Philippines Travel Forum

Hi! My bf and I booked a trip to Puerto Princesa on from June 27 (9.35am) to June 29 (4.15pm). This is our first time to go there and would really appreciate inputs, as i am currently planning our itinerary.

What are the places that we must go to and where we must eat? We are both nature lovers and we loooove to eat! But on a tight budget as well... so we're hoping for any referrals for locals who could serve as our guide/transport during our stay there, as tour agencies may cost more...

BTW, our last day is a sunday, and i've read that most establishments are closed on that day. i was initially planning to put in the city tour, but seems waste of time if such would be the case. any alternatives?

help please!!!

Hi. :) This might be a bit early but I was wondering if you guys can recommend hotels or inns that are near the main performance area of the street dance parade of the Kadayawan Festival? I read from DPP that Marco Polo is near/along the route but it's expensive.

Also, we only have one day to spare for touring the city, any suggestions? We arrive (Aug 23) and leave (Aug 25) Davao on the earliest Cebu Pacific flights. Thanks! :D

I have read the posts on Pagudpud and viewed the stunning pics of momoydtraveller. A 12 hour trip seems daunting, especially as I travel with a 3 year old. Staying overnight at the halfway (or 2/3) point would be more doable. We would likely need to stop every 2 hours. Any suggestions on how to break up the trip in shorter segments, and which locality would be the best place for an overnight stay - secure, child-friendly accommodations, availability of food, access to medicine/hospital (just in case), with nearby places of interest?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Weather check on camiguin island? is it safe to go there despite the cosme and dindo? ill be leaving this 19 and i just want to make sure if the weather is good.Thanks and please do reply guys....

Hi there! I'm going to travel to Bacolod on a very tight budget. Can anyone please tell me how to get to/from the new airport to the city in the most inexpensive ways? I'd love to know all the other options as well. Thanks for whatever advice you can give me.

I usually travel alone, and always look for comfortable accomodations. A/C, room with a view, and most specially an accommodating staff who I can ask and learn from about the place - note that it will be my first time to Pagudpud.

I've been checking out these resorts: Northridge (affordable at P1,200 for an AC room w private bath, yet read about the rocky frontage), Terra Rika which is midrange (at P3,200 for a beachfront room with AC, TV, mini ref and private bath), and Apo Idon (some recent bad reviews, and the most expensive of the three at P4,000). My budget is P2-3.5T/night, and with these choices, I can't make up my mind!

Of course browsing the net showed me Kapuluan also, but read good reviews (posted more than a year ago) and bad reviews (most recent ones) from different blogs and forums. Checked out Saud Beach Resort too, was suprised that they are priced much like Terra Rika. Given that they are supposed to be the "best" of Saud resorts as mentioned in one famous blog, why are they cheaper than Apo Idon which is supposed to be on the west end of the beach?

Hope to hear from Pagudpud regulars and those who may have tried one or more of the resorts mentioned.

can anyone give me directions to SEXY SCISSORS? its an all sexy female barbershop at ortigas. they have a website but couldnt really locate the streets... www.sexyscissors.net

this i have to experience.

Me and my friend are planning to visit camiguin later this month of may. We've checked tour packages offered by agencies but they are all at high-end cost. We want to keep our visit simple. where do we get the best and satisfactory accomodation services and tour services (refering to the bunch of resorts and hotels listed on the web) yet at a low price? say, we want to rent a cottage or a room just for us, then tour camiguin during our stay. our visit will be for 3 days/ 2 nights. we are both from manila, newly graduated. we appreciate your insights and suggestions. thanks so much.

I will be in Phillippines from around 26th May till 02 June and will need to be staying near Dusit Thani Manila Hotel. I believe that this is located right in the heart of Makati, right ? Could anyone please advise me which would be a hotel (3 stars ok) I should stay so that I could reach Dusit Thani within a 15 minutes walk ?

