A Day in Laoag

The mission was to see what could be done in Laoag for a whole day using foot power and public transportation. Of course, the mission also included trying out authentic bagnet and Ilocos empanada because after all, one must never forget the important things in life.

I checked in at Hotel Tiffany because I was intrigued by this funky and cheerful hotel with its own diner. My room had these polka-dotted walls and cost about Php680++ per night. For that price and the fact that it was walking distance from the Hall of Justice, I didn't dwell on the lumpy (and heavy!) pillows and the miniscule TV. Business travellers can't be too choosy.

I started my day by going inside the museum and spending a good half hour or so looking at artifacts and pictures. The museum also reconstructed a typical Ilocos house and while going around it, I had to fight off a creepy feeling and remind myself that it wasn't an actual house and ghosts do not bother to hover around model houses:p

Laoag is a pedestrian friendly town because everything is so close together. There are actually tricycles plying the streets (fare is Php8.00 to anywhere in the town proper) but since everything is walking distance anyway, they just become useful in my opinion when it's too hot/raining buckets, or when you're carrying a lot of things.

Fort Ilocandia is accessible by jeepney but the jeepney takes a while to leave because you have to wait for it to get filled up with passengers. I waited for about an hour and when it became obvious that we weren't going anywhere within the next decade, I gave up and just hied off to a day spa for a foot spa and back massage.

As recommended by the receptionist in Hotel Tiffany, I had lunch at La Preciosa and tried the bagnet (or chicharon) with KBL (tomatoes, bagoong and onion). I honestly don't get the fuss over bagnet, it is really nothing more than deep fried fat oozing with oil. I don't think I'll be trying it out again any time soon.

But the empanada was another thing altogether. Ilocos empanada is love perfectly paired with spiced vinegar! It was soooo addicting! Mmmmm....

So to conclude the whole Laoag city tour takes all of 2 hours or so, that already includes the 30 minutes scarfing down empanadas, and you will need to arrange for or provide your own transportation to visit the sand dunes, windmills and Pagudpud.

The most convenient way is to fly to Laoag and then commence exploring Ilocos from there, but if you don't have a friend who can lend you a car, then I think doing the whole road trip extravaganza is still the best alternative.

I asked Hotel Tiffany's receptionist and the hotel's rent a car service goes for almost Php5,000 per day (this is for rental from 8am to 5pm and includes gasoline and the services of a driver) so that's still pretty steep if you're just a solo traveler or if you're traveling with a companion. Personally, I would advocate going on a road trip, staying in a hotel and exploring the north at a leisurely pace. Pagudpud just beckons to be explored! And of course, there's always the empanada....mmmmm.....