If you are planning to take a trip, then you are probably in packing mode. You are deciding what you need to take with you to make your trip successful. If you are looking for specialty items, there are some great ones out there for travel. And most of them are small and easy to take with you. They can be especially useful for travel abroad.

Read on to learn about 7 small and helpful items that you'll want to have on your next adventure.

Dependable Case

If you go anywhere, especially out of the country, your phone can be an important lifeline. If you get lost, your GPS can help guide you to your next destination. You can use it if you need to contact someone. Not to mention its creative uses, like snapping photos of exciting spots.

To protect your phone while traveling, you should invest in a good case. For example, the new protective cases at getcasely.com could be perfect for your trip. You are sure to find one that fits your style in addition to providing a sense of security, just have a good look around.

Portable Batteries

When you are on the go, you don't always have time to sit down and charge your phone and other electronic devices. It can also be difficult to actually find a place to do it outside of a your hotel. If you carry around a portable battery or power bank, you can use that instead. Just remember to charge them up again after you have used them!

Document Organizer

To travel safely and effectively, you must have all your proper documentation. This includes things like passports, visas, and government issued IDs. You may want to consider purchasing a special organizer. You can find document organizers in a variety of sizes and styles. They do make small ones that are easy to bring with you. Most importantly, make sure that whatever you chose is able to be secured.

International Adapters

When you travel to a different country, it is a good idea to bring an adapter. The outlets in your hotel will likely be very different from your ones at home. Being able to plug in your devices is important. You can purchase adapters for each country that you go to. They also have large adapter blocks that include a range of different adapter types.

Mobile Hotspot

When traveling in large urban centers, it shouldn't be too difficult find and use free Wifi. Being connected to the internet is useful for communication, navigation, and more. If you think that finding free Wifi might be a challenge, consider bringing a mobile hot-spot. They can be set up and used like a normal connection.

Water Bottle With Purifier

Having access to clean water is extremely important when traveling. You need to be able to stay healthy and hydrated. You can even purchase a water bottle that has a built in purifier. To use it, just fill your water bottle up at almost any spot. Then, you will be be able to drink clean, filtered water while on the go.

Photo Accessories

While you visit new places, you may want to take some photos to remember them by. If you have a nice camera that you use, you can easily take it with you. Just make sure to keep it safe. You can also attach special lenses to your smart phone to take different kinds of photos.

These are only a few small and useful accessories for your trip. You may find something even better suited for you!

As it gears up for a grand launch in November, an all-new hotel in Tagaytay promises a tranquil stay and premium hospitality: Royale Parc Hotel Tagaytay.

Royale Parc Hotel Tagaytay Corporate General Manager Nilda Diaz Serrano

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STRATEGIC LOCATION

Looking for a budget-friendly escape in Mindanao? Look no further than Lanao Del Norte and Misamis Oriental (MisOr). Located in Northern Mindanao Region (Region X), these adjacent provinces are fast becoming favorites for penny-pinching travelers. Both endowed with diverse landscapes, a quick weekend trip to these two provinces offers you a wealth of wonders to feast your eyes on: family-friendly white sand beaches, impressive waterfalls, and beginner-friendly mountains.

With a well-connected transport system, you can also easily and affordably hop from one point to another. I only spent a total P11,300 for me and my daughter (or P5,600+ per person) for a three-day visit, RT flights included.

Discover how you can explore these two provinces cheap and easy with this guide!

WHAT TO SEE IN MISAMIS ORIENTAL AND LANAO DEL NORTE

Instead of the tourist-favorite rapids in CDO - a popular spot for white water rafting in MisOr, albeit quite expensive for a party of two - we explored lesser-known destinations in Misamis Oriental's western side. Then, we spent one night in Iligan to see a couple of falls in its Tourism Triangle and capped off our trip by camping overnight in MisOr.

Here are the attractions we visited, plus fees, directions, and tips.

ATTRACTIONS IN MISAMIS ORIENTAL

• Isidro Beach, Initao

Initao's beachfront is lined with a plethora of resorts, from downright cheap to mid-budget. Isidro's Beach is the least crowded in the area, perhaps because of its no-videoke/ no-loud music policy. Unlike the other resorts on the strip, there are no accommodations or restaurants here; just a few nipa huts and a small sari-sari store selling toiletries, beer, and sodas. Tent camping is allowed for those who wish to stay the night.

The beach features cream-colored sand and gentle waters surrounded by coconut trees,  making it a hit among families with small kids. 

From Isidro's, you can walk to a mangrove forest, which is part of the Initao-Libertad Protected Landscape. Stay until sundown to witness a dramatic display of colors on the horizon!

