Tagaytay During The Pandemic

People's Park in the Sky

More than a year have passed since the pandemic started. I'm pretty sure that most of us are excited to have a vacation in a neighbouring city like Boracay (which have been opened to local travelers for quite some time now), Baguio City, or even Tagaytay. 

Skyway Stage 3

Going to Tagaytay has never been so easy unlike the past years in which, sometimes can usually take three hours or more (if you're coming from the northern part of the Philippines) but now that the Skyway Stage 3 have been opened to the public, traveling to Tagaytay for not more than two hours is now possible.

There are plenty things to do in Tagaytay like eating the most famous food, Bulalo. You can also drink your favorite coffee which can be serve hot or cold while enjoying the scenery. Rest assured that going to Tagaytay does not require any travel pass, however, people aged 15 below and those who are above 65 years of age is not allowed to visit nor eat in a restaurant in Tagaytay due to the COVID-19.

It is indeed relaxing when you are traveling especially if you're with your family. As of now, it is not yet advisable to travel due to the continuous spread of the COVID-19 in the country but it might not be that bad to go out once in a while but then again, always remember to follow  protocols like wearing face mask and face shield when you are going out and/or in a public place. Wash your hands always and sanitize properly.

Since the enemy is not visible to our naked eye, it is important to be cautious and follow the new normal not only for your own good but also for the people around you. That's it, I wish you a safe travel and goodluck! 

Things You Must Prepare For Your Trip To Beijing, China (During Winter)

(Almost) Frozen Lake at Beijing Zoo

China is probably one of those country whose less likely to have tourist due to few reason like a large language barrier, making it hard to visit especially for people who don't travel often. It is also a fact that there is a minimal information on how to travel the mainland of China like Shanghai or Beijing.  Hence, are the things that you must prepare for your Winter Getaway to Beijing, China.

1. Booked Your Accommodation, Transfer and Tours Ahead Of Time

Taken Outside Our Accomodation

When we visited Beijing, we booked our accommodation through booking.com and our private round trip transfer from the airport to the hotel through klook. It is very convenient to booked a transfer especially if you are a large group. If you want to travel cheap then you should wait for promos during holidays. It is also advisable to booked your tours if no one in your group knows how to speak Chinese since there is a language barrier and you might have a hard time asking for directions. But if you wanted to do a do-it-yourself tour then plan your trip very well. I recommend going on a  subway since it is cheaper rather than getting on a taxi. 

2. Always Bring Your Passport, Lip Balms, Bottled Water And Small Bill Of RMB Whenever You Are Stepping Out Of Your Accommodation

Taken Near Our Hotel While We're On Our Way To Tiananmen Square

You can never forget to bring your passport with you whenever you are going out. There are some tourist spots where they ask for your passport (maybe perhaps for the purpose of verification of your identity). Also, when riding on subway do not forget to bring 1 RMB, 5RMB and 10 RMB as these bills are only accepted when getting a subway card. Bring also a bottled water since you’ll be walking for a very long time. The tourist spots in Beijing are so  wide to  the point that it almost takes an entire day to explore the whole place. I always tend to bring a small backpack with me where I can put things that are essential while traveling.

3. Download VPN and Translator Apps

     

Before going to China, it is a must to download a VPN in order for you to access sites that are blocked within the country. I recommend using VPN 360 since it works really well whenever I am using the WiFi of our hotel. You can download it on app store or play store. Remember to download as many VPN as you can since you can no longer download it while you are in their mainland. Rest assured that no crime can be committed when you use a VPN within their territory. Also, keep in mind that there are times that the VPNs are not working properly. It is also advisable  to buy a pocket WiFi. As for our family, we rented a pocket WiFi from Cebu pacific located at the NAIA Terminal 3. What’s good in it is you can bring it wherever you are and the battery last for a very long time and what’s good is that it is VPN ready which you can avail for only 390 pesos per night and can connect up to five persons. Lastly, you must have a voice translator with you since not all Chinese people knew how to communicate using the English language. 

4. Ready Your Winter Clothes

Going on a winter trip to China adds a difficulty to travelers since the weather there is really dry. Sometimes the cold is bearable but later on, it will be much colder than you expected it to be. Also, you don't need to buy branded nor expensive winter jackets, being 'ma-diskarte' will do. As for me, I bought some of my jackets in "ukay-ukay". I also recommend buying heat techs since it really is helpful to keep you warm during the winter season. I usually have a two to three layer of clothes including the jacket but if you get cold easily, then maybe you should have at least four or five layers of heat techs.

