20 travel tips for 20somethings (pt. 2).
Building on Part 1, here is Part 2! Thanks for checking out these posts.
6. Don’t be stupid with money. Figure out your plan and backup plan beforehand.
Going back to #1 on this list, the internet is the best guide to understanding foreign currency. It is best to understand exchange rates (so money changers can’t cheat you), estimate your budget (so you don’t go under or overboard) and call your credit card companies before your trip. Doing these things will ensure that you will not get stranded in an unfamiliar place with no money and no options.
I mean, come on, did you see Vegas Vacation? Do not leave your returning home safely up to fate!
7. Play it safe!
The first thing I do when entering a hotel in a foreign country is make sure the door lock works and the bed looks clean. I then make sure I can stand the bathroom. Finally, I check for a safe. An in-room safe is, well, the safest place to keep one’s valuables while on a trip. I have shoved everything from extra currency, driver’s licenses, an iPad and camera accessories into an in-room safe. If you do not need it on your person, then leave it in the safe. Hopefully, your parents taught you to always keep your passport on you when you’re in a foreign country.
8. If your room has no safe (it happens), then use your luggage.
If you followed my advice on #3, then hopefully your luggage has a lock. Unless some really evil, conniving hotel chambermaid hacks at your lock or wheels the entire luggage away in hopes that you brought solid gold with you, then you can trust that your stuff is safe in your luggage. Don’t forget to lock it before leaving your room! Being stupid with one’s valuables in a foreign country is just that - stupid.
9. Accumulate airline miles.
Staying loyal to an airline may not always be the case in one’s 20’s. It’s understandable - what with budget airlines popping up like mushrooms. Budget is great and I do travel on budget airlines, but I try as much as possible to stick to my main airlines for longer distances. Accumulating airline miles used to not really mean anything to me, I just handed in my Frequent Flyer cards whenever I would board a plane and wouldn’t even get a pat on the back. But after YEARS (like, since birth, I think), I was finally elevated to Elite status in Philippine Airlines.
It was such a big day for me, I felt compelled to take a photo of my mail.
My new Elite status in PAL has been such a blessing. Though I have several things to say about the airline in general, I got to give it to them when it comes to achieving frequent flyer status - life is pretty damn sweet. It’s true what they say: good things come to those who wait. Not only do I get free lounge access whenever I fly, I also get priority check-in, sports equipment allocation and best of all, free arroz caldo. I know PAL flyers can say that the lounge arroz caldo is pretty comforting.
20somethings also looking into getting new credit cards should look into partnerships with airlines that could mean more mile accumulation. Besides my PAL loyalty, I also have a credit card that helps build my Delta mileage.
Last year, when I visited India for a work trip, one of my colleagues (who travels infinitely more than me) showed me a little laminated card she kept in her travel wallet. The laminated card had all her frequent flyer information neatly printed. It beats carrying around all the cards!
10. Taste the local beer and ice cream.
I think the best way to get into the soul of a country is through its palate. One of my main motivations for travel is tasting local cuisine and opening myself up to an array of new dishes. It’s my most favorite part. A few years ago, I was told by a seasoned traveler to always taste the local ice cream.
I figure that this is a good tip because almost everybody likes ice cream and exotic flavors are endless. You can get a nice good peek into a culture through ice cream: sweet, weird-tasting, interesting, disgustingly too sweet or similar to what you’re used to. It is a great chance to taste something new and different, and it usually doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket. While shopping in New Delhi, I downed three local orange creamsicles (the bike vendor loved this, naturally) when nobody was looking, I’ve asked for seconds of cinnamon ice cream in Vietnam and I am ALL about Rita’s Italian ice gelati (the bastard cousin of gelato) from New Jersey.
When I lived in New Jersey for a few months back in college, I survived on poor-woman’s diet of Rita’s. Meaning, I often walked out of my way or had my buddy park far from the door to make space for frozen custard over Italian ice. Always worth it.
The beer is my personal “thing.” I am a proud to say that beer is always my drink of choice (wine is second, I have given up on mixers and the like). And with each country in this world proudly brewing their own, beer is a fantastic way explore a culture.
I honestly wasn’t serious about my beer until I traveled to Cambodia two years ago and was pleasantly surprised with my ice-cold bottle of Angkor. I thought to myself, “hey, if a tiny country like this brews their own, it must be a nationalistic thing.” Since that bottle, I’ve made it a point to try beers in every new country I set foot into.
I also picked up this coffee table book a few years ago, which chronicles brews from all over the world:
It’s a great, comprehensive visual guide and I highly recommend it to beer snobs everywhere.