How to get to Isidro's Beach in Initao
At Laguindingan Airport, take a van going to the Laguindingan Bus Terminal, (P50) then board a bus going to Iligan (P30). Tell the driver to drop you off in Initao. Isidro's Beach rests on the right side of the highway, about a kilometer away from the Initao-Libertad Protected Landscape (the national park is on the left). It's the first resort on the strip if you're coming from Laguindingan. There's a signage outside the gate. You won't miss it. Travel time from Laguindingan is 20 minutes.

Entrance fee
P110 for adults; P55 for children below 7 years old

Other fees (optional)

• Nipa cottage: P1,200 to P1,500
• Overnight fee: P60/head
• Picnic table with tent: P700 or P100/pax
• Camping fee (6pm to 6am): P160/head*

*Bring your own tent. You can stay before 6 pm and after 6 am, but additional rates apply.  

Tip: If you're staying for just a few hours, you can opt to pay only the entrance fee, then just find a spot on the beach to place your bags on. That's what we did. Public showers and change rooms are available free of charge.

• Nyor's Playground/ Mt. Anggas - Gitagum/ Alubihid

There are currently four trails used by locals. Arguably, the most popular is the G. Pelaez trail, which starts at the Our Lady of the Hermit Church. It requires an ascent through narrow ridges to reach three prominent peaks, including one with the NPC communication tower. While kids have been known to use this trail, it is best used by experienced climbers. We were quite close to that trail and it is definitely not novice-friendly, especially if you have a fear of heights.
The trail we used - the "Like a Virgin" trail - is exclusively used by Nyor's, a CDO-based mountaineering group that offers day hikes and overnight camping at a viewing deck called Nyor's Playground. This trail is safer if you are a beginner or have kids with you. It features a challenging 30-minute ascent to the camp site, with a short but steep and precarious walk on a cliff. This is probably the hardest part of the hike. The rest of the seven-kilometer loop is pleasant and benign, hence the trail's name.

You will pass by the Warrior Tree - a lone agoho tree located midway - Our Lady of the Hermit Church, and finally, the multi-tiered Abaga Falls where you can swim and rest. Majority of the trail consists of loose rocks and soil akin to Mt. Tapulao.

Nyor's camp site is pretty small and can accommodate only around five to six tents at once, which minimizes footprint and ensures you get a quieter, more intimate experience. It is also the best spot for sunrise and sunset viewing as it offers 360-degree views of the highest peaks in Mindanao, including Dulang Dulang, Kalatungan, and Kitanglad.


How to get to Mt. Anggas

• DIY via G. Pelaez

In Laguindingan, take any Initao-bound bus. Get off at G. Pelaez (ask where the barangay hall is), then get a habal-habal to take you to the jumpoff. Guides are available at the jumpoff.

• DIY via Sikiton (route used by Nyor's)

Go to Laguindingan Market. Take a habal-habal to Sitio Sikiton. At the barangay hall, hire a guide to take you to the mountain.

Entrance fee
Nyor's Playground offers the following*:

• Day hike - P600/head inclusive of:
• Guide
• RT transpo to bus terminal
• Side trip to Abaga Falls

• Overnight camping - P1,200/head inclusive of:
• Guide
• Tent
• RT transpo (from Laguindingan bus terminal to Laguindingan airport)
• Side trip to secret beach and lighthouse in Moog (10 minutes from airport)
• Side trip to Abaga Falls
• Overflowing coffee and the company of lovely mountaineers 

For hikes to Mt. Anggas and side trips to Abaga Falls and Moog, you may contact Raul Ilogon of Nyor's Mountaineering Group via his mobile number, 09164333878. Or send him a private message via Facebook.

*Fee is waved for kids ages 7 and below.

• Abaga Falls

How to get to Abaga Falls in Misamis Oriental
We got here on foot as it is along the way coming down from Mt. Anggas. It is included in both day and overnight camping trips with Nyor's.

Entrance fee
P20/ head, but if you're doing the hike with Nyor's, entrance fee is waived.

• Palanhay Beach - Brgy. Moog, Laguindingan

Situated about 15 minutes from the airport, Palanhay Beach is a little-known beach in Brgy. Moog. The beach, fringed by centuries-old rock formations and coconut trees, is part of an extensive protected marine sanctuary. Marine life is very rich compared to other coasts near Laguindingan, with seaweeds, fishes and corals thriving abundantly underwater. There was even a walo-walo (banded sea krait) that came close to us while swimming just a few meters from shore.

• Punta Sulawan - Brgy. Moog, Laguindingan

ATTRACTIONS IN LANAO DEL NORTE

• Tinago Falls - Iligan City

Also called "The City of Majestic Waterfalls", Iligan City is home to over 20 waterfalls. The most prominent of which are collectively called the "Tourism Triangle": Mimbalut Falls, Maria Cristina Falls, and Mimbalut Falls. These three are located in or near Linamon, just around 30 minutes from Iligan.

