New Zealand Tour 2013

NEW ZEALAND QUEST TOUR - Aug 16, 2013
August 16-26, 2013
Via Cathay Pacific
Price from $2,988.00++ per person
Visiting Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington, Christchurch, Mt. Cook and Queenstown


NEW ZEALAND QUEST TOUR - April 3, 2013
April 3-15, 2013  (with free 1 night in Singapore)
Via Singapore Airlines
Price from $2,898.00 ++ per person
Visiting Auckland, Waitomo, Rotorua, Wellington, Picton, Christchurch, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Mt. Cook




Text from Lonely Planet

You already know how ludicrously photogenic New Zealand is. The otherworldly peaks and valleys of Middle Earth brought this not-so-hidden secret to the world with good reason. But these views are no Hollywood-crafted mirage- they are the real deal, and certain to take your breath away.

On top of their looks, the islands’ rich Maori culture, passion for rugby, sheep outnumbering people, and exquisite sauvignon blanc create a country that defies even the most imaginative adventurers’ expectations.

But it’s not all look and don’t touch. In New Zealand, adventure sports rule. This is, after all, a nation so dedicated to doing odd things with bits of rubber and plastic that it invented bungee jumping, black-water rafting and zorbing. Whether you’re climbing the Fox glacier or skydiving over a stunning patchwork of mountains and fields, New Zealand is certain to get adrenaline coursing through your veins.

And there’s another aspect of Aotearoa – as New Zealand is known to Maori people - that keeps people coming back for more. The average Kiwi wants you to have a really, really good time. It is in the interactions with exuberant, everyday Kiwis that lasting memories will be made. As a Maori proverb suggests: He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata! He tangata! (What is the most important thing in the world? It is people! It is people!).

Kiwis love sharing their spectacular country with visitors and in turn seeing it anew through foreign eyes. They never tire of being reminded of the rugged beauty of their beaches, mountains, fiords, glaciers, native forests and thermal regions. And once you experience these natural highlights, you won’t tire of reminding them.





Sydney Package


Book a window seat for your flight to Sydney: day or night, this dirty town sure is good-lookin’. Skin-deep? Sure, but Sydney is also arty, sporty, boozy, funny, fashionable…the perfect paramour!

It’s little wonder that Sydney causes a brain drain on the rest of Australia. Like New York, London and Berlin, this is a place that draws in anyone who’s got something interesting to say. Australia’s best musos, foodies, actors, stockbrokers, models, writers and architects flock to the Harbour City to make their mark, and the effect is dazzling: a hyperenergetic, ambitious marketplace of the soul, where anything goes and everything usually does.

Of course, the stage for all this activity is just as important as the performance itself. Shimmering Sydney Harbour is the city’s greatest asset, while Sydney’s ocean beaches and lush parks sustain as much life as the city streets. Add hip bars, grungy pubs, breezy cafes and glass-walled restaurants to the equation, and you’ve got a town with the perfect balance of outdoor and indoor, natural and contrived.

Paddle out into it and see what kind of trouble you can get into: get dumped by breakers at Bondi, chew chicken’s feet in Chinatown, max out your credit card in Paddington, drink too many beers in Balmain, queue-jump for Opera House tickets and ignore dawn’s break at a Kings Cross club. Sexy, spirited and unfailingly self-confident, Sydney is a bonfire of the vanities just waiting for you to light the match.

Text from Lonely Planet

Melbourne Package

Click on the tour title below to download a printable itinerary:

Explore Australia Tour - Aug 18, 2013
Group Departure:  Aug 18-26, 2013
Tour Price from $2,988.00++ per person
Visiting Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast and Brisbane

Full Package (with airfare):
Melbourne Free and Easy: May01-Sep30, 2013 (updated 5/14/13)

Land Arrangement (no airfare):
Australia 4D3N Land Arrangement until Sep 2013
City packages for Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Cairns and Perth



Flinders Station in Melbourne

Sophisticated and slick, edgy and rough, Melbourne’s physical and cultural landscape is shaped by a dynamic population, ever-ravenous for a bite of global culture. The result is Australia’s most accessible multiculturalism. Ornate Victorian-era architecture and leafy, established boulevards reflect the city’s history, and cutting-edge developments such as Federation Sq exemplify its enigmatic contemporary style. But, Melburnians still keep their urban frenzy to a deliciously sedate pace. Trams lumber back and forth on routes radiating out like spokes from central Melbourne, and cycling is a common way to get from A to Z.

Character-filled neighbourhoods, such as Fitzroy, St Kilda and Carlton, hum with life and the city produces some of the best art, music, cuisine, fashion, performance, design and ideas in the world. Melburnians are also devoted to their sport and they go ballistic around the Australian Football League (AFL; ‘footy’ to the locals) finals and during Spring Racing Carnival. They love to shop, eat and attend the myriad festivals that the city offers. You’ll even find them defending the city’s temperamental weather, and if you’ve ever experienced Melbourne’s inclination to plummet from searing heat to drizzling rain in the space of an hour, you’ll understand that this must be the true definition of unconditional love.

