The Worth-It Way to Celebrate Chinese New Year in Hong Kong and Macau

 

Sneaker Street

When you think of traveling to Hong Kong, it’s easy to see why Macau is often visited too—they’re just so close! With its endless shopping spots, iconic attractions, and mouthwatering delicacies, these places have become popular holiday destinations for many Filipinos - especially during Chinese New Year.

Trips to these cities can feel pricey, especially if you’re traveling with family. But it doesn’t always have to be that way! There are plenty of cool spots and tasty eats in both cities where you can score great value without sacrificing the experience.

With your GCash Visa Card and e-wallet, every swipe, scan, or tap helps your money go further—thanks to lower forex rates, more deals, easy payments, real-time spend tracking, and no more counting change.

And if you want great value, you can get that for sure when you use the ultimate shopping hack from GCash. All you need is your GCash Visa Card and e-wallet so you can Swipe- Scan-Tap. When you do, you can stretch every peso, thanks to lower forex rates, more deals, easy payments, real-time spend tracking, and no more counting change.

If you’re heading to Hong Kong and Macau for the Lunar New Year, check out these stops that are perfect for families and guaranteed to give a worth it experience.

Shop sulit and smart hauls at wholesale stores and markets

Hong Kong is admittedly a shopping haven - but if you want to shop smart, you need to know where to go. Lung Fung Mall offers beauty, skincare, and health products at friendlier prices than malls. You can find fragrances, skincare, and other beauty products at reduced prices at their many locations across Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, if you’re finally ready to buy that brand new item you’ve been saving up for, like new running shoes, a bag, or workout gear, Citygate Outlets is your best option. They carry many brands, such as Lululemon, Evisu, Marimekko, and many more.

For seasoned travellers who frequent Hong Kong, going to Mong Kok to buy clothes, snacks, and a wide variety of anik-anik is also a no-brainer. If you’ve ever heard of Sneaker Street and Ladies Market, you can find things for you and for your pasalubong back home. The best part is that you can still haggle the prices in certain stores, making shopping in the area even more budget-friendly—so get your tawad skills ready!

And when carrying multiple bags after your pasalubong spree becomes a hassle, you can tap your way to easy, convenient payments with GCash Tap to Pay. Available for all NFC- enabled Android smartphones, it lets you pay with just one tap—making it much easier to get around the often-crowded streets.

Discover hidden gems and family fun in Macau

Macau isn’t just about its famous landmarks and beautiful architecture – though it is worth going just to see them for yourself. But there are also many fun experiences that the family can enjoy, and it’s all just a convenient ferry ticket away! These boat trips take about an hour from the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal, and you can secure your tickets by paying with GCash Scan to Pay for a hassle-free experience. Simply generate your QR code and select

Pay Abroad with GCash, and look for merchants with a QR code bearing the A+ logo to scan. If you’re looking for local delicacies, head over to Taipa Village, where you can stock up on crowd favorites like beef jerky and almond cookies. These treats are delicious, affordable, and loved by locals! You can also book tickets to teamLab SuperNature Macau, an incredible interactive art space with 8-meter-tall, colorful exhibitions that kids and adults will enjoy.

Here’s a secret hack when paying with GCash abroad: some merchants also offer special promos and discounts up to PHP 1,500 off, just tap Travel and go into Travel Treats to browse what’s available.

Eat without the splurge at Yung’s Tangerine Peel Roast Goose and Cheung Hing Kee

One of the best parts of traveling to Hong Kong and Macao is the food. You can’t leave Hong Kong without trying their roast goose, and a great spot to try is Yung's Tangerine Peel Roast Goose. Yung’s is rich and flavorful, and best of all, budget friendly.

When you hear that a restaurant has been recognized by Michelin, would you believe that you don’t have to pay a fortune for high-quality food? Because that’s what you can expect from MICHELIN Bib Gourmand Cheung Hing Kee Shanghai Pan-fried Buns at Lock Road. Other than their pan-fried buns, their scallion noodles and wontons are a must-try—perfect bites to snack on when you want to refuel while exploring the city.

