WHAT DO YOU NEED TO BRING?

Transcription

1 Welcome to Cebu! Cebu is an island province in the Philippines and is fondly called the Queen City of the South. Home to white sand and crystal-clear beaches!

2 At a Quick Glance!

3 WHAT DO YOU NEED TO BRING? Travel Documents This includes passport, airline tickets, valid IDs and everything else you might need. There are no direct flights to Cebu so you will have a connecting flight in another city. If you received electronic tickets via , we recommend printing them out. When leaving Australia, the airline staff may not let you board the flight if you do not have a printed ticket itinerary for return flights back home from Cebu. It is a Philippine requirement for entry that you have a return ticket, therefore please have that available in Australia when you depart. Brian has been delayed by 30min at Melbourne Airport while trying to find a way to print the return flight itinerary otherwise the airline was not going to allow him to leave Melbourne. Keep your passport safe and accessible. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the day you will return home. Attention! Photocopy all of your documents or scan them and upload them to an online storage of your preference such as Dropbox or Google Drive. That way you ll always have access to them and can t lose or forget anything. Your AirBNB host or hotel will require a photocopy of your passport so please have one ready. Medicines If you have medication or prescriptions to maintain, please make sure you bring enough during your travel. You also may bring your prescription in case you need to purchase more. Please make sure your prescription has the generic name of your medication clearly stated. Airport Taxes You will have to pay P850 in airport taxes (terminal fee) on your way back home. Just make sure to have that amount ready and airport authorities will collect it as you enter the terminal. Chargers and adaptors Please do not bring disposable batteries. There is no functioning waste separation system. You may bring rechargeable batteries and chargers instead. Our wall outlets are different than the ones in Australia. Please take note of the following type of adaptors you need to bring with you. Money We recommend exchanging money at the airport or at a local mall. Based on Brian s experience, exchange rates are relatively better here than in Australia.

4 Sunscreen Our weather can get hot and you can easily get sunburnt. We recommend bringing sunscreen with SPF 50 or above to protect yourself. The Right Clothes During your flight it can sometimes be cold so it s a good idea to bring a jumper and wear trousers. We recommend a quick change to light summer clothes once you arrive at the airport because as soon as you exit the airport doors, the warm (humid) weather will slap you in the face (those are Brian s words). Note that VA Platinum does not have a specific dress code however the building management does not allow the following: The following are suitable for comfort while in Cebu when you re out and about: For Men: For Women: Cotton and breathable shirts Cotton shorts or pants Comfortable and well supported shoes Cotton dresses or shirts Wrap skirts, Long or billowy cotton skirts Closed flat shoes/sandals Short shorts (above the knee shorts) for women Flip flops (thongs) Sleeveless shirts for Men Revealing tops for women Short shorts (above the knee shorts) for women Flip flops (thongs) or sandals Suitable clothes for the office: For men: Collared or buttoned shirts, jumpers Pants or shorts below the knee Black shoes, sneakers For women: Collared shirts, jumpers, buttoned blouses Pants, skirts below the knee Closed flat shoes, heels

5 WEATHER The Philippines is generally a warm, wet country with the average temperature ranging between Celsius (78-86 Fahrenheit) all year round. While there are technically only two seasons, Rainy and Dry, the Dry season is subdivided into Cool and Hot. Most rain falls between June and November, but due to its location in the typhoon belt, it is not uncommon to experience prolonged rain in other times of the year too. Excessive rain can cause many issues including power outages, travel delays, supply issues, and residential flooding. The Dry Hot season (March to May) - Temperatures may reach between 28 C to 32 C The Rainy season (June to November) - Temperatures may reach between 24 C to 30 C While the rainfall peaks during this season, it isn't always torrential rain, and days can be hot and sunny, with short, intense downpours. The Dry Cool season (December to February) - Temperatures may reach between 22 C to 30 C Don t be fooled, the Cool season is not that cool, it is just less hot (well, from an Australian s point of view). Typically, it is just a few degrees cooler than the Hot season. This season is the equivalent of Summer in many other countries of the world, it is the hottest of the seasons. The sky is at its bluest and the water at its clearest during this time of the year. Sunny day in the city Monsoon season A crystal-clear day at the beach

