Other Areas

[Questor55]

There's a town in Misamis Occidental, Mindanao called Calamba that I'm looking at traveling to. Anybody know where the closest airport is and how long it might take by taxi to get to Calamba from the closest airport?

Thanks in advance.

Slippery f/k/a Puerto La Cruz

Slippery, I assume you are going to Calamba to meet a chatmate. I have been through Calamba, where our van transport stopped for about 10 minutes. That was plenty long enough! Typical small town in the middle of nowhere with nothing to recommend it. Within an hour, everyone in town would know all about your being there, for who, for what. If there is a hotel there, it will be very basic, or worse.

Closest airport is Dipolog, with regular flights from Cebu. Probably about one hour by taxi to Calamba. Vans going from bus terminal on the way to Ozamis, Iligan, and CDO. Would be available. However, my suggestion is DON't go!

Have her come to you. There is a very pleasant small resort hotel in Dapitan, called either The Pavilion, or The Dapitan City Resort. Yes, It goes by both names. They will pick you up at Dipolog and take you to the resort which is only about 15-20 minutes away. Book a double on the second floor (nice view of pool and ocean). If you arrange for her to come to you, then she can take the bus as far as the Dapitan turnoff, then by trike to the Pavilion, or you can meet her bus.

Phone # for the hotel is 065 213 6413. I've stayed there a couple of times and it is recommended. Once again, best you not go to Calamba.

[GermanBoy 2]

Malapascua is a wonderful small island north of cebu. 2-3 kilometers in length, 1 kilometer in wide. It is not a mongering destination but a perfect stay for some days with your cebu-girl. I have not been in boracay 15 years ago, but it seems to me that malapascua today is maybe like boracay has been at this time. There are some hotels, not too much, some bars and restaurants, mostely at the southern part called bounty beach. Important: there is no ATM at the island, and most of the hotels do accept only cash.

How to go there

From cebu city northern bus terminal there are running non-aircon busses to maya every hour for peso 90. I have been told that there are air con busses as well, but never saw one. Travel time by bus is 4-5 hours to maya. Most of the taxi drivers in cebu are willing to bring you there for 3000 peso. Bargaining helps, I payed 2000 and tipped another 200.

From maya there are small boats going to malapascua, ride is 30 minutes. They start with prices arround 1000 for a private trip bringing you exactly to the place at the beach where your hotel is. Bargaining can bring it down to 700. From malapascua back to maya I catched one for 600.

There is also a public boat running for 50 peso per person. Officially it goes every hour, but it seems they wait till they are full. From the place where this boat arrives, it is a 5 min walk to the south beach on a sandy path.

Where to stay

There are a lot of different small hotels. I stayed in sunsplash, checked 2 other options during my 3 days stay and think both others are better. All prices following are from nov. 2010. Depending to season they are changing a lot.

Sunsplash: Hotel style building with 16 rooms, 50 meters back from the beach, no direct ocean view. Rooms are not too big, queen size bed, aircon and in room safe. Tv (important for your girl if you want to read something in the sun), german management. They have a restaurant close bye with reasonable food. Payed 2700 for the room including breakfast for 2. Contact number: 09272240110

Cocobana: bungalow type, trees between the buildings with some hamrocks. They have a lot of different style cottages, some without aircon. Deluxe (2600 without breakfast) and especially Super Deluxe (3000 without b) looked very good. Deluxe without TV. Both with 2 queensize beds, both without inroom safe. Both rooms much bigger then sunsplash. Swiss management. From the 8 superdeluxe rooms 4 have a perfect seeview. Contact: 09159200011

Ocean Vida: brand new, grandopening dec 2010, soft opening nov. 12 rooms in a hotel style building, anyway with private terrace. In room safe, tv is promised to be there soon. Room size between sunsplash and cocobana. 2 normal size beds which could be taken to one big one. Roomrate 2500 till December 18, then it should be 4000. Swiss management. Contact: 09058001030

Mongering: did not see any action. Some of the hotels have a really nice staff who is willing to flirt, but I do not know if more then this is possible. Big suggestion: bring your own girl. Teach her swimming, or whatever you want.

[Slippery]

There's a town in Misamis Occidental, Mindanao called Calamba that I'm looking at traveling to. Anybody know where the closest airport is and how long it might take by taxi to get to Calamba from the closest airport?

