asia travel Archives - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

Jan262018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Prepping for an Asian Vacation: Tips and Tricks to Improve Your Trip

Traveling halfway across the globe for a vacation is a once in a lifetime experience. There are so many sights, sounds and tastes that you want to try out. Before you head off to the airport, learn how you can prepare for a vacation into Asia. The cultures and beautiful landscapes will capture your imagination. Pick Your Flights and Tours Carefully Regardless of which country you're visiting, Asia itself is incredibly far from the United States. Select a flight that has a few comforts, such as ample leg room or convertible seats. You might bundle the flight with a hotel so that the costs are much cheaper than scheduling them individually. Take a look at various excursions in your chosen country, such as Asia tour packages. Experience the top attractions while receiving a good deal for fo...

Jan232017 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

New fave Cebu hotel: Cuarto Hotel

Cebu City, Features, Hotels, Leisure, Reviews, Society, Tourism, Travel

Every frequent traveler to Cebu knows this – it’s a continuous challenge to find spacious, well-fitted, affordable, strategically located hotel rooms that offer free delicious buffet breakfast. There will always be something amiss – either the hotel is too far from the city proper or the room may be too small you can barely move around with your luggage. Fortunately, I recently discovered a charming boutique hotel a block away from Fuente Circle Cebu that could easily rival the bigger hotel chains. Cuarto Hotel is just across Robinson’s Cybergate and steps away from a few of Cebu’s biggest hospitals and call centers. Don’t worry, though. While Cuarto Hotel Cebu may be in the midst of the hustle and bustle of city life, you will still have the most comfortable stay. I did! ...

Jan82017 by Mindanaoan Irene7 Comments

Where to stay in Camiguin Island: HillTop Camiguin

Camiguin, Mindanaoan Update, Tourism, Travel

I have said it time and again. Camiguin Island remains to be one of my super favorite destinations in the Philippines. Camiguin is like a refuge - where I can enjoy peace, quiet, sun, sand, sea, surf. And recently, whenever I'm in the Island Born of Fire, I stay at HillTop Camiguin! HillTop Camiguin is a mansion nestled on a hill in Barangay Agoho overlooking the world-famous White Island. It now offers a few rooms for people to stay in and have a different kind of Camiguin experience – away from the usual hotel/resort vibe. The prices are very affordable – prices start at Php 1,750 only (already good for two and inclusive of breakfast). (Related: Book your HillTop Camiguin room now) Each room, which is good for two, comes with a king sized bed, jaw droppingly spacious (trust me ...

Aug62013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Old Church Ruins in Camiguin Island Mindanao

Mindanaoan Update

Have you been following my series of Camiguin Island posts? Here's another historical place you should not miss when you visit the Island Born Of Fire. The Old Church Ruins, also known as Gui-ob Church, features the remains of an old Spanish church. Gui-ob Church was destroyed and partly submerged during the series of eruptions of Mt. Vulcan from 1871 to 1875 (see my Sunken Cemetery post). At this Camiguin tourist spot, you can see the remains of a pre-Spanish era church, what used to be its magnificent adobe walls, convent and belfry. There used to be a small chapel there, too, but on my most recent visit to this Camiguin Island attraction, it seemed like it caught fire :( Still, I recommend that you visit the Old Church Ruins. Nice place to have a feel of what Camiguin was like during...

Apr72013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Mindanao to Indonesia RORO vessel to start 2013

BIMP-EAGA, Business, Davao City, General Santos City, Government, Headline, Tourism, Travel

Anybody else as excited as I am? Trips from Mindanao to Indonesia aren't exactly new (there are flights from Davao City to Manado, Indonesia) but I think this new service will be cheaper and more accessible to the public especially to traders. This RORO vessel from Mindanao to Indonesia will use the Davao to General Santos to Bitung route :) Read on. A Philippine roll-on, roll-off (RORO) vessel will start its service to Indonesia in the middle of the year, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry said. The project, a first between two members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), is expected to improve trade, tourism and connectivity between the Philippines and Indonesia, PCCI said in a statement. This is also said to be the country's first RORO service to an ...

Jun262012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Airphil Express launches Manila – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia flights

Announcements, Business, Consumer, Flights, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Manila, Reviews, Tourism, Travel

Good news for travel bugs! Airphil Express, the country's fastest growing airline, now has flights from Manila, Philippines to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (and vice versa)! This Airphil Express Manila - Kuala Lumpur flight route is the third international destination of Airphil Express. If you guys remember, this blogger from Mindanao was one of the lucky bloggers who got to join the maiden Airphil Express Cebu to Hong Kong flight last year :) The Airphil Express Kuala Lumpur to Manila flights are scheduled every Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays with flights departing from Kuala Lumpur at 11:55 pm. The ETA or expected time of arrival is 4:05 am in Manila. Meanwhile, the Airphil Express Manila to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia flights leave at 7:40 pm. The expected time of arrival in KL is 11:25 pm...

Sep292011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Surigao del Norte to hold Lubi Lubi Dance Festival 2011 and skimboarding cup

Arts, Culture, Events, Festivals, Fiesta, Government, Mindanaoan Update, Sports, Surigao, Surigao del Norte

Following the successful Bonok Bonok Festival 2011, here's another event in Surigao that you guys might want to watch out for. The Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte and Bacuag Mayor Sheila Mae O. Cebedo, in cooperation with the Department of Tourism and other government agencies, are holding the 2nd Lubi Lubi Dance Festival 2011. The 2011 Lubi Lubi Dance Festival will be held on October 7, 2011 at Bacuag, Surigao del Norte, Mindanao, Philippines. Meanwhile, from October 5 to 7, 2011, there will also be a skimboarding competition in Bacuag. The 5th National Skim Boarding Competition will be held at Z-Bay Wall, Bacuag, Surigao del Norte. Check out the event posters below:

May282010 by Mindanaoan Irene6 Comments

Review: The Maxwell Hotel Cebu | Budget hotel Cebu

Business, Consumer, Hotels, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Tourism, Travel

The Maxwell Hotel Cebu is located along N. Escario Street, Cebu City, Philippines - a prime location in the Queen City of the South. It's a fairly new hotel in Cebu City and can be considered a Cebu budget hotel. Mindanaoan stayed at the Maxwell Hotel Cebu for two nights during my recent 4-day escapade at Cebu to attend the first ever Cebu Blog Camp 2010. The first two nights were spent at my Cebu City-based brother's apartment. My brother is also a blogger, by the way, and he accompanied me at the Cebu Blog Camp. He blogs about tennis here. Since he often lacked sleep because of the uber warm Cebu weather as of late, I, as the dutiful "ate" (ahem, ahem), decided to check-in at The Maxwell Hotel Cebu and treat him to two days of rest, sleep and an absolutely relaxing massage (more about...

Oct302008 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Good thing Cebu Pacific is bringing Davao-Hongkong, Davao-Singapore back!

Business, Corporate, Davao City, Internet, Tourism, Travel

So I checked out Cebu Pacific Air's website today just to check on my seat reservations (I'm heading to Manila for the Rihanna - Chris Brown concert and to do a lot of other stuff including Christmas shopping, of course!) and to see what's up when I noticed that they're offering Go International Fares for both Davao - Hongkong and Davao - Singapore routes. The "cheaper" Davao - Hongkong airfares will be offered starting December 5, 2008 while for the Davao - Singapore route, the budget airfares will be offered starting December 4, 2008. So does this mean that Cebu Pacific stopped offering the budget airfares for a while? (*Note - I did a mock booking and I found out that the Davao - Hongkong route right now isn't a direct flight - it passes through Manila) I actually availed of the Dava...