Radiant View

PLEASE READ THE INTRODUCTION BELOW BEFORE YOU GO TO THE BOOKING ENGINE HERE: BOOK YOUR TRAVEL ONLINE!

I collected some videos about the Philippines from YouTube.com so do remember to scroll to the bottom of this page for a sensory feast about your upcoming trip! Check out the 20 air-travel tips I captured from yahoo insiders here or scroll below (after the videos)

Remember, YOU do your own travel bookings — and benefit from the savings! You shop, you book your own trip, and you travel. All I do is support you with a “Bon Voyage!” greeting and be on stand-by mode just in case you need my assistance.

In the future, you can save this booking engine to your FAVORITE LINKS: www.BookYourTravelOnline.RadiantView.com.

Some of you might not yet be too familiar with how online booking engines work — so please be assured that I will be around to guide you, especially the first time around. If you’re in a hurry — and you don’t have time to read my pretty introduction below, then please follow these instructions.

1. Decide on your desired travel dates.

2. Go to Kayak.com and check the airfares on your desired dates.

3. Click here to my booking engine to find out if there’s a quote available for your desired dates.

3. If there is a quote available in my booking engine, and it’s better than what you find at Kayak.com, then follow the instructions found in the booking engine. If it asks you to contact me, go ahead and email me at RadiantView@gmail.com.

Remember, the advantage my booking engine has over Kayak.com (for most cases) is that my consolidator has a Manila office in case you have problems during your travels.

4. If there is no quote available in my booking engine, never fear — I am here to guide you!

a. Email me at RadiantView@gmail.com with the following information. Please be as specific as possible:

1) Each passenger’s name (as found in the passport)

Please indicate if there are any children travelling with you. Please write down their ages.

2) Your itinerary: For example, San Francisco - Cebu - San Francisco

If you want to stop over in Manila for a few days, please indicate this. Let me know if you need any tour packages or land arrangements.

3) Your desired dates of travel (as well as the times of travel, if applicable)

b. You will get an acknowledgment from me — and I get to work by contacting my consolidator. At this point, we will be communicating by e-mail.

c. When everything is ready, and I get an OK from you regarding the quote (email acknowledgment is very OK!), then we will be asking you for your credit card number to book your tickets.

d. The first time we handle your booking, there are couple of extra steps for the transaction — and it’s worth it.

Start booking your flight!

MORE THAN THE USUAL: Imagine what it’s like to be our guest in the Philippines (produced by the Philippine Department of Tourism)
Thank you to Ivan Henares for putting this on YouTube.com

Click here to go directly to YouTube.com.

Dear Friend:

If you’ve somehow found out that I can give you really cheap, cheap airfares available on my blog-website, it’s true. My goal is to offer very affordable — possibly the cheapest — airfares to the Philippines because YOU are the “travel agent” of your own trip. That is, you get to do your own booking in the comfort and privacy of your home or office.

I found the BEST consolidator in the planet, based here in my city, San Francisco, California and in Manila, Philippines.

If you’re from the USA, you’ll find that comparison-shopping can be a breeze because I will be able to (99% of the time) offer the best pricing. You just have to decide which airline meets your needs and how much you want to spend.

I’m still working on putting in more words, FAQ’s, and photos for this travel site. But don’t let me stop you from booking that lovely visit to the Philippines and other parts of Asia.

Your adventures in Asia await you!!!

BEFORE YOU START, HERE ARE JUST A FEW REMINDERS:

1. I assume that you know how to book your airfares online in exactly the same way as you deal with all the other lovely US-based online booking websites. You know, the ones whose ads you see on TV.

We operate on the same principle. You are the master/mistress of your own destiny with internet airfares.

2. When you really have issues about your booking (and it isn’t about “I don’t know how online booking works”), please fill up the contact form below or contact me by e-mail.

RadiantView@gmail.com, with subject line: Booking problem - put your name & Record Locator number here

Please explain clearly what your situation is — and yes, I will get back to you as soon as possible.

