Synopsis

I retired.

Our departure date for Mactan will be April 3rd, 2025.

Summary

• Purpose: Relocate from Sacramento, CA to Philippines due to retirement.
• Departure Date: March 29th, 2025 (Saturday)
• Departure Location: Sacramento, CA United States of America
• Arrival Date: April 4th, 2025 (Friday)
• Arrival Location: Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Philippines
• Total Cost: $4,202.71

Map(s)

Narrative

March 8th, 2025

Using EVA Airways website, I booked one-way tickets for Arlyn and I to fly from San Francisco, CA to Cebu Mactan airport.

Itinerary

Flight Number	Departure Date/Time	Departure Airport	Arrival Date/Time	Arrival Airport	Class	Duration
EVA BR27	April 3, 2025 00:25 AM	San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Terminal 1	April 4, 2025 05:15 AM	Taiwan Taoyuan International (TPE) Terminal 2	Economy	13h 50m
Layover						2h 45m
EVA BR281	April 4, 2025 08:00 AM	Taiwan Taoyuan International (TPE) Terminal 2	April 4, 2025 10:50 AM	Cebu International (CEB) Terminal 2	Economy	2h 55m
Total						19h 30m

I made reservations at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Sacramento Airport located in Woodland, CA. The reservation was for March 29th to April 2nd, 2025. The estimated amount for the stay was $649.60.

Payee	Item	Cost	Form of Payment
EVA Air	One-way tickets to Cebu	$1,024.40	Credit
Total		$1,024.40

March 12th, 2025

We needed some lodging somewhere in Cebu when we landed on April 4th. Through Airbnb, I found a nice studio condominium at the Tambuli Seaside Living Resort. I booked it for a full month, April 4th to May 4th. The cost was $1,120.46.

Payee	Item	Cost	Form of Payment
Airbnb	Lodging for April 2025	$1,120.46	Credit
Total		$1,120.46

March 27th, 2025

I received an email from EVA Air stating that upgrades were available to Premium Economy class for the San Francisco to Taipei segment of our trip. Arlyn and I talked it over and decided to give a whirl.

March 28th, 2025

I submit a bid to EVA Air for an upgrade to Premium Economy for $800.00 that includes both passengers.

I submit a change of address on the USPS website.

Payee	Item	Cost	Form of Payment
USPS	Change of Address	$1.10	Debit
Total		$1.10

March 29th, 2025

We spent the last night in our home in Sacramento on March 28th, 2025. Most of the furniture and belongings had been prepared for storage and we were at the point where our house could no longer sustain us.

We took the bags we designated for our intial stay in Cebu and headed over to the Marriott Fairfield Inn & Suites Sacramento Airport in Woodland, California.

March 30th, 2025

We got up in the morning and enjoyed the free breakfast provided by the hotel. We were staying in the same hotel this evening, so we did not need to check out of the hotel.

This was our last day before the movers were to show up. We had more packing to do.

March 31st, 2025

We got up in the morning and enjoyed the free breakfast provided by the hotel. We were staying in the same hotel this evening, so we did not need to check out of the hotel.

The movers would be arriving between 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM. They were to call me one hour prior to arrival. They will work as late into the evening as I would allow. We can leave the house in their care if need be.

Payee	Item	Cost	Form of Payment
Sizzler	Lunch	$50.55	Debit
Panda Express	Dinner	$19.01	Debit
Total		$69.56

April 1st, 2025

At 3:00 AM, the Philippine's eTravel system became available for our arrival date and time to the Philippines. This can be done no earlier than 72 hours prior to arrival. That meant that registration cannot be done until this time.

We got up in the morning and enjoyed the free breakfast provided by the hotel. We were staying in the same hotel this evening, so we did not need to check out of the hotel.

This was to be the second and final day for the movers. They need to wrap things up on this day.

At around 1:00 PM, the movers completed the packing of their truck. Arlyn and I return to the house to take some last pictures of our empty home.

At 1:33 PM, I received an email from EVA Air. They accepted our bid of $800.00 for an upgrade to Premium Class.

Payee	Item	Cost	Form of Payment
Panera	Lunch	$21.51	Debit
EVA Air	Upgrade to Economy Plus	$800.00	Credit
Applebee's	Dinner	$56.66	Debit
Total		$878.17

April 2nd, 2025

After a long day at the house, we returned back to the hotel late on April 1st. I then logged into the Philippine's eTravel system and registered our travel plans. They were processed and I received confirmation on April 2, 12:22 AM.

This is the URL to the Philippine's eTravel system: https://etravel.gov.ph/.

This is a free service and must be performed by every person arriving into the Philippines within 72 hours of arrival.

Upon receiving the eTravel confirmation, we finally headed off to bed.

We got up in the morning and enjoyed the free breakfast provided by the hotel. We were staying in the same hotel this evening, so we did not need to check out of the hotel.

Later that afternoon, we drove to turn our house keys over to Parm Atwal, our realtor. We are now homeless.

Payee	Item	Cost	Form of Payment
Jack's Urban Eats	Lunch	$28.17	Debit
In 'n Out (Woodland)	Dinner	$9.18	Debit
Total		$37.35

April 3rd, 2025

We got up in the morning and enjoyed the free breakfast provided by the hotel. Since we are leaving the country on this day, we needed to check out of the hotel and drive to the San Francisco, CA International Airport. Check out time from the hotel is 12:00 PM.

We had to stop at Safeway and fill up on gas before starting our drive to San Francisco.

Upon reaching the Bay Area, we headed over to Carvana to sell our GMC Terrain. Once the transaction was completed, we contacted Uber for a van to pick us up from Carvana and take us to SFO.

We arrived at SFO with plenty of time to spare. The sun was still up and check-in was not scheduled to begin for another 3 to 4 hours. So we entered into the airport and located the EVA Air ticket counter. We got in line and waited.

At around 9:00 PM, the ticket counter opened and passengers started the process of checking in. We hit a snag as we found out our luggage was grossly overweight. We had to pay extra. Once check-in was completed, we headed over to the gate, grabbed some food along the way and waited to start the next chapter of our lives.

Payee	Item	Cost	Form of Payment
Fairfield Inn & Suites	Lodging	$654.05	Debit
McDonalds (Woodland)	Lunch	$13.80	Debit
Safeway (Sacramento)	Fuel	$44.48	Debit
Uber from Carvana to SFO	Taxi	$50.14	Debit
Uber Tip	Taxi	$15.00	Debit
Smart Cart	Luggage Cart	$18.00	Debit
EVA Air	Luggage Overweight	$230.00	Debit
Hudsons (SFO)	Snack	$4.99	Debit
Black Point (SFO)	Snack	$22.86	Debit
Hudsons (SFO)	Snack	$18.35	Debit
Total		$1,071.67