Tuesday, 13 September 2016

Trip to Baguio



BAGUIO - the summer capital of the Philippines. 



Can’t help myself but smile when I saw that Mercury Drugstore without an installed ACU (Air Conditioning Unit). Thus, investing here is quite good as cost for electricity would not be that high since establishments are usually using electric fans only (heater is badly needed though especially if you wish to use shower room in the morning).  

Victory Liner Bus Terminals 
Website: https://www.victoryliner.com/ 



PASAY 

Address: 651 Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, Pasay, Metro Manila 
Landmark: CALTEX gasoline station
Trips: 24/7 Hourly






BAGUIO
Address: PNR Compound, Baguio City, Benguet, Utility Rd, Baguio, Benguet 
Landmark: Microtel Inn & Suites
Trips: 24/7 every 30 minutes



Prior to this trip, I’ve already reached Baguio 17 years back. The temperature is too low indeed. kuYa ko gwapo (Marlon) then wishes to visit the place as well. He wants to feel that coldness, see pine trees, see its beauty, and pick strawberries (failed to pick though as it's not its season during this month of visit).


Nevertheless, (at long last) after an almost a decade of our relationship, herein is our 2D1N itinerary in a DIY way. 


Our DIY Schedule 
  • From Manila to Baguio
    • Departure Date/Time: September 9, 2016 11:40PM
    • Arrival Date/Time: September 10, 2016 05:40AM
  • From Baguio to Manila
    • Departure Date/Time: September 11, 2016 08:30PM
    • Arrival Date/Time: September 12, 2016 02:30AM


Our DIY Itinerary
(see Transportation section below for more details. A budget of PHP 3,500 each will do.)

  • Day 1
    • Route #s 1 - 22 (see transportation section below re: routes)
      • Spot #1: Baguio Cathedral

      • Spot #2: Lourdes Grotto

      • Spot #3: Dinosaurs Island

      • Spot #4: Strawberry Farm

      • Spot #5: Good Shepherd Convent

      • Spot #6: Mines View Park

      • Spot #7: Session Road

      • Spot #8: SM Baguio

      • Spot #9: Night Market

  • Day 2
    • Route #s 23 - 36 (see transportation section below re: routes)
      • Spot #10: Wright Park 

      • Spot #11: The Mansion

      • Spot #12: Botanical Garden

      • Spot #13: Teacher's Camp

      • Spot #14: PMA

      • Spot #15: Camp John Hay



 Our TIPID Expenses 
  • Accommodation (Total: PHP 1,000 per night for 2 persons)


DL Divine INN

Address: Corner Valenzuela St. Leonard Wood Rd., Salud Mitra, Baguio City 

Landmark: Kawanihan ng Rentas Internas

Rates: Vary. Depending on your needs or availability of rooms (Ours is PHP 1000 per night)
  • Transportation (Total: PHP 2, 338 for 2 persons)
    • Home (Total: PHP 83.50 per person)
    • Manila-Baguio-Manila (Total: PHP 910 per person) (BUS) 
    • City Tour (Total: PHP 175.50 per person) (JEEPNEY) 
      • Route #1: Victory Liner to Baguio Cathedral
        • Fare: FREE (climb up the hill)
      • Route #2: SKIPPED Baguio Cathedral to Bell Church
        • Fare: UNKNOWN 
      • Route #3: Baguio Cathedral to Lourdes Dominical Terminal 
        • Fare: FREE (walk down the hill towards Plaza)
      • Route #4: Lourdes Dominical Terminal to Lourdes Grotto
        • Fare: PHP 8.50
      • Route #5: SKIPPED Lourdes Grotto to Tam-awan Village
        • Fare: PHP 8.50
      • Route #6: Lourdes Grotto or Tam-awan Village to Badiwan Tabu Terminal
        • Fare: PHP 8.50
      • Route #7: Badiwan Tabu Terminal to Dinosaur Island
        • Fare: PHP 17
      • Route #8: Dinosaurs Island to Junction
        • Fare: FREE (with shuttle service) 
      • Route #9: SKIPPED Junction to Crystal Cave
        • Fare: UNKNOWN (co-travellers said that it's no longer a good spot to visit as crystals are no longer crystals. Those were already in black color. You may opt to pursue on visiting though.) 
      • Route #10: SKIPPED Junction to BenCab Museum
        • Fare: UNKNOWN (not a fun of museum)
      • Route #11: SKIPPED Junction to Baguio Museum
        • Fare: UNKNOWN (not a fun of museum)
      • Route #12: Junction to Baguio City Hall
        • Fare: PHP 10 
      • Route #13: SKIPPED Baguio City Hall to La Trinidad (Valley of Colors) - On the area itself is not a good spot to view it accurately
        • Fare: PHP 8.50
      • Route #14: Baguio City Hall to La Trinidad (Strawberry Farm) - Failed to pick strawberries. Season: from November to May only.
        • Fare: PHP 10
      • Route #15: La Trinidad (Strawberry Farm) to Center Mall
        • Fare: PHP 11
      • Route #16: Mines Terminal to Good Shepherd Convent
        • Fare: PHP 10
      • Route #17: Good Shepherd Convent to Mines View Park
        • Fare: FREE (climb up the hill)
      • Route #18: Mines View Park to Plaza (to check-in)
        • Fare: PHP 10
      • Route #19: Plaza to Accomodation (Session Road / Leonard Wood Road)
        • Fare: FREE (Walk aroud the city and nearby to look for a place to stay)
      • Route #20: DL Divine INN to SM Baguio
        • Fare: FREE (climb up the hill towards Upper Session Road)
      • Route #21: SM Baguio to Night Market
        • Fare: FREE (walk down the hill towards Harrisson Road)
      • Route #22: Night Market to DL Divine INN 
        • Fare: FREE (climb up the hill towards Leonard Wood Road)
      • Route #23: DL Divine INN  to Wright Park (kind driver opt not to ask for our separate fare of PHP 8.50 bound to Mines terminal)
        • Fare: PHP 8.50
      • Route #24: Wright Park to The Mansion
        • Fare: FREE (climb up the hill)
      • Route #25: The Mansion to Botanical Garden
        • Fare: PHP 8.50
      • Route #26: Botanical Garden to DL Divine INN (to checkout)
        • Fare: PHP 8.50
      • Route #27: DL Divine INN to SM Baguio
        • Fare: FREE (climb up the hill towards Upper Session Road - to have our travelling bag be kept to package counter instead of paying for another day in a hotel just for bags)
      • Route #28: SM Baguio to Mines Terminal
        • Fare: PHP 8.50
      • Route #29: Mines Terminal to Teacher's Camp
        • Fare: PHP 8.50
      • Route #30: Teacher's Camp to Kias PMA Terminal
        • Fare: PHP 8.50
      • Route #31: Kias PMA Terminal to PMA
        • Fare: PHP 18
      • Route #32: PMA to Camp John Hay (Gate 1)
        • Fare: PHP 13
      • Route #33: SKIPPED Camp John Hay (Gate 1) to Bell House and other Adventure Parks
        • Fare: FREE (by walking around but opt not to as we're too tired. besides, most were closed already)
      • Route #34: SKIPPED Camp John Hay (Gate 1) to Burnham Park but opt not to as we're too tired)
        • Fare: PHP 8.50
      • Route #35: Camp John Hay (Gate 1) to SM Baguio
        • Fare: PHP 8.50
      • Route #36: SM Baguio to Victory Liner Utility Road 
        • Fare: FREE (walk down the hill towards Utility Road)

