Tacloban City is the provincial capital city of the Eastern Visayas Region. This serves as the link from the islands of Leyte and Samar, as well as a common stop-over for travelers coming from Luzon and heading to Visayas or Mindanao. It is a first-class city with 138 barangays, located on the other side of the San Juanico Strait. 

Aside from being an economic powerhouse, it has a rich history, different monuments, majestic attractions, creative festivals, and wonders of nature! There are many things to do in and near the city of Tacloban. 

For our Travel Guide Blog, here are our suggestions on what parts of the city you should visit on your trip!

For your ease and convenience, you can rent a self-drive vehicle or avail a with driver service from our company. We can take you from point A to B up to Z! With our wide range of rental units available, we are sure to provide you with a rental that caters to all of your needs. We offer you travel convenience at affordable prices! Contact us in the following so we can work out your transportation in your next Tacloban visit:

You can also contact us through the following:
[Globe]: 0936 812 9040 or 0955 872 3883
[Smart]: 0981 632 5288 or 0907 931 8774
Email: customerservice@taclobanrentacar.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaclobanRentalCar
Website: https://www.taclobanrentacar.com

The current transportation methods in the city are tricycles, buses, multicabs, jeepneys, and Maxim. The city is known to have extremely busy commute hours, so going from one place to another on public commute might delay your schedule. 

Here are our suggestions on how you can make the most out of your trip in Tacloban City! Make sure to include these spots in your itinerary.

The visit to Tacloban won’t be complete if you don’t take the chance to cross the San Juanico Bridge. This landmark is the longest bridge in the Philippines and was built in 1973. If you’re up for an exercise, you can even jog along the entire bridge!

The museum is one of the most visited spots in the city. This used to be a rest house of the former president Ferdinand Marcos. It is also their family’s first residence in Tacloban. For an affordable entrance fee, you can enjoy a look back into history and see the affluence of the museum. 

Palo, Leyte – the neighboring town of Tacloban, is a historical municipality in the region. This is the site where General Douglas MacArthur came when he returned to the Philippines. There is a landing memorial that marks where their troops landed. This park is a top tourist attraction of the entire region, frequently visited by both locals and tourists. 

Located at Babatngon, Leyte, this conservation center is just a 30-minute drive away from Tacloban City. Surrounded by green mountains, this wellness center offers you a view into their lush mangrove forest. Aside from appreciating nature, they also have fun activities such as kayaking, fishing, bird watching, among many

It is in the Real Zamora corner street, and is famed to be called the “Church of Liberation.” The tall belfry of the church makes it stand out especially when you’re in downtown Tacloban. It is the home to the image of Señor Sto. Niño, which the city dedicates a festival to every June. 

This building was built in 1907 with neoclassical architecture that resembles the edifices of America. This was an important location in the history of our government, as it was the seat of the Philippine Commonwealth for less than a year. There are 2 bas relief artworks in the capitol. It depicts the first Christian Mass in Limasawa and the landing of Gen. Douglas Macarthur in Palo.

The town of Basey is 40-minutes away from Tacloban City that is famed for the Church of St. Michael the Archangel and their banig-weaving industry. The church is centuries old and is one of the most preserved churches in our country. Their banig industry is famous for their intricate weaves and unique designs. You would love to get a souvenir from this town. 

In June, you will see the festivals in Tacloban. Pintados, Kasadyaan, and Sangyaw is highly celebrated in the city, inciting competitiveness, creativity, and unity among the Taclobanons. They are loud, colorful, and you can see the sense of community among the locals.

Every street in Downtown Tacloban has famous restaurants and food spots that are beloved by locals. By Balyuan Amphitheatre, the bay comes to life thanks to the barbecue stalls offering you seafood, pork, and chicken. Near the Sto. Niño Church are also different restaurants that offer cuisines from all cultures. The restaurants of hotels like Estrella, XYZ, Ironwood, and Etsu are also famed for having great quality. In downtown alone your foodie heart will be satisfied. What more if you venture out to Marasbaras, San Jose, V&G, and to the north?

