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o_time
Joined: 29 Jul 2005
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 Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 7:42 pm Post subject: Advice from those who've traveled in the Philippines |
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| The Girlfriend and I will be traveling to Boracay at the end of September for eight days. After that she will return to Korea while lucky me will travel around SE Asia for four months. Originally I thought that after our eight days on Boracay I would fly to Thailand. However, after reseaching information on the Philippines it seems like mabye I should stay for a few weeks and travel around the Islands. I am wondering about peoples opinions who have traveled the Philippines. Would you reccomend it? I am also interested in getting my open water. Thailand or Philippines? Finally any good websites for travel in the Philippines that you know of? Thanks for any info. |
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keninseoul
Joined: 09 Mar 2004
Location: Seoul
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 4:27 am Post subject: Re: Advice from those who've traveled in the Philippines |
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| o_time wrote: |
| The Girlfriend and I will be traveling to Boracay at the end of September for eight days. After that she will return to Korea while lucky me will travel around SE Asia for four months. Originally I thought that after our eight days on Boracay I would fly to Thailand. However, after reseaching information on the Philippines it seems like mabye I should stay for a few weeks and travel around the Islands. I am wondering about peoples opinions who have traveled the Philippines. Would you reccomend it? I am also interested in getting my open water. Thailand or Philippines? Finally any good websites for travel in the Philippines that you know of? Thanks for any info. |
If you are in Boracay anyways.. definetely stick around in the Philippines. Its one of my favorite countries - mostly because of the people and the prevalance of English being nearly native to most everyone.
Regarding 'getting open water'.. is that for diving? Nowhere to recommend, but diving is immensily popular in the Philippines. With 7000+ islands.. and everything so water-related anyways.
I'd personally do the Philippines way before Thailand personally.. but not being into diving myself, I can't say why. It just seems like diving is taken to extremely serious levels in the Philippines and such a major part of the tourism there.
Opionions about traveling around the islands. all positive here. i even spent a week in Mindinao (the place everyone particularly Filopinos recommend not to go to) and I felt just fine. |
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dulouz
Joined: 04 Feb 2003
Location: Uranus
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| Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 4:37 am Post subject: |
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| I was there for 3 weeks, couldn't wait to leave. Avoid the north island, Luzon I think its called. Try Cebu, Palawan. I liked it the further South I went. |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 9:27 pm Post subject: |
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| dulouz wrote: |
| I was there for 3 weeks, couldn't wait to leave. Avoid the north island, Luzon I think its called. Try Cebu, Palawan. I liked it the further South I went. |
I second that about Luzon. I didn't care for anywhere in that entire area. I went to Baguio, Puerto Galera, Manila, AC, and Lucban (the one area I did like - way off the tourist trail).
In the Visayas and Mindinao, I liked everywhere I went. Which included Boracay, Bocolod, Iloilo, Silay, Cebu, Malapascua, Dumaguete, Bohol, Davao and Gensan. |
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justagirl
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Location: Cheonan/Portland
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| Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 9:45 pm Post subject: |
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We stayed in Dumaguete, which was pretty nice. Close by is an island called Apo that has some of the best diving in the world. It's a protected reef and has the world's greatest diversity in corals. We stayed out on the island (no running water, electricity for 2 hrs/day) and just went diving every day. It was awesome. Do a google search, and just go relax!
Also, if I go back, I'd love to see the terraced hills (forgot the name of them) and see a tarsier. I've heard Bohol and Cebu are great...they'd be on my list for my next visit, too.
justagirl |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 10:31 pm Post subject: |
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| justagirl wrote: |
| Also, if I go back, I'd love to see the terraced hills (forgot the name of them) and see a tarsier. I've heard Bohol and Cebu are great...they'd be on my list for my next visit, too. |
I did see the tarsiers.. basically hired a taxi driver to take me around Bohol for the day. It cost 500 pesos (US$10).
