Travel Archives - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

Oct242017 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Stay at these Palm Springs luxury villas during Coachella Festival and be cool

America, Hotels, Leisure, Travel, United States of America

Have you ever wanted to attend the famed Coachella Festival in California but tend to stop with all the planning when you feel dazed, confused, lost and disheartened when you simply cannot find houses for rent in Palm Springs? I know the feeling. I have a solution, too. Hear me out. These days, there’s a construction boom in this sunny and lovely Sonoran desert town of Palm Springs which was a favorite escape for the likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Bob Hope and currently is for the likes of Leonardo Di Caprio, Robert Downey, Jr. and even former US President Barack Obama. And there’s reason for this. Palm Springs boasts of iconic mid-century architecture, hipster bars, great restaurants, lavish Hollywood history and of course, it’s the home of the famous and always well-attend...

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 ...

Jun262015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

4 Must See Places in Rome that Are Uncommon for Visitors

Tourism, Travel

Italy is home to some of the most influential people and artwork throughout thousands of years of history. It is an ancient location as remnants of the past tell stories of events that have shaped humankind today. Rome is full of locations that everyone wants to experience for themselves. However, there may be some that are uncommon that you must see in order to appreciate the multiple facets of historical Italy. In addition to Hipmunk's guide to Rome, you can get more out of the experience by exploring places you never knew existed. Largo di Torre Argentina Site of an ancient series of temples and believed Theater of Pompey, Largo Argentina also hosts one of Rome's more humanitarian aspects. Hundreds of cats find these ruins as shelter as a no-kill area for homeless felines. Operato...

May222014 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Travel guide: CDO to GenSan by land

Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Cotabato, General Santos City, Koronadal, Malaybalay City, Mindanaoan Update, North Cotabato, SoSCksargen, South Cotabato, Tacurong, Tourism, Travel

When I got that invitation to experience the Sarangani Bay Festival 2014 a few days ago, I was supposed to fly from CDO to Davao (a half hour flight) then take the bus from Davao to General Santos City (a 3-hour ride). Unfortunately, the airline had other plans - they postponed the flight to FOUR days AFTER my supposed arrival (which also meant that the festival already wrapped up by then!) due to "aircraft situation." Ergo, I had no other choice but to take the bus all the way from Cagayan de Oro to GenSan. It was a long and arduous trip but still worth it - I was, after all, heading to Sarangani for the biggest beach festival in Mindanao! I will no longer name the airline but here's a clue - they love playing games. And they played one on me! Anyways, I will share more about my SarBay...

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...

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 ...

Dec212012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

How to Find Cheap Holidays

Travel

Cheap holidays are not a myth. Sometimes it may seem harder to find them, especially as the original ‘cheap fights’ and penny fares are now a thing of the past. But it is possible to find a low-cost holiday without compromising on quality. Of course this all depends on the type of holiday you’re after. If you’re happy with local destinations such as Spain, Portugal and Greece, then you should have no problem finding a real bargain - especially if you’re not looking for five-star luxury. If however you’ve got Jamaica holidays on your wish-list then it might be time to go back to the drawing board... or wait for that lottery win. One of the obvious ways to bag a low-cost holiday is to book a last-minute package break. Late deals are big business and by booking a last-minute holiday thr...

Dec122012 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Top 10 Hen Weekend Tips

Travel

It's time to get the girls together for the ultimate hen weekend! Traditionally speaking, it is the Maid of Honour or Chief Bridesmaid who puts plans in place and pulls the final touches together on this one, and there is no limit on how epic your event can be. All it takes is a little sprinkle of savvy. 1. Use Travelodge to book group accommodation. Not everyone in your group will be 'flushed for cash' and the important thing is to ensure as many people as possible can make it to your friend's hen do. Booking low cost accommodation from Travelodge means that as many as three guests can share a room. With rates as low as £19 in the sale, you are guaranteed to get more girls on board. 2. Decide on a destination. Cities are a good choice; everything you need will be conveniently close...

Aug22012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Mindanaoan In America: More Washington DC photos

America, Blogging, Mindanaoan Update, Photos, Travel, United States of America

I first shared some of my Washington DC USA photos awhile back. A lot of you have been asking me for more photos taken around the capital of the United States of America. Well, I'm here to please :) The photos below were taken during our Washington DC day tour, which took place a day after my fellow International Visitor Leadership Program 2012 delegates and I arrived in the USA. Like I previously mentioned, never mind if it was freezing cold that day. We were all stoked that we finally set foot in the land of milk and honey! By the way, here's the reason why I was in the States for about a month :) Yep, I was the only Filipino in the group and the only female :) I will share all about my USA and IVLP adventure using the America category. I have previously written about my trip from ...

