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Bohol / Panglao / Alona Beach
Easy overnight trip (or longer) from Cebu City. During my trip the Cebu people and Bohol people were feuding about who should get funding for a new airport...international airport, if my memory is correct.
Alona Beach is on Panglao Island which is just a short bridge away from Bohol of Chocolate Hills and Tarsier fame.
This is really a beautiful place, well worth a visit. As someone has already suggested, bring a companion. Nevertheless, someone else also has said that they got plenty of looks from the ladies. I'll second that. And some of the ladies I saw were very attractive...looked like a bit of Spanish influence. This was away from the tourist area, by the way. If I had a lot of time, I'd love to see if I could seduce a Bohol lady...or vice versa. BTW, I took a companion...lady I met online.
This is a pretty easy trip out of Cebu City. I'm repeating info from earlier posts, but fast service is Ocean Jet, I think 700 pesos, and about 90 min. trip. The "business" class has better seats, and maybe more privacy. Not really worth it for me since I spent the whole time on the top deck enjoying the ocean breeeze and views. Bring some snacks and drinks, although you can buy stuff on the ship.
Alona beach is quickly being Boracized. It's hard to get a picture of the beach, or the water, or the sunset withought including the ubiquitious boats...who are there to cater to tourists.
Hotels....not as cheap as I would have expected for such a remote place. It turns out there was a big fire last year (sounds like boracay, doesn't it?) which wiped out quite a few bungalows. That might be why prices are higher. On the other hand, I stepped into a brand new place right on the beach. Still had construction going on in the back, and no lobby to speak of, but it was great. Place was called Ibis.
Anyone want more info, please ask. I think I've been online too long already.
X Man
PHOTOS
1) outside the boat terminal at Cebu you can buy "monkey" meat on a stick. Good stuff.
2) Port of Taglibaran
3, 5) beach
4) good restaurant....name will come to me later (forgive me ... I'm on my 5th glass of wine)
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Bohol --- AHHH, too much to write...continuation...
Ibis room 101 was 2500 pesos, new place, air con, very hot water, ocean view, and ocean wave crashing sound if you are in room 101 or other front rooms. Only BIG drawback was no car service. It's okay, you can hire someone to carry your bags since it's so cheap. Or be a heeee maaaan and put that case on your shoulder and walk through the sand. Be a man!
Tarsier is the smallest primate.
I was with a Filipina who had been to Bohol before, so I relaxed. BIG MISTAKE. If I was on my own, I would be watching, asking, taking care of myself. We get to the terminal at Bohol. I should have been watching the people in front of me. The people who know what they are doing, or have been there before will often be moving faster...and they are the people you should follow and observe (actually, you should talk to them on the boat/plane if possible). I let down my guard and I paid the price. No taxis were left and I was cornered by a friendly tricycle driver, who had enough polite English to keep me from telling him to get lost and also enough charm to keep my companion conversing. I knew this wasn't the way I wanted to go, so I kept searching for a taxi or van...nothing available. Soon, the other tricycle drivers were smelling the scent of fresh meat. I knew I screwed up and just wanted out of the situation, so I followed my instincts and took the original tricycle driver.
This was the slowest tricycle on the island as far as I know. I felt lucky that this machine actually made it. Tricycles can be fun,,,,especially for the first five or ten minutes...after that, it is misery.
Pics: 2nd floor Ibis room, tarsier
X Man
check your schedule again
[QUOTE=Dboy]Thanks Xman. I see Dave's Straw Hat recommended on several sites. I already went ahead and booked Isla Gecko, which doesn't get mentioned much, but it's right at Boat Station 2 and about $32/nite.
From my searching the forum and other sites, I think Sta 1 is more expensive and upscale, Sta 2 is moderate, with the most nite life, and Sta 3 is the cheapest and quietest.
I'm sure there is some variety within each area, but I think that overall description applies. If I'm not happy, I'll move.
No time to bring a girl, I'm only in Manila to connect. I arrive on Singapore Air from SIN, in NAIA 1? I have to taxi to the Asian Spirit tkt office, then to the old domestic airport. I arrive Thurs, 1:10pm and depart at 4:00pm, no checked baggage on Singapore Air. Hope that's enough time. My alternative was to spend a nite in Manila, and only have 2 in Boracay.
Cebu Local, I just realized that you answered most of my questions within the quote. Thanks. I'll check out The Bazurra and Wave Disco.
I'll PM my phone number. It won't work til I unlock my cell in Cebu Monday. Staying at the Marriott. We could meet in the bar or better, the executive lounge.
TRY THE BAZURRA AND WAVE DISCO FOR PICK UPS[/QUOTE]Hi Actually Station 3 is cheapest and NOISEST,Think of noisy Budget Philippine tourists,vendors,Trycycles,the public market etc.The Asian Spirit ticket office is 50 meters from the old domestic airport.Maybe you might want to check the flight schedule,on my airline schedule,the last asian spirit flight leaving Manila is at 3.30pm 6k897 Seaair leaves at 4pm.Cheers