Our long journey from Canada to the Philippines — destination Dauin, a small coastal town near Dumaguete — was about to begin. By evening, after walking more than 75,000 steps all over Vancouver in two days, we were ready to collapse into the nearest chair. Luckily, the long wait at the airport — and the even longer flight to Seoul — gave us all the sitting time we could wish for, and then some.

First we tried the SkyTeam VIP Lounge but they were full and accepting only business class passengers. Thankfully, we had better luck with the Plaza Premium Lounge, where we finally ate, rested, and regrouped before the long night ahead.

Practical tip:
Surviving a long-haul flight requires preparation. Skip alcohol and caffeine before departure and during your flight, drink plenty of water, and wear compression socks. It makes a bigger difference than you’d think.

Vancouver → Seoul

Our midnight Korean Air flight to Seoul was a world apart from the no-frills Flair Airlines flight we’d taken from Toronto to Vancouver. Seats reclined, headrests adjusted, and the in-flight entertainment library was vast. A tray of free earphones greeted passengers at the door, and then came the ultimate touch — the flight attendants handed slippers to everyone.

Thanks to these small luxuries, the twelve-hour flight felt surprisingly manageable. Valery even received special treatment: he’d slept through the first meal service, but when he woke several hours later, a flight attendant appeared and asked if he’d like something to eat. They didn’t have his requested vegetarian meal but thoughtfully brought a plate with vegetables and a cup so he could remove the meat himself.

Seoul Layover

We landed in Seoul just after 4 a.m. — dawn barely breaking over the runways — and stepped into what might be the nicest airport I’ve ever seen. The Incheon lounge was peaceful and the food delicious (my first “real” Korean meal). But even beyond the lounge, the airport felt exceptional:

• a free nap zone with reclining lounges,
• paid showers for weary travelers,
• two giant AI heads you can ask questions in Korean or English (sadly, we didn’t have time to try), and
• real pine trees growing tall inside the terminal.

Everything ran like clockwork, and boarding our next Korean Air flight to Manila was smooth and timely. The plane was older than the first, but comfortable for a short hop of under four hours. We chatted with a friendly Filipino man seated between us, who was visiting family from the U.S. He even invited us to his home — on Mindoro Island, alas, not on our route this time.

Seoul → Manila

Manila’s Ninoy Aquino Airport was a shock after Incheon. Where Seoul was thoughtful, modern and organized, Manila felt indifferent, dated and chaotic. We had over five hours to wait for our connecting flight to Dumaguete — the longest layover of the trip — and discovered that the domestic terminal had no lounge access.

Having enjoyed lounges in Toronto, Vancouver, and Seoul, we’d clearly grown spoiled. It’s amazing how quickly you get used to comfort, and how hard it is to go without once you’ve tasted it.

Practical tip:
When traveling to the Philippines, register for eTravel within 72 hours before arrival. It’s free and straightforward, and with pre-approval we breezed through immigration while others without it were sent to a long queue.

Typhoon and Arrival

Our trip coincided with Typhoon Tino, barreling toward the Philippines as we flew in. I kept refreshing the weather map, reading through the warnings, and growing more anxious by the minute — especially knowing our final destination island was in the typhoon’s path.

Luckily, we arrived a day after it passed, and our flights weren’t disrupted. Manila was sunny, but rain greeted us later that evening in Dumaguete City. We had to walk from the plane across the airfield — and, of course, my rain jacket was packed in checked luggage. As I hesitated at the top of the ramp, I spotted a box of bright yellow umbrellas waiting at the bottom.

Every passenger received one before stepping into the rain, and soon the airfield glowed like a daffodil patch under the floodlights. Such a kind, simple gesture instantly redeemed Philippine air travel for me after our dreary Manila layover.

Finally, Dauin

One last stretch remained: the 18-kilometer ride from Dumaguete to Dauin, our home for the next week. Thankfully, our Airbnb host had arranged a driver. After more than thirty hours of travel, we couldn’t have managed public transport. Rain streaked the van windows as we drove through the dark countryside, watching the chaotic traffic weave through the downpour. Exhausted but relieved, we were deeply thankful we didn’t have to drive here ourselves.

At last we arrived, grateful beyond words for a dry bed and silence. Tomorrow, we’d finally see Dauin in daylight.