A day to go and it's DECEMBER already. The holiday season officially kicks off. Many people - from students and friends up to families and relatives, will go out of town. The month will be busy, so are the roads. Christmas shopping, gift buying, itineraries etc will be in the MUST-TO-DO list. Not to mention family reunion, batch gathering, friends get together, company year end events among other activities that the Yuletide season seems to indulge.
The last month of every year will be the busiest one and this will formally open the travelling months in the PHILIPPINES that will continue until the Holy Season next year ends. The months of December up to April will be profitable for the airline, ships (cruise or carrier), and any form of land transportation including hotel chains, restaurants, and attractions. Local tourism will be at its peak and foreigners will add to our travel population. After the Christmas is over, summer preparations will start immediately.
Are you thinking the same thing? What is the best way of planning your TRAVEL PLANS whether it is for Christmas or the SUMMER?
1. PLAN AHEAD. No exact time frame can be provided, but a year before your travel itinerary kicks in will be great. Where do you want to go? Who are the people you want to be with? This will be beneficial when the travel promos come around during lean season. So make up your mind and write it down.
2. SET YOUR BUDGET. Whether it is local or not, you must draw the line on how much would you spend. This is the great way of knowing the things that you needed and that will spend.
3. GET YOUR PROMO TICKET. If you are leaving miles away from home or out of the country, you are surely to ride an airplane to save you more time. However, rocketing airline prices due to the not-so-well economic state will be your greatest enemy. This is vital after your planning was over - watch out for airline promos. For local destinations - Cebu Pacific, Air Phil Express, Zest Air, (SeAir and Air Asia for Clark bases) will be a good choice. CebuPac is the leading promo airline of the Philippines and known for their Piso fare. This year they had two (2) piso fare promos and another seven-peso base fare promo. So subscribe and tell your friends to notify you for these things. This will cost you less than regular tickets.
4. VISA and DOCUMENTS. If it is Singapore, Hongkong, or Malaysia - skip this. You won't be needing one. Actually, not only those three. DFA said that there are 25 countries in Asia, Latin America, and Europe that don't need one if you are staying within the allowable days without visa (Reference: Visa Requirement for Filipinos). However, if you are flying to our neighborhood in South Korea, China, Australia, Middle East, Europe, and most of the west you will need permission to entry. Right after planning your vacation trip outside the Philippine soil, make sure that necessary documents are on your hands. Better to get visa and other related proof of visit months before going to your destinations as sometimes, it is not easy to get and be approved.
5. STAY ON PACKAGES. Package travel deals are always cheaper than the normal routine - where you will pick your hotel, your airline, your everything one by one. Online vouchers can provide you these best deals, but always be wary of fraud transactions. Just go to trusted sites and you will be fine.
6. WHERE WILL I SLEEP? After you finalize your travel dates search online for hotels and accommodations - so what if it still six months to go or even a year. It is better than to have nothing. The great thing about this is that you can survey different options from the standard room in a cheap transient, to the middle class hotels up to luxurious places. You can always weight your options - a list of PROS and CONS. Then just book it! No dramas, no delays.
If you are in a tight budget or even not, try to go to budget places with safe surroundings, good ambiance, and good REVIEWS! Review, review, review is soooooo important. Don't forget it while searching a place to stay. It is only practical to not waste excessive money for hotels since most of the time during your vacation you will be outside rather spending more time on your bed. It will just a place to rest - THAT'S ALL. So search for cheap accommodations that still suit your needs. This is the good thing also about having the time. Since standard and de luxe rooms will still be available six months or three months prior to your travel, you will have too many options than to cram last minute and have no choice but to get an executive suite because that's all they've got.
FYI: Don't worry if you booked your hotel way way back and you need to cancel it due to unforeseen events. Just don't cancel with less than three weeks before your set arrival as it will incur penalties already. If it is a month or so - they will cancel it at no cost.
7. SET YOUR ACTIVITIES. Day-to-day itinerary is important as you're attendance. This will be the life of your vacations. There are a lot of travel information that can be searched online so no worries. What you need to do is just choose among these adventures and find the cheapest deal. There are also local people who act as an agent to fix your activities - mostly in commercialized places like Boracay. Just find the right people to trust and know how to bargain.
8. KNOW YOUR DESTINATION. It is very important to research before going. Know the current weather conditions, the local cuisines, the best places to go, the CULTURE and ATTITUDE of people - this is very important mostly for out-of-the-country travels as cultural setting are different from region to region, and country to another one. Our actions might be illegal in the other country so beware! You don't want to be hold in the immigration or worst be in jail become of your IGNORANCE. We are already empowered by high technology which includes access to high speed internet - don't WASTE it.
9. LIGHT PACK and BE PREPARED. Number of clothes to bring, specific things to put in your luggage differ from one person to another. Try to pack things that highly needed. Don't overdo your luggage because you need to still have room for your "PASALUBONGS and SOUVENIRS" when you get back.
10. BE PRESENT & ENJOY. Now that everything is prepared and ready - encircle the dates in your planner and come on time. If you are going to the airport, make sure to be there two hours prior to your departure - the airplane won't wait you. Enjoy the moment, relax, and be back in one piece. :)
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