Summer is a time to think about adventures, trips and most of all fun! Summer vacations are the perfect opportunity to get away to a favourite spot and experience new sights. Any trip, however, can cause discomfort if you do not plan well. Here are things you can do to make your summer family vacation easier, safer, and stress-free.

• Try to avoid traveling during peak times, this means long weekends in the summer, unless you are a sucker for punishment. It also means rush hours in the city if you are driving, try to plan your time around these hours.

• Pack light. Pack only the things that you are sure of use. Do not bring unnecessary ones because it will only cause you an additional fee for the excess baggage especially most airlines today are implementing this policy. You have to plan ahead to have a good list of things to bring.

• Be sure to bring items like sun screen, hats and sunglasses to protect you from the scorching heat of the sun especially that it is stronger during summer time and UV rays keep increasing.

• Do not forget to bring a camera. This gadget will surely help you make out the best of summer because memories are preserved for you to reminisce with.

• Bring different set of clothes to suit the changing weather.

• Always be ready for an emergency because you will never know what will happen next. Don’t forget to bring a handy emergency kit that contains jumper cables, basic hand tools, flares or reflective warning triangles, a first aid kit, a flashlight with fresh batteries, and a cell phone if possible.

• Don’t spend much especially on foods and drinks. Try to find ways to enjoy your vacation like visiting parks or museums - these things will not cost much.

• If you decided to just stay at home, don’t be sad. Instead use these as time to spend time with your family and bond with them. Spend time with them. Show love to one another as much as possible.

Philippine Airlines is offering an affordable way to fly through the Econolight Class. This is open to all  PAL Domestic flights and selected Asian Destinations. Purchase is only available through the PAL website.

Here is the list of the applicable routes and fares:

INTERNATIONAL ROUND TRIP FARES (excluding taxes, surcharges and airport terminal fee)

Valid for selling, ticketing and travelling until 29 March 2010 only

* For as low as USD 48 (with PBWEB Fare Basis)/Minimum 2 days and maximum 8 days of stay
Between MANILA and HO CHI MINH*/HONG KONG/ SINGAPORE

*Not available for HO CHI MINH to MANILA

* For as low as USD 58 (with PBWEB Fare Basis)/Minimum 2 days and maximum 8 days of stay
Between MANILA and BANGKOK/MACAU

* For as low as USD 68 (with PBWEB Fare Basis)/Minimum 2 days and maximum 8 days of stay
Between MANILA and TAIPEI

* For as low as USD 78 (with PBWEB Fare Basis)/Minimum 2 days and maximum 8 days of stay
Between MANILA and JAKARTA

* For as low as USD 98 (with PBWEB Fare Basis)/Minimum 2 days and maximum of 8 days stay
Between MANILA and SHANGHAI

* For as low as USD 188 (with PBWEB Fare Basis)/Minimum 2 days and maximum of 8 days stay
Between MANILA and BEIJING

Note: International fares will be quoted in the currency of the country of departure except for Philippines and Indonesia where fares are quoted in USD.

Introduction of Saigon to Manila fare effective for sale and ticketing 09 March 2009 and for travel effective 16 March 2009

* For as low as USD 98 (PWEBSGN)/Minimum 2 days and maximum of 8 days stay
From SAIGON to MANILA

DOMESTIC ONE WAY ALL-IN FARES valid for sale, ticketing and travel until further notice (excluding Aviation Security Fee (ASF)  and airport terminal fee )

* For as low as PHP 488
Between MANILA and LAOAG

* For as low as PHP988
Between MANILA and LEGASPI/CEBU/ILOILO

* For as low as PHP1,088
Between MANILA and BACOLOD/DUMAGUETE/KALIBO/
PUERTO PRINCESA/ROXAS/TACLOBAN/TAGBILARAN

* For as low as PHP2,088
Between MANILA and BUTUAN/CAGAYAN DE ORO/COTABATO/
DAVAO/DIPOLOG/GENERAL SANTOS/ZAMBOANGA

Travel conditions:

*      Fare for child and infant occupying a seat is 100% of the EconoLight adult fare
*      Fare for infant not occupying a seat is 50% of the EconoLight adult fare
*      Tickets are  non-refundable/Non-rebookable/Non-reroutable/Non-upgradeable/Not combinable
*      Reissuance not permitted
*      Forfeited if ticket is unused
*      No mileage accrual
*      Free Baggage Allowance is 15 kgs per passenger
*      No additional free baggage allowance will be extended to Mabuhay Miles Million Miler/Premier Elite/Elite and SportsPlus members
*      Limited seats only
*      Book and ticket immediately

Other Travel Conditions:

