I may not look like it, but I’m actually someone who likes to keep things in order. As if being drunk, I could no longer recall the particular instance which drove me to start a travel packing checklist but it’s pretty darn obvious that it was to avoid forgetting something moving forward, especially in times when there are only a few more hours left before departure and my shit’s not yet together. Mind you, it has never failed me ever since.

I tend to prepare for a trip at least a week away but sometimes life just gets in the way (admit it, it does) that before I even know it, it’s already the day before the trip. In worst scenarios, I would even find myself social drinking until past midnight even with the call time being very early in the morning. Sleep is for the weak and come to papa, Google Keep!

The items on the travel packing checklist snapshot are self-explanatory but I’ll still go ahead and provide insights (and visuals, as usuals) before you start ticking. Some items not on the list will also be discussed. They are those which are always in my go-to backpack (even when just at home) that’s why they’ve been excluded.

Braggart, I am not, but I’m usually the one who gets told off for having the least things so here goes nothing~!

Documents

I only bring hard copies of government-issued documents (e.g. Australia visa) as well as those which are usually acknowledged in the form of physical copies (e.g. employment ID, vaccination certificate). Such documents also have soft copies in my phone together with the rest of the documents which may come in handy during the trip. On top of that, I upload them somewhere secure on the Internet as backup in case I lose my phone along the way. #tanga That includes photos of my passports’ pages. Smart? You better be.

Familiarizing the essential details is another thing, in case events turn out very unfortunate because Count Olaf is around. And what should come with documents? A pen, brotha. A pen.

• Passports

  In the plural form because the immigration officers I’ll be facing might be having a bad day and want to question my integrity (big word) see my travel history. Bringing the old one is crucial if it still holds valid visas or your current passport is still unstamped.

• Moolah

  Bringing US dollars is the rule of thumb for innernational trips because they’re accepted for exchange everywhere. I have a handful of friends who are very conscious about exchange rates but I’m way past that that if I’m able to get local banknotes ahead I no longer bother bringing USD’s. In any case, always have actual money ready and scatter some in your hand/carry-on luggage.

  As an extension, I always activate plastics for use overseas. Instead of going through the trouble of finding a good exchange rate, I can simply withdraw from the first ATM that presents itself. Using cards abroad is a double-edged sword; you can lose them but they can also save you from a predicament—or let you buy something that you really want but didn’t account for in your budget.

• Return flight

  Something that immigration officers might ask for especially when you’re only going for tourism.

• Accommodation

  Another thing that immigration officers might ask for. Some countries also require non-locals and non-residents to fill up an arrival card so you should keep the details handy. Pen, take it away!

• Travel tax

  Only in the Philippines!? Not really. Exit tax is also to be fulfilled in other countries. In some cases only cash is accepted (e.g. crossing a border by land) and that is why your pocket should always have some money in it.

Electronics

I’ve excluded the camera from the list because as of this writing I’ve never had a DSLR or MILC and a cellphone, as indispensable as it is, already counts as one (only used a G4 in Korea and Greece).

• Weighing scale

  Keeps my weight luggage in check. Let’s cut the crap. Even if you’re only on hand luggage, you know yourself that most of the time they exceed the allowable weight. Many airlines are lenient as long as they’re not bulky, but if you get caught, at least you know it’s your fault. There are also times that at the end of the trip you have more luggage because you’re a sick shopaholic you went shopping so having a scale will easily enlighten you how much baggage allowance you need to purchase.

• Earphones

  Putting them on informs the nuisance beside me that I don’t wanna hear his/her crap (and vice versa) I may not be in the mood for any conversation. (Because we live in a biased world, it’s another story if he/she is pleasant to our eyes.) Preferably, its output should be loud enough to drown out any noise. You can listen to music during long journeys and watch videos/movies you can no longer delay watching. Eavesdropping is also made easy. Win-win, bruh.

