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fred zepplin
Joined: 21 Sep 2010
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 Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 12:22 am Post subject: Bohol |
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Ok, so I'm looking for some advice on a few things. Hopefully somebody can help.
So I have 7 days in Bohol, but Im not really sure how to spend it. Firstly I don't dive so I will have to find other things to do. Should I stay on Alona beach for the full week or do you think it would be better to move around? If so where to go and stay (on a budget)?
How far is Tagbilaran from Panglao? I understand that its probably the best bet for the limited nightlife, is it possible to get taxis to alona at night?
Any thoughts, ideas or advice greatly appreciated! |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 2:24 am Post subject: Re: Bohol |
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| fred zepplin wrote: |
Ok, so I'm looking for some advice on a few things. Hopefully somebody can help.
So I have 7 days in Bohol, but Im not really sure how to spend it. Firstly I don't dive so I will have to find other things to do. Should I stay on Alona beach for the full week or do you think it would be better to move around? If so where to go and stay (on a budget)?
How far is Tagbilaran from Panglao? I understand that its probably the best bet for the limited nightlife, is it possible to get taxis to alona at night?
Any thoughts, ideas or advice greatly appreciated! |
Taxi from Alona to Tag at night = no (unless you have the phone number and are willing to pay double meter rate).
Taxi from Tag to Alona at night = yes (double meter rate).
Decent rooms in Tag (Tavers Pension) - about p1000 per night (air, TV right in the heart of the city). For a little more you can stay at the Metro-center hotel.
If you want to get out of town and see the island you can catch a van (v-hire) from the terminal across from Island Mall. Rates are typically LESS than p150 (one way) to any point on the island (bohol)
Take a few days and explore the island. Take the coast road up to Talibon. Head across the north coast and come down the central highway (ch9ocolate hills and loboc river). Go up the east coast to Anda or catch a banka to Leyte or Camiguin (volcano hiking).
http://www.bohol.ph/ for general information.
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 2:38 am Post subject: |
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I'm going to piggyback on this post rather than have a ton of Philippines posts clogging up the board, hopefully I'll get some bites from ttompatz, Yaya, etc.:
Is eight days enough time for Palawan, or should I shoot for longer? I'm debating whether to go at Christmas or try to go after my current contract finishes in March. I gather that weather should be about the same in December or early March. I'm mostly looking for hiking and photography possibilities, but it seems like a really beautiful place where I could spend more like two weeks without running out of things to do. Thoughts? |
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Triban
Joined: 14 Jul 2009
Location: Suwon Station
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 4:26 am Post subject: |
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Definitely rent a motorbike and ride around the island, seeing all the stuff ttompatz mentioned.
northway, I think you should allocate more time for Palawan. The bus ride from Puerto Princesa to El Nido is like 9 hours each way (you will want to go there).
I spent 2 days in Cebu, 6 in Bohol, and 10 days in Palawan and still didn't have time to see the underground river in Sabang.
I would definitely suggest doing EVERY boat tour in El Nido, they are well worth it and all offer something a little different...plus great snorkeling. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 4:38 am Post subject: |
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| northway wrote: |
I'm going to piggyback on this post rather than have a ton of Philippines posts clogging up the board, hopefully I'll get some bites from ttompatz, Yaya, etc.:
Is eight days enough time for Palawan, or should I shoot for longer? I'm debating whether to go at Christmas or try to go after my current contract finishes in March. I gather that weather should be about the same in December or early March. I'm mostly looking for hiking and photography possibilities, but it seems like a really beautiful place where I could spend more like two weeks without running out of things to do. Thoughts? |
December is more likely to be cool. March is more likely to be wet (at least in the Visayas). We have always had more rain in Feb/March that at XMAS at my place in Bohol - at least for the last 8 years or so and I don't think it is likely to change).
Time is what you make of it. You can get a good taste in 8 days but you could easily spend 8 years exploring Palawan (especially the jungles toward the south end).
Just do a quick search back on here (or just scan back a few pages). There is LOTS of information on the Visayas and Palawan that has been posted over the last 5 years and a large majority of it is still accurate (things don't change that fast in the islands).
