A Cold North American Like Getaway In the Philippines: Camp John Hay - Baguio City

With the Christmas Holidays coming, finding the most amazing place to spend your holiday without having to fly off to some distant land here in the Philippines but yet giving you that somewhat frosty xmas feel of the season is rather easy. Baguio City is exactly that place to go, and more specifically - Camp John Hay.

Most people think of Baguio City as the Summer get away from the heat waves that would be pounding most of Metro Manila, but very few would think of Baguio as the go to place for the X-Mas Holidays. Camp John Hay and the Area of Camp John Hay in Baguio City is quite a treat for those that visit the place this cold season. With Pine Trees surrounding the Manor and the exquisite lodge style theme of the Hotel, one would definitely feel that they are in a different place. Most people would think it would be quite expensive to stay in Camp John Hay but with websites like Agoda.com and Expedia.com it is quite easy to get to find a good deal for the cold season.

Getting to Baguio from Metro Manila is also quite easy. People have several choices to choose from in terms of how one would like to get to this Philippines Winter Destination. The most common would be by bus. The most favored bus line for this would be through Victory Liner. With Victory Liner one can check out the daily schedules and bus stations that would be suitable for where you are located at in Metro Manila. For those going to Baguio, you can make online reservations to avoid the hassles of having to fall in line at the bus station. For those that prefer to go to the bus stations there is always a trip leaving every 30min to an hour. The other way is to drive there to Baguio yourself which is technically a lot faster than taking the bus. This is because when you drive you are allowed access to the SCTEX exit through clark and is a short cut to Tarlac. The SCTEX is mostly smooth flowing traffic as there are no public transportations going through it and the road is well developed and quite scenic. You would also be allowed access to Kennon Road which is a shorter route up the mountain to Baguio City compared to the Marcos Highway. Check the weather though prior to heading up Kennon Road as rainy weather and fog could make it a difficult road to go through. If bad weather does hit your road trip it would be best to stick with Marcos Highway instead.

Here is the road to Baguio City from NLEX to SCTEX to Kennon Road

You'll Basically go to the NLEX to the DAU Exit

From The Dau Exit you'll go a little further to enter the SCTEX Exit. If you Take the NLEX through to Tarlac City you'll find that your trip is going to take you about an hour or so longer than going through the SCTEX

The View of the area around the SCTEX Road is quite scenic and relaxing. You won't encounter the hassles of public transportation such as Busses and Tricycles blocking your way here.

Once you exit the SCTEX you'll find yourself on the Provincial Highway leading From Tarlac, Pangasinan to a fork which will let you choose between going through Kennon Road or Marcos Highway

Kennon Road is the much shorter route, but bear in mind that if it is raining and a heavy fog is predicted, it would be a much safer route to take the Marcos Highway as Kennon Road is still being developed and may be at risk of landslides during bad weather.

Once you hit Baguio City, there are many street signs and people that are more than willing to guide you across town to Camp John Hay. It isn't difficult because everyone local to Baguio knows where it is.  You can also download the Android Mobile Application called Mapfactor which can be used as a personal Navigator as long as your Android Phone supports GPS tracking. This should also help you find your way around town and point your to where you have to go from Metro Manila to Camp John Hay.

Once in Camp John Hay you will immediately notice how the Pine Tree forrest surrounding Camp John Hay creates an ambiance of a North American feel. The cold temperature of the air, the smell of the trees and grass, all add to the ambiance. In Camp John Hay you'll have access to the different outlet stores, hotels, horseback rides, zip line, hike trail, golf and so much more. You'll have to stay for a little over the weekend to get to experience everything that the place would have to offer. One of my favorite places to stay in Camp John Hay is the Hotel called the Manor. The rooms and lounge areas of the Manor in Camp John Hay really give off the vibes of a colonial time from the pine wood to the furnitures. The garden is also quite a fun picturesque place to hang out with the family with a small pond and a single large tree right in the center of the garden. They also offer amazing food choices with the garden view and service is excellent. Though the price can be quite hefty at roughly Php 10,000 a night there would be times when they offer special promos and corporate rates of upto 50% off.

View of the Camp John Hay from the 4th floor Suite we Rented. The One facing the Garden is even more amazing.

The Camp John Hay Manor Garden

The flowers in the area are so beautiful. You can check out more in Baguio's Botanical Garden which is quite close to Camp John Hay.

Some of the Cabins that you can rent for the weekend.

Some of them are even built like real pine wood cabins

The interiors provide a warm and comfortable contrast to the cold air outside

The Hotel Room Suites are also just as comfortable and quite elegant.

All the suites of the manor have an amazing view of Camp John Hay.

Jogging, shopping and dining are the main activities that one would get to do in Camp John Hay. The hike trail too is a favorite agenda on the list of things to do. Horseback riding and Golf is also a must try for those that want a little more extra in their vacation.

Just as an added feature - we paid a visit to Wright Park which is just close to Camp John Hay for Horseback Riding and to check out plants to bring home.