3. What are you waiting for? Start booking your latest travel itinerary! And please drop me a line about your experience. I always want to learn from the best: YOU, MY CUSTOMER.

Thank you!

Lorna

P.S. There’s more information to look at after the contact form below.

GO TO BOOK YOUR TRAVEL ONLINE!

For comments or online assistance:

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As a special treat for those who are thinking of travelling to the Philippines, here is the promotional video (thank you, Philippine Department of Tourism!), BIYAHE TAYO!

(or, Let’s Go Travel!)

Video courtesy of alphaqol, YouTube.com.
Click here to go directly to YouTube.com.

Artists: Lea Salonga, Sharon Cuneta, Freddie Aguilar, Rey Valera, Rico Puno, Joey Ayala, Apo Hiking Society, Ogie Alcasid, Janno Gibbs, Jolina Magdangal, April Boy Regino, Jessa Zaragoza, Paolo Santos, Nina and Rico Blanco of Rivermaya, John Lesaca, and Jong Cuenco

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WOW Philippines TV Ads
courtesy of maskom13

This is the combination of the various commercials by the Department of Tourism aired over CNN, BBC World, etc. obtained by Group 5 (PUBLIC INFO) from the DOT and PCVC through Nishi Tingabngab.

Click here to go directly to YouTube.com.

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FROM THE TRAVEL SERIES, “WILD ON E! THE PHILIPPINES” IN 2002.

Although this “Wild on E!” travel show is very different from the “tame” travel series that we see on mainstream TV — and it focuses on the wild partying activities of Filipinos and their guests (lots of bikini-clad women!), I believe it still gives enough information from the non-Filipino perspective. Some culture, some sights and sounds, and lots of party action!!!

So, viewer beware! Some scenes can be pretty raunchy (PG rating!)

Manila in 2002 with Intramuros, beauty queens, and eating “Balut”: Hosted by Brooke Burke and Kristin Malia.
(video courtesy of rogbad, YouTube.com. Click here to go directly to the YouTube.com link.)

In Subic Bay at a “jungle survival camp” and a para-sailing experience in 2002. Hosted by Brooke Burke and Kristin Malia. Claudine Trillo checks out the clubbing scene in Manila.
(video courtesy of rogbad, YouTube.com. Click here to go directly to the YouTube.com link.)

Boracay, “Heaven on Earth” in 2002. All about the water sport and the bohemian “partying” places. Hosted by Brooke Burke and Kristin Malia.
(video courtesy of rogbad, YouTube.com. Click here to go directly to the YouTube.com link.)

Beauty queens and their volleyball lessons, a tour of “Yapak Bat Cave” with Jose, in Boracay, 2002. Hosted by Brooke Burke and Kristin Malia.
(video courtesy of rogbad, YouTube.com. Click here to go directly to the YouTube.com link.)

We take a look at Boracay in 2002 — scuba diving lessons at the “Blue Lagoon” dive site, a 3-hour spa treatment at “Mandala Spa,” and the Boracay party life. Hosted by Brooke Burke and Kristin Malia.
(video courtesy of rogbad, YouTube.com. Click here to go directly to the YouTube.com link.)

Nenette Graf gives windsurfing lessons in Boracay, 2002. The group travels to Cebu (oh, I cannot stand the remarks about Cebu having beautiful girls, as if they are the only reason Cebu is a great place to visit. Yikes, such shallow comments!!!). Water-skiing lessons at the Shangrila Mactan Resort. Hosted by Brooke Burke and Kristin Malia.
(video courtesy of rogbad, YouTube.com. Click here to go directly to the YouTube.com link.)

The group heads out to the famous “Carbon Market” in downtown Cebu City in 2002. Includes a Tooth Fairy selling “Filipino human teeth.” At Club Fuel for the wildest party of the year with body-painted models. Hosted by Brooke Burke and Kristin Malia.
(video courtesy of rogbad, YouTube.com. Click here to go directly to the YouTube.com link.)