Make sure you spare time to bring home Tacloban’s delicacies such as Binagol, Moron, Suman, Sagmani, Tuba, and many more! There are many pasalubong shops located at Zamora Street so make sure to visit!

The Yolanda Shrine is located in Barangay Anibong. The famous head of a ship that reached the barangay after Typhoon Haiyan of 2013 became a reminder of what Taclobanons went through and also of how far they have come. 

You might want to check in first with the region’s tourism office. You can contact them using the following:

Mobile No.: 0998 888 9715

Telephone: (63 53) 325 5279, 321 2048

Email: dotreg8@yahoo.com, dottacloban@yahoo.com

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/easternvisayas/

If you’re still a newbie car driver, you might have a few questions on hand that you’ve been too afraid to ask people. Well, there’s a lot of you out there. Don’t wonder about it anymore because we will answer some of the very common questions people have about their own car units. 

Knowing all of this will help you when you’re going out on your first vacation and road trip – for the prevention of accidents and injuries and to protect you and your passengers.

Q: How often should the tire pressure be checked?

A: Despite people telling you to check your tires’ pressure every week, it’s unrealistic and can take a lot of time. For a busy person owning a car for convenience, they are not able to do it as often as people say. A convenient way to keep track of your tire pressure is to check it every 30 days. Have it checked while you’re at the car shop.

Q: When to change the transmission fluid?
A: Professional Car Engineers recommends that a vehicle’s transmission fluid should be changed once every 50,000 kilometer run or 2 years

Q: Why is the blinking of signal lights inconsistent?
A: Sometimes a signal light is normal but other times it blinks faster. This happens when the bulb of your lights burn out. This makes your voltage load drop, making it easier for the circuit to do its job – blinking. Your bulb burning out makes the circuit do its job faster and easier.

Q: What makes an oversteer different from an understeer?
A: An oversteer happens when your vehicle turns or steers more than what you have initially intended. Understeer happens when the car turns less than what you intended. You can see these jargons thrown around among car enthusiasts and competitive drivers.

Q: When should my timing belt be replaced?
A: Most manufacturers recommend that the timing belt must be changed in between the car’s 80,000-100,000 kilometer run. If you do not keep track of this, the timing belt will just run its course and break. Leaving your car engine to fail and not do its job. Which is why it is optimal for you to get ahead of that problem and regularly change it. Check on your car manual and follow the manufacturer’s recommended time for changing the timing belt.

Q: Can I just switch to using a different oil grade or a synthetic oil?
A: The best answer can be found in your car manual. In there it is specified your manufacturer’s recommended oil grade to use. It is best to follow your factory’s recommendations. But if you do want to switch to using synthetic oil, there has not been much problem with it. However if you bought an older car that’s been in use for 8 or more years with no oil switching, switching now is not a good idea.

Q: Does the sound of my brakes mean anything?
A: Your brakes are constantly moving and are built with different rotating parts and pads. As time goes on, these parts wear down and will make vibrations. There are 2 distinct noises when your brake parts are worn down.

The first one is a high pitched sound. When you hear this, get your brake pads checked and have it replaced. The second one is the groan of metal to metal grinding that means your brake pads are causing damage to your brake rotors. This is already severe and should be brought to the shop to get fixed.

Q: Is there a way I can save money on gas?
A: To navigate on this, you have to familiarize yourself with the cheaper gas located near you. Various gas stations have varying prices so it’s always good to note who sells them cheapest. If you’ve found your ‘suki’ gas station, try to get a loyalty card from them or an affiliate supermarket. Sometimes reward cards collect points and give you discounts the more you use their services.

Q: What is a two-stroke and a four-stroke engine?
A: An engine’s stroke is the maximum movement your car’s piston can make towards one direction. Having a two-stroke engine means they can do two strokes for a single fuel injection, and a four-stroke engine can do a four-stroke for the same amount of fuel injection.

Q: Why is my car hydroplaning?
A: Hydroplane is the instance where your tires come into contact with water that it can’t dispel. The water pressure on the front of your wheels will push water underneath – creating a barrier between the road and your tire. This makes your vehicle lose traction, losing your braking and steering control.