Thanks in advance.

Slippery f/k/a Puerto La Cruz

[Shark San]

Just got back from Sabang. Stayed 4 days with a Manila GF and agree that 3/4 nights is about the max stay. If you do go alone or with a wingman, be sure to go out to the "Floating Bar" in the afternoons. The Broadway Bikini Bar girls like to hang out there looking for extra cash or a temporary BF. Also, some young ladies were out there, but be aware a few looked a little too young.

Stayed at Sha Che Inn at Little Laguna Beach (200 meters from Sabang center). Payed 1200p for large oceanfront with kitchen. Much quieter and more relaxed than Sabang centro.

Enjoy,

Cheapy

Wow, the floating bar is open again? That's probably pretty cool then. I was told it was shut down for good. At any rate, one more reason to go.

[Member #4698]

Do you have anymore idea what that "Hehaw" place is? I could not find it when tried to google. Do you or anyone else think that if I have only 3 nights it is best to stay by the (alona?) beach? Because traveling from tagbilaran daily to the beach might take too much time. Any other suggestions for accommodation? Of course it depends a little if I can get one of my cebu contacts to come with me. Otherwise I should probably just fly to boracay or somewhere else for some bar possibilities.

Stay on Alona Beach! Don’t even think about staying elsewhere.
There is another resort on Alona called Isla Hayahay rated #1 by Travel Advisor. Read up on your choices. Check Travel Advisor, Lonely Planet, and Rough Guide. Then check the hotel websites. Do your homework. It pays off.

If going in high season it is probably a good idea to book a resort. Otherwise it is best to show up and pick the one you like. Almost a certainty you will have a good time on Alona. Best to bring your own girl, but it is definitely not a requirement.

The best alternative beach resort with bar possibilities in PI is Sabang, Puerto Galera. Search the forum; there is good info on Sabang Beach.

[Buko Max]

Do you or anyone else think that if I have only 3 nights it is best to stay by the (alona?) beach? Because traveling from tagbilaran daily to the beach might take too much time. Any other suggestions for accommodation?

Have to agree with everything Rendorseg says!
If you only have three nights, BYOB is the way to go.
But I would not make advanced reservations because you might not like the hotel or it's location. Upon arrival, have your driver take you around to several properties to have a look. Bohol Beach Club is in a good locale and has various rooms at all price levels. No reason to stay in Tagbilaran which is around a thirty minute drive unless you are on the hunt.

[Cbea20]

Here it is.... I recall that it somehow rhymed with heehaw as in that old Okkie show, but actually it's hayahay, not heehaw. Ha ha.
http://www.hayahay.net/...)

Hayahay, I'm told, means something like "laid back". It's a common name for
restaurant or resort.

[Rendorseg]

Here it is.... I recall that it somehow rhymed with heehaw as in that old Okkie show, but actually it's hayahay, not heehaw. Ha ha.

http://www.hayahay.net/

Anyways, it's simple clean and well run, at least when we were there.
Simple clean and well run is something rare in the Philippines, reminds me actually of the nice and affordable hotels along the beaches in Samui.
Actually, FYI, most all of the hotels on that short strip of beach seemed fine...

Look up Hayahay on www.agoda.com - you can get very good rates when one pays in advance... sometimes just pay a day or so then if you stay longer (unless it's peak season) they'll let you stay at the same lower rate you got at Agoda instead of their normal higher walk in rates...

Panglao Island/Alona Beach is a very nice, clean but relatively laid back place... prices are good.... prices are totally fucked up insanely, absurdly high Boracay. In neither place will one find "action" (unless you enjoy the company of many a swaying and giggly lady-boys in which case going to Boracay alone is just the ticket for you, amigo...) ;-)

Boracay is vastly overrated, but if you take a chick there they will swoon in gratitude and brag about it to their friends and point out all the gee whiz Phil movie stars in the crowds... but there's >7000 other islands to go to... Hotels and food being so high, wow, makes no sense... Boracay beach was ok, but not incredible, the water was nice. what was nice is that they don't allow any car or trikes or motorcycles in the main walking are of Boracay and it's clean nowadays but the same thing can be said also about Alona Beach on Panglao Island.... so if you get turned on by passing stuck-up movie stars, movie-star wannabees, absurd overpricing then heck run to Boracay... Not my thang, but we were there a week.... Sigh.

