My father has instilled in me his passion for traveling, as he loved exploring on his own. He has been to different places, and has always felt contentment from every travel.
[NOTE: This was a 5-day trip three years ago] As Philippine passport holders who are traveling to Siem Reap for the first time, my partner and I made sure to prepare for our trip by learning about the country, to best be acquainted with their rules and traditions.
[Trip from April 2010] On our second day, we’ve managed to get ourselves to wake up real early for a Macau Day trip. Macau is actually one of the few places near HKG that is very easy to access (can be accessed by ferry/boat). And since you won’t be needing a visa to enter Macau, it was all the more very hassle-free to get into. And apart from its luxurious hotels and casinos, we were also set on exploring the beautiful make of this place (art-wise). It was my first time to go around Macau since I was only able to experience the Venetian hotel, the last time I visited it.
Before there were hi-tech gadgets where 'notes' can easily be typed and saved, I first jotted down many details of my travels on just a simple notepad. I would write down the street names that I passed-by, the directions going to certain locations and attractions, and the expenses incurred from the many establishments that I've visited along the way (costs on transportation, food, shopping, etc.). So writing down my entries on several blank pages was my way of documenting the places that I've already been to. Of course, I recorded everything that was going to be of use to me, to help me write my travel stories in full detail later on. So you can just imagine how nostalgic it felt when I started documenting my travels again (after several years) using this spiffy looking journal --- a special edition, 'The Travel Club Moleskine'. This notebook was all the more special because the company behind TTC just celebrated 20 fruitful years of being in the retail business. That's a milestone right there!
Budget Biyahera as a blog has been up for several years now. Although still young in age, I am very much grateful for all the little (yet super big deal) recognitions that I've been getting throughout the years, especially at present.
During the 2nd quarter of 2012, Meet Manila (the Philippines newest and most comprehensive travel portal wherein #ThoughtfulTourism is promoted) invited me to one of their 'Tertulia Night' events. From there, I was awarded as one of the Empowered Travelers after sharing my views on 'What it means to be an empowered traveler'. On top of that, I was also gifted with a new Lenovo Q350 phone --- a very handy device that could certainly help the wanderluster in me.
Along with the perks of being an Empowered Traveler, I was also given the chance to contribute for the POSTCARDS section on one of the Philippines travel magazines: TRAVEL.
I started looking for wedding venues in Quezon City right after getting engaged, since we wanted a nearby space that could be turned into both a ceremony and reception place. We've already decided to do a very simple wedding, so planning things on a very limited budget had to be carefully considered. I believe that we’ve come to think and act the way we do due to us being budget travelers. So we definitely wanted our practical and resourceful side to show, without leaving out a few wedding traditions.
It's been over a year since my husband and I shared our first holiday as a married couple. Despite our circumstances then (he went back to work abroad, while I recuperated from a major surgery), we finally made it to our honeymoon a few months later.
Budget Biyahera is truly honored to have been invited to Meet Manila's awesome launch party, and to be picked as one of the Empowered Travelers! Cheers to #ThoughtfulTourism!! :)
On our 4th day in Malaysia, Rubel and I spent the whole morning traveling by bus from Penang to Kuala Lumpur. The entire road trip took around 4 hours, since other passengers were picked up at the Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal (plus one stopover). But we were able to arrive in KL just in time for lunch. We also met up with Rubel’s sister-in-law, Melody at KL Sentral (where we alighted), and went directly to Tune Hotel via cab. Yes, we came back to the same hotel since we loved its room and amenities. It was a budget traveler’s haven!
Penang to KL via Alisan Golden Coach (comes with reclining seats, power outlets, Wi-Fi connection)
Melody wanted to show us around the Central Market area, so we left immediately. So when we finally settled in at our hotel, the three of us headed straight to Sultan Ismail LRT (a 5-minute walk from the hotel via footbridge). The single journey ticket from Sultan Ismail to Pasar Seni is 2.20/person.
DIRECTIONS: From Sultan Ismail, get down at Masjid Jamek Station. Then alight at the next train that’s bound for Pasar Seni.
One of my must-do's when traveling to a new destination is to look for a budget accommodation --- a lodging that isn’t too far from where all the action is. That's when I found PEDAL INN via AirBNB. The lovely guesthouse is located just along Lorong Macalister, George Town, Penang.