Like Maria Cristina Falls, Tinago Falls is highly popular among families and barkadas. Tinago translates to "hidden", owing to the falls' location in a deep ravine. It takes 500 steps down to reach it (15 to 20-minute walk on concrete stairs).

The 240-foot high cascade's main draw is its massive curtain, through which spring water gushes rigorously throughout the year. The falls plunge to a blue-green basin, which remains nippy and clean despite the hordes of tourists.

One of the highlights of this cascade is the cave that you can access in the main falls using a bamboo raft. It's exhilarating and refreshing!

How to get to Tinago Falls
You can hire a habal-habal from Iligan City to explore the Tourism Triangle. Price is P600-P700 for a half-day tour.  Highly recommended if you're pressed for time or want to tour all three the most convenient way possible.

If you're coming from CDO, take a bus to Iligan City. Board an Ozamiz/ Pagadian-bound bus or Linamon-bound jeepney and alight at Linamon's poblacion (in front of Cebuana Lhuillier). Habal-habal drivers are available to take you there for P100 to P150 roundtrip.

Fees

• Entrance fee: P25 per person; free for small kids
• Parking fee for motorcycycles: P10
• Table and chairs good for 3 persons: P50

Other fees (optional)

• Rafting: P30 per person
• Life vest: P25 per person

• Maria Cristina Falls - Iligan City

If you've read a geography book for elementary students in the Philippines (aka Sibika at Kultura), then you've probably encountered Maria Cristina Falls. High up on many travelers' bucket list destinations in Mindanao, this powerful cascade stands at 320 feet, making it one of the 10 highest known waterfalls in the country. It lies on the Agus River in the town of Maria Cristina and powers the Agus VI Hydroelectric Plant, which supplies electricity to 80 percent of Mindanao.


How to get to Maria Cristina Falls 
From CDO or Laguindingan Airport, take a bus to Iligan City (P135). In Iligan, take a  Linamon or Buru-un-bound jeepney or a bus to Ozamiz or Pagadian. Alight at the steel bridge in the town of Maria Cristina. You will see a signage pointing to Maria Cristina Falls at the left side of the road. Take the NPC shuttle (P50), but make sure to call beforehand to see if the shuttle is operational (it wasn't when we visited).

Otherwise, you will be required to take another habal-habal going inside (compulsory according to park management; P120 roundtrip). If you came with your own habal-habal or private car, your vehicle will not be allowed entry.

Fees

• Entrance fee: P35 for adults; free for kids
• Motorbike to the falls and back: P120 roundtrip

• Iligan lechon - Iligan City

If you're a fan of lechon, don't leave without sampling Iligan City's version of this pork dish! The city loves this pig so much that they have an annual lechon competition involving beloved restaurants and sidewalk stalls.


The city's version boasts extra crispy skin with tender meat. While Cebu's is popular for its tasty and often herb-laced meat, Iligan's version reminds you of pork roasted in your backyard - simple, rustic, but also well-seasoned that it doesn't need sauce. It's sometimes paired with soy sauce, calamansi, and chilli - which works pretty darn well, too.

How to get to Peping's Lechon
There are plenty of lechon stalls in the city, but we got ours from Peping's Lechon, which our habal-habal driver recommended. Peping's is a frequent winner of the city's lechon competition - and we soon discovered why!

Price
P440 per kilo. You can buy as little as 1/4 kilo (P110), which is good for 2 persons, or even a cheaper single serving if you're a solo traveler.

WHERE TO STAY IN LANAO DEL NORTE

Iligan City offers several budget-friendly inns with options for a 12 or 24-hour stay in an air conditioned room starting at only P300. Shorter/ per hour extensions are available too.


We stayed at StayLite Suites in Brgy. Pala-o in Iligan. The pension house is tucked in a quiet corner of San Miguel Village, a short walk from The Strip, a food and lifestyle complex. It's also near the Iligan Medical Center.

What we like about this inn is it's cheap and away from the hubbub but highly accessible to public transport. There are a few habal-habal drivers just outside the property waiting to take you terminals in Iligan as well.

We also like that they have 24-hour room service (which is great because there are no eateries in the immediate vicinity), although orders do take some time. It's mostly Western grub. Food is okay for the price (all below P100 and come in huge servings). There are affordable snacks, instant noodles, and other essentials for sale at the lobby too, if you don't fancy anything off their menu.


How to get to StayLite Suites
From CDO or Laguindingan, take a bus going to Iligan City. Fare is P100. Travel time from Laguindingan is about one and a half to two hours. At the terminal, take a habal-habal to StayLite Suites. Fare is P50.

You can also take a jeepney (look out for the ones with the signage "Medical"), then alight at First Assembly of God in Ubaldo Laya Avenue. Walk for a few minutes until you get to Champaca Street where the pension house is situated.