*      Facilities for passengers requiring special handling are not available on this class
*      Infants and children travelling with adults holding ECONOLIGHT tickets are not entitled to Bassinets/Milk requests
*      No Advance Seat Reservation (ASR)
*      No lounge access
*      No meals
o            Domestic - water upon request
o            International - peanuts and unlimited non-alcoholic beverages such as soda, juice, water, coffee and tea
*      No headsets will be provided
*      No baggage check-through
*      No Mabuhay Lounge access regardless of membership level
*      Seating at the rear of the plane
*      Passengers holding EconoLight tickets will depart/arrive at Manila - Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Centennial Terminal 2

PAL is having the Dream Flights Raffle promo for all domestic and international flights. The sale and travel period will be from October 20, 2008 to March 31, 2009.

They already had their ninth draw last March 5, 2009. You can check their website for the list of the ninth draw winners. There are still many draws coming up. Issuing Travel Agency also wins the corresponding prize.

These are the prizes that await lucky winners:

(2) FIRST PRIZES:
1 roundtrip Business class ticket to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco or Vancouver with 2N3D accommodations, breakfast, and transfers.
Draw dates: March 20, & April 6, 2009

(3) SECOND PRIZES:
1 roundtrip Business class ticket to Australia, Honolulu or Japan with 2N3D accommodations, breakfast, and transfers.
Draw dates: February 5 & 20, & March 5, 2009

(6) THIRD PRIZES:
1 roundtrip Business class ticket to Bangkok, Beijing, Guam, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei or Xiamen with 2N3D accommodations, breakfast, and transfers.
Draw dates: November 10 & 20, December 5 & 22, 2008, January 5 & 20, 2009

(110) CONSOLATION PRIZES:
10 round trip domestic Economy class tickets every draw

Here are the mechanics:

1.Every PAL domestic and international revenue electronic ticket (e-ticket) purchased in the Philippines from October 20, 2008 to March 31, 2009 and used within the same period will entitle the passenger to:

*One (1) raffle entry for every domestic ticket lifted one way

*Two (2) raffle entries for every Bangkok, Guam, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Macau, Saigon, Singapore, Taipei or Xiamen ticket lifted one way

*Three (3) raffle entries for every Beijing or Shanghai ticket lifted one way

*Four (4) raffle entries for every Fukuoka, Honolulu, Kansai (Osaka), Melbourne, Nagoya, Narita, Pusan, Seoul or Sydney lifted one way

*Five (5) raffle entries for every Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco or Vancouver ticket lifted one way

*Bonus one (1) raffle entry for Business class e-ticket holders
2. Issuing Travel Agency also wins the corresponding prize.

3. Included in the raffle are the following:

*Stretcher

*Child

*Internet Transactions
4. Winning e-ticket nos. will be drawn electronically under supervision of the Civil Aeronautics Board.

5.Raffle entries not drawn will still be included in succeeding raffle draws.

6.A passenger has as many chances of winning as the number of e-tickets he/she has purchased and flown within the promo period.

Tickets not eligible for the raffle: zero fare, industry discount, infant, Mabuhay Miles award ticket, complimentary ticket, Air Philippines codeshare, and PAL Express ticket.

Prizes:

1.Grand draw prizes and special prizes are exclusive of taxes and terminal fees.

2.Prizes are valid for one (1) year from date of publication in the newspaper.

3.Prizes are transferable but not convertible to cash

Names of winners of each draw will be published in the newspapers and PAL website.

For inquiries, call PAL Reservations at 855-8888 or your travel agent.

Per CAB Approval dated October 16, 2008

For details, please call Advertising & Promotions at (632) 556-2217

Cebu Pacific (CEB) is offering a seat sale from all its center – Cebu, Clark, Davao and Manila – starting March 10 to 13, 2009, to keep travelers from worrying over high airfares this challenging times.

The promotional seat sale is valid for travel from April 1 to July 31, 2009.  Domestic fares are all-inclusive. Regional passengers need to pay travel taxes, except OFWs and foreigners staying in the Philippines for less than a year who are exempt. Promo fares are non-refundable.

Candice Iyog, CEB VP for marketing and distribution, said, “The current seat sale supports the focus on tourism to tide the country over the financial crisis. Cebu Pacific has always been keen in making travel more affordable for Filipinos.”

CEB is offering a P1,488.00 one-way ‘Go Lite’ fare for its Manila-Kota Kinabalu and Manila-Kaohsiung services. This is also extended to services from Clark to:

* Bangkok
* Hong Kong
* Macau
* Singapore.

The budget airline is also offering a one-way P1,388.00 ‘Go Lite’ all-in fare for its Manila to Cotabato and Butuan services.

