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azzwell
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: where the girls from Super Junior cannot find me
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 Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 4:59 pm Post subject: |
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| If you are going to Loboc, not much to do there, but a nice church. I have the mayors business card kicking around somewhere, got wasted with him on Red Horse a few years back. Like I pm'd you, stay at Nuts Huts, you will not regret it, but pick up your 'supplies' down on Alona before hand. |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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I'd go to Boracay before Bohol. I'm not really much into diving and don't care to be somewhere with a bunch of Germans.
I've been to Boracy three times and plan on going a bunch of more times. I know others who've been there more times and they never tire of the place. |
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BoholDiver
Joined: 03 Oct 2009
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 11:54 pm Post subject: |
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Awesome plan. Have a good time.
| megandadam wrote: |
thanks for the great advice everyone.
looks like we'll be going to Bohol!
our preliminary plan is to start out around Loboc and do some travelling and sightseeing, then heading to Paglao to get some relaxation time.
any other recommendations or advice for us??? |
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Wad
Joined: 19 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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| BoholDiver wrote: |
Awesome plan. Have a good time.
| megandadam wrote: |
thanks for the great advice everyone.
looks like we'll be going to Bohol!
our preliminary plan is to start out around Loboc and do some travelling and sightseeing, then heading to Paglao to get some relaxation time.
any other recommendations or advice for us??? |
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Only those that haven't spent any real time in Manila say there is nothing to do or see. I have spent 6 months a year for the last 20 years in the Philippines. Manila is the cultural center of the Philippines. Lots to do and see during the day (e.g. day trips out to Pagsanjan Falls, Corregidor Island, Tagatay, etc.) and nightlife is without comparison.
As far as resorts, forget Bohol or Boracy, terribly over priced and full of tourists. A decent hotel in either of these place will cost you upwards of 2000 pisos for basically a dump. If you are adventurous check out Northern and Eastern Samar. Beautiful beaches that are untouched. Either that or go to Mindanao, especially Camiguin Island. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 5:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Wad wrote: |
Only those that haven't spent any real time in Manila say there is nothing to do or see. I have spent 6 months a year for the last 20 years in the Philippines. Manila is the cultural center of the Philippines. Lots to do and see during the day (e.g. day trips out to Pagsanjan Falls, Corregidor Island, Tagatay, etc.) and nightlife is without comparison.
As far as resorts, forget Bohol or Boracy, terribly over priced and full of tourists. A decent hotel in either of these place will cost you upwards of 2000 pisos for basically a dump. If you are adventurous check out Northern and Eastern Samar. Beautiful beaches that are untouched. Either that or go to Mindanao, especially Camiguin Island. |
Luzon is OK, Manila is a DUMP. The problem lies in the fact that Luzon is prone to typhoons from July-December and flooding IS a problem as are mud slides and getting stranded when the roads disappear.
Head for the visayas or north eastern Mindanao is always a good idea BUT depending on the time available getting to the more out-of-the-way places may not always be convenient or possible on a short get-a-way.
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Patrick Hanley
Joined: 24 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 6:06 pm Post subject: |
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Is there good diving in Bohol, and also is it cheap i.e. accomadation etc. can anyone give me a price range for things to do?
Thanks |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 6:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Patrick Hanley wrote: |
Is there good diving in Bohol, and also is it cheap i.e. accomadation etc. can anyone give me a price range for things to do?
Thanks |
Room rates run from p500 for a hut with a foam pad on a bamboo bed with a fan to p10,000 for a full featured suite complete with satellite TV, IDD, bar, jetted tub, 1-2 bedrooms, etc.
Diving runs from about US$20 and up depending on how far the dive site is from the resort and how many people are on the boat.
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Wad
Joined: 19 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:10 pm Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
Luzon is OK, Manila is a DUMP. The problem lies in the fact that Luzon is prone to typhoons from July-December and flooding IS a problem as are mud slides and getting stranded when the roads disappear.
