MFO Paris Series: Airport Line

Bonjour! I've been meaning to blog about my Paris trip with my friend Pat, but I realized, it would be better to cut it up into chunks, and make it a series because

1) There are just too many fantastic discoveries and tips I have to share, and
2) It would take me forever if I just write everything in one go.

So let's cut to the chase, and start off with tip #1: airport pick-up.

the blue skies of France, just gorgeous, as seen from my Airport Line van

If you don't have friends or family picking you up at Charles de Gaulle airport, there's always that option of getting to the city by rail, cab, bus or Uber.

Then of course, there are car services like Airport Line which offers private transfers from the airport to your destination.

I discovered Airport Line, via our Airbnb host, Parisian Home, who made prior arrangements to hand over the apartment key to the Airport Line driver. While the driver did not have the key when I arrived, he drove me to the Parisian Home office in Montmartre to pick up the keys to the apartment. Fair enough.

Making arrangements for pick up by Airport Line was easy. I just booked online via their website, (take note however that reservations need to be made 48 hours in advance), they sent me an email confirmation and that's it.

While they asked for my credit card information, payment was settled in cash and paid directly to the driver. I paid €68 for a standard minivan that took me from CDG to Paris. For the full list of fare rates, visit http://www.airport-line.com/en/tarifs.asp

I made note of their hotline 0800 77 61 63, just in case I had problems finding the driver, which also happened, as the arrivals section was unusually packed that day. I tried calling the hotline, but it was in French! I decided to just email the person who sent me the confirmation and asked him to tell the driver that I was waiting for him. In a couple of minutes, I got a call from the driver on my mobile and we made arrangements to meet by one of the exits.

Over all, if not for the part where I couldn't find the driver, the process was easy enough.

To recap. To get Airport Line service:

1. Reserve at least 48 hours before your arrival via their website. Wait for the email confirmation via email.

2. Upon arrival at the airport, your driver will be waiting for you as you get out of the customs hall and will be holding a sign bearing your name.
3. Tell the driver where to drop you off. Prepare payment in cash. They do not expect tips, but I gave the driver a tip anyway. Speaking of tips, here's a tipping guide by David Lebovitz. The information is quite useful!

Next up: The Airbnb Apartment

Get Your Rose Gold iPhone 6s via SMART x UBER

Get the covetable Rose Gold iPhone 6s delivered in style right at your doorstep as unrivaled mobile services leader Smart Communications teams up with Uber, the world's most popular ride-sharing service, for the first ever iPhone midnight delivery service in the Philippines. 

Available from 12 am to 4 am of Nov. 6, the official launch day of the latest iPhones in the country, the service allows you to request the Rose Gold iPhone 6s (16GB) unit worth Php 35,990 delivered wherever you are in Metro Manila via the Uber app. 

Ordering your Rose Gold iPhone 6s (16GB) via the Smart-Uber midnight delivery service is simple, fast and convenient with these steps: 

1. Download the Uber app and allow location access 

2. Register / sign-in with your account 

3. Choose the Smart iPhone6s option 

4. Look for the Rose Gold car near you and input your delivery location for both the pick-up and destination fields 

5. Click on Request to get the iPhone 6s delivered to you. 

As soon as you've made the request, you shall receive a verification call from a Smart Representative, who will confirm your purchase and your payment method. Upon confirmation, your brand new iPhone will be on its way. Don’t forget to prepare your debit or credit card (strictly no cash payments) and valid ID to complete the transaction with the Smart Representative.

You can pay in 12-month installment at 0% interest if you opt for a credit card transaction. As an added perk, all iPhone 6s deliveries come with P2,000 worth of Rustan's gift certificates! 

Smart's ZERO handset cashout offer for iPhone 6s at and iPhone 6s is until December 31, 2015. To know more about Smart's unbeatable iPhone plans, visit www.smart.com.ph/iphone.

Use Oral B and Smile, Pilipinas!

Pinoys are such smiley people. 

Point a camera to a group of young kids and expect them to bust out a big grin. Toothy or toothless, it doesn't matter. 

That's why many people say, our country is the real of Land of Smiles. 

 photo via fdnbayanihan.org 

But look closer and the reality is not as charming. Statistics show that 9 out of 10 Filipino kids have cavities. In fact, tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in children and adults. 

Blame it on poor oral hygiene. 

Tooth decay is preventable by brushing 3x a day, flossing, using mouthwash regularly and visiting the dentist 2x a year. But still, cavities happen. 

Maybe that's why smiling comes easier for young kids, and not for adults. Because toothless grins and rotten teeth on adults are definitely not cute. 

It also means, somebody was too lazy to brush, floss and gargle daily. 

Oral B wants to correct this disconnect between our reputation as a people vs. reality by shedding light on the importance of good oral health habits. 

The first step? The use of the right toothbrush. 

My toothbrush: Oral B Pro-Health, of course!

Case in point: The Oral B Pro-Health CrossAction toothbrush provides superior cleaning with its unique 16-degree angle brush to remove 90% of plaque in hard to reach areas. 

Not only that: 

- Pro-Health's tongue cleaner helps remove germs from the tongue 

- Helps improve gum health in four weeks by reducing gingivitis 

 - Provides up to 55% better cleaning along the gum line 

- Removes surface stains and polishes teeth 

All while working gently on enamel and gums. That shouldn't be hard, right? 

