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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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 Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 10:01 pm Post subject: Cebu Advice Needed |
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| I'm going to Cebu in two weeks, and I'm wondering what there is to do. I'm mostly going for a break and karaoke, but what are some good restaurants to hit and good hotels to stay in? |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 10:31 pm Post subject: Re: Cebu Advice Needed |
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| Yaya wrote: |
| I'm going to Cebu in two weeks, and I'm wondering what there is to do. I'm mostly going for a break and karaoke, but what are some good restaurants to hit and good hotels to stay in? |
Hotels depend entirely on your budget.
In the 50k won range there is the Bella Vista on Mactan (5 minutes from the airport - with free airport shuttle). 5 minute walk to Marina mall, and lots of local nightlife.
25k won puts you in their sister hotel (Cessario hotel) right next door. 24 hour room service, pool, 2 restaurants, walking distance to a couple malls and lots of local flavor just down the street. PHP 120 for a taxi to SM, P150 to Ayalla and p150 to the ferry piers.
In the 100k won per night range there is the Marriott next to Ayalla mall. Lots of western style eating places there (not just fast food).
In the 200k won per night there are the Hilton, Plantation bay and Shangri-la resorts.
At the opposite end, in the 20k won range there is the Hadsan resort (very down scale but it has an OK beach).
In the 10-15k won range there are a large number of Pensions. The ACE pension across the street from the Gaisano Mactan mall is OK at about 10k won.
I would honestly suggest catching a ferry from Cebu to Tagbilaran on Bohol (2-3 hours).
Alona beach and Tagbilaran have LOTS of affordable places, local and tourist night life, and a great way to spend a week or two. Beach fun or tourist stuff for the daytime and dining, dancing, dating for the evenings.
A deluxe room at the bohol Tropics resort is about 60k won per night.
A basic room at the same resort can be had for about 40k.
This resort does NOT have a beach but is in town and has 2 pools, 2 restaurants, bar, dive shop and many dive boats.
http://www.boholtropics.com/
Alona tropical out on Alona beach has rooms from 25k won.
There is a world of information here:
http://www.bohol.ph/
Feel free to ask any specific questions. Cebu and Bohol are my 2nd home. |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 1:34 am Post subject: |
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| What about day tours, how much are they? And will someone try to mug or steal from me, as I hear they do in Manila? |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 2:28 am Post subject: |
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| Yaya wrote: |
| What about day tours, how much are they? And will someone try to mug or steal from me, as I hear they do in Manila? |
In Cebu you can hire a taxi for about 40k won for an 8 hour shift (a little more for gas if you are going out of town). The going rate is about 250pesos ($5 per hour) for a cab.
Rates are similar on Bohol.
http://www.bigjimsphilippinesexperience.com/videos1.htm
You may find the videos and information on Jim Sibbick's home page to be helpful.
http://www.bigjimsphilippinesexperience.com/
In regards to getting mugged/robbed.... a little street sense goes a long way.
Don't take a bus or travel outside the city at night.
After dark, take a taxi and NOT a jeepney or multicab. |
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nautilus
Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Location: Je jump, Tu jump, oui jump!
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| Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 2:56 am Post subject: |
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Hi Tompattz- i'm going to Mindoro- Puerto galleria & Sabang in may. i'm after some nice beaches, jungle hiking, and a nightclub/bar or two.
Do I need any vaccinations? Can i drink the tap water? Do things get stolen a lot? |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 3:11 am Post subject: |
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| nautilus wrote: |
Hi Tompattz- i'm going to Mindoro- Puerto galleria & Sabang in may. i'm after some nice beaches, jungle hiking, and a nightclub/bar or two.
Do I need any vaccinations? Can i drink the tap water? Do things get stolen a lot? |
If it ain't locked down it will get stolen.
You should have had HepA and B. If not, then GET THEM.
+If you don't there is a high risk of HepA from undercooked food, ice in your drink and dirty glasses.
+ You have a high risk of catching HepB if you engage in activities other than drinking and dancing at the night clubs. Sabang is NOT known for it's virginal, innocent girls.
Take your mosquito spray/lotion (lots!). There is NO vaccination against Dengue fever. (jungle hiking)
DO NOT drink the tap water. Bottled water is available as well as San Mig beer and coca cola.
The locals price for San Mig (at the bar) is less than US .50 per bottle.
Hard drinks run about $2 each.
A bottle of Tanduay is about $5 in the sari-sari store. Tuba (isang uri ng alak in Tagalog) - coconut palm wine is about $1 per gallon jug from any local. |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 6:37 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the information, but I am wondering about something. I'm taking an evening direct flight to Cebu that will land at 1:45 a.m. Philippine time. Can I keep myself busy until noon and then check into my hotel or what?
And should I leave Cebu City for an island immediately? |
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merkurix
Joined: 21 Dec 2006
Location: Not far from the deep end.