Head for the visayas or north eastern Mindanao is always a good idea BUT depending on the time available getting to the more out-of-the-way places may not always be convenient or possible on a short get-a-way. |
Ah..but it wouldn't be Manila if it wasn't a "dump" as you so eloquently put it. Many people, myself included, figure Manila is the only place to live in the Philippines. 
Typhoons are a fact of life anywhere in the Philippines. Samar probably being the worst hit area of the country. Not denying that mud slides don't exist, but I'm not sure where you go in Luzon. Ive never been stranded anywhere due to mud slides. I have been stranded due to typhoons though. But that can happen anywhere. The best highways in the country are in Luzon. What roads are you traveling?
The problem with small islands this time of the year, while sounding quite exotic, can be incredibly boring when it rains. And as you well know it can rain for days! The biggest problem then is what to do when there is no infrastructure, in other words, no theaters, no shopping malls, etc. Stuck in a Nippa hut days on end when it rains is not fun, well at least not for me. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 8:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Wad wrote: |
| ttompatz wrote: |
Luzon is OK, Manila is a DUMP. The problem lies in the fact that Luzon is prone to typhoons from July-December and flooding IS a problem as are mud slides and getting stranded when the roads disappear.
Head for the visayas or north eastern Mindanao is always a good idea BUT depending on the time available getting to the more out-of-the-way places may not always be convenient or possible on a short get-a-way. |
Ah..but it wouldn't be Manila if it wasn't a "dump" as you so eloquently put it. Many people, myself included, figure Manila is the only place to live in the Philippines.
Typhoons are a fact of life anywhere in the Philippines. Samar probably being the worst hit area of the country. Not denying that mud slides don't exist, but I'm not sure where you go in Luzon. Ive never been stranded anywhere due to mud slides. I have been stranded due to typhoons though. But that can happen anywhere. The best highways in the country are in Luzon. What roads are you traveling?
The problem with small islands this time of the year, while sounding quite exotic, can be incredibly boring when it rains. And as you well know it can rain for days! The biggest problem then is what to do when there is no infrastructure, in other words, no theaters, no shopping malls, etc. Stuck in a Nippa hut days on end when it rains is not fun, well at least not for me. |
Typhoons are NOT a fact of life for most of the Phils (outside of Luzon, and the north eastern islands. When you get into the Visayas and Mindanao you get below the typhoon belt and you DO avoid the worst of the weather (including the days-on-end-rain).
You don't get stranded? Where were you last December? Not in Manila (which was badly flooded) or many of the other places in Luzon (like Bagio) that were hit with the 2 back-to-back tropical storms (Peiping and Ondoy).
Most of metro Manila was flooded and we (on Bohol) had light evening showers and sunny days. Hasn't flooded here for decades (unlike luzon and many parts of the NCR where floods are an annual event).
Manila is a hole. Even Metro Cebu is heads above the NCR in terms of everything except the big mall (not really a reason to go to anywhere in my books) and it is not my favorite place either.
The roads on most of Bohol (or metro Cebu) aren't overly congested parking lots like they are in the NCR. We have light to moderate traffic on paved 2 lane roads (with shoulders in many cases).
We have shopping, theaters, malls, fast food if you want it (buy would you want to when you can get decent food al-la-cart for next to nothing).
You should get out to some of the rest of the country. We don't all live in nippa huts down some dirt road.
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Wad
Joined: 19 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 6:38 pm Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
Typhoons are NOT a fact of life for most of the Phils (outside of Luzon, and the north eastern islands. When you get into the Visayas and Mindanao you get below the typhoon belt and you DO avoid the worst of the weather (including the days-on-end-rain). . |
Okay fair enough. Are you really saying that you don't get monsoons in Bohol? You make it sound like there is no rain in Bohol. The weather everywhere in the country is sporadic, doesn't seem to be any real pattern anymore.
| ttompatz wrote: |
You don't get stranded? Where were you last December? Not in Manila (which was badly flooded) or many of the other places in Luzon (like Bagio) that were hit with the 2 back-to-back tropical storms (Peiping and Ondoy).
