Laoag, Vigan and Pagudpud Thread 11

[Thelay]

hi sis ako naman sept 13 to 15. naka pag inquire na ako. here are the choices:

option 1: Aatravelexpress - lowest nya is 3,950 per pax complete na with hotel (ukl) and tour sa vigan pagudpud at laoag.
option 2: ilocos heritage tour - lowest nya 4,500 then package is the same above
option 3: kuya lanzer - 7,500 tour package wala pang hotel
option 4: DIY per area:
pagudpud tour (tricycle) - P600
laoag tour (tricycle) - P800
Vigan (kalesa) : P150 per hour

mga sis ang question ko sa option 4, magkano po ang travel from laoag to pagudpud, then pagudpud to vigan
at vigan to laoag?

sa 4 na options ano ang marerecommend nyo? considering time and makatipid. thanks

[mango_shake]

sis mahirap mag DIY, imo.. magkakalayo kasi magaganda places jan. baka matalo kayo sa fare although namumurahan ako sa singil nila ng tricycle..


the first time i went there, DIY kami. swerte lang na may nameet kami na nakasabay namin magrent ng van kaya napamura kami ng expenses. but on my 2nd visit, dun ko narealized na parang 20% lang pala yun napuntahan ko before.


if you need a place to stay lang in laoag, ok ang balai de blas. mababait tao. within the city lang siya.. if sanay ka sa lakad, kaya siya lakarin to the city proper. if tricycle, P20 lang ata bayad.


if mag avail kayo tour package, yun places na malalayo include nyo sa itinerary nyo like kapurpurawan, patapat viaduct, sand dunes, bangui, etc..


sa vigan naman, kalesa ride lang you can visit burnayan pottery, baluarte, hidden garden. bantay bell tower. per hour bayad sa kalesa. around the city naman, there's crisologo museum and calle crisologo.

[thebratinella]

We were able to book a room in Mira de Polaris Laoag. The landline numbers we found online didn't work. Room for 4 is 1,900 pesos. Good thing we found their cellphone number:


Mira de Polaris- 0917 558 6472

Payment upon check-in according to the guy we spoke to. Our trip is on June 27 na. Okay na din kami sa tours with Mang Arnel. 

[mavhy]

My family along with some friends and our dog (9pax) went on a Vigan-Laoag-Pagudpud roadtrip last May 22-25.

Day 1:
We left Manila around 4am, nagstopover kami sa Urdaneta for breakfast. Arrived at Vigan around 1pm. Super init pagdating namin since katanghalian tapat, buti na lang nakapagpark kami malapit sa may plaza ata yun, dun din nagpapark yung mga kalesa hehe.

From there walking distance lang ang Cafe Leona. Rustic ang itsura ng restaurant, parang medyo nadidiliman nga ako sa loob pero maganda naman sya and masarap din yung food. We tried bagnet, pinakbet, sisig and pinakbet pizza. Medyo nadisappoint ako sa bagnet, for me mas masarap pa yung bagnet ng Cafe Juanita.

After lunch, nagikot ikot kami sa Calle Crisologo and syempre photo ops hehe. Since pagod na din yung drivers namin (2 cars kami; isa is si bf ang nagddrive and the other one is my brother) dumiretso na kami ng Laoag.

We arrive at Laoag mga 5pm na. Ayaw na muna namin magikot ikot since mga pagod at antok na kami hehe. We stayed at Balay de Blas.
Super approved ako dito, mura na malinis pa at maganda. We got 2 family rooms (one room have 3 double beds and the other room have 2 double beds).
For dinner, kinain namin yung mga baon naming adobo. Then bumili din yung parents ko ng empanada, which we super liked! Hehe.

Day 2:
The next day, may free breakfast yung Balay de Blas (you can choose from their breakfast menu). After eating, we went to Fort Ilocandia and Paoay Sand Dunes. Yung sand dunes talaga yung naging highlight ng trip, enjoy na enjoy kami kahit sobrang init.
After that, we went to Paoay Church and had lunch at Herencia Cafe (sa tapat lang sya mismo ng Church). Before heading to Pagudpud, dumaan muna kami sa Marcos Mausoleum. On the way to Pagudpud, nadaan na din namin yung Bangui Windmills and nagphoto-ops again, medyo nakakatakot lang yung daan papunta sa windmills mismo kasi rough road. Around 7pm na kami nakarating sa Pagudpud proper, ang scary kasi ang lakas ng ulan tapos may mga kurbada pa yung kalsada.

