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

May302017 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Stay within your travel budget with this one-stop booking app

Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Reviews, Technology, Travel

Travel makes my soul very happy. Traveling brings a different kind of joy and excitement. Discovering (and even getting lost - but that’s where the thrill is!) new places, meeting fascinating people, immersing in a different culture, celebrating over delicious food - sigh! Do you feel the same way? Because if you do then I’m sure that you would also grab each and every opportunity to travel faster than the speed of lightning. Alas, such is easier said than done. With travel comes expenses and more often than not, it’s a challenge to stick to our travel budget. * Took this photo at a place overlooking Lake Taal in Tagaytay, Philippines. It's breathtaking * Me at Central Park, New York, USA Fortunately, there’s a one-stop booking app that allows us to stick within our ...

Oct102013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Travel tip: how to save on hotel expenses

Travel

If you are going on vacation, you will need to know ahead of time where you are staying. While you may be able to enter a hotel and get a room without a reservation, it is going to cost you more per night to stay at that hotel. In addition, you won't have the peace of mind that comes with having a room when you get into town. You should book your hotel accommodations as soon as you know that you are going to be going on a trip. Whether you are going on vacation or heading to a different city for business, you need to take care of that as soon as possible. The best time to go on vacation is during the week or during the winter months when people are mostly at work or school. Savvy vacation planners will use discount sites to help them save money. Discount sites allow you to find hotel...

Mar162011 by Mindanaoan Irene10 Comments

How to prepare a do-it-yourself Singapore and Malaysia trip

BIMP-EAGA, Blogging, Davao City, Features, Flights, Hongkong, Hotels, Internet, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Malaysia, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Shenzhen, Singapore, Society, Tourism, Travel

A few weeks ago, my mom and I finally had the chance to visit Singapore and Malaysia. Although it wasn't our first trip outside of the country, it was our very first time to visit Singapore and Malaysia and it was also the first time that we followed a DIY or do-it-yourself itinerary. We opted not to avail of the services of a travel agency for a number of reasons including the fact that we didn't want to be led to tourist traps just like what happened during our Hongkong, Shenzhen and Macau trip two years ago. Plus I'm also the type who loves to take on a challenge and preparing for a trip abroad - starting from scratch - can be quite a challenge! Don't be alarmed, though! Preparing a do-it-yourself itinerary can actually be fun, too! Plus it brings a whole lotta meaning to accomplishm...

Aug32009 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Aboard PAL Express flight Cagayan de Oro to Cebu City

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Flights, Internet, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Northern Mindanao, Personal, Society, Tourism, Travel

A few hours after the Rock the Vote 2009 Cagayan de Oro leg and after sharing a hearty meal with the members of Team Oro Photo and Video (who generously extended their time and support to the Register and Vote Campaign...thank you, thank you!) as well as the event's hosts, Maxine Monasterio (Miss Teen Philippines 2007 and a CDO native) and Titus "TJ" Monterde (he's the son of Tito Monterde, the station manager of Wild FM CDO) --- (Max and TJ also host the ABS CBN Northern Mindanao Sunday show, Mag TV Na, Ato Ni!), I caught a CDO - Cebu PAL Express flight. PAL Express is owned by Philippine Airlines and is geared towards shorter flights. It was my first time to catch a PAL Express flight. After years of traveling from CDO to Cebu via boats (I've tried Trans Asia Shipping Lines, Superferry...

Jan162009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Davao-Hongkong and Davao-Singapore now on ZERO FARE!

Business, Corporate, Davao City, Flights, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Travel

Good news Mindanaoan travelers! If you've been meaning to visit bustling Hong Kong or clean and beautiful Singapore then now is the time to travel! Cebu Pacific Air is offering another round of its infamous zero fare promo for Davao-Hongkong (and vice versa) and Davao-Singapore flights! The seat sale promo starts today, January 16, 2009 up to January 22, 2009. There are 70,000 seats available for Cebu Pacific Air's international seat sale so that's 70,000 chances for you to travel to your Asian destination of choice! Actually, the airline is offering zero fares for flights to Bangkok, Guangzhou, Ho Chi Minh, Jakarta, Kaohsiung, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Shanghai and Taipei as well. Pretty exciting deal, eh? I did a mock reservation just a few minutes ago for a Davao to Sing...

Dec312008 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Review: Southwinds Hotel Cagayan de Oro City near Centrio Mall

Cagayan de Oro City, Hotels, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Travel

Southwinds Hotel is located along Capt. Vicente Roa Street Extension in Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao, Philippines. It is a hotel known for its very strategic location - Southwinds Hotel is right behind the new Centrio Mall Cagayan de Oro or the Ayala Centrio Mall, it's just a few meters away from Gaisano Mall Cagayan de Oro (walking distance) and a few blocks away from Robinson's Mall Cagayan de Oro and Lim Ket Kai Mall CDO (you can just ride one of the local trisikads or padyaks for 5 pesos per person) It's also in front of the main branch of Graphic All-In-One (a large chain of stores that sells cellular phones, cellphone accessories and the like). Just this week, my mom, brother and I stayed in Southwinds Hotel. It was my second time to stay there, the first one was during a media t...

Dec172008 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

Cotabato to Cebu, Siargao Surigao to Cebu flights for only P500

Business, Consumer, Cotabato, Flights, Mindanaoan Update, Surigao, Tourism, Travel

Want to fly from Siargao, Surigao (the renowned surfing capital of the Philippines) to Cebu or from Cotabato to Cebu for only P500.00? That's now possible but only for a limited period of time! Cebu Pacific Air just announced that they're now offering flights from Cebu to Cotabato and from Cebu to Siargao starting January 1, 2009. To kick things off, the airline company is offering a P500.00 Go Lite All-In fare. The seat sale STARTS NOW until December 19, 2008 only so book your flights ASAP! The seat sale is good for travel from January 1 to March 18, 2009. Meanwhile, starting January 10, 2009, Cebu Pacific will fly three times weekly between Cebu and Cotabato and the Cebu to Siargao flights will be thrice weekly beginning January 30, 2009. This is definitely another reason for you t...

Nov212008 by Mindanaoan Irene8 Comments

Review: Aljem’s Inn Davao budget hotel

Davao City, Hotels, Musings, Reviews, Tourism, Travel

Whenever someone asks me to recommend a good, cheap yet clean and affordable inn within downtown Davao City, I often recommend Aljem's Inn along Rizal Street. Single occupancy is only P750.00 while double occupancy is only P875.00. If you prefer the deluxe accommodation, it's just P975.00 and an extra mattress will only cost P300.00. Those are affordable rates, in my opinion. You have hot and cold shower in your room, cable TV, soaps, soft towels and telephone. Local calls are free of charge. Staying at Aljem's Inn Davao City has a couple of advantages. Guests are offered free breakfast (plated - they usually prepare Filipino almusal/breakfast like tapsilog, tosilog, cornsilog and bangsilog). Now if you're not in the mood for Filipino fare in the morning, note that the inn is right smac...

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...