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Tommy
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
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 Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 7:51 pm Post subject: |
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Just booked the ticket. $285 + tax is possible with Cebu Pacific (~$445 total). Unfortunately, their website doesn't include Incheon when searching through the schedules, so you have to phone them directly to get quotes or go through a travel agent.
Because they didn't have the return date I wanted from Manila, and also because Manila - Cebu or anywhere for that matter is an additional $100, I decided to fly Incheon directly to Cebu, and it ended up being cheaper. Worked out pretty well since I ended up paying less and staying longer (8 days). Wikitravel has revealed some decent budget resorts for Cebu.. so I'll look into those.
Taiwantroll, Siquijor looks somewhat close to Tagbilaran... maybe I'll take Ttompatz's advice and catch a boat there.
Next, travel insurance... |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Tommy wrote: |
Just booked the ticket. $285 + tax is possible with Cebu Pacific (~$445 total). Unfortunately, their website doesn't include Incheon when searching through the schedules, so you have to phone them directly to get quotes or go through a travel agent.
Because they didn't have the return date I wanted from Manila, and also because Manila - Cebu or anywhere for that matter is an additional $100, I decided to fly Incheon directly to Cebu, and it ended up being cheaper. Worked out pretty well since I ended up paying less and staying longer (8 days). Wikitravel has revealed some decent budget resorts for Cebu.. so I'll look into those.
Taiwantroll, Siquijor looks somewhat close to Tagbilaran... maybe I'll take Ttompatz's advice and catch a boat there.
Next, travel insurance... |
p3000 will get you a banka off the beach at Alona for the trip to Siquijor and back ((long) day trip). Take it alone or find others and share the cost.
IF you want to overnight and take the boat back the next day you will have to pay the boatman's stay or find your own way back at your convenience.
Be very cautious of the cheap hotels in Cebu city. There are NO budget resorts on the beach worth staying at in Cebu city. You are forewarned.
I personally would NOT stay at most of the hotels listed in the budget section of http://wikitravel.org/en/Cebu_City .
Ace Pensionne in Lapu-lapu is safer, more convenient and in the same price range as the budget places shown on the wiki webpage. The Crown Regency (Cebu) is another decent choice and rates are affordable. There is also another pension next door to ACE (I forgot the name) that is also OK.
The Hotel Cecesario is also on Mactan and affordable, includes breakfast AND free airport pickup (great if your flight drops down after dark).
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Tommy
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
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| Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 1:43 am Post subject: |
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A few little things:
I know I just read this, but can't find it - is the immigration office at the airport open 24/7? I need to get a single re-entry visa, but don't wanna go all the way Mokdong.
Also, I wanna do some snorkeling when I get there. I read that renting scuba equipment isn't bad, but snorkeling equipment is low quality. Is it worth me investing in a simple mask and snorkel? What's a good price? On my lunch break I went up the street to the scuba store and a simple package was around 40,000W. Or should I pick something up in Cebu? |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:03 am Post subject: |
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| Tommy wrote: |
A few little things:
I know I just read this, but can't find it - is the immigration office at the airport open 24/7? I need to get a single re-entry visa, but don't wanna go all the way Mokdong.
Also, I wanna do some snorkeling when I get there. I read that renting scuba equipment isn't bad, but snorkeling equipment is low quality. Is it worth me investing in a simple mask and snorkel? What's a good price? On my lunch break I went up the street to the scuba store and a simple package was around 40,000W. Or should I pick something up in Cebu? |
Immigration at the airport (for a re-entry permit) is open 6am - 10pm.
You can bring your mask and snorkel with you or you can buy it there.
You can get cheap stuff or you can get good stuff. The choice is yours. Both are available. Cheap stuff will be 10k won for a mask/snorkel. A good mask will run 40k or more at a sport shop in one of the major malls.
Rental stuff is usually crap.
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crazy_arcade
Joined: 05 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 7:30 am Post subject: |
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I haven't read this thread yet because I need to head to bed.
However, I have a quick question I wanna ask.
My ladyfriend and I are planning to go to the Philippines for two weeks: Boracay and Palawan. Question is...how long should we plan for Boracay?
Thanks. |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 6:20 pm Post subject: |
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| I'd say Boracay is good for at least four to five nights, depending on your tastes. If you must see sights, then go elsewhere, but for water sports, a beautiful beach and a great time, Boracay is excellent! |
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crazy_arcade
Joined: 05 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 8:39 pm Post subject: |
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Yup...I was thinking about 4 or 5 days in Boracay.
Then from there...where should we head to see some sights and such?