Sa Agua Seda kami nagstay, sobrang disappointed kami dito.
Ang hirap ng parking, di masyadong malinis ang room at banyo.
Nagpareserve kami ng family room (9pax in a room, since 9 kami) kay Tita Letty.
Sabi nya kasya yung 9 sa room since mga double deck yung beds. Pero pagdating namin dun
ang sabi nya, nalimutan daw nya ibilin sa mga tao nya na may nakareserve sa family room so naibigay sa iba yung room namin. Ang offer nya is ilipat kami sa 2 rooms na lang (One room with 2 double bed and the other room with 1 double bed). Eh pano naman kami magkakasya dun?! Sabi namin ang ganda ganda ng usapan tapos ganun lang ang mangyayari. Kung gusto daw namin
mag-add na lang kami ng 1 pang room (additional bayad na lang). Ayaw sana namin pumayag pero pagod na pagod na kami sa layo ng byahe, tinawaran na lang namin yung additional room, since sila naman talaga ang may kasalanan. Maganda naman ang beach and ang linaw ng tubig, pero for me ha hindi sya yung tipong babalik balikan ko.

Day 3:
Early morning swimming, gusto sana mag zipline sa Hannah's ng brother ko pero ang haba daw ng pila haha. We're supposed to stay for 2 days in Pagudpud, pero dahil nga sa hassle na dinala samin ng Agua Seda eh nagdecide na lang kami na bumalik na ng Laoag the next day. Before heading back to Laoag, pumunta muna kami sa Patapat Viaduct for photo-ops hehe. Ganda ng view dito, ingat ingat lang sa mga sasakyan na dumadaan habang nagpipicture.

Buti na lang napakahelpful ng mga taga Balay de Blas, since fully booked na sila for the day tinulungan nila kami maghanap ng matutuluyan. They recommended Isabel Suites, sakto may available rooms pa sila and affordable din naman. We got 3 twin rooms with extra mattress in each room, with free breakfast. Good thing about the location eh katabi lang ang Jollibee so bumili na lang kami ng dinner dun .

Day 4:
The next day, on the way going back to Manila dinaanan na din namin ang Kapurpurawan Rock Formation (be sure to bring payong, ang init dito) and Cape Bojeador. Nagstopover ulit kami sa Vigan for Lunch (Max's) and to buy pasalubong. We also went to Baluarte, for me pwede ng skip ang pagpunta dito kung di naman kayo mahilig sa zoo. A little after 2pm, we head home na (stopover at Jollibee NLEX na lang for dinner).

We arrive in Manila around 10pm:). Kahit super pagod ang super init, enjoy and memorable ang trip na ito. Super saya lalo na madami kami .

[thebratinella]

We're here in Laoag. Delayed  yung flight namin. We got here at past 10pm. It's raining pero hindi naman malakas. We were able to  take the free shuttle. We just signed up at the counter and looked for the red bus outside.

[pretty_B]

hi sisters, saan mas makakatipid pa-laoag? via plane or bus? i'm from manila. TIA! ~cheers

[bagaholic_chewy]

^ sis, depende kasi yan sa inyo.. but I think if you're a group of at least 3-4pax, lalabas na cheaper ang own car, basta me willing to drive for average 10-12 hours (depends sa takbo nyo, and sa stopovers). Or if bus, alis kayo ng gabi para umaga andun na. Tulog na lang sa bus.

Kami kasi, we like going on road trips kaya we don't mind the long drive, whether kaming 2 lang ni hubby or me kasama kaming iba. Tsaka we like having our own car to drive around para we can dictate our own pace, and we can go wherever we want, at the time we want.

Again, depende sa tao. Kanya-kanyang trip lang, LOL.

[pretty_B]

^commute lang kami sis, if ever. ang prob kasi namin sis eh if bus mauubos time namin sa byahe plus pagod pa. >__< eh ang hirap pa naman mag-leave. tsk.