  • Tour Activities (Total: PHP 790 for 2 persons)
    • Night Market
      • Street Foods, Ukay-ukay, Souvenirs, Flowers, Shoes, etc.
      • Budget: As low as PHP 5, you can buy treats here
    • Tam-awan Village
      • Entrance Fee PHP 30 per person [we opt to skip seeing the Igorot dance]
    • Dinosaurs Island
      • Dinosaurs Island PHP 245 per person
      • Package: PHP 800 per person (PHP 620 if discounted. Coupons from Jeepney Drivers)
    • Wright Park
      • Igorot Costume PHP 20 per person

      • Picture with St. Bernard Dog ("Sky" as his name) PHP 20 per person

      • Horse Riding [Not a fun. Just saw their rates of PHP 300 per hour or PHP 200 per half hour. Opt to take a selfie with horses as our background instead]



    • PMA
      • Entrance Fee PHP 20 per person (officer on duty opt to give us a discount - 1 ticket is now good for 2)


    • Camp John Hay
      • Paint Ball Republic

        • Zipline [Opt to take a selfie with it as our background instead. less than PHP 200 (I guess)]

        • Wall Climbing [Opt to take a selfie with it as our background instead. less than PHP 200 (I guess)]

        • Target Shooting PHP 200 per person

        • Paintball PHP 450 per person [Already closed when we get there]

      • Tree Top [Already closed when we get there]

  • Treats (Total: Vary depending on how generous you are or how much your allotted budget is. Ours is PHP 1,315) 
    • Key Chains 3 for PHP 100 or PHP 35 each

    • Ref Magnet 3 for PHP 100 or PHP 35 each
    • Honey PHP 180 - 250 per bottle (quatro kantos)
    • Jams [ opt not to buy. too expensive. we saw a small bottle of Strawberry Jam which is PHP 210 each ]
    • Belt PHP 150 
    • Wallet PHP 170

  • Foods (Total: PHP 1,271 for 2 persons)
    • Lansones PHP 60 per half kilo
    • Taho PHP 20 (original flavor) or PHP 30 (strawberry flavor)
    • KFC meal PHP 118 for a 1pc and BBQ stake
    • Eatery meal PHP 105 for rice, fried fish, vegetable, & bottled water
    • Ice cream PHP 30 (strawberry flavor in a medium size sugar cone)
    • Mangosteen PHP 75 per  half kilo
    • Corn PHP 30 each
    • Banana Q PHP 20 per stick
    • Bulalo PHP 136 with rice and puto
    • Isaw/Ihaw PHP 15 (PHP 5 each)
    • Jollibee meal PHP 137 for 2 sets of 1pc
    • Tokyo Tokyo meal PHP 284 for a Bento and premium meal with unlimited rice
    • PMA takoyaki  PHP 40
    • 7-11 treats PHP 171 for sausages, cup noodles, and curls

 Friendly Reminders: 

  • You'll never get wrong on asking locals for the exact location of jeepney terminals for each spot
  • It's advisable to take a taxi if you're in a group of 8 as PHP 2000 is the common rate for a city tour (a day or two)
  • There's a room rates of PHP 500 only in Plaza area while PHP 300 per head in Teacher's Camp
  • DL Divine INN can give you a discount if you're not accompanied by any locals as they're paying them separately for endorsing their place
  • The way on how you spend for treats and foods is depending on your allotted budget
  • Bring your personalized MAP (a map from google map will do)



Have fun!

Source of pictures: Album "Lovers in Baguio"

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