{Trip from April 2010} Before heading back to our hotel, we would always make it a point to pass by the 7-eleven store that was a few blocks away from Anne Black. And we would always make sure that we purchased these cups of spicy beef noodles that had real beef pieces in them. These were either made into our late-night snack or into our breakfast. But whatever the case was, these sumptuous instant noodles matched with some Yakult always made us happy.
{May 2010} My family's annual excursion would always fall in the month of May. So ours fell on May 6-8, 2010. Initially, these dates were the only scheduled days for our vacation, and we were already booked to spend it at Calatagan, Batangas. But since we were all hung-up on the 3D/2N vacation by the beach, we decided to spend one more day out of town. So after Batangas, we drove to Tagaytay. Here's how our trip went...
A SUMMER ESCAPADE DOWN SOUTH
Since my Kuya wanted to spend our summer vacation in Batangas again, I was able to look for a resort that would fit our budget for 19 people. Believe me, it wasn't that easy looking for resorts that would accommodate our numbers. Now, my Kuya didn't give me a specific budget. But he did ask me to find the most affordable one.
So come April 2010, I found Ronco (through a referral). I also looked it up on the Internet to check on the previous guests' feedbacks. And when I finished reading all the posts, I pitched the idea to my Kuya. Their photos looked really lovely, especially the long floating raft, and the wooden trail/dock they had at the resort. So it was their unique selling point (to me, that is), as it really caught my attention.
You can choose the Oasis Paco Park Hotel as a lodging option in Manila if you're on a budget. It can actually be a good stopover if you're planning to explore the nearby popular sites like Rizal Park and Binondo (amongst other areas that are accessible by LRT). If you also fancy staying in a hotel that's just a short walk from Paco Park, then consider booking this place. But before you do, please read my review first.
It's rare for me to write about restaurants here in the Metro, as I often blog about the ones that I dine at when I'm traveling out of the city. But when I was invited and introduced to this restaurant in Mandaluyong, something in me had to say, "YES! GO RSVP!" And so I did, and I sincerely loved the experience thereafter.
For a Budget Biyahera like me, it pays to know where money is going, especially if I'm saving up for a trip. So affordable yet quality-made meals in the city will definitely help me with not spending too much. And let me just say that St. Nicholas was certainly a great find!
Balay Da Blas in Laoag city is a gem. It was truly comforting to have found a place where we could rest our weary bodies. Sure, going around the different towns of Ilocos for 4 straight days (1 night in Vigan, 2 nights in Pagudpud) was a lot of fun. But finding a place where we could really stay for some R&R can also give a different high when traveling non-stop.
{April 2010} This entry marks my first trip for the year 2010. And if you're all wondering as to what these 3-lettered words are, well these are just airport codes: HKG - Hong Kong / MFM - Macau / SZX - Shenzhen. I've already been to HKG and MFM last November 2007, and I must say that being back was like I've never been in these places before. There was always something new to look forward to, despite the familiar faces and establishments. And for me, these two Asian destinations will always be exceptional.. all the more, when SZX added to my trip itinerary!
{January 28, 2012} Our Day Tour for our second day in Coron consisted of the following sites: Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, Banol Beach, Coral Gardens, and Siete Pecados Marine Sanctuary. We were picked-up at the resort at 9:30 am. The tour also ended at exactly 4:30 pm.
If you're looking for a no-frills accommodation that is both comfy and affordable when visiting Lingayen, then you should check out THE PRESIDENT HOTEL. It's close to several tourist destinations (walking distance), and is just an 8-minute walk to the beach.
My friend and I arrived in Lingayen around 12:15 AM. From the Victory Liner terminal, we then hailed a tricycle to the hotel (travel was less than 5-min). We were actually glad that there was a guard who stood by the gate, and a male receptionist that welcomed us that early morning. We were told that the rooms at the main building was fully-booked, so we were given a spacious unit at the Annex building. It was just a 1-2 minute walk from the main hotel.
Visiting the temples and sites within the Angkor Archaeological Park need real preparation like knowing when to book a guide for your tours or what type of park pass to purchase and what travel essentials to bring during your day explorations (amongst other things). You'll want to prepare yourself for the journey ahead to better appreciate the wonders of Siem Reap, Cambodia.
My husband and I love to eat. So when we dine out, we make sure to avail the budget-friendly restaurant selections on our Entertainer app. It's where we get some of the best bargains, like the Buy-1-Get-1 deal from Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que.
Budget Biyahera is about finding fun and distinct food and destinations, accommodations, products/gears and activities that people can enjoy on a ‘regular’ person’s budget and schedule.