6 HOW TO GET TO VA PLATINUM? We now have 2 offices in Cebu, both are just a few minutes away from loads of restaurants and hotels. Main Office: 14 th Floor ACC Tower, Bohol Avenue, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City Philippines. Using GrabCar or any white taxi you can simply instruct the driver to have yourself dropped off at Ayala Center Cebu Bohol Avenue Entrance (H&M Entrance). IT Park Office: 8 th Floor, i1 Building Jose Maria Del Mar St. Cebu City, Philippines Using GrabCar or any white taxi you can also instruct the driver to have you dropped off at the i1 Building in IT Park. They will know exactly where they need to drop you off at. The entrance to the building is between Bo s Coffee and Chowabungga Restaurant The entrance to our building is in between Mercury Drug and H&M Front door Front door

7 WHERE TO STAY Cebu has a wide variety of hotels to choose from all around the city however you will find the following hotels the closest to the two VA Platinum offices at affordable room rates. During Brian s many visits he s tried all major hotels to make the best recommendation and here are a few reviews he s made: Waterfront walking distance to IT Park; lots of restaurants. Rooms are slightly dated, but clean and comfortable. The wi-fi is a little slow but please don t hesitate to reach out to Alyanna or Barry so they can call the front desk and arrange to have you in a room with the strongest wi-fi connection possible. Quest walking distance to Ayala; best overall hotel with clean rooms, good internet (ask to be moved to a room with better internet if your room internet isn't good or you can let Alyanna or Barry know in advance so they can arrange that prior to your arrival). Parklane also located near Ayala; some rooms are dated, and they are doing a major refurbishment so the noise could be loud. Gym is large. Pool is good but could do with a good clean. Marco Polo farther from both offices but great service and amenities. Buffet breakfast is equal the best resorts in the world. Family-friendly, they also have various kid s activities. Need to take a taxi or GrabCar to and from the office - about 10min drive Hotel Elizabeth clean rooms, no swimming pool, very slow internet (confirmed on level 4, 7, 8 and 9) so you can't work from the hotel room. Slow service to fix issues. Mandarin Plaza Hotel also walking distance to the Ayala office; rooms are a bit outdated but overall spacious. If your

8 GENERAL: internet isn't good or you can let Alyanna or Barry know in advance so they can arrange that prior to your arrival). It s crucial that the room and hotel that you choose has strong Wi-Fi connection for your convenience. Cebu s tourist spots are between 20mins-2 hours away and you ll be spending more time in the hotel than elsewhere. Hotel rooms don't have ironing boards so you must call concierge and ask them to bring you one, however some hotels then want to come and collect the ironing board because they don't have many of them. Or when they do the daily clean, they will remove the ironing board. Therefore, make sure you do all your ironing in one go, rather than each day You may also book your stay at Airbnb ( Do a search within Ayala Center Cebu. A number of affordable rooms and luxurious rooms available within the area. Prices range from $40 to $90 AUD. Calyx Residences Solinea Condominium The Padgett Place Avenir Condominium Avalon Condominium Apple One Equicom Tower AirBNB can be hit and miss. Even if the AirBnB room is inside a hotel, the room itself is privately owned and therefore will not have the same amenities or quality as a hotel room. For example, clients that have tried AirBnB have complained of water leaks, no ironing board, air conditioning noise, no curtains to block light etc

9 Local delicacies to try during your stay in the Queen City of the South: Dried Mangoes Chicharon (Chi-cha-ron) - fried pork rind Lechon roasted pig Ampao - local sweet rice crackers

10 GETTING AROUND CEBU Requires you to download the app to your mobile device. Both are available to download in any Android, Apple and Blackberry devices. Rates may vary depending on your location, destination and traffic conditions Safest and most convenient mode of transportation Recommended mode of transportation as it s generally cleaner and you can link your credit card to make payments and can be classified under your business expenses Local white taxi: Base fare of with an increment of per kilometer and 2.00 per two minutes of waiting time. Local Jeepneys: 7.00 base fare for the first 4 kilometers with an increment of 1.00 for every kilometer. Routes may vary depending on your destination. Not all jeepneys have the same route around the city. Majority of the locals use the jeepney as their primary mode of transportation and clients give this a go as a novelty.