On the other hand, could I stay a bit further away from Makati and spend some $ on taxi fares to Dusit Thani ? Staying bit further from Makati would mean cheaper hotel rates but what is the hotel rate for 3 star hotels in Makati ? I do not need great hotel, just a clean comfortable room will do.

Alternatively, can I reach Dusit Thani via any other transport besides taxi if I were to stay away from Makati ?

Any advises and recommendation please ?
Thanks

Hi,

I want to treat my family this summer in a resort but not that far from Makati. Antipolo or Los Banos. Can anyone suggest a good resort either in Los Banos or Antipolo

My wife and I will be Cagayan on the 3rd of June, She will stay till the last of July, (posssibly later) and i will return by the end of June. We were looking at hotels, but we are now thinking short term rental. An efficiency apartment (if they call them that) Just one bedroom/bath with a kitchenette , most of our time there will be just to sleep, so we are not looking at a full service apartment. Does anyone have a point of contact for such, I have struck out on the internet. YES, AND THANKS TO EVERYONE IN VT WHO HAVE BEEN SO FRIENDLY. to quote "You have made me so very happy."

hi everyone,,

i will arrive at clark airport from kuala lumpur and then need to go to Boracay, any domestic flight from clark to boracay? or i must take flight at ninoy airport? i'm asking bcoz need immediately transfer to boracay? actually how far clark to manila city centre?

where can we stay in dumaguete???? aside from bethel guest house... is bacolod pensione house ok???? have u heard bout this hotel???? can u help me.. we will be in dumaguete in may 24.... hope 4 ur replies....

hi. i'm planning to go to the above-mentioned places on the 20th. i already have a plane ticket but i haven't booked any hotel rooms yet. i'd like to know if the itinerary i made is feasible... my return flight is on the 23rd but i think im going to bump it the following day to make way for caramoan and lake buhi excursion. here are the questions:

1. how far is Dancalan from Legazpi airport? How do i go there from the airport? (cheapest transpo please).
2. travel time from Dancalan to Donsol would more or less take how many hours? Are there any Public transpo?
3. and from Donsol, how much travel time would I allot going to the CamSur Watersports Complex? How will I go there? Is there public transpo?
4. The rooms at CWC looks decent enough... even their 550 room (and with A/C too?). Would you suggest that I stay inside or is it better to just rent a hotel room outside CWC? of the hotels around CWC, which is the cheapest?
5. How far is CWC from Caramoan? How about Lake Buhi? How will I go to these places from CWC? How much damage will this sidetrips cost me approximately? Places to stay in Caramoan and their rates please.

I'm going there alone, by the way. Whew! Sorry, maraming tanong! hehe. here's my itinerary. I haven't made plans for the 4th day yet. I'm alloting it for the Caramoan/ Lake Buhi trip. please feel free to revise the timetable if ever there are errors (i.e., misapproximated travel time). thank you very much!

DAY 1
5:40am : ETD from Manila – Legaspi via Cebu Pacific
6:35 : ETA in Legazpi City (Albay)
7:00 : Albay sight-seeing (Mayon Volcanic Eruption experience, Casagwa Ruins)/ breakfast
8:30 : ETD from Albay to Dancalan (Sorsogon)
12:30pm: ETA in Dancalan [check in at Villa Luisa Celeste]
12:45 : Quick lunch
1:00 : Dancalan Beach
2:30 : ETA in Bulusan Mountain (Volcano) Lake (kayak, muni-muni)
3:30 : Palogtoc Falls (tatayo raw at maninigas mga utong sa lamig ng tubig. hmmm...)
4:00 : ETD from Palogtoc falls to San Benon Hot Spring
5:00 : San Benon Hot Spring (pampainit naman para marelax)
6:00 : ETD from San Benon papunta sa resort
7:00 : dinner
8:00 : lights-out

DAY 2
7:00 : early check-out/ breakfast
8:00 : ETD from Dancalan to Barcelona
8:30 : Barcelona Church (Spanish Ruins)
9:00 : ETD from Barcelona to Donsol
12:00nn : ETA in Donsol/ check in at Amor Farm Beach Resort
1:00pm : Early Registration for Butanding Interaction/ lunch
1:30 : beach/ rest/ explore Donsol
6:00 : early dinner
6:30 : Firefly Rhapsody (Night River Cruise)
9:00 : lights-out