• Data cables

  If I’m carrying devices with different receptacles, I have at least one connector (cable) for each. I also make sure that they’re capable of data transfer when connected to a computer as some are only good for charging. That goes without saying that extra space in my phone (or any other storage device I’m bringing) is allocated.

• Chargers

  In my case it’s usually two but if you’re a gadget whore, you might consider bringing more. A charger that can charge multiple devices at the same time is also nifty, but the problem with it is if it gets busted, you’re also done for. In relation to the previous item, ideally cables >= chargers so you can use the latter simultaneously.

• Power bank

  In an age where gadgets are taking over human lives, don’t be a burden to others by bringing your own damn power bank. #galit Seriously. Gadgets are suckers for batteries and smartphones are here for a purpose. Don’t let them die on you while you’re away from a socket. Some airports check the capacity but so far I’ve never been reprimanded with my 20,000 mAh juice.

• Adapter

  If you’re destination has a different pie hole socket, suck it and bring an adapter. It can work in conjunction with the next item.

• Octopus plug

  Saves me from the frustrating situation of being unable to charge any of my devices because all the available sockets are currently being penetrated by others. Concurrent charging is also made possible. And let us not forget that sharing is caring. ♥

• Tripod

  Something that I should’ve thought of acquiring when I started #foreveralone-ing. It’s only a lightweight one which also converts into a monopod. First used one in Monteverde and traveling solo has never been the same. With it, experiencing New York and Canada didn’t feel like I was on my own.

  Every photo here is indebted to it.

Clothes

Sneakers aren’t on the list since they’re staple (I sometimes even bring two pairs because why nut?) and in my case only unnecessary when going to the beach.

• Jacket/sarong

  No matter how hot the destination is, there might be air-conditioning that’s worse than any winter during the journey so I always have something to keep me warm because rubbing my hands can only do so much. It could also get very cold at night. But if you have someone to hug, eh di wow.

• Slippers

  Staple for the beach but still present otherwise. My smelly feet always deserve some air at the end of a long and whining day.

• Towel

  Some accommodations provide towels but I always bring one anyway. A quick-dry one as it—wait for it—quickly dries and doesn’t take up space.

• Swim/gym shorts

  (1) Because there might be a body of water or swimming pool that wants to be disturbed and (2) because there might be a gym or a badminton/tennis court and I only need to rent an equipment and find a playmate.

Daily clothing has also been taken off the list since it depends on the duration of the trip. But as an example, for a week-long trip, I would have the following:

• 7 shirts (at least one has to be collared because, you know, there might be a party down the road)
• 2 pairs of pants and shorts / a pair of pants and 3 pairs of shorts
• 7 pieces of underwear (I’ll leave it to one’s imagination what I wear, if any)
• 3 handkerchiefs
• 3 pairs of socks
• Sleeping clothes OOTDN

Toiletries

• Nail cutter

  Because among the most annoying things are parts of a nail that need to be ripped off cut.

• Razor

  Because a little stubble may be fine but clean-shaven is still my way.

• (Wet) Tissues

  Because the call of nature may be predictable after every meal (cron job) for someone who has high metabolism, but still you can never really can never can tell ever. If they’re wet then they also function as instant hand-washers.

• Wax

  Because it can make my dry and wavy hair look like that of a human’s.

• Moisturizer

  Because it conceals the dryness of my face. (Should a concealer be a better option, I wonder?)

• Perfume

  Because I’ve never met someone who has a fetish for stinky people.

• Toothbrush/paste

  Because our teeth are windows to our soul (move over, eyes). When with close friends I no longer bring toothpaste though. Sharing is caring, remember? #user

• Deodorant

  Because I’ve never met someone who has a fetish for smelly armpits.

• Shower gel

  Because using perfume and deodorant will never be an alternative to bathing. I use the type that can be used for both body and hair.

• Cotton buds

  Because I need to keep ’em clean in order to eavesdrop by the aid of the aforementioned earphones.

Beach-related

• Goggles/snorkeling mask

  A snorkeling mask only if there’s a chance of an underwater scenery. If chance becomes certainty then flippers can come along.

