The Smart Traveler's 6 Must-Download Travel Apps

PinoyTravel App. Image from play.google.com

With summer in full swing, here are some must-download travel apps for the smart traveler. 

1. PinoyTravel App is the first online bus ticket booking service in the Philippines.  

If you are heading out to Baguio, Tuguegarao, Pangasinan, Baler, Bicol, and Palawan via bus, PinoyTravel App provides you with the latest schedule and fare information from their bus partners. Click here and learn how easy it is to use this app.

Waze App. Image from sprocketph.com

2. Waze App is described to be a fun, crowd-sourced traffic and navigation app. Waze users join forces to outsmart traffic, save time, fuel money and improve daily commuting for all.

Download this app and get to that summer getaway quicker than you can change into your swimsuit! ;)

RaincheckPH App. Image from www1.smart.com.ph

3. RaincheckPH App is the first rain preparedness mobile app in the country which can alert you with 95% accuracy if it is going to rain in your exact location.

Rain is not unusual even in summer. Better arm yourself with this app and grab an umbrella or plan a different route to avoid getting soaked before reaching your destinations.

Easy Taxi App. Image from hongkong.coconuts.co

4. Easy Taxi App is a mobile taxi-booking service. 

Enjoy a headache-free commute with this app which promises a fast and easy and safe travel, and a ride with excellent service. No more bargaining with cab drivers! 

InterAksyon. Image from www.interaksyon.com

5. InterAksyon - access the MMDA-TV5 Metro Manila Traffic Navigator through this app to keep abreast of  the latest traffic news to help you make informed decisions while traveling.

NLEX Assist App. Image from play.google.com

6. NLEX Assist App sends you travel advisories and occasional deal alerts when passing through the North Luzon Expressway.

Do not put off downloading these travel apps. Be smart. Travel smart.

Keep safe, everyone!

Reference: Be street smart via mobile apps this Lenten season.

Comment below if you know more helpful travel apps.

New Travel App: PASAHERO By ABS-CBN Corporation

PasaHero Passenger Safety App

I was watching Kris TV this morning and one of their hot topics caught my attention. It was about PasaHero, a passenger safety app developed by ABS-CBN Corporation. It was a topic worth looking into as more and more news about dangerous incidents happening to passengers of taxicabs, especially, are being written and shared in social media nowadays.

This app is described as a mobile app which aims to safeguard the user (passenger) by broadcasting trip details to social media and through the panic button, sending emergency notifications and location to the user's trusted circle and to relevant agencies for assistance. For now, it is compatible with the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. This app is optimized for iPhone 5 and it requires iOS 6.0 or later.

I hope that they make this available for android phones as well in the very near future. 

There is also another limitation to this app as pointed out by Ms. Kris Aquino. She mentioned that your emergency contacts need to have mobile phones or devices, too. 

With the app's limitations, I still downloaded it in my device as it is wise to have something for emergencies than nothing at all. I just pray and cross my fingers that I would never use the panic button ever!

How about you? Are you going to download this app if you haven't yet? Have you experienced using it? Tell us about your experience using this app in the comments below.

JAPAN OPENS MULTIPLE-ENTRY VISAS TO FILIPINOS

Japan Visa. Photo Credit

In a move to further increase tourism and promote the beauty of their country, Japan announced that it will issue multiple-entry visas to Filipinos. The issuance will begin on July 1, 2013.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan explained that Filipinos who may get multiple entry visa are those who have fulfilled certain conditions and who have an ordinary Machine-Readable passport, which meet International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards or an ordinary IC passport.

Read here for the complete report.

Are you excited to avail of the multiple-entry visa to Japan?
Tell us in the comments : ).

HALO-HALO AND DURIAN MAKE IT TO CNN's SUMMER DELIGHTS LIST

The iconic Philippine Halo-halo. Photo Credit

Durians, Davao's treasures. Photo Credit

The Halo-halo, which Chef Anthony Bourdain described as "oddly beautiful," and the Philippine durian make it to CNN's list of top 25 summer delicious foods (news from The Philippine Star, June 27, 2013).

The report enumerated various shows and magazines where halo-halo has been cited. Halo-halo has been featured in the American reality TV series "Top Chef" and Gourmet Magazine. It was named one of the top three Quickfire Challenge dishes when a Filipino-American contestant prepared it in "Top Chef." Halo-halo was also mentioned in a television show, "Degrassi: The Next Generation," the report said.

Durian, on the other hand, was described in CNN's report as "the alleged king of all fruits in Asia. It ranked after American's peach cobbler and before the Middle East's meze.

This news made us proud to be Pinoys! 

Feel free to place your comments below. Whose halo-halo do you crave for? Razon's, Jollibee, Chowking, Digman, etc.?

"Oddly beautiful." - Chef Anthony Bourdain on the Pinoy halo-halo

EL NIDO BAGS TOP HONORS IN INTERNATIONAL TOURISM EVENTS AND CITED FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

                 

More awards given to one of our world-class tourist destination, El Nido Resorts in Palawan! : )

El Nido Resorts in Palawan recently won the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC)'s Tourism for Tomorrow Awards in Abu Dhabi. El Nido Resorts was one of four winners chosen from among 133 applications from 46 countries.

Click here for the full story.

And together with The Farm at San Benito in Batangas, El Nido Resorts in Palawan have received the highest international honors from prestigious travel and tourism fairs in Berlin and Abu Dhabi, respectively.

Click here for the full story.

It's really more fun in the Philippines!

Share your wonderful experiences in any of the Philippines' tourist destinations in the comments : ).

BATANES SOON TO BE WITHIN YOUR REACH

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Good news last Friday, April 19!

Cito Beltran, in his column in The Philippine Star, wrote about the "probing flights" of Philippine Airlines to one of the fast becoming popular destination in the Philippines, Batanes.