[rocky]

^gabi kayo bumyahe sis para pagdating nyo ng ilocos umaga na, tipid din sa leave

[pretty_B]

^pwede sis.

[rocky]

^pero kung makakakuha ka ng promo fare maya sis mas tipid yon

[pretty_B]

^YES SIS! sana makapagpabook ako. pero PPS pala yun!

[thebratinella]

Ang layo pala ng Pagudpud from Laoag. Ang tagal ng travel time by bus. We weren't able to explore Laoag kasi gabi kami nakarating. Kaya ba puntahan yung sights in Laoag in 1 afternoon, sisses? Plan namin ikutin sa last day. Gabi pa kasi flight namin. Tomorrow, Pagudpud tour kami.

[cindylulu]

^yeah kaya ng half day lang sis. The city itself is small. The attractions are the sinking bell tower, fort ilocandia, malacanang of the north, la paz sand dunes.

[thebratinella]

^Thanks, sis! We just got back from the Pagudpud tour. Ganda ng Kapurpurawan, Blue Lagoon and Patapat. Kumuha kami ng tubig sa Paraiso ni Anton.

[matetreyes]

sa laoag ba mas convenient kung may tour guide o DIY lang ang tour dito, kaya na?

[cindylulu]

^yup kaya na DIY lang. DIY lang din kami. I just relied on google map and blogs for direction. although we  got lost for 30 min just looking for blay da blas pension.

[thebratinella]

We enjoyed our trip. Gusto ko bumalik sa Ilocos someday. Ang ganda doon.

Day 1-We arrived at the airport at past 10pm. Nag-announce ng 2nd delay ang Cebu Pac sa NAIA pero nagawan nila ng way na makaalis on time kasi may kasabay kaming politician sa flight. May turbulence and talagang bumpy yung ride but we were able to get to Laoag safely. It was raining that time. We checked in at Mira de Polaris. Yung group na nag-occupy sa barkada room ay nag-extend so we were given the family suite at no extra charge. Blessing in disguise kasi easier for us to prepare food dahil may sink, counter and ref. My husband and I went to a store near Robinson's to buy mineral water, plastic cups and spoons and forks. Nilakad lang namin since safe naman. May policemen na nakatambay near the mall. Inabutan lang kami ng ulan pabalik sa hotel. Okay ang service ng Mira de Polaris. Clean room and bathroom. Malamig yung aircon. Tahimik din sa area. May free breakfast for 2 pax. We paid 1900 for the room.

Day 2- We planned to go to Pagudpud early but we had to stay in Laoag to wait for my mom kasi may tinapos na work sa office. She had to book with Tiger Airways. Okay daw yung plane and on time umalis sa airport. We stayed in Robinson's muna. Medyo mahal pala gas sa Ilocos kaya ganun yung singil sa mga tricycles (25 pesos from Mira to Rob, 120 pesos from Rob to the airport). Pagdating ng mom ko sa hotel, nagpahatid kami sa bus terminal. We got 2 tricycles kasi di kami kaysa sa isa. I think we paid 60-70 pesos per tricycle. 2 hrs din yung biyahe from Laoag to Pagudpud. Medyo mabilis magdrive si manong driver saka di masyadong tumigil yung bus until we got to Bangui. Sinundo kami ni Kuya Arnel and Kuya Vincent sa bus terminal. It was raining nung dumating kami.  We got a room at Evangeline Beach Resort. Spacious yung room namin sa 2nd floor ng Villa Ana. May veranda and ref. Service was good. We ate dinner in their resto. Masarap yung Evangeline rice. Di ko masyadong gusto yung Evangeline shake.

Day 3- We ate breakfast in Evangeline's resto. May free breakfast for  4 pax. Sinundo kami ni Kuya Vincent at 8am. Nag-enjoy kami sa Pagudpud tour. Bring umbrellas, sunblock and scarf. Ang init noong nasa Windmills kami saka Kapurpurawan. Tiniis lang namin yung lakad and init. Worth it naman kasi magaganda yung sights. We skipped Kabigan Falls. Natapos kami sa tour at past 3pm. Dumaan kami sa market to buy softdrinks, water and bread. Mahal kasi sa store sa resort. We went swimming from 4:30pm til sunset. Super enjoy. Ganda sa Pagudpud.

