24 November 2011

Booking for a Christmas Season Travel to Singapore for My Boss



     For the past few days, I have been trying to book reservations for my boss and his family for a post-Christmas, pre-New Year's travel to Singapore.  Well, actually, I only act as an intermediary since my colleague has a travel agency, but she's on leave.

     I already know that Christmas season is not just a peak season for traveling, but it's a super peak season.  For tickets alone going to Singapore, round trip via PAL, the rate is around USD 600 to USD 800.  And the land arrangement is so much worse.  4D3N 5-star hotel accommodation with daily breakfast, hotel-airport-hotel transfer and half-day city tour would cost a whooping USD 680 per person on a triple-sharing basis.  I mean, wow.  Really, wow.  For a family of 3 to enjoy Singapore during peak season, tickets and land arrangement would be around Php 180,000!   My eyes literally bulged when I saw the quotation.  Although I would not be the one to pay for it, still, that's a lot of money.

     That is not all.  It's quite difficult to book tickets and hotel accommodations for the Christmas season.  They sell off really, really fast.  And the price goes higher day by day.  In my case, I tried to book sale tickets for Hong Kong since last July, but the dates from 15 December 2011 onward were always not included.  When it was finally sold on sale, it was already late September or October, and even the price cannot be considered as "sale."  Oh well.  Better luck next year.
   

Unable to Blog the Premiere Episode of Hidden Cities, Season 2



     I'm really sorry.  I was not able to live-blog the series last night.  I was feeling sick and I slept very early.  I will blog it when it reruns; probably on Sunday because it's the only feasible time for me.  It reruns today at 9 am and at 4 pm but I'm at the office.

     So, till then.

23 November 2011

History Channel Asia: Hidden Cities, Season 2 - Vietnam



Screencap from the History Channel Asia's Hidden Cities webpage.


     This is perhaps my most favorite show on History Channel Asia.  I was so engrossed watching it last time that I live-blogged all the episodes.  

     If in the first season, host Anthony Morse brought us to China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Taiwan, this season, the locations will be closer to home as it includes the Philippines!  Yay!

     This season, Anthony Morse will take us to more countries, including Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, China's Yangtze River and the Grand Canal, Sumatra, Si Chuan and Chongqing in China, Sarawak and of course, the Philippines.   This just proves that the first season had been a hit with viewers because if it was not, there would have been no need to add a couple more countries to explore. Well, all I can say is, the more the merrier! 

     For the premiere episode, Anthony Morse will travel to Vietnam.  The episode synopsis states:

 Vietnam
Premieres 23 November, Wednesday, 9pm

For a thousand years, devastating wars and civil strife dogged Vietnam's history. But behind its troubled past is a fiercely independent people with a deep hunger for knowledge and wisdom and an unrivalled skill for military defence. Proof of this lies beneath its modern cities and jungle ruins.
On the surface, Vietnam's pace of life is blistering. But scratch deeper, you'll find that it's a country with an amazing past. In this season premiere of Hidden Cities, we'll learn about Vietnam's violent history.
From long forgotten wars that decimated a Hindu empire to the ingenuity of its common people… in resisting the superpowers of the modern era. We'll also learn about the tenacity of the Vietnamese people, how importantly they view wisdom and education.
Beneath Vietnam's stunning landscapes are stories that beckon all of us to explore even deeper into this promising star of Asia.

      Go check the Hidden Cities' website HERE.  It has tons of features, such as episode guide, gallery, e-guide to each of the countries visited, the show host's blog and even a contest where you could win one of the prizes.

     I'll be live-blogging the show tonight, and I can't wait to do it!

11 November 2011

Seat Sale: Cebu Pacific's 11-11-11



     What we've been waiting for! 11 11 11! eleventy!


Seat Sale Promo

Christmas is in the FARE!

  • Domestic & International Seat Sale
  • Pick your favourite seat from as low as P200
  • Supersize your baggage! Pre-book and SAVE up to 50%
  • Get insured in travel insurance.
  • Choose from available domestic and international rooms with Hotels
  • Get exclusive deals! Sign up for SeatSaleAlert!.


Domestic Flights
All Domestic Destinations
P11

International Flights
All International Destinations
P11

Sale Period: Up to Nov. 13, 2011 or until seats last | Travel Period: Jun. 1 - Dec. 15, 2012


  • Quoted fares are one way. Limited availability. Fares are non-refundable.
  • Fares are exclusive of government fees, taxes and fuel surcharges.
  • Flight changes must be made more than 24 hours before scheduled time of departure.
  • At time of booking, pre-purchase your baggage allowance to save time and money at check-in.
  • CAB approved terms and conditions of carriage apply and are available online.



     I made a mock booking for Incheon, and the taxes made the fare a lot higher.  However, it is still cheap, like less than 3,500 pesos round trip.

     Happy travel planning!

07 November 2011

Singapore Travel Adventures 2011: Day 2 - Resorts World, Sentosa



     I've been to Singapore twice before this latest trip.  And both times, we went to Sentosa but the Resorts World was still undergoing construction.  And look at it now.  Wow!  What a huge difference it made to the entire island!

Sentosa pre-Resorts World.
Taken during our cable car ride back in October 2008.
On the photo below, you can see the on-going construction.

     In present times, Sentosa now boasts the Resorts World which houses the Universal Studios, a casino, retail shops, a variety of restaurants, a number of attractions, and lots of things to do; most of which you can find at the Festive Walk.
  

A laser-and-water lights show happen here every night at 9:30 p.m.