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| Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 6:56 am Post subject: |
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You'd better check into a hotel immediately after you check in. You should call them in advance and tell them about your arrival date so they can expect you. I've been to Cebu and honestly it is not a good idea to play around in the wee hours of the night (unless you know people there).
The best hotels are featured in the Lonely Planet Phillipines. I made the mistake of booking in an slightly obscure hotel where the prices were quite expensive and a swarm of people were waiting to aggressively peddle their services at the front gate. When I left the resort to take a little nature walk, I had a small cloud of people following me around for 1 km trying to peddle taxi rides, souvenirs, restaurants, massages, boat tours, etc. Some of them will almost not take "no" for an answer. Not very enjoyable.
Kindness is never free. If someone offers to carry your bags or lend you their cellphone, or show you the way to a particular point of interest, be prepared to tip out. Granted they will want about $1 or $2 but it can still be annoying.
Change all of your money in Korea for honest exchange rates. Exchange booths in Cebu will rip you off as the won is undervalued there. And carry around a lot of small bills. Many people, especially taxi drivers will "conveniently" not have any change.
Haggle the bejesus out of anyone who is offering services. It is not too hard to shake them down to a fair bargain.
If you get these tiny annoyances out of the way, it is a rewarding place to visit. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 9:06 am Post subject: |
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| Yaya wrote: |
Thanks for the information, but I am wondering about something. I'm taking an evening direct flight to Cebu that will land at 1:45 a.m. Philippine time. Can I keep myself busy until noon and then check into my hotel or what?
And should I leave Cebu City for an island immediately? |
I take that flight all the time.
For your first night in Cebu call the Bella Vista. Tel: +63-32-340-7821. Room is about US$60 and includes airport pickup and all you can eat buffet breakfast. Don't use the money changer in the hotel. Get about 5000-10,000 pesos (100-200k won) at the Incheon airport before you head out. Make sure you get some smaller bills (not all 1000s).
The next morning you can walk out the front door, cross the street and turn left. Walk for about 15 minutes until you come to a yellow strip mall. This is Marina mall. The money changer there will give you the best rates on US$ exchange and will also change Korean won but they were about 5% lower than the internet exchange rates on KRW.
If you are budget minded you can move down the road to the Ace pension for the next couple days. It runs about $15 per night.
Spend a day or two in Cebu - hire a cab and tour the town. Negotiate your price. Should be about p250 per hour + meals for the car/driver.
Then catch the fast ferry over to Tagbilaran and head down to Alona Beach. The fast ferry takes about 2.5 hours and the slow boats take about 5 hours.
On the beach the best place to stay (location wise and value) is the Alona Tropical.
Spend as long as you want on the beach. Rest, relax, snorkel, scuba, dine, drink and enjoy.
Then you can head back into Tagbilaran. Spend a day or two at the Bohol Tropics resort by the pool. Do some shopping at the BQ mall downtown or head up to the new mall. Prices are really cheap compared to here.
Then you can hire a car and do the island tour thing. You can rush through it in one day or take your time and do 1/2 the island on one day and 1/2 on the next day. With any luck you will find someone to go with you (always more fun with a friend).
With about 4 days left before your departure back to Korea you should head back to Cebu. The cheapest places to get souvineers are the street vendors by the Lapu-lapu shrine on Mactan.
Do your last minute shopping at SM or Ayalla mall, enjoy cheap, western style food and prepare to come back. |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 12:58 am Post subject: |
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| Should I make the reservations beforehand, or do it while I'm there? |
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merkurix
Joined: 21 Dec 2006
Location: Not far from the deep end.
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| Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 2:16 am Post subject: |
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| Yaya wrote: |
| Should I make the reservations beforehand, or do it while I'm there? |
I strongly recommend you do it beforehand, as it is very possible to get deep discounts over the phone while you are still shopping for a place(they don't want to lose potential customers to other hotels; the Lonely Planet say up to 40% in some places). It may be harder to haggle in person. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:28 am Post subject: |
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| Yaya wrote: |
| Should I make the reservations beforehand, or do it while I'm there? |
Call the Bella Visa for your 1st night (number posted above) and they will make sure you're picked up (in their MARKED van) directly off your flight. He will be standing outside the arrivals door with a sign that has your name on it. This service is included in the hotel rate and NOT an extra charge.
Ignore the touts outside the arrivals door (they are not legal porters) and don't let go of your luggage till you get to the van. The touts will expect a tip and you won't have small peso notes. The van driver will be in a hotel uniform.
It is a bitch getting an honest cab from the airport at 2am. If you do need one, go out of the arrivals door, turn right and go UP the stairs to the departures level. Here you will find METER taxis. The ones downstairs flat rate at about 2 times the meter rate.
If you want to go for cheaper accomodation for your other nights, just walk down the street.