Needless to say, beer and memories mix swimmingly together. Nothing like a local brew, excellent travel buddies and an exotic locale to make one want to hug the entire world.
If you are lactose intolerant or a recovering alcoholic, then this item wouldn’t be your best bet. Street food might be you best alternative. But if otherwise, leave room in your tummy to immerse yourself in the local beer and ice cream. I guarantee you will have fond memories afterwards.
Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for Part 3 and 4. In the meanwhile, here is the first part of this list.
20 travel tips for 20somethings (pt. 1).
For the last couple of years, I have been doing a lot of traveling, both for pleasure and for business. This has been one of the greatest gifts of my 20’s and though I’m not a serious travel authority, folks have asked me a lot about my travels. I finally decided to blog about it.
I think for kids nowadays, the 20’s are the best time to travel. After being somewhat confined in college for 4 years, most of us have started to get a taste of disposable income and annual vacation time. I know that I have exploited these two things in the last few years and truly believe that wandering the globe in one’s 20s should be a right. Don’t think too hard about it. Traveling does cost, but the benefits definitely outweigh.
I have traveled across countries before I could walk or talk and have several travel tips applicable to those beginning to feel the pangs of 20something wanderlust. Here is the first part of a series on 20 Travel Tips for 20somethings:
1. If the internet isn’t your best buddy already, make it.
This is an obvious starting point. The internet is the greatest resource known to man and I have learned to manipulate it to my benefit very well over the last few years. From booking flights, hotels, to understanding your baggage allowance and travel warnings, the internet has it all. You can only get so far with asking your buddies how their experiences went. Use. The. Internet.
My favorite sites/apps for travel:
- Travel.state.gov - This is my resource for all entry/exit requirements for my passport.
- KAYAK - Great summation app for flight and hotel deals.
- TripAdvisor - I think the interface of TripAdvisor is ugly and some reviews are super shady, but it gets the job done. I only recommend it for travel outside the United States. It has been a good companion on my Asian trips.
- Yelp - My most trusted name in restaurant reviews. Unfortunately, only limited to a few countries. Absolutely useful in the U.S.
- Jetsetter.com - Members-only deals on luxury travel.
2. Memorize your passport information.
When traveling, your passport information is your lifeline. Memorizing your information saves you time when completing entry/exit documents and keeps your passport safer. Instead of having to whip it out every time you need to fill in your papers, you can keep it safely tucked into your carry-on bag and remove only when required by an immigration official.
3. Invest in good luggage.
A Samsonite ad brainstorming scene from Mad Men
I have seen many flimsy bags fall apart before my eyes in various baggage terminals. Knowing full well that bad luggage can ruin my day, I decided a few years ago to purchase quality pieces of luggage. I own three Samsonites that have been my reliable companions during my travels. Luggage isn’t cheap, so it does require some saving on your part, but good luggage can last you a lifetime.
In recent years, 4-wheel spinners have become trendy. These are incredibly convenient when racing through an airport or walking some blocks to your hotel, so consider paying a little extra if only to make things easier for you, physically.
4. Pack an emergency medicine kit.
Here are some contents of my little kit: alcohol, Halls, Band-Aids and my pill box, which I bought from Dimensione. Inside, I keep my vitamins, Tums, ibuprofen (my go-to painkiller), anti-diarrheals and antihistamines.
I know this sounds rather lame, but try finding eczema medicine in the middle-of-nowhere India (true story) and you will thank me. Your eczema might not flare up or your stomach may be able to handle the street food, but you really never know. So be prepared with stuff you have brought on your own instead of scrambling for relief in a foreign country.
5. Only bring a book with you if you fully intend to read it.
Gwyneth Paltrow on an episode of Hoarders for Vogue
On countless occasions, I have thought that time in an airplane would allow me the luxury of finishing up my latest bedside read or that a book would be my perfect accessory when dining at a sidewalk cafe. But on those same countless occasions, I have been wrong. More often than not, I am knocked out on a plane or laughing by myself watching a free movie. And usually, I’m too busy running my mouth and catching up with friends to open up a book. Now, I think twice about bringing a book with me, because another unused item brought from your home country means less space for your shopping. Think thrice before bringing a book and if you do, please do read it.
I think this rule also applies to swimsuits. Just because your hotel has a pool doesn’t mean that you will have time to use it. So thinking thrice is a fair rule-of-thumb.
Stay tuned for the rest of my list!
#EATSmorefuninMALABONCITY.
Today marks the 413th Foundation Day and 11th Cityhood of my dearest Malabon City. It has been a month of non-stop activities and celebration in our corner of the world.
