- Travel Tales and Destinations

I dreaded the first flight I was about to take with my toddler. Let’s face it – kids will be kids, and this includes all their fidgeting, their whining, and their cute little eyes that you just can’t say no to. If I couldn’t get him to stay in one place in the house for over 5 minutes, how would we do on a plane? But we just had to take this flight, so I planned well ahead and guess what? Our first air travel was a success! Here are a few tips I’d like to share:

1. Practice short trips first.

To make the flight easier for my kid (we were going on a 12 hour flight), I took him in the car for long drives, just to see how he’d react to sitting for hours. Naturally at first, he hated being belted onto the seat but as he grew accustomed to it, he didn’t complain anymore.

2. Bring toys.

If you have to travel with your child, make sure to bring their favorite toys to keep them occupied. Aside from Barney, I threw in a coloring book and some markers we both shared during the flight. This was instant mommy and son bonding time for us, and it took his mind off the fact that he was seated all the time.

3. Make sure you brought everything you need.

This includes your baby’s formula milk, feeding bottles (I used disposable ones during the flight), any medicines your baby may be on, an extra change of clothes, diapers, and everything else you can think of. The more comfortable your baby is during the flight, the less they are to complain – which means both you and baby will be enjoying air travel together!

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When planning to travel, one of the first steps is to look for a good place to stay. When I say good it means that the place should be clean, quality service and most of all it should be affordable, especially if you are in a tight budget. Most hotels and resorts offer different kinds of promos for a 3 day stay or more. Their promos may range from low rate to free stays and freebies. There are some hotels and resorts that include breakfast packages which allows you to save some for food expenses. These promos may differ depending on the hotel and resort. Their promos can also be in the form of discounted rates when booking at an earlier date or booking for a group of people like the promo rate provided by Costabella Tropical Beach Hotel in Cebu. They give a discounted rate when booking five days earlier. Other information for current local promos can be found online, just search for the list of resorts in the location that you are planning to stay. Promos are great because you don’t only get to enjoy your stay but at the same time you get more than what you are paying for.

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When traveling to another country, what better souvenir you can keep to remind you of the place’s wonderful culture other than its currency?  A paper bill or minted coins perhaps.  This would be a nice addition to an existing coin collection that you might have or it could also serve as your initial precious metals inventory which you can later on invest as these coins age.  So if you’re traveling to the United States, do know that you can buy gold coins from the United States Gold Bureau which is among the top American gold dealers offering a convenient market and a competitive precious metal price.  Their company is a home to a huge collection of commodity coins like gold, silver and platinum, including old and rare coins.

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Are you a beach bum? Have you ever wanted so bad to see beautiful, soft, white sands, clear, aqua blue waters and swim with gorgeous marine life? Have you ever felt that thrilling feeling that washes over you when you see something so beautiful?

The Philippines, a tropical island in the South East part of Asia, is one of the best places to go diving and beach hopping.

El Nido, an island in Palawan is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Philippines. With islands like Secret Beach, Hidden Beach and Snake Island, El Nido is as breathtaking as the sunset at 7 Commandos.

Boracay, Philippines’ party island yet famous for powdery, white sands and amazing aquatic life, this island is a yearly tourist spot for people from all over the world.

Pagudpud is located at the northernmost part of the Philippines, making it seem as if on the end of the island itself. This is why; Pagudpud has one of the most breathtaking sunsets you can see on the beach.

Coron, another of Palawan’s bets, this island boasts of gorgeous marine life, amazing beaches and an incredible set of island life for you to enjoy.

Amanpulo is a private island that can only be accessed via the resorts’ Dornier, making it one of the most expensive resorts in the world – yet one of the most beautiful. With serene waters, magnificent scenery, excellent service and world class accommodations, this private resort offers an exclusive diving experience with incredible sea creatures and baby sharks.

Each island has breathtaking scenery and majestic natural environment; once you take a step onto one of these islands, you’ll surely be begging to see the other islands soon!

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Every time there’s an enticing promo from airlines, hotels, resorts or travel agencies, I really get excited that I can help but peruse the details immediately, check the travel period validity and our calendar.  If the budget fits, I right away asked the husband if we’re giving it a go.  Occasionally, we avail these alluring promos but more often, we let it just pass with a heavy heart.   Even though they’re relatively cheap, we have to be prudent and must think of our other priorities like savings, amortizations, bills, groceries, transpo, and investment.  Sometimes, we compare which is wiser to spend on: a cheap travel or a gold bullion from the United States Gold Bureau.  As much as we want to just travel, it’s still wise to think about priorities more than anything else.