Scan, Swipe, and Tap for a sulit and enjoyable trip

Traveling on a budget doesn’t have to mean limiting yourself. When you pay with GCash abroad, you get real-time control over your spending, low forex rates updated instantly in-app, and fast, convenient transactions throughout your trip — all while enjoying to the fullest. Remember to scan, swipe, and tap for an experience you’ll definitely say is worth it! Download the GCash app today to get started.

How to get relief from travel constipation

 

When traveling, don't just sit and sleep. Walking around simulates muscle contractions in the digestive system, which helps you poop.

So you’re on a vacation—and apparently, so is your ability to poop. What is it about going on trips that suddenly make our bathroom habit so difficult and straining, even to the most regular among us?

“The infrequent or irregular passing of stool when you’re on a vacation is so common, there’s actually a name for it—traveler’s constipation,” says Frederick D. Leelin, MD, a gastroenterologist from top hospital in the Philippines Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed). “If your travel involves flight, the constipation is likely due to dehydration from dry airplane air. Hours of sitting prevent muscles from contracting to help move the food you eat through your digestive system. Crossing time zones throws your circadian rhythm out of whack, messing up not just your sleep routine but your regular bowel movement too.”

Traveler’s constipation also happens when vacationers put their healthy eating habits on hold, indulging in fried and fatty food instead of fiber-rich fruits and greens, which are guaranteed to make you go. “But traveler’s constipation can simply be caused by your being in new and unfamiliar territory,” adds Dr. Leelin. “When there are passengers waiting in line for you to finish using the plane’s restroom, you tend to get self-conscious and hold it in.”

Thankfully, the condition is temporary and can even be resolved while you’re still on holiday with a few simple tricks from MakatiMed:

Drink. From during the flight to when you’re exploring tourist attractions and sitting down to sample local cuisine, drinking softens stool, making it easier to pass. “Choose water over soda and alcohol. Both have diuretic properties, which will just get you dehydrated,” advises Dr. Leelin.

Eat. “Fruits are a tasty and healthy way to stay hydrated. Apples and pears have high water content, while papaya and prunes are natural laxatives,” the doctor explains. “Vegetables, of course, are an excellent source of fiber and water, which you need. Include leafy greens like broccoli, kale, cabbage, and lettuce in your meals.”

Move. Don’t spend your holidays just sitting and sleeping. “Walk as much as you can, and use your hotel’s gym or pool to squeeze in some exercise. Physical activity stimulates muscle contractions in the digestive system, which helps you poop,” reminds Dr. Leelin.

Get a little help. If you still haven’t gone and your constipation’s making you bloated and gassy, relieve yourself with an over-the-counter laxative. Teas with senna and powdered drinks containing psyllium fiber are more “natural” laxatives that also do the job nicely. “Timing is of the essence when it comes to laxatives,” warns Dr. Leelin. “Laxatives take effect between 6-12 hours, so if you have a full day of plans and don’t have access to a bathroom, make sure you do your business before you leave your accommodations.”

For more information, please contact MakatiMed On-Call at +632.88888 999, email mmc@makatimed.net.ph, or visit www.makatimed.net.ph. Follow @IamMakatiMed on Facebook and Twitter.

4 Tips On How To Get A Cheap Ticket Flights to Boracay

 

Tourist destinations in the Philippines can be the best option for spending the end of the year. The Philippines is located in the northern part of Indonesia, the Philippines is also famous for its archipelago. 

You'll find many amazing beaches and islands in this country. Not only coastal and island tourism, the Philippines also offers a wide range of other tourist destinations including its various cuisines. 

White Beach, Cove Island, and Yapak Beach are the three most famous beaches in the Philippines. Another destination is Boracay is a small island located in the province of Aklan, the Philippines, which you can reach by plane with Manila to Boracay flight.

5 ways to travel better with MasterCard

Out of every story in the world, the best ones are found in between the pages of your passport. It’s another year to create those memorable experiences in new places, and Mastercard is here to enrich each trip by unlocking Priceless Experiences.

Find your destination—or let your destination find you. You won’t always know right off the bat where you want to go, so revisit the list of places you’ve always wanted to see and the things you’d like to do there. Are you feeling energized to explore a completely new destination or would you rather have a laid-back repeat getaway? Know your travel priorities and choose a place that excites you.

