PhilTourist101

The blog author in Coron, Philippines Traveling and entry to the Philippines has just been made simpler for international tourists coming from 157 visa-free countries starting 10 February 2022. The country has done away with the color coding of countries and effectively abolished the quarantine for fully vaccinated foreign business and leisure travelers from said countries. A local airport in a tourist island in Palawan, Philippines This is a real game changer for the Philippine tourism sector and with it the country has effectively positioned itself as the easiest country to visit in Southeast Asia as of 04 March 2022. This makes it a very attractive vacation destination for tourists looking for much-needed R&R. The move is seen as a huge advantage to the tourism industry which has bored the brunt of the 2-year travel ban for foreign tourists.  Based on IATF-EID (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases)  Resolution 160-B issued last 03 F...

Intricate carvings on stone posts at Qutb Minar complex, New Delhi,  India My love affair with the amazing Indian culture started way back during my high school days.  I remembering poring over every page relating to ancient Indian culture and getting awestruck with the pictures of old temples and carvings. I have always been fascinated with ancient history and cultures. Naturally, remnants and structures from the past never fail to capture my imagination. The Indian culture from its ancient Hindu and vedic temples, colorful past and irresistible cuisine, has always been on my top list of places to visit. India is a huge continent consisting of many states.  I am aware that a single trip will not be enough to visit all the cities and temples in my list.  In fact, if time would permit, a few months is need to satisfy all my curiosities and visit all the interesting places in this incredible place. Why India of all places? As expected,  my friends ...

Coron, Palawan, Philippines I have been dying to see Palawan since last year and it is only this time that I will have the chance to actually visit this beautiful place which lies in the western part of the country.  Did you know that Palawan is the only place in the Philippines that is earthquake-proof? Ain't that amazing! This is going to be my first time to visit Palawan and it was initially a solo travel escapade but then I met some new people who are also going there so it would be awesome to check out the place with a group. I love solo travel for the main fact that I do not have to be pressured to do a schedule because I hate rigid schedules.  Apparently,  Palawan consist of different islands strewn across a beautiful emerald sea which makes it a perfect island hopping destination.  Having said that,  I guess I need to get used to a sked,  our boat sked! Another island in Coron,  Palawan Pack Light  I always make it a poin...

I travelled to Dumaguete City without any travel itinerary.  My first destination was Bohol but decided to take another island as my take off place for a change. Since it was more of an impromptu travel I did not really expect much. I booked my flight back to Manila via Dunaguete City.  It was really a crazy idea which means that I will just spend a few hours and overnight in this city before my flight the next morning bound for Manila.  Hence,  from Tagbilaran City in Bohol,  I took a fastcraft to Dumaguete City which took more than one hour. It turned out great. Upon arrival at the port of Dumaguete, I was greeted by wide and clean streets.  From the pier I saw Siliman University with its shaded and tree-lined walls.  That was a real treat for me because it somehow reminded me of UP Diliman.  Right then and there I felt home. I was able to meet a few friends from this city who are artists in their own right so the whole afternoon was spend...

I realized that it would take me at least a week to enable me to enjoy all the sights and places in Hong Kong.  This trip was supposed to be a kiddie trip so I really did not expect to cover a lot of ground add to the fact the month-long rallies in the Central area,  I really did not have much of a choice.  So myself and company spent 3 nights and 3 days in Hong Kong and the farthest we got was Tsuen Wan and of course Lantau island where the Disneyland resort is located. We spent half-day in Tsuen Wan because our first hotel was located in the area. Then we spent one wonderful day at Disneyland resort and it was not even enough for us to do all the rides.   Then another day spent at Disneyland hotel just touring and enjoying the facility and trying out their famous restaurant. So yes, I may need to spend another day to enjoy Disneyland and another 3-4 days to check out other sites in Hong Kong. BUT that will have to wait until early next year because I am sett...