11 NO CASH? NO PROBLEM! All ATMs are available 24/7 Surcharges may be applied for international transactions Please notify your bank on your travel as your bank may have an anti-fraud or anti-theft feature with any of your cards All the below banks/atms are within Ayala Mall where the office is located All banks allow clients to pull out cash from their Aussie accounts

12 Fast food chains available within 500 meters of the office locations: WHERE TO EAT?

13 Filipino cuisine in Ayala Mall: Other cuisines available: Although you will probably prefer to try Philippine cuisine, we also have Thai, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. You may speak to a local team member if you need directions.

14 WHERE DO I GET MY MORNING CUP OF COFFEE NEAR THE OFFICE? International Brands Or Local Brands

15 STRESSED? GET A MASSAGE! While there are many massage parlors around the city, we highly recommend Grand Royal. They have excellent service at affordable rates! In the Philippines massage parlors are also called spas. Important Note: Grand Royal Spa Address: Grand Royal, Salinas Dr, Cebu City 6000 Cebu Phone Number: (032) Normal Business Hours: 5:00 PM to 1:00 AM (Monday to Sunday) Don t be alarmed. Massage sessions usually take place inside a small or private room. This is to ensure your privacy. It is customary for massage parlors in the Philippines to offer you a pair of shorts or pajamas for you to use during oil massages. This is to prevent any unwanted oil sticking to your clothes after your massage session. Your therapist may pull down your shorts/pajama s half way to your buttocks to massage the Gluteal muscles. However, if you find this uncomfortable, feel free to let your therapist know. For dry massages, you can opt leave your shorts/pants on during your massage. (Prices may change without prior notice)

16 You can get any white taxi or GrabCar. You can find Grand Royal Spa in front of University of Southern Philippines. The SPA is only 2.1 KM away from Ayala Center Cebu. HOW DO I GET THERE?

17 Nuat Thai Foot and Body Massage Address: Ground Flr. SSY Building (Cor. Salinas Dr. and Wilson St.) You can get any white taxi or GrabCar. You can find Nuat Thai Foot & Body Massage on the ground floor of the SSY Business Center. The SPA is only 2.0 KM away from Ayala Center Cebu. How to get there? Depending on the type of massage you choose, you ll be taken to a room with curtain partitions and a massage therapist will ask you to take off your pants and shirt. You will be provided a towel/blanket to cover yourself up. You can opt for a soft or hard pressured massage

18 MEDICAL NEEDS Note that not all pharmacies are open 24 hours. Please make sure you make your purchases ahead of time. Normal business hours for pharmacies are from 7:00AM to 9:00PM Medical Services All local hospitals and emergency services are open 24 hours. Chong Hua Hospital Phone number: (032) Mercury drug pharmacy is conveniently located on the ground floor of VA Platinum s office. They are open from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Cebu Doctors University Hospital Phone number: (032)

19 WHERE CAN I DO MY GROCERIES? The nearest supermarket you can find within VA Platinum Office is Rustan s Supermarket located inside Ayala Mall. Note that they open earlier than mall hours (7:00 AM). You may find their entrance right next to Seda Hotel

20 CATCHING SOME SUN, SAND AND BEACH! Local beaches are only 13 kilometers away from VA Platinum s office. Depending on the traffic condition, it would take about 1-2 hours to get there. With GrabCar, it would typically cost 400 PHP ($10 AUD). Luxury Resorts Shangri la Mactan Cebu - Punta Engaño Rd., Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, 6015 Maribago Beach Resort - Buyong, Maribago Rd., Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, 6015 Crimson Resort and Spa - Seascapes Resort Town, Soong, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, 6015 Plantation Bay Resort - Marigondon Rd., Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, 6015 Local Phone number (032) (032) (032) (032) JPark Island Resort and Waterpark - M.L. Quezon National Highway, Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, 6015 (032) We hope you enjoy your stay here in CEBU!