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...

May162012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Island Garden City of Samal: Bidding for the moniker “Island of Festivals”

Island Garden City of Samal, Mindanao, Tourism, Travel

The Island Garden City of Samal is the kind of place you don’t want to miss in your lifetime. White sand beaches, pristine waters, majestic waterfalls, fascinating caves and panoramic views are plenty in the city. Its amenities and several exciting activities have added more vibrancy to the Island Garden City of Samal, making it a major tourist destination in Southern Philippines. In fact, the city is hyping up its well-celebrated festivals to earn the moniker “Island of Festivals” and to draw more tourists to its naturally beautiful land. The Island Garden City of Samal is a group of islands that is centrally located in Davao Gulf in the southeastern part of Mindanao. It is a second class city in the Davao del Norte province which is politically subdivided into 46 barangays. Presently,...

Apr82012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Airphil Express has special Easter promo – ZERO base fare!

Flights, Mindanaoan Update, Tourism, Travel

Happy Easter, folks! And to celebrate Easter the special way - why not book your next big adventure? Avail of the latest promo fare being offered by the Philippines' fastest growing carrier, Airphil Express Airphil Express has a special Easter airline promo! This is an express sale so better avail of this ASAP! Selling period for this Airphil Express promo fare is from April 8 to 10, 2012. Travel period is for July 1 to September 30, 2012 and February 1 to 28, 2013. The zero fare promo by Airphil Express is only for domestic destinations. Please note that all flights are priced one way from original to destination or vice versa. Remember also that Airphil Express offers 10 kilograms FREE baggage allowance (absolutely great value!) So are you ready to book your n...

Jul112011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Airphil Express offers 20 percent discount for students

Announcements, Business, Corporate, Features, Flights, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Society, Tourism, Travel

Good news for all students! Airphil Express will now give 20 percent discounts to all students. This is definitely good news especially for those students enrolled in a school or university in a different city or town. This 20 percent discount is applicable on ALL published DOMESTIC fares including selected promotional fares. However, please note that the discount is not applicable to Tour Packages. Student discount is also not applicable to other fees, taxes and surcharges. You also cannot avail of this Air Philippines student discount via online booking. Student discount may be availed only through these Airphil Express Ticket Offices. Student must be currently enrolled (current school year). Student must present his/her valid School ID or School Registration Form upon ticket purcha...

Oct92010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Of skydiving, bungee and my Bacolod City to Cebu City aerial shots

Bacolod City, Cebu City, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Photos

I'll let you in on a secret. One of the things included in my bucket list is to take photos while I glide through the air after I jump out of an airplane! Is that weird or too much of a dream? I've always wanted to try skydiving (but I have yet to find a reliable company that provides this type of extreme adventure in the Philippines --- if you know of one, please let me know!) and hopefully someday soon I'll try the bungee jump at AJ Hackett Macau Tower (I did manage to visit the tower all right but only to try their 360 degrees revolving restaurant LOL). In the meantime, I have to be contented with just taking aerial shots while well within the confines of an airplane. Anyhoo, here are some aerial shots I took during my recent Bacolod to Cebu City flight. All photos taken with a Pa...

Aug312010 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Photos: New Bacolod Silay Airport

Blogging, Mindanaoan Update, Photos, Tourism, Travel

One of the reasons why this blogger from Mindanao had to spend roughly two weeks in Visayas was a fab, much-awaited weekend in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental with my gal pals Joyce, Iza and Crissa! Although it wasn't my first time to visit Bacolod City (the renowned City of Smiles and home of the Masskara Festival), it was my first time to spend three days with dear friends whom I all met in Manila. I'll tell you more about these amazing ladies in the next few posts :) For now, I'll share with you some travel tips should you take the Cebu-Bacolod route soon (the Masskara Festival is just around the corner, after all!) and some of the photos I took at the fairly New Bacolod Silay Airport. I usually book my flights online using a credit card. For my Cebu City to Bacolod City flight, I...

Jan162010 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Mindanaoan is off to Cebu City for Sinulog 2010

Arts, Beauty, Blogging, Entertainment, Events, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Flights, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Personal, Tourism, Travel

Mindanaoan is off to yet another fun adventure! Mindanaoan will be off to the Queen City of the South - Cebu City - today to take part in this year's colorful Sinulog 2010 or what's dubbed as the Sinulog at 30. Here's hoping that I will have a safe trip today via Philippine Airlines (Mindanaoan's favorite airline as of late). Nay, make that a trip that will push through! I'm a bit worried because it's been rainy the past few days and I heard about the Cebu Pacific Air passengers who got stranded at the CDO airport. Hundreds of passengers who were supposed to be bound for Cebu were reportedly left to fend for themselves as the airline refused to provide food and accommodation because, according to the Cebu Pacific Airlines management, they weren't obliged to provide anything especially i...

