Finally, ILOCOS!!!

ILOCOS

February 20-22, 2015

Few months back, I came across this Facebook page of  Extreme Outdoor Club -a travel and tour group that offers Ilocos Getaway for only Php3,000. It was my first time joining a group of strangers and I knew it would be fun!

INCLUSIONS:

• Private Van (Nissan Urvan 14 seater or Toyata Hi ace Commuter) - we were 17 including the driver and the guide. no biggie. I expected that. Though I was really hoping it would only be 3pax per row since Ilocos is really far.
• Vigan, Laoag, Pagudpud Tour - yes, your 3,000 pesos is soo sulit! 
• 2 nights room 4/6pax sharing accommodation in a beach resort - the room is actually good for two persons only. It has one bed and one extra mattress. I asked the guide, Kuya Mike if we can transfer to another room. He called Edzhel Herrera - the owner or maybe the founder of EOC. He agreed. We settled our things, freshened up, charged our gadgets, et al. and then suddenly, the air-conditioner stopped functioning. We transferred to another room which is actually bigger and good for 4-6persons. Lucky? Kind of. I guessed. Morning after, Kuya Mike was asking us to pay additional Php500 each because we requested a separated room. Of course, we firmly disagreed. They should have informed us about that fee before allowing us to get a new room.
• Entrance in Kabigan Falls, Kapurpuruwan Rock Formation, Entrance in Blue Lagoon
• Bagtag ID - no. we didn't receive any bagtag ids

My viewpoint:

EOC was on time! We left Manila at exactly 10 in the evening of Thursday.

Hope they would post a tarpaulin outside the van so we would know na yun na pala yung inaantay namin. 

Group tour is a lot cheaper than travelling alone.

Be open minded but know your rights.

Pack Light.

Always be on time.

Patience!

***To our driver, Mang Pedro -kahit inakala mong mga tilapia kaming mga sakay mo sa sobrang bilis mong mag-maneho, thank you pa din. Salamat for allowing us na makisabay hanggang Sucat though ang usapan is until Balintawak lang. hehe! To Pham Manayan and the family from Mindoro that became our instant friends, Thank you sa masayang kwentuhan, tsismisan, takutan at food trip. Haha! And to that woman (in her 40s maybe)- who blurted out "Hay nko! Nababadtrip nko ha!" after I said "Jan ho ata kami." calm down, momma. You could not choose your preferred sit inside the van. The organizers already prepared the sitting arrangement. Not our fault, madame. So please, wag ako. Charaught!

All in all, I will still recommend EOC. They offer tours in a reasonable price. There may be some issues on the road but it's amenable.

xx