DAY 3
6:00am : marangyang breakfast
7:00 : meet and greet with the Butandings
12:00nn : check-out/ quick lunch
1:00pm : ETD from Donsol to Pili, Camarines Sur
4:30 : ETA in Camarines Sur (check-in at CamSur Watersports Complex)
5:30 : Wakeboarding time (sulitin ang 4 hours night schedule!!!)
10:00 : super late dinner
12:00mn: lights-out

DAY 4

I love walking and explore on my own. Anyone who was experience in doing this in Manila? My hotel will be in Makati, and I want a day walking to Tondo and to the old dumpsite Smokey Mountain.

hi. i'm planning to go to the above-mentioned places on the 20th. i already have a plane ticket but i haven't booked any hotel rooms yet. i'd like to know if the itinerary i made is feasible... my return flight is on the 23rd but i think im going to bump it the following day to make way for caramoan and lake buhi excursion. here are the questions:

1. how far is Dancalan from Legazpi airport? How do i go there from the airport? (cheapest transpo please).
2. travel time from Dancalan to Donsol would more or less take how many hours? Are there any Public transpo?
3. and from Donsol, how much travel time would I allot going to the CamSur Watersports Complex? How will I go there? Is there public transpo?
4. The rooms at CWC looks decent enough... even their 550 room (and with A/C too?). Would you suggest that I stay inside or is it better to just rent a hotel room outside CWC? of the hotels around CWC, which is the cheapest?
5. How far is CWC from Caramoan? How about Lake Buhi? How will I go to these places from CWC? How much damage will this sidetrips cost me approximately? Places to stay in Caramoan and their rates please.

I'm going there alone, by the way. Whew! Sorry, maraming tanong! hehe. here's my itinerary. I haven't made plans for the 4th day yet. I'm alloting it for the Caramoan/ Lake Buhi trip. please feel free to revise the timetable if ever there are errors (i.e., misapproximated travel time). thank you very much!

DAY 1
5:40am : ETD from Manila – Legaspi via Cebu Pacific
6:35 : ETA in Legazpi City (Albay)
7:00 : Albay sight-seeing (Mayon Volcanic Eruption experience, Casagwa Ruins)/ breakfast
8:30 : ETD from Albay to Dancalan (Sorsogon)
12:30pm: ETA in Dancalan [check in at Villa Luisa Celeste]
12:45 : Quick lunch
1:00 : Dancalan Beach
2:30 : ETA in Bulusan Mountain (Volcano) Lake (kayak, muni-muni)
3:30 : Palogtoc Falls (tatayo raw at maninigas mga utong sa lamig ng tubig. hmmm...)
4:00 : ETD from Palogtoc falls to San Benon Hot Spring
5:00 : San Benon Hot Spring (pampainit naman para marelax)
6:00 : ETD from San Benon papunta sa resort
7:00 : dinner
8:00 : lights-out (kumustah?!)/ socials with the foreigners! Oo, foreigners lang! haha

DAY 2
7:00 : early check-out/ breakfast
8:00 : ETD from Dancalan to Barcelona
8:30 : Barcelona Church (Spanish Ruins)
9:00 : ETD from Barcelona to Donsol
12:00nn : ETA in Donsol/ check in at Amor Farm Beach Resort
1:00pm : Early Registration for Butanding Interaction/ lunch
1:30 : beach/ rest/ explore Donsol
6:00 : early dinner
6:30 : Firefly Rhapsody (Night River Cruise)
9:00 : lights-out/ makipaglaro sa foreigners… ng apoy! sa dilim! bwahahaha!