(There is a certain economic illogic here in the Philippines which is generally that if a place isn't a total shit-hole then they charge very high prices. Competition isn't prized (unlike say in Thailand) instead it is surpressed by the highly corrupt bribing/"rent seeking" elite and in that sense is why Manila might compare to Moscow (illogical overpricing due to corrupt rent-seeking). Unfortunately many Filipinos think that if something is expensive it feels better, it's cool. That's why Starbucks is a bit hit here in fact. (It's a Filipine 'sickness' based on my years of observation....)

Don't stay in Tagbilaran just to go to the beach, stay in Tagbilaran only maybe as a first night in/out and/or on the way to see the Tarsiers. Stay on Alona to stroll out simply on it's lovely beach with beauty in hand (flown in with you...)

Do you have anymore idea what that "Hehaw" place is? I could not find it when tried to google. Do you or anyone else think that if I have only 3 nights it is best to stay by the (alona?) beach? Because traveling from tagbilaran daily to the beach might take too much time. Any other suggestions for accommodation? Of course it depends a little if I can get one of my cebu contacts to come with me. Otherwise I should probably just fly to boracay or somewhere else for some bar possibilities.

[Pekkakoo]

On Alona we stayed at the Hehaw (something like that, look it up...) which was fine and well under the budget figure you mentioned. German owned, good bread and beer and I recall. Good scuba diving schools all around there also, if you're into that...

In Tagbilaran (about 30 minutes taxi ride from Alona) worth staying at is the Bohol Tropics - we booked the "Presidential Suite" which is more like a junior vice presidential suite (I recall price was approx $120), but it's good due the bubble bath at least that we had spilling out all over the large bathroom; giant room so if you can find other chicks, heck stage an orgy. Multiple chicks ought not be a problem there.

Do you have anymore idea what that "Hehaw" place is? I could not find it when tried to google. Do you or anyone else think that if I have only 3 nights it is best to stay by the (alona?) beach? Because traveling from tagbilaran daily to the beach might take too much time. Any other suggestions for accommodation? Of course it depends a little if I can get one of my cebu contacts to come with me. Otherwise I should probably just fly to boracay or somewhere else for some bar possibilities.

[Tally Wacker]

Thank you SH for the detailed information. I will be firming up my plans in the next week so I will PM you if I need additional info.

TW

Let me know if you need additonal info. I have been to palwan several times. Take a lot of sun tan lotion and skimpy bikinis for your GF.

[Rendorseg]

Yah, still haven't been to El Nido, gotta try that still but we did go to Port Barton which at least 1.5 years ago had lousy infrastructure, hotels very very minimal, it's very laid back, very few falang/foreigners since getting there is the real problem - we came when it was sunny but it rained the day before ---> the grueling 3.5 hr drive in was like out of the movie Romancing the Stone - driving through DEEPLY rutted mud roads on the sides of a steep cliff we had to get out and push the 4 wheel van through the mud - the GF was not pleased to say the least. Reports are that it is a malarial/dengue infested area (this from a gringo living up the hill who I met while pushing through the mud on the cliff side...). So, you can go by jeepney (not recommended) or hire a car but be sure it's 4wdrv and it's not been raining.... Or you can go there by boat (see below)

BUT right at the mouth of the harbor is a lovely looking island resort - THAT looks worth going to. Foreign owned which is good - it seems this fellow bought a small island surrounded by lovely waters.
I think it was this one on Cacnipa Island:
http://coconutgarden.palawan.net/Home.html

Again bring your own chick, there ain't no action here unless you marry a local girl then and there in this winky little town.

Speaking of small town charm, be careful strolling at night in Port Barton - some young roughs were having yet another knife fight.... the barangay Tanod (constable) finally woke up but we had to run away to stay clear of the fighting.

Notes to self: 1) next time bring strong flashlight, very dark at night. 2) bring plenty of cash - FB is far far from any ATM's.

Yes, Judy's Place is about the only civilized place there (a somewhat clean outdoor bar with barstools, on a quite street corner, a block off the beach), the bartender I think was a hooker but now's moved on to cocktails - she's quite good at that. Married I think to a foreigner (her teen daughter was very cute but untouchable as I recall...)

