road trip – Travel Up

Gear Guide: Top 9 essential car accessories for stress-free travel in 2024

NOTE: This is a guest post.

As we venture into 2024, the dynamics of car travel continue to evolve, blending innovative technology with enhanced comfort and safety features. For today’s drivers and passengers, a journey in a vehicle is no longer just about getting from point A to point B; it’s an experience that demands convenience, efficiency, and a touch of personalization. Recognizing these needs, the market for car accessories has seen a significant transformation, introducing a range of products that cater to every aspect of travel.

Road Trip Guide: Baguio – Sagada – La Union

Sagada is a scenic town nestled in the Mountain Province in Northern Luzon of the Philippines. For those coming from Manila and the rest of Luzon, it’s one of the best destinations you can travel to purely by land (no air or sea travel involved). The roads leading up offer the most spectacular view of mountains and cliffs. Once you get there, you can enjoy the cooler climate because of its high elevation and soak in the well-preserved culture of the Cordillera region.

What to Pack for a Motorcycle Road Trip in the Philippines

Touring on a motorcycle in the Philippines is a great way to enjoy both the journey and a destination. Riding a motorcycle can give you the freedom to explore places, both familiar and remote. While riding a bicycle can give you that same freedom, riding a motorcycle doesn’t require as much energy, allows you to carry more stuff, and can take you to places faster, which is great if you only have limited time to explore.

Continue reading “What to Pack for a Motorcycle Road Trip in the Philippines”

6 Rules for an Epic Cross-Country Road Trip

Cross-country road trips are on just about everyone’s bucket list, but they aren’t exactly a spontaneous thing. If you want to have an epic cross-country road trip, you’ve got to research and plan well in advance. From your route to your snacks, you’ll want everything to go smoothly while you’re enjoying the open road.

So here are six rules for an epic cross-country road trip: Continue reading “6 Rules for an Epic Cross-Country Road Trip”

Road Trip Guide: Laguna & Quezon

Because Metro Manila and many surrounding towns are highly urbanized and congested, a lot of us are always looking for easy escapes for day trips and weekend getaways. Just a couple of hours from the metro, the nearby provinces of Laguna and Quezon are good choices for those who want to experience the “simple country life.” You can spend the day in a farm or natural resorts, stay in cozy bed & breakfasts, dine in artistic and homey restaurants, and visit artist’s studios.

For those who like nature-tripping, art, culture and food, here are just some of the places you can drive to for an easy countryside getaway relatively near Manila (excluding Nuvali and Tagaytay).

Road Trip Guide: Bicol Highlights

Over the years, I’ve gone back and forth from Manila to my hometown Naga City in Camarines Sur in the Bicol Region. I’ve also gone on road trips with the family to nearby provinces of mainland Bicol: Camarines Norte, Albay and Sorsogon. The Manila to Bicol route passing the Asian Highway 26 (AH26), also known as the Pan-Philippine Highway or Maharlika Highway, is a major road trip route on the island of Luzon in the Philippines.

I’ve been getting inquiries from people planning to drive this route whether by car or motorcycle (and even a few long-distance bikepackers), so I’ve decided to compile a suggested itinerary covering the essentials and some travel tips.

Road Trip Guide: Laiya, Batangas via San Pablo, Laguna

Laiya in San Juan, Batangas is one of the most popular weekend beach destinations near the metro. It may not have the best beach and coastline compared to some other island destinations in the country, but because of its proximity to Manila and the availability of resorts, it’s one of the most visited beaches in the country for those based in the NCR region.

Road Trip Restaurants: Manila East Road

Updated: January 2016

Aside from Marcos Highway / Marilaque, the Manila East Road is another popular destination for cyclists, riders and road trippers. This highway traverses the provinces of Rizal, Quezon and Laguna, starting from the junction of Ortigas Avenue in Taytay, Rizal all the way through towns surrounding Laguna de Bay and ends at a junction with the Pan-Philippine Highway in Calamba City.

Continue reading “Road Trip Restaurants: Manila East Road”

Road Trip: Cafe Lago & Lake Pandin, Laguna

The areas of Laguna, Quezon and Batangas are ideal for quick day or weekend trips from Manila. I usually like taking solo motorcycle rides to the Sierra Madre area (passing through the Marikina-Rizal highway) for some fresh air during the weekend. But for those who drive cars, most of the destinations are quicker via SLEX. In fact, the famed Viaje del Sol route lists many charming and unique places that celebrate Filipino culture, that you can visit on your road trip.

Continue reading “Road Trip: Cafe Lago & Lake Pandin, Laguna”

Kawayan Farm in Pililla, Rizal

One of my favorite dining destinations along the Manila East Road is Kawayan Farm in Pililla, Rizal. Situated on a hilly landscape overlooking the scenic Laguna Bay, this is a popular spot for cyclists, motorcycle riders and road trippers. It’s an easy enough drive to via Marilaque and you can get here in about two hours from Quezon City, making it an ideal stop for late breakfast or lunch during weekend or day trip rides.

Continue reading “Kawayan Farm in Pililla, Rizal”

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