SKYCAB TRAVEL, INC.

Singapore: The New and Constant

2012-02-14T23:05:00.002+08:00

January 12-15, 2012

A quick look at my passport showed that I get the chance to see Singapore every 3 years. This is not planned, just a coincidence :) The last time I was there, the Singapore Flyer was still being constructed, Marina Bay Sands and Universal Studios Singapore weren't even around yet. It is good to see the many physical developments in this little yet rich nation. Singapore is a testimony to what good governance can do to create order and progress in a country. This is part of the reason why it's always good to be a tourist in Singapore. Everything is put in place for you: reliable transport, numerous attractions to try, a plethora of shopping options, and a great food experience.

Assorted Satay

While Singapore's facade keep changing, I am glad that some things still remain the same: good food just about anywhere. I should mention their satay. Go to Lau Pa Sat Festival Market, and sample one of the many hawker centers there that offer traditional Singaporean dishes and international cuisine. As it was our first time to eat here, we got a table inside the market, not knowing that there was an open dining area. (Tip: Get a table outside as it is much cooler and you'll get to see satay being grilled.) We tried a selection of satay: mutton, beef, and chicken. These were pretty good especially when dipped into the peanut-butter sauce.

Lau Pa Sat Festival Market

No Signboard's White Pepper Crab

Probably the best crabs I've ever, ever tasted is the White Pepper Crab from No Signboard. The more famous version is the chili crab (No Signboard's chili crab is pretty good too!), but I like the white pepper crab better. The sauce is light, slightly sweet and quite obviously, peppery :) The spiciness in the traditional chili crab can be overwhelming for some who are not used to spicy food. The white pepper crab is a good alternative. We ordered Alaskan King Crabs, the legs of which are thick, long and filled with meat. The restaurant staff offered to cut open the shell so all we had was to pick away at the meat. No mess at all :)

A must-try also is their Cereal Prawns. How they cooked it was excellent-- the prawns were very soft, and the cereal crumb coat was to die for. Compared to the ones we had in Lau Pa Sat, No Signboard's version was a thousand times better. This is a keeper!

Cereal Prawns

There are so many more dishes to rave about from No Signboard, but I should stop myself before this turns out into a foodie blog. While in Singapore, go get yourself a bowl of good laksa and a serving of of Hainanese Chicken Rice. Oooh, Chicago's famous Garrett's Popcorn has also arrived in Singapore. I was so happy to see it here! You must try the Chicago Mix: a very addicting blend of CaramelCrisp and CheeseCorn.

There, I said my piece . Enough about food and on to the new attractions! :)

Sci Fi City's roller coasters

Universal Studios Singapore. Just like the one in the U.S., this theme parks offers entertainment, shows and rides for the young and the old. Perfect for kids who have already tried any of the Disneylands. Try to visit on a weekday so that the queue for the rides is short. You wouldn't need to purchase the Express Pass. Allot the whole day for a park visit.

I especially liked the the Transformers the Ride in 3D. It's an awesome "ride" with imaginary plunges, twists and turns. I was not brave enough to try the real rides (The Mummy and Battlestar Galactica), but I'm sure they are equally fun :)

Far Far Away and Madagascar are great for kids. "Donkey Live" is hilarious! As in almost all theme parks, the characters come out at certain times of the day for photo opportunities with park guests :)

We are a Ogre-loving family!

Other highlights include the Waterworld Stunt Show and the "Lights, Camera, Action" show, where Steven Spielberg presents how a hurricane is 'created' in a sound stage.

Towering over the Singapore skyline is Marina Bay Sands. You can't miss this as this is the largest (with over 2,500 rooms, all pretty much booked every single day) and most popular resort/casino in the land. It boasts of the Sands SkyPark on the 57th floor. I could attempt to describe it bu Marina Bay Sands website does it best:

The SkyPark's pool overlooking Singapore's skyline

"Stretching longer than the Eiffel Tower laid down or four and a half A380 Jumbo Jets, with an impressive 12,400 square meters of space, the Sands SkyPark can host up to 3,900 people. The gravity-defying cantilever is one of the largest of its kind in the world. From this privileged observation deck, hundreds of visitors at a time can feast their eyes on the unforgettable panorama view of Singapore."

Down below is the casino, which I learned charges an entrance fee of SGD100 for Singaporeans. Apparently, the government has taken this step given the concern of many Singaporeans about legalizing a casino in the country. The proceeds are given to charity. Kudos to the government for taking the necessary measures to ensure that gambling does not become a national problem.

From one SkyPark to another, VivoCity's SkyPark is also worth seeing for its unique design and architecture. Though this has been open since 2006, it was a first for us to visit the place. The wading pools and wood walkways lend much interest to the traditional mall. One can see Sentosa's cable car from here as well.

VivoCity's SkyPark

Night view from VivoCity Harbourfront

Orchard Road still draws a lot of tourists and shoppers. We came a few days before the Chinese New Year so all the big malls and hotels flanking this street were all dressed to the nines. The PHP-SGD exchange rate though is a pain, making me think twice about shopping here. It's a lot cheaper to shop in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.

Another constant is the SG$1 ice cream sandwich along Orchard Road! This is a block of ice cream in between thin wafers. I can't believe how many years have passed and this sweet treats still costs a dollar. Must try if you still haven't :)

So this is Singapore--- I love the new and constant things it offers. I'm sure that in another 3 years, I'll see a new park here or a new mall there. It's always comfortable and easy to return here. Any trip of mine to Singapore is essentially a food trip and I always return to Manila satisfied. The attractions are, let's say, side dishes. A value meal, don't you think? :)

*All the photos used here are Skycab's own.

European Pilgrimage (Apr 15 / May 17 / May 22, 2012)

2012-01-23T08:14:00.001+08:00

EUROPEAN PILGRIMAGE
Group Departure: April 15 / May 17 / May 22, 2012
Tour Price from USD 3,150.00++ per person

Download Printable Itinerary

Day 01 MANILA / ROME
Depart Manila on board a prestigious airlines for an overnight flight to Rome, Italy. Enjoy in - flight meals and services.

Day 02 ROME (D)
Welcome to Rome! After immigration formalities, meet and greet then transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day is free for rest and relaxation.

Day 03 ROME (B,D)
Visit the Four Major Basilicas of Rome: St. Peter’s Basilica, Basilica of St. John in Lateran, Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls and the Scala Santa. Afterwards, see the Colosseum, Piazza de Venezia, and if time permits, visit the Sta, Maria Maggiore Basilica, the Fountain of Trevi and the Spanish Steps.

Church of Sta. Croce in Florence

Day 04 ROME - ASSISI - FLORENCE (B,D)
We leave Rome and ascend to the beloved city of St. Francis, Asissi, to see the Upper and Lower Basilica where the Tomb of St. Francis lies, visit also the Church of Porziuncula where St. Francis prayed. Later to renaissance Florence. Visit the Cathedral of Florence, see the “Gates of Paradise” adorning the Baptistery, Piazza della Signoria and the see the Santa Croce Church. Then check in to your hotel.

Day 05 FLORENCE - PISA - NICE (B,D)
This morning we travel towards Pisa to see the famous Leaning Tower, then cross the border of Italy on your way to Nice, the playground of the rich and famous!

Day 06 NICE - MONTE CARLO - NICE (B,D)
After breakfast, visit a Perfume Factory in Eze where the area is famous. Then drive to the nearby Principality of Monaco to see the Royal Palace and Annunciation Cathedral where Princess Grace was buried before going to Monte Carlo where you can try your luck at the famous Casino Monte Carlo. Return to Nice for overnight.

Day 07 NICE - LOURDES (B,D)
Departure to Lourdes, a major pilgrimage site in Europe. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day is free. If time permits, visit the Grotto of Massabielle and drink its miraculous spring water.

Day 08 LOURDES (B,D)
The whole day is free for private devotion. You may wish to go to the Sanctuary to visit the 3 Basilicas, walk the Station of the Cross or take the Holy Bath. In the evening, buy a candle and join the Candlelight Procession.

Day 09 LOURDES - ZARAGOSA - BURGOS (B,D)
Depart Lourdes and cross the Spanish border to Burgos. Stop in Zaragosa to visit the Shrine of the Our Lady of the Pillar. Continue to Burgos for dinner and overnight.

Day 10 BURGOS - SALAMANCA - FATIMA (B,D)
After breakfast, continue your drive to Salamanca for photos of the beautiful Plaza Mayor. Then travel over the Portuguese border on your way to Fatima, another major pilgrimage center. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day is free.

Day 11 FATIMA (B,D)
Free day for private devotion. You may spend the day in meditating at the Chapel of Apparition, the very heart of the Sanctuary. It was the first edifice constructed at the site of Our Lady’s apparitions and a marbled pillar is erected on the exact spot on which the State of our Lady is placed. Visit the Great White Basilica to see the tombs of Francisco, Jacinta & Lucia and its 15 altars dedicated to the 15 mysteries of the Rosary and the scenes of the apparition represented in the stained glass. Litany of Our Lady. Tonight you may participate in the inspirational Candlelight Procession.

Day 12 FATIMA - AVILA - MADRID (B,D)
Continue our journey back to Spain, to Avila, the City of Kings & Saints, completely encircled by 11th century walls and the birthplace of St. Therese, one of the greatest mystics of the Catholic Church. Visit the Cathedral of the Convent of St. Therese. Continue to Madrid for overnight.

Day 13 MADRID (B,D)
This morning, go on a sightseeing tour which includes the Puerta del Sol, the Gran Via, the elegant Paseo de Castellana, Cibeles Fountain and the Plaza de Espagna with its Monument to Cervantes. The balance of the day is free.

Day 14 MADRID / MANILA (B)
Your memorable tour concludes today with a transfer to the airport for your flight back to Manila.

Day 15 / MANILA
Arrival in Manila. Home sweet home!

INCLUSIONS:

Roundtrip AIRFARE
First Class Hotel
Daily American Buffet Breakfast
Standard Dinner or
Chinese Dinner
Luxury Private Coach
Tour Escort
TIPS FOR DRIVER / GUIDE
FREE 15-DAY TRAVEL INSURANCE
Pre-Departure briefing

3-in-1 HOLY LAND, JORDAN, EGYPT TOURS (Feb, Mar, Apr 2012)

2012-01-18T19:08:00.002+08:00

Group Departures:

Download the printable itineraries here:
Feb 14-26, 2012
March 27-April 8, 2012
April 15-27, 2012

Tour Price from USD 2,388.00++ per person

Touringthrough Amman, Mount Nebo, Madaba,Petra, Tiberias, Jerusalem, Dead Sea, Bethlehem, Galilee, Nazareth, St.Catherine,Mount Sinai, and Cairo

FEB 14 MANILA – BAHRAIN- AMMAN

Depart Manila, aboard your favorite airline; enjoy in-flight amenities, meals and entertainment. Upon arrival in Bahrain, check in and overnight in and overnight in Bahrain.

FEB 15 BAHRAIN - AMMAN MT. NEBO–MADABA

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flightAmman. Upon arrival in Amman airport, meet and assist at the airport. Later transferto Mt. Nebo where Moses viewed the PromisedLand before he died. Then proceed to Madaba to visit the Monastery of St.George, which hosts the unique mosaic Map of Egypt, Jordan and Holy land. The map is believed to be the first one for this area, as itis built in the 6th century. Transfer to hotel for check in. Dinner andovernight.

FEB 16 AMMAN- PETRA– AMMAN

Breakfastinside the hotel. Morning proceed to the lost city of Petra with a Horseback Ride through thepicturesque SIQ, and visit the Treasury. Then proceed for a sightseeing tour of Amman. Dinner and overnight.

Petra

FEB 17 BORDER CROSSING TO ISRAEL - TIBERIAS

Hotel Breakfast and check out. Transfer to Sheik Hussein Bridge for crossing into Israel. Then toYardenit (Jordan River) where St. John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ. Continue toTiberias for check-in. Dinner and overnight.

FEB 18 TIBERIAS

Hotel Breakfast. Start the tour with Boatride on the Sea of Galilee. Drive to Capernaum,the town where Jesus made His home after leaving Nazareth. View the remains of the ancient Synagogue in which He taught, and on toTabgha, where the Miracle of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes tookplace. Drive to Mount of Beatitudes-- this is the site of the Sermon on the Mount and St. Peter’s Primary Church. Seethe remains of St. Peter’s House, the church of the first miracle in thewedding of Cana where Jesus performed His first miracle changing water intowine. Then, proceed to Mt. Tabor to see the Basilica of Transfiguration. Dinner andovernight at hotel in Tiberias.

FEB 19 TIBERIAS -JERUSALEM

Hotel Breakfast and check out. Travel to Haifa, visit the Basilica of Mt. Carmel,Ceasarea, which was built by Mt. Herod the Great to catchthe sight of the Aqueducts and the Roman Theater. This is where St. Paul was imprisoned. Proceed to Jaffa and visit the city where Yona set sailon. Drive to Ein Karem for St. John the Baptist Church and Church of Visitacion(Magnificat) where the Blessed Virgin Mary visited Elizabeth. Then to Jerusalem for hotel check in, dinner andovernight.

FEB 20 JERUSALEM- QUMRAN - DEAD SEA - JERUSALEM

Hotel Breakfast. Full day tour includes Mountof Olives to visit the Ascension Chapel. Visit the Church of Pater Noster to witnessthe “Lord’s Prayer”. Proceed to the Church of Dominus Flevit whereGod wept over Jerusalem. Move on and continue by walking down the PalmSunday road to the Church of All Nations and the Garden of Gethsemane to seethe Rock of Agony, the place where Jesus prayed before the Roman soldiers camefor Him. Visit the Dead Sea-- the lowest point on earth. Swim at the Dead Sea beach. Then proceed to Qumran,the caves of the Essences where Dead SeaScrolls where found by a wandering shepherd boy.Check in and dinner at the hotel.

FEB 21 JERUSALEM - BETHLEHEM – JERUSALEM

Hotel Breakfast. Visit St. Anne’s Church, Bethsaida Pool,Wailing Wall, Via Dolorosa and go through the Stations of the Cross to the Holy Sepulchre where Jesus was crucified,died and rose from the dead. Move to Church of Nativity. Visit also theBasilica and Grotto of the Nativity and the Manger Square. Return via Lazarus Tomb and Shepherd’s Field.Back to Jerusalemfor hotel dinner and overnight.

FEB 22 JERUSALEM -ST. CATHERINE

Hotel Breakfast and check out. Cross Taba border for Egypt withassistance on both borders. Arrive Sinaithen transfer to hotel in St. Catherine for check in, dinner and overnight.

FEB 23 ST.CATHERINE - CAIRO

Early morning mountainclimb to Mt. Sinai,where the Ten Commandments were given to Moses. On return, will have hotelbreakfast and check out. Visit St.Catherine Monastery, then travel to Cairoand see Moses Springs and Suez Canal. Check in at hotel inCairo fordinner and overnight.

FEB 24 CAIRO

After breakfast visit Egyptian Museum,where you can see the finest displays of artifacts, relics, statues and jewelers from all of the Pharaoh's reigns. Also see one of the Wonders of the World-- the Pyramids ofGiza and the Sphinx. You will also visit Church of Virgin Mary, Visit toSt. George Coptic Church, Visit to St. Sergius Church and Citadel. Then visitKhan El Khalili Bazaar for shopping. Inthe evening, we will have a Dinner Cruiseat Nile River with a Belly Dancing Show beforereturning to the hotel for overnight.

FEB 25 CAIRO – MANILA

Breakfastat hotel the rest of the day is free for last minute shopping. Then transfer to Cairo Airport for flight toManila.

FEB 26 ARRIVE MANILA

ArriveManila from a memorable tour. Homesweet home.

INCLUSIONS:

¨ EconomyRoundtrip Airfare via GF

¨ Meeting and assistance at Amman Airport

¨ Meeting and assistance at Sheikh Hussein

¨ Porterageof 1 luggage at hotels

¨ Sightseeingas per itinerary

¨ Englishspeaking Tour guide

¨ Privateair-conditioned motorcoach

¨ Breakfast in Hotel and Dinner

¨ Nile River Dinner in Cairo

¨ Allthroughout Guide in Holy land

¨ Allentrances in Jordan and Egypt as per Itinerary

¨ PilgrimageChaplain / Escort

¨ TravelInsurance

¨ SouvenirBag and Travel Kit

¨ PersonalizedLuggage tags

NO VISA REQUIRED.

ENGLAND AND BEYOND TOUR (Mar 27, 2012)

2012-01-17T22:47:00.000+08:00

Group Departure: March 27 - April 07, 2012
Tour Price from USD 3,388.00++ per person
Download Printable Itinerary

See Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, London Eye, Stonehenge, Roman Bath, Oxford Colleges, William Shakespeare's Birthplace, Beatles Story Museum, Glasgow Cathedral, Edinburgh Castle and more.

MARCH 27 MANILA

Checkin at the airport. Enjoy your flight going to London.

MARCH 28 MANILA – LONDON (D)

Morning arrival in London. You start your daywith a half day’s introductory sightseeing tour. See the Big Ben, the Houses ofParliament, Westminster Abbey where Prince William and Kate Middleton gotmarried. Then view Buckingham Palace. Transfer to hotel. The rest of the day isat leisure to discover more of London for yourself or to shop in Oxford Streetand Regent Street.

MARCH 29 LONDON – WINDSOR - STONEHENGE – BATH – LONDON (BD)

First stop will be Windsor, the royal town.Windsor is a charming town with wonderful cobbled streets filled with antiquestores and quaint bookshops, also home to the mighty medieval castle, weekendhome to the Queen. Then drive through Runnymede the place where King Johnsigned the Magna Carta and continue to Stonehenge, most famous prehistoricmonument in the world; its origins date back nearly 5000 years. The afternoonis spent in Bath, a beautiful Georgian city with delightful crescents, terracesand architecture. Soak up the atmosphere while you hear what it was like tolive in Roman Britain and how it felt to relax in the soothing and sacredwaters after a hard day working as a soldier.

MARCH 30 LONDON – OXFORD – STRATFORD UPON AVON(BD)

Breakfast inside the hotel. See the collegesin Oxford University. Visit Trinity College. View some of the places whereHarry Potter movie was taken. And head out through the Oxfordshire countrysideto Stratford-Upon-Avon. See Anne Hathaway's cottage at Shottery and then visitShakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford.

MARCH 31 STRATFORDUPON AVON – LIVERPOOL (BD)

Morning transfer to Liverpool. In thisbeautiful place, you will learn the popular Beatles story. The tale describestheir rise to stardom and their eventual departure from Liverpool. You will getto see many famous and interesting places on this tour including their homes,schools, birthplaces, Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields and many other landmarksassociated with The Beatles. This tour will give you a real insight into thelife and times of the Beatles. Entrance to the Beatles Story Museum included.

APRIL 01 LIVERPOOL – GLASGOW – EDINBURGH(BD)

Say goodbye to the beautiful place of Liverpool,then proceed to Edinburg via Glasgow. You will visit Glasgow Cathedral. A medieval cathedralwith an active Christian congregation in the Church of Scotland. Then a shorttravel to Edinburgh. Check-in at the hotel.

APRIL 02 EDINBURGH

Edinburgh is Scotland's capital city. Aguided sightseeing tour features Princes Street, the Royal Mile, Holyrood Houseand the new Scottish Parliament. After a visit to Edinburgh's imposing Castle, freetime to explore this breathtaking place.

APRIL 03 EDINBURGH – NEWCASTLE – YORK (BD)

After breakfast, you will be headed to York.Lunch at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. Then continue to York for a walking tour throughthe historic streets to the cobbled “Shambles,” around the city walls and tothe magnificent Minster. Dinner and overnight.

The London Eye

APRIL 04 YORK – CAMBRIDGE – LONDON (BD)

From York to Cambridge. Afternoon tour inCambridge before going to London. Explore quaint passages set around the historic market place andcolleges, where a unique and relaxing shopping if time permits. Dinner and overnight.

APRIL 05 LONDON (B)

Breakfast inside the hotel. Experience andsee the whole city of London through London Eye Observation Wheel commonly call the London Eye, or Millennium Wheel, formerly the Merlin Entertainments London Eye and before that, the British Airways London Eye is a135-metre (443 ft) tall giant Ferris Wheel situated on the banks of the River Thames in London. Freetime the whole afternoon.

APRIL 06 LONDON – MANILA (B)

Breakfast inside the hotel. Transfer toairport.

APRIL 07 MANILA

Arrival in Manila.

