Province of Ilocos Norte Travel Forum

hello!

i read from www.tripadvisor.com that the Palace & other museums are closed on Mondays, is this true? will be in Laoag on Oct 6, & it's a monday.

clarice

Yes, Malacanang of the North is close on Monday, but open from Tuesday to Sunday. Its museum hours are: 9am-12nn, 1pm-4pm with minimal admission fee. It used to be P20/head, but not sure now if it has been increased. There is a stand-by tour guide, no service fee but you may wish to give tip.

thanks so much asianbelle! buti na lang i've read about it, otherwise, uuwi akong luhaan. will have to revise my IT again then. huh!

cheers,
clarice

In case you're also planning to visit the Marcos Mausoleum in Batac, I'm not sure if its totally close on Monday too. We went there on a Friday and though it was closed, the caretaker accommodated us... parang private viewing.

Clarice if you have time go to Badoc and check out the Juan Luna Museum. I enjoyed it more than I did the Balay ti Amianan. :)

hi asianbelle & monina!

here's the revised IT - more or less:

Oct 1: Iloilo - Manila - Alaminos, Pangasinan (overnight at Alaminos - no inn yet)
Oct 2: Pangasinan - Vigan (overnight at Vigan - no inn yet - i've been looking at Villa Angela but my hubby's not comfortable staying in an old house)
Oct 3: Vigan - Laoag (overnight at Laoag - Tiffany or Texicano?)
Oct 4: Laoag - Pagudpud (overnight - Polaris?)
Oct 5: Pagudpud or nearby town/s
Oct 6: Pagudpud - Laoag - Manila (flight is 7PM)

i really want to see Juan Luna's Museum (it's in my list), but is it out of the way? you think with the above IT we'll have enough time? the sched's flexible, though.

clarice

Hi Clarice,

Oct. 1 - I assumed you'll be arriving in Manila early morning. Alaminos is about 4-5 hours drive from Manila which means you'll get there around/after lunch. This being the case, you can tour Alaminos in the afternoon (haven't been there so I'm not sure if this will be sufficient time or if you need to extend the next morning).

Oct. 2 - If you can leave Alaminos early morning, you'll be in Vigan shortly after lunch. Vigan is a relatively small city and tourist spots can be toured in half a day. Since your husband is not comfortable staying in an old house (which most inns/hotels in Vigan are), then might as well give Vigan a quick tour then proceed to Laoag. Maybe Tiffany is better than Texicano?

Oct. 3 - Not much to see in Laoag but you can make it a base in touring Badoc, Sta. Monica (old church) and even Paoay & Batac although this would mean backtracking a bit. Spend the night again in Laoag.

Oct. 4 - Proceed to Pagudpud and nearby towns (lighthouse, windmills, Patapat)
Oct. 5 - Pagudpud (Maira-ira, falls)
Oct. 6 - Pagudpud then leave after lunch for Laoag

Hope the above help.

I did Laoag, Badoc, Sta Monica... Paoay, Batac...in a day.

we'll arrive in Manila at around 7 AM on Oct 1. we'll go directly to Cubao (unless there are buses near the domestic airport) to catch the bus to Alaminos, so we'll be arriving at alaminos/lucap by around 2 PM. the rest of the day we plan to rest or see a little of the town. i've prepared 2 ITs based on the result of the 100 islands tour:

IT #1: if the 100 islands will only be a half-day tour
Oct 1:
6-7 AM Iloilo - Manila
9 AM - 2 PM Manila - Alaminos
3 PM onwards - free time

Oct 2:
6 AM - 12 NN Hundred Island-hopping.
i don't know if the boat leaves you at a certain island or they are at your disposal...
2-7 PM - Alaminos - Vigan

Oct 3: (Fri)
8 AM - 4 PM Vigan & nearby attractions (i hope this is enough time)
5-7 PM Vigan - Laoag

Oct 4: (Sat)
8 AM - 4 PM Laoag & nearby attractions
5-7 PM Laoag - Pagudpud (is this wise? leaving late, considering there are buses leaving at this time)

Oct 5:
Pagudpud

Oct 6: (Mon)
8 AM - 12 NN more Pagudpud or nearby attractions
2-4 PM Pagudpud - Laoag
5-7 PM we still have time to do a little Laoag tour
8-9 PM Laoag - Manila

IT #2:
Oct 1: same as above
Oct 2: whole day island-hopping (instead of half-day)

Oct 3:
7 AM - 12 NM Alaminos - Vigan
1-5 PM Vigan & nearby attractions

Oct 4: (Sat)
8-11 AM more of Vigan
1-3 PM Vigan - Laoag
4-7 PM a little Laoag tour (maybe hear anticipated mass at the Paoay Church, if there's 1)

Oct 5:
8-11 AM more of Laoag
1-3 PM Laoag - Pagudpud
4-6 PM Pagudpud

Oct 6: (Mon)
8 AM - 1 PM more Pagudpud or nearby attractions
3-5 PM Pagudpud - Laoag
5-7 PM if we still have time to do a little Laoag tour
8-9 PM Laoag - Manila

i have found Maxine's at Lucap, but i've read quite a negative feedback, so im still looking...

i've decided to stay (at least) 1 night at Vigan. my hubby will have to make do with whatever hotel/inn or anything that i'll find. i have to find a "more modern" one, though, otherwise... Villa Angela's my 1st choice, 2nd maybe Grandpa's Inn (?).

i'll choose Tiffany at Laoag & maybe Polaris at Pagudpud

(there are just not enough hotel posts in Alaminos)

Five Star Transit has a terminal in Tramo (Pasay City) which is close to the domestic airport. There is a new route being implemented from the airport going to EDSA, wherein you have to make a U turn near Terminal 3 instead of just making a left turn at Tramo. Whichever, just tell the cab driver to drop you off at Five Star. They have trips to Alaminos.