FlytPack Saves the Day

Being online while traveling internationally may seem like a luxury however, fact is, being wired is a necessity. Sure there are internet-friendly spots overseas but imagine how much time you'll need to consume if you need to check out a place briefly before heading to that direction or if you need to get someone else's tips before you order something from an unfamiliar restaurant. See, it is more than just having the access of sharing your travel pictures via Instagram and Facebook, telling the world that you're out there having fun.

I was entirely clueless when I alighted the first international plane ride I took thinking that it will be easier for me to be online as there are free WIFI all over Singapore. Then I realized that you don't get to surf much while you're riding a cab or moving around and making the most out of your itinerary. I gave up and opened my data plan. I did the same thing on my 2nd travel since getting a pocket wifi router in Seoul costs pretty much the same amount I'll spend when I open my data plan.

Then I saw bloggers advertising FlytPack and gave it a chance before we flew to Taipei.

The FlytPack kit comes in a compact bag

PRICE. Price costs Php200-500 depending on the country you're going to. For nearer countries, typical amount is Php200-300. It costs more than the average if you'll use it in Australia, Russia, Canada, etc.,

We rented our kit for 6 days (Php260/day) and we shelled out an amount less than Php2,000 as our deposit. We opted to have our kit delivered right into our doorstep and this amounted to an extra Php70.

Hold your breath now. Our group ended up sharing our access for Php68.00/person/day since there were four of us. It's cheaper and you don't get to exhaust your mobile phone's battery just because your data plan's roaming feature is open. Not bad.

DEPOSIT. The Php1,800 deposit which I paid before the kit was delivered was returned to me less than 2 weeks after having returned the set. I was initially worried and made a follow-up but FlytPack responded to my query and readily credited the amount.

RETURNING/COLLECTING THE KIT. Two options. One is to have the Flytpack kit delivered at your registered address. Option two is to pick it up from this address:

Flytpack Office - Unit 703 - JecoPrime Building,  20th Drive Corporate Center, McKinley Business Park, BGC Taguig City

Item gets to be delivered before the day of the flight (we received the pack days prior our flight though). The set needs to be returned 24-48 hours upon return.

FUNCTIONALITY OF THE KIT. Battery? It lasts almost the entire day. How many users can it connect? 5-8 users. What are included in the kit? Router manual, router kit, charging cable and a travel adapter.

Our crazy bunch ended up satisfied with the product and will definitely go for Flytpack on our next flight.

  Admiring Chiang Kai Shek's manicured lawn with FlytPack in sight (see my backpack's pocket).

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Contact FlytPack:

Manila Head Office:
Unit 703, 20th Drive Corporate Center (Jecoprime)
20th Drive, McKinley Business Park
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Metro Manila, 1634
Opening Hours:
Mondays to Fridays, 9:00 AM to 9:30 PM

Cebu Office (Next to Waterfront):
Unit 10E, Avenir Building,
Archbishop Reyes Ave,
Cebu City, Cebu, 6000
Opening Hours:
Mondays to Saturdays, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM                                                                               

Customer Helpline:
Mondays to Sundays, 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM                                                                       

Fotogra Books: Preserving Travel & Milestone Memories To A “T”

Gone are the days when “album” meant a Sterling or Ace-Free photo album which preserves all of those good memories. We conveniently and solely rely on Facebook to keep everything.

#Photodump. Heartbreaking truth though: Facebook will NOT keep your albums forever (I was a sorry witness of my 2009 Bohol Trips being removed as I add newer albums to store my travel memories).

Much as I wanted to have my pictures printed and arranged in a single album, I find it inconvenient for the following reasons:

• My preferred albums are costly. Prices now range from Php500-1,000 and this amount will only add up to -;
• The cost of printing pictures in 3R or 4R versions;
• It’s not practical to keep heaps of heavy photo albums if you are renting a cozy studio unit like yours truly and may relocate soon (or from time to time);
• I don’t have the luxury of time (insert sheepish smile here).

Fotogra Books solves my predicament in an instant.

 

Owned by wedding photographers Mimi and Karl, they ventured into the business in 2015 because as young parents, there simply are milestones which gets to be documented and stored but doesn’t get to be browsed frequently.

The website’s FAQ page contain all of the things you need to know in creating your photo book. Here are some of my takes:

1. The process: Create your account, select the size (5×5 or 8×8), choose your add-ons (customized cover, layout service, expediting the print for a week), pay via BPI or Paypal, head back to your account and submit your photos (I normally upload my pictures via Google Drive);
2. You need to make sure that you are cropping your photos in 5×5 or 8×8 style. Adobe Photoshop’s handy as usual. Not cropping your pictures in the recommended style is still okay but this will result in some unused spaces (I prefer maximizing the book hence, I patiently crop my shots properly);Paying an extra Php50 is worth it if you’d like to customize your book’s cover (I make sure to edit my book’s spine because I’d like to arrange it in my shelf as a collection soon – country’s flag, country’s name plus my initials are the way to go);
3. Committing “photo collage” in a page is not a sin. As a matter of fact, it breaks the monotony of having one single full-blown picture page after page after page;
4. I am extra patient with the delivery time. The book gets to be shipped out and delivered in three weeks anyway (rush photobooks = +Php300);
5. Pictures came out clear. The colors are vivid and each picture looked glossy despite having the pages printed in matte finish (the cover page is printed in satin finish though).

 

 

I will be busy with my 3rd travel book soon. Happy photo dumping via Fotogra Books!