Marriott Hotel Manila This is my second time to stay in Marriott Hotels Manila located in New Port City. Marriott is connected directly to the Resort's World entertainment chain. If you are looking to for book an accommodation near the NAIA airport, play the casino, shop in high end stores, then Marriott Hotel is for you. The rooms are big enough with a view overlooking the hotel pool the Makati/Taguig skyline in the far distance. The toilet and bath's wall facing the room directly is in glass. It is fitted with a modern bathtub, uite spacious and tastefully decorated with glass partitions and adjustable blinds for privacy from peering eyes of your room companion. The room has all the standard things needed by a discerning business traveler and more: wifi connection (paid), minibar, ironing board, a safety deposit box, and a spacious closet. The bed night stand also carries an iPod dock with radio and alarm functions. This hotel has all the bells and whistles of ...

I am always on the lookout for airline promo fares and I am sure a lot of people out there are too! Travelling can be expensive sometimes but if you can slash off your plane tickets' prices by purchasing it in advance or more, by buying it via an airlines' ticket sale promo, the better! This weekend the local flag carrier of the Philippines is having a promo fare sale madness! Sectors are to and from Manila to these destinations, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Guanzhou, Beijing, Siamen, Saigon and Melbourne. Buying period is July 19-20, 2014 while travelling period should be from July 19 to September 19, 2014. Check out their PAL website ( click here ) and see for yourself. Oh my G-string, I just realized that covers my first skydive jump-off city Dubai! I promised my self to do my first skydive after passing the bar exams. Not yet this year though. Oh well, go and check out those fares and save on your future travel budget.

Hidden Gem of a Hotel in Dipolog City During my recent trip to Dipolog City (Zamboanga del Norte) summer of 2014, a good friend recommended Ariana Hotel. I love going to new destinations and as much as I enjoy exploring the tourist spots as well as not so popular off-the-beaten path, I look forward to pampering my weary earthly body at a great hotel with clean rooms and nice, soft linens at the end of my adventure-filled day. Ariana Hotel indeed became my second home while in this city. Pluses 1. At over a thousand pesos per night for a Single Executive room, that's value for money baby! I booked throught Agoda.com , a great site which I use for my fuss-free hotel or other accommodations booking. 2. Ariana Hotel is a stone throw away from the Dipolog City airport, what a relief! You can literally walk to the airport with your suitcase in tow. Of course, I didn't do that and still availed of the free hotel transfer to carry my gazillion of suitcases.  If you stay a...

Balud is a municipality in the western tip of Masbate Island, an island located in the heart of the Philippines known for it's cattle produce and hot politics.  It is however home to the Rodeo Masbateno Festival, an annual showcase of the skills in all activities related to cattle. Admittedly, Masbate is not one of the known tourist destinations in the country but it has its own beautiful spots worthy of a visit. One advantage of this fact is one can still enjoy the relatively pristine and undeveloped places without the droves of tourists common in the popular travel destinations like Boracay or Bohol. While Balud is a 1-hour drive from the province capital, there are other activities you can do to make your visit worthwhile. Here is a list of things you can do if you want to visit Balud, Masbate. Take a Swim in Palani White Beach There are  a number of beaches in Masbate that are known for its fine, white sand and pristine blue waters untouched by commercializati...

Boracay Island in the Philippines is not just one of the top beaches in the world because of its pristine waters and fine white sand. This beach paradise is also a haven to numerous adventure activities for adrenaline junkies. Next time you travel to the Philippines, take note of these 10 Boracay adventure activities to make your Boracay vacation fun and action-filled. #1. Parasailing Parasailing, also called 'parakiting is a sport that involves hosting yourself on a parachute high up in the air, while being towed or pulled by a speedboat. It doesn't involve much effort on your part since you only need to sit, smile and wave to the cameras while doing so. #2. Kitesurfing Photo by Tomtom77 (CC) Kitesurfing is a watersport that combines elements of surfboarding, windsurfing and gymnastics. One is hosted to a 'traction' kite to be pulled over the surface of the while on top of a surfboard. Balance is definitely a plus and could be a challenge to some. Thi...