Bohol Transportation

Before...it crossed my mind to travel to the different tourist spot here in Bohol on my own.....what i mean here is using the public transportation......
But luckily.....i made the right decision.....which is to be on a TOUR..........

Based on what i saw..it will be very difficult....time consuming.......and tiring to do the trip on your own......although you can save some money...if you ride the public transportation going from one destination to another.......but it is not advisable........first.....there is none.....its very difficult....
Afterall you want to enjoy...right.......
Tourist didnot go here to bargain....for the cost of the travelling...
Tourist usually travel to enjoy.....
Your travel should bot become a burden to you......

That is why...choosing a tourguide cum driver...is a wise decision...........
forget about the 500-1000 pesos you can save using public transportation........
just think.....you need to enjoy this trip.......afterall GOD will give the money........:)

I prefer group tour to travel via Tubigon, Bohol. For students like me, this is your best option.
It's a lot cheaper! Way cheaper than traveling via Tagbilaran!

From Cebu, the most convenient and cheapest route to Bohol - via Tubigon. Normal and fast Ferries to Tubigon is only around P150-200. Please take fast craft (StarCraft), it is only around 45minutes. You don't want to waste you time on the ferry (2hours for normal ferry).
I checked Tagbilaran fares, the prices are unbelievable, ranges from 400-1000 for 2 hour fast ferry! If you travel by 10, that's around 4000 pesos for one-way trip! By traveling via Tubigon, it's only 2000 and you can save that extra 2000 pesos for your trip going back to Cebu.

Before traveling, you can easily book a car or van online at www.myboholrentacar.com. I haven't seen a website like this where it is so USER FRIENDLY. I RECOMMEND EVERYONE using and trying it. Booking is so easy! You can book a car/van in 3 easy steps:
1. Choose Vehicle Type - Van
2. Choose Your Preferred Model of Van (Tip: choose the one with Free Gift - those are assorted and delicious Bohol Delicacies, quite convenient during your tour, munch all those throughout your tour :-) Please take note that tourist spots also sell these, but they are overpriced! Just try these for free :)
3. Provide details and click Book Now!

From Tubigon, you can go to Sagbayan Peak, Danao Adventure, Carmen Chocolate Hills, Bilar Man-Made Forest, have a buffet lunch at Loboc River, Baclayon Church, Tagbilaran Blood Compact and Panglao Beach.
For those who love seafoods, try those fresh seafoods at Panglao. There are lots available along side the beach - it's cheaper compared to seafoods available at the resorts.

Hi,

I would just like to share our experience with a so-called driver/travel guide known by the name of Sophia Bohol Tours. This is quite long but I just wanted to make sure I cover everything so please bear with me.

Coming from Cebu, we arrived at Tagbilaran City via Ocean Jet at 11:30AM on the 20th of June. We were greeted by our driver/tour guide Rey Uy and his wife Cristy Lyn Infante of Sophia Bohol Tours. I have heard that we have agreed to pay them a package price of Php3,500 for everything , accommodations, tours, transfers, basically anything that we would spend on except for food and shopping.
When we boarded the Innova, we had to make the 7 of us fit in the last two rows because the vehicle only had a capacity of 8. Take note that Rey and his wife were already in the front seats so we had to squeeze in 4 people in a 3-seater seat. Nevertheless, we voluntarily made another partial payment to them, no questions asked, as a sign of good faith from our part. This was on top of the initial bank deposit we made a few days before our trip.

When the vehicle started moving, Rey told us that we will be going to the market to buy food for the place we are staying. Jheng, the person who was arranging everything with them replied, “Why do we need to buy food from the market?” That was the only time we were informed that the agreed accommodations, Aros Resort, was not available on those dates for reasons beyond their control. We were booked in a private resort nearby with 3 bedrooms and a lot of space. Excuse me, there were 7 of us and 4 of our friends that were in Bohol a day before us. How would he make us fit in a 3-bedroom house? He insisted that it will be comfortable for us. Definitely, wrong again. We agreed on a total of 6 rooms with swimming pool and our own bathrooms, and do not like the hassle of cooking for ourselves.

By this time during the ride, his wife was already dropped off at BQ mall and we were instructing Rey to head over to Panglao for us to inspect the private resort so we can scout for a place just in case we didn’t like it. Even without visual inspection, we already did not like the idea that we were blindsided and was decided for without consultation. He initially replied by saying we can go on with the tour first then look for a place afterwards. We insisted that he turn around to Panglao immediately because we might come back later than expected and we would not have a choice but to just accept what they had, which is what happened to the 4 people ahead of us. Rey said to go on with the tour and he will instruct his wife to look for another resort for our accommodations, based on our agreement. Jheng suggested Paragayo.