Dec252009 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Christmas is in the air at SM Mall of Asia

Beauty, Blogging, Business, Consumer, Corporate, Events, Features, Gifts, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Photos, Society, Style, Travel

So yes, Mindanaoan was in Metro Manila for two days. Hence, the obvious lull here in my humble blog. My two-day Manila trip was a surprise Christmas gift from two very special friends whom you'll learn more about in the next few days. Needless to say, the trip was the most expensive one I received this year...and the sweetest impromptu gift, I must admit. For now, I'd like to share some of the shots I took last December 23, 2009 at SM Mall of Asia, considered the 3rd largest mall in the world. Truly, the festive Christmas spirit can be felt at MOA! I did a little bit of Christmas shopping there, watched "Avatar" at IMAX 3D theater, ate at a relatively new restaurant and bought Krispy Kreme for pasalubong. I wanted to visit Trinoma, too, but 2 days just isn't enough! Anyways, he...

Mar42009 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

Review: Tia’s Beach Resort Camiguin Island Mindanao budget hotel

Camiguin, Hotels, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Northern Mindanao, Reviews, Tourism, Travel

Summer is drawing near and I'm pretty sure that most, if not all, of you are thinking of places to go to during those hot summer days. And with airlines now offering more flights to and fro Camiguin Island, Mindanao, I'm sure many of you are considering the place dubbed as the "Island Born of Fire" as one of your summer destinations in the Philippines. Tia's Beach Resort in the Island of Camiguin, Northern Mindanao, Philippines can be considered a good place to stay especially if you're on a budget. The last time my mother, brothers and I stayed there was last year during the Holy Week. We planned to go to Camiguin at the last minute so practically most of the hotels and inns were already fully booked. Good thing my brother remembered Tia's Beach Resort and how he and his friends like...

Feb152009 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Are you a Havaianas fan? Write and join Isla Havaianatico in Samal, Davao, Mindanao

Davao City, Events, Island Garden City of Samal, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update

Listen up, all you Havaianas fans! There's a day-long treat in store for all of you in a Havaianas Beach Resort and Spa somewhere in Samal (or should I say Island Garden City of Samal - IGaCOS) Davao City, Mindanao...but only if you write a one-page essay stating why you love your Havaianas. You must email that essay along with three creative photos of you wearing your Havaianas pair/s to [email protected] and if you're lucky, you get to spend a whole day Havaianas adventure in Samal on March 21, 2009 (Saturday). Deadline for submission of entries is on March 14, 2009. By the way, winners, their friends and VIP media guests will be grouped into teams during the island event and the champion team will receive P20,000.00 cash. Exclusive Havaianas items will also be given away as mi...

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...

Dec102008 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Will Davao have its own airline soon?

Business, Davao City, Mindanaoan Update, Tourism, Travel

I've been receiving buzz from various businessmen around Mindanao and in Manila that Davao City is supposedly set to have its "own airline" very soon. By own airline, I reckon they mean an entire fleet with "Davao" in its name somewhere and that it will serve as Davao City's very own answer to Cebu Pacific Air and Philippine Airlines. I asked a few well-placed personalities in Davao if they've heard of this and most of them did confirm that there are "movements" on this plan. If ever this will push through, this will definitely give Mindanao travel and tourism a big boost. I wonder, though, if the planes of this alleged fleet are as small as those of Mindanao Express' (Beechcraft 1900C)? Or if the planes are basically those of Mindanao Express' and then they'd just change the name? Is t...

Dec82008 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Cebu Pacific Air adds more Mindanao-bound flights

Mindanaoan Update, News, Tourism, Travel

Cebu Pacific Air just announced that they've added new services and more flights from Cebu City to Mindanao areas and to other parts of Visayas. Starting January 10, 2009, Cebu Pacific Air will fly three times weekly between Cebu and Cotabato, with a year-round "Go Lite" fare of only Php 888 (roughly US $18) one way. On January 12, 2009, on the other hand, the airline will also begin their thrice-weekly service between Cebu and Siargao (dubbed the surfing capital of Mindanao). "Go Fares" for this route begins at P888.00 as well. I must admit, these are pretty good travel deals especially for us Filipinos. It's definitely high time for us to go see the rest of beautiful Philippines!