Online Booking and It’s Discontent

11-11-11. Pasay, Philippines. To book or not to book, that is the question.  Aside from the fact that the date begins in identical odd number, there is nothing bizarre about 11-11-11. I don’t know how but businesses have a way of making random things appear significant.  To make tourists like me drool about the next big travel destination, ads about sale of airfare tickets are circulating on the net. Being that I am, I strategized for the best way to get that sought-after ticket (now blame capitalism for hardcore consumerism!).

It was past midnight and the unusually humid breeze of Christmas season made my sweat glands revolutionized.  Groggy that I was, I woke up in the middle of the night just to achieve something I consider significant, life-altering, and schedule- transforming: ONLINE BOOKING. I see you laughing and yeah, I am a bit OC about travelling but I sorely needed to be the first one to avail of online promo tickets. There I was waiting for my internet connection and in a matter of split second; I was busy typing those airline websites. After a few moments, these websites seem to have technical problem and it said “SERVICE UNAVAILABLE THIS TIME”. I told myself it might only take a few seconds and in a jiffy I will be back on track. I tried using another search engine but the same thing happened. I tried time and again until past two am and realized I am just wasting my precious sleeping time. I went to bed, exhausted and frustrated. Coincidentally, since I have slept for a couple of hours, I can’t get my head still. I was trying all of my sleeping habits (counted my blessings, taking slow and deep breathe, counted backwards) but of no help. That made me furious and I swear to myself to tell my horrendous experience.

 This online booking in an unholy hour experience made me realized that the early bird did not catch the worm or the second mouse got the cheese but the sleepy head gained more strength.  I promised to myself I will never be a slave of consumerism again (cross my fingers). I barely slept when the alarm went loud and I can do nothing but to get my ass to the shower. After taking a bath, I tried checking those websites again and viola, I connected without a sweat (or is it because I just took a bath?). Unfortunately, those ads about big, big sale and discount are just plain advertisements. The fares are still priced beyond reach of an average bourgeois like me. Why can’t these airline websites be straightforward in their fares and include everything in their ads? Why should they separate fuel surcharge, taxes and web admin fee only to find out that the much-anticipated low fare is really not that low?  Whew, what a humbling experience it was! The moral of the story: expect nothing because if it is too good to be true, it really is.

If I could put up my new and perfect resort, it will look like this:

I will use the white sands of Boracay,

I will utilize the waters of Siargao,

I will exploit the night life of Galera,

I will move the tourist destinations of Bohol,

I will establish the hotels of Resort World,

I will put my family as managers, supervisors and owners,

And finally, I will… thank God for this dream...

How about you? How will you picture a perfect tourist destination?

(Third of three parts)

Q- Quiet and solitude. Even for just a few minutes, spend time to silently reflect and be glad for the vacation. This will re-invigorate and give you a fresher outlook.

R- Reward yourself. The vacation in itself is a gift and if treated as such, you will value every moment of it. Even a simple cup of freshly brewed coffee in a vacation adds that little EXTRA to your ORDINARY sip.

S- Sleep. Have more than enough sleep before and after your vacation. While on vacation, sleeping is just an option.

T-Timetable compliance. If one needs to visit every single tourist attraction in an area, an itinerary is a must and should be followed. The last thing that you want as a traveler is to run out of time.

U- Upload photos ASAP. With the kind of technology we have today, everything is just a click away.  Share pictures and videos the soonest possible time.

V- V (b) lock those harmful rays. I went to Bohol without my sun block and I got home looking like a bread fresh from the toaster. Moral of the story: use the one with the highest SPF! As a song rightly puts it, everybody’s free to wear sunscreen.

W- Waste. It might sound cliché but a little bit of proper waste disposal won’t hurt us. It’s a way of giving back to the beauty of the scene that we marvel.  Just imagine what will happen to our favorite destinations if every visitor will leave waste indiscriminately!

X- Exit gracefully. If it is time to go back home, be happy and never whine that the best is over. Here is my mantra; your current destination is just a prelude to your succeeding vacations.

Y- Yummy Feast. A vacation can be a finger-licking, lip-smacking gastronomic ride too! Sample the best local cuisine and eat your heart out. The foodtrip is a vacation in itself. Just never forget the meds for constipation.

Z- Zesty. After your vacation, you will feel invigorated and rejuvenated. Use it, reproduce it and never lose it.

There you go, ready and prepared. Ciao and Buon voyage!

(Second of three parts)

I- Insurance helps. If you love to travel but unfamiliar of the destination, insure yourself. It is better to be prepared than to be sorry. If a travel insurance is too heavy, a health insurance coverage will get the job done.

J- Jot down. If you are not that mental and a bit amnesiac, one must put in writing important things. You must never forget the number of bags, the cash on hand and those oh-so important documents.

K- Kilo Allowance. Be mindful of the allowable carried baggage and guesstimate the weight before departure. Travel light, pack easy and have rooms for pasalubong. If you will exceed the allowed baggage, you might end up paying more than the actual price of your promo ticket.

L-Loosen up. Expect that there will be glitches, both minor and major, along the way. Stay calm and never lose your composure. The trick is to do one thing at a time and never be too hard to yourself.

M- Master the art of budgeting. Traveling on a budget doesn’t mean traveling sans beautiful memories. Maximize hotel freebies, eat all-out on buffets and haggle reasonably. The best things in life are free, this holds true even in vacation.

N- Nightlife jamming. Whether you are a party animal or meek as a lamb, enjoy the nightlife whatever way you like. I am pretty sure there will be an exact place for you under the stars. Whatever happens though, just leave it wherever it happens.

O- Outfit perfect for the trip. As important as it seems, a get-up is not the be-all and end-all of your vacation.  I know someone who didn’t pursue a vacation just because of wardrobe shortage and ended up frustrated. Just pack suitable and easy-to-wear set of clothes and never forget to bring extra underwear. You will never know when you need them.

P- Promo Fares. From time to time, air fares are on sale. Online booking can be a little bit tricky and one must muster incredible patience in getting this job done. I must admit, promo fares really help especially for budget travelers like me.  The money you save in airfare can be used for activities, right?

to be continued...

The ABCs of Smart Travel

A quickie guide to a happy travel

Before you bound on the next airplane to your desired rendezvous, I listed few simple things you must carry out pre-, during and post- travelling. A piece of advice will not hurt you or the people you will leave behind (pun not intended). Keep Safe Always! (in every definition of the phrase)

(First of three parts)

A- Access info. Gather all relevant information as early as possible. The better-informed you are about your destination the better.

B-Beware. Always be on the lookout. You will never know you might be the next victim of untoward incidents.

C- Camera. Always have a handy and reliable one. I know how it feels like when you are about to shot that perfect moment, your camera malfunctions! For aspiring photographers, accessories (e.i. lens, hood, case) are a must.

D- Depart on time. Seldom airplanes and ships will depart on time, but since one doesn’t own an airplane or yacht, you must be in the airport or seaport ahead of time. This will give you much needed time for some catching up on tweets, fb or whatever that needs those little extra idle moments.

E- Enjoy to your heart’s content. In the first place, enjoyment is the reason why you are there and cherish these memories coz it will remain forever.

F- Friends. Befriend and mingle with locals and other tourists. More often than not, they are as friendly as your neighbors.
G- Give thanks. A little act of kindness from strangers always helps especially when you need it most. A little act of gratitude will be well-appreciated.

H- Happenings. Mark your calendars for up and coming activities of your destinations. You might need an ounce more of patience when travelling during those peak periods, but what the heck, isn’t the event the reason why you love the place?

(Second of three parts)