So if you do venture to Port Barton (ain't much of a port that's for sure) then leave there by taking a 5 hr coastal boat trip south to the beach adjacent the famous Sabang underground river cave (inside take another boat thru the middle of the long river in the cave).

SL captured it perfectly. El Nido is well worth the effort to get there.

If you want a quiet laid back beautiful place, Port Barton is it. If you go there, eat and drink at Judy's place. PP is reputed to be on eof the nicer cities, but it is still a city in the Philippines. I chose to get out of PP quickly. There are way better places to hang out in Palawan than PP.

[Rendorseg]

Hi - there ain't much action-wise to speak of in Bohol unless you fancy very small primitive primates (Tarsiers).

Instead it's wisest to bring your own chick-BYOC. Alona Beach is very very nice. Go out on a boat ride early AM to see the dolphins. On Alona we stayed at the Hehaw (something like that, look it up...) which was fine and well under the budget figure you mentioned. German owned, good bread and beer and I recall. Good scuba diving schools all around there also, if you're into that...

In Tagbilaran (about 30 minutes taxi ride from Alona) worth staying at is the Bohol Tropics - we booked the "Presidential Suite" which is more like a junior vice presidential suite (I recall price was approx $120), but it's good due the bubble bath at least that we had spilling out all over the large bathroom; giant room so if you can find other chicks, heck stage an orgy. Multiple chicks ought not be a problem there.

Your chick may beg you to go see the "Chocolate Hills" - the myopic poorly read and traveled Filipinos marvel that it's one of the Eight Wonders of the world but, sorry (having seen Swiss mountain peaks/Yosemite) it ain't that great but still the chick will get a thrill.

Maybe there's some KTV's in town but to be safe I say BYOC, unless you have lots of time for trolling....

Is there any action on Bohol these days? Probably best to bring a girl with you I guess? Any recommendations on where to stay 2 nights? Tagbilaran City or somewhere close to Alona Beach? Maximum is like $100-150/night.

[Pekkakoo]

Is there any action on Bohol these days? Probably best to bring a girl with you I guess? Any recommendations on where to stay 2 nights? Tagbilaran City or somewhere close to Alona Beach? Maximum is like $100-150/night.

[Johnred]

SL captured it perfectly. El Nido is well worth the effort to get there. If you want a quiet laid back beautiful place, Port Barton is it. If you go there, eat and drink at Judy's place. PP is reputed to be on eof the nicer cities, but it is still a city in the Philippines. I chose to get out of PP quickly. There are way better places to hang out in Palawan than PP.

[Shanghai Lover]

I will be taking my Filipina gf who is located in Ac at the moment to possibly Palawan or another nice place for 2-weeks in December. If you have been to Palawan can you give me some insight to where to stay or what to expect there?

Are there other nice secluded beach and island places to visit instead that you would suggest?

Also is it better to fly out of Manila than AC to get to theses places in terms of airfare cost?

I would like to hangout at a nice slow paced area with nice comforts close to the everyday life in the area.

Most people fly from Manila to Puetro princessa. Puerto is nothing special.

The place is reccomend is called Hibiscus Garden run by a french guy. Great breakfasts and nice staff. I stayed ther several times. Places to visit are undrground river. Toitally worth it, crocodile farm, abd honda bay. Better to take boat in Honda Bay to the outerlying islands than usual ones on the intenary and maybe you and your gf can make some memories

Best way to get around puetro princessa is rent a motorcycle 400p. The resurants are Kina Burch. Looks like a biker bar with a pool table, high end that is good food is Diaches and I think Hibiscus garden is also opening an organic resturant

Other place I recommend:

Is El Nido. 6-7 hour mini bus ride form puerto or a real real expensive flight from Manila. The resturants on the beach front are real good. The boat rides around El Nido is just spectaular. Make Hailong Bay in Vietmnam look over rated. Best place to book boat, dive, and eat is Art cafe run by a swiss gal and her filino husband. The husband is real nice and wife, I reccomend dealing with the husband. AVOID Marina beach hotel. Owned and run by the most horrible person I ever met in all my travels and incompitent staff. Elnido is just amazing.

Let me know if you need additonal info. I have been to palwan several times. Take a lot of sun tan lotion and skimpy bikinis for your GF.