Here's our itinerary for our HK-Macau Tour last August 28-September 1:
Day 1
Dinner at Cafe Coral in Chung King Mansion
Day 2
Breakfast at Tsui Wah in Carnarvon Rd
Ocean Park
Lunch at Lan Fong Yuen in Sheung Wan
Rickshaw Bus
Day 3
Breakfast at Maxim's MX in Shun Tak Centre
Macau Tour
Lunch at Hotel Riviera
Victoria Peak
Dinner at Burger King
Day 4
Cable Car to Ngong Ping
Brunch at Ebeneezer's in Ngong Ping Village
Ngong Ping
Shopping at City Gate
Sky 100
Dinner at Six's Noodles
Crystal Bus
Day 5
Breakfast at Moon Thai in HK Airport
Showing posts with label budget getaway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label budget getaway. Show all posts
Monday, September 2, 2019
Monday, June 27, 2016
Puerto Galera during the Low Season 2016 Part 3: The Superb Experience
At 8:30 in the morning, all ten of us were already inside the bus. I thought the bus will depart at 9 but it's only 8:45 when we left. We took the ALPS bus going to Batangas Pier and as expected, we paid P175 per person but the kids were given student discount. The trip was smooth although we experienced moderate traffic in Batangas. It was 11:20 when arrived the port.
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| Waiting at ALPS |
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| At Batangas Port |
At the port, a lot of fixers are following us especially when they saw that we're in group but when I told them we live in Puerto Galera, they turned away from us. I know it's funny but I can't think of any other way we could get rid of them. Anyway, someone from MSL approched us and wanted us to sign up and upon seeing he is wearing the MSL T-Shirt, we started inquiring. We asked for a discount and I told them it's our Mom's birthday (thinking that might help), and after a few minutes of negotiation, they gave our Mom a free round trip ticket. The two kids are also free. We paid our terminal fee through them so I was really glad that our trip this time was hassle-free. We just paid them and after handing us our tickets, we went to the Departure area. We didn't make it to the 11:30 trip but at 12:12, we were already asked to board the ferry and in no time, we're on our way to Puerto Galera.
We arrived at Muelle Pier at 1:26PM where Minolo's free shuttle service picked us up and took us to White Beach. It was a 30-minute zigzag trip. After we were dropped off, Ate Merlyn from VM approached us and offered us a family room for P2500, but since it was in 3rd floor, I just requested for two Quad rooms in 2nd floor which they readily gave us. I tried to haggle to get the room for P1000 each but they told us it's a weekend so the price is really higher. Well, I'd say their price of P2500 is fair enough.
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| At the Departure Area |
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| Inside the Ferry |
We arrived at Muelle Pier at 1:26PM where Minolo's free shuttle service picked us up and took us to White Beach. It was a 30-minute zigzag trip. After we were dropped off, Ate Merlyn from VM approached us and offered us a family room for P2500, but since it was in 3rd floor, I just requested for two Quad rooms in 2nd floor which they readily gave us. I tried to haggle to get the room for P1000 each but they told us it's a weekend so the price is really higher. Well, I'd say their price of P2500 is fair enough.
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| Our room at VM Resort |
After we unpacked our stuff, we went to Food Trip to have our late lunch. The place is full even though it's already past 2. Their kind staff seated us in a separate dining area that has a huge industrial fan. The food is just okay as expected.
We all went back to our resort and they changed to their swimming attires except me because I opted to take a short rest before dinner. It's already past 11PM when I woke up and I was surprised to see everyone's already sleeping. Too bad they missed Mindoro Sling and the fire dancers but I'm pretty sure they're all excited for tomorrow's island hopping organized by Queen Reyna.
At 5 in the morning, everyone's already awake and ready to have breakfast. We were scheduled to be picked up at 6. We had a little walk until we reached Terminal. They offer the usual breakfast combos plus unlimited rice. Their service was very slow. It took almost 30 minutes before we were served our orders plus the staff who waited our table forgot to list down one order and so we had to wait another 30 minutes. It's already past 6 when we finished our breakfast and the tour organizer was already waiting for us. She was really nice and even though we're late she just smiled at us and asked if we're ready to go.