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Yes of course, but this storm was really an anomaly. I believe that it was the most rain they have had in like 100 years. Also if you read my post again, I said that I have been stranded due to rain, just not mud slides. Generally speaking typhoons in Manila last only a few days.
| ttompatz wrote: |
Manila is a hole. Even Metro Cebu is heads above the NCR in terms of everything except the big mall (not really a reason to go to anywhere in my books) and it is not my favorite place either. |
Hahaha...care to elaborate on this? Manila has everything that Cebu has and more..good and and bad. Obviously you don't like big cities.
| ttompatz wrote: |
The roads on most of Bohol (or metro Cebu) aren't overly congested parking lots like they are in the NCR. We have light to moderate traffic on paved 2 lane roads (with shoulders in many cases). |
No argument here. My point was that the best highways in the country are in Luzon (e.g. NLEX, SLEX). Rarely a problem to get around even during the monsoon season.
| ttompatz wrote: |
We have shopping, theaters, malls, fast food if you want it (buy would you want to when you can get decent food al-la-cart for next to nothing). |
That's nice, but still pales in comparison to any major city like Cebu or Manila.
| ttompatz wrote: |
You should get out to some of the rest of the country. We don't all live in nippa huts down some dirt road.. |
Ouch! Well obviously I've touched on a nerve here. You must have a personal interest in Bohol. My statement was meant to be general about staying on a small island during the rain season, not Bohol specifically.
But since you've brought it up this is my personal take on Bohol, specifically Alona beach since this is where the vast majority of tourists stay, And yes I am aware of Tagbilaran. Last February I was there for 5 days. I stayed at Bohol Divers's resort. The rooms were 2,500 piso a night. The furniture was old and ratty. No hot water. And the towels had skid marks on them. The beach had nice white sand I admit, but its really crap for swimming..just too much coral. The beach is basically full of restaurants with a couple of bars. The food is way overpriced and average to mediocre at best. As far as I could tell there was really only one open bar that stayed open late. Most everything shuts down before midnight. But what I loved most of all was the hoards of overweight Europeans and the gangs of drunk German divers. It's basically a Club Med!
I just believe there are far better places to go in the Philippines. And during the rain season being on a small island can be incredibly boring. From Manila there are many nice beaches you can hit. And if its pouring rain you can stay in Manila and still have some fun.
Not meant as personal attack, just my take on the place! |
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BoholDiver
Joined: 03 Oct 2009
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 12:44 am Post subject: |
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I am going to have to mostly agree with Ttompatz here. One of the many reasons we decided to go to Bohol was the absence of typhoons and other bad weather. It is shielded from it (mostly) by other islands.
One day before we left, Manila was hit by a monsoon and my wife wanted to cancel our vacation. I said no fricking way, and we went.
On our 2nd day, our diving trip was cancelled and that night, we could hear crashing waves and a storm. In the morning, the water was calm as could be. Basically a mini-storm that lasted less than 24 hours.
Fat Europeans? Try to avoid them. You will have to go to another planet.
Bohol Diver's Resort isn't the best. I am hardly surprised.
| Wad wrote: |
| ttompatz wrote: |
Typhoons are NOT a fact of life for most of the Phils (outside of Luzon, and the north eastern islands. When you get into the Visayas and Mindanao you get below the typhoon belt and you DO avoid the worst of the weather (including the days-on-end-rain). . |
Okay fair enough. Are you really saying that you don't get monsoons in Bohol? You make it sound like there is no rain in Bohol. The weather everywhere in the country is sporadic, doesn't seem to be any real pattern anymore.
| ttompatz wrote: |
You don't get stranded? Where were you last December? Not in Manila (which was badly flooded) or many of the other places in Luzon (like Bagio) that were hit with the 2 back-to-back tropical storms (Peiping and Ondoy).
