BOHOL Ultimate Paradise at Its Best
by weng_math
My friends and i had our 3 days and 2 nights vacation in Cebu and Bohol last MARCH 2009. We took a flight from Manila to Cebu of Thursday evening via Cebu Pacific Airlines, (It was a promo ticket we bought last October 2008). As we arrived in Cebu, we check in in Sugbutel (gosh, the place is clean but a terrible kind of accommodation, since the place seems like a hospital ward... urg... we had hard time sleeping, though we got the room since its so cheap and we dont need a luxurious hotel since we are to depart early morning of the next day going to Bohol). Early morning of Friday, around 4:30 am, we started preparing to go to Bohol via Oceanjet in Pier 1. We depart Pier 1 at 7:00 and be able to arrive in Tagbilaran Port at exactly quarter to 9. KUYA RANIL (the best tourist guide i could say) was waiting for us in the PIER with his very elegant white NISSAN. We go around Tagbilaran, Carmen and etc the whole Friday. i already contacted KUYA RANIL when my friends and i were still in Manila, i contacted so many tourist guide but only KUYA RANIL offered the most affordable tour package with lots (12 spots) of tourist spot destination like; 1)Marcela Supermart where i bought the kisses pasalubong at very reasonable price (we took breakfast an bought needed things), 2)Man Made Forest(this is amazing), 3)Chocolate Hills (this is magnificent), 4)Butterfly Sanctuary, 5)Hanging Bridge, 6)Loboc Floating Restaurant(eat well), 7)Tarsier Sanctuary (we really had fun here), 8)Bohol Python (we didn't enjoy here), 9)Baclayon Church (Second Oldest Church in the Philippines),
10)Blood Compact Site (new), 11)Hinagdanan Cave (we learned about basic digital photography here), 12)Dumaluan Beach Resort (we spent overnight in one kubo here). The Tour cost 1,800 pesos only unlike in other tourist guide who are offering it for 2,500. This package is good for 4 persons only. If you are looking for a TOUR GUIDE in BOHOL for very affordable price but really GOOD SERVICE, just text KUYA RANIL at 09193443365..... Kuya Ranil also helped us to find a resort which is the Dumaluan Beach resort wherein the sand is pinkish and very white. We rented a KUBO worth 1000 only and we slept there (Friday Night). Early morning of Saturday, we swam in Dumaluan Beach Resort, had some picture taking near the Panglao BEach Resort which is just nearby our resort. at 8 am, Kuya Ranil fetched us in Dumaluan to drop us at Tagbilaran Port because we are going back to Cebu to have city tour of Cebu. I love Bohol, God wondrously created this magnificent place, next time we will go back here and go to Balicasag Island (we were not able to go there cause of limited time). at 9:30 am we were boarding in Oceanjet, at 11am we reached Cebu and check in in SOgo Hotel (cheap but we really sive room dont need an expensive room since we are always out for sight seeing... We visited e; SM Cebu, Lapu-Lapu's Monument and Magellan's Landmark, Taoist Temple, Magellan's Cross and Taboan Market (we bought dried fish here). Cebu is like Manila... nothing extraordinary i could say, hehehehe... we ate our dinner in Gaisano Mall where we had a bad experience in one of the restaurants in the food court (an ice tea with additional flavor of Chroachy, eeeeewwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeee, cocroach), but one thing we enjoyed is the GIANT SANDUGO SANDALS as tall as me... hehehe... early morning of sunday, around 1:30 am we started preparing for our Cebu Pacific Air flight at 4:45 am bound to MAnila... MIND YOU, AS WE MADE A COMPUTATION OF OUR TOTAL EXPENSES AFTER THE TOUR, we found out that we spent an average of 4500 pesos only (pasalubong included) so cheap. The airfare is 1000 pesos roundtrip becuase of ALL IN promo of Cebu PAcific, so a total of 5500. REALLY WORTH IT... Forever in my mind; Bohol's magnificent Chocolate Hills, Tarsiers are actually so cute, and KUYA RANIL who have been so transparent, so kind and so helpful to us... choose KUYA RANIL and you will find BOHOL as magnificent as KUYA RANIL.... babalik ako don next year to visit BALICASAG ISLAND and of course i will hire the service of KUYA RANIL again... so what are you waiting for visit Bohol, discover Philippines and text KUYA RANIL at 09193443365 so you enjoy Bohol even with tight budget....
Advice on Bohol Package Driver/guide
by crewrower
-->Question Posted in Bohol Forum on 1 September 2008:
Hi,guys! Pls help me on these concerns.
I understand it will be cheaper to go around Bohol if you just hire a car/van with drivers experienced in guiding tourists. How safe is it to get drivers from the airport? Is there some kind of registry at the terminal to record hired vehicle driver & plate no.? How safe is it to leave our luggage with the driver? Are the rates determined by hourly rate or no. of places visited? Can we tell him the places we want to go to or skip? What is the general practice for payment- before the trip or after the tour?