INCLUSIONS:

Roundtrip EconomyAirfare

4 Star Hotel Accommodationbased on Twin

Daily Breakfastinside the Hotel

Daily Dinner (Local and Chinese Meals)

Pre-DepartureMerienda Briefing

Local Guide duringCity Tour

Private LDC MotorCoach Services

Filipino Tour Escort/ Coordinator

Souvenir Bag andTravel Kit

Personalized LuggageTags

Travel Insurance (for60 years old and below)

Entrance toWestminster Abbey, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Beatles Story Museum

Excursion to RomanBath and Stonehenge

* Minimum of 25 persons for this tour to run.

AFFORDABLE EUROPE TOUR (Mar-April 2012)

2012-01-17T22:26:00.002+08:00

We're now gathering participants for this tour:

1) Group Departure: March 29 - April 10, 2012
Tour Price from USD 3,188.00++
Download Printable Itinerary

2) Group Departure: March 31 - April 13, 2012
Tour Price from USD 3,188.00++
Download Printable Itinerary

3) Group Departure: April 15-28, 2012
Tour Price from USD 3,188.00++
Download Printable Itinerary

Tour Highlights:

See Notre Dame Cathedral, Seine River Cruise in Paris, Ascend to the 2nd level of Eiffel Tower, Visit Brussels Grand Place and Atomium, Visit to Cheese and Clog Factory in Holland, Amsterdam Canal Cruise, Rhine River Cruise in Germany, See Heidelberg Castle, Black Forest Cuckoo Clock Demo, Photo stop in Rhine Falls, Mt. Mount Titlis, photo stop of Vaduz Castle, Visit to Swarovsky Factory, See St Mark’s Square and the Basilica, Visit to Vatican Museum ,Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica and the Square, the Colosseo & more.

A two week Grand Tour of 8 European Countries visiting France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy plus the Vatican City and the Principality of Liechtenstein

View from the Eiffel Tower, Paris

Scandinavia and Russia Tour (27 Mar 2012)

2012-01-17T22:02:00.005+08:00

Group Departure: March 27 - April 09, 2012
Tour Price from USD 3,888.00++
Printable Itinerary

14 Days Touring through Copenhagen Denmark, Oslo Norway, Stockholm Sweden, Helsinki Finland; Plus St.Petersburg and Moscow, Russia

MAR27 MANILA- COPENHAGEN

DepartManila on board of your favourite airline. Enjoy in flight meals andentertainment.

MAR28 COPENHAGEN

Arrive Copenhagen, upon arrival we will be metby our local guide to start our city tour of Copenhagen covering the famousland mark of Copenhagen…the Little Mermaid. Then after the city tour you aretransferred to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the afternoon is free tofreshen up from the long hour’s flight. Dinner will be served.

Copenhagen. Photo from cntraveller

MAR29 COPENHAGEN-OSLO

After breakfast, youwill have your NORTH ZEALAND EXCURSION with Entrance to FREDERIKSBORG CASTLE,then have a panoramic view of KRON - BORGCASTLE before heading to DFDS PORTfor your Ferry cruise to Oslo.

MAR30 OSLO

Arrive Oslo in the morningon board Scandinavian Seaways. Start your city tour of Oslo which includes theVIGELAND SCULPTURE PARK Entrance to the Viking Ships Museum and theCathedral. Dinner will be served at theChinese Restaurant.

MAR31 OSLO-STOCKHOLM

Afterbreakfast, board your private motorcoach and bid farewell to Norway as we makeour way to Stockholm, a spacious city with tree lined boulevards, green parksand museum.Upon arrival transfer to hotel for check-in.

APR01 STOCKHOLM

Uponarrival, you will start your city tour of Stockholm tour includes importantlandmarks such as the City Hall (venue of the annual"Nobel Peace Prize), the Gustav Adolfs Torg and the Royal Palace. End yourtour with the visit to the Vasa Ship Museum. After lunch, start one hour cruisewhich offers an unrivalled view of Stockholm. This is the best way to see the whole of Stockholm from the water.

APR02 STOCKHOLM-HELSINKI

After breakfast, Day is freefor some last minute shopping, later transfer to the ferry terminal whereyou'll board for an overnight Ferry ride to Finland's Capital Helsinki.

APR03 HELSINKI

After breakfast on board, city sightseeing tour takesin the most important and
interesting parts of Helsinki, such as the historical centre and the diplomatic quartersincluding "Senate Square", the"Presidential Palace", "City Hall", the"Parliament building", "Sibelius Park’ a stop at the"Sibelius Monument and Temppeliaukio Church. Then rest of the day is freeat leisure. Dinner

APR04 HELSINKI-STPETERSBURG

Afterbreakfast, travel by land to Helsinki and leave the capital of Finland as weenter the boarder of Russia to St. Petersburg. Upon arrival you will betransferred to your hotel for check-in. Then transfer to restaurant for dinner.

APR05 ST. PETERSBURG

Anexciting day awaits us as we start our tour of St. Petersburg. Drive alongNevsky Prospect and see St. Isaac's Cathedral, Peter and Paul Fortress. Thenvisit to Hermitage Museum will follow. Dinner

APR06 PETERSBURG-MOSCOW

Afterbreakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Moscow. After arrival,proceed to the city for a short orientation tour. Moscow is the capital ofRussian Federation. Moscow was founded by Yury Dolgoruky in 1147. NowadaysMoscow is the most important political and business center of Russia and has atrue "Russian" feel. Some people even call it a "big village".

APR07 MOSCOW

Thislovely morning, sightseeing tour will take you to Red Square to see St. BasilsCathedral and Lenins Tomb. Then later to the walls of the Kremlin Fortress.Then explore the Metro Stations which Stalin called “Palace for thePeople". Rest of the day will be spent for some last minute shopping ortake an optional Ballet show.

APR08 MOSCOW- MANILA

After breakfast we set your full day free to do asyou wish. This is the best time for shopping perhaps explores the city on yourown. Transfer to airport for your flightback to Manila.

APR09 ARRIVE - MANILA

Arrived Manila from a very memorable grand

INCLUSIONS:

RoundtripEconomy Airfare via TG /SU

FirstClass hotel Accommodation on twin

DailyBuffet Breakfast, hotel & Ship

Dailydinner (Local & Chinese Meals)

Cruisefrom Copenhagento Oslo

Cruisefrom Stockholmto Helsinki

Airfarefrom St. Petersburgto Moscow

Predeparture Merienda briefing

LocalGuide During city tour

Private Motorcoach

Filipino Tour Escort

SouvenirBag and Travel Kit

PersonalizedLuggage tags

* We are now gathering participants for this tour. Minimum of 25 persons to run this tour.

HIGHLIGHTS OF EASTERN EUROPE (March 30, 2012)

2011-12-13T14:09:00.001+08:00

HIGHLIGHTS OF EASTERN EUROPE
16 Days/ 5 Countries - Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Austria
Group Departure: March 30, 2012
Tour Price from $3,100.00+ per person

Printable Itinerary

Day 01 / Mar 30, 2012
MANILA / MUNICH
Depart Manila on board a prestigious airline on your way to Munich, Germany. Enjoy in flight meals and services.

Day 02 / Mar 31
MUNICH (D)
Welcome to Munich. After immigration formalities, proceed to the exit for meet and greet then check in to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 03 / Apr 01
MUNICH - NUREMBERG (B,D)
This morning, discover the sights of Munich such as the world famous Hofbräuhaus, the National Theater with the Royal Pal-ace, Marienplatz and the Viktualien Market with its colorful outdoor stalls. Later, travel to Nuremberg, Bavaria’s second largest city. Upon arrival, go on an orientation tour to learn more about this beautiful city. Then check in to your hotel.

Day 04 / Apr 02
NUREMBURG - PRAGUE (B,D)
After breakfast, cross over the Czech border on your way to one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, Prague. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day is free.

Old Town Square in Prague. Photo by J. De Guzman

Day 05 / Apr 03
PRAGUE (B,D)
Today, your city tour will take to some of the most interesting attractions of Prague such as the Old Royal Castle which includes the Vladislav Hall, the St. Georges Basilica, Rosenberg Palace and the Powder Tower Also, visit St. Vitus Cathedral, the Seat of the Archbishop of Prague and the most important church in the country. Afterwards, visit the Golden Lane and Daliborka Tower. On the list is also a visit to Charles Bridge, and the Astronomical Clock, situated at the Old Town Hall where you can shop for some Bohemian crystals.

Day 06 / Apr 04
PRAGUE - DRESDEN - BERLIN (B,D)
Cross to Germany to the city of Dresden to see the Frauenkirche, Germany’s most important Protestant church before admiring the Procession of Dukes – a colossal mosaic on the Castle wall. See the cathedral and the tiered façade of the Semper Opera House – the only theatre in Germany that bears the name of its architect. Proceed to Berlin for check in to your hotel.

Day 07 / Apr 05
BERLIN (B,D)
We’ll commence our city tour of Berlin with a visit to the Brandenburg Gate, Under den Linden Boulevard, German State Opera House, Reichstag Building and see the Wall Museum at the historic ‘Checkpoint Charlie.’

Day 08 / Apr 06
BERLIN - WARSAW (B,D)
Breakfast at the hotel, and then travel over the Polish border on your way to Warsaw, the country’s capital. Upon arrival, transfer to a local restaurant for dinner. Then check in to your hotel.

Day 09 / Apr 07
WARSAW (B,D)
Drive and see the neoclassical Lazienki Palace, or Palace in the Water, intended to serve as a bathhouse, habitable pavilion and a garden grotto. Later, visit the Ghetto Memorial, the memorial commemorating the 1943 uprising in the Warsaw ghetto, and the Old Town.

Day 10 / Apr 08
WARSAW - CZESTOCHOWA - AUSCHWITZ - KRAKOW (B,D)
We will visit Jasna Gora, the monastery near Czestochowa, and admire its Black Madonna, which is venerated as the “Queen of Poland” and has become the country’s national symbol. Continue your visit to Auschwitz Museum and Birkenau Museum, chilling reminders of the Holocaust. Dinner and overnight

Day 11 / Apr 09
KRAKOW (B,D)
After breakfast, go on a full day sightseeing today starts with a drive to Lagiewniki to visit the Shrine of the Divine Mercy of Sister Faustina. Then continue to the Old Town. After lunch break, visit the famous Wieliczka Saltmines, a centuries old tourist attraction.

Budapest

Day 12 / Apr 10
KRAKOW - WADOWICE - BUDAPEST (B,D)
After breakfast, drive to Wadowice, the birthplace of Pope John Paul II. Then cross the Hungarian border on your way to the twin city of Budapest. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel. Rest of the day s free.

Day 13 / Apr 11
BUDAPEST (B,D)
After breakfast, go on a city sightseeing tour which includes the Heroes Square, a visit to the Fishermen’s Bastion and plus the historic Matyas Templon (St. Matthias Church). Balance of the day will be free for shopping.

Day 14 / Apr 12
BUDAPEST - VIENNA (B,D)
Breakfast at the hotel before crossing the border of Austria. Upon arrival in Vienna, visit Schonbrunn Palace, the palace and gardens illustrate the tastes, interests, and aspirations of successive Habsburg monarchs. View the Hofburg, Opera and Rathaus. Some free time to explore the Old Town before check in to your hotel.

Day 15 / Apr 13
VIENNA / MANILA (B)
After breakfast, some free time until your departure transfer to airport for flight back to Manila.

Day 16 / Apr 14
MANILA
Arrival in Manila. Home sweet Home!

INCLUSIONS:
 Roundtrip AIRFARE
 First Class Hotel
 Daily American Breakfast
 Local / Chinese Dinner
 Luxury Private Coach
 Tour Escort
 TIPS FOR DRIVER / GUIDE
 FREE 16 DAY TRAVEL INSURANCE
 Pre-departure briefing

EXCLUSIONS:
Visa Fees: Schengen: PHP 5000.00
Travel Tax, Terminal Fee & Airline Taxes
Drinks and Beverage
Airport / Hotel Porterage

EUROPEAN ESSENTIALS (Mar 31, 2012)

2011-12-13T13:29:00.001+08:00

EUROPEAN ESSENTIALS
15-Days, 8 countries
Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and France
Group Departure: March 31, 2012
Tour Price from $3,180.00+ per person

Printable Itinerary

Day 01 / Mar 31
MANILA / ROME
Depart Manila on board a prestigious airline for an overnight flight to Rome. Enjoy in flight meals and entertainment.

Day 02 / Apr 01
ROME (D)
Welcome to Rome! Upon arrival, proceed to the exit where our representative will meet and assist you. Dinner and transfer to your hotel.

Day 03 / Apr 02

The Colosseum in Rome

ROME (B,D)
Drive to the city for a full day city sightseeing tour which includes a visit to the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. Afterwards, continue the tour seeing the Colosseum, Roman Forum, the beautiful Piazza de Venezia, the Spanish Steps and the Fountain of Trevi. After dinner return to your hotel.

Day 04 / Apr 03
ROME - ASSISI - PISA - MONTECATINI TERME (B,D)
Ascend to Assisi, the beloved town of St. Francis, to visit the Upper and Lower Basilica and see the Tomb of St. Francis where you can offer some prayers. Drive to Pisa for a photo stop of the famous Leaning Tower and Pisa Cathedral. Transfer to your hotel in Montecatini Terme for dinner and check in.

Day 05 / Apr 04
MONTECATINI TERME - VENICE (B,D)
Continue your drive to Venice. Upon arrival, take your boat to Venice Island. See San Marco Square and admire the Byzantine St. Mark’s Cathedral, the Clock Tower, the Bridge of Sighs and a panoramic view of the lavish Doge’s Palace. Afterwards see a Murano Glass blowing demonstration. Then re-board your coach for dinner and check in to your hotel for overnight.

Day 06 / Apr 05
VENICE - SALZBURG (B,D)
Cross the Austrian border today to Salzburg. Upon arrival, proceed to visit the Mirabelle Gardens and the Old Town to see the house of Mozart. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 07 / Apr 06
SALZBURG - INNSBRUCK - VADUZ - LUCERNE (B,D)
Check out of your hotel and transfer to Innsbruck, see the Golden Roof before your visit to the Swarovski Crystal Gallery for a chance to buy some crystal ornaments. Later, cross the border to Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein, dominated by its Castle perched on a hilltop. Continue to Switzer-land on your way to the lakeside town of Lucerne for dinner and overnight.

The Chapel Bridge in Lucerne

Day 08 / Apr 07
LUCERNE (B,D)
This morning, board your Rotair cable car on your way to Mt. Titlis for a magnificent view of the other surrounding peaks before spending the rest of the day at the Old Town shopping for famous Swiss products like, knives, chocolates, Bally shoes and perhaps, a Rolex or an Omega watch.

Day 09 / Apr 08
LUCERNE - RHINE FALLS - TITISEE - RHINELAND AREA (B,D)
Morning stop in Schaffhausen to view the mighty Rhine Falls then cross the German border to Titisee, renowned for its Cuckoo Clock industry. Afterwards, drive past the Black Forest region on your way to your hotel for overnight.

Day 10 / Apr 09
RHINELAND AREA - COLOGNE - AMSTERDAM (B,D)
More of German countryside sceneries as you make your way to Cologne and visit the 13th - century Gothic Cathedral with its soaring twin – spires. Then cross over the Dutch border to Amsterdam.

Day 11 / Apr 10
AMSTERDAM (B,D)
This morning, visit a Cheese and Clog Farm and learn how the Dutch people mastered the art of making cheese and clogs. Afterwards, take photos of a picturesque Windmill then drive to a Diamond Polishing House for a visit. Later, go on a cruise of the ancient canals of Holland’s Golden age aboard a glass - roofed launch and admire the gabled houses and hump-back drawbridges. Afterwards, proceed to the restaurant for dinner then back to your hotel.

Day 12 / Apr 11
AMSTERDAM - BRUSSELS - PARIS (B,D)
Drive through the Belgian border to Brussels. Stop in Heysel district for photos of the famous Atomium before heading to the beautiful Grand Place and also see the Mannekin Pis. Then cross the French border to the glittering capital, Paris!

Arc de Triomphe, Paris

Day 13 / Apr 12
PARIS (B,D)
After breakfast, drive to the city for a full day city tour of Paris as you see the sights of both banks of the River Seine: Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees, Concorde Square, the Place Vendome, Opera House, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower plus a cruise along the River Seine by Bateaux Mouche. After a short free time for shopping, proceed to dinner then return to your hotel.

Day 14 / Apr 13
PARIS / MANILA (B)
Your memorable tour concludes today with a transfer to the airport for your flight back to Manila.

Day 15 / Apr 14
MANILA
Arrival in Manila. Home sweet home!

INCLUSIONS:
 Roundtrip AIRFARE
 First Class Hotel
 Daily American Breakfast
 Hotel or Chinese Restaurant Dinner
 Luxury Private Coach
 FREE 15-DAY TRAVEL INSURANCE
 TIPS FOR DRIVER / GUIDE
 Tour Escort
 Pre-departure

EXCLUSIONS:
Visa Fees: Schengen
Travel Tax, Terminal Fee & Airline Taxes
Drinks and Beverage
Airport / Hotel Porterage

* A minimum of 25 persons is required to run this tour. If interested, please send us your passport names so that we can include you in the list. We will then inform that the tour is pushing through once the quota has been reached.

EUROPEAN PILGRIMAGE (01 Apr 2012)

2011-12-13T11:45:00.001+08:00

EUROPEAN PILGRIMAGE
15-Day Tour of France, Italy, Spain and Portugal
Group Departure: April 01, 2012
Tour Price from $3,080.00+ per person

Printable Itinerary

Day 01 / Apr 01, 2012
MANILA / ROME
Depart Manila on board a prestigious airline for an overnight flight to Rome, Italy. Enjoy in - flight meals and services.

Day 02 / Apr 02

St. Peter's Basilica. Photo by J. De Guzman

ROME (D)
Welcome to Rome! After immigration formalities, meet and greet then transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day is free for rest and relaxation.

Day 03 / Apr 03
ROME (B,D)
Visit the Four Major Basilicas of Rome: St. Peter’s Basilica, Basilica of St. John in Lateran, Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls and the Scala Santa. Afterwards, see the Colosseum, Piazza de Venezia, and if time permits, visit the Sta. Maria Maggiore Basilica, the Fountain of Trevi and the Spanish Steps.

Day 04 / Apr 04
ROME - ASSISI - FLORENCE (B,D)
We leave Rome and ascend to the beloved city of St. Francis, Asissi, to see the Upper and Lower Basilica where the Tomb of St. Francis lies, visit also the Church of Porziuncula where St. Francis prayed. Later to renaissance Florence. Visit the Cathedral of Florence, see the “Gates of Paradise” adorning the Baptistery, Piazza della Signoria and the see the Santa Croce Church. Then check in to your hotel.

Day 05 / Apr 05
FLORENCE - PISA - NICE (B,D)
This morning we travel towards Pisa to see the famous Leaning Tower, then cross the border of Italy on your way to Nice, the playground of the rich and famous!

Monaco

Day 06 / Apr 06
NICE - MONTE CARLO - NICE (B,D)
After breakfast, visit a Perfume Factory in Eze where the area is famous. Then drive to the nearby Principality of Monaco to see the Royal Palace and Annunciation Cathedral where Princess Grace was buried before going to Monte Carlo where you can try your luck at the famous Casino Monte Carlo. Return to Nice for overnight.

Day 07 / Apr 07
NICE - LOURDES (B,D)
Departure to Lourdes, a major pilgrimage site in Europe. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day is free. If time permits, visit the Grotto of Massabielle and drink its miraculous spring water.

Day 08 / Apr 08
LOURDES (B,D)
The whole day is free for private devotion. You may wish to go to the Sanctuary to visit the 3 Basilicas, walk the Station of the Cross or take the Holy Bath. In evening, buy a candle and join the Candle-light Procession.

Day 09 / Apr 09
LOURDES - ZARAGOSA - BURGOS (B,D)
Depart Lourdes and cross the Spanish border to Burgos. Stop in Zaragosa to visit the Shrine of the Our Lady of the Pillar. Continue to Burgos for dinner and overnight.

Day 10 / Apr 10
BURGOS - SALAMANCA - FATIMA (B,D)
After breakfast, continue your drive to Salamanca for photos of the beautiful Plaza Mayor. Then travel over the Portugese border on your way to Fatima, another major pilgrimage center. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day is free.

