Monday, December 28, 2015

Baguio 2015: Paladin Hotel

12:51 PM baguio , baguio 2015 0 Comments
Note:
The room I booked were 2 Deluxe Rooms (with breakfast) that cost me Php 4,638.40 via Travelbook.ph (discounted price). Since we were 5, I paid an additional Php 580.00 for the extra bed (inclusive of breakfast). To know more information about the hotel, room pictures etc. visit their official site here: http://www.paladinhotelbaguio.com/ 


Over the weekend, my family toured my cousin and aunt to the City of Pines known as Baguio City. I have long prepared for this trip - meaning I have gone through several google searches, blogs and travel sites to find a good but not so expensive place to stay. This was not my first trip to Baguio though, I've been there twice before (once for the Panagbenga Festival and second was for my birthday last 2013) - but on both occasions I had a friend living in Baguio who helped me scour for a transient house to stay. But since she is no longer staying in Baguio - I had to find a place on my own.

 I've already looked through some potential hotels via the famous Agoda & Booking.com site - but one day while on my way home - I heard on the radio an add for TravelBook.ph. And this is where I found this hotel that offered a very nice price for my budget. Also, I loved that Travelbook.ph has this point system that you can use for your future bookings. I'm sure other travel sites offer the same kind of perk but I like that this site doesn't provide any complications as to when earning & redeeming points. Note that this is my first time to try this site, so I don't know yet if there are any complaints or whatsoever about their discount promos. Try to visit their site if you want to expand your hotel options: http://www.travelbook.ph/.

 We only stayed overnight at Paladin Hotel but the experience was amazing :) I'm listing down all the plus points I had during our brief stay:
  1. Luggage Storage: We arrive really early in Baguio so its a good thing that we were able to leave our things (safely) in the hotel before we were allowed to check-in. Unfortunately, the hotel was fully booked that morning so we were not able to early check in but understandable since it was the holiday season. They will give you a claiming number that you will need to provide to the reception once you are ready to claim your things. They even allow the guests to leave their things even after checkout - which is what we did since we had to eat lunch & go to the Mines View Park before leaving Baguio.
  2.  Free WIFI: One of the advantages if you are staying in a hotel instead of a transient house. The connection isn't that as stable - sometimes you can get disconnected but it was not that a hassle for me. As long as I am able to connect right back in and upload my photos then I'm good. Also, they provide 1 password that is valid daily per gadget. We were offered 5 but you can ask again from the reception area if you need additional access at no charge.
  3. Complimentary Massage: They offer 1 complimentary massage per room. I'm not sure though if the complimentary massage was dependent on the room booked. Note though that it was just a quick 30-minute massage and if another guest wants a massage too, it will cost Php 300.00. 
  4. Clean Room: I am very particular with hotel room amenities - especially the bed sheets, pillows and blankies. Kudos to the hotel as bed was so comfy, nice smelling sheets, pillows and blankets. Toilet was not that grand - but heater was working perfectly fine and with that I'm happy.
  5. Good Customer Service: For a good business to be successful, for me one should highly invest on good service. Paladin Hotel's staff - from the receptionist, to the house keepers, guys who serve breakfast, bell boys, guard, etc. - were all very nice, accommodating & always smiling. And I find their smile very sincere - you feel really welcomed to the place. 

 Nobody is perfect so as with their plus, I'm also listing down things they need to improve on:
  1. Food: Breakfast (set meal) is included on their room accommodation however I was not that happy with the taste. During our stay, we had to choose 1 variant only with rice & scrambled, coffee and was served with Papaya as dessert. The garlic longaniza and egg was bland.
   2. Complimentary Massage: I'm including this on the negative side because it was so quick and the pressure wasn't that as I was expecting of a proper massage. They should've informed the guest that it was only for 30-minutes so I could've requested to have it extended even if I had to pay.

  3. Hotel Lobby: I would be nice if they have a TV on the lobby or waiting area. To keep the guests waiting entertained.
Hotel Lobby on the Second Floor

Overall, my family was very satisfied with our stay here - we wish we could've extended. I am highly recommending this hotel to anyone who wishes to stay in Baguio :)




 
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Monday, December 14, 2015

Food Trip: Beeffalo by Hotrocks

7:36 AM beef , beeffalo 0 Comments
So for our Christmas celebration, my friend suggested a place somewhere in Marikina where steak is both great and cheap. Unbelievable, but I am a living proof that it is indeed true :)

Lot 6, Block 3, Mayor Gil Fernando Ave, Marikina, Metro Manila, Philippines

 If you are familiar in the Marikina area, it is near the Marquinton place - that road going to the Engineering building of the city. Place has nice ambiance, the crew are very attentive and courteous too - which is a very big plus when dining in a resto.
the outside area
 You can either eat inside (airconditioned of course) or outside. Personally, the next time I go here (and if its for dinner), I'd rather eat outside so as not to smell like a grilled human being after. It's not just this place okay, I mean don't you just hate it when you smell food after dining inside a restaurant - like going to a club and smelling like cigarette after - ugh! Anyway, my point is even if the place is along side the road - its not that busy so no worries of inhaling pollution while dining outside.

