7 replies to this topic

[Cookie]

Guys

I'm a Thailand/Pattaya veteran but have only been to the PI once about 4 years ago.

In a nutshell I have a month off work coming up from late September and am considering a trip to the PI. For reasons best left unsaid I have ruled out Thailand.

So I am thinking about a month spent travelling around different places in the PI.

The purpose of my trip is not to monger although I am happy to indulge if I get the chance...but I really want to see some of the islands and get a feel for the place.

I am quite happy to take long bus and ferry journeys...in fact I would prefer them to flying generally speaking. And whilst I enjoy luxury now and again I am happy to rough it if needs be.

So that leads to my question to you all...if you had a month in the PI where would you go? I should say that Angeles (Balibago) for maybe 4-5 days and Manila (maybe 2-3 days) are a given. Where else?

Island hopping in the Visayas sounds good...maybe base myself in Cebu?

Comments, suggestions are welcome.....

Edited by Cookie, 29 June 2010 - 07:34 PM.

[gogul]

Guys

I'm a Thailand/Pattaya veteran but have only been to the PI once about 4 years ago.

So I am thinking about a month spent travelling around different places in the PI.

The purpose of my trip is not to monger although I am happy to indulge if I get the chance...but I really want to see some of the islands and get a feel for the place.

I am quite happy to take long bus and ferry journeys...in fact I would prefer them to flying generally speaking. And whilst I enjoy luxury now and again I am happy to rough it if needs be.

So that leads to my question to you all...if you had a month in the PI where would you go? I should say that Angeles (Balibago) for maybe 4-5 days and Manila (maybe 2-3 days) are a given. Where else?

Island hopping in the Visayas sounds good...maybe base myself in Cebu?

Comments, suggestions are welcome.....

Cookie,

Many think of PI only as a sex destination where a man can have a lot of sex with attractive brown skin girls for relatively little money and it is certainly that. But if as you say “The purpose of [your] trip is not to monger although [you are] happy to indulge if [given] the chance... [and you] really want to see some of the islands and get a feel for the place,” then I have some suggestions for you.

Here is a basic itinerary that you may find useful.

Week 1 & 2: fly into MNL, relax and spend a few days checking the city out and getting laid on Burgos Street. Head for AC and debauch for 4 or 5 days. Then head north to Baguio and the Central Cordillera. Do some sightseeing and be sure to take the Halsema Road to Bontoc. The mountain scenery is spectacular. Then head back to MNL and stop off in AC for a day or two if you feel like it.

Week 3 (and possibly week 4): From MNL fly to Puerto Princesa, Palawan. I would suggest you spend only a day in PP before you head off to Sabang Beach and the underground river (St Paul Cave). PI has two Sabang Beaches. Sabang Beach in Central Palawan is the more natural and unspoiled one and that is why I am recommending here. The other Sabang Beach is one of the Puerto Galera Beaches and has its own charms. If you like to scuba you may want to travel to Northern Palawan. Northern Palawan is an amazing combination of superb dive sites, fantastic tropical isles and more great beaches. Research Port Barton, and the beautiful islands of El Nido and the Bacuit archipelago. Many places up here are still relatively untouched by tourism. I can recommend the little fishing village of San Vicente and nearby Long Beach, one of the best stretches of sand you will find. You could easily spend a couple weeks on Palawan, but 7 or 8 days would be a nice getaway.

Week 4: From Puerto Princessa, you can fly direct to Cebu. Many have written about Cebu. It is a great girl destination. So after a week or so on Palawan it will be a very good change. You could easily spend a week here, but I suggest you split up your time and head to the northern tip of Cebu Island, to the small island of Malapascua after 3 or 4 days. (Or just as easily you could go to Boracay and or Siargao if that is your preference). Relax on one of these beaches for 4 or 5 days before heading back to Cebu.

Week 5: From Cebu, fly to Davao and/or Cagayan de Oro. Both cities are relaxed and very pleasant to visit and although they are not as wild as AC, both cities do have friendly women who know how to treat you right. If you travel to CDO, then Camiguin Island is a definite must to put on your itinerary. It's a couple of hours from CDO and is another beautiful tropical island worth spending a few days on. From Davao or CDO, you can fly back to Manila where you will wonder how a month went by so fast.

Week 6: I would also strongly recommend considering Siargao. It can be reached from Cebu by air and maybe from CDO. I have not been there yet, but it is on the top of my list of places I want to check out. Siargao is considered the Surfing Capital of the Philippines. Two words: Cloud 9!

[Cookie]

Thanks for the reply gogul...there are a few ideas for me to look at there.

[FilipinaFan]

'gogul' this is really good! [Worthy of being pinned!] I like the way it is laid out, too. I am an ole PI hand, but have stuck mostly on the "mongering route" --- have been considering a "blended" trip such as you suggest, and here it is all planned out! Cheers!

[Biggles]

My first time in PI I spent a month travelling from Manila:- basically I went to Batangas port, then over to Sabang on Mindoro, then back to batangas where I got a vehicle ferry to Ramblon island and then just island hopped by ferry and jeepney thru the Visayas to cebu where i got a supercat back to manila. had a great time, people friendly, easy to get around as everything is in english and would recommend it to anyone.

[tangfu_jim]

Another way is to start in Manila, then fly to Boracay. then Cebu, then Palawan then back to Manila. Spend last week in AC getting the pipes cleaned out then back to Manila. This itinerary allows for both sightseeing broken at next destination with mongering. Timing is all yours but 4 days on Boracay. a week in Cebu, three to four days in Palawan would be my plan. I've done this back in 2007 and found travel can be cut down timewise by following these routes.

Your suggestion on Sabang Beach in Palawan is a good one. Good place to stay and quiet. Scuba Diving can be done in North Palawan or out of Subic Bay at the end of trip. Boracay also offers this.

[Dave16]

Bear in mind most people only get a 21 day tourist visa on arrival so you will need to apply before you go if you want to stay longer, or get an extension when you are there in one of the immigation offices. If you go the latter route then you will need a return ticket within the original 21 days and have to get your ticket changed after being granted the visa extension.
Best of luck and have a good trip.

[0zzyM1CK]

Hmmm...I must visit Palawan one day. Is it expensive compared to other places?