From Cebu, the airline is offering a one-way P188.00 all-in ‘Go Lite’ fare to Bacolod, Butuan, Dumaguete and Surigao, and a one-way P488 all-in ‘Go Lite’ fare to:

* Cotabato;
* Dipolog;
* GenSan;
* Legaspi;
* Ozamiz;
* Puerto Princesa;
* Siargao;
* Tacloban; and
* Zamboanga.

From Davao, the airline is selling a one-way P488.00 all-in ‘Go Lite’ fare to Iloilo and Zamboanga.

‘Go Lite’ fares are for passengers traveling with no check-in baggage.  Passengers with check-in bags just have to add P200 to the fare.

Passengers can book online at www.cebupacificair.com or call reservations at 70-20-888, or visit their nearest travel agents.

Now on its 14th year, CEB continues to have the youngest aircraft fleet in the Philippines, comprised of 11 Airbus A320, 10 Airbus A319, and seven ATR 72-500.

People from all walks of life, both young and old, enjoy traveling. It is very common, nowadays, for people to just get away on a vacation trip any time. Some even consider traveling as part of their routine lifestyle. Traveling becomes a treat they give to themselves. Here are a few tips for an experience you will truly cherish.

Traveling provides tremendous opportunities for fun, adventure and discovery. It adds to your knowledge the lifestyle and culture of a specific place. It increases your awareness on issues that beset a population. It answers your questions about what’s happening in the other side of the world.. We learn their cultures, history, language and background. We discover the similarities they have with us, as well as their differences from us. It is interesting to learn from people with diverse backgrounds.
Traveling increases our knowledge and widens our perspective. Discovering different values and ways to get by in life is really interesting. You also need to visit exotic new places and discover what this wonderful world has to offer.

Traveling is refreshing and revitalizing. If you feel you need a getaway or an escapade, be kind to yourself. It is a psychological necessity, especially for people who has stressful jobs. It’s nice to live life to its fullest and enjoy a stress free time with one’s self. Going on vacation lets us recharge our “batteries” by disconnecting us from our regular life. In this society nowadays, many people suffer tremendous stress at work. Relaxing at home during the weekends is insufficient for some to unwind. Taking periodic vacation trips reap better results for them.

Traveling leaves good memories. Mostly, if not all, traveling gives one of the best memories you could ever have. When traveling with friends or family, it creates memories for a lifetime. It can give a new perspective on the relationship and cement the bond forever. It also gives nice stories to tell people afterwards. You can create photo albums about your trips and when you feel nostalgic, you can take an hour of your life and experience the trips again by looking at the pictures.

Technology has made traveling cheaper, easier and faster. As the cost of flying is cheaper now than before, traveling have become more affordable to many people. Besides, flying to more distant places is made available now. Many places in the world are more accessible. Hence, we can choose to visit more places. Furthermore, it is faster to get to a place now than before. Thus, we should make use of the opportunities technology has made available for us. We should venture forth and discover for ourselves the places that we can only read about in the past.

Traveling is always considered as one of the best experiences one can have. Either you travel for a vacation or for business purposes, there is only one concern - the price of the ticket. Currently, high airfare is one of the major problem among the travelers. Travelers constantly search for cheap airfare tickets.

Here are a few tips for the obsessed travelers:

* Visiting the web for travel websites would be the first on the list. The web is full of travel websites that can help travelers decide which is best for them. They can compare all the airlines who offer cheap airfare. However, one should also be cautious in giving their information to avoid airfare scammers.
* It is a good time to shop online for low cost seats at midnight because this is usually the time airlines restock their computers. You can have those seats that may have been reserved but was not paid for.
* Make your reservation early. Make a reservation as soon as you know the date of your travel. Many airlines offer discount rates for early reservations.
Travel at an off-peak time, like early in the morning, late at night or overnight. Tickets for these times are often much cheaper than flying during prime times. It pays to be flexible with the travel time, and you can save even more if you are flexible with your dates as well.
* Use a consolidator: a consolidator buys airfare tickets at extremely low rates and pass on the ticket price difference onto the consumer.
* Smart travelers know how to take advantage of overbooking. By volunteering your seat when a flight is overbooked you can earn free flights and often even cash from the airline. If you don’t absolutely have to be there on time, volunteer to give up your seat, if it becomes needed, when you check in for your flight. Monday morning and Friday afternoon flights are the most likely to be overbooked.
* It’s often cheaper to fly to a nearby city if you can’t find an inexpensive flight to the city you want to go.
* Seniors and students should ask about dosmetic airfare coupon books for discounted fares.