For 50 Pesos one can get money trees such as these and mini bonsai's such as those below

The cold Weather didn't stop us from Enjoying Ice Cream though and we really wanted it after a tiring Horseback riding session. We had ice cream in one of the establishments in Camp John Hay. There are several places in Camp John Hay that you can choose from to enjoy desserts such as these.

As you can see my friend Jinky is really enjoying the cold weather and sweet flavors of Nestle Ice Cream

Overall the stay in Camp John Hay is quite a fun filled family experience, that is inexpensive as compared to having to travel out of the country with your family and friends. It gives a genuine x-mas feeling too at the right time of the year, and also a favorite summer get away for most.

Till Next Time...

-Metz-

Cebu Pacific Air: The Philippines' Leading Budget Airline - The Price You Pay for A Cheaper Flight

I have been using Cebu Pacific for over a year now in terms of travel for both Domestic and International flights. It is because of this that I am able to see first hand the good points about Cebu Pacific Air and of course the things that would most likely frustrate its Patrons.

Cebu Pacific Air has in more ways than one revolutionized the Airline industry here in the Philippines and has even left a mark abroad. Just this year alone they have been named as one of the top 15 Budget Airline of choice for the ASEAN region beating rivals such as Tiger Airways and even JetStar Asia. Cebu Pacific has mastered that art of balancing passengers per flight and costing thus creating an ripple in the way airlines here in the Philippines have priced their domestic and international flights. PAL. SeaAir and all the other local carriers have tried their best to cope up and try to capture that market which Cebu Pacific Air has gotten but have failed to get the buyer's attention.

In Uniform - The Flight Stewards and Stewardesses of Cebu Pacific Air

Here are the reasons why it has become quite a favorite:
1. Constant Promotional Pricing - With Seat Sale promos from Cebu Pacific Air, people are now able to fly anywhere in the Philippines for as little as Php3,000 pesos which includes the travel taxes and gas prices. Sometimes they even offer rates that are as low as 1peso for a one way trip both local and abroad which we got for our Shanghai trip this November 2012 rounded up with all the misc fees to just Php 5000 per head round trip.

Sample Seat Sale Promos of Cebu Pacific Air.

2. Package Flexibility - You can also pick your seat ahead of time during the booking process and choose on whether you would want to include your in-flight meal or not. If you feel that you wont be needing too much check-in baggage space you can also reduce the weight allowance and htus decreasing the added cost.

3. Easy Access - Online Convenience of booking flights and keeping it on record for tracking purposes is what also makes Cebu Pacific Air the airline of choice for many people wanting to save up on travel costs. If you feel that you wouldn't want to have to go through the hassles of falling in line for the check-in counter, members can also opt for the web-checkin options.

4. Onboard Wifi Service - It has been officially announced that in 2013 there shall be wifi service available to passengers on Airbus A330 called OnAir. Details on this are here - OnAir Wifi Service

Cebu Pacific Airlines unfortunately does have its downside being that of a budget airline. Though customer care is still an integral part of their service, there are still a lot of areas that tend to be overlooked and many people have gotten used to them cause of the notion of you really get what you pay for. I personally think of some of these downsides to be rather unfair and can be worked on better in the near future however as of now it is something that you'll have to take into consideration as a trade off for such an incredibly cheap plane ride.

1. Cebu Pacific shall not change flights that have been booked unless you have it arranged 4 hours before your flight irregardless of circumstances. That means if lets say you lost your passport of something else untoward happens to you that will cause you to not to board your flight and you don't get to rebook they will with no consideration whatsoever allow you to rebook your flight. You would have to buy a new ticket.

2. Customer Service Support Abroad is limited. Cebu Pacific Air strongly relies on it's online services, thus if you have a query where you need to talk to a live representative or need to go to their main office, Cebu Pacific Air wont have that available in every country that they fly to. What they could give you is a hotline number in that particular country for you to call. Most likely you would have to use a local call card to call them but be prepared to be put on hold several times for long periods and get cut off from time to time. If you are asking for flexibility for adjusting of a flight, if less than 4 hours like it was mentioned above irregardless of circumstance you shall be declined. Calling on a supervisor will only make the agent put you on hold for an indefinite time - even if they know you are having an emergency and are on a limited time on the phone.

3. Rebooking of flights can cost you triple of what you originally paid for. We booked a flight in the promo period for Manila to Hanoi and back for Php11,587 for two people round trip. To have it rebooked the live agent of Cebu Pacific was going to charge us an extra Php 17, 000 pesos and they said that already is counting the cost we originally paid for of Php11, 587 and based on her computation she wasn't even counting the fuel charges, taxes, luggage fees, and other misc fees that were charged stating that those are not to be included. I guess for them the misc fees is a non - refundable and non - negotiable for Cebu Pacific Air. We tried doing it online and the fees that was coming out was totaling to a ridiculous Php31,000 pesos ++. My advice, if you have a change of plans, simply wait for the next promo that Cebu Pacific is going to launch otherwise be ready to pay a hefty sum for the rebooking of the tickets.