So we proceeded with the tour, which only took a half day because of Rey’s “formula 1” driving. He was reckless not minding that there were passengers already getting dizzy with the winding road that he was negotiating like Sebastian Vettel. By 3PM, we were already confirmed to stay at the Paragayo. We also insisted that the 4 friends who were one day ahead of us to be accommodated there as they are part of our Php3,500 per head package. They should be getting what we were getting. This was already after the fact that it was their second night and their first night was spent in a ***ty resort.

There we were at Paragayo, trying to check in when we found out that we had to make another partial payment for our accommodations. Still giving him that benefit that he will still be able to deliver a hassle free vacation on the next day, we went on and paid the advance they should be paying. He said that the money that they use to roll accommodation deposits are still with Aros Resort and that they haven’t refunded it yet. Please note that I am not discrediting Aros in this narration. They were just our preferred resort that was sadly not available, and was the center of the couple’s excuse in the accommodations issue.

We went this far only because Rey asked us to give him a chance to fix the problem. However, it was already made clear to him that we will not be swept by his excuses and our agreement should be met. He was blaming his wife for the faulty arrangements and that everything will be in order so it was a new page. Everybody was already disappointed because this is supposed to be a hassle-free vacation that was all covered with our agreed package price of Php3,500. Anyway, we were too tired to argue and everyone is longing for a shower after a humid day.

Come next day morning, it was our island hopping, dolphin watching and snorkeling. Everything was going well until we arrived at Balicasag and found out that we had to pay an extra 200 per head to rent a boat to go to the sanctuary. I clearly understand why the boat we used for island hopping was not allowed to go to the sanctuary. What I did not understand is that the package should have included this cost. Lyn was insisting that we can snorkel where the boat docked. What a stupid thing to say because there is definitely no point in going to Balicasag if you are not going to snorkel at the sanctuary. So we shelled some more money which we find to be very inconvenient already. It is then that we decided to cancel everything with them and just arrange for everything ourselves. Whatever was agreed upon, was not working to our advantage.

When we reached the resort, Lyn and Rey were already waiting because we have a Panglao tour at 1PM. Jheng talked to Lyn and explained to her that the comfort we were expecting from the package is not working so we are cancelling everything, even the Panglao tour in the afternoon. We explained to her that we will be settling everything they advanced such as our ticket from Cebu-Bohol, the entrance fees to the tour sites, the tour fee, and everything they had to spend for in our account. Lyn even had the gull to charge us with 5 snorkeling sets that costs Php1,000, which we clearly know was already included in the boat fee. So whatever will be left, we will pay for, including accommodations and the boat.

After doing the math, their advances against our advances, I think Lyn only received less than Php1,000. So everything was closed and cancelled. We said that they can go, and we will be proceeding with the tour ourselves. When we went out at 2PM to have lunch, the husband and wife were still there and we repeated that we no longer require their services.

While having lunch in a place near our resort, Rey arrived implicitly saying that there is a cancellation fee. We said that there was no agreement of a cancellation fee and that we are not paying. After all the inconvenience, he had the nerve to run to the Police Outpost across the street to file a complaint against us. We followed him in our defense and had that conversation in the presence of the police officers. After explaining both sides, the police was in our favor. He however, still demands for the cancellation fee, explaining that there is a cost to the van already. The van was cancelled even before the agreed time of 1PM, at 12:30 while talking to his wife. And there was definitely no agreement or contract for a cancellation fee.

We asked him to bring his wife over to settle this because he was not the one we had an agreement to cancel the transaction. He was hesitant to bring his wife but the police instructed him to. When the wife arrived, she said that there was a misunderstanding and she thought that the tour was still on. Having aggravated his stand further, Rey became rude, arrogant and disrespectful not only to us, but also the police officers present. He was shouting at Jheng and this time I just had to butt in and shout back at him.
He went out of the outpost to create a scene but unfortunately for him, no one is sharing his sentiment. One tour guide/driver is already trying to talk some sense into him that he is just embarrassing himself but didn’t really care. We continued talks with Lyn and she was saying that it was all good and that we are settled. I instructed her to talk to his husband and settle it with him before they go.
Rey went back inside the outpost still adamant to demand the cancellation fee. After all the “tang-ina’s” and the cursing, he decided to threaten us with our lives saying “hinde kayo makakalabas ng Bohol ng buhay” (“you will never leave Bohol alive”), and left.
Rey Uy and Cristy Lyn Infante are in a blotter at the police outpost in Panglao, Bohol across Paragayo at approximately 3:15PM of June 22, 2011. The police assured us that we are safe and that he will do us no harm. Thanks to them, we are safely back in Manila.
Also, the owner of the resort also filed a complaint against him and hopefully, he will be blackballed in a number or places in Bohol, especially Panglao. So they might not be able to give you a complete tour package anymore.