Fly on business class. Travel is a 360-degree experience, so how you fly plays a big part in making your journey exceptional. From priority check-in, seats that lie flat to ensure you’re well rested, designated places for your carry on and even shoes, a multi-course menu, an amenity kit, great in-flight entertainment, to a space all your own, flying on business class elevates your travel experience even before you get to your destination. Book an airline that flies direct to where your destination, and you’ll be able to fully maximize the perks. For instance, Philippine Airlines (PAL) has direct flights to destinations all over the world and was recently rated by Skytrax as a 4-Star airline for its consistent quality and excellent service.

Choose when it’s best for you to travel. When you travel is just as important as where you’re going. Will the weather be conducive for the activities you want to try out? Will it be the height of tourist season? Make the most of your trip by scheduling it at a time that works best for your itinerary. Mastercard has culled inspirational, culinary, cultural, and enriching experiences in many destinations around the world for cardholders, so be sure to check www.priceless.com to find out what’s in store for you during the time you choose to travel.

6 Reasons Why We Need to Have a Travel Insurance?

Filipinos love to travel. You can actually see our kababayans practically everywhere. But by doing so we are leaving ourselves open to a range of risks that could be mitigated simply by spending a few pesos on a travel insurance policy.

Here, I have rounded up 5 reasons why every traveler should invest in a reliable and trusted travel insurance. Read on...

You'll avoid hefty medical bills

Of course, we do not wan to anticipate anything bad to happen to us while we were supposed to enjoy on our travels. But should you require any healthcare overseas, you can end up paying out for huge medical bills, even if you use your international HMO cards as they manage to take advantage of reciprocal arrangements from concerned companies. When you find out the costs it’s possible to incur, it’s easy to see why some Pinoys say medical fees are their main reason for taking out cover before a holiday.

Trusted insurance company Malayan Insurance has Travel Master which you can purchase conveniently online can be your passport towards worry-free travels both here and abroad. I could  recall the time when my mom and I went through a vehicular accident in the summer of 2014 in an adventure theme park in Porac, Pampanga where my mom has suffered from fractured femur which eventually caused her to undergo partial hip prosthesis, thereby leaving her with a limp and a cane (and made her a certified PWD) for the rest of her life. 

If only I could turn back time, I wished I had gotten us a travel insurance so that it would not have been so difficult for me and my mom. I remember at the time I didn't know exactly what to do since it was the very first time I had encountered an accident and we were out of town. What supposed to be a day of fun and excitement at the said adventure theme park ended up into something as tragic as an accident on an ATV. If we had a travel insurance then, perhaps, things would have been better. I'm sure it would have been easier for me to transport and travel my mom back to Manila and I would've been able to save more money if we had a travel insurance to rely on. But since we didn't had any at the time, we spent a really huge amount of money. I keep thanking God and all the love I had received from kind-hearted friends of ours who helped us in such difficult ordeal in our lives. 

The number one reason why people take travel insurance, however the key is to make sure you are adequately insured. Medical bills nowadays can be colossal and in some countries public hospitals can be in poor condition (like in ours, unfortunately). Ideally you want a full medical travel cover so that you are covered in a private hospital and for air ambulance, should you not be able to come home on a commercial flight. 

Buying a travel insurance policy with sufficient medical coverage will protect you from those bills, ensuring you can get treatment as and when you need it. 

You'll be covered if you lose your belongings/theft

Many of us travel away with a range of goods from clothes to electrical items, toiletries to jewellery. Yet if you lose these items or they are stolen and you don’t have travel insurance, you could be left to cover the cost of replacements.

You could, of course, claim on your home insurance policy, but this will only work if it covers you for taking your items overseas. And even if it does, claiming on your home insurance will put your premiums up for the next year.

As a result, it makes much more sense to buy a travel insurance policy for peace of mind. Make sure it also includes cover for your travel money so that you’re protected for loss or theft of your cash.

Every holiday destination has it’s tourist trap. Pickpockets and robberies are not uncommon in large cities and holiday resorts, particularly during the peak season. Although expensive items need to covered on your house policy, travel insurance will cover you for loss of money and even replacement passports. Amounts covered vary depending on the policy you choose so make sure you read your policy document to see how much you are covered for.

Top tip: If you are unlucky to have items stolen on you, make sure you call the police. Travel Insurance companies rarely refund expenses without an official police report.