New to Leap Local? Learn More

Inappropriate / Inaccurate? Arnel Astillero

Location: Bicol Peninsula
Country: Philippines
Speaks: bicol, english, filipino
Services: tours
Cost: Between $110 and $165 ($US per day / per item)
Recommended by: Cherie McCosker (Reesie), Dec. 11, 2008
Tell a friend about Arnel Astillero

Description:

Arnel runs the People to People Tour which is a fair trade tour that brings consumers of fair trade to Philippine fair trade producers. The tour fosters an understanding of the tangible benefits fair trade delivers to grassroots communities.

Arnel's catchcry is that he makes no grand claims for how the People to People Tours will change the world, but he does believe that they change those who go on them and those who are visited by them.

The People to People Tour, at present, is a 14 day tour going overland from Manila to Bicol on the Luzon Island. However, Arnel has future plans of creating a series of shorter trips that the participants can mix and match.

The tours are reasonably low impact so they are suitable for most age ranges.

The tour price is all-inclusive for the land based tours, and includes a social premium that goes back to local community development.

The tours are run on sustainable and responsible tourism principles, and maintain the fair trade ethos of ensuring that tourism benefits the host communities. As such, the participants stay and eat in locally-owned, low-impact but comfortable establishments.

Contact Details:

You must be logged in to view the contact details of this local. If you don't yet have a Leap Local user account, please register now.

I have used the services of this local and want to give a review	I am the local and want to update or comment on my profile
Add a photo.	Edit photos & captions.

Uploaded by Robert Norton on Jan. 27, 2009.

Leap Local Competition Winner May 2009 Uploaded by Leap Winners on May 19, 2009.

Customer Reviews

Overall
9.5 / 10
4 reviews

Cherie McCosker (recommender) (9 / 10)

reviewed Dec. 11, 2008, 9:43 a.m.

Cherie McCosker spent longer than 3 months with Arnel Astillero.

Description

I volunteered with Arnel at the Fair Trade NGO (Advocate of Philippine Fair Trade, Inc) where Arnel also works as the Program Development and Resource Mobilisation Manager.

Best bits: Arnel's smile and laugh - Arnel is a very approachable, welcoming and friendly person. He is very capable, intelligent and knowledgable, and has passed along a lot of his knowledge to those around him, including co-workers, foreign visitors and local partners. It was obvious that Arnel is very respected in all the circles he operates and has a good rapport with locals. Also, Arnel is sensitive to local issues, and he helps the participants navigate around these issues whilst walking away informed and empowered.

Worst bits: There were no bad bits!

Ratings

Overall experience: 9 / 10

Value for money: 9 / 10

Eco impact: 9 / 10

Does the local understand eco issues? Yes

Leap Winners (10 / 10)

reviewed May 19, 2009, 4:44 p.m.

Leap Winners spent 2 hours or less with Arnel Astillero.

Description

This is not a typical review – it is an opportunity to identify Arnel as a winner of Leap Local’s competition to reward good local guides and services. The best bits and worse bits are a snippet from our judges’ comments. More details about the competition are on our site.

Best bits: I am inspired by the combination of great local tours with a strong fair trade policy, meaning travellers gain greater awareness of the impact their trips have on the community. Arnel made the top six because his tour is unique and important, and he donates a portion of the tourist fee to local economies which is a bonus point for Arnel in my book. I liked his ‘catchcry’ that shows he doesn’t oversell his tours

Worst bits: Would be good to understand the portion of the tourist fee which goes to local economies. Need more reviews.

Ratings

Overall experience: 10 / 10

Value for money: 9 / 10

Eco impact: 9 / 10

Does the local understand eco issues? Yes

Profile Accuracy: 9 / 10

Comments:

Jenny Foster (10 / 10)

reviewed June 3, 2009, 12:02 p.m.

Jenny Foster spent 2-4 weeks with Arnel Astillero.

Description

We toured the Bicol area of the Philippines as well as Manila, visiting fairtrade producers and taking in tourist sites on the way, a wonderful combination of learning, experiencing and having fun.

Best bits: meeting fairtrade producers, swimming with whalesharks

Worst bits: none!

Ratings

Overall experience: 10 / 10

Value for money: 9 / 10

Eco impact: 9 / 10

Does the local understand eco issues? Yes

Profile Accuracy: 10 / 10

Comments:

Craig Sundberg (9 / 10)

reviewed Sept. 26, 2010, 12:52 a.m.

Craig Sundberg spent 2-5 days with Arnel Astillero.

Description

Tabaco City makes for easy access to the Mayon Volcano, While there I shopped at the Tabaco City Mall finding everything to fill my needs while I continued my Travels in the area. It has great access to the ocean, and to the Legendary Mayon Volcano, and also is an access point For the bus system to and From Manila.

Best bits: Incredible views, friendly people, good food.

Worst bits: Nothing

Ratings

Overall experience: 9 / 10

Value for money: 9 / 10

Eco impact: 5 / 10

Does the local understand eco issues? Not sure

Profile Accuracy: 5 / 10

Comments: