My previous travel notes about the Philippines were published on Mafengwo. After reading them, I felt that there was a lot of nonsense, so I decided to streamline them and repost them in the article. I feel that the Philippines needs more strategies than Japan. After all, Japan has ridiculously convenient transportation, while the Philippines....
Well, so with the guide in hand, you won’t have to worry about traveling!
Philippines: Consumption is low, air tickets are easy to buy, cost-effective, the natural scenery is good, and it is also suitable for snorkeling and deep diving. At the same time, there are relatively few Chinese tour groups, so it is really a good choice to avoid crowds. A country that I wasn’t very interested in before I went there, but after I went there I found it really delicious.
Content overview
· Itinerary overview · Daily attractions and specific arrangements · Accommodation recommendations · Itinerary form and expenses ·
Day5 Siquijor –Bohol Island, Bohol Island (Bee Farm, Night Watching Fireflies), live in Bohol Island
Day6 Bohol Island: Island hopping (Bali Casa, Virgin Island, Cathedral Island), stay inBohol
Day7 Bohol–Manila, stayManila
Day8 Manila–Wuhan
So overall, it’s a “no-turning-back” loop, two nights in Manila, two nights in Duma, one night in Siquijor, and two nights in Bohol.
There are boats to and from Duma, Tin Island and Bohol , which is very convenient and takes a short time.
Manila and Dumas, Mint Direct Domestic flights available , the flight time is also very short (but there are frequent delays...)
Practical TIPS before traveling
/visa/
Getting a visa for the Philippines is easy. Just go to a travel agency and provide simple information. You need to send your passport, and the visa can be issued in about two weeks. The price is around 250rmb. Note: The Philippines uses a separate paper visa , which will not be affixed to your passport. You will only be given an A4-sized piece of paper. This must be kept well, and it must be kept well after entry. Because it is still needed when leaving the country.
/ exchange money /
It is very convenient to withdraw pesos directly with UnionPay, but there is a 10 yuan handling fee. The two of us spent about 2,000 RMB in cash during the entire trip, and we basically didn’t use credit cards. Many restaurants and shops in the Philippines do not accept credit cards. Cash is more commonly used.
/ transportation /
Domestic Airlines: Cebu Pacific is a low-cost airline, but this airline is very big, so the experience is OK. It’s just easy to be delayed, so you need to arrange the time well . After all, the air ticket only costs less than 200... When I bought the ticket, I was told that there is no checked luggage allowance and the hand luggage cannot exceed 7kg. I was prepared to pay extra for my 10kg+ suitcase, but I was not asked to add any money .
Tickets: Both take oceanjet. Buy them in advance through tb. The price will be a few dollars more, but the local ticket window gets off work at four or five o'clock. If you arrange your itinerary right If you don't get on, or the flight is delayed, you may miss the time to buy the ferry ticket. It is recommended to buy it online before departure. An electronic version of the ticket will be sent to you, which can be stored in your mobile phone or printed out.
Other transportation: Except for Manila, there is basically no public transportation on other islands. Public transportation in Manila is also poor. Therefore it is recommended to take a taxi with grab (similar to Didi) in Manila, and take tutu on small islands, or ask the hotel to call a taxi for you.
/Other essentials/
Remember to rent a GoPro when diving / download google map / Buy a globe with a phone card
Day 1 ended in a plane. I have to say that the traffic in the Philippines is really not good.
DAY2 Manila / Intramuros / Museum Exploration
If you want to stay in Manila, you must visit this place - Intramuros . Just search for Intramuros, which is a 30-minute drive from Makati and is the oldest area in Manila.
Herethere are remains of the city walls from the Spanish rule, as well as some historical traces from the Second World War.Whether it is to take photos or to feel the cultural atmosphere, it is worth a visit here. Tickets to enter the ancient city cost 75 pesos, which is not expensive. There are several cathedrals nearby, all of which can be visited. Locals hold weddings and attend services there.