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fred zepplin
Joined: 21 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 8:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Triban wrote: |
| Definitely rent a motorbike and ride around the island, seeing all the stuff ttompatz mentioned. |
Can anybody recommend particulars places or companies to rent motorbikes? Also Im guessin you don't need to have a licence, right?
What do people think is best basing yourself in Alona beach or Tagbilaran and travelling to beach most days? |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 9:12 pm Post subject: |
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| northway wrote: |
I'm going to piggyback on this post rather than have a ton of Philippines posts clogging up the board, hopefully I'll get some bites from ttompatz, Yaya, etc.:
Is eight days enough time for Palawan, or should I shoot for longer? I'm debating whether to go at Christmas or try to go after my current contract finishes in March. I gather that weather should be about the same in December or early March. I'm mostly looking for hiking and photography possibilities, but it seems like a really beautiful place where I could spend more like two weeks without running out of things to do. Thoughts? |
It depends WHERE in Palawan you go. I stayed in Puerto Princesa for about five to six days and while it was relaxing, it was a bit boring since the city isn't that big. I did hit Honda Bay but it wasn't Boracay, and the other destinations like Port Barton and the underground river were a bit far for me as I didn't feel like spending hours in a bus. If you don't mind going from place to place, then two weeks in Palawan could be OK for you.
I also hear that San Vincente could be the next Boracay as it has a white beach twice as long as Boracay's. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 11:23 pm Post subject: |
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| fred zepplin wrote: |
| Triban wrote: |
| Definitely rent a motorbike and ride around the island, seeing all the stuff ttompatz mentioned. |
Can anybody recommend particulars places or companies to rent motorbikes? Also Im guessin you don't need to have a licence, right?
What do people think is best basing yourself in Alona beach or Tagbilaran and travelling to beach most days? |
There are NO rental companies. You rent from a guy off the beach (they usually hang out down by the road at Alona Kew resort. CAVEAT EMPTOR.
A license is required but unless you get into an accident no-one will check.
If you do get into a bump you will go to jail while they figure it out (unless you have the cash to buy your way out of it).
As to where to base yourself, it depends on what you want to do. If you want to lay back and sip Tanduay all day then to go Alona. If you want to explore the island, stay in Tagbilaran. It takes about 40 minutes to drive from town to Alona beach.
The island (Bohol) is NOT that small (it is roughly circular and about 130 km in diameter and 400km in circumference. It takes about 2 hours to drive across it and about 6 hours to drive around it (non-stop). This does NOT include Panglao or any of the outlying smaller islands.
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fred zepplin
Joined: 21 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 5:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Anyone got any recommendations for cheap (I'm on a tight budget) accommodation on Alona ang Tagbilaran? Im really not picky as I won't be there much, just somwhere to lay my head at night. |
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Triban
Joined: 14 Jul 2009
Location: Suwon Station
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| Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 7:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Yaya wrote: |
| northway wrote: |
I'm going to piggyback on this post rather than have a ton of Philippines posts clogging up the board, hopefully I'll get some bites from ttompatz, Yaya, etc.:
Is eight days enough time for Palawan, or should I shoot for longer? I'm debating whether to go at Christmas or try to go after my current contract finishes in March. I gather that weather should be about the same in December or early March. I'm mostly looking for hiking and photography possibilities, but it seems like a really beautiful place where I could spend more like two weeks without running out of things to do. Thoughts? |
It depends WHERE in Palawan you go. I stayed in Puerto Princesa for about five to six days and while it was relaxing, it was a bit boring since the city isn't that big. I did hit Honda Bay but it wasn't Boracay, and the other destinations like Port Barton and the underground river were a bit far for me as I didn't feel like spending hours in a bus. If you don't mind going from place to place, then two weeks in Palawan could be OK for you.
I also hear that San Vincente could be the next Boracay as it has a white beach twice as long as Boracay's. |
The best advice is, once you touch down in Princesa...get OUT of Princesa.
