Video: Benefits of Online Booking

On February 16th, I did a Travels segment on the benefits of booking travel online. Mango Tours, the travel agency that sponsored the story, posted it on their blog. Check out the actual segment below.



Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Balitang America Travels: Philippine Entry/Visa Requirements

If you're planning to take a trip to the Philippines, you will want to make sure you've got the entry and visa requirements covered. You will need a visa depending on how long you stay in the country, and the rules differ for U.S. citizens and residents. I discussed this and other requirements in my March 16th "Travels" segment on Balitang America.

It's simple for U.S. citizens who need just their passports to enter the Philippines. That's if they will be staying for 21 days. Anything beyond that requires a visa. However, if you are a U.S. citizen traveling with parents who are former Philippine citizens, then you can be in the country visa-free for up to a year as part of the balikbayan program; this same rule applies for U.S. citizen spouses traveling with their husband or wife who is a former Philippine citizen.

For U.S. legal permanent residents who are Philippine citizens, the requirements include a green card for re-entry into the the States and a Philippine passport. By 2010, these passport holders will need to have the new machine-readable passports, also known as MRPs.

To Apply for an MRP:

* Appear in person at the closest Philippine consulate, the embassy in Washington, D.C. or at qualified processing centers like Mango Tours

* Provide 2 passport photos with royal blue as the background

* Fill out an application form

* Pay the $50 fee

Processing can take up to 6 weeks, so plan ahead. U.S. citizens who are non-balikbayans and will be staying beyond 21 days need to get a visa which allows them to stay in the country for up to 59 days.

To Apply for a Visa for U.S. Citizens (who are non-balikbayans):

* Appear at the closest Philippine consulate or the embassy in Washington, D.C.

* Provide 2 standard passport photos

* Fill out a visa application

* Show U.S. passport and a copy of trip itinerary

* Pay the $50 visa fee

For more information, visit the Philippine Embassy’s website at www.philippineembassy-usa.org or call your local Philippine Consulate.

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Balitang America Travels: Philippine Travel Stimulus Package

It may take time for Obama's stimulus package to kick in, but the tourism industry isn't one to wait. In fact tour operators, travel agencies and other providers have been quick to come up with their own travel "stimulus packages." I mentioned one such deal in my March 9th "Travels" segment.

Priced at $999, the Philippine Stimulus Package gets you roundtrip airfare from San Francisco, Los Angeles or Las Vegas to Manila via Philippine Airlines, one-way transport from the airport to the hotel or vice versa and daily breakfast. Included is a two-night, three-day stay at one of the participating five-star hotels, namely the Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Crowne Plaza Galleria, Diamond Hotel or the Dusit Thani Manila Hotel. The fuel surcharge and U.S. taxes are already included in the price.

There's also a choice of excursion add-ons for three nights or four days starting at $370 to places like Boracay. Other destinations that can be added to the basic stimulus package include Bohol, Camiguin, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu or Palawan. Even with these extras, the Philippine Department of Tourism says this package is 30-40 percent lower than anything they've ever offered.

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Balitang America Travels: Spring Break Packages

Right about now college students across the country are gearing up for Spring Break, and they're not letting the sluggish economy rain on their travel plans. In fact, students are probably finding deals like never before as providers desperately try to get people to travel. If you haven't made any plans yet, there are still lots of deals to be had.

International Destinations:

Student City - Deals include $399 Bahamas Cruise Party or 4-5 nights & flight packages at the Nassau Palm Hotel in the Bahamas starting at $659

Sun Splash Tours - All-inclusive vacation package to Jamaica starting at $699

Mango Tours - Philippine packages to Boracay/Manila ranging from $1820 from the West Coast and $1950 from the East Coast. These include roundtrip airfare, transportation, 7 nights at two 5-star hotels, daily breakfast and more.

U.S. Destinations:

Paradise Parties - 5 nights at Panama City Beach's Paradise Palm Resort starting at $384 and 5 nights at the Saida/Royal Towers in South Padre Island (Texas) for $399

Pleasant Holidays - Hawaiian vacations for 3 nights with air from $299

US Airways Vacations - Vegas air and 2 nights packages starting at $108

Spring Break for Families:

CNN, Deep Discounts for Spring Break Travel

Away.com, Top 10 Spring Break Destinations for Families

Other Articles with Spring Break Deals:

USA Today, Top 5 Bargain Destinations for Spring 2009

Frommers, Spring Break Deals: Where to Snag a Last-Minute Bargain

L. A. Times, Bargains for Spring Break

There are actually loads of deals for trips to Mexico, but with the recent State Department and ATF advisories about the increase in violence, I decided not to list them. I'm not big on fear mongering, but from the looks of the reports coming out of Mexico, my message to students is to err on the side of caution. Still, I imagine many students are going to flock to Mexico regardless, and I realize there are parts that have seen more violence than others. To find out more about what's going on in Mexico, visit the U.S. State Department's website or check out some of the recent news stories.

If you're interested in seeing the actual Travels segment from Balitang Ameria, which focused on specific deals to the Philippines, you can see it here.

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.