The perfect bridal car is sought after in weddings to make the marriage a day to remember for the bride and groom. But sometimes, it is not good to just spend an unnecessarily large amount of money and rent the most expensive limousine for the day. The bride might not like it or it would not suit the event itself! 

Your best way to avoid this is to look at the theme of the wedding and to plan out the role of the car, especially in the entrance. Will it play a functional role of delivering the bride to the church? Will the groom be the one driving the unit? Or will it be featured for the video and photo opportunities? 

To perfectly navigate your bridal car’s role in your wedding, read some of our tips.

You have to empathize with the passenger – the bride. Think about how she will use the vehicle, her entrance, her exit, how her wedding dress would be in it, and more. Think of her dress and how delicate it is, and how her moving around while wearing it might impose difficulties. These should be in mind for you when picking out a bridal car. 

The inside of the vehicle must be clean and fresh while the outside must be pristine. Armrests must be removed out of the way so as to not give additional difficulties to the gowned bride while she is moving around. 

Sometimes rental companies give you a list of suitable units for rent for wedding days, but on rare occasions that they fail to list the car  color – seek for it. The safest bet for a wedding is color white, but consult with your wedding planner for her ideas. 

Sometimes a wedding’s theme is not entirely white and colorful motifs are inserted. It might be a good idea to pick a color that suits that motif. 

The Philippines is a deeply religious and superstitious country. Some of these practices have been showcased by the Pinoy animated series Trese. By the different superstitions shown there, they failed to show some of our interesting ones regarding driving.

In our culture, there are beliefs regarding driving. It does not matter whether one believes the supernatural or not, because Filipinos practice these nevertheless. It would not hurt you to know some of our country’s superstitions especially if you plan to stay here for a while.

The culture of folk Catholicism is still widespread in the Philippines. It is part of the Filipino culture to request clergymen to bless their new belongings such as a new house, a store, and even vehicles. 

But the blessing is not limited to new vehicles straight from the store. Secondhand units with a spooky history, such as having been owned by a now deceased person, are typically being re-blessed again to push the bad spirits away.

Most of the Philippines used to be covered in forests. Back then, Filipinos were animists who believed that there are spirits living in nature such as trees, rocks, and even bodies of water. This culture is still being practiced by indigenous tribes in the country. 

A standout lore is the commonly feared Balete tree. This is considered as sacred by people, with most of them treating it with respect. When someone is driving and comes across a Balete tree, they should be quiet and respectful so as to not disturb the entity living in it.

Cemeteries are creepy and have been associated with ghosts. However, in the Philippines most cemeteries can be located by the side of the road! 

But despite the availability and closeness cemeteries have to residential areas, there is still a terrorizing feeling attributed to cemeteries in the country. 

In some provinces, it is common for people to practice the superstition of holding your breath while driving past a cemetery. Some even avoid going out in the evening so as to not encounter them when it is night time. 

It is now common for hotel accommodations to offer an additional transportation service for their guests. This might sound convenient, but in several situations – this might do you more harm than good. 

For some people, it will be better if you have your own rental vehicle for yourself. Here are some of our justifiable reasons why sometimes it is better to not avail your hotel’s transportation service instead. 

When you’re in the city for business purposes, it is preferable for you to present yourself in the best way possible. You might leave a wrong impression to your client when they see you come out of a hotel van.

In this situation, it would be useful for you to explore a car rental service that can offer the vehicle you need to leave a great impression. With us in Tacloban Rent a Car, we have a lot of vehicles that you won’t shy away from using when you’re meeting with your clients.

Even when you are on a business trip or for leisure, some cities are better explored when you have freedom on the wheels. Public transportation is tied down by their routes. Jumping from different points in commuting will be confusing, especially in a brand new city. 

A good rental with a reliable company can help you with this. Having your own rental vehicle will give you more liberties to navigate around the city as you’d like. There are navigational apps available such as Google Maps or Waze to help you around the neighborhood. 