4. Flight Delays are a given. It is pretty rare that you'll get to see a Cebu Pacific Air carrier to be on time for a flight. Once a plane is delayed, it'll affect all the other flight schedules. They apologize for it but won't give you anything for compensation for being delayed. And there are times when the flights can get over an hour delayed, so if you were on a tight schedule where you would need to go through connecting flights I would strongly suggest to go with an airline that has a better reputation at keeping their schedules on the dot unless you would risk missing your flight. Cebu Pacific Air will not compensate you for your missed connecting flight even if you argue to them about it.

5. Lost or Delayed Baggage. This was an issue in the past though I think it has been addressed, where Cebu Pacific Air would intentionally leave baggage behind because they feel that they are over capacity due to the booked guests. They will only inform the guests that they have left their baggage after they have arrived in their destination to claim their baggage. Many times the luggage you have checked-in would get lost in transit due to this. I haven't heard much of this issue now but the latest occurrence did happen at the early part of this year. I would advice on keeping your valuables in your hand carry luggage rather than your check-in baggage and bring extra clothes in your hand carry just in case this happens to you as you travel. Again they won't compensate for the inconvenience.

I am sure that there are more to be said but these are the major things that are good and bad about Cebu Pacific Air and their service. Its entirely up to the consumers to decide if the risks and benefits are all worth it. I personally still travel Cebu Pacific Air but with my experiences I have become a wiser traveler taking into account the things that they fall short on. If it's just traveling and budget is a concern then I would recommend Cebu Pacific Air. But in times of emergency or if you are to ask them for any favors, I would advice to just let your steam off somewhere else lest you want your complaint to fall on inattentive ears that only care when you are just about to buy a new ticket.

Till Next Time....

-Metz-

Travel Advice: Lost Passport (Philippines)

I have just recently gotten back from our Hongkong - Macau trip and though everything was fun and went seemingly well without incident, unfortunately the unlikely occurred and someone in HK stole my passport on transit from Sheung Wan MTR Station to Central Station most likely thinking that it was my wallet. The experience was quite nerve wracking and quite unpleasant as we were in transit from Macau to Hong Kong heading to the airport home in the Hong Kong International Airport. In today's article I shall run through the things that a Filipino should need to prepare for if in case you'll find yourselves in a similar situation while you are traveling abroad as a tourist.

Prior to flying off to your chosen destination here is a check list of things that you should have stored away digitally and as a photocopy in a safe and secure place in your luggage.

1. Photocopy of your passport and other government IDs - an online scanned image of these would also be great and it should be accessible anywhere you are.

2. Emergency phone numbers and hotlines of the places you are going to. Keep a paper and online version handy just in case.

3. Obtain the address of the Philippine Consulate, operating hours and phone numbers.

4. Always inform your loved ones and friends of where you shall be and keep in constant communication with them just in case an emergency situation occurs.

5. Travel Insurance is a must, though at times may seem like added expense but in times of trouble is beneficial.

6. Bring emergency cash and credit cards that you can use just in case of an emergency. Also check if your hotel has special rates for stay extensions or speak with your travel agency. In our case we found Agoda.com to be quite convenient in finding a place to stay in such short notice.

7. Bring passport sized photos of you along as the temporary travel documents that would be issued would require this.

Now if ever the unlikely does happen and you loose your travel document here are the things you would need to do:

1. Immediately report it to the authorities. You'll need their report and also to alert them that something foul has just happened.

2. Photocopy of your passport/government issued ID

3. Affidavit of loss (the consulate can provide this for you and unfortunately costs quite a sum of money - in HK I paid close to 500 HK dollars for the documentation and e Passport)

4. Passport sized photos - 4 pieces.

5. Ticket showing that you are on your way out of the country and back to the Philippines. If you have already missed your flight like what happened to me, you'd need to show your rebooked flight schedule as well. They'll need a copy in print format.

For renewal of the Passport once you get back to the Philippines will require the following items:

1. Affidavit of loss which is given by the Philippine Consulate of the country where you lost the Passport

2. Police report from the Country where you lost the Philippine Passport

3. Travel Document Provided by the Philippline Consulate with the Red Seal

4. Filled up Appointment Form from the DFA website.

5. Copy of your Government Issued IDs and 3 supporting IDs such as NBI clearance, Barangay Clearance, CTC, Police Clearance, etc...

6. Original Birth Certificate

7. Copy of your lost Philippine Passport if available.

After submission, DFA will require a 15 day clearance period prior to you being able to continue in the Passport Process. After which you shall go through the regular Passport application process and choose between regular 15 day waiting period and 7 day rush process.

It is definitely quite a hassle to loose one's passport while traveling abroad. Thus precaution is definitely better than having to go through all of these, but just in case you do at least from this point you'd be more than prepared to handle the situation.

Till Next Time....

-Metz-