Rates

StayLite Suites features two types of rooms, both of which are fully air conditioned and are equipped with a queen-size bed, cable TV, a desk, intercom, private bath, and complimentary WiFi.

Rooms are pretty basic and modest in size, so don't expect too much. Sheets are very thin. There's free parking, luggage storage, and 24-hour security.

We booked a Regular Room, which is sufficient for two people. We were billed P500 for a 20-hour stay. Below are the rates for Regular and Regular Plus Rooms.

Regular (comes with 22" flatscreen TV)
12 hours: ₱ 300
24 hours: ₱ 600

Regular Plus (comes with 32" flatscreen TV)
12 hours: ₱ 350
24 hours: ₱ 700

INTERNET/ MOBILE ACCESS IN ILIGAN AND MISOR

Except for some parts of the road to Tinago Falls, cellular signal and mobile data (Smart, Sun, and Globe) are present in almost all, if not, all areas in Iligan, Laguindingan, and Initao. Laguindingan Airport offers free high-speed WiFi, too. If you are connecting to the airport's WiFi or any public WiFi hotspot for that matter, I highly recommend getting a VPN service. VPNs provide encryption while you use the net by scrambling your data, so you can safely surf without worrying about your online privacy and security (e.g. passwords) while traveling.

You can check out this ProPrivacy guide to learn more about VPNs.

HOW TO GET TO MISAMIS ORIENTAL AND ILIGAN

Laguindingan International Airport in Misamis Oriental serves as the main gateway to Northern Mindanao. Local air carriers AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, and Philippine Airlines serve several flights daily to Laguindingan from Clark and Manila. Airfare costs P1,500+ on the average, but can be obtained for as low as P500+ during seat sale promos. We got ours (Clark to CDO) at only P999 per way.

At the airport, several buses and passenger vans can take you to other provinces and cities in the region. Laguindingan Airport is located about an hour-and-a-half by bus to Iligan in Lanao Del Sur.

7 Simple Tips to Make Your Traveling Blog Great

1. Blog name. The name of a travel blog should convey its essence. This is important for readers, as the name of the blog gives them some idea what it is about. It must be noticeable, catchy, and easy to remember. It should cause intrigue among readers so that they certainly want to read your travel blog. If the name is too long, it will lead to the loss of potential visitors.
2. Chatting with other travelers. Visit other travel blogs and see how much work you need to do. Before you start writing, check with other travelers what they expect from a travel blog. Make a list of things they do to attract readers to their pages. After comparing information obtained from the internet, analyze it carefully to come up with something truly unique. If your blog is not unique, it will simply plunge into the gray mass of similar travel blogs.
3. Unique Concept. Search #Prague or #Istanbul in any tourist community or on Instagram. What do you see? A lot of posts with the main attractions, wonderful photos, and honest reports. How much will you read from a dozen? That is something to think about. Is it worth making 1,001 posts about what 1,000 people have already written before you? As with all other topics, unique presentation and specialization are important and must be equal to the best. Murad and Natalia Osmann (@muradosmann) found their style, which brought them worldwide popularity. Photographer @paperboyo transforms familiar tourist objects by adding carved paper figures to them. Do not try to do everything at once. Focus on one thing and become an expert at it (for example, communicating with local people, kitchens, budget vacation, hitchhiking, markets, travel mentality, etcetera. Most importantly, avoid clichés like "New York is a city of contrast."
4. Site selection. Your professional success depends on choosing the right platform for your blog. Site selection depends on the concept. If you want to write useful reports and make detailed guides, it makes sense to start a text-heavy blog. Its advantage is that the reader can easily find information on the web and refer to your blog as a guide. If you are starting a blog on YouTube, you need to objectively evaluate your charisma, sense of humor, and oratorical skills. In Instagram, you can get attention by incorporating high-quality visual and textual content in your style. This is probably the most popular travel blog format and the easiest to find an audience.
5. More benefits. It will be great if your blog is more useful than a guide to the country. Put geotags when you find a delicious cafe, vintage shop, private gallery, or a beautiful location. This will increase the number of saves and subscriptions, ensuring repeat visits when readers need to clarify the details. Balancing between advantage and interestingness, remember that most users do not have time to read extensive reports. If you want to share useful information, try to squeeze it in a few sentences.
6. Study user requests. What interests you most as a traveler when preparing for your next trip? Most likely where to live, where to eat, how much it cost, and how to get there. Be sure that these same questions are addressed for your readers. Satisfy their curiosity. You can make a small survey in the blog and ask what it would be interesting for readers to learn about the country or city where you left off.
7. Author's identity. Impersonal travel blogs are perceived as art galleries or guidebooks. The personality of the author, his thoughts, comments, emotions, and style will help a blog to win the love of readers. If an interesting story is your forte, let subscribers know new places through the lens of your perception.