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20 AIR-TRAVEL TIPS FROM INSIDERS

With apologies to Yahoo, we’re copying the entire text here just in case Yahoo decides to delete this entry from its archives.

Before you snuggle up with an airplane blanket or tie a red ribbon on your suitcase, read these tips from frequent fliers

Planning
Know the difference between “direct” and “nonstop” flights, and always opt for the latter.
Unlike nonstops, direct flights can touch down at other airports on the way to their ultimate destinations, explains Macon Dunnagan, a baggage handler with US Airways. And while stops are built in to the total travel time, the potential delays they can cause aren’t. “Whenever possible, fly nonstop,” he says.

Make sure you purchase your ticket under the exact name that appears on your ID.
It might seem obvious to you that Betsy is a nickname for Elizabeth, but it may not to a skycap, a desk agent, or a security officer — any one of whom could ask you to show identification with that name before boarding, says Delta Air Lines public-relations representative Katie Connell.

Select your seats ASAP.
“If you have a disability and need a premium seat in the bulkhead, tell the agent when you make your reservation rather than at the airport,” says David Martin, a Delta passenger-service specialist who creates the airline’s policies for customers with disabilities. Other passengers might be able to nab those seats 24 hours before the flight, when they’re made available to everyone through the airline’s website.

Get to your gateway city as early as you can.
“Since delays stack up as the day progresses, it’s smart to book the first flight you can into a hub (if you have a connecting flight),” says Dunnagan. “Spending a few extra hours at the airport is better than missing your connection because your first flight was late.”

Double-check foreign document requirements.
Some countries — like Chile, Kenya, and India — require a visa for entry; others, like South Africa, won’t allow entrance unless a traveler’s passport contains at least two blank, unstamped pages. You need to be aware of those requirements before you make your flight reservations or you could get stuck Stateside, according to a source at the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs. For a complete list of entrance regulations, visit www.travel.state.gov/travel.

Packing
Set your luggage apart from the pack.
Tying a red ribbon to your black bag is not the most effective way to distinguish it. “When passengers use ribbons and bows, they can be torn off in the transporting process,” says Chris Gossner, a customer-service supervisor with US Airways for more than 20 years. Not to mention the fact that you’ll probably see dozens of other red ribbons circling on the baggage carousel. Your best move is to purchase a suitcase in an unusual color, such as bright blue.

Stockpile samples.
To save precious quart-bag space on overnight trips, Freida Burton, a US Airways flight attendant for almost 31 years, carries samples of cosmetics, moisturizers, and prescription creams, which she requests from her doctor. Go to walmart.triaddigital.com/free-samples.aspx or www.freesamplesblog.com for a variety of regularly updated freebie offers. Or take advantage of Sephora’s and Kiehls’s policies of giving three free samples with any online order at www.sephora.com and www.kiehls.com.

BYO blanket (and disinfecting wipes, too).
“I hate to say it, but tray tables are rarely cleaned, so wipe them off before you use them,” says Sarah Scott, a former US Airways flight attendant who worked for 19 years. “And steer clear of the blankets and pillows. They’re only washed when they look dirty.”

Pack your electronics in a single layer.
You will increase your chances of speeding through security if you take the time to lay your electronics flat. “When things are tossed in haphazardly or jumbled together, we spend more time determining what they are (from the X-ray) and have to manually check bags,” says Sterling Payne, a spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Do your own bag check before you leave.
To keep from getting stalled in security and losing innocent (but sharp) items you forgot were in your bag — hello, nail scissors! — carefully check each piece of luggage at home first. “If you think through the screening process as you’re packing, you’ll be fine,” says Stephanie Carter Naar, a transportation security officer based in Washington, D.C.

At the Airport
Know your airport’s code.
It’s easy for luggage-destination tags to get mixed up at a curbside check-in. Learn the three-letter airport code for your destination and make sure your skycap labels the bag properly. The codes aren’t always intuitive (for example, New Orleans’s Louis Armstrong Airport is MSY), so check the list at www.airport-technology.com, especially if the city you’re going to has more than one airport. “Cities with multiple airports can cause problems if passengers don’t know which they’re flying into,” says Tim Wagner, a spokesperson for American Airlines.