• Plastic bag

  Container for wet, salty, and sandy clothes, if there are still any, at the end of the trip.

• Sunblock

  I’m not among those who run like Naruto under the sun and I don’t get inside a rash guard either. However, I still apply sunblock, not to avoid getting tan (not “dark”, para sosyal) but to avoid the stinging sensation when all the wetting’s been done. (Lakas maka-jueteng.)

• Vials, adhesive (not pictured)

  I collect sand, that’s why. Next question.

• Speakers

  Wireless and waterproof at that. Other than the beach, I also bring them to similar outings where the probability of having socials is high. (Social as usual~)

• Waterproof camera (when I have one)

Others

• Umbrella

  No matter how sunny the forecast is, I always bring what Rihanna used to sing. Time should never be wasted just waiting for some rain to pass.

• Eco bag

  A normal-sized and sturdy eco bag is a quick trick for additional handheld luggage since it may not look jam-packed. It’s also where I put my laptop (if I’m bringing one, obviously) when I need easy access to it and because they always need to be scanned separately in X-ray machines.

• Extra bag(s)

  Which one(s) to bring is dependent on the itinerary.

  • A day-to-day bag (which could also be just my backpack) containing the power bank, some money, umbrella, charger, pen, and tripod. It would also contain my passports if I’m still on the road.
  • A dry bag for the beach or when there’s a body of water that needs to be crossed. You never know if there’s gonna be a Titanic moment. The valuables inside it, alongside a floating piece of debris which we all know was not enough to save Jack, could save you.
  • A foldaway holdall if I anticipate that I’ll have additional luggage at the end of it all.

• Alcohol

  For sanitizing purposes and not just for when someone bleeds. (“Blood must have blood!” —The 100’s Grounders)

• White Flower

  For oldies headaches and other aches with the exception of heartaches (there’s booze for that).

• Padlock

  Most accommodations provide lockers but they require you to bring your own padlock. A combination lock is a better option because otherwise you’re screwed if you lose the key. I also use it to secure my bag while in transit.

• Pamaypay

  Tagalog term for a handheld fan. The circular (and manual) one which can be twirled into a smaller circle. This is because when things get hot I exude a lot of sweat. #asset

In terms of medicines, I carry paracetamol, mefenamic acid, and loperamide and they’re always in my go-to bag as well. Most of the time I go for a backpack because I can easily shove in its side pockets a bottle of water and things—slippers and tripod being among them—that would no longer fit with the rest of the items in the main compartment. A jacket can be effortlessly “hooked” to it for quick access too.

Of course, at the end of the day, to each his own. For instance, if I were a girl, I would probably have at least two different containers—a shampoo and a conditioner—for my hair, another two for my face, and at least three more for my bodeh. This travel packing checklist is nothing more than by that of a guy who avoids checked baggage as much as possible to save some bucks and has no plans of washing clothes (as nasty as that sounds) throughout the trip.

Sometimes I also go for a holdall (different from the one under the Others checklist) but if it’s winter we’re talking about then it’s a completely different story; the list expands on the layers of clothes alone so my luggage also expands into a suitcase (my first winter experience, being only a few days, disagrees though).

I consider myself a light packer, but it’s without doubt that there are dozens of people out there who pack even lighter than I do. And oh, as for the hip flask? I never bring it to any flight where I only have carry-ons. For being metal, it might get confiscated at some airport. No way, José.

The post A Man’s Travel Packing Checklist appeared first on Itinerant.

In the past couple of days I’ve been posting photos of being on a trip and of course I knew that people will have something to say (we always do). I’m a ZFG guy but this claim was blown to smithereens when someone messaged me: “at talagang pinangangalandakan mong nakakagala ka pa tsss”

That seven-syllable Tagalog verb hit a nerve.

Okay, so I guess that makes me insensitive. But if you find yourself on the table above, aren’t we all on the same page?

Let’s strike an example.