This is where the crane dance is held every night.  
Apparently, it is under maintenance as of posting time.


     Seriously, the Festive Walk is a feast for the eyes.  Literally, anything and everything will be cramming your vision and you'll definitely love every single one of those.  Especially the place where the lights-and-water-effects crane dance occurs.

     Imagine, we were searching for the way to the Sentosa Boardwalk, and coming down the stairs, we saw this wonderful piece of eye candy.  It was pretty late in the afternoon and the near-setting sun and the reflection on the water made the place glisten; shining, shimmering, splendid!  It was a sight to behold!  My friend and I were literally mesmerized.  I mean, those glittering things were dancing before our eyes!  Really! See it for yourself.

     For an amazing day of fun, fun, fun, go to the Universal Studios in Singapore.


     And, if you want to keep the kids happy, take them here at candylicious, but be sure to bring enough cash or your credit cards.  You'll be amazed at what kids can do if they really, really want to have those mouth-watering candies and chocolates.  Just don't feed the kids sugary sweets before bedtime lest you want to have them jumping up and down their beds with lots of excess energy to burn.  Better feed them sweets before or during your Universal Studios adventure so they won't tire easily.  I know, because I used to make my nieces and nephews my guinea pigs by giving them sweets every now and then so I could observe how sweets affect their behavior.  Teehee.

     If you don't have a sweet tooth, like me, this place is great for photo ops.  Anyway, if it makes it any better, or worse, there's also a Hershey's store near the Universal Studios entrance.

   

     As you might already know, you can reach the Resorts World Sentosa via the monorail, or the Sentosa Express at Vi vo City (Level 3), by bus, by car or taxi, by cable car or by walking through the Sentosa Boardwalk.  The last one is also the cheapest alternative at SGD 1.  Of course, you only need to pay when going in coming from Vivo City and its free when you're going back.

     If you have some time, like, 30 minutes, to spare, and you're not in a hurry and wouldn't mind walking under the heat, I suggest going by this route.  It's really scenic, and there are "travelators," or moving sidewalks placed under a canopy, so if the sun's too hot, you can take refuge under the shade.  If you want to have a jog, this is the place to do it, especially the seaside area.  It is literally a boardwalk after all.


From Resorts World, you'd pass by through this glass-roofed boardwalk.


See, there's a two-way travelator and a boardwalk.

Creative way to get natural light in.


          And the seaside boardwalk itself a beauty. The wooden planks seem to roll before my eyes.  Some are curved,  and they look like shifting sand.  It made me woozy looking at the stairs below.  And yes, there are restaurants here and some shops, too.  Not too far from the boardwalk, you can see, in its full splendor, a Star Cruises ship.





     A boardwalk and the Star Cruises at a near-distance with the setting sun: perfection.  I was dazzled by my own photo.  I mean, it wouldn't be as nice if it weren't for that magical glow from the setting sun and the architectural beauty of the Sentosa Boadwalk.








     And for the adults, there's the Resorts World Casino.  From the Festive Hotel, it is about a 5 to 10 minute walk, depending on your pace.  And you have to take a series of escalators going down the casino.  Funny.  Once you step into the escalators, you'll hear music in-sync with the lcd display all around the place. The lcd and the lights at the escalators intermittently change.  It is a little creepy.  Teehee.

     Anyway, going to the casino, I was amazed at the high ceilings.  It is as high as the topmost escalator if I'm not mistaken. The ceilings look very cathedral-like, or well, like Dracula's lair on the other hand.

 This is from inside the Resorts World premises from the Festive Hotel going to the Festive Walk.





My sister took this photo of me and my friend.  
Of course, I'm the one wearing the scandalous skirt which showed off my log-like legs.
I have no shame.


     We went inside the casino but we didn't play. I don't know how to squander money through playing at a casino.  If you want free bottled water, just go inside the casino and get some.  

     There's a roped entrance for non-Singaporeans and for Singaporeans to the casino, and a passport check is conducted before one is allowed inside.

     If you don't want to play, there's a couple of restaurants at the other side, including Breadtalk, Toastbox and Ruji.

   

Singapore Adventures 2011 Day 2: Festive Hotel at Sentosa



     


     I have read from several reviewers over at the Tripadvisors that the Festive Hotel is such a busy hotel and check-in sometimes takes time.  So, my trip companions; i.e., my mom, sister and friend, decided to check-in late.  Well, we were still loitering around Chinatown anyway.  By the time we reached Sentosa, it was past 4 p.m. already, but I was not bummed about it.  Rather, I became quite excited the moment I saw the Disney castle!  Just kidding! It was the castle from Far Far Away in Shrek.  It's the Universal Studios' castle after all, not Disneyland's.


     Since it was late, check-in was a breeze.  And the concierge, unlike the reviews at Tripadvisor, was helpful and polite.  The concierge even gave me two extra monorail passes, although I am only entitled to two.






    We got up to our room, and we were pleasantly surprised! It's big, and the view is really nice!  Yay!

View from the balcony.
The cable cars look cute!


The couch converts into a bed.
The kid's bed can fit a small adult, but the stairs are steep.





The bathroom is huge but it doesn't have a bath tub.

     The lcd tv was very gracious; it greeted me!  Also, the tv serves as infoguide on the attractions, like the Universal Studios.




     After less than an hour since we got to our room, a chocolate cake with huge strawberry toppings was sent to me, with compliments from the hotel.  It was for my birthday.  I did type on the booking info that I'll be celebrating my birthday in Singapore, but I wasn't expecting a cake, with a candle.  If that's not considered as great customer service, hell be damned.



 

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