DAY 3
6:00am : marangyang breakfast
7:00 : meet and greet with the Butandings
12:00nn : check-out/ quick lunch
1:00pm : ETD from Donsol to Pili, Camarines Sur
4:30 : ETA in Camarines Sur (check-in at CamSur Watersports Complex)
5:30 : Wakeboarding time (sulitin ang 4 hours night schedule!!!)
10:00 : super late dinner
12:00mn: lights-out (this time, wala nang foreigners involved. Hihi)

DAY 4

hi. i'm planning to go to the above-mentioned places on the 20th. i already have a plane ticket but i haven't booked any hotel rooms yet. i'd like to know if the itinerary i made is feasible... my return flight is on the 23rd but i think im going to bump it the following day to make way for caramoan and lake buhi excursion. here are the questions:

1. how far is Dancalan from Legazpi airport? How do i go there from the airport? (cheapest transpo please).
2. travel time from Dancalan to Donsol would more or less take how many hours? Are there any Public transpo?
3. and from Donsol, how much travel time would I allot going to the CamSur Watersports Complex? How will I go there? Is there public transpo?
4. The rooms at CWC looks decent enough... even their 550 room (and with A/C too?). Would you suggest that I stay inside or is it better to just rent a hotel room outside CWC? of the hotels around CWC, which is the cheapest?
5. How far is CWC from Caramoan? How about Lake Buhi? How will I go to these places from CWC? How much damage will this sidetrips cost me approximately? Places to stay in Caramoan and their rates please.

I'm going there alone, by the way. Whew! Sorry, maraming tanong! hehe. here's my itinerary. I haven't made plans for the 4th day yet. I'm alloting it for the Caramoan/ Lake Buhi trip. please feel free to revise the timetable if ever there are errors (i.e., misapproximated travel time). thank you very much!

DAY 1
5:40am : ETD from Manila – Legaspi via Cebu Pacific
6:35 : ETA in Legazpi City (Albay)
7:00 : Albay sight-seeing (Mayon Volcanic Eruption experience, Casagwa Ruins)/ breakfast
8:30 : ETD from Albay to Dancalan (Sorsogon)
12:30pm: ETA in Dancalan [check in at Villa Luisa Celeste]
12:45 : Quick lunch
1:00 : Dancalan Beach
2:30 : ETA in Bulusan Mountain (Volcano) Lake (kayak, muni-muni)
3:30 : Palogtoc Falls (tatayo raw at maninigas mga utong sa lamig ng tubig. hmmm...)
4:00 : ETD from Palogtoc falls to San Benon Hot Spring
5:00 : San Benon Hot Spring (pampainit naman para marelax)
6:00 : ETD from San Benon papunta sa resort
7:00 : dinner
8:00 : lights-out (kumustah?!)/ socials with the foreigners! Oo, foreigners lang! haha

DAY 2
7:00 : early check-out/ breakfast
8:00 : ETD from Dancalan to Barcelona
8:30 : Barcelona Church (Spanish Ruins)
9:00 : ETD from Barcelona to Donsol
12:00nn : ETA in Donsol/ check in at Amor Farm Beach Resort
1:00pm : Early Registration for Butanding Interaction/ lunch
1:30 : beach/ rest/ explore Donsol
6:00 : early dinner
6:30 : Firefly Rhapsody (Night River Cruise)
9:00 : lights-out/ makipaglaro sa foreigners… ng apoy! sa dilim! bwahahaha!

DAY 3
6:00am : marangyang breakfast
7:00 : meet and greet with the Butandings
12:00nn : check-out/ quick lunch
1:00pm : ETD from Donsol to Pili, Camarines Sur
4:30 : ETA in Camarines Sur (check-in at CamSur Watersports Complex)
5:30 : Wakeboarding time (sulitin ang 4 hours night schedule!!!)
10:00 : super late dinner
12:00mn: lights-out (this time, wala nang foreigners involved. Hihi)

DAY 4

could anybody please tell me hoe can i go to Obando coming from EDSA TAFT by bus.

Thanks!

VT'ers,

Once again Mabuhay!
Alright, I have been trying to get some pricing from Cebu Pacific for their BKK-MNL route. I will be wanting a return flight in November 2008 to see my GF.