Friend: Ba’t post ka ng post ng travels mo eh ang laki na nga ng problema ng mundo ngayon.
Me: Bakit, may nasaktan ba sa pagpo-post ko?

And if I’m being such an asshole, I could retaliate even further.

“Ikaw nga post ng post ng picture ng anak mo ‘kala mo naman maganda ang kinabukasan n’yan.”

But I’ll never do that. Point is, to each his own. Everyone has their reason why they post on social media. Most of them are essentially on accomplishments that don’t necessarily translate to showing off. In my case, it has always been so that I (and those who I’ve been with) will always have something to look back to. Memories deteriorate and storage devices will eventually fail, if not lost. But social media can last longer, if not forever.

You can never please everyone. If you can’t stand other people’s posts, joke’s on you, other people can’t stand your posts, too. It’s fundamentally the same as hating someone so much even if that someone didn’t do anything to you and probably doesn’t even know you at all. We live in a biased world. We adore celebrities down to their last strand of hair but at the same time we find the slightest faults in other people.

And for the record, I’m just at home like everyone. A simple Google search would’ve confirmed that, like the rest of the world, there are no flights in and out of that country right now.

Sure, I am insensitive. Fortunately, so are you.

The post Why You Should Post on Social Media appeared first on Itinerant.

Contrary to popular belief, 88% of my round trip flights (those taken for pleasure) within and from the Philippines as of this writing were secured at low prices through luck and patience during seat sales. I’d say that I’ve actually become dexterous at hunting them down. In this post I’ll be putting Cebu Pacific Air into the context but generally it should be the same for other airlines out there particularly those in the Philippines.

Believe

Believe that seat sales are real in the same way that you believe in yourself. Hah! Cheeky, huh? Many people, after hearing that flights are on sale but didn’t see them discounted for the dates they searched, easily give up. Well, I used to be the same. Until I finally saw with my very own guiltless eyes a flight with ₱1 as the price.

I could no longer retrieve the details but my earliest memory of a discounted airfare that I bought myself was in 2012 when I flew to Iloilo and spent a long weekend at Kenyama Beach Resort with college buddies. I’ll be showing real-life examples latur so chill out for now.

Right Timing

The quickest way for you to be in the know is to follow the airline’s social media accounts. In my case, it has always been Twir. The platform has a feature which notifies you when a particular user is being a twit tweets. Seat sales are, if not always, announced either during midday or midnight. If there’s a holiday, you can expect that there’s gonna be one on that day. This has been observed for the longest time and has become common knowledge.

With everyone having access to computers and smartphones now and airlines sometimes announcing ahead unlike in the past, grabbing cheap seats is essentially engaging in war with your Internet connection and fingering skills in your arsenal. Midnight is still very early for people who are eager to score them. Add the website’s inaptitude to handle website traffic to that and you can be doomed.

Fortunately, if you got doomed, then so did others. If your middle name is Discipline, you can wake up when everyone has given up. That means striking a surprise attack on the enemy during the earliest hours in the morning. Important piece of note: don’t expect that all seats and dates are on sale during a seat sale period. It’s never the case. You have to put in effort in searching.

In addition, while it’s true that the number of discounted seats available can easily go down to zero on the first day of sale, never say never as long as the sale is on. Not everyone has access to online payments so others prefer to pay via payment centers and in cases where the payment is not fulfilled, the seat(s) they were supposed to pay for could be released and made up for grabs for everyone again. Laban!

Choosing the Dates

Me: There’s a seat sale today.
Friend: Ugh, the flights on sale are one year away from today…
*after one year*
Friend: You’re flying out again?!
Me: *slams the door behind me*

Clearly, the airline won’t adjust to lowlives like us our needs. If you really wanna go, you have to be flexible on your dates and be willing to wait. That’s the essence of seat sales; they’re usually off-peak season dates. Another thing that instantly disheartens people is finding out that the amount they will be paying at the end of the booking is not the indicated slashed amount.