Ask about your options.
Many airport waits can be made more enjoyable by asking insiders for advice. Stuck with your children at Boston’s Logan Airport? An airport employee can direct you to terminal C, where a baggage carousel–style slide anchors a play area. Tired of the same old food-court choices? In the Austin, Texas, airport, make a beeline for Salt Lick — it serves up some of the state’s best barbecue. You can even get through security faster by seeking out additional lines: “Airports will often open another line during peak times, so it pays to ask,” TSA spokesperson Sterling Payne says.

Exercise caution in duty-free shops.
“Not everything in duty-free is a bargain,” says Janice Mosher, director of the Customer Service Center for U.S. Customs. “If you really want that bottle of Opium perfume, find out what it costs in your local department store first.” And consider the three-ounce rule when stocking upon things like alcohol and olive oil. “If you are transferring to another domestic flight after clearing customs in the United States, you’ll have to put your liquid duty-free purchases in a checked bag,” Mosher says. “And if you don’t have room in your suitcase, you’ll have to leave that big bottle of olive oil behind.”

Spring for an afternoon in the lounge.
For a fee — usually about $50 a day, which you can pay on the spot — you can take advantage of the drinks, snacks, uncrowded bathrooms, and comfy chairs at most airline club lounges, plus you can get help from the club’s dedicated ticket agents. “Several times when it’s looked like I would be stuck somewhere for another day, a club agent has pulled a rabbit out of his hat,” says Bill Coffield, an attorney who flies between 50,000 and 100,000 miles a year.

Arrival Gate
Call for help.
If you’ve missed a connection, don’t stand in line to rebook with a gate agent. Instead, use your cell phone to call the airline’s customer-service number (tuck it in your wallet before leaving). You may speak to someone faster, giving you a better shot at a seat on the next flight. Also, “the people on the phone are slightly less frazzled, because they don’t have 10 angry customers in their faces,” says fashion designer Melody Rains, who flies about 70,000 miles a year, domestically and internationally.

Utilize cell-phone lots.
These free-parking areas, where drivers can wait for the “I’m here” call for 30 minutes or longer, have sprung up at more than 50 airports in the last few years. “The lots cut down on congestion at the arrival areas. Now I can call my husband as soon as I start walking down the concourse, and we meet just outside the door,” says Sara Nelson, a United Airlines flight attendant for 12 years. (For a complete list of these lots, visit the Airports Council International website at www.aci-na.org.)

Get fed fast.
It’s late. You’ve just landed, and you’re starving. To have dinner waiting in your hotel room when you arrive, call and order room service from the road. “It can save a hungry half hour,” says Barbara Talbott, an executive with Four Seasons Hotels in Toronto who flies about 20 times a year.

On the Plane
Bring a car seat for your child. “Car seats aren’t just safer for children,” notes Veda Shook, a flight attendant who has been with Alaska Airlines for 16 years. “They also help kids stay calmer, since they’re used to being in them.” Shook suggests investing in a car seat–stroller combination. “The seat slides right out of the stroller part, which you can check at the gate,” she says.

Corral your in-flight necessities.
Blocking the aisle during boarding while you dig for gum, a book, or a snack isn’t just a drag for you; it can delay the entire plane. Dezirae Bridges, a Delta flight attendant for 11 years, suggests packing small must-haves in a resealable gallon-size bag that you can toss onto the seat while you put away everything else.

Stow your bag near your seat.
“It’s tempting to toss your suitcase into the first empty space you see, but that slows down deplaning, as passengers who had to stow their bags near the back move downstream to collect their belongings,” says Beth Jones,* a US Airways flight attendant with 34 years under her (safety) belt. To avoid backtracking, board as early as you can and enlist the help of a flight attendant when storing bags.