But for some stupid reason, their website does not allow me entry of a date that is so far in advance.

My questions are thus:

1. Do I take the risk and not book for this until I'm in BKK, closer to travel time. Flying there first for business.

2. Does anyone know what the approximate cost of this return ticket, during the period of late November. Also, is this considered shoulder or peak season.

Thanks for your insight.

if your are Canadian in Philippines please give me information maybe meet as friend ! is there a place where is many Canadian stay in philippines ??

Plan to be in Boracay June 5th-10th, anybody got the same travel schedule? Maybe we can go hang and chill.

I am looking for a hotel in Manila close proximity to the SuperFerry (going to Cagayan de Oro City) decent, cost efficient two to three stars.

hi..
we're planning a hike to anawangin via mt pundaquit.
been reading about it on some websites and learned that camping's an option there.. is it safe?
what special concerns do we need to consider?
im thinking of water and food and restroom availability.. meron bang ganun dun? or is it going to be just nature and us? and how's the weather there around early june..?

thanks thanks!

coming from manila we intend to make a 3d2n vacation that inlcudes visiting laoag and vigan, and 2nyt stay at pagudpud.

what if from manila june 7 night will take the florida bus 9.30pm and drop off at laoag instead go directly at pagudpud will arive by what time? 7.30am?
june 8- morning they say you can tour laoag in just 2-3 hrs like visiting Saint Williams Cathedral, fort ilocandia,Sinking Belltower, Tobacco Monopoly, Dap-ayan (for empanada snack) and the Museo Ilocos Norte. Walking distance lang naman daw mga yun. Then proceed to Paoay and malacanag of north. then to Batac for the museum of marcos. using a public jeepney or bus. ( do i missed some impst spot to visit?
so what should be suggested estimated time we leave at laoag to pagudpud? maybe will arive by night time na?
june 9 - whole day tour at pagudpud includes kaibigan falls, patapat viaduct, blue lagoon, bantay abot cave, windmills at bangui,lighthouse.
june 10- check out 12nn.. pagudpud to vigan. what can be seen at vigan? is it 2-3hrs tour will be ok then ride bus home vigan to manila.

Thanks so much! I've already called the Tourist office and booked the boat rental.

I am arriving Dumaguete at 8am and would like to tour the city first before heading to Bais. Do you know anyone who rents a van? The reason why we need to rent (and not use public transport) is because we will have our luggage with us and do not want to carry it around. The only contact I have is charging Php4000 for van which includes fuel and drop off at La Planta Hote BAIS.

Hope you can help me out.

Eunice

Would like to know where 6-10 people can stay in Patar Beach that's not too pricey...

We are planning a trip to coron on June '08 and are looking for cheap but comfortable place to stay. Seadive is already fully booked so we searched for other alternatives. Found these two places. Almost the same rates so we're in a dilemma right now. Any advice? Thanks!

anybody knows who owns a small boat in boracay for us to rent for island hopping... (crocodile islands, puka beach, bat caves and others) maybe for half day only...how much would it cost us?

Hi to all. ; )

I'm planning to visit pagudpud this july or august with my girl.
Any suggestions where would be the best resort to stay? (safest place please. one without drug addicts and like.) and what bus company should we take? (deluxe buses, the one with reclining seats please.) and where would we find it? ; )

can we do snorkeling in there? if so, where and how? I mean, are there shops there that offers snorkeling accessories rentals?


by the way, we're planning to stay there for 3 days and 2 nights.
My budget for the trip is 10k maximum. Is that enough?
(I can still add as long as it's worth it.)


We're coming from Manila.




THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!
I'm really looking forward for your help guys!
keep safe. ; )

Hi! We are planning to go to Vigan/Laoag/Pagudpud on June 6-9. We will be taking a bus to Vigan and will take a plane back to Manila on June 9.

Will it be cheaper to rent a car for the Laoag/Pagudpud tour? Can you recommend someone who will take us around.

Thanks