Taken While We’re On Our Way To The Great Wall of China

As you can see in the picture above, I bought my jacket from 'ukay-ukay' in Cubao, Quezon City for only 100 Pesos. The ear muffs I'm wearing is from a store (at the Tiananmen Square) at Beijing, China for 30 RMB or approximately 200 to 250 Pesos. The white turtle neck I wore is from Uniqlo which is 1250 Pesos but I bought it for only 970 Pesos since it is on sale. By the way, I brought six or seven jackets for "ootd" purposes. Lol. But it's up to you whether you bring two or three jacket but since I availed a roundtrip additional baggage from Cebu Pacific I brought that many with me, though I did not used all of it but my aunt were able to wear it since her luggage were taken by someone else by mistake.

5. Prepare The RMB Or Chinese Yuan

Finding a money changer at the center of the City in Beijing will be quite difficult since when we were there, we did not see a store that changes money. On contrary, there are money changer at Beijing International Airport and also here in Manila. But I suggest that you exchange your money while you are here in Manila (NAIA Terminal 3) in our case, we trade our Peso bills there for 7.6 RMB. Remember to be cautious when exchanging money because we had an encounter wherein some foreigners whose money wasn't accepted because they said it is fake. Ensure that when exchanging your money, you should have a receipt and/or a paper which lists the serial number of the money just in case.

Honestly speaking, when we visited Beijing we had a hard time exploring it to the point that we didn't get to visit some of the tourist attractions (like temple of heaven) as we already lack in time. Furthermore, there are few blog posts or any article regarding on how to travel Beijing so it adds to the difficulty in traveling the country. We also got lost multiple times but we believe that it is part of the exploration, there might be problems throughout the escapade but we were happy and that's what matters. Just remember to make and have fun because not everyone has the opportunity to travel and so I wish you an enjoyable and memorable once in a lifetime travel. Have fun!

5 Tips When Traveling (EL NIDO, PALAWAN FOR ONLY 10,000 PESOS ALL IN!!!)

"Traveling is expensive", what can you say about these? For me traveling could be expensive depending to the traveler. If that person tends to buy everything he/she saw during the trip then yes, it could be expensive. However, if the person buys only the things that are necessary and/or important then it won't cost you much. Nevertheless, the money it'll cost you may greatly vary depending on the place where you are going.

Philippines is one of those country in Asia where you can travel cheap yet be mesmerized with the beauty of its nature. From the land up to the water, I'm sure it will leave you breathless. One of the many islands here in the Philippines is  known as Palawan. From here, you can pick a variety of tourist spots located in Puerto Prinsesa (its main city), Balabac, Coron, El Nido and many more.

El Nido in Palawan, Philippines is known not only in the country but in the entire world. Just by looking at the pictures online, it would seem that going there would be expensive. However, it ONLY cost us 10,000 Pesos or roughly US$205 during our four (4) days and three (3) nights trip. These includes airfare, food, van transfer and our tour (two days island hopping). Yep, you read it right for only 10,000 Pesos you can enjoy the scenery in El Nido, Palawan for a low price. Below is the summary of our expenses:

Roundtrip Airfare - 2,253.04 Pesos
Van Transfer         - 1,000 Pesos
Accomodation      - 5,475 Pesos
Other expenses     - 1,270 Pesos
Total                     - 9,998 Pesos

Asking for the food? The accommodation we booked is inclusive of buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Furthermore, the tour is also included in the accommodation fee. However, the food on the way to El Nido is not covered since we booked the van transfer via klook so I put it on the other expenses. But rest assure that the food won't cost you much since there are many food stalls or carinderias on the way. Also the kayak rental in Big Lagoon is not that expensive which is about 500-700 pesos which are good for two so I put in some extra fee on 'other expenses' part. You asked how is this possible? The answer is simple:



1. Look For Seat Sale

If you really want to travel cheap then always look at the Facebook Pages of different airlines like Cebu Pacific, Air Asia and Philippine Airlines.  They are constantly posting in their Facebook pages if there is an ongoing seat sale or if there'll be a seat sale. If you're lucky enough you can get a round trip airfare for less than 2,000 Pesos. It is advisable to use laptops or your PC desktop when booking your trip since it is faster than using your mobile phones.

2. Know/Get Your Travel Buddies Details and Ready Your Debit/Credit Card

When there is a seat sale, you must hurry since the seats are only limited and sometime in just a matter of second, the price will increase rapidly. As much as possible you should create an account and put them into your guest list so that you wouldn't have a hard time typing their individual details. Also, be sure to have a cc (credit card) or a debit card to be use for paying online. You also have the option of paying it on a payment center like 7 Eleven or Bayad Center but it could be unavailable since there are times that they don't accept payments from them.

3. Plan Your Trip

This should come first before you book your airline tickets. Me, I prefer to travel at least six months after the booking. During this planning period, you should bear in mind if it is peak or non-peak season to the place where you are going. If it is peak then expect a higher rate. Also, sometimes there’s what they called a travel expo where you can buy a number of discounted tour, accommodations, visa assistance and so on.