I was thinking for two weeks: beach it up in Boracay--see some sights and travel around a bit--then beach it up somewhere else--
Also...I was thinking about just one day in manilla at the very end to do some shopping and check it out. however, I've been warned repeatedly about manilla--what do you think? |
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Dukey77777
Joined: 28 Jun 2007
Location: Chungcheongbuk-do
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| Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 8:20 pm Post subject: |
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| What's so bad about Manila? Is it worse than Bangkok? Personally, I loved Bangkok but you can't stay there for too long. |
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butlerian
Joined: 04 Sep 2006
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 12:12 am Post subject: |
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| Dukey77777 wrote: |
| What's so bad about Manila? Is it worse than Bangkok? Personally, I loved Bangkok but you can't stay there for too long. |
Much, much, much, much, much...worse than Bangkok. Can't compare the two - and I'm not even very fond of Bangkok! |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 3:07 am Post subject: |
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| Dukey77777 wrote: |
| What's so bad about Manila? Is it worse than Bangkok? Personally, I loved Bangkok but you can't stay there for too long. |
I've spent time in both. I WISH Manila was like Bangkok. It's not. I really like Bangkok, (but I've unfortunately spent much more time n Manila).
Plusses of Manila - amazing nightlife, extremely large shopping malls, and English is spoken everywhere.
However, the streets are crawling with human vermin. I think the #1 problem is that the many people in the street WILL approach you asking for something all the time. You'll also get little groups of street children surrounding you and you have to watch your pockets - meanwhile their mothers are playing gambling games and telling their kids to beg from you. You'll see other mothers with kids with NO CLOTHES. They'll walk around with naked kids just to create sympathy from the foreigners for some pesos. It just goes on and on like that.
When you are INSIDE - like the malls, bars, clubs, restaurants, than Manila is GREAT. But the moment you step outside, you have many people with many different angles trying to separate you from your money.
The rest of the Philippines is fine and very safe, but Manila can be very exhausting. The other thing is that MANILA TAXI DRIVERS are also NOT to be trusted. I've had some good ones, but generally, most of them have an incredibly strong will to overcharge you or rip you off or take the long way to things - which will also be very taxing to deal with every single time you get in one. |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:21 pm Post subject: |
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I haven't hit Manila yet, but I hear the pollution is as bad as Beijing's or what Seoul used to have in the 1970s and 80s.
Plus, I hear you shouldn't use your credit card in Manila unless it's an upscale joint like a hotel or fancy restaurant.
That said, I definitely like the Phils more than Thailand! |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 7:10 pm Post subject: |
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Love the Phils, HATE Manila with a passion. I avoid it whenever possible (even the airport).
I pay the extra to fly into Cebu and use that as my base to travel around (and I have done lots of travel there).
There is NOTHING good to say about Manila.
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crazy_arcade
Joined: 05 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 8:11 pm Post subject: |
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I got a question that I hope someone can answer.
My girlfriend and I are planning to go to Boracay and Alona Beach/Bohol.
We're thinking 4-5 days in Boracay and about 5 days on Bohol. Then finishing up with just a night or two in Manilla. Would it be possible to get from Boracay to Bohol or vice versa--or would we have to go through Cebu?
Also, how's Bohol for scootering around? Are there any nature/jungles hotels that would be fun to stay a night at?
Cheers. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 1:17 am Post subject: |
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| crazy_arcade wrote: |
I got a question that I hope someone can answer.
My girlfriend and I are planning to go to Boracay and Alona Beach/Bohol.
We're thinking 4-5 days in Boracay and about 5 days on Bohol. Then finishing up with just a night or two in Manilla. Would it be possible to get from Boracay to Bohol or vice versa--or would we have to go through Cebu?
Also, how's Bohol for scootering around? Are there any nature/jungles hotels that would be fun to stay a night at?
Cheers. |
From Boracay (either Caticlan or Kalibo airports) you can fly to Cebu or Manila.
IF you fly to Manila you can catch a flight to Bohol (Tagbilaran).
IF you fly to Cebu you can catch a ferry to Bohol (Tubigon or Tagbilaran).
Once you get to Bohol you will need a taxi/trike (Tagbilaran to Alona beach) or a V-hire (Tubigon to Tag) then a cab to Alona. The fast ferry only runs about 4 times per day to Tag but there are frequent ferries to Tubigon. Try to NOT arrive after 5pm. Hard to get ground transport from Tubigon after 5pm.
The taxi rate from Tag out to Alona is 1.5* the meter rate and should run about p300-p350. Don't pay any more.
Bohol is great for scootering around.
http://www.bohol.ph/ to give you an idea of what is there away from Alona beach. |
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crazy_arcade
Joined: 05 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 6:18 am Post subject: |
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Wow!
Great great advice! Thanks a million.
I feel greedy but I have more questions.
Accomodation around Alona Beach seems to be a bit of a mystery. We're looking for something nice...guesthouse resort style that isn't going to break the bank. Any recommendations?
Also, we are planning two nights around the Alona Beach area and two nights near Loboc at Nut's Huts. Should we do Alona Beach first or vice versa? |
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