Cruise Control: Slow but Safe Travels When Planning Your Next Road Trip

With international travel still a ways away, now is a great time for anyone in the Philippines to discover the amazing destinations surrounding them

Iva Agüero

@philandiva

When it comes to choosing holiday destinations, we often look at the far off destinations because the grass always seem to be greener on the other side. Sadly, we often end up overlooking the amazing possibilities just outside our doorstep.

Once we let the idea of travelling far and fast take a backseat, land travel becomes the obvious choice. You will find that there are so many discoveries to be made along the way.

One of the best things about a road-trip is that the trip becomes as important as the destination and you have the freedom to stop, take a detour and let yourself be amazed by new experiences along the way. This is what happened to Phil and I while we were filming for Dreamcatchers, as we drove a car around the incredible island of Luzon, in one of our favourite road-trips to date.

Discovering Filipino history on the streets of Vigan

One of the things that struck us on our Luzon road trip was the great infrastructure and ease of traveling. Well maintained roads and clear signage made it super easy to navigate from one pit-stop to the other.

Vigan was our first stop out of Manila and it immediately transported us to another time. The cobbled streets and charming facades of the buildings reminded us of the rich history of the Philippines while the empanadas delighted us with their fusion of Spanish influence and delicious local ingredients.

Sand Dunes of Laoag

As we drove from Ilocos Sur towards Ilocos Norte we couldn’t help but stop in the surprising sand dunes of Laoag. Here, visitors are invited to grab a board and surf down the sides of the dunes, or get an adrenaline rush speeding through the dunes on an ATV. A few sandy tumbles later and we were back in the car continuing our journey north.

Patapat Viaduct on the Northern coast of Luzon

Rounding the northeastern tip of Luzon we drove through the striking Patapat Viaduct and enjoyed the magnificent view along the north coast before heading into the jungle of Adams, a small mountain town lost in time among the rice fields and the mountains that may sound familiar from a previous article that we wrote (yes, I like that place a lot)!

For those seeking cooler weather, the Mountain Province of the Philippines will show you that you don’t need to travel to Europe to stay in a log cabin and sip hot chocolate! From Sagada all the way down to Baguio you can enjoy a chilly breeze and changing landscapes as you drive through imposing pine forests, ancient terraced rice fields and lush strawberry farms.

As we drove down from the mountains and into the plains, heading back to Manila after a few weeks in the car, we couldn’t help but wonder one more time at the variety of picturesque sceneries we saw along the way as well as short distances and beautiful roads that had more than lived up to expectations in one of our most epic road-trip to date.

Covid-19 Road—trip checklist:

Choose a car rental service that you trust

We had a great experience with Hertz Philippines during our road trip. They go the extra mile to get you to your destination safely and now even offer to deliver the car directly to your home address. Of course they also apply rigorous hygiene and safety standards. Regardless of who you choose as your provider, make sure that they have adequate cleaning and safety regulations in place.

Plan your itinerary in advance

Check the reopening policy of places you plan to visit. For example, Baguio has introduced a travel regulation system called Visitor Information and Travel Assistance (VISITA) that serves as an extra layer of security to ensure their guests a safe and stress-free stay.

Know your pit-stop options

While spontaneity is a wonderful part of traveling, keep your options open by having a list of accommodations and activities that have already been vetted by the local tourism authorities.

Put together your Freedom Playlist

Don’t forget the music! As you venture out for what may be your first post-Covid trip, put together a playlist with the best vibes to celebrate the epic adventure. If you’re traveling in the car, blast your music and sing along at the top of your lungs. If you’re travelling by bus, maybe best to keep the noise down… although who knows – maybe your fellow travellers will be up for an impromptu karaoke session!