A GREAT WAY TO SEE THE PHILIPPINES
YOU'RE IN Angeles City, spent a few days partying and now want to look around the town or venture further afield and explore Luzon.
A great way to do that is on a bike. If you don't have your own bike, you can buy one, new or second-hand, but the best option is to hire one from one of the reputable businesses in Angeles.
Bike rental companies often have bikes for sale. You can book online or visit their premises, most are close to Fields Ave and easily accessible.
If you book online likely they will deliver to where you are staying.
Depending on your experience you can hire any size bike in Angeles, some companies have a full range, from 650cc to a smaller 125cc one for getting around town, your choice but take advice from the rental company. Using a bike around town will save you money that you will spend on trikes, but remember "stay sober", that's the number one reason that the Swagman takes a trike.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
The renter must have an International Driver’s License. A valid foreign driver’s license (or local driver’s license) is good for driving a rented motor vehicle in the Philippines for up to 90 days from the date of your arrival, after that, you will be required to obtain and Philippine license. You will need to leave your passport or a photocopy and a deposit on the bike. Local laws:
Do not DRINK AND RIDE.
All motorcycles and scooters being used on any highway in the Philippines should be registered with the LTO.
Your license plate should be visible and clean.
Speed limits: 80 kph on open country roads with no blind corners: 40 kph on through streets or roads clear of traffic and without blind corners: 30 kph if there’s light traffic and it’s not a through street: 20 kph everywhere else
Passengers are limited to one. Cargo is limited to saddlebags or approved luggage carriers.
Both the driver and passenger must wear a DTI-approved helmet.
All motorcycles should have headlights, taillights, signal lights, brake lights, side mirrors, and a horn. Two supplementary white or selective yellow LED/high-intensity discharge lamps with six bulbs each, directed downward and never towards the left side, and let you see 10 meters ahead are allowed.
It is illegal for motorcycle riders to use a mobile phone or similar gadgets.
Lane splitting is prohibited. Lane splitting is the act of driving in between slow-moving vehicles.
Closed shoes are the only kind of footwear allowed when riding a motorcycle. This means no slippers, sandals, flip-flops, or even bare feet.
If you are going to explore Luzon there are many destinations within striking distance of Angeles all passing through exciting and beautiful country, but best to have a couple of mates with you, plan your routes and if staying overnight book your accommodations in advance.
Booking through a company usually will give you back-up should you have a break-down so check to see if they provide that service. They will also usually provide maps and helmets.
Some recommended companies are: Nice-Bike and Rent Your Bike Angeles both excellent.
So now you have rented your bike where to go?
The rental company will give you recommendations, let you know the pros and cons and the length of the ride. Heed their advice, especially if you are a first-timer.
Make sure you can handle the bike you have rented.
The Luzon Loop is a very popular ride that takes you through interesting areas with a variety of roads and conditions. You can do it either clockwise or anti-clockwise individually or with a mate, a group or you can book a tour.
Luzon has eight of the 17 administrative regions of the Philippines.
The North Luzon Loop is the route passing through Central Luzon, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region and may also include National Capital Region or Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon) as the start/endpoint other than Angeles.
It’s a least a 1200 kilometer ride that passes through busy city streets, quiet towns and barrios, almost-unending stretches of roads through vast rice fields, sharp turns, up and down mountains, breath-taking coastal roads, rugged terrain, and beautiful, historical, amazing and wonderful tourist spots.
Allow 4-5 days to complete the trip, longer if you want to explore further, you can get rooms for as little P500 to stay overnight in towns along the way.
OTHER DESTINATIONS
There are also other tours of various duration like the one day tour, to the Hotsprings. It is up to you, you have a bike and you have the freedom.
Enjoy!
FULL EDITION OF THE SWAGMAN HERE: http://bit.ly/2RRzyuF
SUBSICRIBE FREE HERE: http://tiny.cc/subscrib