A downside in hotel transportation is that it is shared. This comes with health risks and implications that one should still note despite the waning effect of the pandemic. Even when we are already relaxing from the actions we used to take back when COVID-19 was still raging, it is not wrong for someone to take extra precautions for their safety.

We in Tacloban Rent a Car still complies with the standards of cleanliness imposed during the pandemic. We make sure our vehicles are clean inside and out for the safety of our clients.

A trip to Tacloban City isn’t complete without going on side trips to Samar, other municipalities of Leyte, and even Southern Leyte. There are just so many natural wonders you can visit in region 8! But rather than availing an expensive tour package, you might think that it’s more affordable for you and your friends to rent a vehicle and drive it yourself! 

That is a great and feasible idea! But before you just go and launch on your Eastern Visayas road trip, you need an effective plan. It is important to familiarize yourself with the road, the route, and what vehicle is best for you to use. 

To assist you in your planning, here are some of our suggestions on what to keep in mind when you go on a road trip!

The roads in Eastern Visayas are mostly paved, cemented, and graveled – there are still areas with bumpy uncemented roads or where the streets are completely broken. It is better for you and your group to rent pick-up trucks and SUVs instead of sedans or hatchbacks. The impact of a long road with unstable ground might be too much if you rent a low-lying vehicle. 

Aim for a big and tough vehicle that is still within your budget. It should last throughout your few days of going on a roadtrip to whatever corner in Region 8

Road trips in the region can last between an entire day to days even! Traffic won’t be a problem for some destinations because they are only issues within the city. 

Establishing that you and friends are going on a long ride together in a moving vehicle, it is a must for you to have room for yourselves and that it is clean. It’s unpleasant to stay in a smelly vehicle that requires you to stay in the same position for a time. Make sure you won’t be cramped and that the ambience is pleasant. 

Extra room in the back is also a necessity whenever you eat your meals. On rush times when you need to eat take outs while the car is running, it is a must that there is extra space for you to have your meal.

When you’re on a trip to another city, most of the time its inconvenient to commute in their unfamiliar transportation system. If you’re not sure of their routes, paying for public transportation might become expensive getting from point A to point B. Nowadays, it’s popular to get a self-driven car rental. 

Self Drive rentals are popular in key cities like Tacloban due to the convenience it gives. With the help of navigation tools like Waze and Google Maps, tourists who are unfamiliar with local roads can have an easier time traversing the city and more.

Rental units for self-drive starts at PHP 2,000 and it varies for the type of vehicle you will be renting. There will be special rates and discounts available for long-term rentals and for frequent clients.

It is best advised for you to reserve your desired rental unit days prior to your visit to ensure vehicle availability. You will have more choices and liberty to pick a car that would suit your needs. Early reservation makes you a priority customer for us.

1. Contact the company through their mobile numbers, Facebook Page, website, or email. 
2. Send the required documents in softcopy for their assessment. 
3. Wait for their approval and advice on vehicle availability. 
4. Pay for the reservation fee. 
5. Wait for the booking confirmation.

Our car rental company offers self-drive rental to individuals that can complete proper identification. Here are some of our basic requirements. The staff may ask for more requirements if they see fit. 

1. Driver’s License (active)
2. Government Issued ID
3. Proof of Residence (Water Bill, Electricity Bill, Hotel Bill)
4. Airline Ticket (if applicable)

When you are approved and booked by our staff, you can pick up your rental vehicle at the agreed location and time. We can deliver the vehicle to you for an additional delivery charge or you can pick it up from our garage. For more information on delivery fees, ask our staff. 

For self-drive rentals, it is best that you check the following from our vehicle:

1. Inspect the appearance of our car on the outside and inside. Check for dents, paint scratch, the windshield, windows, the tires, and rims. 
2. Have the staff wait for you while you inspect the driving condition of the car. It is best you take note of the fuel tank, to test the brake, to inspect the lights, oil, fluids, coolant, and to try the steering wheel. 

Do note that when you rent a vehicle you have to comply with the following:

1. Signing of the rental contract. 
2. Full payment for the vehicle and a cash deposit that will be returned to you after the trip, in the event that there has been no damages to the rented vehicle. 
3. Submission of the remaining documents. 