Two years ago, I moved back to the Philippines for this city and it has been a pleasure and an eye-opener to be working in the field of public service. Last week, during our Mutya ng Malabon beauty pageant, where I was tasked to judge contestants from our 21 barangays, I led with this question: What makes you proud to be from Malabon City?
Malabon, to me, has always meant two things: FAMILY and FOOD. This is the city where my dad’s dad, my lolo, was born and raised. When I was a kid, visiting the Philippines during the summer sometimes meant a trip to our ancestral home and a feast. I grew up knowing one thing about my lolo’s hometown: Malabon meant food.
From birthday parties, death anniversaries to Christmas parties, I will always remember our home to be filled with people eating. I am lucky to have come from a family who love food and love to cook, because that meant growing up knowing what good food is and where it comes from.
And of course, being truly from Malabon means no meal is complete without patis (fish sauce). Can’t tell you how many restaurants my family and I have been to where more than one of us asks for patis for the entire table. If there were ever to be smuggling activity for patis, rest assured, my family will lead it.
Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the first-ever Malabon Kulinarya Festival. The local city government put on an excellent event that really showcased our city’s culinary pride. I know my colleagues in the city worked hard to publicize the event and generate media interest, so I would like to thank the members of the media and bloggers who came in to take part in this event. According to the blog posts written, it was many foodies’ first time in the city, so I hope that your first taste of us was a memorable one.
Here are some links about the Kulinarya Festival. I drooled looking at many of the pictures (force of habit):
If there is one thing I am proud of, it is our city’s culinary heritage. Many of the everyday Filipino dishes have roots in Malabon City, and I am always proud to tell that to anyone who listens. Today, as we celebrate Malabon Day, I am stuffing my face with sumpia for lunch and making sure I have a side of patis.
Happy Malabon Day to all!
3 rest of 2012 goals.
And we’re back! I just returned from a long (but kind of stressful, really) trip to my other homeland, the U.S.A., where I was kept pretty busy. Now that the long vacation is out of the way, I feel like my year is really starting. Whatever, it makes sense to me.
So, in that light, I think it’s time I get my act together and start my “year” off properly, wtih goal-setting.
1. Fix up, like really, really fix up my apartment
I have never shown photos of my apartment anywhere on the internet because of its semblance to some Hoarders episodes. But it is a delightful space, really, and am proud to call it my own at my ripe-old age of 24. Before the end of the year, I want to make sure my place of living is pristine, clutter-free and relaxing. I know it will take major weekend work to put everything in order, so I hope to set aside time to dedicate myself to this major project.
2. Accessorize more
Most mornings, I’m too busy rubbing my eyes awake and picking an outfit that matches to bother to accessorize. But on my crusade to look more presentable, I think maybe it’s time to add accessories in the mix. With the BFF, C, launching Vesterie last Friday, I considered it a wake-up sign from the gods. Time to stop hoarding accessories and start wearing them.
3. Practice patience
I figured, since this never hurt anyone, I should get on the bandwagon as well.
I know, that wasn’t too long, but I figured I’d focus on the majorly important ones. Hope your 2012 is going swimmingly!
HOPE.
All hail The King.
Taken in U Street, Washington DC
I command you to check this out. My best friend, C, on HelloGiggles.com.
Cents And Sensibility: STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS - AN INTERVIEW WITH A YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR
Whoa it’s Celeste on hello giggles!!
Source: hellogiggles
5 places i’m dying to visit (int’l edition).
I’ve been traveling a lot lately. I figure that since this is the last year I have as a free woman before the 2013 Philippine midterm elections, I should take every opportunity I can to enjoy a vacation, as time and budget permits, of course.
I remembered what it felt like when I first emerged from a subway from Queens and got my first glimpse of New York City. That was just a short 6 years ago, but I remember exactly how I felt at that moment. As I looked up at the tall buildings in midtown Manhattan, I knew that being in New York City meant I can make it to any place I’ve ever dreamed of going.
I have been really fortunate to be able to visit many cities and countries in the last few years, but every time I get on a plane, I wonder when I’ll be able to make it to the other places I’ve been dying to visit.
Everyone has a list, of course. Mine is longer than 5, but to keep in line with the 5 things posts I do, I limited myself to the places I am really, truly dying to visit. I’m going to save my Philippines list for another day.
Dubai, UAE
Contrary to popular belief, my desire to go to Dubai was not inspired by this film:
Instead, when I read up about Dubai in a travel magazine, I was fascinated by this:
Any country that can harness the power of technology and make possibilities like skiing in the desert possible? I want to see it. And a 7-star hotel? How did a place surpass an established ranking? That, I have to see too.