How about the bankero/dolphin spotter,are they supposed to be accredited by a regulating office? Do they provide lifevests as part of boat rental fee? --> crewrower's response --> In Bohol, drivers will approach you with offers of "7 destinations" that cover the main areas like Chocolate Hills, Loboc River, Tarsier park, etc. Some of them offer additional locales. Usually it's a set rate for everything, but you pay admission prices for each, as applicable. Of course you can tell the driver if you want to skip some places, but you won't likely get a big or any discount for doing so. Pay after the tour. There is always a safety issue when you get into the vehicle of a complete stranger; luckily though, the situation is safe and I'm not aware of any signifigant incidents in these regards.
For dolphins watching, you can get on any catamaran to view them. Prices for that are about P1500 and usually include a 1/2 day of activity (dolphin watching and fish sanctuary). You need to set out early for this though, like 5:30am, because the dolphins feed at sunrise. Lifevests are provided as part of the boat rental, though you would always want to see for yourself that vests are indeed onboard in enough quantity for all passengers and crew.
From Dumaguete to Bohol
by driftwood_1974
There are ferries that could take you from dumaguete to bohol. I havent checked if the travel ban on Ocean jet has been lifted already. You can try other vessels like weesam or supercat. visit their website for the schedule of trips, chances are they have an office in your local port. best to book and buy tickets there than online.
There are 3 options for you:
1. Stay in tagbilaran pension houses. Hire a van that could take in around bohol and then back to your hotel again. I usually stay at Sun Avenue Pension house in Gallares. If you and your friends want a good massage, its near thai massage centers and just beside Body and Sole. With free breakfast, a twin accomoodation cost around 1300.
Then you can hire a van which costs around 3000 for a day's tour. You could see Chocolate hills, have lunch at the Loboc River Cruise...and visit the tarsier. Although the DOT of Bohol do not recommend the longest phyton, you should see it in Alburquerque. I promise you a good laugh esp with badong, the caretaker.
If youre going to eat lunch at Loboc, try Riverwatch --09173060010.
for 280 pesos only. So far, they have the best tasting food of all the cruises. book early so that you could be mixed with a happier group.
This could take you the whole day esp if you plan on taking pictures along the way. So your next day could be Beach day.
If you want to spend the night on the beach partying... try the Alona Beach side... Its in Panglao municipality. A bit crowded with tourist though. the beach is occupied by bancas for rent if you want to go snorkeling or diving in Balicasag or whale dolphin watching in Pamilacan island. Book early so that you can get the best prices. Esp now, that its peak season, prices could go up really crazy. If you are in Alona beach side, you dont have to worry about food, there are somewhat "sutokil" carinderias along the left most side of the beach.
But if you want a quiet time with your friends, relax and enjoy nature, try dumaluan beach side. Its in Dauis Municipality. but also in Panglao island.
Theres not much to see yet but a chance to walk the fine sands of Bohol Beach Club which is beside Dumaluan BEach resort where you can get your friendster ready pictures.
Snorkeling is a fun experience for a group. If you know how to dive, its okey too. a boat could cost from 1thousand - 4thousand depends on the size of the boat and the number of people. What we did, since we are only 3, we joined a bigger group. hehehe
Option 2 is:
Find a house for rent. or a townhouse. They already have this sort of thing in tagbilaran. Ask my cousin ian, a tour guide there-- 09103680572.
Then follow what i said above.
Option 3 is:
Book in Panglao Island. Bohol Divers have cheaper rooms. There are houses at the back but you have to walk a few big steps to get to the beach. Ofcourse, beachfront rooms are expensive. Dumaluan beach resort is also a cheaper deal than bohol beach club and surrounding resorts.
okey. I hope i did something good for you and your friends. Enjoy bohol!
Diving at Alona Beach
by John6868
There are many Dive Operators at Alona Beach.
We used Sierra Mardre Divers.
They had a shop on the beach (no need to lug tanks and weights from the road) and 3 boats.
Two big dive boats which can handle about 12 (maybe more) people and a small row boat for the House reef dive.
Did 2 dives with them. Reggie and Bart were the instructors and took good care of us.
Bart will let you set up your own equipment so remember which way the regulator fits.
They are very experienced and showed me all of the points of interest down to the tiny yellow shrimp.
Great value and nice bar just in front to have a beer after a great dive.
White Sand and Warm Water
by namiewa
Actually what you expect if you're in the beach?.... Jump into the water, do sunbathing, walking at the sand or even go play etc. Everyone wants to be on the beach just like me. This resorts are more nicer than Alona beach area. Why? because you have a long cleaned white shoreline, a big beautiful place, nice front beach resorts, they also have a swimming pool. But the most of all is that this place has the best view for morning and nite time. I miss the Tarsier, beach, friendly people, cave and the most of all the "Chocolate Hills"
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Blood Compact Marker
Hinagdanan Cave
shine & me in Chocolate Hills
at man made forest
