CLARK-PAMPANGA HOT-AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL/ COMPETITION

[switlemonade]

hi all,
2010 is coming so fast, actually in less than 2days.

Hotair balloon fest will be on the weekend of valentines as well as the Chinese new year, so as early by now i would like to plan our vacation for this weekend

would like to know like how far is the Clark Pampanga to Subic freeport area? will Clark comes first or Subic first (if coming from Manila)?

what are the hotels within the area would you recommend?

anybody tried Holiday Inn Clark?
how about Hotel Vida, sounds new?

is booking through Agoda is okay and safe?

Thanks!!!

[kikay iska]

This has an ad in the Smile in flight mag of Cebu Pacific.  It's scheduled on Feb 11-14, 2010. 

Sis, I've stayed in Holiday Inn Clark before but that was 3 yrs ago already.  We stayed in a villa, not in the hotel bldg. The villas are nice and spacious.  Ours had 2 rooms, a kitchen/pantry... parang bungalow house.  The rooms in the hotel bldg are okay too but I think it's a bit small.

[tamarind26]

Sis switlemonade, Subic is about 45 min to 1 hour ride from Clark via Sctex. Siguro around 50 kilometers ang layo. When we went to Subic, nagexit kami sa Mabalacat para derecho na sa SCTEX. Medyo di kasi familiar kay hubby yung way via San Fernando, baka maligaw daw kami so we took the Sctex route kasi dere-derecho lang yung way to Subic.

[switlemonade]

hmm kung commute going to clark ? madali lang ba? within the area madali lang ba if in case commute? d kasi pa sure si boyfie kung makaka dala sya ng car, mejo takot sya mag drive sa subic area eh haha! kasi diba strict dun , eh new driver lang siya

madami ba kainan within the area?

[tamarind26]

Okey naman magdrive sa Subic sis basta sunod kalang sa traffic signs and not overspeeding. Strict din sila sa lanes, meron bawal mag-overtake. Marami ring kainan dun, we've tried Meat Plus and Wimpys. Di na namin natry ang iba, pero may nabasa ako dito dami recos on where to eat, back read ka lang a bit.

[binggay]

I would highly recommend Hotel vida. it's a very nice hotel...

[switlemonade]

mga ilang mins from Clark to Subic area?

Sis Binggay, we are already booked at hotel vida for next month sana matuloy.. im kinda excited.. i heard this was one of fuego hotels

[bio]

Ditto! Super loved our Hotel Vida experience. Perfect for quick getaways. I love Clark! 

[switlemonade]

^sis bio, are you at Hotel Vida now? how was it? do you have actual pictures of the room?

[forumera]

^ I think what sis bio meant for "ditto" is same here. Hotel Vida has web site, try http://www.hotelvidaclark.com/index.php for pictures of rooms. 

[bio]

I don't have pics now but the rooms and banyo were very nice, exactly how they look as posted on their site's gallery. Go pa while its new! We were only supposed to stay for a night but we ended up extending for another night because its really a comfortable place. Okay din yung breakfast buffet at SALT when you dine sa veranda near the pool. Although when we were there, there were Korean families sa pool area so it was a bit noisy but I guess they were also enjoying the pool. 

[switlemonade]

^ nice to hear that! im getting more excited on our trip!!!

[bio]

^ I wanna go back tuloy. Although medyo hirap yung front desk girl (she's Korean also) but it was not really a big inconvenience on our part. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

[micci]

sis switlemonade,i suggest na if you go to clark,bring a car na lang para less hassle ang trip nyo sa clark hindi naman ganun ka-strict compared sa subic..from manila,around 1.5-2hrs lang ang byahe to clark,you can take angeles or dau exit..
im not sure lang how long yung byahe from clark to subic via SCTEX,di pa namin na-try e

[switlemonade]

^ im getting more excited as the day goes by! hahah

yeap. im convincing bf to bring his car na lang. magkano na ba toll gate ngayon sa NLEX? haha!
marami ba kainan around Clark area? medyo foodtrip din sana gusto ko pero sana yun [textspeak!] masyado byahe pa ng malayo from Hotel Vida or sa area ng fest.

[micci]

^yup,marami din choices since angeles yun,mahilig kumain mga tao dun may sm clark na din so pwede din mag-mall
you can also try the much-talked-about C italian dining,not inside clark pero super lapit lang din..it's along don juico ave. i think..

hay sana makapunta din kami sa hot air balloon this year..ang tagal ko ng di nakakapunta e..

[switlemonade]

nice! thanks sis for the info.. will check on Clark map para d kame masyado mawala! haha

[bio]

From Clark to Subic, it took us about 30-40 minutes lang via SCTEX.

When in Clark, don't miss C' and Zapatas. Also, meron new club in Angeles, The Mansion (not sure) basta it's right by Enclave. Check it out if you're the type to party.  Enjoy!

[beck19]

check http://www.byahilo.com/2009/11/05/15th-philippine-international-hot-air-balloon-fiesta-2010-pihabf-soon/

Schedule is Feb 10-14 2010.

Excited na rin ako!!! Woohoo!

[switlemonade]

here's the website. feb 11-14 daw po sis

http://www.philballoonfest.net/