Day 11 / Apr 11

Our Lady of Fatima Basilica

FATIMA (B,D)
Free day for private devotion. You may spend the day in meditating at the Chapel of Apparition, the very heart of the Sanctuary. It was the first edifice constructed at the site of Our Lady’s apparitions and a marbled pillar is erected on the exact spot on which the State of our Lady is placed. Visit the Great White Basilica to see the tombs of Francisco, Jacinta and Lucia and its 15 altars dedicated to the 15 mysteries of the Rosary and the scenes of the apparition represented in the stained glass. Litany of Our Lady. Tonight you may participate in the inspirational Candlelight Procession.

Day 12 / Apr 12
FATIMA - AVILA - MADRID (B,D)
Continue our journey back to Spain, to Avila, the City of Kings and Saints, completely encircled by 11th century walls and the birthplace of St. Therese, one of the greatest mystics of the Catholic Church. Visit the Cathedral of the Con-vent of St. Therese. Continue to Madrid for overnight.

Day 13 / Apr 13
MADRID (B,D)
This morning, go on a sightseeing tour which includes the Puerta del Sol, the Gran Via, the elegant Paseo de Castellan, Cibeles Fountain and the Plaza de Espagna with its Monument to Cervantes. The balance of the day is free.

Day 14 / Apr 14
MADRID / MANILA (B)
Your memorable tour concludes today with a transfer to the airport for your flight back to Manila.

Day 15 / Apr 15 / MANILA
Arrival in Manila. Home sweet home!

INCLUSIONS:
Roundtrip AIRFARE
First Class Hotel
Daily American Buffet Breakfast
Standard Dinner or Chinese Dinner
Luxury Private Coach
Tour Escort
TIPS FOR DRIVER / GUIDE
FREE 15-DAY TRAVEL INSURANCE
Pre-Departure Briefing

EXCLUSIONS:
Visa Fees: Schengen
Travel Tax, Terminal Fee & Airline Taxes
Drinks and Beverage
Airport / Hotel Porterage

HOLY LAND with EGYPT (Mar/ Apr/ May 2012)

2011-12-13T11:31:00.001+08:00

HOLY LAND TOUR
12-Day Tour of Jordan, Israel and Egypt
Group Departure: March 18, April 16 and May 14, 2012
Tour Price from $2,458.00+ per person (Full Board)

Printable Itinerary

Day 01
MANILA / AMMAN (L,D)
Depart Manila on board your flight to Amman. Enjoy in-flight meals and ser-vices. Arrive at Amman Airport. After air-port formalities, board your coach and transfer to your hotel. Check in, dinner and overnight.

Petra

Day 02
PETRA EXCURSION (B,L,D)
Today, you will visit the fabled “Red Rose City” of Petra, the 2000 year old Nabatean capital, now one of the world’s wonders. Take a horse ride to the Siq. Then walk to the Treasury, a rose colored monumental building artfully carved out of sheer rock. Visit the other temples and tombs carved into the mountainside. Return to your hotel for dinner and over-night.

Day 03
AMMAN – JERICHO – MT. TABOR – TIBERIAS (B,L,D)
Check out of your hotel. Continue to Madaba, land of fruit and water where you can see the first Holyland Map. Continue to Mt. Nebo, believed to be the burial site of Moses. Drive to Allenby Border and cross into Israel. Drive to Jericho, the city that Joshua destroyed and the oldest city in the world. Proceed to Mt. Tabor to visit the Church of the Transfiguration. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Day 04
GALILEE AREA (B,L,D)
Visit the Beatitudes Church where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter and Tabgha where Jesus performed the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Continue to Capernaum where you will see the 4th century Synagogue and St. Peter’s House. Take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Continue to Cana where Jesus changed the water into wine. Couples will renew their marriage vows in the Church of Cana. Next stop is Nazareth. It is here where the Angel Gabriel appeared before Mary and where Jesus spent his boyhood. Visit the Church of Annunciation and St. Joseph’s Workshop and the home of the Holy Family. Proceed to Yardenit, a baptismal site on the Jordan River. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 05
TIBERIAS – CAESAREA – HAIFA – JAFFA – JERUSALEM(B,L,D)
Drive to Caesarea, built by Herod the Great, where Peter baptized the centurion Cornelius. See the Roman Amphitheater, the Aqueduct and many other ruins. Continue to Mount Carmel in Haifa,
Israel’s third largest city. See the Bahai Shrine and Gardens. Next stop is Jaffa, Which like Venice and Genoa, is a great port of times. Walk through Jaffa’s reconstructed Artist’s Quarter. Drive through the bustling city of Tel Aviv on your way to Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Day 06

Room of the Last Supper

JERUSALEM - BETLEHEM (B,L,D)
Drive to the Mount of Olives for a breath-taking view of the city. Visit the Pater Noster Church, the Dominus Flevit, the Church of All Nations and the Garden of Gethsemane. Proceed to Mount Zion where you will visit the Room of the Last Supper, King David’s Tomb, the Dormition Abbey, and St. Peter’s Church. Then drive to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. Visit the Church of Nativity and the Shepherd’s Fields. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Day 07
JERUSALEM - QUMRAN - DEAD SEA (B,L,D)
Enter the Old city. Stop at the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus healed a blind man. Visit the Church of St. Anne. Then follow the Via Dolorosa (14 Stations of the Cross) starting at the Church of Flagellation (Lithostratos) to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the site of the Calvary. On to Mount Moriah to visit the Western Wall. Then on to the Dead Sea, the lowest spot on earth. Experience floating on its mineral rich waters. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Day 08
JERUSALEM - TABA BORDER - ST. CATHERINE (B,L,D)
After breakfast, we will enter the Old City through the Dung Gate to visit the Wailing Wall and the Temple Area, adjacent to the Alaksa Mosque and Dome of the Rock. Pool of Bethesda, Church of St. Ann – Zion Sisters – Via Dolorosa – Holy Sepulcher. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 09
ST. CATHERINE - MOUNT SINAI - CAIRO (B,L,D)
Early morning mountain climbing on Mount Sinai, where the Ten Commandments were given to Moses. Enjoy the breathtaking view of sunrise from the peak. Return to your hotel for breakfast. Check out then drive to Cairo City, passing Suez Canal and Moses Springs. Check in at the Hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 10

The Pyramids of Giza

CAIRO (B,L,D)
Start the day at the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, housing the gold treasures of Tutankhamen. See a wonder of the ancient world, the Pyramids of Giza and the nearby Sphinx. Visit the Hanging Church and the Church of Abu Sergah. Dinner Cruise and show at the Nile River. Return to your hotel for overnight.

Day 11
CAIRO / MANILA (B,L)
Check out. Remainder of the day is at leisure. Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

Day 12
MANILA
Arrival in Manila. Home sweet home!

INCLUSIONS:

 Roundtrip Airfare

 First Class Hotel

 Daily Breakfast and Dinner

 Luxury Private Coach

 Local Guide

 Airport Transfers

 Tours & Admissions

EXCLUSIONS:

 Visa Fees & Border taxes: $ 160

 Travel Tax, Airline Tax & $ 300 (subject to change)

 Terminal Fee Php 750

 Travel Insurance

 Tipping: U$ 10.00 / person / day

 Airport / Hotel Porterage

Holy Land, Jordan and Israel - LAND only (Feb 2012)

2011-12-13T11:14:00.000+08:00

HOLY LAND, JORDAN AND ISRAEL
Group Departure: February 12, 2012
Land Tour Price from $1,398.00+ per person

Printable Itinerary

Day 01 / Feb 12, 2012
ARRIVAL - MADABA -MT. NEBO - AMMAN (D)
Arrive at Amman Airport. After airport formalities, board your coach and prepare for your tour, visit Madaba, the land of Fruit and water. Here you will visit the Church of St. George where you can see the oldest surviving mosaic map of the Holyland. Continue to Mt. Nebo believed to be the burial site of Moses. Enjoy a spectacular view of the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea. Transfer to your hotel. Check in, dinner and overnight.

Day 02 / Feb 13
PETRA EXCURSION (B, D)
Today, you will visit the fabled “Red Rose City” of Petra, the 2000 year old Nabatean capital, now one of the world’s wonders. Take a horse ride to the Siq. Then walk to the Treasury, a rose colored monumental building artfully carved out of sheer rock. Visit the other temples and tombs carved into the mountain-side. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 03 / Feb 14

The Treasury in Petra

AMMAN - ALLENBY BORDER -JERUSALEM (D)
Drive to Allenby Border and cross into Israel. Arrive in Jerusalem, rest of the day is at leisure. Dinner and overnight in your hotel.

Day 04 / Feb 15
JERUSALEM -BETLEHEM (B,D)
Drive to the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of the city. Enter the Old City and walk through Armenian and Jewish quarters to the recently excavated and re-stored Cardo, the Roman road. See the Jewish Wailing Wall, the Kotel, and continue to the Christian quarter. Walk along the Via Dolorosa and visit the Church of Nativity and Manger’s Square. Back to your hotel for an overnight.

Day 05 / Feb 16
CAESAREA, HAIFA, ACRE and ROSH HANIKRA (B, D)
Drive along the coastal road to Caesarea, the ancient Roman capital and port, with a walking tour of the theatre and the archaeological ruins and excavations. Continue to Haifa, with a scenic view of the city and the port and its Bahai Gardens. Continue via Nahariya to Rosh Hanikra to visit the limestone grottos on the border with Lebanon. Next stop in Acre to visit the Crusaders and Turkish under-ground city and crypt. Walk through the Old City and the Oriental Market, the Arab Mosque and the Old Port. Return to point of departure.

Day 06 / Feb 17
GALILEE AREA (B, D)
Depart via the Coastal Road and the landscape of the Lower Galilee to Nazareth, the town where Jesus spent his childhood. Visit the Church of Annunciation and the Church of St. Joseph. Continue, via Kana to Tiberias, the lovely resort town. Drive along the Lake Kinnereth to visit Capernaum and view the ruins of the ancient synagogue where Jesus taught. Continue to Taiga, the sight of the Miracle of Fish and Loaves, located at the foot of the Golan Heights. Continue to Yardenit, the famous baptismal site, where the Jordan River leaves the Sea of Galilee towards the Dead Sea. Back to your hotel for overnight.

Day 07 / Feb 18
JERUSALEM - ALLENBY BORDER - AMMAN
Drive to Allenby Border and cross into Amman. Arrive in Amman. Transfer to Amman airport for departure flight.

INCLUSIONS:

 First Class Hotel

 Daily Breakfast and Dinner

 Luxury Private Coach

 Local Guide

 Airport Transfers

 Tours & Admissions

EXCLUSIONS:

Visa Fees : $60

Border taxes: $ 80

Roundtrip Airfare

Travel Tax

Airline Tax

Terminal Fee Php 750

Travel Insurance

Tipping: U$ 10.00 / person / day Hotel Porterage

AEGEAN DISCOVERY (06APR12, 18MAY12)

2011-12-13T10:50:00.000+08:00

AEGEAN DISCOVERY
Visiting Turkey and Greece
Group Departure: April 6 and May 18, 2012
Tour Price from $2,898.00+ per person

Printable Itinerary

Day 01
MANILA / ISTANBUL
Depart Manila on board your flight to Amman. Enjoy in-flight meals and ser-vices.

Day 01
ISTANBUL
Morning arrival transfer to the old town for a guided tour to Topkapi Palace, St. Sophia, Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar will commence. The day ends with an overnight stay in Istanbul.

Day 02
CAPPADOCIA (B,D)
After breakfast, we depart for Ankara where we will visit Mausoleum of Ataturk and its Museum. This is the burial place of the national hero who founded modern Republic of Turkey. We then depart for Cappadocia. After a picturesque trip along the Salt Lake, we will arrive in Cappadocia for an over-night stay.

Day 03
CAPPADOCIA (B,D)
Early in the morning an optional Balloon tour is available. Then, full day excursion in Cappadocia including visits to the Oztanik Underground City, Open Air Museum in Goreme and Natural Fortress in Uchisar. Here, we will have the opportunity to discover and understand the rich history behind local handicrafts like hand-made car-pets Turkish tiles, onyx and potteries. Overnight stay in Cappadocia.

Day 04
PAMUKKALE (B,D)
Early departure for Pamukkale. On the way, visit the 13th century Seljukian masterpiece Sultanhan Caravanserai before arrival in Konya. After visiting the Mausoleum of Mevlana, we continue our drive to Pamukkale for an overnight stay.

Day 05
KUSADASI (B,D)
After breakfast, visit the ancient Hierapolis with the magnificent Necropolis, graveyard and the lime cascade. Thereafter, we continue our drive to Seljuk to visit Temple of Artemis ‘‘one of the seven wonders of the ancient world‘’ then continue to Kusadasi for overnight stay.

Day 06
KUSADASI (B,D)
Morning drive to Ancient city of Ephesus where we will visit its magnificent library, theater and temples. Then, we continue to Virgin Mary’s House. In the afternoon, experience and participate in an upbeat fashion show show-casing the unique leather products manufactured in Turkey. Overnight stay in Kusadasi.

Day 07
KUSADASI AT LEISURE (B)
The whole day is free for private activities. You may avail the numerous optional tours available (admission fees to be paid on the spot), or relax in one of the many open air cafes.

Day 08
KUSADASI – PATMOS (B,L,D)
After breakfast transfer to port and embark a cruise ship at Kusadasi for 3 days in the Greek Islands, enjoy amenities and entertainment on board. Cruise to Patmos. Patmos is the northernmost island of the Dodecanese island group. Its interesting landscape features low barren hills succeeded by small plateau, while its lacy coastline is deeply intended by tens of promontories forming countless picturesque bays and coves. Dinner and overnight on board.

Day 09
CRUISING SANTORINI (B,L,D)
This morning’s port of call is Santorini, an Island famous for its sunsets, and white houses. You can explore the is-land on your own or you may join an optional tour. Sail to Athens. Dinner on board.

Day 10
ATHENS (B)
After disembarking from the cruise, then proceed with your city tour. See the sights including Syntagma Square (Constitution Square), the House of the Parliament and the Tomb of the Un-known Soldier. Visit the Panathenaic Olympic Stadium and see the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Visit the world-famous site of the Acropolis, the Parthenon and Museum. Drive to your hotel for overnight.

Day 11
ATHENS / MANILA (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Then transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

Day 12
MANILA
Arrival in Manila. Home sweet home!

INCLUSIONS:

 Roundtrip Airfare

 Meals as per itinerary

 Tours and entrance fees as per itinerary

 Hotel Accommodation

 Luxury Coach

 Local Guide

 Airport Transfers

EXCLUSIONS:

 Port Taxes

 Visa Fees: Turkey

 Travel Tax, Airline Tax & Terminal Fee

 Travel Insurance

 Tipping: U$ 10.00 / person / day

 Airport / Hotel Porterage

New Zealand Land Arrangement

2011-12-06T11:44:00.001+08:00

To download printable land arrangement:
New Zealand Land Arrangement until April 2012

There’s a reason the sun shines on New Zealand before anywhere else – every new day in Aotearoa is something to cherish! Small, remote and thinly populated, yes, but NZ punches well above its weight with its outlandish scenery, fabulous festivals, superb food and wine, and magical outdoor experiences. Equally impressive is NZ’s potent, mainstream Maori culture. This is a country that recognises and celebrates its indigenous people – the world is a kinder, gentler, more respectful place down here! And while the fanfare surrounding the Lord of the Rings trilogy is waning, visiting the real-life Middle-earth still has a geeky allure - LOTR director Peter Jackson's filmmaking prowess still holds Wellington (aka ‘Wellywood’) in its thrall.

In 2007, around 2.2 million overseas visitors tramped, wheeled, wined and dined across the country, up almost 40% from a relatively meagre 1.6 million in 1999. But at what cost? Extra visitors strain the clean, green environment NZ is renowned for, and all this wilderness frenzy is having an impact: the skies above Franz Josef Glacier buzz with droning aeroplanes, tourists still shampoo in creeks, and locals simply avoid entire chunks of NZ because of the tourist hordes. In response, the Department of Conservation (DOC) has implemented a booking system for its Great Walks - there are nine including the Milford Track, Routeburn Track and Abel Tasman Coast Track - to avoid overcrowding and minimise environmental damage. The NZ tourism industry is embracing all things ‘eco’, while regionally, eateries and farmers markets selling local produce present sustainable options. Regardless, hardcore environmentalists claim the industry and government aren’t moving fast enough. Drought and climate change are fanning the flames...

On the broader arts front, Kiwi live music remains brilliant (dub, hip-hop, reggae and rock), while NZ radio remains abysmal. Culturally, debate rages between anti- and pro-arts lobbies: one side would rather chew their arms off than see another art gallery open; the other sees cultural celebration as the future for both community and tourism. How does NZ forge its cultural identity? What role do the arts play? Do cultural attractions lure the tourists? From our perspective, they most certainly do!

And then of course there’s the national obsession – rugby. After yet another dazzling failure at the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, the All Blacks are desperate to redeem themselves on home soil in 2011. The most successful rugby team in history (a 74% winning record!), the beloved All Blacks, were red-hot favourites in 2007, but crumbled under sustained quarter-final pressure from the French. Errors, poor decision-making and appalling umpiring delivered the New Zealanders a 20-18 defeat. The dumbfounded nation wept in the streets and looked around for someone to blame – calls for wholesale sackings were followed by ugly character assassinations in the media. The fragile national psyche took a beating, distraught Kiwis turning to each other and saying, ‘We suck at the only thing we’re good at!’ Until 2011, the team will have to satisfy itself with routine demolitions of Australia and South Africa in the annual Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cups.

The national real estate boom continues to mesmerise sellers and infuriate buyers. Rising house prices have stabilized with rising interest rates, but wages have failed to keep up: Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington are among the world’s most expensive cities in terms of housing affordability (relative to income).
Other topics on local tongues include fixed-net fishing endangering dolphins, vexatious treaty settlements, and didymo (aka ‘rock snot’) infestation in rivers and lakes. And don’t get anyone started on petrol prices...
That’s contemporary NZ in a nutshell! You’re in for an awesome trip. Back home on the couch, your memories will drift from rampaging outdoor activities to world-class food, wine and beer (oh, especially the wine and beer), and chilled-out locals. But your most sparkling recollections will come courtesy of NZ’s natural splendour – there are few countries on this lonely planet as diverse, unspoiled and utterly, utterly photogenic.

Source: Lonely Planet
Last updated: Jun 7, 2011

Photos are Skycab's own.

Best of India Tour (Jan. 28, 2012)

2011-12-01T10:47:00.001+08:00

Here's a new tour to consider for January 2012! We are now gathering participants for this.

Price from $1,788.00+ per person (Twin Sharing)
January 28, 2012 - February 8, 2012
Download Printable Itinerary

DAY 01 JAN 28 ARRIVE DELHI
You will be met and assisted on arrival in Delhi and proceed to your hotel.

DAY 02 JAN 29 DELHI (BD)
Breakfast inside the hotel. You will visit the 12th century Qutub Minar, gracefully hand-carved for its entire height of 234ft, and the iron pillar, which has withstood the ravages of time and not rusted even after 1,500 years. You will also visit the mausoleum of emperor Humayun - a forerunner of the Mughal style of architecture. We will then drive past the India Gate (war memorial dedicated to the lives of Indian soldiers), the president's residence (formally the Viceroy's Palace), Parliament House and the Secretariat buildings - an interesting blend of the Victorian and 20th century architecture. You will also visit the Laxmi Narayan Temple - a modern Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

The Taj Mahal. Photo from Squidoo

DAY 02 JAN 30 DELHI –AGRA (B/D)
After breakfast in the morning proceed for the full day city tour of New Delhi. In New Delhi visit Qutab Minar, the tallest stone tower in India; Humayun’s Tomb built in the Indo Persian style and a predecessor to The Taj Mahal in Agra; India Gate – A War Memorial Arch. Also drive past the President’s house, Parliament house, Government secretariat buildings and Connaught place – the heart of New Delhi and a busy shopping center. Later we depart for Agra by surface. Check in at the hotel.

DAY 03 JAN 31 AGRA (B/D)

After breakfast in morning half day city tour of Agra city. Visit the red sandstone Agra Fort, which stands like a crescent on the banks of the Jamuna River enclosed by forbidding 20-meter high walls, with a 12- meter moat between them. Three successive Mughal emperors - Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jehan. Then proceed for the famous white marble mausoleum, which was built in the middle of the 17th century by the Moghul emperor Shah Jehan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal.

DAY 04 FEB 01 AGRA- JAIPUR (B/D)
Post breakfast we depart for Jaipur by surface. Evening at your own leisure.