Two trikes picked us up and drop us off to the port where our boat was waiting. By the way, we paid P2100 for unlimited island hopping and round trip transfer from our resort to the dock.
The boatman asked us if we want to avail of the optional trip to the Underwater Cave, Coral Garden, and Giant Clams. To visit those sites, we need 3 small boats. Each trip would cost P200 per head but if we want to visit all three it will only cost us P300 per head, so we agreed to visit them all.
(I will provide the details of our island hopping on a separate post.)
It took us three hours to visit the three sites and after that, our boatman brought us to Maliklik Beach so we can have our early lunch before we go snorkeling again.
After our lunch, we then headed off to Bayanan Beach where the boys enjoyed snorkeling. They spotted different kinds of fish.
By 1PM we're already on our way back to our resort as we still have to catch the 3PM trip to Batangas Pier.
By 3PM, we walked to the far end of the White Beach where the MSL ferry is docked and after paying the exit fee of P10 per head, we boarded the ferry and in a few minutes, we're off to Batangas Pier. We were the last ones who boarded and unfortunately, there were no seats anymore so we just have to sit down at the entrance. So for an hour and a half, we have to endure it. I wasn't able to take a nap but the person seated behind me was playing some good music and at least that helped made the trip enjoyable. The ferry ride was smooth and I was happy it wasn't like the last time we're in Puerto Galera where there was a storm and everyone was nauseous because of the waves.
At the pier, the buses going to Cubao are all full but we were able to catch one in a few minutes. I was not able to check what time we left the pier. I think it was around 5 and we arrived in Megamall at around 8.
The trip was really fun. I was expecting the worst but only the best happened. We never encountered any issues before and during our stay and it was one of the most unforgettable trip to Puerto Galera I had ever experience.
At 5 in the morning, everyone's already awake and ready to have breakfast. We were scheduled to be picked up at 6. We had a little walk until we reached Terminal. They offer the usual breakfast combos plus unlimited rice. Their service was very slow. It took almost 30 minutes before we were served our orders plus the staff who waited our table forgot to list down one order and so we had to wait another 30 minutes. It's already past 6 when we finished our breakfast and the tour organizer was already waiting for us. She was really nice and even though we're late she just smiled at us and asked if we're ready to go.
Two trikes picked us up and drop us off to the port where our boat was waiting. By the way, we paid P2100 for unlimited island hopping and round trip transfer from our resort to the dock.
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| At the dock |
The boatman asked us if we want to avail of the optional trip to the Underwater Cave, Coral Garden, and Giant Clams. To visit those sites, we need 3 small boats. Each trip would cost P200 per head but if we want to visit all three it will only cost us P300 per head, so we agreed to visit them all.
(I will provide the details of our island hopping on a separate post.)
It took us three hours to visit the three sites and after that, our boatman brought us to Maliklik Beach so we can have our early lunch before we go snorkeling again.
After our lunch, we then headed off to Bayanan Beach where the boys enjoyed snorkeling. They spotted different kinds of fish.
By 1PM we're already on our way back to our resort as we still have to catch the 3PM trip to Batangas Pier.
By 3PM, we walked to the far end of the White Beach where the MSL ferry is docked and after paying the exit fee of P10 per head, we boarded the ferry and in a few minutes, we're off to Batangas Pier. We were the last ones who boarded and unfortunately, there were no seats anymore so we just have to sit down at the entrance. So for an hour and a half, we have to endure it. I wasn't able to take a nap but the person seated behind me was playing some good music and at least that helped made the trip enjoyable. The ferry ride was smooth and I was happy it wasn't like the last time we're in Puerto Galera where there was a storm and everyone was nauseous because of the waves.
At the pier, the buses going to Cubao are all full but we were able to catch one in a few minutes. I was not able to check what time we left the pier. I think it was around 5 and we arrived in Megamall at around 8.