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What was it about Boracay that magically draws thousands and thousands of visitors all throughout the year? As far as I was concerned, there had to be a logical reason behind all the hype, and why Boracay has been dubbed as the most popular tourist destination in the country. Packed with my lack of swimming skills and the desire to figure out why Boracay is so popular, I went with a couple of my friends for a weekend stay.

The Arrival

Our flight was on time and quick, and we didn’t have any trouble at all. We took our bags and headed for the hotel which we also booked at the same time with our flight – sort of like a packaged deal. The hotel was any hotel you’d expect, nothing flashy but comfy. After settling in our rooms and donning our swimsuits, it was time to head to the beach.

The Beach, The Sand, and Everything Else

I’ve been to other beaches in the northern part of the country, but whoa! When we got to the beach, everything looked absolutely spectacular. I loved how the fine white sand was really what it was – white and fine, and the sand had its way of sneaking in between your toes which wasn’t irritating at all, not to mention the fact that it was very fine in texture. There were a lot of people on blankets and chairs basking in the sun, and a whole lot more in the water having fun.

I think it’s more of the relaxed ambiance that Boracay has during the daytime and the fun, energetic vibe that comes to life at night. We partied all night till dusk, enjoyed another round of fun when we woke up the following day, and sported our tans back to the city. Now I knew what the hype was about, and I sure wasn’t disappointed.

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Cebu is one of the tourist destinations in the Philippines which combines the old and the modern in harmony. You’ll enjoy trips to the museum, window shopping (or maybe even buying) antiques, and having fun scuba diving and other water based activities. If you’re planning a trip to Cebu, check out the deal Philippine Air Lines is offering!

PAL – Hilton Cebu Promo

Whether you’re headed to Cebu for a relaxing time out for yourself or to have as much fun as possible, the Hilton Cebu Resort and Spa certainly has something for everybody. The resort features a spa where guests can pamper themselves in luxurious, relaxing treatments. If you’re traveling with your kids, no worries! Hilton Cebu offers babysitting services for a minimal fee so you can relax and unwind, knowing your kids are in safe hands.

For some fun in the sun, you can enjoy snorkeling, scuba diving, and other fun activities such as jet skiing or playing paddle tennis table! Kids will surely love the playground and the beach, not to mention the fact that the hotel allows cats and dogs to stay.

Book your stay at the Hilton Cebu and your flight with PAL and you can enjoy 3 days and 2 nights of this heavenly resort for only Php 9,888! That’s round trip airfare, buffet breakfast from day 2 onwards, airport-hotel-airport shuttle service, and even a free wine bottle! This promo is valid for sale and travel from September 15, 2010 – March 31, 2011.

For more details, check out the promo page at Philippine Airlines’ website.

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New York City, also known as The Big Apple, has its metropolitan area ranking among the largest urban areas in the world. The City thrusts great influence in commerce, finance, arts and entertainment. The city comprises five boroughs: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. It has a number of attractions and renowned landmarks that lure travelers from all over the world. The most notable of which is the Statue of Liberty that stands on Liberty Island in NY Harbor. It has also cradled several tallest buildings and skyscrapers of the world including the Empire State Building and the former World Trade Center twin towers that crumbled down in a terrorist attack in 2001. Elegant brownstone row houses define its residential districts specifically in Brooklyn. It is also a home to the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street which is the largest stock exchange (by dollar volume) in the world and the Times Square which has been dubbed as “The Crossroads of the World”.

There’s absolutely a lot to see and experience in The Big Apple City.  Luxury shopping along Fifth and Madison Avenues is a popular activity for the affluent tourists.  The Halloween Parade, Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, the St. Patrick’s Day parade are the much celebrated events that tourists specifically await.  Luxurious five start hotels abound in the city but many boutique, low-starred ones and new york city vacation rentals also are a popular accommodation choice.

Bus rentals are by far the most efficient way to tour especially if you’re a first timer in the city and travelling with a group. Compared to car rentals, bus charters gives better and more energy-efficient experience. Why? Because its bigger and can therefore transport more people at one time, lesser gas consumption ratio per traveler, rides faster, less air pollution and the best reason above all is that it is much more affordable. So there just a tip if New York City is your next pit stop.

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