The Travelzoo company has over twenty offices throughout Europe, Asia, Australia and North America. Working with over 900 partner travel companies, Travelzoo handpicks outstanding deals for hotels, package vacations, tours, cruises and car rentals with destinations in all parts of the world.

Founded in 1998, Travelzoo now has over 14 million subscribers. Its weekly free email shows the 20 “deals of the week” which have been identified as the best travel deals in terms of both price and value.

Travelzoo deals can be to destinations all over the world, and Asia-Pacific deals may often include destinations and tours in New Zealand, either as part as a larger package which also includes Australia, or a tour purely focused on seeing the best that New Zealand has to offer.

New Zealand is a place with much beautiful, impressive and diverse natural scenery, ranging from scenic beaches and pristine lakes, to steep sided fjords, high snow covered mountain ranges, and active volcanoes. The islands are also home to some unique animals and plants. New Zealand’s unique fauna include many birds, such as the national symbol the Kiwi, which have become flightless due to the islands’ long separation from major continental populations of predator animals.

Tours to New Zealand vary widely in length. Particularly long tours include the 26 day Ultimate New Zealand Tour and the 28 day Land of the Long White Cloud Tour. [The Maori name for New Zealand, Aotearoa, actually means Land of The Long White Cloud] More moderate length tours include Wine & Food Extravaganza (11 days), Ultimate Winter Adventure (11 days) and Doubtful Sound & Fjordlands (also 11 days).

Many visitors to New Zealand will arrive by air at Auckland International Airport. Known as the City of Sails, Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city. The Skycity complex in Auckland is a casino and entertainment center in downtown Auckland. Excellent and convenient accommodation in downtown Auckland at the start or end of a New Zealand tour can be found at Skycity Hotel Auckland, on the corner of Federal and Victoria Streets.

If you’re idea of a relaxing vacation is exploring the rich cultural heritage of the Philippines, then visiting Vigan is the right place for you. This fifth-class city in the northern region allows tourists to travel back in time with its unique antiquity and idyllic atmosphere. Dubbed as “Heritage City of the North,” Vigan is described by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as the “best preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia.”

Vigan, which is roughly a nine-hour bus ride from Manila, is being groomed as the primary tourism destination in northern Philippines. To attract more local and foreign visitors, the government has been launching promotional activities such as various festivals and events over the past years. Hotels and vacation houses were also built in the city as part of projects aimed at improving the local hospitality industry.

Tourists will never get bored in Vigan. There are lots of tourist attractions to choose from in the city aside from the dozens of proudly standing ancestral houses. Here are some of them.

Calle Crisologo

Vigan is best known for Calle Crisologo, a 500-meter long street made from cobblestone. Its design is a mixture of 18th century Filipino and Spanish architecture. Feel the thrill of living during the Spanish era by riding a kalesa, or a horse-driven carriage. Calle Crisologo, where a number of movies and television shows depicting the Spanish times were shot, is also home to hotels, pension houses, restaurants, and souvenir shops.

Baluarte

Another must-visit place in Vigan is Baluarte. Covering an area of 80 hectares, this zoological park provides shelter to various animal species such as pythons, tigers, snakes, birds, ponies, and many more. Baluarte, which is owned by Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson, also has a garden where different butterfly species are roaming around freely. Cameras are allowed inside Baluarte. And the best thing is admission is free.

St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral

St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral is an imposing structure situated at the heart of Vigan. Built by the Augustinians between 1790 and 1800, the church is famous for its unique “Earthquake Baroque” architecture. The cathedral, which is the site of various Catholic activities in Vigan, is frequented by pilgrims across the Philippines.

Crisologo Museum

If you are fond of various memorabilia, then you must enter the Crisologo Museum. This two-storey building located at the end of the Crisologo Street houses history exhibits, antique furniture, and literary collection. The car in which former Gov. Carmeling Crisologo was ambushed in 1961 is also displayed at the museum.

Longanisa Festival

One of the much-awaited events in Vigan is the Longanisa Festival. This annual event seeks to promote the local longanisa (native sausage) industry. The festival, which is celebrated on the third week of January, features street dancing, trade and food fairs, and various cultural exhibits. Longanisa is often served with fried rice and egg.

Apatot Beach

Vigan also has its share of fine beaches. One of them is Apatot Beach, a popular recreation site of local residents. This body of water is rich in historic past. At the end of World War II, the United States used Apatot Beach to unload armaments for American soldiers serving in the area.

Local Philippines is your travel buddy. We have information about the destinations, how to get there, what to do while in the area and more! Destinations in the beaches or in the mountains, destinations under water, destinations right at the middle of the urban hub, name it and Local Philippines will most likely feature it.