DAY 05 FEB 02 JAIPUR (B/D)
This morning you will drive 11kms in the outskirts of the city to visit Amber Fort, the ancient capital of the State until 1728. Visit the Temple of Kali, the Hall of Victory or Jai Mahal and Jagmandir. You can have the unique experience of traveling on elephant back to and from the top of the hill on which the fort is situated. In the afternoon visit the Observatory, the Palace of Winds and the City Palace and Museum. Spend time in crowded lanes & by lanes of pink city, haggling and souvenir-hunting.

DAY 06 FEB 03 JAIPUR - JODHPUR BY TRAIN (B/D)
Morning at leisure of own activities. Later transfer to the railway station to board train to Jodhpur. Meeting and assistance on arrival at the Jodhpur railway station and transfer to the hotel.

Mehrangarh Fort. Photo from Dirk Ott (Shutterstock)

DAY 07 FEB 04 JODHPUR (B/D)
Jodhpur is the second largest city in the state of Rajasthan. In the morning, visit the MEHRANGARH FORT. Considered one of India's best forts, this invincible stronghold of the Marwars sits on a steep hill lording over a wonderful view of its surroundings. Return to the hotel for overnight stay.

DAY 08 FEB 05 JODHPUR- JAISALMER BY SURFACE (B/D)
Post breakfast we depart for Jaisalmer by surface. Check in at the hotel of stay.

DAY 09 FEB 06 JAISALMER - DELHI (B)
Breakfast at the hotel of stay. In the morning, we proceed with a half - day tour of the city. Visit the famous Havelis (mansions) known for their frescoes. Made of local golden-yellow sand stone and wood, some of the havelis are still in excellent condition. The most elaborate and magnificent of all the Jaisalmer havelis is the Patwaon Ki Haveli. The haveli was built between 1800 and 1860 by five Jain brothers. Salim Singh Ki Haveli and Nathmal Ki Haveli are the other two havelis that are opened to visitors. Transfer to railway station to board train for Delhi. Overnight Train.

DAY 10 FEB 07 ARRIVE DELHI (BD)
Arrival transfer at the Delhi Railway station and transfer to the hotel of stay. Breakfast at the hotel of stay. Morning at leisure of own activities. Afternoon time to shop. Dinner and transfer to Delhi International airport to board the flight going back to Manila

DAY 11 FEB 08 DELHI – MANILA
Home sweet home.

Inclusions:

• Economy Roundtrip Airfare
• Hotel accommodation based on twin sharing
• Meeting & assistance at Delhi Airport
• Porterage of 1 luggage at hotels
• Sightseeing as per itinerary
• English-speaking Tour guide
• Private air-conditioned motorcoach
• Buffet Breakfast at the Hotel
• Standard Dinner as indicated
• Filipino Escort
• Tonga ride at Taj Mahal
• Jeep ride to Amber fort
• Travel Insurance for 60 yo below
• Souvenir Bag and Travel Kit
• Personalized Luggage tags

Notes:

 $300 booking deposit is non refundable.
 Full Cancellation charges will be applied to any cancellation made
2 weeks before departure.
 Minimum 25 to run this tour.
 $550 Supplement for Single Room Accommodations.

Adventures in CDO and Bukidnon

2011-11-27T10:10:00.001+08:00

November 2011

CAGAYAN DE ORO (CDO) is fast becoming a popular destination for thrill seekers for its whitewater rafting and the zip line adventure in nearby BUKIDNON. These two activities have opened up this Northern Mindanao city to tourists, both local and foreign, thereby making its economy boom in recent years.

While the city proper of CDO boasts of malls and restaurants not found in Manila, you would have to venture out of the city for the major attractions: (1) Camiguin, a 3-hour land and ferry trip from CDO, known for its white sand beach and hot springs; and (2) Bukidnon, for the Del Monte plantation and recently rediscovered for its zip line.

We chose to do Bukidnon this time. From CDO airport, we got on our hired private van to head to Dahilayan Adventure Park in Brgy. Dahilayan, Bukidnon. I read in an article that Bukidnon is supposed to be just 45 minutes away from CDO. However, because of the on-going road construction, it took us 2 hours to get there. The road is mostly paved until it gets to the Del Monte pineapple fields. From here, it just 20 km to Pine Grove Mountain Lodge inside Dahilayan Park where we stayed for the night.

Pine Grove sits on a hill dotted with pine trees. The place is charming, reminiscent of Baguio during its earlier years. The cool night breeze is refreshing for anyone living in the city. What's also nice about this lodge is that it's just steps way from where the zip line starts. We beat the crowds the next morning by signing up early.

The first zip line is a combination of a the 320 mt and 150 mt (Cost: Php 250.00 per person/ride). You ride this sitting down and it takes you past Pine Grove Lodge -- short and sweet :)

At the 4,500 feet level of Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park in Brgy. Dahilayan is Asia's Longest Dual Cable Zipline (Cost: Php 500 per person/ride). The ride runs for 840 meters, zooming past pine trees and guaranteeing extreme adrenaline rush! It was scary being wrapped around the harness and positioned like Superman. Getting off was particularly heart-stopping but as soon as I was pushed off the tower (the crew heedless of anyone's pleads and whimpers at this point!), I couldn't do anything anymore but enjoy the ride. Yeah, I screamed my lungs out...again and again :)

Me thanking God I made it in one piece!

There is an All-Ride ticket (320 mt + 150 mt + 840 mt) which costs Php 600.00 per person/ ride. I suggest choosing this so that you get mentally prepped before the big ride. For an additional fee (Php 50-100), you can purchase photos taken by their professional photographer. You'll also be given a Ziprider's Certificate together with the photo.

Aside from the zip line, you could also go to the nearby Forest Park. It's essentially a family park where there are picnic tables, figures of animals and Indians, a playground; and activities like the Zorbit, ATV and tree-top adventure. There are also rooms for rent here. We had very limited time in Dahilayan so we did not do any other activity here aside from the zip line. The ATV trail looked challenging though. Maybe next time :)

After Dahilayan, we headed back down to Del Monte Clubhouse to sample their famous steak. It said that the beef is tender and juicy because the cows are only fed crushed pineapple peelings. I ordered a small sirloin steak (250 grams for Php 425.00) which came with mushroom soup, salad, a fruit dessert and bottomless pineapple juice. My verdict: it is tasty but it's not the best steak I've had. Still worth a try though if you're passing through.

Bukidnon is Pineapple Country. Del Monte has its pineapple plantation here and provides livelihood for many of the locals. Camp Philips, which showcases a row of colorful, identical houses is home to the company's employees. We enjoyed taking pictures in the middle of the pineapple fields! We were told that if it was harvest season, we could sample the sweet pineapples for free.

Del Monte welcomes you to Bukidnon!

From the Del Monte Plantation, we drove to the Monastery of the Transfiguration in Brgy. San Jose, Malaybalay, Bukidnon (Travel time: 2 hours from Del Monte). The Benedictine Monks from Montserrat, Barcelona set up a foundation here in 1981. The shrine houses a replica of the Virgin of Montserrat.

Their gift shop sells the famous Monks' Blend Coffee - a combination of Robusta and Arabica beans. This is 100% grown and roasted in Mindanao.

The shrine designed by National Artist, Leandro Locsin

Next stop was the Divine Mercy Shrine in CDO (Travel time: 3.5 hours from Monastery of Transfiguration). We arrived past closing time but was fortunately let inside by the security guard. There is a prominent 50-ft statue of Jesus Christ here, with rays coming out of his heart as if enveloping everyone in an embrace. The rays are actually steps which can take one inside the heart of Jesus.

This would be our last stop for the day before the CDO rafting adventure the following morning.

Last day in CDO: We were picked up from out hotel at 7:00 am for the Whitewater Rafting. Whitewater rafting in CDO was opened in 1997 and ever since then, more and more tourists (80% of which reside in Manila), flock to CDO to seek this thrill. There are many tour companies that provide packaged rafting tours, which usually includes return transfer from your hotel and lunch.

The 90-km stretch of Cagayan River actually starts in Bukidnon and drains out to Macajalar Bay in CDO. Going downstream, Bukidnon would be on your right and CDO on your left. Quite nice to say that you can just paddle from one city to the other in minutes, right? :)

We chose to do the beginner's course that ran for 12.9 km, took 3 hours to traverse, and had 14 rapids of classes II-III. The course is quite exciting for a novice, with the guide effectively drumming up team spirit every time he shouts "High Five!" Rapid intervals are between 10-15 minutes of each other, allowing plenty of time to also enjoy the backdrop of mountains, limestone rock formations and little waterfalls. There was also time to take a dip. The ride is safe, for as long as you follow your guide's commands and safety precautions while in the raft and if you fall off. Our guide said that it is prohibited now to intentionally let the raft capsize just for fun-- which I think is just right for the safety of all rafters.

We finished the course at about 12:30 pm. Lunch was then served: chicken barbecue, grilled fish, steamed prawns, rice and bananas. This was a fitting finish for an action-packed morning! After lunch, we then headed to CDO airport for our flight home. CDO airport is just 10 minutes away from the endpoint of the course.

So this is my CDO-Bukidnon adventure in 3 days...or 1.5 full days! Whew! Lots of traveling done to and from the places but hopefully, the length of time spent on the road will be cut short once all the road work is completed. Do visit CDO/Bukidnon--- they promise a fun-filled, action-packed weekend! :)

Pretty Prague (10/2011)

2011-11-18T22:10:00.001+08:00

October 2011

Originally, Prague wasn't part of our Europe itinerary but it somehow found its way into the final plan... and I'm glad that it did. Prague is beautiful! It is an old medieval city, many of its Gothic and Romanesque buildings remain well preserved today. Almost every turn from a corner opens up to a beautiful square or a a row of buildings in pretty pastel colors. Horse-drawn carriages must have passed on the same cobbled streets. Statues are just as intricately made as those seen in Rome. But just as there are many old things to admire, many too are the pubs that serve Czech's famous beers, souvenir shops and fashion stores. After all, Czech Republic holds the title of having the most supermodels per capita in the world!

I love the fact that the attractions are within walking distance of each other. We were billeted in Wenceslas Sqaure and we could just a leisurely walk from our apartment to Old Town Square, cross Charles Bridge, walk up to the Little Quarter and then to Prague Castle (and all this we did in a day!).

Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske Namesti)
One of the 2 major squares in Prague, Wenceslas Square is a lively area with many stores, restaurants, bars, clubs, hotels and apartments. Our friend who's based in Prague said that this is like their red-light district (but I didn't see any professional escorts :) as this is center of Prague's nightlife and entertainment.

Old Town Square
A five-minute walk from Wenceslas Square, the Old Town Square is the most popular and the busiest of Prague's Squares. The Astronomical Clock, The Church of our Lady Before Tyn and St. Nicholas Church can be found here. Surrounding the square are colorful buildings, cafes, souvenir shops and food stalls that sell anything from mulled wine, Old-Prague ham, sausage (Prazska klobasa), to potato with cabbage and bacon (Halusky).

The Church of Tyn prominent in Old Town Square

Czech comfort food: Ham, Sausage and Potatoes

The Astronomical Clock

One of Prague's treasure; the oldest working clock in the world. The clock is composed of 3 components: (1) the astronomical dial, representing the position of the Sun and Moon, (2) "The Walk of the Apostles," a clockwork of moving figurines of the Apostles that move every hour, and (3) a calendar dial that represent the months.

There's a always big crowd that waits for the strike of the hour to see the "dancing" Apostles. Fascinating that this clock works perfectly considering it's over 600 years old!

Charles Bridge
Prague's most important and visited bridge. It's impossible to get a picture taken here without any people during the day. The bridge connects the Old Town to Prague Castle and crosses over the Vlatva River. The bridge is decorated by about 30 Baroque-style statues, some of which are the Crucifix, St. Francis Xavier, St. Ludmila and little St. Wenceslas. The most popular statue would be that of St. John of Nepomuk. This is the oldest statue on Charles Bridge. His image has been polished to a shine by many visitors who believe that rubbing the relief on the statue will bring luck (or maybe return to Prague someday... much like a coin thrown into the Trevi!).

Musicians along Charles Bridge

Charles Bridge leading to Prague Castle

Prague Castle
A very significant landmark in the city, the Prague Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its area is vast composed of the Palace, several chuches, Golden Lane, and exhibition halls. There are several ways to get to the Castle. The best would be to take a tram up to the Castle and then walk back down when you're done. We took the "scenic" route by taking Tram 22 from Malostranska metro station and getting off at Pohorolec. From here, we walked through Hradcany and arrived at the main entrance. I said "scenic" because this route gives you beautiful views of the city.

We were lucky to see the Changing of the Guards when we arrived. This takes place every hour.

We chose to do the short itinerary (costs CZK 250), which inclides visits to the Old Royal Palace, St. George's Basilica, Golden Lane and Daliborka Tower, St. Wenceslas Vineyard and the Powder Tower.

View of the city walking up to the Castle from the metro station

In the Castle grounds, you'll see the Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral - the biggest and most important church in the country. This is the place where saints, kings, princes and emperors of Bohemia are buried. Inside are any small chapels and impressive stained glass windows.

The Golden Lane is also here -- the smallest street in Prague. This is a row of small colorful houses (looked more like doll houses!) that were meant for the Castle's marksmen. Due to a lack of space, the houses had to be built so small so that all 24 marksmen can be accommodated. Later on, these houses were rented out and No. 22's most important tenant was Franz Kafka, a famous Czech writer. Today, the houses are transformed into boutiques.

Walking in the streets of Prague, we saw a number of these classic cars. If you prefer seeing town in one of these open-top old timers, you can do so by paying around 50 euros for a 40-minute tour :) That is, if you don't fancy riding in a horse-drawn carriage :)

Considering Prague is mostly a historic city, it i interesting to see buildings too of the art nouveau style.

While the architecture of Prague will enchant every tourist, so will their food and local beer! We got to sample their staples like goulash, roast pork, dumpling, beer cheese (cheese mixed with beer!), fried pork shnitzel and bratwurst. For beer, we tried Pilsner Urquell. I don't know much about beer but I ound this one good for not having a bitter after-taste :) Pilsner Urquell is the world's first and original pilsner (a type of pale lager).

Prague has a lot to offer. It is one of the most beautiful and vibrant cities in Europe, definitely a must-visit :)

US East Coast Tours

2011-11-09T20:44:00.000+08:00

US Tours on Sale for November - December 2011
Buy 2, Get 2 For Free!

Download Printable Itinerary

Eastern Delight
$825.00 per person
8 Days visiting New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Harrisburg, Corning, Niagara Falls, Boston, Woodburry Outlets

Eastern Experience
$725.00 per person

7 Days visiting New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Harrisburg, Corning, Niagara Falls, Boston, Woodburry Outlets

* Rates do not include airfare from Manila.

Barcelona: Gaudi City

2011-11-08T21:08:00.000+08:00

October 2011

After Paris, our next stop was Barcelona. I've heard many good things about this city. Well, more good things that what I've heard about Madrid (Manila-like?), so I was excited to see Barcelona for the first time.
Never mind that we got lost getting to our apartment from the airport (but more on that later).

First impressions? Clean. Orderly. A vibrant, artistically rich city with architectural masterpieces in every corner to astound you. To me, this is the place that Gaudi built. This city celebrates the genius of its famous son, Antoni Gaudi, whose distinctive style is showcased and preserved for life in the Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, Casa Batllo and La Pedrera -- just some of the popular attractions in Barcelona.

A comfortable way of seeing Barcelona's top attractions is to take Barcelona Turistic's hop-on hop-off tour. We bought a 2-day pass for 30 euros. The ticket is valid for three different routes (red, blue and green) and you can ride the bus as many times as you wish. The bus provides audio-commentary in many languages. We took the bus from Placa de Catalunya and followed the red and blue lines.

Here are my favorite stops:

Sagrada Familia
Gaudi's most famous structure is still a work in progress, relying on the donations and funding it gets from the public. There was scaffolding in some parts of the cathedral; some bricks are dark with age, while others are visibly new and white. The construction still follows the original design of Gaudi. The Sagrada Familia's website says that when the church is finished, it will have 18 towers: 12 dedicated to the apostles, 4 to the evangelists, one to Jesus and another to Mary.

Entrance to the church is 12 euros.

Gaudi used fruits on top of these towers

Parc Guell

This park on a hill was again designed by Antoni Gaudi. It was meant to be a pleasure park, where people can get a respite from the bustling city. Quite ironic that today, the park is packed with tourists and vendors that you'd find a hard time finding a quiet place to sit. The attractions here range from quirky to the avant garde. Gaudi's trademark serpentine benches and mosaic art can be seen here.

Entrance to the park is free.

park entrance

mosaic-tile serpentine benches

Casa Mila or La Pedrera
Another notable work of Gaudi. He was commissioned by a wealthy couple to do this building. Very noticeable here are the curved balconies.

La Pedrera

Casa Batllo
This is another house that was restored by Antoni Gaudi for a middle-class family. The facade of the building is remarkable, with skeleton bones for window bars, a mosaic of multi-colored ceramic tiles and irregularly-shaped windows.

Entrance fee is 18,50 euros.

Casa Batllo's colorful facade

Camp Nou
All football aficionados must stop here --- the home of FC Barcelona! There is huge FC shop here that sells all football merchandise.

Placa d' Espanya
Plaza d' Espanya is one of Barcelona's biggest squares that connect to Palau Nacional and Fira de Barcelona. In the center is a fountain designed by a collaborator of Gaudi. This stop is particularly special to me--- as our apartment is just 3 blocks away. :)

Montjuic
Stopping here would give you views of the city below. You can also catch the cable car here which will get you to the Old Port.

view from Montjuic Hill

Museo Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC)
My favorite stop because of the views! We didn't go inside the museum anymore but just walked on the museum grounds.

The MNAC as viewed from Placa d'Espanya

view of the city from MNAC

Olympic Village
This is the home of the 1992 Olympics. Near this is the Montjuic's Communication Tower.

Montjuic's Communication Tower

Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter)
Our landlady recommended to "get lost" in the Barri Gotic. True enough, one can get lost here as there are so many alleys that open up to squares, and there are many shops and important buildings to see in this area. Many of the buildings here date back from Medieval times. This is a nice area to explore during the day or night (although I would think that it might be harder to get your bearings in the dark!)

old stone walls border this narrow pathway

a nice red building with a colorful facade in the Gothic Quarter

There is a total of 45 bus stops. Naturally, we didn't get to see everything is just two days but we did cover a lot of ground. The rest of time was spent enjoying the tapas bars, searching for the best paella and shopping in Placa de Catalunya and La Rambla :)

Now, for some tips while you're in Barcelona:

T-10 ticket

* From Barcelona (BCN) Airport, the cheapest way to get to town is via the Aerobus. A one-way ticket costs 5,30 euros; a return ticket is 9,15 euros. The travel time is about 35 minutes. Once on the bus, make sure that you press the "stop button" located on the handle bars to indicate your stop. We didn't know we had to do this and we didn't see other people doing so as the bus was packed. We assumed that the bus will stop at every stop indicated in the route, but no! We got off about 3 blocks down from where we were supposed to go!

* Buy a T-10 metro ticket (a pack of 10 journeys that can be used by a group) if you plan to use the metro for several days. It is cheaper at 8,25 euros for 10 journeys. The T-10 is valid for all metro, bus and RENFE.

* There is free wi-fi in most plazas like Placa de Catalunya.

* Dine inside the restaurant or out in the terrace? If price matters to you, dine inside as some restaurants levy a 15% surcharge if you dine al fresco. I saw this information in fine print at the bottom of a menu.

* Of course you've heard of the Spanish siesta. Most businesses close between 2pm-5pm except for maybe some stores located in tourist areas like La Rambla. During this time, people rest or take a rather long lunch. Bars and restaurants are usually closed between 4pm-8pm.

* When in Barcelona, enjoy some tapas, wine, iberico ham and good ol' paella! :)

All photos are Skycab's own.

Paris in 5 Days

2011-10-31T22:32:00.000+08:00

October 2011

My first trip to Paris years ago was with a group tour. We only stayed for 3 days and did an overnight stay in Lourdes. As in most group tours, time wasn't ours so I didn't get to see the Louvre at all. So this time, when planning for an independent trip to Europe again, I made sure to allot more time in this City of Lights. I know there are a lot more to see in Paris but 5 days is just fine to visit all the major ones.