The current round trip airfare to Batanes averages P 16,000.00, almost comparable to the airfare charged for regular international flights to Asian destinations.

Mr. Beltran mentioned that if all goes well, Philippine Airlines' "probing flights" to Batanes will cut the round trip airfare to one half or one third of the current price.

This welcome news would soon let me tick off Batanes from my bucket list : ). As Mr. Beltran said, it's time to research and save for that dream trip to Batanes on Philippine Airlines.

Is visiting Batanes in your bucket list? Tell us in the comments if you, too are excited for that day when a trip to Batanes becomes more affordable to come!

THE PHILIPPINES MOVED UP TO 82nd SPOT IN THE WEF'S TRAVEL & TOURISM 2013 REPORT

The Blood Compact in Bohol, Philippines

The Philippines has moved up 12 notches to 82nd spot in the  World Economic Forum (WEF)'s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness 2013 report, owing to the government's strong push for tourism. (The Philippine Star on March 8, 2013).

The WEF report said that the Philippines is the most improved country in the region, ranking 16th regionally and 82nd overall, up 12 places since the last edition.

Read the full report here: Travel and Tourism Competitiveness: Philippines up to 82nd place.

BORACAY NAMED BEST ASIAN BEACH FOR 2013

http://www.flickr.com/photos/86518301@N00/1004882905

http://www.flickr.com/photos/88774309@N00/2317788484

Boracay Island, once again, has been named best beach in Asia for 2013 in a survey conducted by TripAdvisor, a popular online travel guide. 

This is the third time that Boracay Island captured the top spot.

Click here for the full story: Boracay Named Best Asian Beach for 2013

METRO MANILA IN TOP 10 DESTINATIONS ON THE RISE

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/43419254@N06/4409680890

Metro Manila has been ranked fourth by international travel website, TripAdvisor, in its Top Ten Asian Destinations On The Rise.

TripAdvisor highlighted historic Intramuros (images above) as one of Metro Manila's popular destinations.

Click this link for the full story and find out about the other attractions Metro Manila is known for Metro Manila Rising Top Destination.

CCTV CAMERAS INSTALLED AT RIZAL PARK

asteegabo's photo

As part of the National Parks Development Committee's effort to protect tourists and visitors at the Rizal Park, 30 CCTV cameras were installed in the park last November 2012.

Click this link for the full article by GMA News: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/283832/news/metromanila/30-cctv-cameras-to-beef-up-security-at-rizal-park

SHOE INSPECTION AT NAIA EASED

Inha Leex Hale's photo

This is welcome news to all passengers in the departure areas of all NAIA terminals. The Ninoy Aquino International Airports has relaxed its policy on shoe inspections, The Philippine Daily Inquirer said. The NAIA began implementing the new policy last November 1, 2012.

In the new policy, the shoe inspections at the final security checkpoints in the departure areas of all NAIA terminals will no longer be mandatory.

However, there are several exceptions to the new policy. Carriers bound for the US will continue to implement shoe inspection at their boarding areas and this security check will become mandatory whenever the NAIA is placed under a "high alert level."

Click the link below for the published article in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/294342/shoe-inspection-at-naia-eased

KNOW YOUR PAL & AIRPHIL EXPRESS DESIGNATED AIRPORT TERMINALS

If you are travelling via PAL or Airphil Express to any domestic destinations, www.whatsmyterminal.com has published the new designated airport terminals which was observed since October 28, 2012.

Please take note to avoid getting lost and being late for your flights : )

Click this link for the complete details: www.whatsmyterminal.com

2013 HOLIDAYS: PHILIPPINES AND SINGAPORE

Club Paradise in Coron, Palawan

In case you missed this, posting here the Official Philippine Public Holidays in 2013 previously announced by Malacanang. Very helpful to plan your vacays in advance and take advantage of budget flights : ).

So, save up and plan your vacations and get-aways!


PHILIPPINE GAZETTED HOLIDAYS

Date	Name
Tuesday, January 1	Beginning of New Year
Sunday, February 10	Chinese New Year
Monday, February 25	People Power Day
Thursday, March 28	Maundy Thursday
Friday, March 29	Good Friday
Saturday, March 30	Black Saturday
Tuesday, April 9	Day of Valor
Wednesday, May 1	Labor Day
Wednesday, June 12	Independence Day
Thursday, August 8	Eid ul Fitr
Saturday, August 10	Ninoy Aquino Day
Monday, August 26	National Heroes’ Day
Tuesday, October 15	Eid ul Adha
Friday, November 1	All Saints Day
Saturday November 30	Bonifacio Day
Wednesday, December 25	Christmas
Monday, December 30	Rizal Day
Tuesday, December 31	New Year’s Eve

And here's the list for those of you who are staying in Singapore.

SINGAPORE HOLIDAYS

Date	Name
Tuesday, January 1	New Year's Day
Sunday* - Monday, February 10 & 11	Chinese New Year
Friday, March 29	Good Friday
Wednesday, May 1	Labour Day
Friday, May 24	Vesak Day
Thursday, August 8	Hari Raya Puasa
Friday, August 9	National Day
Tuesday, October 15	Hari Raya Haji
Sunday, November 3**	Deepavali
Wednesday, December 25	Christmas Day
* As Chinese New Year falls on Sunday, 10 February 2013 and Monday, 11 February 2013
the next day, Tuesday 12 February 2013 will be a public holiday
** The following Monday will be a public holiday
*** The date, 3 November 2013 for Deepavali needs to be checked against the Indian
Almanac when it is available. Should there be a change in date, the Ministry of Manpower
will issue a media release to announce the change

Click this link to see the published article:  Proclamation No. 459 Philippine Official Public Holidays in 2013