. But since coding is not implemented in Parañaque, I can drive my vehicle to work. I also have this Ninoy commemorative special plate which they say is exempted from coding. Though I doubt the exemption, I was able to drive on a Friday traversing Coastal road to the Pier Area. There is a 10am to 3pm window though.

4. No swerving – I’ve violated this twice. The first was along Buendia-Taft when I was trying to get to the left lane (from the rightmost lane) for the nearest u-turn slot. I muscled my way through the jeepneys and the big buses, only to be met by a man in blue uniform.

A few hours ago, I was also apprehended with the same violation in Edsa, when I tried to make a right turn to Ortigas. Funny I missed that exit twice before. I promised not to make the same mistake the third time. But the signs are too small to read from afar, and I almost missed it, so I immediately signaled that I go right. Then a man in blue waved at me. I’d like to argue because I think I was far enough to inconvenient any vehicle from my right side. Besides, it was already 10pm. But nah, arguing would only ruin my night.

5. Wrong lanes – When you are in Edsa and on a private vehicle, avoid the yellow lanes on the right. They are for public vehicles only.

All the while, I thought exploring Metro Manila is fun. But it is not, really! Now, I have to study the map in advance so that I’d be able to reach the Iblog5 venue for next month’s meet. That would be my first ever blogging event. See you!

Related posts:

1. How To Explore Metro Manila
2. Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) Experience: Of Badminton and Flooded Metro
3. Ceblogger Is Now In Manila

Terminal Fee – For the Manila and Cebu airports, terminal fee is P200.

Taxi fare – At the Cebu airport, you don’t actually have to ride a taxi. But if you have some extra money to spare, climb up to the departure area when you get out from arrival exit. Metered taxis are queuing there. To SM or to the Fuente Osmeña area, it will cost you between P150 to P200. If you want to ride a jeep, walk a little more to the drop off point of the departing passengers. Yellow multi-cab jeepneys are plying there but you have to wait a little longer. Then you drop off at the terminal and ride another jeep to SM. From airport and back to airport – budget is P400.

Lodging and Accommodation – I suggest you try the hotels near Fuente Osmeña like Shamrock Hotel, Sampaguita Suites, Apple Tree Suites, Cebu Pensionne Plaza, Palladium Suites, and the others. Budget is P800-P1,500. Or you may also try Sugbutel. Bed and Bath at P250/day.

Meals – The easiest to budget are the fastfood meals which you will spend at P100-150 per meal. In a 6-meal budget, that’s at most P900. I suggest you try Larsian, some barbecue stalls very near Fuente Rotunda. Your 100 goes a very long way.

Let’s make a recap. Plane fare – P1,000, Terminal fee – P400, Taxi fare – P400, Lodging – P1,500, Meals – P900. Only P800 is left for your other expenses. But some tourists’ attractions are a jeep ride away from Fuente. Of course if you travel in a group of three or four, the individual expenses go lower. Let your adventurous side drift you while in Cebu. You won’t get lost in translation, and you’ll always end up in your desired destination.

But just a caution here: Don’t get late for your flight. Penalties are higher than your ticket’s original cost.

Related posts:

1. Cebu Pacific (CEB) vs Philippine Airlines (PAL): Travel Cheap or Travel Comfortably?
2. Day Trip in Cebu: A Quick Guide
3. The Cebu Pacific Experience