(Day 4) Ilocos Sur: Vigan Hotel, Vigan's Fountain Display, Cafe Uno and Calle Crisologo

We arrived in Vigan at around 8:30 PM already and checked-in at Vigan Hotel. We stayed in an Ordinary Fan Room (double w/ common bath) and paid 595 PHP for a night. Personally, I love the Spanish ambiance of the hotel. Our room has two beds, a sink and a television. The hotel is only a couple of blocks away from Calle Crisologo.

Huge mirror in the living room

Antique furniture in the living room

Ordinary Fan Room (595 PHP)

Since it was late at night already, we decided to eat our dinner at local fast food restaurant located across Vigan Plaza. During that night, there was fountain display. We were more than amazed at what we saw.

Fountain display (with the music "Gentleman" in the background)

It was a lively night!

We love the way they played with colors!

After watching the fountain display, we went to a convenience store to buy some snacks and alcohol and went back to our hotel to have a drink and sleep. The next morning (day 4), we took a tricycle to Cafe Uno (Kusina Felicitas) which was already open at 8AM. The restaurant was actually near, but since it was raining, we decided to ride a tricycle.

Cafe Uno

Cafe Uno's Breakfast Menu

Our breakfast meal comes with a free coffee! 

JM's breakfast

My breakfast. Yum!

After our breakfast, we went to Calle Crisologo to buy some souvenirs. It's my second time to visit Calle Crisologo and the place never failed to impress me. I was broken-hearted when I first visited Calle Crisologo. It is such a romantic place that I realized, traveling alone in Vigan is not a good idea.

Calle Crisologo

Vigan is sweeter the second time around!

We had a budget of 1,000 each for souvenirs. I bought what my momma asked me to buy: Basi Wine, Bagnet, and Bibingka. I also bought some souvenirs for my officemates. One of the popular products in Vigan is tobacco which costs 5 PHP per stick.

Jm smokin' tobacco (5 PHP). Smoke at your own risk!

Basi Wine

Tobacco Pipe

For more information about Vigan Hotel, visit their website:
http://www.viganhotel.com/home.htm

Day 4: Budget (in PHP)

40- Tricycle from Bus Terminal to Vigan Hotel

595- Ordinary Fan Room (Vigan Hotel)

250- Dinner @ Jollibee

180- Snacks, water and alcohol

20- Tricycle to Cafe Uno

215- Breakfast @Cafe Uno (w/ one extra rice)

2,000- Souvenirs (1,00 each)

30- Tricycle to Partas Bus Terminal

1330 - Bus from Partas to Manila (665 each)

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TOTAL: 4,660 PHP

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(Day 3) Ilocos Norte: Blue Lagoon, Patapat Viaduct, Bangui Windmills and Kapurpurawan Rock Formation

We woke up a little early on our 3rd day in Ilocos Norte to walk around the beach. Even though the weather was a bit gloomy, we still took some pictures around the beach.

KVR's beachfront. (Swimwear from St. Francis Square - 350. Haha!)

Powdery white sand.

Bed weather.

Hannah's Beach Resort & Convention Center is about 3 kms away from Kapuluan Vista. We stayed at Hannah's beach front for a few minutes to swim. Too bad, I wasn't able to see Hannah's swimming pool.

Blue Lagoon

Much better spot.

We checked out before 12 noon and one of the staff members in Kapuluan Vista introduced us to our tour guide. We told the guide to tour us around Patapat Viaduct, Bangui Windmills and Kapurpurawan Rock Formation because those were the most "scenic" places I preferred to visit. He agreed to our request for the price of 900 PHP (including the tour guide fee in Kapurpurawan). Each tour (North and South) costs 600 PHP. You will have to pay 150/head for a different tour guide that will take you to Kapurpurawan Rock Formation.

It will only take about 10-15 minutes tricycle ride from Blue Lagoon to reach Patapat Viaduct.

Patapat Viaduct

30 minutes tricycle ride from Patapat Viaduct to Bangui Windmills.

Bangui Windmills! *teary-eyed*

Souvenirs sold in Bangui. 1 set of small Bangui Windmill refrigerator magnet (5pcs.) costs 100 PHP.

Kapurpurawan Rock Formation is also 30 minutes away from Bangui Windmills. Before trekking to Kapurpurawan Rock, we decided to take our lunch at a store nearby. 

BAGNET! (100 PHP for 1/4 kilo - good for two!)

Finally, our last stop. Kapurpurawan Rock Formation!

Spectacular view.

Moooore!!

I wasn't comfortable wearing sandals so I took it off and enjoyed walking on the rock. Our guide in Kapurpurawan was so kind that we gave him a tip (50 PHP) after the tour. He even helped us find a bus to Vigan.

Day 3: Budget (in PHP)

Breakfast @ Kapuluan Vista - FREE (inclusive)

Tricycle from Hannah's back to KVR - 20

Buko Pie - 70

Watermelon Daquiri- 160 (80 each @ KVR)

Tour- 900 (including 150/head tour guide fee to Kapurpurawan Rock)

Lunch- 205

Souvenir- 400

Tip- 50

Ilocos Vinegar- 180 (90 each)

Fare to Vigan- 380 (190 each)

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Total: 2365 PHP

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(Day 2) Ilocos Norte: St. William's Cathedral (Laoag), Sinking Bell Tower, Ilocos Norte Capitol and Kapuluan Vista Resort in Pagudpud

JM was quick to wake me up on our second day in Ilocos Norte. He's probably excited to tour around the city. We had our breakfast at McDonald's Laoag Branch.