The Cessario (right next door) is 1/2 the price of the Bella Vista and still includes breakfast and the pool (at the bella vista).
The Ace pension (and the other 2 beside it) are 1/2 that price again. (out the door of the bella vista and down the street about 1km). Right across the street from the MACTAN Gaisano mall.
There are lots of high end places (US$100+ per night). If you want info on those, let me know.
There is no shortage of rooms at your expected travel time and in the city, most (unless they are really downscale) won't negotiate the overnight rate but may add extra "optional" features like a mini fridge for no extra charge.
There are also (cheap) places like the Century hotel and others downtown. Not my prefered locality (I hate having to keep one hand on my wallet all day) but some are into it.
Rates ARE very negotiable for longer stays (weekly / monthly).
If you go downscale (like low end pension houses) you may need to supply your own toiletries like soap, shampoo, etc.
If/When you head over to Alona beach it will be much the same.
Walk down the beach and pick a place. Ask if they have a room and how much. If you don't like the price, move on. There are about 20 resorts right on the beach and about a dozen more on the road above the beach.
Rates run from P600 (cabins behind OOPs bar - not recommended) to P7500 (Alona PALM resort). I like the Alona tropical with rates of about P1200 (US$25 - breakfast included).
If you decide to stay in the city (Tagbilaran) while you are on Bohol Island (Alona beach), then choose upscale at the Metro hotel (business style hotel), Bohol tropical resort, or Taver's Pension, Remolador Street, Tel. +63 38 411 4896. There are others but these are the 3 I would stay in again.
The rates at the metro run from $30(room)-$80 (penthouse suite). Bohol tropical- $40-60. Taver's pension $15 ish. |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 8:20 am Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| Yaya wrote: |
| Should I make the reservations beforehand, or do it while I'm there? |
Call the Bella Visa for your 1st night (number posted above) and they will make sure you're picked up (in their MARKED van) directly off your flight. |
Yaya, if you do stay here.. remember, this is not the real Cebu. Its Mactan Island.. out where the airport is at.. and its grimey dirty and disgusting area. However, that hotel is very nice.. a sancuary in the grime pit of Mactan Island. But I'd agree with ttompatz, that coming in at 1:45a.m., its probably easier to just stay near the airport. Particularly if they have a shuttle bus.
Right next door is the Cesaria Hotel.. its about half the price, and you can use the pool and sauna over at Bella Vista - its included somehow. Rooms are quite spartan at Cesaria however.. and the pool would be closed throughout the night.. but if you are basically sleeping.. its another option near the airport. Doubt if they have the airport shuttle service though.
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The next day, try to get into Cebu.. preferably near Ayala Mall or Luhag (or even the first night, if you are inclined to travel by taxi for a good 40 minutes - Cebu's airport isn't in Cebu).
There are a few pensions and hotels within walking distance of Ayala Mall.. they are Golden Peak (the best of that lot in that area), Kukuk's Nest (the worst of that lot).. and Pensionne La Florentina (the imbetween one - thats where I've often stayed). Around the corner is the Wineshop with some good Spanish wine and Italian foods.
If you explore Cebu more.. be sure to hit Sunflower Disco (take a taxi - its cheap to take taxis in Cebu and they are very honest)..
I also have a favorite expat bar there.. its across the street and to the left from Giasano Country Mall.. can't recall the name right now.. but 4 foreigners co-own it.. has pool tables.. and they are a wealth of Cebu information.
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I'd also agree with the ferry boat to Bohol.. Alona Beach is gorgeous.. fine white sands and great beach establishments.. however, gotta warn you.. if you go by yourself, you might feel very very bored. Its mostly a lot of German, Austrian, Swedish divers.. you'll see their respective flags plastered everywhere.. and you'll wonder a few times if you are the only English speaker around at times. But its an incredibly gorgeous place - closest to Boracay that I saw anywhere in the Philippines - although personally I'd just go to Boracay over it.. but Alona Beach is gorgeous though. |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 5:30 pm Post subject: |
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| Is it worth just to stay around Cebu and not hit an island? I will arrive on Cebu early Tuesday morning and leave Friday afternoon. Can I just hit a beach on Cebu without heading to an island? I need my nightlife. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 12:54 am Post subject: |
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| Yaya wrote: |
| Is it worth just to stay around Cebu and not hit an island? I will arrive on Cebu early Tuesday morning and leave Friday afternoon. Can I just hit a beach on Cebu without heading to an island? I need my nightlife. |
Any place with a beach (with the exception of the Hadsan resort) in the vicinity of Cebu CITY will be expensive (US$100+ per night).
Are you only there for 4 days / 3 nights, then it won't matter. Maribago, the Hilton or Shangri-la will fill the bill.
What budget and what nightlife are you talking about and I could give you some better advice. If you prefer something a little more discrete in the way of advice you can PM me. |
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