There is a nice pension to stay at though, House of Rose. Tell them Adam and Corey told you about it  |
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Triban
Joined: 14 Jul 2009
Location: Suwon Station
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| Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 7:07 pm Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| fred zepplin wrote: |
| Triban wrote: |
| Definitely rent a motorbike and ride around the island, seeing all the stuff ttompatz mentioned. |
Can anybody recommend particulars places or companies to rent motorbikes? Also Im guessin you don't need to have a licence, right?
What do people think is best basing yourself in Alona beach or Tagbilaran and travelling to beach most days? |
There are NO rental companies. You rent from a guy off the beach (they usually hang out down by the road at Alona Kew resort. CAVEAT EMPTOR.
A license is required but unless you get into an accident no-one will check.
If you do get into a bump you will go to jail while they figure it out (unless you have the cash to buy your way out of it).
As to where to base yourself, it depends on what you want to do. If you want to lay back and sip Tanduay all day then to go Alona. If you want to explore the island, stay in Tagbilaran. It takes about 40 minutes to drive from town to Alona beach.
The island (Bohol) is NOT that small (it is roughly circular and about 130 km in diameter and 400km in circumference. It takes about 2 hours to drive across it and about 6 hours to drive around it (non-stop). This does NOT include Panglao or any of the outlying smaller islands.
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When I rented a motorbike my friend slammed on brakes in front of me when I was going 90 km/h. I slammed in return, and skidded across the gravel bending the back footstick and some cosmetic scratches. No jail was involved, they just told me to pay 500 pesos...which is probably the price of the whole damn bike, but whatever. It was my fault so I paid. End of story.
As for the island, in on day on motorbikes we went to Loboc and took the river tour, then went to the Chocolate Hills, the Man Made forest, Tarsier Sanctuary, that Church and blood pact place, and the butterfly sanctuary. We also spent about 4 hours roaming the dirt trails and found a pretty cool waterfall, rice paddies, and other neat things. By the time we got back the sun was setting. You can pretty much see most of the island in one full day of riding. |
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Triban
Joined: 14 Jul 2009
Location: Suwon Station
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| Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 7:11 pm Post subject: |
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| fred zepplin wrote: |
| Anyone got any recommendations for cheap (I'm on a tight budget) accommodation on Alona ang Tagbilaran? Im really not picky as I won't be there much, just somwhere to lay my head at night. |
Alona there is this place me and my friend stayed at called walk-in haven. It isn't 5 star but it isn't bad. The workers were nice and they invited us to eat with them every night. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 7:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Triban wrote: |
northway, I think you should allocate more time for Palawan. The bus ride from Puerto Princesa to El Nido is like 9 hours each way (you will want to go there).
I spent 2 days in Cebu, 6 in Bohol, and 10 days in Palawan and still didn't have time to see the underground river in Sabang.
I would definitely suggest doing EVERY boat tour in El Nido, they are well worth it and all offer something a little different...plus great snorkeling. |
Based on this I'm thinking I might need more time. It's kind of a haul, so I don't know when I'd get there, and I'd rather make the most of it while I'm there. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 9:41 pm Post subject: |
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| fred zepplin wrote: |
| Anyone got any recommendations for cheap (I'm on a tight budget) accommodation on Alona ang Tagbilaran? Im really not picky as I won't be there much, just somwhere to lay my head at night. |
"on a budget" is relative.
At the bottom end you can get a room with a foam pad on a bamboo bed for p500 per night on the beach and the average place is about p2000 with air and tops out at p10k (Alona Palm).
In Tag you can get rooms from p800 (air, TV bed) and p500 for a fan room.
When we drive down to the city (from our house up in Talibon) we usually stay at Tavers Pension (about 2 blocks from BQ and 1 block south of the Metrocenter.
| Triban wrote: |
| When I rented a motorbike my friend slammed on brakes in front of me when I was going 90 km/h. I slammed in return, and skidded across the gravel bending the back footstick and some cosmetic scratches. No jail was involved, they just told me to pay 500 pesos...which is probably the price of the whole damn bike, but whatever. It was my fault so I paid. End of story. |
So that would fall under the ...
| ttompatz wrote: |
| If you do get into a bump you will go to jail while they figure it out (unless you have the cash to buy your way out of it). |
category and didn't involve any third parties - don't be bumping into any cars or goats.
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