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Yes of course, but this storm was really an anomaly. I believe that it was the most rain they have had in like 100 years. Also if you read my post again, I said that I have been stranded due to rain, just not mud slides. Generally speaking typhoons in Manila last only a few days.
| ttompatz wrote: |
Manila is a hole. Even Metro Cebu is heads above the NCR in terms of everything except the big mall (not really a reason to go to anywhere in my books) and it is not my favorite place either. |
Hahaha...care to elaborate on this? Manila has everything that Cebu has and more..good and and bad. Obviously you don't like big cities.
| ttompatz wrote: |
The roads on most of Bohol (or metro Cebu) aren't overly congested parking lots like they are in the NCR. We have light to moderate traffic on paved 2 lane roads (with shoulders in many cases). |
No argument here. My point was that the best highways in the country are in Luzon (e.g. NLEX, SLEX). Rarely a problem to get around even during the monsoon season.
| ttompatz wrote: |
We have shopping, theaters, malls, fast food if you want it (buy would you want to when you can get decent food al-la-cart for next to nothing). |
That's nice, but still pales in comparison to any major city like Cebu or Manila.
| ttompatz wrote: |
You should get out to some of the rest of the country. We don't all live in nippa huts down some dirt road.. |
Ouch! Well obviously I've touched on a nerve here. You must have a personal interest in Bohol. My statement was meant to be general about staying on a small island during the rain season, not Bohol specifically.
But since you've brought it up this is my personal take on Bohol, specifically Alona beach since this is where the vast majority of tourists stay, And yes I am aware of Tagbilaran. Last February I was there for 5 days. I stayed at Bohol Divers's resort. The rooms were 2,500 piso a night. The furniture was old and ratty. No hot water. And the towels had skid marks on them. The beach had nice white sand I admit, but its really crap for swimming..just too much coral. The beach is basically full of restaurants with a couple of bars. The food is way overpriced and average to mediocre at best. As far as I could tell there was really only one open bar that stayed open late. Most everything shuts down before midnight. But what I loved most of all was the hoards of overweight Europeans and the gangs of drunk German divers. It's basically a Club Med!
I just believe there are far better places to go in the Philippines. And during the rain season being on a small island can be incredibly boring. From Manila there are many nice beaches you can hit. And if its pouring rain you can stay in Manila and still have some fun.
Not meant as personal attack, just my take on the place! |
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Wad
Joined: 19 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 2:42 am Post subject: |
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| BoholDiver wrote: |
Fat Europeans? Try to avoid them. You will have to go to another planet.
Bohol Diver's Resort isn't the best. I am hardly surprised.
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Easy to avoid foreigners altogether. Seems kinda pointless to travel to another country to hang with the hordes of tourists, but that's just me.
I can think of beaches equally nice without the crowds. Calicoan Island is one and known as the �Surfing Capital of the Visayas�. Dalupiri Island and Camiguan Island are others. Too many to list here. Bohol is really the Club Med of the Philippines!
And honestly all the accommodation I looked at in Bohol was overpriced and of poor quality compared to what I've stayed at in other parts of the Philippines. I'd even stay in Mindoro over Bohol, and I don't care for it either. But the food and accommodation are miles ahead. |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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alwaysbeclosing100
Joined: 07 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 3:12 am Post subject: |
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| canale226 wrote: |
None of the above (though if you head to Cebu, check out Malapascua/Bantayan).
I'd recommend Palawan. You can thank me later!!! |
i second this.....palawan is amazing |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 7:25 pm Post subject: |
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| alwaysbeclosing100 wrote: |
| canale226 wrote: |
None of the above (though if you head to Cebu, check out Malapascua/Bantayan).
I'd recommend Palawan. You can thank me later!!! |
i second this.....palawan is amazing |
Palawan is amazing for some, but perhaps I should've checked out the island more. I wasn't in the mood to ride a bus for hours and such and just stuck to Puerto Princesa City. |
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