Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Planning Our Singapore-Melaka-KL Trip

Our plan of doing the Singapore-Melaka-Kuala Lumpur trip started when I was able to book a one-way flight from KL to Manila for my wife, daughter and me on the 5th of December this year for less than P4,700 (I inadvertently did not remove the 20 kg allowance for the 3 of us, which I don't think we will be able to use the 60 kg baggage allowance). Since it was only a one-way trip, we decided to wait for another promo fare to Singapore. That way, we get to see two countries in one trip. Since Melaka is between the two cities, we also included it in our plan, which is to stay three days in Singapore, a day in Melaka and two days in KL. Our target date for the flight to Singapore is on the 30th of November.

photos courtesy of http://www.streetdirectory.com, http://www.petronastwintowers.com.my, http://www.malacca.ws
We chose that month because it is a Friday as well as a holiday in the Philippines making it a three-day weekend.  Coupled with the following events: it's my daughter's birthday on the 29th and my 50th birthday on the 13th of the same month. It will also give us a year to save for this travel. The first and last time I set foot in Singapore was about 20 years ago and this would be the first time for my wife and daughter. I am sure that a lot has changed since then.
A few weeks after we purchased our plane ticket, Millenium and Copthorne Asia held a "Register and Win" contest on their Facebook page. I did register and joined the contest and in December 2011, I got an email from the company informing me that I won a 3day-2night stay at the Orchard Hotel in Singapore.

I received a letter from Millenium and Copthorne Asia in late December officially informing me that I really won the contest and attached was the voucher which I was to present upon my stay there. I think our travel plans are falling into place with the complimentary voucher.


 There was one catch though. I have to use it on or before the 30th of June 2012. I had already emailed Millenium and Copthorne Asia about our plans for November and asked that if ever we are unable to use it if we can assign it to anyone since there are no names stated on the voucher. They answered in the positive.

 Should I buy a round-trip ticket to Singapore and avail of the prize I won or just give it to a friend and continue with our original plan in November? I am still weighing my options.

The last time we went abroad was five years ago when I took my post-grad degree in Australia for a year and a half and made a two-week side trip to New Zealand.

With a lot of blogs about the places we will be visiting as well as one year to plan, I am sure we will have adequate information to make an itinerary for our 5 day-5 night trip. By the way, our flight from KL to Manila leaves a little after midnight so we have two full days in KL.

Update:

As of 21 January 2012, we were able to purchase a Clark-Singapore Cebupac flight for P2,727.00. It was the P1 promo fare but still it reached that amount. So much for promo fares. Anyway, the downside is we have to leave by the 29th of November when our original plan was for the 30th so we can lessen the number of vacation leaves we have to apply for.

9 comments:

Laurie said...

Wow this is Awesome Noel! Enjoy your upcoming trip with your family!

Unknown said...

Thanks Laurie. I still have no idea how to fund this trip though, he he he. Long time no chat. Happy new year to you and your family :)

Journeys and Travels said...

this post makes me more to also plan my SG trip in the future. Salamat for this bro.

Happy New Year

Unknown said...

planning adds to the excitement leading to the trip itself :)

happy new year

Gladys | ByahengBarok.com said...

wow, congrats for winning the contest. inggit! enjoy SG, Melaka and KL. don't forget to eat chicken rice balls in melaka :)

Unknown said...

thanks gladys. ok, i've put chicken rice balls in my to do, or shall i say to eat, list, he he he

Tita Beng said...

Ay inggit! I wanna go back to Singapore! A tiny country but so much to see. Maganda yang plano nyo, 3 places in one trip!

Congrats for winning a hotel stay. Kahit binigyan ka pa ng problema. hehe.. Alam mo, malaking bagay yang free hotel stay na yan. Ang mahal kasi ng hotels sa SG. Yun ang kumain ng malaki sa budget namin e. Kaya if I were you, I'd grab a cebu pac promo flight right away and use that prize of yours.
Tapos sa Nov/Dec. na lang yung celebrations ninyo ni Angel sa KL. wink!

Just pray to make a right decision. God bless!

Unknown said...

Beng, I hope I make the right decision. Still looking for a promo fare from our airlines plus jetstar. sayang nga eh.. jetstar had a sale last month before i was informed that i won a two night stay from Millennium. talk of timing..tsk tsk tsk

Singapore to Malacca said...

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