Laoag City in a day

Where: Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Philippines
Who: Mr, Mrs & Little Miss Wanderlust
When: October 2014
What: Laoag City Tour in a day..

How To Get There:

By Air:

Laoag has an international airport that is easily accessible with just a 45-minute flight from Manila via Philippine Airlines or Cebu Pacific.
Other Flights to Laoag International Airport:
     - China- Guangzhou, New Baiyun (CAN) and Shanghai, Pu Dong (PVG)
     - Hong Kong, Hong Kong International
     - Macau, Macau
     - South Korea: Seoul, Incheon (ICN)
     -Taiwan: Taipei, Chiang Kai Shek (TPE)

By Land:


Public Vehicle (Bus)
Bus companies such as Partas Trans, Farinas Trans, Florida, Maria de Leon, and RCJ bus lines serve the Manila-Laoag route. These buses, have stations found along Cubao and Pasay.

Private Vehicle
Just a 2-3 hour drive from Vigan, Ilocos Sur. We came from Vigan, on the way to Pagudpud we decided to stop and see what Laoag has to offer in a quick day tour.

Where to Stay:

Having an international airport in Laoag, there are also hotels and inns to choose from in the city. Our itinerary just includes a day tour in Laoag city on the way to Pagudpud, which means we don't have to stay in Laoag, and keep on driving to Pagudpud.

So for now, Mr & Mrs Wanderlust doesn't have any reviews on hotels for this town.

What To Do:

Paoay Church - located in nearby town of Paoay, another UNESCO World Heritage Site and a cultural treasure of the Philippines is a church built by Augustinians in 1694 and finished in 1710. It is on the way to Laoag and you can not afford to miss this.

Herencia Cafe - a popular restaurant in town that is the home of 'Pinakbet Pizza' and also serves other Ilocano dishes which is just meters away from the church.

Sinking Bell Tower - can easily be seen upon entering the town, is a baroque style building that was built in 1610. Despite its sinking state (supposedly at a rate of an inch a year), the bell tower still continues its centuries-old purpose of ringing the bell to call Catholic brethren to mass. Others say it is also nice to see the tower at night with lights.

Sand Dunes - The La Paz Sand Dunes in in Paoay and Laoag have heights ranging from 10 to 30 meters. These scenic dunes also provide a panoramic view of the West Philippine Sea making it a popular site for sandboarding and revving up that 4×4 engine.

Malacañang ti Amianan - or Malacanang of the North, which was made by Marcos when he was president.

Marcos Mausoleum - This is where the late president Ferdinand Marcos' current resting place which also serves as a museum of his memorabilia.

Paoay Lake - have a nice view of the lake in which you will pass by on the way to sand dunes. 

Pricing:

Sand Dunes / 1 hour 4x4 offroad experience + sand board 2,500 PHP
Food / Herencia Cafe - 350 - 500 PHP per serving (good for 3-4)
Other sights, churches & museums - Free. Donation only. / Probably 20-50 PHP / head on some.