Day 4- Kuya Vincent fetched us at 6am. Evangeline provided sandwiches in place of breakfast meals. 7:30 am na kasi nagbubukas resto nila. We paid 2,400 per night with free breakfast na. We went to Fort Ilocandia though sa labas lang kasi may event. Bawal pumasok daw. We went to Malacanang of the North, Sinking Bell Tower, Paoay, Marcos Mausoleum, Bantay Bell Tower, Baluarte, Hidden Garden then diretso sa Cordillera Inn. Hindi kami pumunta sa sand dunes. Di trip ng parents ko eh.  Mabait si Kuya Vincent. We're glad na siya inassign ni Kuya Arnel sa amin. Pagdating namin sa hotel nalungkot kami kasi hindi na namin siya makikita. Niloko ko pa dad ko na may separation anxiety siya.

We went to Vigan Cathedral. Sabi ni Kuya Vincent may fountain and lights show at 6:30pm so inabangan namin. May oath-taking pala. Nandoon si Chavit Singson and his kids. May fireworks in between the fountain and lights show. Nag-enjoy daughter ko. We had dinner at Cafe Leona after. Umambon kasi kaya hindi namin tinapos yung show. We paid 800 for our meal. We ordered rice, sisig, iced tea, morcon, pancit, tuna. After that, naglakad kami sa Calle Crisologo. Ang ganda dun pag gabi.

Day 5-We ate breakfast in Cordillera Inn's resto. May free breakfast for 4 pax. Masarap yung longganisa doon. We paid 2,300 for the room. Good service naman. We met the owner, former Gov. Carmeling Crisologo. Pumayag siya magpapicture though she was under the weather daw that time. . After breakfast, we went to the Crisologo Mansion and Syquia Mansion. We went back to the hotel to check out. Iniwan lang namin bags sa receptionist then we had lunch tapos kalesa tour. We paid 200 pesos for the kalesa tour. Closed yung Burgos Mansion so we just took a picture.Nagpahatid na rin mom, dad and daughter ko sa Partas bus terminal. My husband and I took a tricycle kasi daming dala. Bumili pa kami ng bagnet, cornick, bibingka, shirts and ref magnets. We arrived in Laoag at 4pm na. We took 2 tricycles to the airport. Bawal pa pumasok sa sa waiting area kami. My dad decided to stay there tapos kami ng mom ko, husband and daughter took the Imee bus to the junction. Nilakad namin from there to Robinsons to buy dinner and hang out. We went back to the airport at past 7pm na.  Past 8pm na nagsimula ang check-in ng Cebu Pac. No delay this time. Smooth flight. We left the car in NAIA's overnight parking for 5 days. We paid 250 pesos. No car damage naman. Ganun pa rin itsura ng car pagbalik namin.

My husband and I spent 15k sa trip. My mom paid for the airfare. Promo yun around 6k booked last year. We split the bill sa hotels and other expenses. Yung tour with Kuya Arnel was 7k. Van yung gamit ni Kuya Vincent.

[zhean07]

Hi sis, ask ko lang if yung 9,000 is per person or lahat na? thanks

got home around 10PM yesterday from ilocos. flight c/o cebu pac was smooth and on time kumpara nung papunta namin (5j 404 12:25 pm flight to ilocos 3/26/13) na feeling namin lahat ay babagsak na yun plane after take off. grabe talaga yun pilot nun kung sino man siya. clear and good weather naman nun pero sobrang ma-turbulence yun flight.

anyway, got our 3days tour c/o lanzer for P9,000. 3 days tour including hatid sa airport from pagudpud on the 3rd day. ok siya tour guide kasi safe siya magdrive, hindi kaskasero. although mahina aircon nun van na gamit (mb100), di kinaya yun init ng weather. ito yun spots na pinuntahan namin.

