Tourist Attractions in Bacolod City

The Front Desk doesn't always refer to you car rental services with reasonable pricing. We found this out when we asked for their contacts. When we called, we compared their prices with the estimated meter-down taxi fare (which we had already researched on a day before), added some amount for the waiting time, and realized their cost wasn't a good deal. Our recourse was to negotiate with the taxi driver of a cab waiting infront of the hotel. He quoted P400 roundtrip including waiting time. We thought it was reasonable, since we were told one way from our hotel to The Ruins would be about P150. Two-way would then be P300. The additional P100 for waiting time seemed reasonable. We made a deal with the driver and told him to wait as we got our bags and camera from our room. When we got down, the driver with whom we made a deal was gone. The security guard saide he had to leave because he was called by his office to remind him of his taxi's oil change. In his place, he asked a fellow driver to bring us to Talisay and back to Bacolod. I was flabbergasted because the cab was old, the seats were kinda sagging and the aircon wasn't very cool. The driver reasoned he had just turned on the aircon so it wasn't cool enough yet.

Unique Suggestions: That day we had to go to Talisay asap because I was meeting the VT peeps. I was about to argue and insist on a newer cab, but my hubby gave me the look that seemed to say "we have no more time to argue"... and so, though reluctantly, I entered the cab. I thought the aircon wasn't cool enough because I was "fuming" with disappointment. On our return trip to Bacolod, the aircon wasn't really working well and we "suffered in silence". I swore, if the situation happened again, I wouldn't get a substitute cab that is not as new, cool and efficient as the originally agreed upon vehicle.

Fun Alternatives: Don't take a ride in a vehicle that you aren't happy with in the first place. No matter how kind or pitiful the driver may look, think of your own concerns and comfort.

Be careful when you buy items at El Ideal Bakery in Bacolod. Staff there tell you a price for an item but the cashier punch in a much higher price. The Ugoy-ugoy we bought from the bakery, although has not yet expired, already has a rancid taste.