Text from Lonely Planet




Mt. Pinatubo Day Tour (Aug-Dec 2012)


For the thrill seekers and nature lovers, this day tour/trekking adventure is yours for the taking. Explore the crater of Mount Pinatubo for as low as P2, 500.00 per person!

Travel date: August-December, 2012
Tours are available on Saturdays and Sundays only.

If you think you are fit and ready then you may contact us to make a booking. Trek around with your friends or relatives – it’s one of the best ways for you to bond and spend time together!

Download Flyer


Royal Caribbean Cruise Promos for 2012

When it’s finally time to plan a family vacation, many ideas will surface. Given all the available choices, you may find it difficult deciding where to go for your next holiday. Arranging the necessary accommodations, reservations, and travel routes are often a frustrating part of vacation planning.  If you don’t plan early enough, you may discover visiting all the places you desire just isn’t possible. To avoid these inconveniences, you should consider a fun-filled family cruise vacation. Cruise vacations offer many advantages:


* With so much included in the price - like meals, onboard performances and more - cruising offers tons of bang for your buck.


* A variety of onboard and onshore activities make cruising fun for everyone from spa-lovers to adventure-seekers to sun worshipers.

* Traveling from port to port is a snap, no need to worry about directions or unpacking. You'll wake up in an amazing new place, refreshed and ready to explore.


So, why not consider a cruise for your next vacation?

Download Royal Caribbean Cruise Promos for 2012




Dubai Tours

DUBAI Land Arrangement 2014


MODERN DUBAI TOUR
Group Departures:  Jan 22-27, 2013 / Jan 29-Feb 03, 2013 / Feb 02-07, 2013
Tour price from $1,499.00 ++ per person



Tour Highlights:

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Capitol Gate Tower, Abu Dhabi Corniche, Heritage Village, Abu Dhabi Skyline, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Palace, Dubai Museum, Spice Souq, Gold Souq, Palm Island, Atlantis Lost Chamber, Desert Safari Tour, Ferrari Theme Park, Dubai Musical Fountain, Snow Park, Emirates Palace, Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, Mall of The Emirates, IBN Batuta, Dubai Mall, and Global Village


View of Burj Al Arab from Souk Madinat




Burj Khalifa


Camel Ride


Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi


Singapore: The New and Constant


January 12-15, 2012

A quick look at my passport showed that I get the chance to see Singapore every 3 years.  This is not planned, just a coincidence :)  The last time I was there, the Singapore Flyer was still being constructed, Marina Bay Sands and Universal Studios Singapore weren't even around yet.  It is good to see the many physical developments in this little yet rich nation.  Singapore is a testimony to what good governance can do to create order and progress in a country.  This is part of the reason why it's always good to be a tourist in Singapore.  Everything is put in place for you: reliable transport, numerous attractions to try, a plethora of shopping options, and a great food experience.  


Assorted Satay
While Singapore's facade keep changing, I am glad that some things still remain the same: good food just about anywhere.  I should mention their satay.  Go to Lau Pa Sat Festival Market, and sample one of the many hawker centers there that offer traditional Singaporean dishes and international cuisine.  As it was our first time to eat here, we got a table inside the market, not knowing that there was an open dining area.  (Tip:  Get a table outside as it is much cooler and you'll get to see satay being grilled.)  We tried a selection of satay: mutton, beef, and chicken.  These were pretty good especially when dipped into the peanut-butter sauce.  We also ordered some cereal prawn and lemon prawns.  To get here, alight at the Raffles Place MTR and follow the signs to Lau Pau Sat.  It's just a 5-min walk.

Lau Pa Sat Festival Market




No Signboard's White Pepper Crab
Of course, one cannot leave Singapore without indulging in crabs!  Probably the best crabs I've ever, ever had is the White Pepper Crab from No Signboard in VivoCity.   You must have heard of the  more famous version, Chili Crab, but I like the white pepper crab better.  The sauce is light, slightly sweet and quite obviously, peppery :)  The spiciness in the traditional chili crab can be overwhelming for some who are not used to spicy food.  The white pepper crab is a good alternative.  We ordered Alaskan King Crabs, the legs of which are thick, long and filled with meat.  The restaurant staff offered to cut open the shell so all we had to do was just to pick the meat away.  No mess at all :)



A must-try also is their Cereal Prawns.  How they cooked it was excellent-- the prawns were very soft, and the cereal crumb coat was to die for.  Compared to the ones we had in Lau Pa Sat, No Signboard's version was a thousand times better.  This is a keeper!

