Travelmart updates

I just attended – rather intended to attend – the Korean Travel Mart.  Was there at the appointed time per the Manila PR’s email: 3pm. Only to find the place almost empty, except for the exhibitors and the early birds among the travel agencies.  Actual activity was at 5pm.  Well, I could not afford to go back, after I cut short my 2-day strategic planning workshop. Anyway, I gathered whatever interesting data before I left.

I visited Korea a number of times – twice to Jeju Island.  As a shopper, I consider Korean clothes, bags (eel skin items are the best!), accessories and handicrafts superior in quality but, of course, expensive.  You have to know what things to buy that are best purchased in Korea.  Cuisine-wise, I have acquired a taste for healthy Korean dishes.  As a Chinese, I go for their inimitable ginseng chicken soup.  It has a definite smell and an herbal aftertaste, but I have gotten the hang of it after obliging my late mother-in-law years ago with her homemade ginseng concoctions for our health.  Surprisingly, I can take the spicy kimchi, unlike the chilli-spicy dishes in other cuisines – including our Bicol express, which I avoid.  Finally, the tranquil beauty of the Korean hillsides and snowcapped mountains are awe-inspiring, especially in the changing of the seasons from summer to autumn to winter.

Here are some interesting package tours being offered:

1) Autumn in Korea – 3 nights/4 days, October 27-30. Includes: Nami Island (the location of the teleserye Winter Sonata), Samsung I.T. World, Yongsan Electronic Market, a ski resort visit, Everland Theme Park, premium outlets shopping, passes to Blue House, Gyeongbokgung Palace and KBS Drama Center, N Seoul Tower, the Teddy Bear Museum, duty free shopping, Ginseng Center, Amethyst Souvenir Shop, etc. US$1,150.00 all-in package.

Includes most meals, ski resort overnite, hotels & hotel transfers. Cebu-Seoul-

Cebu via Asiana Airlines, English speaking guide, daily tours.

Exclude visa (P1,000.00 processing fee) and guide tip (US$5/pax/day)

For more details: call Clicksolutions, Inc. Tel # (032)238-0888 or email:

[email protected]

2) Korea Winter Thrill – 4 days, 3 nights, November 28 – Dec 01, Dec. 24 – 27, Dec 27 – 30 (additional peak season surcharge : US$60/pax).  Includes: Nami Island, Mt. Seorak (cable car ride), temple visit, ski tryout, gondola ride, Lotte World theme park, duty free shopping, similar tours as above, plus kimchi-making & Hanbok wearing, market shopping, Drumcat Show, Han river cruise, etc. US$888.00 + taxes and fuel surcharge.

Includes most meals (local meals are served), ski resort hotel overnight stay. 

Cebu-Seoul-Cebu via Jeju Air. Tours and transfers, hotels, travel kit (pouch & passport cover), shopping voucher worth 1,000 Korean won from the  Korea

Tourism Organization.

Excludes visa (P1,000 processing fee) , Phil. Travel tax, terminal fees and tip for

English speaking guide.

3) Fall for Autumn – 4 days/3 nights via Jeju Air. Similar to the Winter Thrill.       US$799.00 + taxes and fuel surcharge ( fuel surcharge – US$80.00, Korea tax – US$26.00, Philippine travel tax – P1,620.00, terminal fee P550.00)

Same inclusions and exclusions. Same contact number and email for booking reference.

The offices of Jeju Air Philippines and Asiana Airlines are next door to each other at the Pre-Departure level, Mactan Cebu International Airport, just to the left of the entrance to the pre-departure area. I found the ladies in both airlines very friendly and accommodating.  See for yourself!

***

Got this from Jessica Fernandez, Vismin account manager of Interpacific Transit, Inc., the Gen. Sales Agent of Delta Air Lines.  Delta has a Japan Heart & Soul tour package with meals on October 30 – November 03.  This is right smack in the long semestral break this school year.  As of the date of email, they needed 3 more passengers to complete the minimum number of 15 pax for the group.  Package cost is only US$1,780.00, inclusive of hotel, transfers, all meals, English speaking guide and airfare on economy. Not a bad deal for Japan, as Japanese hotels and food are quite exorbitant in their price range.

For similar offers that you may be interested to get, contact Jessica @ tel. # (032) 232-2401 local 3; mobile 0918-9171080 or email: jfernandez@delta-iti,com

While my friend Anne Chan-Climaco of Delta Air Lines, sent an announcement of Delta’s order of 40 Airbus planes due for delivery between 2015-2017. “The order comprises of 10 international widebody A330-300 and 30 large domestic narrowbody A321 jets…fleet renewal to enhance profitability while diligently managing capacity.”

With more new aircraft in the fleet, we look forward to maybe more routes to be opened, making travel from one point to the other end a comfortable experience, with a wider variety of choices available.