Road Trip Ideas (Manila-La Union-Vigan-Pagudpod)

[FrankDrebin]

Ask lang po ako ng idea(s) kung ano-anong mga Tourist spots(beaches, churches, light houses, etc.), el cheapo inns(tulugan lang like transient, motels, etc. so no need for a swanky hotel room ...mahal eh), road condition, road trip tips, etc.

Thanks!

[kulit]

Here's what comes to my mind:
Road & Traffic Condition:
Usual traffic spots (daytime) are Tarlac City, Urdaneta City, San Fernando City, La Union. Night time minimal traffic but you won't see the view. Road conditions- The usual Phillipine road quality with occasional potholes and uneven surfaces. Torture for small cars to pass by Candon City, Ilocos Sur- made worse by ongoing road construction. Although there's a bypass road that's less bako-bako. Another road construction ongoing at Sta. Maria- Narvacan, Ilocos Sur boundary. Another gravel detour at Pasuquin (or Burgos, forgot exactly where), Ilocos Norte. All generally passable though.

Tourists Spots:
La Union- coastline of beaches. Old Churches. Our Lady of Namacpacan in Luna, La Union is a (not so popular) pilgrimage site. Botanical Garden atop a mountain in San Fernando- overlooking the City. Casino in the former Wallace Air Base in Poro Point. Surfing area in San Juan, La Union. Stretches of highway in Bacnotan,Balaoan, & Bangar where you can floor the throttle.
Ilocos Sur- more beaches and old churches. notable is the church in Sta Maria. Relaxing to look at the sunset while in Sulvec Point,Narvacan. View the Abra River from Quirino Bridge, Santa-Bantay Boundary. Stretches of highway in Santa where you can speed (at your own risk, hehe). Some twisties approaching Quirino bridge. Vigan- Heritage City, cobblestone street (Crisologo St). Notable beaches in Pug-os, Cabugao.
Ilocos Norte- More roads & twisties to test your car. Again, beaches & old churches. Sitio Remedios in Currimao. Paoay Church. Marcos Mausoleum in Batac. Paoay Lake & Malacanang of the North (previously grand but now needs maintenance). Fort Ilocandia in Laoag. Old Lighthouse in Burgos. Windmills in Bangui. Pagudpud- beaches- good for the camera but not so good for swimming.Take a dip at the rivers/falls before Patapat. Patapat Bridge- breath taking view & twisting roads (my Subaru's playground, hehe).

Food trip:
Seafoods in La Union. Bagnet,longaniza, chichacorn, Vigan bibinka, empanada, tinubong, candon calamay in Ilocos Sur. Batac longaniza & cornik. Empanadas in Batac, Paoay & Laoag also. Dinuguan in Dawang's resto (forget about ambience though). Pasuquin bread. Buy cheap(er) lobster and hard to find fish in Pagudpud.

Accomodations:
dami hotels, inns, resorts along the way for the budget conscious to the expensive & swanky.

PM me for help. I travel Manila-Vigan regularly. I go to Ilocos Norte occasionally. I pass by Pagudpud 2x-3x a year.
Manila- La Union (san fernando) = 270 kms
Manila- Vigan = 408 kms
Vigan- Laoag = 80 kms
Laoag- Pagudpud forgot how many kms but around 1-1 1/2 hrs.

[CVT]

We've been to Vigan-Laoag-Pagudpud early this month.

In Laoag, we stayed at Tiffany Hotel,- Macy's Restaurant in the same building along Segunda(?) Rd..... This is the same road going to Pagudpud. Nice place. Good accomodation P1200 a night with free (modest) breakfast for three. And, I like their 50's-themed restaurant...

In Pagudpud,- aroung P1600 a night,- at Polaris. This is beside the public beach. Good restaurant,- puwedeng magpaluto after you buy some lobsters and curachas near the Patapat Viaduct, or Seafood from the local fishermen in the beach area...

2701:bye:

[XTO]

Here's what comes to my mind:
Road & Traffic Condition:
Usual traffic spots (daytime) are Tarlac City, Urdaneta City, San Fernando City, La Union. Night time minimal traffic but you won't see the view. Road conditions- The usual Phillipine road quality with occasional potholes and uneven surfaces. Torture for small cars to pass by Candon City, Ilocos Sur- made worse by ongoing road construction. Although there's a bypass road that's less bako-bako. Another road construction ongoing at Sta. Maria- Narvacan, Ilocos Sur boundary. Another gravel detour at Pasuquin (or Burgos, forgot exactly where), Ilocos Norte. All generally passable though.