Places in Pagudpud:
- Bangui Windmills
- Kapurpurawan Rock Formation
- Bangui View Deck
- Kabigan Falls
- Patapat via duct
- Paraiso ni Anton
- Agua Grande
- Bantay Abot
- Blue Lagoon
- Cafe Bojeudor Light House

Places Visited in Vigan:
- calle crisologo
- Bantay Church and Bell tower
- Baluarte
- Giden Garden
- Jar (Burnay) Making

Places Visited in Laoag:
- St. William Cathedral
- Sinking bell tower
- Marcos Museum
- Paoay Lake / Church
- Malacanan of the North
- Lapaz Sand Dunes
- Fort Ilocandia

we stayed 2 nights in balay dablas (laoag) and 1 night in pagudpud rinnovati (saud beach, pagudpud). from the airport, we availed of free shuttle service (Imee Bus) to our BALAY DA BLAS. libre hatid hanggang hotel mismo, need lang magregister sa may information desk nila sa airport.

BALAY DA BLAS (new wing)
- nice clean rooms, well maintained and free yun breakfast with coffee. approachable yun receptionists and in-entertain yun request namin na addt'l kumot and pillows. breakfast is good enough, the usual tosilog, tapsiloc, bangussilog, etc. we stayed in rooms 10 (2nd flr) & 14 (3rd flr). room 14 has a veranda though di advisable dito magstay if may senior citizen na kasama dahil medyo mataas yun gaps ng stairs. 

PAGUDPUD RINNOVATI
- luma yun rooms and beddings. some of their bedsheets has stains, pillows are very thin, towels are the cheap kind. Cable tv has poor reception, and aircon is vVERY VERY noisy. nanghinayang ako sa binayad ko dito. sana pala nag stay na lang kami sa BALAY DA BLAS for our whole ilocos tour and nag day tour na lang kami sa pagudpud. we paid P5,500 for our room for 6 pax(mahal coz of the holy week rates). tapos on our last day, nawalan pa ng tubig sa room namin. had to take a shower sa ibang room nila (buti na lang may nag check out ng maaga kung hindi, malamang nakiligo kami sa public cr nila). btw, parang mahina ang supply ng kuryente sa pagudpud. ilang beses nagbrown out while we were there and worse, nangyari pa yun at night kung kailan patulog na kami. buti na lang bumalik ulit kuryente within 5 mins.

EVANGELINES EMOHRUO RESTO BAR
- had our dinner and lunch here. ok yun food though medyo pricy. didn't explore other restos dahil ayaw na rin namin lumayo. masarap bagnet and mango shake nila dito. ok din yun place since overlooking the beach yun resto.

BLUE LAGOON
- went here ng 3/28/13 day tour lang. sobrang dami ng tao and overpriced yun foods. need to buy fresh seafood and papaluto mo sa mga carinderia dun. di kami nagtagal dito, just had lunch and konti photo op then alis na rin kaagad. maganda sana yun beach pero di kami nag enjoy dahil sa sobrang crowded.

SAUD BEACH
- stayed here overnight. mas konti tao dito nung time na nandito kami. medyo malalim nga lang yun beach so hindi advisable for kids and mga hindi marunong mag swim. mas na appreciate ko ito compared w/ blue lagoon.

CAFE LEONA (vigan)
- dito kami nag lunch while in vigan, bukana lang siya ng calle crisologo and just across MAX resto. food is carinderia style, turo ka lang ang se-serve na nila sa table nyo. puwede rin paluto pero mas matagal. masarap naman yun food pero typical filipino food lang.

SARAMSAM (laoag)
- tried poque poque, pakbet pizza, bagnet, dinakdakan and some of their pastas. nagustuhan ko food nila.

a must ang 4x4 ride sa SAND DUNES. ito yun talagang na-enjoy ko sa ilocos. P2500 singil sa amin for 6pax.

overall, ok ang naging bakasyon namin. nakakapagod nga lang since 2 hr trip palagi in between vigan, laoag & pagudpud



check my blog below for the complete review and pics

[pretty_B]

sisters, ask ko lang. hm ang budget for this trip? we're coming from manila via road trip ang trip namin eh. we plan to go to pagudpud muna whole day na beach then the next day, maglilibot kami whole day sa vigan. yun lang trip namni. hm kaya? thanks.