Seasoned travelers share how to get most out of a trip

Seasoned travelers agree that the best way to experience another country is not to confine oneself to tourist spots.

“More often than not, I find that places that are not listed in the tourist handbook become the more memorable ones for me,” confessed well-traveled Maricar Pastrana, an executive who has toured Asia, Europe and the US.

Meanwhile, Pauline Suaco, former executive producer of travel show Cheche Lazaro Presents, agrees with this observation. “Joining a tour limits the places you can visit, not to mention the time you can spend in each location,” said Pauline.

In Australia, for example, the site of Maricar’s last trip overseas, she skipped the Gold Coast in favor of Hunter Valley – Australia’s answer to California’s Napa Valley. This wine country covers several vineyards where Maricar and her two companions toured a number of wineries, sampled a wide selection of wines and woke to champagne breakfasts in quaint country houses.

Before embarking on any trip, Maricar first invests in books to familiarize herself with her destination. “All my trips are planned ahead. I never join a tour but simply get a ticket and together with my companions, map out our itinerary after consulting with travel books and friends who have been there. We also check with the locals upon arrival on what places they think we should see,” she related.

It was a different experience for Pauline whose travel plans always included a television crew during her stint with Cheche Lazaro Presents. “While I did not have the luxury of time to explore the places that interested me, my exposure in the show brought me to just as many interesting sites, including locations that would normally be inaccessible to tourists,” recalled Pauline.

During their visit to Israel for instance, Pauline and the Cheche Lazaro Presents team were allowed to take footage of Armenian Orthodox priests in the middle of their prayer chants in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

But while Maricar and Pauline relish adventure in their travels, they are both very practical when it comes to spending. According to Maricar: “I try to bring enough money to cover my expenses, and of course for emergencies, there is always my Citibak Cathay Pacific Visa.”

Maricar, who has been traveling since she was 10, has learned to appreciate the convenience of having an internationally-accepted credit card. “No matter how you plan your budget, there are always expenses you forgot to consider, or for shoppers like me, one more item you must buy.”

She also appreciates the travel rewards afforded her by her credit card. With Citibank Cathay Pacific Visa, Maricar’s spending earns her Asia Miles which she can use to redeem free flights. Her recent trip to Australia was free, thanks to her Citibank Cathay Pacific Visa.

“Maricar is one of our founding cardmembers and her trip was one of the first free flights to be redeemed by cardholder. We’re very happy to see a client enjoy the unique rewards to the card,” declared Patty Henson, Citibank product manager.

In Pauline’s case, access to over 200,000 cash advance ATMs makes her Citbank credit card truly indispensable. “One time, we were caught in the middle of airline strike and were stranded in Tel Aviv for five days. Needless to say, our cash had run out and my credit card saved the day,” Pauline narrated.