The Parisian subway is efficient and well-connected. We bought a one-day unlimited metro pass for 9,30 euros for the days that we would be using the metro a lot. Good value for money as a single journey costs 1,70 euros. The Metro also sells a pack of 10 journeys which costs 12,50 euros. This one was particularly useful for our group of five (1 return ticket for each of us), when we just wanted to go to one place and then go back to our hotel.

Taxis are expensive so consider this option for when you want to get to the airport with big suitcases. The average taxi fare is 50 euros (for 3 people).

So here's what we covered in our 5 days...

Day 01 - Arrive Paris

We arrived in our Montmartre hotel in the afternoon. As soon as we got settled in, we took the metro from Anvers station to Charles de Gaulle Etoile to see the Arc de Triomphe. This majestic landmark is a proud memorial for the soldiers who fought in the Napoleonic War. Etched on its walls are the names of the generals and France's victories.

Down the road from the Arc de Triomphe is Paris' most famous street, Champs Elysees. Enough has been said about this avenue of signature shops, fancy restaurants and high-end hotels. If you're looking to go shopping in Paris, this is the place to go. The average cost of a 5-star hotel night here is 950 euros!

It's also nice to see the Eiffel Tower at night because it is all lit up. From the Trocadero gardens, you can see Eiffel Tower in its full view. The Eiffel Tower lights up every day, every hour from sunset to about 1:00 am. It was truly a magical sight :)

The Eiffel Tower at night from the Trocadero Gardens

Day 02

From our hotel, we walked to a nearby public park called Parc Monceau, which has play areas for children and a running path. There was also an art exhibit in the garden.

We decided to visit the Louvre after lunch as many bloggers have suggested is the best time to go. True enough, the queue was very manageable and we were through the Pyramid entrance in minutes. The basic admission fee to the Louvre is 10 euros. We spent about 3 hours in the museum, just picking out what collection we'd like to see: the Sculpture Garden, the Egyptian Antiquities, The Greek and Roman Antiquities, French and Italian Paintings, and the Napoleon III Apartments.

The modern and old in a single frame.
The entrance to the museum is through the glass pyramid.

Of course, the Louvre's most famous resident is the Mona Lisa:

Manly flock to see the Mona Lisa.

Glad to have been able to Mona Lisa this close.

Inside the Louvre is Cafe Angelina, where we had lunch. It's essentially a tea salon but it serves breakfast, lunch and dessert items too. Their profile says that they were once a favorite of Coco Chanel and Audrey Hepburn.

If you are a fan of chocolate, you must try their signature African hot chocolate served with cream separate. It is so velvety rich! Definitely a must try!

Cafe Angelina's signature hot chocolate

We also got their signature Mont Blanc pastry. The food attendant, probably amused by our "ooohs" and "aaahs" over these two yummy items, gave us a 3rd Mont Blanc pastry for free :)

Cafe Angelina's signature pastry: The Mont Blanc
Meringue, sweet whipped cream, chestnut puree vermicelles

Cafe Angelina's location is perfect as its balcony overlooks the Pyramid and the Tuileries garden. You can also see Eiffel Tower from a distance.

Later that day, we followed a self-guided walking tour which took us to Notre Dame Cathedral. This catholic church is a fine example of Gothic architecture. It is famous for its flying buttresses, gargoyles and chimeras on its roof, and its stained glass windows. We went here during the day and came back at night when it was illuminated and less crowded. Entrance to the cathedral is free.

Notre Dame at night

We crossed the Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge in Paris (1578). This bridge connects the left and right banks of the River Seine by passing over the Ile de la Cite.

Pont Neuf

The Square du Vert Galant, is located behind and below the statue of Henry IV along the Pont Neuf. Unfortunately, the gate was closed already that evening. Too bad because it is said to be the best vantage point for the the Louvre and Pont Neuf.

Square du Vert Galant, taken from the Pont Neuf

Just across the Pont Neuf is the Place Dauphine. The square is surrounded by old buildings made of brick with limestone; everything was illuminated by the warm yellow glow of the lamp posts.

Place Dauphine

Last stop for the day was Place de la Concorde, also one of the major squares in Paris. Here, you can capture 3 major landmarks all in one frame: an Egyptian obelisk, the Fountain of River Commerce and Navigation, and the Eiffel Tower.

Place de la Concorde

Day 03

We started the day exploring Montmartre. See related post here.

It was then time to shop in Galeries Lafayette. More than the stores, I think I liked its dome and balconies more. They were pretty, just like a music box :)

The last order of the day was the ascent to the Eiffel Tower. As expected, there were long queues for the tickets and the elevator. There were repeated announcements made that there was a 45-minute waiting time on the second level before one could reach the top. Because of this, we decided to just go up to the second level. The ticket costs 8,20 euros. There is also an option of taking the stairs to go up the second floor--- one that I did not even care to consider :) Our timing was just right as it was close to dusk and we were just in time for when the tower sparkled!

view from the Eiffel Tower

Day 04

After some souvenir shopping in Montmartre, we took the RER train to Chateau de Versailles. Getting to Versailles is easy: just take the RER C (regional train, not the metro) to Versailles Rive Gauche Station. Our metro ticket + RER C ticket cost 5,12 euros. Versailles is about 30 minutes away by train from Paris.

Admission fee to the Chateau + Gardens + Marie Antoinette's Estate is 25 euros. For the Chateau only, it's 15 euros; Gardens only, 7 euros. I would suggest buying the first option so you get the total Versailles experience :)

Because of the sheer size of the Chateau and gardens, it is necessary to allow at least half a day for this. A whole day is even better. We spent about 4 hours here, visiting the palace apartments, exploring the vast garden and continuing on to Marie Antoinette's Petit Trianon. It's nice to imagine how the kings and queens of the past have walked on the same steps, and sat on the same marble benches, and looked out of the same windows to the Grand Canal. Just be prepared to walk though. This may well be the longest garden walk of all time!

Chateau de Versailles

Apollo Ornamental Lake

One of the many gardens

The Petit Trianon

Day 05
Au revoir, Paris! Next stop - Barcelona!

Some Paris Tips:

* Buy an unlimited metro pass for 1 day for 9,30 euros. It's good value for money especially if you'll be using the metro a lot.

* Try one of the many corner boulangerie (bakery). They sell a wide variety of savory and sweet pastries. A regular baguette with ham, lettuce and cheese costs about 3,50 euros. A croissant costs under 2 euros.

* And because this is France, try the French Fries. Haha :) They all taste the same whichever country you may be. McDonald's Paris sells them for 2,20 euros.

* It is a must to taste French macarons. Try Laduree.

* A regular meal in a not-so-fancy restaurant costs between 20-30 euros. A fastfood meal (burger, fries and soda) costs about 7 euros.

* Try going to the Louvre after lunch when the queue is likely to be shorter.

* Catch the Eiffel Tower at night. The Eiffel is pretty both in the day and evening when it is all lit up. Remember that the Eiffel twinkles on the hour after sunset for 10 minutes.

* If your party is more than 3, consider getting a big taxi from the airport (about 60 euros from Charles de Gaulle Airport to the city center). A standard taxi would cost about 50 euros for the same distance.
Remember to ask the driver to put the meter on.

* In Sacre Coeur, do not entertain people offering to make a "friendship" bracelet on your wrist. A fellow traveler cautioned us that these people work in tandem. While one is making the bracelet around your wrist, the other is busy eyeing your bag.

* If you spend a minimum of 175 euros in the same store on the same day on merchandise where tax was charged, those purchases are eligible for tax refund. Get the Retail Export Form before you leave the store. Get the documents stamped before you leave the EU (European Union). You will need to present your passport, ticket, forms and receipts. The Customs official may ask to see the merchandise so do not check them in!

* All photos here are Skycab Travel's own.
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A Gelato Expedition in Rome

2011-10-26T22:12:00.000+08:00

October 2011

Rome is probably one of the most popular walking cities in the world. Every turn leads to a fountain, a monument, an obelisk or a historical ruin. And just as many these important structures are, so are the Gelaterias! You can find them everywhere, enticing tourists like me to come in and say hello to all of those yummy flavors on display :)

We went out of our way to see these gelaterias, following the reviews and recommendations we checked online. Here are the ones we tasted and liked :)

IL GELATO DI SAN CRISPINO
Rome Centro-Storico - Fontana Di Trevi
Via della Panatteria 42
(near the Trevi Fountain)

Mentioned in Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat, Pray, Love," this little gelateria is a local favorite. A lot of Tripadvisor reviews say that this is the best in Rome so I was quite surprised to see that there was no queue. Maybe because we came in the evening? I don't know, but I'm glad we tried it. Their gelato is dense and creamy.

The first thing I noticed was that the gelato were not openly displayed. The flavors were labelled but the gelato tins all had their lids on, so this made choosing what to get doubly hard. I guess they do this to preserve the quality and texture of the gelato.

I asked the food server what their best seller is and he said it's Honey or the Il Gelato di San Crispino. Their website says that is made of honey collected from Sardinia. The gelato is light and delicate and I could really taste the honey, without it being overly sweet.

San Crispino's Honey gelato

We also tried the Valrohna chocolate and the pistachio (probably the best pistachio we've tasted from among the gelato places we went to).

A cup costs 3 euros and you can choose up to 2 flavors. I must add that they don't serve their gelato in a cone, claiming the cone interferes with the taste of the gelato.

Entrance to San Crispino

FIOR DI LUNA
Via della Lungaretta, 96 (in Trastevere)

Our landlady recommended that we have dinner in Trastevere. This small medieval town, located just across the Tiber River, is now made popular by the pubs and restaurants that line its narrow cobbled streets. It's nice to walk here, a little less chaotic than Centro-Storico.

Fior Di Luna can be found in the center of Trastevere. They offer sugar-free gelato, sorbets, frozen yogurt and chocolate. They only use fruits in season. I especially liked their "uva" or grape (very refreshing!). I also tried their lemon (very citrusy!) and their chocolate-orange flavors. They also have a chocolate-chili flavor, which gives a slight burn in your throat :)

A cup costs 2.20 euros and you can choose 3 flavors in a cup or cone.

GIOLITTI
Via Uffici del Vicario 40 (close to the Pantheon)

This is my favorite! The big number of patrons is a testament to how good the gelato is here. So many choices: lots of flavors and containers-- in a cup, a regular cone, a chocolate-dipped cone, with extra whipped cream on top? Their servings are generous so I think it's good value for the buck (err, euro!). No wonder this is the favorite gelateria of Pope John Paul II (he likes the chestnut flavor) and the Obama kids.

This masterful creation costs 3.50 Euros:

Dark Chocolate, Pistachio and Raspberry in a chocolate-dipped cone

with whipped cream on top of 3 scoops!

And when in Florence, please try:

GROM
Via del Campanile angola via delle Oche, Florence

Also a popular gelato chain. Definitely a must-try in Florence. I have never had Pear ice cream before and theirs is so delicious. Their Nougat is also yummy.

A medium cone with 3 flavors costs 3.50 Euros.

Grom in Florence

We also went to see FASSI but it was still closed when we got there. We thought we could squeeze in a last gelato stop before we head to the airport. This is supposed to be the oldest gelateria in Rome. Fassi -- we will be back for you!

So when in Rome, don't let all the sights consume your time. Have a break and try all the gelato that you can. It's fun and you just might find your favorite :)

BUON APPETITO!

* All pictures are Skycab's own.

A Walk in Montmartre

2011-10-25T22:08:00.000+08:00

October 2011

View of Sacre Coeur from our hotel room

When traveling on your own, it is always best to have a good balance of location + price. Hotels in the Champs Elysees, Eiffel Tower and Louvre area are, to be expected, very expensive. A good alternative is to stay in Montmartre. It is a little further out of the center but still accessible by the Parisian subway. The area itself is lively, reminiscent of its glorious past being once the principal artistic center of Paris. Our hotel is located seconds away from Anvers metro station, which is just a few stops from Charles de Gaulle Etoile (the stop you need to get to Champs Elysees and Arc de Triomphe).

Montmartre is situated on a hill so expect a lot of uphill walking! We did a self-guided walking tour of the area and these are the places of interest:

Montmartre's most famous attraction is the Basilica of the Sacred Heart or Sacre Coeur. You can't miss this big-domed white Catholic church perched on top of a hill. Its position is fantastic, offering visitors a panoramic view of the city. We had the option of taking the 225 steps uphill or the funicular to get to the Basilica (costs 1.70 Euros per way). We decided that we're young and healthy enough to go up the hard way (felt like a pilgrimage)! Some benches are placed on every landing so one can rest and look out to the city below.

Sacre Coeur

city view from Sacre Coeur

At the top of the steps are musicians and living statues (there are a lot all over Europe!), entertaining passersby.

Caesar in Paris!

One of the places I especially liked in Montmartre is Place du Tertre. Facing Sacre Coeur, take the road immediately to its left and it will lead you to this square surrounded by little shops and sidewalk cafes. Many artists set up their easels here and can make portraits for willing tourists in 10-15 minutes. A portrait would set you back around 60 Euros. The artworks displayed are varied, most of them are painted scenes of Paris. I didn't buy anything but was just glad to soak in the vibe of this place.

Place du Tertre

Have yourself drawn by a French artist!

A notable artist who lived in Montmartre is Vincent Van Gogh. He and his brother Theo once lived on the third floor of the apartment at #54 Rue Lepic. In Paris, he painted portraits, scenes in Montmartre and views of Le Moulin de la Galette (which we also visited but was unfortunately closed that day).

54 Rue Lepic, where Vincent Van Gogh
lived between 1886-1888

Another crowd-drawer here is the Moulin Rouge. This cabaret, made more famous by the Nicole Kidman starrer of the same name, is the birthplace of the can-can dance. Shows are performed nightly with tickets starting from 90 Euros. It's hard to miss this red building with a windmill on top (Moulin Rouge, by the way, means "Red Mill").

The Moulin Rouge

We took our time strolling along the quiet cobbled pathways, stopping in one of the many shops and macaron stores, and just admiring the picturesque streets and buildings that make up in this district. We saw a lot of tourists, guide books and maps in hand, who seemed to be making their own walking tour as well. Montmartre is a definite must-visit!

Perfect for leisurely walks.

Take a break and go into one of the specialty macaron shops.
These ones are by Christophe Roussel.

* All photos are Skycab's own.

Timeshare Discount in Orlando, Florida

2011-10-25T16:02:00.000+08:00

October 2011

Looking to stay in Orlando, Florida? Start planning your dream vacation to Orlando, where you have loads of fun visiting Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld and Legoland!

We are offering 2 timeshares in 2 different resorts which you might be able to use on your next holiday. The resorts are ideal for families planning a holiday in Disney World, Florida and nearby attractions. They are an excellent and more economical alternative to staying in a hotel, particularly for a group. The units are equipped with a full kitchen (refrigerator, range and kitchen ware), a dining room complete with dinner ware (plates, glasses, spoons and forks, etc), master bedroom with a big jacuzzi beside the bedroom, a guestroom with 2 double beds, and a living area which can be used for sleeping also. Up to eight (8 ) adults are allowed to occupy the unit.

Sheraton Vistana Resort
8800 Vistana Centre Drive - Orlando, Florida 32821-6353, USA

One week stay in a 2-Bedroom Villa
Maximum of 8 occupants
Rent per week: US$ 1,800.00

*Use of the resort has to start on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday
*Minimum of at least 7 working days advance notice in order to book the property.

Where the fun goes on day and night, all year long....

The lush, tropical, park-like setting of Sheraton Vistana Resort is the perfect place for unforgettable vacations. Relax amid soothing fountains and world-class amenities just minutes from all of Orlando's attractions. The Orlando area offers non-stop fun with more world-class family attractions than anyplace else on earth. From the magic of Walt Disney World® to SeaWorld®Adventure Park, you'll also find exceptional golf and world-famous beaches within easy driving distance.

Bedroom

Living Area and Kitchen

Sheraton Vistana Villages Resort and Villas
12401 International Drive, Orlando, Florida 32821, USA

One week stay in a 2-Bedroom Villa
Maximum of 8 occupants
Rent per week: US$ 1,800.00

*Use of the resort has to start on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday
*Minimum of at least 7 working days advance notice in order to book the property.

In the land of attractions, an attraction in and of itself....

Just minutes from Orlando's famous attractions, Sheraton Vistana Villages on International Drive is an attraction in and of itself. Expect more room, more comfort and more fun, along with exceptional Sheraton service.

Celebrating the colorful beauty and vibrant style of Florida, the resort is situated on 95-acres of beautifully manicured grounds with gated access. The spacious and finely appointed one and two-bedroom villas wind throughout the property, offering an atmosphere of tranquility and privacy right in the heart of the area's best theme parks, shops, restaurants and golf courses.

Bedroom

Living and Dining Areas

The resorts are owned and managed by the Sheraton Group.
Please click on the resorts' names to find out more of the resorts' features and amenities.

For inquiries, please email: jen@skycabtravel.com.ph or call (632) 4344191, 4265490.

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Like Us on Facebook :)

2011-10-21T11:01:00.000+08:00

Hey, guys! We just created a Facebook Fan Page. Please visit our page and like us to receive the latest vacation deals!

www. facebook.com/skycabtravel
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South African Adventure (Sep 21, 2011)

2011-08-12T11:28:00.000+08:00

Gathering participants for this tour to South Africa!

Tour Dates: Sep 21-29, 2011

Tour Price: From $3,580++ per person (with Full Board Meals)

View Printable Itinerary

Day 01 / Sep 21

MANILA / JOHANNESBURG - MPUMALANGA (LD)

Midnight departure from Manila on board prestigious airlines on your way to Johannesburg, South Africa. Enjoy. Upon arrival transfer to transfer to Mpumalanga Province with lunch en route. Late arrival at our hotel situated along the banks of the Sabie River. In close proximity is the world-famous Kruger National Park, as well as Bourke's Luck Potholes, God's Window, the Blyde River Canyon, Pilgrims' Rest and many other places of interest. The driver will suggest the best view based on the prevailing weather conditions and time available. Dinner at hotel.

Day 02 / Sep 22
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK (B,L,D)

Breakfast at the hotel. Afterwards you are transferred to the Kruger National Park, where you will board open safari vehicles for a full day’s excursion. The park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. It is unrivalled in the diversity of its life forms and a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies. Enjoy a buffet lunch before continuing your game drive explorations. Late afternoon return to the hotel, to freshen up before dinner at hotel.

Day 03 / Sep 23
MPUMALANGA - SUN CITY (B,L,D)

After breakfast and check-out we drive to the Sun City, unique in the context of world resorts, with a combination of features unmatched anywhere, draws thousands of visitors each year to its four top-quality hotels, a Vacation Club plus magnificent sporting and recreational facilities including 2 world class golf courses, and the magical Lost City Water Park, The Valley of Waves. Lunch en-route and dinner at the Calabash Restaurant.

Day 04 / Sep 24
SUN CITY (BLD)

The whole day is free for individual activities. You may want to playa round of golf or spend the afternoon at the Valley of Waves. Lunch at Sun Terrace Restaurant and dinner at Orchid Restaurant.

Day 05 / Sep 25
SUN CITY - PRETORIA - JOHANNESBURG (BLD)

Drive to Pretoria for sightseeing with visit to Voortrekker Museum, built in honor of the Voortrekkers (pioneers) who left the Cape Colony. Lunch at a Chinese Restaurant. Then to Gold Reef City to savor the offering of traditional African music, dance and history found throughout the complex. Nowhere else will the tourist find such a comprehensive and colourful depiction of mining life at the turn of the nineteenth century when you visit the Gold Reef Gold Mine. Enjoy an underground mining experience and the sight of a gold bar being poured from the furnace. Enjoy a dinner at the famous Carnivore Restaurant where you can taste game meats.

Day 06 / Sep 26
JOHANNESBURG / CAPE TOWN (BLD)

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Cape Town. Upon arrival visit an Ostrich Farm where you will be taken for a guided tour about the breeding and ranching of these fascinating birds. Lunch at farm and know how ostrich taste like. Visit Table Mountain (weather permitting) which, over the centuries, has become one of South Africa’s best known landmarks. The fa-mous flat top is approximately 3 km wide and its highest point 1086m above sea level. The summit can be reached by a cable car with a revolving floor for panoramic views. Dinner at a Chinese Restaurant.