Living up to our reputation as a nation of happy, smiling Filipinos starts with each one of us. And it begins with arming ourselves with the right toothbrush. 

Let’s start the Smile Pilipinas revolution. Consider this a call-to-arms!

Smart Infinity offers Samsung Galaxy Note 5 BenCab Limited Edition

Smart Infinity, Smart Communications’ premium postpaid brand, has been known to delight its members by combining exquisite lifestyle experiences within the mobile space. With the arrival of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 BenCab Limited Edition, Smart Infinity offers its members the unique opportunity to own a masterpiece at the palm of their hands. 

Through this offer, Infinity takes mobile lifestyle experience to a whole new level by merging the latest smartphone technology and contemporary art via incorporating the invaluable aesthetics of National Artist for Visual Arts Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera. 

Now, Smart Infinity members can live the Smart Life with a timeless masterpiece on hand. “It doesn’t get any better than owning a BenCab masterpiece,” said Julie Carceller, head of Smart Infinity. “Brilliant art by an artist as gifted as BenCab should not only be confined in one’s home or inside the museum,” she added. 

Limited edition 

Smart Infinity’s Limited Edition BenCab smartphone includes an exclusive Samsung Galaxy Note 5 with phone edition number engraved on its back, a BenCab commemorative art book, a BenCab designed protective hardcover, certificate of authenticity, BenCab’s digital wallpaper art and pre-installed Samsung Art Apps. This rich collection of BenCab works can easily resolve any art enthusiast’s fix for aesthetics every day.

“We recently held an event with BenCab, who delicately crafted an on-the-spot masterpiece using the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, demonstrating the convergence of art and technology by digitally illustrating his Sabel-inspired creation. Merging technology and traditional art to fit a specific and elegant lifestyle definitely represents Smart Infinity’s vision for its member,” added Julie Carceller.

“We are very proud of this partnership. This exemplifies the Smart Life by empowering our subscribers’ passions with the power of digital lifestyle.” This once-in-a-lifetime offer is available via Smart Infinity’s Consumable LTE Plan 5000, which provides its subscribers with 400 texts, 4005 pesos worth of consumable credits and 30GB of monthly data allocation. And in the tradition of providing exclusive treats to its subscribers, Smart Infinity is also giving away free 10 thousand Lifestyle options or 13 thousand Mabuhay Miles upon subscribing of this exclusive offer.

Aside from Consumable LTE Plan 5000, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 BenCab Limited Edition offer is also available in Smart Infinity’s Consumable LTE Plan 3500 and Consumable LTE Plan 8000. Own a piece of BenCab’s exclusive art works alongside the sleek and sought-after Samsung Galaxy Note 5 smartphone now.

For more information, please call the Smart Infinity hotline 848-8806 or visit Smart Infinity’s website http://smart.com.ph/infinity/samsungnote5.

A Seda Staycation

If you are looking to do a staycation in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig, transiting from the airport to head out of Metro Manila in a day or so, or are in town for business, and you want to be right in BGC, close to Serendra and the shops by High Street, then Ayala-owned hotel, Seda BGC, is your best bet.

The view from our room, Bonifacio High Street and the BGC skyline!

More of a business hotel than a luxury hotel, it has the basic, functional comforts one would expect from any decent hotel.

A bright, modern lobby and front desk

The seating area at the lobby showcases Philippine designed furniture, and is right across One Serendra, very close to the restaurants

Check emails or do some quick Googling at the e-lounge by the front desk

For health and recreation, there's an outdoor pool that's open from 6am to 8pm and a 24 hour gym on the second floor. Plus the whole of BGC is runner friendly.

The rooms are spacious enough. We got to spend a night at their 45 square meter suite room with a king sized bed, and while we've stayed in bigger hotel rooms, I think the beauty of Seda BGC is that the location can't be beat.

All one-bedroom corner suites like ours have a separate bedroom and living room.

And kitchenette with microwave. 

We brought along one yaya, and the staff at Seda happily set up a bed for her at the living room. We also asked for a baby cot for Tepper, and it fit into our room, no prob.

For meals, there's Misto, a restaurant at the ground floor, and Straight Up Bar on the roof deck, but everyday meals like breakfast and afternoon snacks are taken at the cozy Club Lounge on the 15th floor.

 

unlimited drinks at the Club Lounge

If you're looking for something stronger, head up to Straight Up Bar. There's plenty of good reason why - a complimentary buffet of canapes for any order of alcoholic drinks. This happens daily, from 6:00 - 8:00 PM. Winner, winner. Almost like having dinner. Hahaha.

Because of Seda BGC's spot on location, it has excellent facilities for meetings, conferences and events as well. They have four fully-equipped function rooms that can accommodate small meetings of 14 persons to cocktail receptions for 150.

the corridor leading to the 2nd floor function rooms, accessible by stairs and elevators

 classroom style set-up in one of the function rooms

If you're looking for a hotel that guarantees you value for your money, you've found the place!

Seda BGC is located 30 minutes from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and just 15 minutes away from the Makati Central Business District (CBD).  Other Seda Hotel locations are Seda Centrio in Cagayan de Oro City, Seda Abreeza in Davao, and Seda Nuvali in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Seda BGC
30th Street corner 11th Avenue
Bonifacio Global City Taguig City, 1634
Philippines
T: (632) 9458888 | (632) 5885700
F: (632) 9458891
Email: bgc@sedahotels.com