The trip was really fun. I was expecting the worst but only the best happened. We never encountered any issues before and during our stay and it was one of the most unforgettable trip to Puerto Galera I had ever experience.
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Family Day in Baguio - June 2015
It was 2008 since I last visited Baguio and I felt mixed emotions to see that it's very different now. It doesn't have the laid back ambiance that it used to have before. It lost its simplicity but in spite of that, the city still didn't lost its charm and beauty.
It was June 12 and we didn't have any plans earlier that day. My mind is set to just taking a beauty rest for the whole week that I was on vacation leave but then, Hubby texted his brother who happen to be here in Manila for a week long leave too and asked if he wants to go to Baguio. After exchanging a few text messages, our trip was set. I searched online for possible accommodations but all inns are fully booked during that time because of the long weekend. We don't want to spend a lot in fancy hotels so we just decided we'd find a transient house once we're there.
By 7PM, there were no tickets in Victory Liner and Genesis available for reservations anymore while in Dagupan Bus Line, they're on a first come, first serve basis but we don't want to be travelling early in the evening since we don't have any hotel reservation and we don't know where we'll be staying until morning so, we just agreed on catching the 11PM bus. It's a good thing that Hubby's sister went to the terminal earlier since they were able to get us a van that will take us there. Fare is P600, a bit pricier compare to bus fare of P420 but the trip is smooth and fast since the driver took the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX). It's expensive to go that way since you have to pay three toll fees (NLEX, SCTEX P218 then TPLEX P218) but if budget's not a problem, it will be better to take the expressway. We left Cubao by 12MN and took the usual 6-hr trip to Baguio in just 4.5 hours so we arrived earlier than expected. It's a good thing that my Uncle and his wife are already awake at that time so, as soon as we're at the terminal, I texted my Uncle to ask how we can go around the city but instead of giving me instructions and tips, they picked us up from the terminal right after we had our breakfast.
After an hour of looking for a place to stay, we were finally able to get a transient house. It's a unit inside a building just beside Golden Pine Hotel. It has a living area, kitchen, dining area, 2 large bedrooms, and a decent comfort room and it only costed P3500.
We only rested for an hour then by 9AM, the van service arranged by my Uncle arrived to pick us for our city tour.
The driver is also the owner of the Starex and he said that we're the second group of tourists that hired the van. We can see that it's really new because the plastic covers are still intact. We paid P2000 for the 8-hr city tour. It's supposed to be P2500 but my Aunt and Uncle haggled so we were given discount. I created another post for the details of our city tour which can be found HERE.
It's just 4PM but we're already tired so we asked driver to take us back to our unit so that we could rest for a bit.
Everyone's tired but happy but our day didn't end there. I woke up at past 10PM and I asked Hubby if he wants to check out the Night Market since there's one just a few steps from our unit. We went there and I didn't expect to see a lot of things are being sold there but mostly Ukay ukays. I checked out things I can buy for pasalubong but there are just key chains and scarfs. After we reached the end of the night market, we went to eat street foods. I bought Dinengdeng and Rice for just P35 (the taste is just okay for the price) while Hubby bought Shawarma for P50. After eating, we went back to our unit to fetch his brothers since we passed by some bars there and thought we'd drink a bottle or two. We're already late because his brothers were already out when we arrived so, we just decided we'll walk to Session Road. I felt sad to see that it's already different from what I can remember. Before, there used to be old restaurants and thrift shops but now all we saw were fastfood restaurants. There's even Starbucks along Session Road. Oh well, nothing's really constant. I was expecting to feel nostalgic but instead I felt disappointed. And so my day ended with disappointment and a bit of sadness because I have a lot of happy childhood memories in Baguio which seem to have disappeared with those old buildings and shops.