Take for example, in a ₱1 fare seat sale (or any other sale for that matter), there will still be additional charges which include taxes and fuel surcharges, resulting to more or less ₱1,000 in total (in the case of domestic flights). But come on, that’s already a round trip itinerary! No-brainer, brother, especially if you sometimes find yourself paying for the same amount for a night of neglect. It’s also important to note that tickets acquired during seat sales are non-refundable (and non-transferable at that).

Unpopular Destinations

As every place has something to offer, you should also consider looking into those which are part of the roads less taken. While everyone is battling their way to get their arses on seats to popular destinations, you can simply sit back while booking with less competition.

The best example that I could give for this would be Tuguegarao. I’ve booked it thrice in the past (I haven’t been to the future, have I?)—once with Cebu Pacific Air and twice with Philippine Airlines—and never have I ever ****** two ***** had troubles in doing so. My only problem was that I ended up not using all of them. All of them. That’s another story though and not the point here so let’s all move on so that nobody gets hurt.

Airline Accounts

Having an online account with the airline doesn’t only allow you to keep track of your upcoming and past flights but also provides ease and speed in booking. For instance, you can add the passengers’ details ahead. No more trying to contact everyone at 3:00 AM to ask for their birthdays and waiting for all eternity for their responses. It also lets you gain points/miles which you can eventually use to pay for flights. It’s a win-win in every angle.

Personally, I get the feeling that if you have an account your booking activity is preferred over those who are not logged in. Or it’s just me, being your average feelingero. Then again, AirAsia actually offers a 24-hour early access to its members. Yes, you heard that right. If you have an account with them and they’re having a seat sale, you are privileged to buy tickets one day ahead of those who have cluttered lives don’t have accounts.

You should also utilize the airline’s mobile app. I have this hunch that websites and apps function differently in that sometimes what you no longer see in the website (sold out seats) are still visible in the app (and vice versa) and even has a different price. So… Yeah, just do it. No one will die if you do so. Embrace sheer luck!

Commitment

If you’re someone who can travel on your own and you’re good with the dates, book your soul the flights it deserves right away without question. Believe me, majority of failed group bookings during a seat sale are because of your companions. Secure yourself first and you can then tell them what you just did and witness them throw swear words at you or panic out of envy in wanting to book the same itinerary that you mercilessly booked without them. This never fails, because a trip only materializes if and only if there’s someone who’ll stop at nothing to get confirmed tickets. And that’s gonna be you. The smart-ass you.

On the contrary, if you really need to have someone with you when traveling because you’d feel safer that way (and because God knows how hard it is to have non-selfie pictures with the loveliest backgrounds), what you can do is find someone who will 100% accept with wide arms open anything you will book when the opportunity presents itself. It should be someone who can go by the conversation below.

You: Just booked our tickets to XXX!
Friend: Awesome! When do I need to pay you?

There. No other questions. Only a “let’s do it” attitude. Of course, that means that you already talked in advance. In cases where there are allegedly many interested heads, you have to agree on a destination and consolidate their complete names and birthdays. In my experience, though, my gut feeling always told me to cross-check with them even though they already said that they’re “okay with anything” and when I did, yep, I was thrown with hesitation. Promises down the drain.

You have to have the disposition that, ultimately, you might end up traveling alone, because it goes without saying that scheduling conflicts and more important matters could arise, making people bail out. I myself have ditched a trip to El Nido with my first colleagues because I just moved to a new job for the first time and didn’t have the balls to tell my employer before jumping in that I have an upcoming trip.

Seat Sale Proofs

Incoming photo dump. There’s no better way to reinforce all the tips and tricks so far than by digging and showing some real round trip deals scored during seat sales and promo fares. Vamos!

