Author: Kara Santos

Travel Guide: Batanes

Whenever people ask me what the best destination I’ve been to in the Philippines is, it’s easy for me to say Batanes. In terms of raw landscapes, the northernmost province of the Philippines is really a dream destination. Though I love a lot of places I’ve been to around the country, Batanes is really special. It offers a unique blend of breathtaking scenery, natural attractions and well-preserved culture. Plus the locals here are just the most hospitable and kind people I’ve ever met. Everyone and everything here just feels so pure and good.

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Amorita Resort in Bohol

Bohol is one of the island provinces in the Philippines that I don’t mind visiting again and again. There are a lot of beautiful sights to see here for first-time visitors, including the famed Chocolate Hills, cute tarsiers and Loboc River. But if you’ve seen all that already, you’ll probably just want to take it slow and enjoy the laid-back beach life with loved ones.

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Cebu Pacific’s #JuanforFun Backpacker Challenge 2017

PRESS RELEASE — Three graduating college students from Davao City won the Juan For Fun (JFF) 2017 Backpacking Challenge, each taking home a Cebu Pacific Travel All-You-Can pass for unlimited local and international short-haul destinations for one year, plus pocket money from co-presenters GetGo and Union Bank. The three students—18-year-old Gloria Andrea Mendoza; and 19-year-olds Christian Dominic Ang and Chyn Ira Crisostomo, comprised Team Juanton in the annual event presented by Cebu Pacific, the Philippines’ leading carrier.

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Hike to Tarak Ridge in Bataan with BaseKamp

Tarak Ridge. The name alone (a combination of the words “tarik” which means steep and “tabak” or hunting knife) should have given me a clue of what to expect. Standing 1,130 meters above sea level, this mountain in Mariveles, Bataan offers a scenic view of Bataan, Corregidor and neighboring islands. On clear days, you can see Manila Bay all the way up to Cavite. But to enjoy the stunning view, you first have to go through a moderately challenging hike through dense grasslands and steep trails that involves clambering over roots and holding on to branches for support.

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In-Flight Food Trip with AirAsia’s Santan Menu

There’s not a lot of variety when it comes to dining in the sky, especially if you’re traveling on a low-cost airline. My trips usually start with an overpriced hotdog sandwich at the airport or if I’m really hungry, I’ll order cup noodles on the plane. But usually, I’ll just sleep through the flight and wait until I land to enjoy a good hot meal. I didn’t really expect to enjoy gourmet meals on-board a short-haul domestic flight.

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Hike to Mt. Daraitan

We got to the summit of Mt. Daraitan right after sunrise, that magical golden hour when early morning daylight bathes the landscape in a soft glow. The rays cast a hazy orange hue on one side of the jagged limestone rock formations. As I clambered to the top of one rock facing the East, I got a silhouette view of mountain peaks in the distance. The view of the snaking river below was obscured by a sea of clouds blanketing the rest of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range.

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How to Travel on a Budget Like a Pro

One common misconception about travel is that it’s too expensive.

It can be if you’re the type of traveler who brings around a huge suitcase for an overnight stay, requires 5-star hotel accommodations wherever you go, and whose preferred mode of transport is an air-conditioned shuttle. Travel is something that is really worth investing in, but it need not break the bank. It’s not something that should leave you impoverished. As the popular saying goes, travel is only thing you buy that makes you richer.

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It’s always a matter of priorities. You can choose to drink overpriced coffee or tea everyday or choose to save the money instead towards your travel fund. Here are a few tips and tricks used by backpackers and budget travelers to save costs while on the road.

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Travel Up in Going Places Magazine

As a freelance writer and travel blogger, I usually write about destinations or other people. Last month, I was asked to go in front of the camera for a photo shoot and short video feature for Going Places Magazine, the monthly travel magazine of Manila Bulletin Publishing. First published in 1999 as Cruising, this is one of the longest-running magazines in the Philippines.

The editors chose to put the spotlight on “People of Travel” sharing features on Filipino bloggers and digital influencers who are changing the travel scene.

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Travel Guide: Isabela (Mainland)

The province of Isabela in the Cagayan Valley is usually overlooked as a tourist destination. While it’s second largest province of the Philippines and the largest in Luzon in terms of land area, not many tourists would go out of their way to spend a vacation here.

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Ride & Camp at Daraitan

If you’ve ever played an RPG, you know that sometimes you just have to go back to a place you’ve already visited because you missed something very important. Maybe your skill level wasn’t enough yet to handle the obstacles or maybe the time just wasn’t right to visit a certain destination. Or maybe you just like the place so much that you want to visit it again. That’s the case for me with Daraitan, the scenic village nestled in the Sierra Madre mountain ranges between Tanay, Rizal and General Nakar, Quezon.

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