McDonald's Laoag (selfie)

After our breakfast, we did a walking tour and took pictures of the Sinking Bell tower, St. William's Cathedral and Ilocos Norte Capitol.

Sinking Bell Tower

St. William's Cathedral

Ilocos Norte Capitol

Located just across the Capitol

I was impressed with the architectural designs of the government buildings in Ilocos Norte. It reminded me of the Spanish Era. After the walking tour, we went back to our hotel and prepared for our trip to Pagudpud.

LOST ON THE ROAD..

We took the Pagudpud-bound ordinary bus (60 PHP per person).One passenger (let's call him Kuya Pulis) told us that we should have taken the Cagayan-bound bus because it could drop us off near our destination, the Blue Lagoon in Pagudpud. After about an hour of traveling, Kuya Pulis told the bus conductor to drop us off at a waiting shed where we can take the Cagayan-bound buses.

I couldn't remember where we waited because the area was pretty isolated. We stood there for about 20 minutes and there were no buses passing through-- only tricycles. Finally, we gave up waiting (It was against my will, actually! I wanted to save!) and asked the tricycle driver to accompany us to Blue Lagoon. We paid him 220 PHP.

Lesson learned? Take the Cagayan-bound bus!

Travel time: 2 hours from Laoag

KAPULUAN VISTA RESORT, PAGUDPUD

Kapuluan Vista Resort

Being a compulsive planner, I always make sure that I reserve a hotel and pay it in advance. I chose KVR simply because it offers surfing lesson and the room that we got was very affordable. When we checked in, we were given Frozen Margarita as a welcome drink. 

Frozen Margarita (FREE!)

KVR's Lobby

I guess this is their massage area.

We got the dorm-type fan room (650 PHP per person) w/ shared bath. It has two single beds and a small table. I love the simplicity and cleanliness of the room. If you're looking for a quiet and relaxed atmosphere, KVR is a good choice.

Our room

Dorm-type fan room

Small table with necessities.

For lunch, we ordered Sinigang with rice and Carbonara. The food was expensive but it was delicious. I appreciate how they used all-natural seasonings (from their organic garden) and their food is MSG-free.

KVR's Restaurant

Sinigang (240 PHP)

Carbonara (250 PHP)

Restaurant's Menu

For dinner, since we were on a budget, we shared one set meal-- Dinakdakan with rice and pumpkin soup.  Their Dinakdakan is tastier than other Dinakdakans I have eaten.

Dinakdakan meal (250 PHP)

Pumpkin Soup (70 PHP)

Personally, I was satisfied with the food & service of Kapuluan Vista Resort and I really appreciate the politeness of the staffs. I would love to spend a week or two in this place again because of its serene atmosphere.

Day 2: BUDGET (in PHP)

Ordinary bus from Laoag to Pagudpud - 120 (60 each)

Tricycle to Blue Lagoon - 220

Lunch - 525 (Sinigang, extra rice & Carbonara)

Dinner - 495 (Dinakdakan meal, extra rice, pumpkin soup & 2 iced tea)

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Total: 1360 PHP

Note: We paid the room in advance. There's a security deposit of 1,500 (refundable upon check-out).

For more information about Kapuluan Vista Resort, visit their website:

http://kapuluanvistaresortandrestaurant.com/

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(Day 1) Ilocos Norte: Laoag Airport, Texicano Hotel and Dap-Ayan Ti

Last December 12, 2012, I booked a seat sale at Cebu Pacific and paid 1,200 for two one-way tickets to Laoag. Ilocos Sur is one of my travel destinations this year and I just couldn't wait to visit the place again.

We arrived in Laoag International Airport via Cebu Pacific at past 8PM already and took the free shuttle service to our hotel. It took us about 15 minutes to get to the city proper. The driver dropped us off right in front of Texicano Hotel. Great!

Laoag Int'l Airport

Free Shuttle Service

We stayed at Texicano Hotel and paid 370 PHP for an ordinary fan room (double) with bath. It is a small room with bed, a small table and chair. Nothing really elegant. We got the room facing the street and it was actually difficult for us to sleep at night because we could hear the noise of vehicles outside.

Ordinary fan room (double)

Another view

We had our late dinner at Dap-Ayan Ti which is only a few blocks away from our hotel. We ordered Bagnetsilog (bagnet, sinangag and itlog) and bought one Ilocos Empanada. The empanada is made up of egg, veggies and longganisa wrapped in a dough and fried to perfection.

Dap-ayan Ti in Laoag City

Bagnetsilog (70 PHP)

Ilocos Empanada (40 PHP)

Day 1: BUDGET (in PHP)

Airport to Laoag- FREE

Room at Texicano Hotel- 370

Tricycle to Dap-Ayan Ti- 20 (only 5-minutes walk from our hotel)

Bagnetsilog- 140 (70 each)
Sprite- 30 (15 each)

Ilocos Empanada- 40

Toiletries- 433 (tooth paste, battery, bottled water, shampoo etc.)

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Total:  1033 PHP

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