I Heart Travels

Boracay 2024: Day 2 - Water Activities Gone Wild! (Or, How We Almost Lost a Jet Ski)   Okay, so Day 2 in Boracay was supposed to be all about chill vibes and turquoise waters. Instead, it became a hilarious, slightly terrifying, and utterly unforgettable jet ski adventure. Let's just say I'm now officially a certified (almost) expert in navigating choppy seas on a temperamental machine.   First things first: the location. After riding the speedboat, we arrived at the jet ski floating platform area. We were asked to put on life jackets – a wise precaution, as it turned out! They also rented goggles for 150 pesos because of the wave mist, but I opted to wear my eyeglasses to avoid paying extra. We registered and were briefed by the jet ski staff. Think stern-faced lifeguards who looked like they'd wrestled a shark or two in their time. The safety briefing was intense – enough to make you swear off water sports forever – but also secretly hilarious. Th...

Boracay Travel Vlog 2024: Day 2 - Jet Skis, Parasailing, and Price Gouging!   Okay, adventure-seekers! Day 2 in Boracay was a whirlwind of sun, sand, and surprisingly delicious free breakfast at the hotel. Let's just say the free breakfast buffet was a carb-loading extravaganza that left us ready to tackle the turquoise waters.   Our mission? Water sports! Thanks to Benigno's network, we snagged some amazing deals on parasailing and jet skiing. The journey to Bulabog Beach involved a tricycle – a motorized marvel that somehow manages to carry four people with impressive efficiency. The ride was… exhilarating. Think a rollercoaster designed by a caffeinated squirrel.   Bulabog Beach was packed! Tourists were everywhere, queuing up for water activities. The vendors were relentless, hawking water at inflated prices. "Water! Fifty pesos! Buy water!" they cried. It was clearly price gouging, but the heat was intense, so we bought two bottles....

Boracay 2024 Travel Blog: Day 2 - A Boracay Adventure (and a Breakfast Buffet Revelation!)   Oh, my sweet, sweet Boracay. Day two dawned, not with the usual travel-induced grogginess, but with a joyous, rumbling tummy. Why? Because, my friends, we discovered a breakfast buffet so epic, it deserves its own chapter in this travelogue (and possibly a sequel).   Let's talk about Hue Hotel. We'd splurged a measly 1000 pesos on top of our room rate – a small price to pay for paradise, especially when that paradise included ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT breakfast. Think of it: a breakfast buffet so extensive, so decadent, it could rival a small country's GDP. Laud Restaurant, located inside the Hue Hotel, was the stage for this culinary extravaganza.   To start the buffet, first give your room number to the food attendant. The buffet itself is located beside the huge pool and bar of the Hue Hotel – an aesthetically pleasing setting that's a feast for the eyes as wel...

Boracay 2024: A Detailed Itinerary and Budget Breakdown   Day 1: Arrival and Initial Exploration   My journey started at 4:00 AM with a taxi ride from Cavite to NAIA Terminal 3, costing 600 pesos. A substantial breakfast at Wendy's (980 pesos) fueled me for the flight. Despite a flight delay, I eventually boarded and arrived at Caticlan Airport at 9:42 AM. The sun shone brightly, a stark contrast to the typhoon warnings.   Transportation to Boracay involved a tricycle ride (270 pesos) to the Caticlan ferry port, followed by various fees: 540 pesos (terminal fee), 540 pesos (environmental fee), 180 pesos (boat fare), and 150 pesos (registration fee). A further 150-peso tricycle ride took me to Hue Hotel, where I paid a 5000-peso deposit for my stay.   Lunch at Island Inasal (tricycle: 150 pesos) provided delicious chicken inasal. I then strolled to Willy's Rock in Station 1, enjoying breathtaking views. After a much-needed res...

Boracay 2024 Travel Blog - Day 1: A Culinary Adventure   Boracay, you beautiful beach bum! Day one, and already my stomach is doing the happy dance. Forget the check-in woes at Hue Hotel (more on that later, maybe…), because let's be honest, the real adventure started the moment we smelled the sizzling goodness of Island Chicken Inasal Boracay.   This TikTok-famous joint at Station 1? Legit. The staff were so friendly, I half-expected them to offer me a free massage along with my chicken inasal. Okay, maybe not, but they were that charming. The menu was ridiculously affordable, which is always a plus when you're battling the Boracay prices. We opted for the classic chicken inasal (perfectly grilled, juicy, and flavorful – a 10/10!) and a bowl of kansi (sour beef soup). Now, I’m not usually a soup person, but this kansi was a revelation. It was like a warm hug from a Filipino grandma, all tangy and comforting. A perfect start to our Boracay food fest! ...