Breakfast Steak
Parking is no issue too, aside from having a dedicated parking area in front, you can parallel park as well - road is wide so you don't have to worry for the safety of your precious ride.

Now for the fun part, I ordered Breakfast Steak (steak, choice of mash or rice), side salad, egg (choice if sunny side up or scrambled) which cost only Php 190.00 - so worth it. Meat is so tender and juicy :) The mash was a winner too.

 I also ordered a small serving of garlic pasta (as suggested by bestie) - which amazed me because it was just composed of simple pasta, with garlic and olive oil but it was so delicious.


Some of the goodies we ate:

Jack Daniel's Country Style Pork Ribs Php 430.00




Baked Mashed Potatoes

Overall experience was 5/5 and will definitely go back. Visit and like their page: https://www.facebook.com/beeffalo.marikina/  for more information.

 


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Saturday, December 12, 2015

Korea 2016: How to Apply for a Korean Visa

9:33 AM korea , korean embassy 0 Comments
Korea trip is getting near (yay!) - we got our plane tickets and AirBnB booked so next step now is to get our visa filed & approved so we can officially enter their beloved country.

 Searching through b/vlogs & forums really helped a LOT to prep us for this task. And as a way of giving back, I'd like to create my own post on how we got our visa to contribute & help those who are planning to visit Korea as well.

Prepare your documents

Get legit information. Visit the Korean Embassy (Manila) Official Site to get the updated list of requirements for the visa application. A friend and I was lucky enough to have visited an OECD member country - ergo our requirements were much less than those who are first time travelers or have not been to any of the OECD countries. For first time travelers or have not been to any of the OECD member countries, please visit the site for the complete set of requirements.

 1. Original COE which must include the following:
  •  Applicant's position
  • Date Hired
  • Compensation
  • Office Address
  • Office HR Email Address
  • Office HR Landline Number (mobile number not allowed)
2.  Original and True Copy of Bank Statement
3. Original and True Copy of Personal Bank Certificate which must include the following
  • Account type
  • Current Balance
  • Account Opening Date
  • Average Daily Balance (ADB)
Note: For BDO, Bank Cert cost Php 100.00 and usually can be claimed the next day. However, if you have bargaining skills - you can humbly & kindly ask the bank personnel to process it immediately so you can get it within the day (or even in minutes). Bank Statements can be processed immediately but will cost you Php 300.00 for the first 3 pages then Php 10.00 on the succeeding pages. 

 4. ITR (exempted for travelers to any OECD countries but if you have one available, no harm bringing it too)
5. Application Form (to be download from their site). Answers must be handwritten and place N/A for fields not applicable for you. No blank spaces - if it does not apply then place N/A.
6. Passport size photo to be pasted on the form. Before going to the embassy, make sure you have already pasted the photo on your form but if you forgot, they have paste available inside the embassy.
7. Photocopy of the passport bio page. Passport should be valid from more than 6 months.
8. Photocopy of the OECD Visa & arrival stamps. Visa must be valid and used.
9. As of this posting, the embassy currently offers multiple entry visa for BDO Gold clients - just provide them your current billing statement.

Submit your Docs

 Go to the Korean Embassy to submit your requirements. The embassy is located in Taguig:

 122 Upper McKinley Road, McKinley Town Center, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City 


  • Upon entering the embassy, you have to log your name & number to the guard on duty before you can enter. They might require an ID or not - but just be prepared to have one handy.
  • Give your requirements to the officers on your right (you'll see them once you enter) - they will check your documents, give your queue number & which Visa window you need to go to.
  • No interviews required (or unless the person on the other side of the window needs clarification) so no need to get nervous :P 
  • You will then get a paper that you'd need to keep as that is needed when its time to claim your passport. The paper also indicates the date & time you can go back to claim your passport. No need to call the embassy - they are true to their word. If they say you can claim it on Dec. 12 - then Dec 12 it is.
Claim the prize 

Go back to the embassy and give the claim paper thingy to the officer to your right to get your queue number. Note that embassy will just give you back the passport - and you will just pray to the heavens above that you will find your Korean visa on one of the pages of your passport :)

Now remember, aside from regulary google-ing posts, blogs, vlogs, etc.; much recommended is to just visit the embassy's official site to get the updated requirements for filing a visa. 

 Here one can get the latest announcements of requirements, forms and promos even about the visa application. Better to get the official information - be safe than sorry right?

I hope this lengthy post helps. 
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