Tourists Spots:
La Union- coastline of beaches. Old Churches. Our Lady of Namacpacan in Luna, La Union is a (not so popular) pilgrimage site. Botanical Garden atop a mountain in San Fernando- overlooking the City. Casino in the former Wallace Air Base in Poro Point. Surfing area in San Juan, La Union. Stretches of highway in Bacnotan,Balaoan, & Bangar where you can floor the throttle.
Ilocos Sur- more beaches and old churches. notable is the church in Sta Maria. Relaxing to look at the sunset while in Sulvec Point,Narvacan. View the Abra River from Quirino Bridge, Santa-Bantay Boundary. Stretches of highway in Santa where you can speed (at your own risk, hehe). Some twisties approaching Quirino bridge. Vigan- Heritage City, cobblestone street (Crisologo St). Notable beaches in Pug-os, Cabugao.
Ilocos Norte- More roads & twisties to test your car. Again, beaches & old churches. Sitio Remedios in Currimao. Paoay Church. Marcos Mausoleum in Batac. Paoay Lake & Malacanang of the North (previously grand but now needs maintenance). Fort Ilocandia in Laoag. Old Lighthouse in Burgos. Windmills in Bangui. Pagudpud- beaches- good for the camera but not so good for swimming.Take a dip at the rivers/falls before Patapat. Patapat Bridge- breath taking view & twisting roads (my Subaru's playground, hehe).

Food trip:
Seafoods in La Union. Bagnet,longaniza, chichacorn, Vigan bibinka, empanada, tinubong, candon calamay in Ilocos Sur. Batac longaniza & cornik. Empanadas in Batac, Paoay & Laoag also. Dinuguan in Dawang's resto (forget about ambience though). Pasuquin bread. Buy cheap(er) lobster and hard to find fish in Pagudpud.

Accomodations:
dami hotels, inns, resorts along the way for the budget conscious to the expensive & swanky.

PM me for help. I travel Manila-Vigan regularly. I go to Ilocos Norte occasionally. I pass by Pagudpud 2x-3x a year.
Manila- La Union (san fernando) = 270 kms
Manila- Vigan = 408 kms
Vigan- Laoag = 80 kms
Laoag- Pagudpud forgot how many kms but around 1-1 1/2 hrs.

nice tip doc i'llnote this one.

o.t. we've met at c3 diesel last year with your brand new swift then.

okay pa ba magnum n'ya?

[outmap]

Ginawa po namin itong Ilocos trip last month, eto po yung mga napuntahan namin:

Vigan: (Gordion Inn)
Padre Jose Burgos Museum
Pagburnayan
Crisologo

Paoay:
Burgos Lighthouse
Paoay Church (World Heritage Site)
Aglipay (Kullabeng) Historic Shrine
Juan Luna Shrine (Badoc)

Pagudpud: (Polaris)

Laoag:
Tobacco Monopoly Monument
Sinking Tower
Museo Ilocos Norte
Windmills


Di namin napuntahan sa Pagudpud yung Patapat FallsParaiso ni San Anton and Bantay Abot Cave. (Bitin)

[vhenok]

Bro FD, these info might help!

http://tsikot.yehey.com/forums/showt...light=pagudpud

Enjoy na lang poat Ingat sa byahe!

[FrankDrebin]

Thanks for the wonderful tips guys!

[CVT]

Places we went to:

Vigan: Crisologo, Baluarte ni Singson, Vigan Cathedral, shop near the plaza that makes/sells longganiza, ensaymada, bagnet, etc...

From Vigan to Laoag:
Paoay(turn left on traffic light in the main road): Paoay Church, and after a long drive,- Lake Park, Palace of the North(closed on Mondays), Sand Dunes, near the beach, Fort Ilocandia (must see!)- there is also a shorter access to Fort Ilocandia by turning left just before the bridge in Laoag....

Batac(turn right on same traffic light): Church, and Marcos's Museum

Laoag: tobacco monopoly (park in the circle), sinking bell tower, Laoag Cathedral

From Laoag to Pagudpud
Bojeador Light House in Burgos (must see!) - look for a right turn to the mountain.. you can see the lighthouse from the highway
Windmills in Pangui (must see!) - look for a left turn, just before the bridge. There is an earlier left turn,- do not take it, since it is rough road.

Pagudpud: beach, Patapat Viaduct (we didn't go to other spots here....)

2701:bye:

[acenie]

If you want for help here in ilocos norte, I'll be willing to.. just call me Im here in DWCL (Divine Word College of Laoag) location, Laoag City road to going to pagudpud.

[FrankDrebin]

Left Bulacan: Friday 9PM

Arrived in Patapat Viaduct: Saturday 7AM

10 hrs straight driving(Hi-Ace Grandia) with just 1 stopover for refuel and wiwi break. Bacchus Energy Drink, Cancer Sticks and stories with friends kept us awake while driving nonstop.