There is something about this emirate that just screams, “beyond your dreams” to me. It has been on the top of my list since I could remember and I am very much hoping I can one day find the $$$ to make it over there and experience another level of luxury.
Havana, Cuba
Cuba only sneaked into my list in the last few years. When I studied the Cuban Missile Crisis in school, I didn’t feel any push to make my way to the land of Fidel and his old cars. However, over the years, especially after I left Los Angeles, I’ve felt extreme hunger pangs for Cuban food.
My plate at Versailles, Los Angeles. Easily one of my staple meals.
Blurry because I was most likely shaking in hunger/anticipation
I love Cuban food. If my waistline permitted it, I would eat black beans, rice, plantains and Cuban chicken every single day for the rest of my life. I feel sad whenever Moros y Cristianos is not an option. I can snack on yuca frita forever. You get it, right? I love Cuban food.
That was my main motivation for putting Cuba on this list. Where else can Cuban food get better than in Cuba?
The time warped-ness of the country definitely adds to the charm. I picture myself walking down an old street full of VW beetles and finding a little hole-in-the-wall that makes a piping hot, delicious ropa vieja with a platillo moros y cristianos then hitting one of Havana’s beautiful beaches.
Another thing that really encouraged me was Obama’s easement of the Cuban embargo. Though I can’t travel directly yet, I’m willing to jump through the legal hoops to make it over there. Perhaps Barry likes Cuban food too?
Prague, Czech Republic
I have never been to Europe. In fact, I have only been on two continents on this earth. Europe is always a dream destination for folks, but mine is very specific: if given the opportunity to visit Europe, I have to see Prague.
Honestly, I don’t know too much about Prague, except that the country once had a pretty bad ass, spelling bee favorite name, Czechoslovakia. But the one thing I know is that the Czech Republic sustained minimal damage, compared to other European countries, after the World Wars. They say this is what adds to the beauty and charm of Prague.
Compared to the other modern-ish cities in Europe, I think the old-fashioned, hobby photographer in me would jump and possibly pee my pants at the thought of Prague.
New Orleans, LA
New Orleans is probably the most accessible dream destination for me, but I have not yet found the right time and right people to go with. My reason for New Orleans is too easy. Not Mardi Gras, which is too predictable, but simply, jazz.
Not many folks know, but I actually took a class on jazz music to fulfill a requirement, but it turned out to be one of the most memorable classes of my college years. I learned to really love and appreciate jazz music. I don’t consider myself a jazz snob and I get that other people just don’t get it, but there are days when I do put on my jazz playlist and can listen to a 7 minute all-saxophone track.
To go to a jazz hotbed only means one thing to me: beer accompanied by great live music. And Cajun and Creole cuisine? I’m drooling already.
Cairo, Egypt
I’m going to close this list with another Middle Eastern country. I think this is fitting, considering, all my life I have been particularly keen to Middle Eastern cuisine and culture. Even at a young age, I knew my baba ganoush and my lassi. You can go through my school records and my eclectic book collection at home, it’s clear I have a thing for the region and would love to visit it someday.
In addition to my predilection for Middle Eastern food, I was also a huge fan of this trilogy growing up:
Other little girls around me were crushing on boyband hotties, while I was Googling (or maybe, Yahoo-ing or Ask Jeeves-ing) Brendan Fraser. I even celebrated Mr. Fraser’s birthday with a sleepover every year and asked my friends to call me Brendee (dies).
But nonetheless, that movie was the root of my interest in the Middle East. Besides fighting off Arnold Vosloo and wishing to look like Rachel Weisz, I’d love to explore Cairo, eat my face off and immerse in all things ancient.
It was tough to limit this list to just 5, but I’m very comfortable with my selections. They are truly my bucket list destinations.
Producing this list was not just about stringing together random things in my imagination. I am heavily influence by several things, as this list proves. I suggest if you’re trying to come up with your own list, watch travel shows, read A LOT, collect a mix of friends from different backgrounds and be open to influence.
The world is waiting and I can’t wait for my next trip to explore more of it!
Heritage City, Vigan, Ilocos Sur (2012)
I spent a total of 20 minutes in the heritage area of Vigan. Sneaked only a pitiful few shots of a city I’ve longed to visit. No question, I definitely need to go back and soak in more of what the north has to offer.
Piano in the Burgos Museum, Vigan, Ilocos Sur (2012)
1belle is recent re-migrant to MNL, after spending six long years stuck in traffic in Los Angeles. She is probably the only 20something Chief of Staff in the 
