Feb 24, 2012

Planning 102: Booking Tickets & Hotel in Olongapo


Geese in a Clark zoo.

Part 2 of Camiling-Clark-Subic Getaway
We were looking forward on this trip before it happened. This trip was planned weeks before the final date. The first thing that we did is to discuss about our itinerary, and as soon as I knew that there was a promo from Zoomanity on eBay Kuponan, I told my friends about it. After a day or two, we finally decided to buy the tickets on eBay (P800 each ticket, all season pass for one year). After I bought the tickets, I actually called up Zoomanity Group if ever that their promo ticket on eBay covers also the Night Safari in Zoobic Safari. Unfortunately, only the day tour is covered by the promo. I called them up with regards to that matter because we were planning to do the safari at night.

Photo op inside a yacht in Subic Yacht Club area of SBMA (Subic), Olongapo.

It was summer of 2011 when we did our getaway, right after our final exams. So our trip date was May 20-22, 2011. The next thing that we did prior to our trip was to book our night stay. And man, I called some of the cheap (as in P150 per night in Olongapo City) transients, and the owners told me that they were already fully booked!



The new Church of Camiling

LESSON LEARNED: Book your transient room as early as possible so you be sure that you get the most “sulit” trip ever, especially that it is peak season, otherwise you will be spending your night in a Subic hotel which is much more expensive.

 Let's make it a painting! The photo was blurred, so to make it "good", I applied effects. Now what's in the photo--the Camiring tree, where the town's name of Camiling was derived from. (:


So the next thing in mind is to book our night stay in a hotel in Olongapo via the Clark-Subic Marketing. I ended up booking in Ridge Crest Hotel along Magsaysay Ave. in Olongapo City. Hotels in Olongapo are cheaper than the hotels located inside the Freeport Zone. The air-conditioned room good for two costs P900, and an additional bed for P250. But the one that I booked is good for 2 which has a television and refrigerator (I was not supposed to book this room, but because it was erroneously stated as good for 3 pax in their website, I hit it). The total fee for one night stay therefore was P1450. If ever you plan to book in this hotel and you were just three, I suggest you take the cheapest accommodation and just pay for an additional fee for an extra bed. There is nothing special with their TV or ref either.

 Inside Paradise Ranch in Sacobia Valley, Clark.

Actually, we had planned to book a hotel in Subic, but as we had researched about it it, it came to be more expensive than those Olongapo hotels. If you are looking for Subic resorts or hotels where you can spend your nights, there are a lot of them lined up along Waterfront Road, SBMA or at Moonbay Marina District (but of course at a higher budget). Among them all are the famous Lighthouse Marina Resort and Vista Marina Resort. Bars and restaurants are also there. I still remember my Subic experience at Pier One when we had our buffet dinner during the Mayor's Night (but not with this trip, CCS). It was great.

There are other hotels available, just check the Clark-Subic Marketing website. If you are really on a tight budget, go look for transient rooms in Olongapo. The hotel we chose was the cheapest, and was somehow near the establishments since it is along Magsaysay Drive (SM City Olongapo was actually under construction when we were there, and as of February 10 of 2012, SM City Olongapo is already fully operational).

So there, Zoobic Safari ticket (check), and one night stay in Olongapo hotel (check). Ready to go now!

Two swans form a heart. (Photo taken at Zoocobia Fun Zoo, Sacobia Valley)


THE CAMILING-CLARK-SUBIC GETAWAY TRAVEL SERIES
Part 2: Booking Tickets & Hotel in Olongapo

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