The following day, Hubby and I walked down the market to buy pasalubongs after our morning jogging in Burnham Park. We happened to pass by a Korean Street Food stall. We tried out Gimari. It tasted like the Vietnamese Spring Rolls and it's good. Then we went back to our place to pack our things. At exactly 12NN, we left the unit and went to SM to have our lunch. It's jam packed but we're able to get seats at Dencio's.
We had our pictures taken there and after that we went to the bus terminal just beside SM. The Saulog bus left at 4PM and we arrived at our house at 10PM.
The trip is very tiring but it's worth it. Next time, I'm hoping to visit Banaue and Sagada, and maybe Ilocos and Batanes but for now I need to save a lot for those trips. LOL
It was June 12 and we didn't have any plans earlier that day. My mind is set to just taking a beauty rest for the whole week that I was on vacation leave but then, Hubby texted his brother who happen to be here in Manila for a week long leave too and asked if he wants to go to Baguio. After exchanging a few text messages, our trip was set. I searched online for possible accommodations but all inns are fully booked during that time because of the long weekend. We don't want to spend a lot in fancy hotels so we just decided we'd find a transient house once we're there.
By 7PM, there were no tickets in Victory Liner and Genesis available for reservations anymore while in Dagupan Bus Line, they're on a first come, first serve basis but we don't want to be travelling early in the evening since we don't have any hotel reservation and we don't know where we'll be staying until morning so, we just agreed on catching the 11PM bus. It's a good thing that Hubby's sister went to the terminal earlier since they were able to get us a van that will take us there. Fare is P600, a bit pricier compare to bus fare of P420 but the trip is smooth and fast since the driver took the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX). It's expensive to go that way since you have to pay three toll fees (NLEX, SCTEX P218 then TPLEX P218) but if budget's not a problem, it will be better to take the expressway. We left Cubao by 12MN and took the usual 6-hr trip to Baguio in just 4.5 hours so we arrived earlier than expected. It's a good thing that my Uncle and his wife are already awake at that time so, as soon as we're at the terminal, I texted my Uncle to ask how we can go around the city but instead of giving me instructions and tips, they picked us up from the terminal right after we had our breakfast.
After an hour of looking for a place to stay, we were finally able to get a transient house. It's a unit inside a building just beside Golden Pine Hotel. It has a living area, kitchen, dining area, 2 large bedrooms, and a decent comfort room and it only costed P3500.
We only rested for an hour then by 9AM, the van service arranged by my Uncle arrived to pick us for our city tour.
The driver is also the owner of the Starex and he said that we're the second group of tourists that hired the van. We can see that it's really new because the plastic covers are still intact. We paid P2000 for the 8-hr city tour. It's supposed to be P2500 but my Aunt and Uncle haggled so we were given discount. I created another post for the details of our city tour which can be found HERE.
It's just 4PM but we're already tired so we asked driver to take us back to our unit so that we could rest for a bit.
Everyone's tired but happy but our day didn't end there. I woke up at past 10PM and I asked Hubby if he wants to check out the Night Market since there's one just a few steps from our unit. We went there and I didn't expect to see a lot of things are being sold there but mostly Ukay ukays. I checked out things I can buy for pasalubong but there are just key chains and scarfs. After we reached the end of the night market, we went to eat street foods. I bought Dinengdeng and Rice for just P35 (the taste is just okay for the price) while Hubby bought Shawarma for P50. After eating, we went back to our unit to fetch his brothers since we passed by some bars there and thought we'd drink a bottle or two. We're already late because his brothers were already out when we arrived so, we just decided we'll walk to Session Road. I felt sad to see that it's already different from what I can remember. Before, there used to be old restaurants and thrift shops but now all we saw were fastfood restaurants. There's even Starbucks along Session Road. Oh well, nothing's really constant. I was expecting to feel nostalgic but instead I felt disappointed. And so my day ended with disappointment and a bit of sadness because I have a lot of happy childhood memories in Baguio which seem to have disappeared with those old buildings and shops.