Day 07 / Sep 27

CAPE TOWN (BLD)

Drive to Hout Bay Harbour by taking the Nauticat Launch Cruise to view the seals of Duiker Island. Enjoy a lobster lunch at the famous Bertha’s Restaurant. Continue onto Simonstown to get a closer look at the penguins at Boulders Beach. Then take a breathtaking drive that will lead you to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, undoubtedly one of the Cape’s biggest attractions. Situated at the most southern point of the Cape Peninsula, and flanked by the cold Atlantic Ocean on the west and the warm Indian Ocean on the east, world-famous for its unique flora and fauna and spectacular scenery, the nature reserve is unique world wide. The reserve has a spectacular coastline, with Cape Point boasting the highest sea cliffs in South Africa. Dinner at a Chinese restaurant with a sliced of Abalone.

Day 08 / Sep 28
CAPE TOWN / MANILA (B)

After breakfast, departure transfer to the airport for your flight back to Manila

Day 09 / Sep 29
MANILA

Arrival in Manila. Home Sweet Home!

View of Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa
Photo from South Africa in 1

Kruger National Park - Game Reserve
Photo from Kruger National Park

Sun City, South Africa
Photo from Ikapa

Brunei Package

2011-07-23T16:03:00.000+08:00

To download printable package, please click here:
Brunei Free and Easy (Feb01-Mar31, 2012) *updated 2/5/12*

The last remnants of an empire that once included all of Borneo and the southwest Philippines, Brunei is now one of the smallest countries on earth – two tiny slivers of land lodged in the northern coast of Sarawak. This tiny country is blessed with some of the largest oil fields in Southeast Asia and, perhaps not surprisingly, one of the wealthiest rulers on earth. Thanks to these underground riches, Brunei has been able to spare most of its above-ground resources, and the country boasts some of the most intact primary rainforest in all of Borneo.

Chances are this little country will surprise you, for it is neither the mini Dubai nor the strict Muslim theocracy that most people expect. Instead, it is a rather relaxed and even charming little corner of Borneo with enough attractions to make it an interesting stop between Sabah and Sarawak. First there is the capital of Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB), with its soaring mosques and picturesque water villages. Then there is the aforementioned rainforest, which is best experienced in the fine Ulu Temburong National Park. Beyond these, there is a thrilling boat ride between the capital and Bangar, one of the highlights of Borneo.

Text from: Lonely Planet

Photo from Travel Destination

Scandinavia and Russia Tour (Sep-Oct 2011)

2011-07-17T18:54:00.000+08:00

14 Days Touring through Copenhagen Denmark, Oslo Norway, Stockholm Sweden, Helsinki Finland Plus St. Petersburg and Moscow Russia

Tour Dates:
Scandinavia and Russia (Sep 18-Oct 01, 2011)
Tour price from $3,888.00+ per person

Scandinavia and Russia with 1 Night in Bangkok (Oct 16-30, 2011)
Tour Price from $3,888.00+ per person

Frederiksborg Castle, Denmark
Photo from wallpapers.free-review.net

Itinerary:

SEP 18 MANILA- COPENHAGEN

Depart Manila on board of your favorite airline. Enjoy inflight meals and entertainment.

SEP 19 COPENHAGEN
Arrived Copenhagen, upon arrival we will be meeting by our local guide to start our city tour of Copenhagen covering its famous land mark of Copenhagen…the Little Mermaid. Then after the city tour you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the afternoon is free to freshen up from the long hour’s flight. Dinner will be served in local restaurant.

SEP 20 COPENHAGEN-OSLO
After breakfast, you will have your NORTH ZEALAND EXCURSION with Entrance to FREDERIKSBORG CASTLE, and then have a panoramic view of KRONBORG CASTILE before heading to DFDS PORT for your Ferry cruise to Oslo.

SEP 21 OSLO
Arrive Oslo in the morning on board Scandinavian Seaways. Start your city tour of Oslo which includes the VIGELAND SCULPTURE PARK Entrance to the Viking Ships Museum and the Cathedral. Dinner will be served at the Chinese Restaurant.

SEP 22 OSLO-STOCKHOLM
After breakfast, board your private motorcoach and bid farewell to Norway as we make our way to Stockholm, a spacious city with tree lined boulevards, green parks and museum.Upon arrival transfer to hotel for check-in.

SEP 23 STOCKHOLM
Upon arrival, you will start your city tour of Stockholm, and then tour includes important landmarks such as the City Hall (venue of the annual "Nobel Peace Prize), the Gustav Adolfs Torg and the Royal Palace. End your tour with the visit to the Vasa Ship Museum. After lunch, start the one hour cruise which offers an unrivalled view of Stockholm. This is the best way to see the whole of Stockholm from the water.

SEP 24 STOCKHOLM-HELSINKI
After breakfast, Day is free for some last minute shopping, later transfer to the ferry terminal where you'll board for an overnight Ferry ride to Finland's Capital Helsinki.

SEP 25 HELSINKI
After breakfast on board, city sightseeing tour takes in the most important and interesting parts of Helsinki, such as the historical centre and the diplomatic quarters including Senate Square, the Presidential Palace, City Hall, the Parliament building, Sibelius Park, a stop at the Sibelius Monument and Temppeliaukio Church. Then rest of the day is free at leisure. Dinner in a Local / Chinese Restaurant.

SEP 26 HELSINKI-ST. PETERSBURG
After breakfast, travel by land to St. Petersburg and leave the capital of Finland as we enter the boarder of Russia. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in. Then transfer to local restaurant for dinner.

SEP 27 ST. PETERSBURG
An exciting day awaits us as we start our tour of St. Petersburg. Drive along Nevsky Prospect and see St. Isaac's Cathedral, Peter and Paul Fortress. Then visit to Hermitage Museum will follow. Dinner and back to hotel.

SEP 28 ST. PETERSBURG-MOSCOW
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Moscow. After arrival, proceed to the city for a short orientation tour. Moscow is the capital of Russian Federation. Moscow was founded by Yury Dolgoruky in 1147.Nowadays Moscow is the most important political and business center of Russia and has a true "Russian" feel. Some people even call it a "big village".

SEP 29 MOSCOW
This lovely morning, sightseeing tour will take you to Red Square to see St. Basils Cathedral and Lenins Tomb. Then later to the walls of the Kremlin Fortress. Then explore the Metro Stations which Stalin called “Palace for the People". Rest of the day will be spent for some last minute shopping or take an optional Ballet show.

SEP 30 MOSCOW- MANILA
After breakfast we set your full day free to do as you wish. This is the best time for shopping perhaps explores the city on your own. Transfer to airport for your flight back to Manila

OCT 01 ARRIVE MANILA
Home sweet home

* Minimum of 25 persons required for tour to run.

Moscow, Russia

Photo from www.free-wall-paper.com

Taste of the East (Sep-Oct 2011)

2011-07-17T18:40:00.000+08:00

16-Day Grand Tour of Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Austria

Tour Highlights:
See Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, Opera house in Berlin, Lazienki Palace, Gothic Town Hall, Market Square of Wroclaw, Visit to Jasna Gora, Monastery House of the Black Madonna in Częstochowa Visit to Auschwitz Concentration Camp. See Wieliczka Salt Mine Cave .See Europe’s Most Beautiful City Prague, Charles Bridge the Astronomical clock. View Opera House, Parliament Bldg,Town Hall & Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna.Tour of Church of St. Matthias the beautiful Parliament Building.Royal Palace & Heroes Square of Budapest.

Tour Dates:
Taste of the East (Sep 10-26, 2011)
Tour Price from $3,188.00+ per person

Taste of the East (Oct 24-Nov 09, 2011)
Tour Price from $3,188.00+ per person

Old Town, Prague
Photo from http://www.bloggerspace.com/

Itinerary:

OCT 24 MANILA-VIENNA
Check-in to airport at 9pm

OCT 25 VIENNA
Depart Manila on a prestigious airline. Enjoy in-flight meals and entertainment
Arrive Vienna, upon arrival you will meet an English Speaking Airport Assistant and then transfer to hotel for check-in

OCT 26 VIENNA (B,D)
After Breakfast city tour of Vienna to see the State of Opera House, the Hofsburg, the Parliament, the Town Hall and the Ringstrasse, the famous Ring Boulevard with its monuments and view the Giant Ferris Wheels a the Viennese amusement park call “Prater”. Later, visit the State Apartments of the Schonbrunn Palace and garden – the former summer residence of the Habsburg.Rest of the day is free at leisure. Then dinner

OCT 27 VIENNA-BUDAPEST(B,D)
After breakfast, cross the border of Hungary and head to Budapest. Budapest possesses a rich and fascinating history as well as a vibrant cultural heritage.Recognizing the unique value of its traditions it has managed to maintain its magic and charm, and is rightly known as the Queen of the Danube.

OCT 28 BUDAPEST (B,D)
Start your sightseeing tour this morning with the visit to the superb murals in the Church of St. Matthias beside the Fisherman’s Bastion, from where we have a perfect vista of the beautiful Parliament Building. We view the Royal Palace of Buda, and then cross the Danube to the Pest district, where we visit Heroes Square and drive along Andrassy Boulevard.

OCT 29 BUDAPEST-KRAKOW (B, D)
After breakfast, motor coach to the border of Poland. Upon arrival in Krakow, you will be transferred to a local restaurant for dinner. Then check in to your hotel

OCT 30 KRAKOW (B, D)
After breakfast transfer to Wieliczka Salt Mine. This mine, a centuries old tourist attraction cannot be compared to anything else in the world. The mine has been visited from its beginning by the famous and the mighty of this world. Kopernik, Goethe, Humboldt, Paderewski, Mendelejew, Baden Powell, Karol Wojtyla - who later became Pope John Paul II, ordinary people and crowned heads of state, all have visited this remarkable site. Later back to Krakow for dinner.

OCT 31 KRAKOW-CZESTOCHOWA-WARSAW (B,D)
After breakfast, guided city sightseeing then continue to visit Jasna Gora, the monastery near Czestochowa, and admire its Black Madonna, which is venerated as the “Queen of Poland” and has become the country’s national symbol

Next, stop in Auschwitz to visit what is left of the CONCENTRATION CAMP, a chilling reminder of the Holocaust. Evening arrival in Warsaw.

NOV 01 WARSAW (B, D)
After breakfast, our local guide will tell us about the tormented, often tragic history of this important gateway city between East and West. See the medieval Stare Miasto (Old Quarter) with its market square and 14th-century Cathedral of St. John, the “wedding cake” Palace of Culture and Science, neoclassical Lazienki Palace, and the remnants of the Jewish ghetto. In the HISTORICAL MUSEUM a moving film shows the city before and after wartime destruction. Afternoon at leisure.

NOV 02 WARSAW-BERLIN (B,D)
After breakfast, motor coach to the border of Germany. Upon arrival in Berlin you will be transferred to a local restaurant for dinner. Then check in to your hotel.

NOV 03 BERLIN (B,D)
Our local guide will take us through the recently unified city and show us the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag; Germany’s future parliament Building. We then drive along Unter den Linden, past the State Opera House and Alexanderplatz. Dinner will be served at a local restaurant

NOV 04 BERLIN-DRESDEN-PRAGUE (B,D)
After breakfast, proceed to Prague passing by Dresden, once an important cultural and commercial metropolis featuring Germany's most impressive architecture, Dresden was practically wiped out within two nights of air raids in February, 1945. The city never really got over that shock, but was eventually resurrected. Nowadays, it is marked by hard contrasts: most of the famous buildings have been restored or rebuilt from scratch. You will have the city tour of Dresden before proceeding to Prague.

NOV 05 PRAGUE (B,D)
Welcome to one of Europe’s Most Beautiful City, Prague. Today visit some interesting attractions such as the Prague Castle and the Jewish Town hall with its Hebrew clock and its Jewish cemetery await the inquisitive traveler. On the list is also a visit to Charles Bridge, Astronomical Clock situated at the Old Town Hall Here, you can shop for some Bohemian crystal, for which the Czech Republic is famous for.

NOV 06 PRAGUE-NUREMBURG (B,D)
After breakfast, early morning departure for Nuremburg, we cross the border of Czech and proceed to the border of Germany. Dinner upon arrival then proceed to hotel.

NOV 07 NUREMBURG-MUNICH (B,D)
Start your day with a brief orientation of the city. Proceed to Munich for an afternoon city tour. Heart of Bavaria and its regional capital City tour includes the Olympic Stadium and City Hall with its Glockenspiel clock.

NOV 08 MUNICH-MANILA
After breakfast, transfer to airport for your flight back to Manila

NOV 09 ARRIVE MANILA
Home sweet home, from a memorable European tour.

* Minimum of 25 persons required for the tour to run.

Budapest
Photo from Wallpaperbase

Super Affordable Europe Tours (Nov 2011)

2011-07-12T15:52:00.000+08:00

Tour Highlights:
See Notre Dame Cathedral, Seine River Cruise in Paris, ascend to the 2nd level of Eiffel Tower, Mt. Pilatus excursion, photo stop of Vaduz Castle, visit to Swarovski Factory, the leaning tower of Pisa (One of the seven wonders of the world), see St Mark’s Square and the Basilica, visit to the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Basilica and the Square, the Colosseum, see St. Paul’s Church, Imperial Cathedral, Murano Glass Blowing, Trevi Fountain and more.

Super Affordable Europe Tour (Nov 3-13, 2011)
Price from $2,588.00+ per person

Super Affordable Europe Tour (Nov 17-27, 2011)
Price from $2,588.00+ per person

Itinerary:

NOV 03 MANILA ROME

Depart Manila, aboard your favorite airline. Enjoy in flight amenities, meals and entertainment.

NOV 04 ARRIVE ROME
Upon arrival in Rome, you will have a city tour that will take you to the major sights and landmarks visiting the Colloseum, Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, Piazza de Venezia after lunch transfer to the hotel for check in.

NOV 05 ROME
After breakfast, you will visit the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel one of the most visited places in the Vatican City, then to St. Peter’s Basilica and its Square, the rest of day is free for shopping in Spanish Steps. Dinner.

NOV 06 ROME – PISA - VENICE
After breakfast, morning drive to Venetto passing Umbria and Tuscany Regions then transfer to Pisa and see one of the Seven Wonders of the World, The Leaning Tower of Pisa, have your lunch in the area, then transfer to Venice, Dinner and check in.

NOV 07 VENICE - INNSBRUCK
After breakfast, motor coach to Troncheto pier and take a ride to San Marco. City sightseeing on foot in Venice Island visiting Basilica de San Marco, the Saint Mark’s Square, Bridge of Sighs followed by Murano glass blowing demonstration. Back to Troncheto pier then proceed to Innsbruck for dinner then check in.

NOV 08 INNSBRUCK –VADUZ- LUCERNE
Breakfast inside the hotel. Check-out and we will visit the Swarovsky Crystal Shop in Innsbruck. Then take Austria via Vaduz the capital of Principality of Liechtenstein. Then enjoy the breath-taking sights going to Lucerne. Check-in. Dinner

NOV 09 LUCERNE- MT.PILATUS- LUCERNE
After breakfast, your tour will be highlighted by taking to the Peak of Mt. Pilatus (1,800M / 6000 feet) by Cogwheel train, take time to enjoy the panoramic view of the Swiss Alps as you spend your time taking pictures of the snowcapped mountains. Later, go back to Lucerne for some last minute shopping. Dinner then back to hotel.

NOV 10 LUCERNE- PARIS
After breakfast, say goodbye to beautiful city of Lucerne as we drive to Paris via Dijon, upon arrival check in and dinner.

NOV 11 PARIS
After breakfast, city orientation of Paris will follow. English speaking guide will starts to brief you with all the information that will start with an outside view of Notre Dame Cathedral, have a view of the façade of Louvre Museum, Champs Elysees, Arch of Triomphe, The Opera, Concorde Square, Vendom Square and to top it all ascend to the second level of Eiffel Tower, then the whole afternoon free for shopping at the Gallery La Fayette, enjoy shopping, Loius Vuitton, chanel, Gucchi and other branded products. Dinner.

NOV 12 PARIS – MANILA
After breakfast, check out from the hotel, rest of the day is free until you transfer to the airport for your flight back to Manila.

NOV 13 MANILA
Arrived Manila from a very memorable grand European tour.

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Christmas in Jerusalem (Dec 2011)

2011-07-10T16:44:00.000+08:00

Wouldn't it be nice to spend Christmas where Jesus lived? Spend Christmas Eve in Jerusalem with this tour!

Tour Highlights:
Visits to Amman, Petra, Jericho, Tiberias, Bethlehem, Jersualem, Masada, and the Dead Sea

Christmas in Jerusalem (Dec 19-30, 2011)
Tour Price from $2,388+ per person

Itinerary:

Dec 19 2011 Departure Manila

Depart Manila, board on prestigious airline, enjoy in flight amenities, meals and entertainment.

Dec 20 2011 Manila – Amman - Petra
Arrival at Queen Aliah International Airport. Meet and assist. Drive to Madaba to visit the Monastery of Saint George which you can view the unique mosaic of the map of Egypt, Jordan and the Holy Land. Then admire and experience the journey of Moses to Mount Nebo who he viewed the Promised Land before he died. Upon driving going to Petra, you will admire the ever-changing scenery of the Transjordan plateau along King’s Highway. Then check in and overnight.

Dec 21 2011 Petra- Amman - Tiberias
Breakfast at the hotel. Get a glimpse of what was once the biblical land. Petra is also called the Rose City. Ride by horse or walk to the Siq (half mile). Experience to be like a character of the Indiana Jones the movie. See the rose colored monumental building- Treasury. Cross the border going to Tiberias. Dinner and overnight.

Dec 22 2011 Tiberias – Jericho - Tiberias
After breakfast, feel the footstep of Jesus Christ. Visit the Old City of Jericho where He spent 40 days fasting and where he was tempted. Then to Nazareth where you will visit the Church of Annunciation where Angel Gabriel announced to Mary the birth of Christ. You will also see the St. Joseph’s Workshop and Mary’s Well. After those wonderful experiences, drive to Cana where Jesus perform His first miracle. Married couples may wish to renew their wedding vows at the church. Overnight and dinner in Tiberias.

Dec 23 2011 Tiberias
Breakfast inside the hotel. Begin your day in a boat ride at the Sea of Galilee then to Capernaum, the town where Jesus made His home after leaving Nazareth. You will view the remains of the ancient Synagogue, then to Tabgha where the Miracle of Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes occurred. Drive to Mount of Beautitudes and visit St. peter’s Primacy Church then to Mt. Tabor where the transfiguration of Jesus took place. Go to the River Jordan (Yardenit)- the baptismal site. Drop by a diamond factory before returning to the hotel Dinner and overnight.

Dec 24 2011 Tiberias – Bethlehem- Jerusalem
Breakfast. Visit Haifa- Basilica of Mount Carmel and cave of Prophet Elijah. Drive through Caesarea which was built by Herod the Great to catch the sight of the Aqueducts and the Roman Theater. Pass through the City of Tel Aviv and Jaffa, the place where Prophet Jona sailed on. Proceed to Bethlehem to visit the Nativity Church (birthplace of Christ) including the Grotto of the Manger. This church is the oldest church in the world, which was never destroyed till this very day. Go to the Shepherd Field, the site where the start and angel appeared to the shepherds. View the Cave Chapel and pass through Ruth and Moabites Field to the Judean wilderness. Overnight in Jerusalem. Enjoy the Christmas Eve in the hotel.

Dec 25 2011 Jerusalem
Free day in the morning. Explore the Holy City. Dinner and overnight.

Dec 26 2011 Jerusalem
After breakfast, Join our excellent guide to start the tour with a panoramic view from The Mount of Olives – a good place for an introduction to the city and its history. Then we visit the holy sites of the three monotheistic religions, represented in Jerusalem: We start with the Wailing Wall, which represents the last remnants of the Jewish Temple, destroyed by the Romans. Usually you can see the various types of Jews who come to worship at this holy place. If open to visitors, we ascend to the Temple Mount, where we can look at the famous Dome of the Rock. Then we continue through the Arab Market ("Suq") to the "Via Dolorosa", Jesus' "Way of Suffering", which leads us to The Church of the Holy Sepulcure, where according to the Christian tradition Jesus was crucified and buried, Overnight in Jerusalem

Dec 27 2011 Jerusalem – Masada – Dead Sea - Jerusalem
After Breakfast, departure to Masada. Rise in a cable car the imposing fortress of Masada, where we can find ruin of Herodian nad the Zealots. Then experience to swim in the famous Dead Sea mineral water. Back to Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight.