Boracay 2024 Travel Blog: Your DIY Guide to Island Transfer   Planning a trip to Boracay in 2024? Let's make your arrival as smooth as the island's white sand beaches. This blog post details a DIY transfer from Caticlan Airport (MPH) to Boracay Island, saving you money and offering a more independent travel experience.   From Airport to Caticlan Ferry Port:   Upon exiting Caticlan Airport, head to the other side of the road. You'll easily spot signs advertising tricycle services to the ferry port for 80 pesos per person. Hop in a tricycle—it's a short, inexpensive ride.   Navigating Caticlan Jetty Port:   At the port, you'll encounter travel agents offering transfer packages. Politely decline their services; you're going DIY! Proceed directly to the port entrance.   Inside, find the registration kiosks. Only one person from your group needs to queue to register, providing your IDs and hotel information. This saves valuable time. ...

Boracay 2024: Day 1 - Arrival Despite Typhoon Warnings   The anticipated Boracay vacation commenced with an early morning alarm, a stark contrast to the relaxed atmosphere expected of a tropical getaway. Prior to departure, advisories regarding Typhoon Pepito, a potential threat to the region, generated a mixture of excitement and apprehension. The uncertainty surrounding the weather posed a significant question mark over the success of our planned trip.   Upon boarding the aircraft, a palpable tension was evident within the family. My mother voiced concerns regarding potential turbulence and emergency landings, while my younger brother attempted weather forecasting based on the visible cloud formations. In contrast, I prioritized rest, conserving my energy for the planned beach activities.   The flight, however, proved remarkably smooth. The pilot's skill, or perhaps a temporary abatement in the typhoon's intensity, resulted in a calm and uneven...

Boracay 2024: Day 1 - The Great Plane Delay, or How We Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bus Ride   The air crackled with anticipation. It wasn't just the electricity in the air, though that was certainly present, thanks to the seemingly endless supply of outlets at NAIA 3. No, this was the kind of anticipation that only a travel blogger could truly understand. Boracay, here we come!   First things first: breakfast. We weren't exactly going for a Michelin-star experience, so Wendy's it was. Chicken and ice tea, a classic combo that would fuel our adventures. We were like seasoned explorers, fueled by fast food and dreams of white sand beaches.   Then came the dreaded wait. You know that feeling, right? The one where you're surrounded by a sea of people, all with the same destination, all buzzing with the same excitement, but the plane is nowhere to be seen. We were starting to think we'd be stuck in the airport for the rest of our l...

Siargao: Where Spam Dreams Meet a Bleached Reality (and a Cocktail or Two)   Day three in Siargao, and I'm starting to feel like I've been living in a tropical fever dream. It all began with a breakfast of champions – a plate piled high with eggs and spam. Yes, you read that right. Spam. Apparently, it's the only cheap option here, and I'm not one to judge. After all, when you're surrounded by turquoise waters and palm trees, even spam tastes like paradise.   Next up, a van transfer to the Tourism Office. After a quick stop, we were whisked away to the port for our snorkeling adventure.   The boat ride was a blast. The sun was shining, the breeze was cool, and the only sound was the gentle lapping of the waves. We finally arrived at the snorkeling area, and I dove into the water with a sense of childlike wonder. The coral reefs were sadly bleached, but still a sight to behold.   After a refreshing swim, we hopped back on the boat ...

A Dawn Departure for Paradise: Embracing the Unexpected on Our Boracay Adventure   The alarm clock shrieked at 5:00 AM, a jarring reminder that our long-awaited Boracay trip was finally upon us.  Despite the early hour, a sense of excitement buzzed through the air, a potent mix of anticipation and nervous energy.  We had a flight to catch, a paradise to reach, and a typhoon named Pepito lurking on the horizon.   Our first hurdle was the journey to the airport.  We opted for a Grab taxi, a familiar and convenient choice in Manila.  The early morning air was refreshingly cool, a welcome respite from the usual urban heat.  The traffic, surprisingly, was smooth, a pleasant change from the usual chaotic dance of vehicles.   As we sped through the city, the sky began to paint itself with hues of orange and pink, a breathtaking sunrise that mirrored the excitement bubbling within us.  We reached NAIA 3 airport at 6:00 AM, a m...

Siargao 2023: Day 2 - From Canton to Cloud 9 and Back Again (With a Side of Spam)   Day two in Siargao dawned with a promise of adventure, and I, fueled by a breakfast of eggs and pancit canton (because who needs fancy when you can have carbs, right?), was ready to conquer the island. My first stop was Tourism Road, a bustling hub of activity, reached via a trike ride that felt like a rollercoaster through the island's charming chaos.   My mission? Grocery shopping for the next six days. This is where my "I'm-going-to-eat-like-a-king" plan met the reality of Siargao's limited options. Picture this: a tiny store crammed with enough instant noodles to feed a small army, a limited selection of vegetables, and a surprising abundance of spam. Yes, spam. Apparently, it's a Siargao staple. I even managed to snag a Mang Tomas, channeling my inner Nadine Lustre with a grocery store selfie. I emerged from the store with a bag of questionable p...