4. Expect The Unexpected, Try to Avoid Buying Unnecessary Things

Always expect that there could be some problem you might face during the trip. DO NOT forget to bring extra cash with you just to be sure. It is always better to have cash than your cc or debit card since not all the shops/restaurant accepts card. Also, try to avoid buying stuffs that isn't really that important. Even if it'll only cost you one peso try to avoid it because that 'one peso' can make a difference. Maybe not now but trust me, you will understand it soon. Besides, you can't get thousands of peso without a one peso.

5. Enjoy the Tour

Not everyone is given the privilege to roam around the world or even explore their own country. Enjoy your time of traveling. You don’t need to draw out lots of cash to enjoy your travel because just by looking at the beauty of our mother nature is enough for you to feel complete and be satisfied with your trip. And if ever you paid for such expensive trips, you can always get the money back by working hard but the memories you'll build during the trip is priceless. And remember to enjoy and make the most of it since we can never say until when are we going to live. Make the most of it and ENJOY BECAUSE YOU DESERVE IT!

You might want to read my other blog about on how to go to El Nido, Palawan. Also you can follow me on my Instagram Account. If you have any question or suggestion do not hesitate to comment it or dm me on my Instagram. Thank you and Bon Voyage!

El Nido, Palawan

Philippines is known throughout the world not only because of the hospitality of the Filipino people but also because of its tourist attractions. One of the most popular island here in the Philippines is known as Palawan which recently ranked as the world's second best island according to Travel+Leisure's "The World's Best Awards 2019".

Thanks Google Maps for this!

El Nido, one of the municipality of Palawan, approximately 230 km (according to google maps) North of Puerto Princesa, Palawan's capital city. El Nido is known for its white sand beaches and limestone formations. The majestic beauty of El Nido is priceless to the point that even if the summer has ended, tourist are all over the place. In fact due to its beauty, El Nido ranked five as the Best Island Beach in the World according to CN Traveler's List "The 24 Best Island Beaches in the World".

El Nido, Palawan

People might think that going on a trip is expensive, especially when you are flying on an airplane. However, nowadays, people tend to patiently wait for seat sale promos in order to travel. As for us, we booked our flight last November 11, 2018 (the travel date is June 22 to 25 of 2019) for only 2,553.04 pesos round trip. If you're lucky enough, you can even get a round trip airfare less than 1000 pesos, how cool is that?

Our PPS to MNL itinerary

✈️ How to Get to El Nido, Palawan

There are plenty of ways to reach El Nido, depending on your budget, time, and travel style:

• Direct Flight to El Nido (Fastest Option) ✈️

The quickest way is by taking a direct flight from Manila to El Nido via Airswift Airlines. This is the most convenient option since you’ll land directly at Lio Airport, just 20 minutes from El Nido town. This could be the most expensive one.

• Flight to Puerto Princesa (Most Popular Route) 🛫🚐

Another common option is flying from Manila, Cebu, or Clark to Puerto Princesa International Airport. Several airlines—Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, AirAsia, and Royal Air—serve this route, with flights taking about 1.5 hours. From Puerto Princesa, you’ll need to take a van or bus to El Nido, which adds another 4–6 hours of land travel. This usually cost less than having a direct flight to El Nido.

• Flight to San Vicente (Less Common) 🛩️

SkyJet Airlines also flies from Manila to San Vicente, a town located between Puerto Princesa and El Nido. However, this option is less convenient since public transportation between San Vicente and El Nido is limited.

• Ferry from Manila (For the Adventurous) ⛴️🌊

If you have plenty of time and want to experience a different kind of journey, you can take a ferry from Manila to Palawan. Travel time is around 25 hours, so this option is only recommended for those who don’t mind long boat rides.

Puerto Princesa Airport

Landing off at Puerto Princesa Airport, you can either book a shared van transfer going to El Nido via Klook for only 500 pesos one way. The land transfer will last for at least  five to six hours. You also have the option of riding the bus. From the Puerto Princesa Airport you can ride a tricycle and tell them to go to the San Jose Terminal. From there, you can either choose which bus liner you want to ride; between RoRo Bus or Cherry Bus (fare is approximately 300 to 500 pesos). Time of travel by bus will take up to six to seven hours. If ever you landed at San Vicente Airport, you can also take a bus or van but I recommend riding a jeep going to Roxas first and take the bus or van going to El Nido. 

Surely, there are many other destination that are both insta and travel worthy. You should consider traveling the islands of the Philippines and you’ll surely not regret it. I hope this can help you with your trip big time. 

And that’s where DMgoesTo today — see you on the next stop!

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