Saw the tarsiers, and also took a boat ride up and down a river. In addition, saw the Chocolate Hills. Spent the nights at Alona Beach on Panglaou Island (next to Bohol Island). |
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mumblebee
Joined: 26 Jun 2004
Location: Andong
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| Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 11:14 pm Post subject: OW in the Philippines |
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I recommend getting your open water cert. in the Philippines. Puerto Galera is a great place to get certified. There are many dive shops to choose from, but the biggest advantage is the wide range of dive sites that are only 5-10 mins away by boat. You are back at your hotel/diveshop between dives, and do not have to commit your whole day to diving. The variety of sea life around PG is fantastic.
I trained with Action Divers (www.actiondivers.com) who were excellent. The only drawback is that PG does not really have a beach...the narrow strip of sand disappears at high tide. You can get a boat to nicer beaches though, as well as to some excellent snorkelling spots.
MB |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 10:41 am Post subject: |
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Just adding more info here. I second that about Puerto Galera without a beach. There is 'White Beach' which is just down the road about 5-10km or so.
Boracay Island, Apo Island, Malapascua Island, Panglaou Island, Palawan, etc.. all have plenty of gorgeous white sands PLUS tons of dive shops and divers. You could pretty much take your pick with any of them.
Personally, Puerto Galera was fairly low on my list of interesting places. It seems to be most popular because of its proximity to Manila. |
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trevorcollins
Joined: 02 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 9:32 pm Post subject: |
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| dulouz wrote: |
| Avoid the north island, Luzon I think its called. |
Sagada in the north of Luzon is one of the best places on Earth. |
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Boodleheimer
Joined: 10 Mar 2006
Location: working undercover for the Man
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| Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 6:06 am Post subject: |
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| justagirl wrote: |
| We stayed in Dumaguete, which was pretty nice. Close by is an island called Apo that has some of the best diving in the world. It's a protected reef and has the world's greatest diversity in corals. We stayed out on the island (no running water, electricity for 2 hrs/day) and just went diving every day. It was awesome. Do a google search, and just go relax! |
yeah, i stayed on apo. there is nothing to do except dive. the place to stay is Liberty's Community Lodge, which is a bit overpriced. it was very, very hot after the electricity went out.
it's probably better to stay in dumaguete and just day trip to apo if you want to dive.
i also went to alona beach on bohol. it was nice to take a trip around the chocolate hills and see the tarsiers and all.
i really wish i had gone to palawan.
boracay was cool. i liked the Hobbit Hole. little people, cheap food, good service! |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:25 pm Post subject: |
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| KWhitehead wrote: |
| i really wish i had gone to palawan. |
Palawan was well worth it.
I went to Puerto Princesa and El Nido. The real key are the things around those two areas - tons of beaches within close proximity. The two towns themselves were just alright.. but the proximity to things was outstanding.
Palawan is best with a gf/bf or friends though. Not the kind of place where you just party and meet all kinds of people everywhere. |
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trevorcollins
Joined: 02 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Tiger Beer wrote: |
| Palawan is best with a gf/bf. |
Yeah..make sure you pick one up before you leave Luzon or Cebu. |
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endo
Joined: 14 Mar 2004
Location: Seoul...my home
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| Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 9:43 am Post subject: |
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I'm also going to Boracay and I have a few questions;
When I get to Manila, what is the best way to get from the international to the domestic airports?
How much is the taxi fair?
When I get to Caticlan, will it be difficult getting to Boracay?
thanks |
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wormholes101
Joined: 11 Mar 2003
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| Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 8:08 pm Post subject: |
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The Phillipines is a better place to dive than Thailand. The diversity of corals other marine life around there is greater than Thailand. Pricewise it's similar - maybe a touch more expensive but nothing to get worked up about.
You run a small risk that there will be a typoon in the middle of you dive course as it will be the season for that in September.
Places like Bohol, Apo Island, Moalboal, Malapascua island are awesome places to dive.
Keep a log of your dives and the stuff you saw and one day you'll look back on them and go 'Wow, that was a great place.." |
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