Korean Job Discussion Forums

Binch Lover · Joined: 25 Jul 2005

I just booked flights to Manila for 6 days. I want to hit a nice beach somewhere reasonably close. From research, Puerto Galera seems the place to go, specifically White Beach.

Has anyone been there recently? Any recommendations for places to stay?

RnH · Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Location: Korea

Hi,

White beach is ok if you just want to do a bit of relaxing, nothing spectacular though. There are quite a few little places with rooms, so you shouldn't have a problem finding a place to stay.

If you end up heading all the way to Puerto Galera though, I would suggest bussing it another 4 hours and a short banca ride to Pandan Island - www.pandan.com. There is only one resort on the island and accomodation is cheap! The snorkelling right off the beach is FANTASTIC, not to mention the turtles!! It's the place to go if you're looking to get away from it all! NOT the place to go if you're looking to socialise!

You can also take a flight to a town nearby, then a 3 hour bus. Flights with cebu pacific are usually very cheap - around $40 one-way.

Of course, there are loads of nice beaches around the Philippines that can be reached with a quick $40 flight..such as Alona beach on Bohol.

Have fun!

Yaya · Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: Seoul

roadwork · Joined: 24 Nov 2008 Location: Goin' up the country

Moldy Rutabaga · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Location: Ansan, Korea

I was there in 2004, so my information may be a little dated, but I took a bus from the Manila airport to the shore and then a banca to Puerto Galera. PG itself is nice for shopping and looking around but is not really a beach. For that, you can go a few minutes west to White Beach and Aninuin, which are nice if you want quiet, or east to Sabang, which has a little more action. Neither are really swimming beaches to my memory but are good places to chill and the coral is pretty. There are boat tours and lots of Germans there to scuba dive.

If you want to swim, in terms of time it is probably the same to fly to Boracay via Caticlan, which is more touristy but is a beautiful little island, and the best sunsets I have seen in my life. Costs will be slightly more, but overall the country is a cheap stay.

Filipinos will not give you the hard sell you might find in Vietnam or Bali. When you arrive you will get bugged a little by touts for places to stay, but we told them what we wanted and what we wanted to pay, and they were actually pretty good. Do not worry about finding a place.

A day is enough to see Manila. The old quarter and the malls are fun. But I would not feel very safe at night and it is not a must-see.

Pics: http://keneckert.com/pictures/picbranch.html

Ken:>