The following day, Hubby and I walked down the market to buy pasalubongs after our morning jogging in Burnham Park. We happened to pass by a Korean Street Food stall. We tried out Gimari. It tasted like the Vietnamese Spring Rolls and it's good. Then we went back to our place to pack our things. At exactly 12NN, we left the unit and went to SM to have our lunch. It's jam packed but we're able to get seats at Dencio's.
We had our pictures taken there and after that we went to the bus terminal just beside SM. The Saulog bus left at 4PM and we arrived at our house at 10PM.
The trip is very tiring but it's worth it. Next time, I'm hoping to visit Banaue and Sagada, and maybe Ilocos and Batanes but for now I need to save a lot for those trips. LOL
Sunday, May 3, 2015
Weekend in Nasugbu
Since everyone agreed to Nasugbu, I searched online for resorts and one of my colleagues, Ron suggested Berna Beach and L Caraz. We checked out their websites and the following day, I inquired for their rates. Berna Beach is a bit pricey so I contacted L Caraz. I talked to the owner and he suggested that I rent their private house (it has a private pool and costs P8000 good for 20 pax) but when he checked the bookings, the private house was already reserved on the day of our outing so I opted for their Family Units instead. A Family Unit costs P5000 and is good for 12 pax. It has 2 bedrooms, a kitchen, a dining area and a living room. We're 24 so I reserved 2 units. After securing the resort, I had to search for a van. Luckily, Hubby's officemate has a van available for rent. For just P6000 for 2 days (plus P1500 fuel and P350 toll fee), we're able to get a good deal.
On the day of our outing, we left Cubao at 12 in the afternoon. The supposedly 2-hr travel became 4 1/2 because of the traffic in C5 and Alabang.
When we arrived, the girls and boys splitted up. Boys stayed in Family Unit 1 and the girls in Family Unit 2. We requested for extra matresses since each room only has 1 bed. Since the place is huge, each room can fit an extra matress and the living area can fit 2 more. The charge for each matress is P200 but they offered us a discount so we're able to get the matresses for just P100 each.
Just outside the resort, we bought charcoals, ice and filtered water and it's very convenient because we can just go out and buy there if we run out of supplies.
L Caraz Beach Resort
Apacible Blvd., Nasugbu, Batangas
+63 9178418281
+63 9228110629
+63 9103088895
On the day of our outing, we left Cubao at 12 in the afternoon. The supposedly 2-hr travel became 4 1/2 because of the traffic in C5 and Alabang.
When we arrived, the girls and boys splitted up. Boys stayed in Family Unit 1 and the girls in Family Unit 2. We requested for extra matresses since each room only has 1 bed. Since the place is huge, each room can fit an extra matress and the living area can fit 2 more. The charge for each matress is P200 but they offered us a discount so we're able to get the matresses for just P100 each.
Just outside the resort, we bought charcoals, ice and filtered water and it's very convenient because we can just go out and buy there if we run out of supplies.
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| A picture of Hubby and our son taken by Martin from his iPhone |
After dinner was prepared, everyone gathered at the common area of Family Unit 1. The common area is huge that we all were able to eat inside.
In the morning, after having our breakfast, we headed off to the beach. We noticed that the nearby resort was jam packed. The cottages are full of guests but it's a good thing that at L Caraz, we're the only ones swimming.
By 10AM, we're all packed up and at exactly 11AM, we headed off to Manila. I think it was already 12:30PM when we reached the boundary of Tagaytay and Batangas and we had a stop over to have lunch at Betchay's Bulaluhan and another stop over in Collette's Sta. Rosa Road to buy pasalubongs. We're supposed to go to Rowena's but it's crowded and we're all tired so we just decided to go to Collette's instead.
We arrived in Manila at almost 5PM already because of the traffic but we all enjoyed and everyone's looking forward to our next outing.
Each of us only shed out P1120 (P700 for the food and P420 for the van) for that fun and exciting weekend getaway.
L Caraz Beach Resort
Apacible Blvd., Nasugbu, Batangas
+63 9178418281
+63 9228110629
+63 9103088895
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