Dec 28 2011 Jerusalem
After breakfast, Visit the Jerusalem's New City: We visit the the famous "Menorah" (Candelabra) situated outside the "Knesset", Israel's parliament. , a visit at the Israel Museum with the"Shrine of the Book", where the "Dead Sea Scrolls" are exhibited, the Model of Jerusalem at the time of the 2nd Temple, continue to the Picturesque village Ein Karim, the place where John the Baptist was born. We will visit the "St. John in the Mountains" church, built on the place where the house of St. John was standing. We will also visit the Church of Visitation, where St. Mary visited Elisabeth out in the vineyard, and prophecized her the birth of St. John. Dinner & Overnight

Dec 29 2011 Jerusalem – Amman - Manila
Breakfast inside the hotel. Cross the border going back to Amman International Airport for your flight back to Manila.

Dec 30 2011 Arrived - Manila
Arrived Manila from a very memorable experienced in Holyland.

The Nativity
Painting By John Singleton Copley

* Minimum of 30 persons to run this tour.

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Europe Marian Pilgrimage (Nov 2011)

2011-07-09T23:10:00.000+08:00

This is a 15-Day Tour visiting Italy, Spain and Portugal. A 4-day extension in Paris is possible after the basic tour.

Tour Highlights:
Rome, Assisi, Florence, Pisa, Monte Carlo, Nice, Lourdes, Barcelona, Monserrat, Zaragoza, Madrid, Avila, Salamanca, Fatima and Lisbon

Europe Marian Tour (Nov 18-Dec 02, 2011)
Tour Price from $3,298+ per person

Itinerary:

Nov 18 Check-in at NAIA airport at 2100H

Nov 19 MANILA-DUBAI-ROME
Early morning departure to Rome via Dubai. Arrival in Rome. Meet and greet then transfer to hotel for dinner and overnight.

Nov 20 ROME
Fullday tour of Rome includes the 4 major Basilicas of Rome for a True Pilgrimage:
-St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican
-St. Mary major built 432 AD
-St. John in Lateran – original Papal residence
-St. Paul’s Outside the wall - with the portraits of all the Popes.
En route view the Colloseo, the Fountain of Trevi, Scala Santa and more.

Nov 21 ROME-ASSISI-FLORENCE
Commence motorcoach tour of Europe – drive to Assisi, hometown of St. Francis. Tour of the Upper and Lower Basilicas and the Crypt of St. Francis. Also visit the Basilica of St.Marie Degli Angeli, where the Saint lived and died. Proceed to Florence for your dinner and overnite.

Nov 22 FLORENCE-PISA-MONTECARLO-NICE
Tour of Florence includes the cathedral, Santa Croce, and the piazzale Michaelangelo for a panoramic view of Florence. Proceed to nearby Pisa to view the famous “Leaning Tower”. Drive along the coast and enter the Italian Riviera. On to France and stop at Monte Carlo to view the Grand Palace and the Cathedral. Dinner and overnite at Nice.

Nov 23 NICE- LOURDES
After breakfast, drive along the picturesque French Riviera viewing resort, Villa Yacht Harbors. Then on to the lovely Province area. via Toulouse, we head up the Pyrenees to the town of Lourdes- home of St.Bernadette for dinner and overnite.

Nov 24 LOURDES
Breakfast. Whole day free for private devotion. Visit the house of Bernadette and the Cachot, Basilica and the Grotto. Bathe in the waters of the Holy spring. Attend the colorful yet solemn candlelight Procession.

Nov 25 LOURDES-ANDORA-BARCELONA
Breakfast. Drive to Barcelona via Andora. Overnight in Barcelona.

Nov 26 BARCELONA-MONSERRAT-BARCELONA
Breakfast. Visit to the monastery of Montserrat, perched high on an awesome mountain range rising from the Catalonian plain. Visit the Royal Basilica and pray to the venerated Black Madonna which according to tradition, was carved by St. Luke. Listen to the singing of the celebrated “Escalonia” by the children’s choir, considered to be the oldest in Europe. Back to Barcelona for tour: the Columbus Monument, elegant tree lined Ramblas and Plaza de Cataluna, historic buildings along Paseo de Gracia and a panoramic view of the city and harbor from Monjuic Hill. Marvel at Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia. Dinner and overnight in Barcelona.

Nov 27 BARCELONA-ZARAGOZA-MADRID
Breakfast. Drive Zaragoza. Visit the Cathedral and pay homage to Our Lady of the Pillar (Nuestra Señor del pilar). In the afternoon, proceed to Madrid for your dinner and overnite.

Nov 28 MADRID
Morning city tour includes the major landmarks, plazas and monuments and is highlighted by a visit to Palacio Real (Royal Palace) – architectural masterpiece. Afternoon excursion to Toledo-one of the oldest cities in Europe of great artistic beauty. Walk the narrow cobbled streets; visit cathedral; the Synagogue of Sta Maria la Blanca and shopping time for Toledo Artisan works.

Nov 29 MADRID-AVILA-SALAMANCA-FATIMA
Breakfast, Drive to nearby Avila-hometown of Sta Teresa. View the middle age walled city; visit the cathedral and Covent of Sta Teresa. Continue your drive to the Roman Town of Salamanca with its beautiful Plaza Major. Finally drive into Portugal and via Coimbra head for Fatima for our dinner and overnite.

Nov 30 FATIMA
Wholeday free for private devotion - visit the Basilica and the Chapel of the Apparition, & the house of Francisco and Jacinta. Attend the holy candlelight Procession I the evening.

Dec 01 FATIMA-LISBON-MANILA
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for return flight back to Manila.

Dec 02 MANILA
Arrival in Manila

Candlelight Procession in Lourdes, France
Photo from fratres.wordpress.com

The Black Madonna
Photo from michblog.wordpress.com

Fatima, Portugal
Photo by rorsharch

Monte Carlo
Photo from Thundafunda.com

Enchanting Turkey and Greece (Oct 2011)

2011-07-09T21:09:00.000+08:00

We are now gathering participants for this tour to Turkey and Greece!

Explore Istanbul, Troy, Ephesus, and Athens among others. Includes a 3-day Greek Islands Cruise!

Tour Highlights:
See the beautiful Tokapi Palace, Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Anzac Cove, Wooden Horse, St. Mary's Cottage, Island of Rose, Palace of Knossos, Acropolis Museum, St. Sophia and the Grand Bazaar

Enchanting Turkey and Greece (Oct 16-28, 2011)
Tour price from $2,988+ per person

* Minimum of 25 persons to run this tour.

Itinerary:

OCT 16 MANILA - ISTANBUL

Depart Manila. Board on prestigious airline, enjoy in flight entertainment and meals.

OCT 17 ISTANBUL (B, D)
Upon arrival; you will be transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free, or perhaps explore Istanbul on your own pace, then dinner.

OCT 18 ISTANBUL (B, D)
After breakfast, have a full day tour of Istanbul which includes Topkapi Palace (excluding harem), Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, St. Sophia and the Grand Bazaar. Dinner with belly dancing. Then back to hotel

OCT 19 GALLIPOLI–DARDENELLES– CANAKKALE(B, D)
After breakfast, departure for Gallipoli and visit Anzac Cove and Lone pine cemetery then across the Dardanelles to Canakkale for dinner and overnight.

OCT 20 TROY - PERGAMUM – KUSADASI (B, D)
After breakfast visit Troy with its famous wooden horse, tour Pergamum And continue on to Kusadasi for overnight.

OCT 21 EPHESUS –ST.MARY’S HOUSE–KUSADASI (B, D)
After breakfast, sightseeing of the famous ruins of Ephesus and St. Mary’s cottage. Then in the afternoon proceed to sightseeing tour of Sardis, one the seven churches of revelation in the bible.

OCT 22 EPHESUS – GREEK ISLAND CRUISES (B,D)
After breakfast transfer to pier and embark a cruise ship at Kusadasi for 3 days in the Greek Islands, enjoy amenities and entertainment on board.

OCT 23 CRUISE - RHODES (B,D)
A morning arrival in Rhodes, the island of Roses, you have a full day to explore on your own; you may join an optional sightseeing tour, or simply take a taxi to one of many nearby beaches for a swim in the crystal clear Aegean waters.

OCT 24 CRUISE - SANTORINI, HERAKLION (B,D)
This morning’s port of call is Santorini, where you are free to explore the land of the fabled Atlantis. Your next port of call is Heraklion Crete where you have a city tour which includes to the Palace of Knossos. The rest of the day is free at leisure. Then dinner.

OCT 25 ATHENS (B, D)
After disembarking from the cruise, you are transferred to your Athens hotel. The rest of the day is yours, now this is the time for shopping and explores Athens at your own pace, The proceed to the restaurant for dinner.

OCT 26 ATHENS (B,D)
After breakfast, you will meet by your English speaking guide in the hotel for full day sightseeing tour which includes a visit to the Acropolis, its museum and the Parthenon. Also view the House of the Parliament, the Memorial to the unknown soldiers, National Library, Evzones in their picturesque uniform, the Presidential Palace, the Panatheanic Stadium Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch. Dinner and back to hotel.

OCT 27 ATHENS – MANILA (B)
After breakfast, the rest of the day is free until you transfer to the airport for flight back home.

OCT 28 ARRIVE MANILA
Arrived Manila from a very memorable tour.

Santorini, Greece
Photo by Photoatlas.com

The Acropolis in Greece
Photo by citypictures.net

The Blue Mosque in Turkey
Photo by Suat Eman

European Bliss Pilgrimage (Oct 2011)

2011-07-09T20:44:00.000+08:00

Introducing our new itinerary to Europe!
This is a 17-day Pilgrimage Tour of Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and Monte Carlo.

Tour Highlights:
Madrid, Avila, Santiago de Compostela, Zaragoza, Lourdes, Nice, Monte Carlo, Florence, Assisi, San Giovanni, and Rome

Tour Price from $3,708+ per person
European Bliss (Oct 14-30, 2011)

* Minimum of 30 passengers to run this tour

Itinerary:

Oct 14 Day 01 - Manila / Madrid

Depart Manila for your flight to Madrid, Spain. Enjoy the inflight meals and service on board

Oct 15 Day 02 - Madrid
Arrive Madrid. Upon arrival, proceed with a city tour which includes Gran Via, Puerto del Sol – the point where all distances in Spain are measured, Plaza Mayor – once the focal point of the old city, Plaza de Espana, the monument of Jose Rizal, Plaza de Toros and a visit to the Royal Palace before transferring to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to do as you please

Oct 16 Day 03 - Madrid / Avila / Madrid
After breakfast proceed to Avila, the city of Kings and Saints that is completely encircled by the 11th century walls and birthplace of Santa Teresa de Jesus for a tour. The rest of the day is free to do as you please

Oct 17 Day 04 - Madrid / Fatima
We then cross the border to Portugal to Fatima, the place where the Blessed Mother appeared in 1917 to three simple shepherd children and exhorted mankind to pray for world peace. After settling into your hotel, you may relax or participate in a candlelight procession

Oct 18 Day 05 - Fatima
After breakfast, we will have sighseeing tour of Fatima, see the Little Chapel of the Apparitions, Basilica, the site of Francesco and Jacinta's graves, the Hamlet of Aljustrel, where the children lived, and Valinhos, the site of Our Lady's appearance after the children's return from prison. Follow the Stations of the Cross along the Via Sacra (The Sacred Way) culminating in the Chapel of Calvary, which overlooks all of Fatima. The rest of the afternoon is free for private devotion.

Oct 19 Day 06 - Fatima / Santiago de Compostela
This morning we head on to Santiago de Compostela where the remains of the Apostle St. James was found, is the final destination of legendary medieval way of pilgrimship Caminho de Santiago. It is the third most visited site by Christian pilgrims. Walk around the Old town and visit the Plaza del Obradoiro and the Santiago Cathedral whose holy relics of St James are believed to be enshrined under the cathedral’s altar

Oct 20 Day 07 - Santiago de Compostela / Burgos
After breakfast, motorcoach to Burgos the home of the only cathedral in Spain which has been individually awarded the World Heritage designation by the UNESCO.Transfer in at hotel.

Oct 21 Day 08 - Burgos / Zaragoza / Lourdes
This morning, continue onto Zaragoza to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Pillar before proceeding to Lourdes famous for the Marian apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes that are reported to have occurred in 1858 to St. Bernadette Soubirous. In the evening, join the candlelight procession in honor of our Lady.

Oct 22 Day 09 - Lourdes
After breakfast, our guided tour of Lourdes will include the sanctuary; the Basilica of St Pius X, the world's largest underground church; and the baths where hundreds of miraculous cures have taken place. Celebrate daily Mass at the Grotto,. See the Boly Mill where St Bernadette was born and the "Cachot," an abandoned prison where Bernadette's impoverished family lived. Join your prayers with those of pilgrims from around the world as you pray for the sick, drink water from the miraculous spring, and submerge yourself in the healing baths. Time for private devotions before dinner and overnight

Oct 23 Day 10 - Lourdes / Nice
This morning, head onto Nice - located on the French Riviera in Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, it is in itself an attraction: the rich blue-green sea, diverse shopping, splendid dining and lovely art-deco façades. The rest of the day is free for leisure.

Oct 24 Day 11- Nice / Monte Carlo / Nice
After breakfast, we visit a famous Perfume Factory in Eze before heading to Monaco, capital of the Principality. Walk in the narrow streets of the old town and see the changing of the guards just before midday in front of Grimaldi Palace. Visit the neo-romanesque cathedral with the Princess Grace Memorial. Continue to drive onto Monte-Carlo race track before going back to Nice.

Oct 25 Day 12 - Nice / Florence
This morning, onto Florence, known as the Cradle of the Renaissance, Enjoy a city orientation tour with a glimpse of the Baptistery, sculpture studded Piazza dela Signoria and a panoramic view of the city from Piazzale Michelangelo, etc… The rest of the day is free for leisure.

Oct 26 Day 13 - Florence / Assisi
After breakfast, proceed to Assisi beloved town of St Francis. Visit the Basilica di San Francesco, Santa Maria Degli Angeli Church including the Thornless Rose bush and the Porzincula and the Basilica of St. Claire. Then check-in at your hotel

Oct 27 Day 14 - Assisi / San Giovanni Rotondo
This morning, we head to San Giovanni Rotondo world famous for the pilgrimages made there to honour Padre Pio da Pietrelcina, a stigmatic, of the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. visit the Our Lady of Grace Church including the Sanctuary and Shrine of Padre Pio de Pietrelcina. The rest of the afternoon is free

Oct 28 Day 15 - San Giovanni Rotondo / Rome
After breakfast, travel to the eternal city of Rome – a city of great beauty, contrast and life…where the religious world center of the Catholic Church, the ruins of the centre of the Roman Empire and the modern, bustling city co-exists.

Oct 29 Day 16 - Rome
After a hearty breakfast, enjoy the sights of Rome with visits to San Pietro, Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, Colloseum, Palatine, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Roman Forum..etc The rest of the day is free to do as you please.

Oct 30 Day 17 - Rome / Manila
The rest of the morning is free until your transfer to the airport for your flight back to Manila

Santiago de Compostela
Photo from santiago-de-compostela.it

The Vatican Musuem
Photo by Photoholic

European Encounter with London (Sep 2011)

2011-07-09T11:45:00.000+08:00

Welcoming the European Encounter with London Tour again this September!
This is a 15-day tour visiting London, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, Lucerne, Venice, Florence, Rome and the Vatican City.

Now gathering interested participants!

Tour Highlights:
UK: St. Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge Tower of London, Westminster Abbey
Amsterdam: Visit a clog factory, diamond factory; enjoy a canal cruise
Brussels: See the Grand Palace, Mannekin Pis
Paris: Notre Dame Cathedral; see Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, The Opera, Concorde Square, Ascend to the 2nd level of the Eiffel Tower
Lucerne: Cable car to the peak of Mt. Titlis
Venice: See St. Mark's Square, Murano glass blowing demo
Florence: Plaza Signoria, Santa Croce, the Cathedral and its Dome
Rome: Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Musuem, St. Peter's Basilica, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps

Tour Price from $3,388+
European Encounter with London (Sep 28-Oct 13, 2011)

* Minimum of 25 persons to run this tour.

Itinerary:

SEPT 28 DEPART MANILA

Depart Manila aboard your favorite airline Enjoy in flight meals and entertainment

SEPT 29 LONDON
Upon arrival you will be meeting your guide and do half day morning tours day morning tour of the popular sights of London such as St. Paul's Cathedral or Tower Bridge. You will also see the Tower of London where you will have an opportunity to take photographs. The tour also includes a stunning view of neo-gothic architecture - Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament that can be seen from across the River Thames. Transfer to hotel.

SEPT 30 LONDON
After breakfast, enjoy half day city tour. You will see Westminster Abbey where many British monarchs have been crowned before making a stop at London home of Queen Elizabeth II, Buckingham Palace, for another photo opportunity. When possible, you will see the ceremony of the Changing of the Guards here as well. Dinner then check in to your hotel.

OCT 01 LONDON/ AMSTERDAM
Early morning pick up to your hotel for transfer to Harwich for a ferry ride to Hook Van Holland then immediately transfer to Amsterdam for dinner and check-in.

OCT 02 AMSTERDAM
After breakfast, sightseeing tour of Amsterdam and visit the clog factory followed by a canal cruise before you visit the Diamond Factory. Free day at leisure in the afternoon you’ll have your dinner before you transfer back to your hotel.

OCT 03 AMSTERDAM/BRUSSELS/PARIS
After breakfast, Transfer to France city Capital and one of Europe’s Loveliest City, Paris via Brussels. Short stop in Brussels to see the famous Grand Place where the Town Hall is located. See also The Mannekin Pis a fountain/statue of a little boy has stood for centuries. The Mannekin Pis or 'Peeing Boy' is not only the beloved symbol of the city, he has also become an icon of urology. Lunch under own arrangement then proceed to Paris for check-in and dinner.

OCT 04 PARIS
After breakfast, city orientation of Paris will follow. Guided tour starts with view of Notre Dame Cathedral, have a view of the façade of Louvre Museum, Champs-Elysées, Arch of Triumph, The Opera, Concorde Square, Vendom Square and to top it all ascend to the second level of Eiffel Tower. The rest of the afternoon is free to acquaint yourself with what the city has to offer with its fashionable shops, impressive museums, and the “joie de vivre” Paris rarely fails to impress its visitors. Dinner in a local restaurant.

OCT 05 PARIS/LUCERNE
After breakfast, morning drive to Lucerne via Dijon. We enter Switzerland, with wonderful tranquil lakes, en route to picturesque Lucerne. Dinner in the hotel.

OCT 06 LUCERNE/MT TITLIS/LUCERNE
After breakfast your tour will be highlighted by taking a cable car ride to the Peak of Mt. Titlis (10,000 ft). Take some time to enjoy the panoramic view of the Swiss Alps as you spend your time taking pictures of the Snowcapped Mountains. Later proceed back to Lucerne, to do some last minute shopping then dinner at the hotel.

OCT 07 LUCERNE/ VENICE
After breakfast, morning drive takes us past alpine peaks and through lush green meadows as we make our way into Italy at Chiasso. Shortly afterwards, we continue to magical Venice, the city of Marco Polo. Dinner then check in to your hotel

OCT 08 VENICE
After breakfast you will have your half day tour of Venice on foot. Tour includes St. Mark’s Square and its Cathedral & panoramic views of Doge’s Palace and time to see a traditional Murano Glass Blowing. Afternoon is free at leisure don’t miss out on the optional gondola trip, gliding along the picturesque canals with a local troubadour to serenade you. Dinner will be served.

OCT 09 VENICE/ FLORENCE
This morning, you’ll be transferred to Florence-one of the liveliest and most creative in Europe with some of the world's greatest Works of Art and magnificent buildings. Upon arrival you will proceed to the city for your city orientation. Visit includes the works of Michelangelo, the Cathedral and it’s dome, the Baptistery, then to the open gallery of Piazza Signoria, then to Santa Croce.

OCT 10 FLORENCE/ROME
After breakfast, transfer to Rome. Passing the Tuscany and Umbria Region. Enjoy the sceneries of the Countryside of Italy. Upon arrival in Rome known as the eternal city. Short orientation by bus, and then proceed to dinner and hotel check in.

OCT 11 ROME
After breakfast, full day tour of Rome will take you to the major sights and Landmarks visiting Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museum with St. Peter’s Basilica and it’s Square, The Colloseum, Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and more. Some free time in the afternoon for last minute shopping. Dinner then back to your hotel.

OCT 12 ROME MANILA
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight back to Manila.

OCT 13 ARRIVE MANILA
Arrive Manila from a very memorable Grand tour of Europe.