Cereal Prawns


There are so many more dishes to rave about from No Signboard (deep-fried spicy baby squid, deep-fried butter chicken, mushroom with vegetable, etc), but I should stop myself before this turns out into a foodie blog.  Also while in Singapore, go get yourself a bowl of good laksa and a serving of  of Hainanese Chicken Rice. Oooh, Chicago's famous Garrett's Popcorn has also arrived in Singapore.  I was so happy to see it here!  You must try the Chicago Mix: a very addicting blend of CaramelCrisp and CheeseCorn.

There, I shared my two-cents' worth.  Enough about food and on to the new attractions! :)



Sci Fi City's roller coasters
Universal Studios Singapore.  Just like the one in the US, this theme park offers entertainment, shows and rides for the young and the old.  Perfect for kids who have already tried any of the Disneylands.  Try to visit on a weekday so that the queue for the rides is short.  You wouldn't need to purchase the Express Pass.  Allot the whole day for a park visit.

I especially liked the the Transformers the Ride in 3D.  It's an awesome "ride" with imaginary plunges, twists and turns.  I was not brave enough to try the real rides (The Mummy and Battlestar Galactica), but I'm sure they are equally fun :)


Far Far Away and Madagascar are great for kids.  "Donkey Live" is hilarious!  As in almost all theme parks, the characters come out at certain times of the day for photo opportunities with park guests :)

We are a Ogre-loving family!

Other highlights include the Waterworld Stunt Show and the "Lights, Camera, Action" show, where Steven Spielberg presents how a hurricane is 'created' in a sound stage.

Towering over the Singapore skyline is Marina Bay Sands.  You can't miss this as this is the largest (with over 2,500 rooms, all pretty much booked every single day) and most popular resort/casino in the land.  It boasts of the Sands SkyPark on the 57th floor.  I could attempt to describe it bu Marina Bay Sands website does it best:

The SkyPark's pool overlooking Singapore's skyline
"Stretching longer than the Eiffel Tower laid down or four and a half A380 Jumbo Jets, with an impressive 12,400 square meters of space, the Sands SkyPark can host up to 3,900 people.  The gravity-defying cantilever is one of the largest of its kind in the world.  From this privileged observation deck, hundreds of visitors at a time can feast their eyes on the unforgettable panorama view of Singapore."




Down below is the casino, which I learned charges an entrance fee of SGD100 for Singaporeans.  Apparently, the government has taken this step given the concern of many Singaporeans about legalizing a casino in the country.  The proceeds are given to charity.  Kudos to the government for taking the necessary measures to ensure that gambling does not become a national problem.


From one SkyPark to another, VivoCity's SkyPark is also worth seeing for its unique design and architecture.  Though this has been open since 2006, it was a first for us to visit the place.  The wading pools and wood walkways lend much interest to the traditional mall.  One can see Sentosa's cable car from here as well.

VivoCity's SkyPark

Night view from VivoCity Harbourfront




Orchard Road still draws a lot of tourists and shoppers.  We came a few days before the Chinese New Year so all the big malls and hotels flanking this street were all dressed to the nines.  The PHP-SGD exchange rate though is a pain, making me think twice about shopping here.  It's a lot cheaper to shop in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.


Another constant is the SG$1 ice cream sandwich  along Orchard Road!  This is a block of ice cream in between thin wafers.  I can't believe how many years have passed and this sweet treats still costs a dollar.   Must try if you still haven't :)


So this is Singapore--- I love the new and constant things it offers. I'm sure that in another 3 years, I'll see a new park here or a new mall there.  It's always comfortable and easy to return here. Any trip of mine to Singapore is essentially a food trip and I always return to Manila satisfied.  The attractions are, let's say, side dishes.  A value meal, don't you think?  :)



*All the photos used here are Skycab's own.

AFFORDABLE EUROPE TOUR (Mar-April 2012)

We're now gathering participants for this tour:

1) Group Departure:  March 29 - April 10, 2012
    Tour Price from USD 3,188.00++
    Download Printable Itinerary

2) Group Departure:  March 31 - April 13, 2012
    Tour Price from USD 3,188.00++
    Download Printable Itinerary

3)  Group Departure:  April 15-28, 2012
     Tour Price from USD 3,188.00++
     Download Printable Itinerary




Tour Highlights:


See Notre Dame Cathedral, Seine River Cruise in Paris, Ascend to the 2nd level of Eiffel Tower,  Visit Brussels Grand Place and Atomium, Visit to Cheese and Clog Factory in Holland, Amsterdam Canal Cruise, Rhine River Cruise in Germany, See Heidelberg Castle, Black Forest Cuckoo Clock Demo, Photo stop in Rhine Falls, Mt. Mount Titlis, photo stop of  Vaduz Castle, Visit to Swarovsky Factory, See St Mark’s Square and the Basilica, Visit to Vatican Museum ,Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica and the Square, the Colosseo & more.




A two week Grand Tour of 8 European Countries visiting France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy plus the Vatican City and the Principality of Liechtenstein






View from the Eiffel Tower, Paris