2013: Feb 27 – Mar 03, Manila to Hong Kong for ₱2,441.18

2013: Aug 17 – Aug 21, Manila to Cagayan de Oro for ₱1,359.20

2014: Feb 05 – Feb 09, Manila to Bangkok for ₱3,598.84

2014: Apr 05 – Apr 09, Manila to Kalibo for ₱1,549.36 via AirAsia

2014: Aug 25 – Aug 28, Manila to Kuala Lumpur for ₱3,090.62

2015: Jan 16 – Jan 19, Manila to Iloilo for ₱1,382.04

2015: Feb 27 – Mar 05, Manila to Kota Kinabalu for ₱2,182.65

2015: Jun 17 – Jun 20, Manila to Butuan for ₱804.12

2015: Aug 27 – Sep 02, Manila to Puerto Princesa for ₱1,382.04

2015: Nov 13 – Nov 16, Manila to Iloilo for ₱1,185.00

2015: Dec 11 – Dec 14, Manila to Iloilo for ₱1,185.00

2016: Aug 28 – Sep 01, Manila to Puerto Princesa for ₱485.62 via AirAsia (eating at Viking’s is more expensive!)

2016: Oct 26 – Oct 31, Manila to Taipei for ₱4,161.05

2016: Nov 27 – Nov 30, Manila to Tuguegarao for ₱868.12

2017: Jan 09 – Jan 13, Manila to Phuket for ₱1,872.10

2017: Mar 22 – Mar 27, Manila to Singapore for ₱4,642.80

2017: Jun 08 – Jun 15, Manila to Sydney for ₱7,884.40

2017: Aug 01 – Aug 08, Manila to Tokyo for ₱6,704.13

2017: Oct 28 – Nov 05, Manila to Dubai for ₱9,358.58

2018: Jan 12 – Jan 16, Manila to Coron for ₱2,513.00

2018: Sep 22 – Sep 29, Manila to Greece for ₱22,518.66 via Scoot

2018: Nov 03 – Nov 06, Manila to Nagoya for 600 GetGo points + ₱2,303.60

2019: Mar 22 – Mar 25, Clark to Tuguegarao for ₱850.00

2019: Jun 09 – Jun 13, Manila to Butuan for ₱1,453.88

Tips & Tricks

• Don’t let the title of the seat sale fool you. Even if it’s for ₱99, ₱299, ₱599, or any other knocked off amount, you should still invest time in looking for your desired flights because you might end up paying the same amount as if it were a ₱1 sale. I can attest to this. It’s as if the system adjusts the extra charges accordingly to arrive at the same total. Now isn’t that generous?
• In a similar way, don’t be fooled by the rocks that I got selected destinations on sale. Check those that aren’t part of the announcement too. You’ll be surprised that some are actually on sale as well. It might’ve been a system glitch but I can also attest to this. Truly, there’s no harm in trying.
• Maximize being in or close to the capital. You have no idea how troublesome it is for people from provinces to have to fly there first just to be able to go to where they really wanna go.
• Availability of seats on sale tend to occur on the same dates. There have been instances where indecisive other friends were able to make it to the trip as the seats we paid for, if not at the same time, were available for the same day when the next seat sale happened. I also happened to check, out of curiosity, our Sydney flight dates when I came across a seat sale for the same period and they were obtainable. Oh yes.

We all have responsibilities and priorities greatly change when you get hitched or become a parent so while you’re on your own and think that you deserve some time off from time to time by flying, do it. If you can see yourself buying material things with any of the amounts I enumerated then surely you can see yourself buying plane tickets for the same amount. Because let’s face it, there’s always the euphoric feeling of being in a place you’ve never been to. The only problem that you’ll probably encounter is how to tell your boss that you have a life outside of work. Good luck!

Bonus

Ever heard of error fares? If not, well, you just did. The closest that I could’ve gotten my hands on to was a flight to the US from Hong Kong for less than $400. How? Secret Flying is your confidant. You can follow them on Twir or sign up in their website, set your departing cities/countries, and receive notifications in their app. Went the extra mile and created a tiny script which regularly checks new posts from them and sends me an e-mail when a keyword is found in the title. Geeky, I know.

The post How to Score in Seat Sales / Promo Fares appeared first on Itinerant.