Sunday 8 February 2015

New Reasons to visit Tacloban City after Typhoon Yolanda

Fresh Tacloban City, its rehabilitation and facelift: Come and visit!

 

After the devastation brought about by the Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), Tacloban City is now in its recovery and rehabilitation stage.  Thousands of people have helped together to rebuild the city capital of Leyte. Many people are wondering how is Tacloban City now? 

Saturday 10 January 2015

Welcome to Leyte

San Juanico Bridge
Have you visited Leyte?  If you have not, then you miss half of your life.  Leyte is a beautiful province of Region 8 where the people are hospitable, down to earth, caring and loving.  The island measures about 180 kilometres (110 mi) north-south and about 65 kilometres (40 mi) at its widest point. In the north it nearly joins the island of Samar, separated by the San Juanico Strait which becomes as narrow as 2 km (1.2 mi) in some places. The island province of Biliran is also to the north of Leyte and is joined to Leyte island by a bridge across the narrow Biliran Strait. To the south Leyte is separated fromMindanoa by the Surigao Strait. To the east, Leyte is somewhat "set back" from the Philippine Sea of the Pacific Ocean, Samar to the northeast and Dinagat Island to the southeast forming the Leyte Gulf. To the west is the Camotes Sea. (source: Wikipedia)

How do you get to Leyte?
Tacloban Airport

The best way to go this island is by plane.  If you are from Manila, then you can book your flight via Cebu pacific  website.  It will cost around P 4,000 more or less (round trip).  If you decide to got to Cebu then Cebu to Tacloban, it will cost you around P 6,000 more or less.  So it is cheaper if you choose Manila - Tacloban booking.

From the Tacloban Airport, you can hire a Van or taxi or perhaps a more cheaper transportation ride, the jeep.  To hire a taxi, you just have to stand at the waiting area for passengers outside the airport building and taxi drivers will approach you.  But the charge for the taxi is expensive.  It will cost you around P 200 within the downtown area of Tacloban.  Outside Tacloban, it will cost you from P500 to P1,000 depending on the distance.  If you choose to ride on a jeep, then P 20 to P 50 is just the right price.  Prior to the havoc of Yolanda (Haiyan), it costs around P 12 to P 15.


Hotel Lorenza
If you do not have any hotel reservation, you can just tell the taxi driver to drop you at any hotel near or within the downtown area.  There are cheap hotels in Tacloban and high-end hotels.  If you are tightening your budget, then pension houses or lodging houses may suit your style.  High-end hotels within the downtown area include but not limited to: XYZ , Hotel Lorenza, Hotel Alejandro, Canelsa, Go Hotels (Robinsons Place), Asia star, GV Hotel, Leyte Park Hotel
GO Hotels

XYZ Hotel
and Z Pad.  Average pension/lodging houses would include but not limited to Welcome Pension, La Rico, Cecilia Lodging and others.  I would not recommend cheap lodging houses because it might ruin your vacation and adventure in Leyte.  In case you hire a jeep, then ask the driver to drop you at the downtown area (possibly at Gaisano or Save More).  Then find your self a tricycle and ask the driver to bring you to any of the hotels mentioned above.  I would suggest that you find more information regarding the hotel of your choice to avoid inconveniences. 

After settling in you hotel, then you can plan out where you want to go.  There are so many places, beautiful places you can visit here in Leyte.  And I will tell you some in my next blog...see you