To our friends or anyone planning to visit in Bohol using travel guides, avoid Rey Uy or his wife Cristy Lyn Infante. This is their website, http://www.sophiaboholtour.webs.com/ and their facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/people/Sophia-Bohol-Tours/100002111722548. Their cell phone numbers are 09058100319 and 09283246615. I am not here to discredit Bohol, it is a very nice place with a lot of nice people. The place is highly recommended for nature lovers. It is just with this couple that we are very disappointed with. Thanks to the police officers and all the residents of Bohol who assisted us from this greedy person.

The only practical way to tour around the island is by private car or van. Sure, one can take the bus but you'll have to know the stops, fares, routes, trip intervals, etc...all a waste of precious vacation time. You can book a tour group at the hotel of course, but expect the hotel to jack up the fees for their commission.

Angelbert Tours (operated by Bert and Lilette Gacera) was recommended by other VTers so I booked with them too. They'd reply quickly by SMS or email to any concern or queries. Their rates are reasonable, their driver was courteous, and even Bert himself met us at the airport -- upon arrival at 7 am we toured immediately then at the end of the day, dropped us at our hotel.

Upon reaching the airport for our flight home, I was dismayed to discover that if you arrive earlier than 2 hours before departure you cannot enter the terminal and check-in just yet. Because the airport departure area is so small WITHOUT airconditioning, passengers have to wait outside the building. In the photo note the waiting shed with a green roof and seats underneath. This is where one would have to sit until everyone is called to enter the terminal at the right. For a place that has become highly dependent on tourism, it is appalling that local authorities can't make an effort to upgrade and expand the airport!

So if you don't want to sweat it out while waiting, better stay in your airconditioned car or van till check-in is allowed.

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I highly recommend Mang Rey! He offers the sulit tour as you can visit 15 places for 3k as compared to most of the tours arranged at 2,5k then you get to visit less than 10 sites only.

He knows all the good places to visit (Chocolate Hills, Butterfly Farm, Loboc River, Tarsier, Churches in BOHOL, Mag Aso Falls and many more), you could also suggest places to him.

cheapest entry to Bohol from Cebu, take a ferry going to Tubigon only cost P150. Compare to Cebu - Tagbilaran in which ferry ticket cost around P500. Or when you are in Tagbilaran going to Cebu and time is not an issue, you can ride a mini bus going to Tubigon for P45 and then again take the ferry to Cebu for P180 or P150. The bus ride is almost an hour plus the ferry ride to Cebu or vice versa takes 2 hours.

As a warning, drivers of tricycle, bus, jeep and habal-habal/motor initially give outrageous rates at start. So you should be good in haggling. Anyway, i'll just share our experience on the costs that we spent. Upon arrival in Tagbilaran airport, we rode a tricycle to Island City mall Cost: P20.00, i believe the ideal amount is P6, but since they know we're not locals, the drivers there really give a big price. They shouted P150 for one tricycle, but we were able to bring it down to P80 for 4 people. From Island City Mall, we took a jeep to Panglao Island. Cost: P20/person. Note: You need to be with somebody who knows how to understand Bisaya. They understand in Tagalog, but will speak to you in Bisaya. We also had the experience of taking the tricycle from Dumaluan Beach to Bohol Bee Farm, we were charge P600 :( which was i feel a waste of money. We were able to ride Habal-habal for the first time, and you can ask the drivers to slow down, One motorcycle good for 2 people, 50/person one way (we went to Alona Beach from Dumaluan). With regards to country tour, we contacted Mang Rod, and our driver was Mang Noli. He was really friendly, a good photographer and was a great tour guide so we gave him tip. Rate was 1800. Transpo to airport we contacted Dario Petalcorin, who owns a multicab. Good for 6 people tops, 300 pesos. We got their information also from virtualtourist.com