To avoid mishaps and hassles with the transaction, make sure to follow the contents of the contract and be careful with your driving. In the instance of confusion or need for clarification, it is best for you to contact our staff. We are flexible with your rental as long as we have come to an agreement.

A trip to Tacloban can be fun regardless of if you don’t have a budget or if you have one. 

For both choices, it might be hard for you to stay away from the company’s planned itinerary. But a trip to Tacloban might become more interesting if you follow our tips below. 

To help you get started on having a more fun time in Tacloban City, consider doing our tips below:

Those who prefer to splurge can have the luxuries offered by the high-end hotels like Ironwood, Hotel de Fides, Oriental, and more. Hotels sometimes provide chauffeurs leading you to locations they have pre-determined. 

For the budgetarians, you can stay in nice hotels for affordable prices. They usually offer free breakfast meals but sometimes there are none at all. There are nearby carenderias or local restaurants that provide a hearty meal. 

There are a lot of activities offered by Tacloban. In nearby municipalities there are plenty of natural attractions, but in the city proper itself there are nice places you can go to for an hour or two with business associates or by yourself. 

To avoid a hotel-meeting-hotel lifestyle for the rest of your business trip, visit some of the malls in the city. There is the Robinsons Marasbaras, the Savemore Mall in Downtown, and the Robinsons North Abucay. 

If you don’t want to blend into a crowd but instead wants to relax in a cafe, you can go to the City Center in Sagkahan and check out Cafe de Acacia. It might be better if you go for cafes found in Downtown for easier access. Cafe Marga, Dream Cafe, Bo’s Coffee, and Espazio are some local favorites. 

Plenty of first-time travelers can underestimate the roads and routes of Tacloban City. Some abstain from exploring even Downtown thanks to the confusion they can get from the public transportation system. The humid air and traffic at peak hours is not very inviting to those who just want to explore the city. 

On times that you have an appointment far from the city, it is good to have your own rental unit that you have all to yourself. Unlike public transportation where you have to wait for the entire vehicle to get filled before traveling, a self-drive rental gives you freedom of movement. 

A good rental car from Tacloban Rent a Car can be easily arranged. With our diverse selection of rental vehicles at affordable rates, you can go to your business meetings in style and have more liberties when exploring Tacloban.

Normally, tourists would want a self-driven car rental for the convenience and privacy of having a vehicle all to themselves while they explore the city. To some, renting a driver might sound too much because – why pay extra if you can just commute?

But there are certain situations where availing a with driver car rental is best for you – in ways that fits your predicament and is affordable. 

1. When you are new to the city and not good with directions. 

If it is your first time somewhere, it is best to have someone else get you from point A to B. You might think that you can commute instead, but certain public transportation systems have their own routes you are not familiar with – leaving you vulnerable to getting lost. 

Having a good driver guide will show you where to go, what routes are best to avoid traffic, and can also give recommendations on great local places you should check out.

Whether you are alone or with company, the driver service will benefit you greatly. Instead of fussing over where to go and how to get there, that worry is now removed and is left for your chauffeur to figure out. 

A rental car with a driver gives you the most value because it still gets you places without the hassle and worry on the hows of it.

In the event that you are meeting someone outside of the city proper, you will be exposed to more unfamiliarity in terms of the road and navigation. A driver rental can help you remove that. 

Some taxis or public commutes might not be available to get you to your destination directly. In public transportation, you might need to move from one vehicle to another, leaving an unfamiliar you exposed to roads and routes you have never been before. On travel, you might have difficulty checking your location through navigation applications as network signals are not consistent on the road. 

In Our Rent a Car, we have rental services with our own driver with predetermined rates for out-of-the-city trips. It will save you a lot of time to avail our service instead of going through multiple trips for one destination alone.

There are no issues whether you want to travel on your own through a self-drive or to rent a car with a driver in charge. But in the event that you are in an unfamiliar and new city, alone or with people you need to pay attention to, having a local driver might help you in more ways than one.