The Tower Bridge in London
Photo By Susie B

Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy
Photo by FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The Grand Canal at Night (Venice, Italy)
Photo By Vichie81

Affordable Europe (Sep-Nov 2011)

2011-07-09T11:10:00.000+08:00

The Affordable Europe Tour series is back! We are now gathering interested participants for this 2-week tour.

Tour Highlights:
Visiting France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy with Vatican City, and the Principality of Liechtenstein

Group tour departures on:

Affordable Europe Tour (Sep 16-29, 2011)
Tour price from $3,288+

Affordable Europe Tour (Oct 14-27, 2011)
Tour Price from $3,388+

Affordable Europe Tour (Nov 4-17, 2011)
Tour Price from $3,088+

* Minimum of 30 persons to run this tour.

Itinerary:

SEPT 16 DEPART MANILA
Depart Manila on a prestigious Airline. Enjoy in flight meals and entertainment.

SEPT 17 ARRIVE PARIS
Arrive Paris, after Customs and Immigration formalities; Transfer to the hotel for check in or you may take an optional to Versailles Palace. Then Parisien River Cruise will follow to see Paris while cruising by the river.

SEPT 18 PARIS
After breakfast, city orientation of Paris will follow. Guided tour starts with view of Notre Dame Cathedral, have a view of the façade of Louvre Museum, Champs-Elysées,Arch of Triumph, The Opera, Concorde Square, Vendom Square and to top it all ascend to the second level of Eiffel Tower. Dinner

SEPT 19 PARIS- BRUSSELS -AMSTERDAM
After breakfast transfer to Amsterdam with lunch stop in Brussels. See Grand Place and the Manekin Pis and a photo Stop in Atomium will commence. Later proceed to Amsterdam. Dinner, check in to your hotel.

SEPT 20 AMSTERDAM
After breakfast, city orientation of Amsterdam will follow with visit to Diamond Polishing House and, followed by a canal cruise and later Visit to Cheese and clog factory.

SEPT 21 AMSTERDAM- ST GOAR BOPPARD- HEIDELBERG
After breakfast, transfer to St. Goar to take a Rhine River Cruise to Boppard. Admire the pretty villages, the castles perched high above the river, and the numerous terraced vineyards. Upon arrival in Boppard, reboard your coach and proceed to Heidelberg, then Dinner and check in to your hotel.

SEPT 22 HEIDELBERG -TITISEE -RHINEFALLS- LUCERNE
After breakfast, say goodbye to Germany as you travel unto the beautiful Lakeside city of Lucerne, Switzerland. A short stop in the Black Forest Region of Germany in Titisee for a cuckoo clock demonstration. Continue to Shaffhausen to see Europe’s largest Falls, the Rhinefalls. Then proceed to Lucerne for Hotel dinner and check in.

SEPT 23 LUCERNE MT. TITLIS LUCERNE
After breakfast your tour will be highlighted by taking the world’s first revolving cable car to the Peak of Mt. Titlis (10K feet). Take some time to enjoy the panoramic view of the Swiss Alps as you spend your time taking pictures of the Snowcapped Mountains. Later proceed back to Lucerne for some last minute shopping. Dinner in the hotel.

SEPT 24 LUCERNE VADUZ INNSBRUCK
Breakfast in your hotel. Motorcoach to Austria via Vaduz the Capital of the Principality of Liechtenstein . Then take the Scenic Highway of Tyrol Region of Austria. Upon arrival in Innsbruck, you will visit the famous swarovsky crystal. Dinner then check in to your hotel.

SEPT 25 INNSBRUCK VENICE
Breakfast inside the hotel. Say goodbye to Austria but say hello to Italy . Motorcoach to Troncheto pier and take your vaporetto ride to San Marco. City sightseeing on foot of Venice Island visiting Basilica de San Marco, the Saint Mark’s Square, Bridge of Sighs followed by Murano glass Blowing Demonstration. Back to Troncheto, then check in to your hotel in Venice Mestre.

SEPT 26 VENICE - ROME
After breakfast, transfer to Rome. Passing the Tuscany and Umbria Region. Enjoy the sceneries of the Countryside of Italy. Or you may take an optional to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, one of the 7 wonders of the worlde before you proceed to Rome for dinner then check in.

SEPT 27 ROME
After breakfast, full day tour of Rome will take you to the major sights and Landmarks visiting Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum, then to St. Peter’s Basilica and its Square, The Colloseum, Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and more. Some free time in the afternoon for last minute shopping. Dinner then back to your hotel.

SEPT 28 ROME MANILA
After breakfast, free time to do your last minute shopping then transfer to the airport for your flight back to Manila.

SEPT 29 ARRIVE MANILA
Arrive Manila from a very memorable and Affordable Grand tour of Europe.

The Eiffel Tower
Photo by Luigi Diamanti

The Grand Palace in Brussels
Photo by Matt Banks

The Colosseo in Rome
Photo by Vichie81

Jordan and Israel Tour (Aug 2011)

2011-07-08T23:43:00.000+08:00

Now gathering participants for this Pilrimage to the Holyland and Jordan.

Tour Highlights:

Amman, Mount Nebo, Madaba, Peta, Tiberias, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, The Dead Sea, Galilee and Nazareth

Itinerary for Jordan and Israel Tour (Aug 28-Sep 05, 2011)
Tour Price from $1,998.00+ per person

* No need for visas!
* Minimum of 25 persons to run this tour

Itinerary:

Day 01 AUG 27 MANILA – AMMAN
Check in at Manila airport. Enjoy in-flight meals and entertainment.

Day 02 AUG 28 ARRIVAL IN AMMAN MT. NEBO –MADABA – PETRA
Arrival in Amman airport. Meet and assist at the airport. Later transfer to Mt. Nebo, where Moses viewed the Promised Land before he died. Then visit Madaba to visit the Monastery of St. George, which host the unique mosaic Map of Egypt, Jordan and Holy land. The map is believed to be the first one for this area, as it is built in the 6th century, transfer to hotel for check in Dinner and overnight.

Day 03 AUG 29 PETRA
Breakfast inside the hotel. Morning proceed to the lost city of Petra with Horseback Ride through the picturesque SIQ, and visit the Treasury.

Day 04 AUG 30 PETRA- AMMAN- TIBERIAS
Hotel Breakfast and check out. Transfer to Allenby Bridge for crossing into Israel. Then to Yardenit (Jordan River) where St. John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ continue to Tiberias for check in, dinner and overnight.

Day 05 AUG 31 TIBERIAS
Hotel Breakfast. Start the tour with Boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Drive Capernaum, the town where Jesus made His home after leaving Nazareth. View the remains of the ancient Synagogue in which He taught, and on to Tabgha, where the Miracle of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes took place. Drive to Mount of Beatitudes, this is the site of the Sermon on the Mount and St. Peter’s Primary Church, See the remains of St. Peter’s House, The church of the first miracle in the wedding of Cana where Jesus performed His first miracle changing water into wine Then to Mt. Tabor to see the Basilica of Transfiguration. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Tiberias.

Day 06 SEPT 01 TIBERIAS - JERUSALEM
Hotel Breakfast and check out. Travel to Haifa, visit the Basilica of Mt. Carmel, Ceasarea, which was built by Mt. Herod the Great to catch the sight of the Aqueducts and the Roman Theater. This is where St. Paul was imprisoned. Proceed to Jaffa and visit the city where Yona set sail on. Drive to Ein Karem for St. John the Baptist Church and Church of Visitacion (Magnificat) where the Blessed Virgin Mary visited Elizabeth. Then to Jerusalem for hotel check in, dinner and overnight.

Day 07 SEPT 02 JERUSALEM - BETHLEHEM – JERUSALEM
Hotel Breakfast. Visit to St. Anne’s Church, Bethsaida Pool, Wailing Wall, Via Dolorosa and go through the Stations of the Cross to the Holy Sepulchre where Jesus was crucified, died and rose from the dead. Move to Church of Nativity.Visit also the Basilica and Grotto of the Nativity and the Manger Square. Return via Lazarus Tomb and Shepherd’s Field. Back to Jerusalem for hotel dinner and overnight.

DAY 08 SEPT 03 JERUSALEM- QUMRAN – DEAD SEA –JERICHO - JERUSALEM
Hotel Breakfast. Full day tour includes Mount of Olives to visit the Ascension Chapel. Visit the Church of Pater Noster to witness the “Lord’s Prayer” Proceed to the Church of Dominus Flevit where God wept over Jerusalem. Move on and continue by walking down the Palm Sunday road to the Church of All Nations and the Garden of Gethsemane to see the Rock of Agony, the place where Jesus prayed before the Roman soldiers came for Him.Visit Dead Sea the lowest point on earth. Swim at the Dead Sea beach. Then proceed to Qumran, the caves of the Essences where Dead Sea Scrolls where found by a wandering shepherd boy. Dinner at Intercontinental Jericho . Back to Jerusalem.

Day 09 SEPT 04 JERUSALEM – Queen Alia International Airport
Hotel Breakfast and check out. Cross Allenby border for Jordan with assistance on both borders. Drive to Amman. Continue to airport for your flight back home.

Day 10 SEPT 05 Arrive Manila
Arrive in Manila from a very memorable tour.

The Obelisk Tomb in Petra
Photo by Mile Kramer in FreeLargePhotos.com

Mt. Nebo
Photo by Eric Lafforgue

Holy Land-Jordan-Egypt Tours (Sep-Nov 2011)

2011-07-08T23:06:00.000+08:00

Introducing our new Holy Land Tours for late this year. We are now accepting interested participants for the following tour departures:

3-in-1 Holy Land Tour with Jordan and Egypt (Sep 20-Oct 02, 2011)
Tour Price from $2,388.00+ per person
3-in-1 Holy Land Tour with Jordan and Egypt (Oct 25-Nov 06, 2011)
Tour Price from $2,388.00+ per person
3-in-1 Holy Land Tour with Jordan and Egypt (Nov 18-30, 2011)
Tour Price from $2,388.00+ per person

Tour Highlights:
Amman, Mount Nebo, Madaba, Petra, Tiberias, Jerusalem, The Dead Sea, Bethlehem, Galilee, Nazareth, St. Catherine, Mount Sinai and Cairo

* No need for visas!
* Minimum of 30 persons to run this tour.

Itinerary:

SEPT 20 MANILA - AMMAN

Depart Manila, aboard your favorite airline; enjoy in-flight amenities, meals and entertainment.

SEPT 21 ARRIVAL IN AMMAN MT. NEBO –MADABA
Arrival in Amman airport. Meet and assist at the airport. Later transfer to Mt. Nebo, where Moses viewed the Promised Land before he died. Then proceed to Madaba to visit the Monastery of St. George, which host the unique mosaic Map of Egypt, Jordan and Holy land. The map is believed to be the first one for this area, as it is built in the 6th century, transfer to hotel for check in Dinner and overnight.

SEPT 22 AMMAN- PETRA – AMMAN
Breakfast inside the hotel. Morning proceed to the lost city of Petra with Horseback Ride through the picturesque SIQ, and visit the Treasury. Then sightseeing tour of Ammanon, dinner and overnight in Amman.

SEPT 23 BORDER CROSSING TO ISRAEL - TIBERIAS
Hotel Breakfast and check out. Transfer to Sheik Hussein Bridge for crossing into Israel. Then to Yardenit (Jordan River) where St. John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ continue to Tiberias for check in, dinner and overnight.

SEPT 24 TIBERIAS
Hotel Breakfast. Start the tour with Boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Drive to Capernaum, the town where Jesus made His home after leaving Nazareth. View the remains of the ancient Synagogue in which He taught, and on to Tabgha, where the Miracle of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes took place. Drive to Mount of Beatitudes, this is the site of the Sermon on the Mount and St. Peter’s Primary Church, See the remains of St. Peter’s House, The church of the first miracle in the wedding of Cana where Jesus performed His first miracle changing water into wine Then to Mt. Tabor to see the Basilica of Transfiguration. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Tiberias.

SEPT 25 TIBERIAS - JERUSALEM
Hotel Breakfast and check out. Travel to Haifa, visit the Basilica of Mt. Carmel, Ceasarea, which was built by Mt. Herod the Great to catch the sight of the Aqueducts and the Roman Theater. This is where St. Paul was imprisoned. Proceed to Jaffa and visit the city where Yona set sail on. Drive to Ein Karem for St. John the Baptist Church and Church of Visitacion (Magnificat) where the Blessed Virgin Mary visited Elizabeth then to Jerusalem for hotel check in, dinner and overnight.

SEPT 26 JERUSALEM- QUMRAN – DEAD SEA
Hotel Breakfast. Full day tour includes Mount of Olives to visit the Ascension Chapel. Visit the Church of Pater Noster to witness the “Lord’s Prayer” Proceed to the Church of Dominus Flevit where God wept over Jerusalem. Move on and continue by walking down the Palm Sunday road to the Church of All Nations and the Garden of Gethsemane to see the Rock of Agony, the place where Jesus prayed before the Roman soldiers came for Him.Visit Dead Sea the lowest point on earth. Swim at the Dead Sea beach. Then proceed to Qumran, the caves of the Essences where Dead Sea Scrolls where found by a wandering shepherd boy. Check in and dinner at the hotel.

SEPT 27 JERUSALEM - BETHLEHEM – JERUSALEM
Hotel Breakfast. Visit to St. Anne’s Church, Bethsaida Pool, Wailing Wall, Via Dolorosa and go through the Stations of the Cross to the Holy Sepulchre where Jesus was crucified, died and rose from the dead. Move to Church of Nativity.Visit also the Basilica and Grotto of the Nativity and the Manger Square. Return via Lazarus Tomb and Shepherd’s Field. Back to Jerusalem for hotel dinner and overnight.

SEPT 28 JERUSALEM - ST. CATHERINE
Hotel Breakfast and check out. Cross Taba border for Egypt with assistance on both borders. Arrive Sinai then transfer to hotel in St. Catherine for check in, dinner and overnight.

SEPT 29 ST. CATHERINE - CAIRO
Early Morning Mountain climbs to Mt. Sinai, where the Ten Commandments were given to Moses. On return, will have hotel breakfast and check out. Visit St. Catherine Monastery then travel to Cairo and see Moses Springs and Suez Canal. Check in at hotel in Cairo for dinner and overnight.

SEPT 30 CAIRO
After breakfast visit Egyptian Museum, where you can see the finest displays of Artifacts, Relics, Statues and Jewelers from all of the Pharaohs Reigns, Also the only riches with remarkable museum in the world. Also see one of the Wonders of the World, the Pyramids of Giza and Sphinx. You will also visit Church of Virgin Mary, Visit to St. George Coptic Church, Visit to St. Sergius Churchand Citadel then visit Khan El Khalili Bazaar for shopping. In the evening, will have Dinner Cruise at Nile River with Belly Dancing Show before returning to hotel for overnight.

OCT 01 CAIRO – MANILA
Breakfast at hotel the rest of the day is free for last minute shopping. Then transfer to Cairo Airport for flight to Manila.

OCT 02 ARRIVE MANILA
Arrive Manila from a memorable tour. Home sweet home

The Pyramids of Giza
Photo from wallpapers.free-review.net

Via Dolorosa in Jeursalem
Photo by Roman Kriman

Holy Land Tour (October 21-November 01, 2011)

2011-07-02T11:39:00.000+08:00

Here's a new tour to the Holy Land. Gathering participants now.
If interested, please accomplish the reservation form found in the file and fax it to (632) 4265478. If you have any questions, please contact us.

Holy Land Tour - Egypt/ Israel/ Jordan (Oct 21-Nov 01, 2011)

Thanks!

* Photo credits: intisuntrek.com

Misibis Bay

2011-06-06T23:29:00.000+08:00

Travel Blog by Jen
June 3, 2011

Their brochure says that it is a "Your Luxury Island Playground." Well, indeed it was mine! Just spent 3 fabulous days in Cagraray Island in Albay, Philippines, where we were blessed with clear skies and warm sunshine in the beginning of June (considered a rainy month in the Philippines).

Misibis Bay can be reached by taking an hour's flight from Manila to Legazpi City. Everybody who has been to Legazpi knows that the famous Mayon Volcano can be seen upon arrival at the airport. We were thrilled to see her in all her glory, without the usual cloud cover at the peak.

Perfect Mayon!

Upon arrival, we were greeted and escorted by the resort staff to the private van that will take us to the wharf. Estimated travel time is an hour, passing along the countryside and small villages. Along the way, we stopped at this memorial for the victims of Super Typhoon Reming so we can take a photo of Mayon Volcano again.

The Resort is currently building a bridge that would connect to the island of Cagraray. So until this is finished, all vehicles will have to get onto the barge and cross the river to the Island. The crossing just takes about 10 minutes and the barge can fit a total of 6 vans. Then, there is another 15 minutes of land travel before reaching the Resort.

Our van on the barge

When we arrived at the Resort, we were greeted with welcome leis and cold towels to freshen up. There were three people dancing a Bicol folk dance too called Ibalong. A brief orientation of the Resort's facilities and activities was given after the check-in process was done. Golf carts were on standby to whisk us to our rooms.

First impression of Misibis? FIRST CLASS. The lay-out is clean and beautiful. The grounds were well-groomed. The villas look luxurious even just from the outside. The lagoon and infinity pools look so inviting for a quick dip. Attendants were on hand in almost every place, offering a beach towel or a drink or assistance with whatever you may need. The staff were courteous and very accommodating---a major asset in any resort, whether or not it markets itself as a luxury island playground.

There was never a dull moment here for Misibis Bay offers a lot of activities for everyone. I ticked off a lot of items in my Bucket List with my one stay here!

There was windsurfing, which I was really determined to learn. The marine sports guides were so patient in teaching me. Kudos to them!

So happy that I got the hang of this by Day 2 :)

The other sports activities were Hobie Cat sailing, kayak, jetski, banana boat and the pedal boat. A must-try is also the Segway.

Hobie Cat sailing is such a thrill!

Before the hilarious banana boat ride...

Even the kids can handle the Segway

A good thing the Recreation staff did was to prepare an itinerary for us. It made scheduling activities easier and we, as a group, were able to discuss who does what and who stays to watch over the kids :) One of my best experiences here was riding the ATV (all-terrain vehicle) at dawn to catch the sunrise. We started riding at 5:00 AM from the Resort to the nearby Eco Park, and then up and down the rocky trail to the look-out point. The sun has already risen by the time we got there but the views all around was amazing. Mayon Volcano can be seen from a distance; the blue bay off Batan Island and the smaller ones surrounded us all. Our guides brought a pot of coffee for everyone to share. Cool, isn't it? This is really a must-do in your list!

Pit Stop at the Ampitheatre in Eco Park (feautred as a pit stop in The Amazing Race - Asia)

My trusty ATV with Mayon Volcano in the background

We made it!

View from the top

Another Bucket List moment for me was the Zipline. It was just 200 meters but because I have a huge fear of heights, this was a major accomplishment. The guides say that even small children can do this. The Resort is building a 450-meter zipline, which for sure would be more exciting!

For the adventurous, try exploring Pototan Cave. It is about 20-minutes by speedboat from the Resort. The mouth of the cave can be reached by climbing 115 steps and rapelling down to its bottom. You can hear the cool running water. Inside, you can see stalactites and other rock formations. The cave has three chambers but we only reached the second one as getting to the third requires swimming into chest-high water.

Did I mention that the food is also great? The buffet spread is international and always includes dishes popular to Bicolanos who love spicy food, such as Laing, Binagoongang Baboy, Bicol Express, and Chicken Adobo in Coconut Milk. Ala carte is also available. The food attendants were also very kind and efficient. Two of us in our party were celebrating their birthdays so they accommodated our request for a special treat for them. I was only thinking of a candle on a cupcake, but the Chef made for each of them a whole chocolate cake! The waiters, staff and the band then all joined in singing a birthday song for them. We appreciated that very much :)

Cakes for the Birthday Celebrants!

My breakfast: Mango Crepe and Coffee with Choc-Nut :)

Parents also need not worry about their kids getting bored. Aside from the beach and pool, Misibis Bay has a kiddie room equipped with toys and computer games. My niece and nephew loved staying here--- a welcome respite from staying under the hot sun.

This really is a Luxury Island Playground. They really do all they can to treat guests like royalty here. Everyone is armed with a smile. Service was excellent and personal, such that we've become friends with the staff. Their goal is really to make guests happy and entertained, which they superbly achieved with my family. Thank you, Misibis, for an unforgettable summer! We will definitely go back :)

Misibis Bay's beachfront

Special thanks to Arlie Juarez and Jeff Angeles of the Recreation Team.

For Misibis packages, please call or send us an email.

* All pictures are the writer's own.

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