There are three museums in Manila, Museum of Nature, Humanities, and Museum of Art . I think they are quite well built and worth a visit , especially the Art Museum. The paintings inside are still very impressive . You can walk there from the Ancient Royal City, it's quite close. There are many cafes along the road that mix European and Southeast Asian atmospheres. It's very pleasant to stop and eat.
Whether it's the royal city or the museum, there are very few tourists. I don't know whether it's because it's the off-season, or because the Philippines is already a niche enough. But it is precisely because of this that you can avoid the crowds and appreciate the local customs.
DAY3 Dumaguete / Snorkeling to see whale sharks / Moalbuoy sardines
Departing from Duma, we booked a small group one-day tour for a total of 4 people, with a guide leading the tour. Departing at 7 o'clock, ferrying from Duma to Oslob, and then getting ready to see whale sharks. It was my first time snorkeling, and I was so nervous the moment I entered the water... Actually, take some safety measures. It's not dangerous, but when I go into the sea, the roar of the waves still makes me feel dizzy...When a whale shark passes by you, you will still deeply feel the insignificance of human beings.
After watching the whale sharks, the small group’s afternoon trip was to go to Mobao to see sardines , densely packed with sardines! It looks like office workers squeezing into the subway...
After returning to Duma from Mobao, it was already time for dinner. I asked the guide in Duma where the best seafood was, and he recommended Lantaw. It was really delicious and the price was low. I highly recommend the minced garlic. Crab, black pepper shrimp.
Someone recommended MOON Cafe in the previous guide, but when I asked the guide, the answer was that it was a bit tricky and easy to cheat. As expected, I still couldn’t trust the internet celebrity check-in restaurant! It is more reliable to ask local people~
DAY4 Dumaguete City / Siquijor Island
The boat departed at 9:40 in the morning, so we had breakfast and walked around downtown Duma. We live near the pier, next to Silliman University, Silliman University is the oldest American university in Asia.
Then it only takes 15-20 minutes to walk to the old bell tower of Duma. The Old Bell Tower is one of the oldest buildings in the entire Duma. On the way, you will pass some ancient churches and street gardens full of religious atmosphere. Duma is not so prosperous, but it is very lively and down-to-earth. Before sailing, we walked along the seaside. The sea breeze was strong but very comfortable. Occasionally we passed by people walking their dogs or jogging in the morning.
It is recommended to check in at least 30 minutes in advance if taking a boat, because you have to select a seat, pay island tax, and if you have suitcases, you have to check in and pay fees, so try to leave enough time. The boarding gate will be written on the ticket, but the personal test may not be accurate. It may change temporarily, so if you are not sure, it is best to ask to avoid getting on the wrong ship.
Arrive in Siquijor by boat and go to the island . The commercialization here is very weak and there is not much development yet. Although there are island tours, which can be booked on a certain website, I personally feel that the island tour is not very meaningful. This island is suitable for salted fish . Find a comfortable hotel, watch the sunset, find a music bar, and have a drink.
Recommended ways to play: Bring your international driving license, rent a motorcycle and ride wherever you go. You can go to the beach to see the beautiful scenery, go diving, go to the monastery to take pictures, and find a restaurant with a good atmosphere to eat at sunset. Order an apple bear for dinner, perfect.
DAY5 Bohol / Bee Farm and Fireflies
The boat leaves Tin Island at noon and heads to Bohol. In the morning, you can have breakfast near the hotel, watch the sunrise, take a nap, and rest before starting the trip. The pier going to Bohol is not the same pier coming from Duma, please note. There are many small stalls near this pier. They are all special local snacks. The environment in the shop is very similar to our fly restaurant. You can try it~
We booked a Firefly tour in the afternoon, and we arrived in Bohol at 2 or 3 o'clock. Firefly Tour picked us up at 4:30 . The time card was perfect. The small charter bus will arrive at the hotel. First, we will visit and dine at the bee farm . This place is really nice, with green everywhere, and a great view of the sea + a restaurant to watch the sunset. The food is also very delicious! And it's not expensive.
I ordered a chicken meal, served with rice and flower salad, and a fish taco. The bread on the far right was a complimentary pre-dinner bread. Although it is given as a gift, it is really not ambiguous at all. It is delicious, has a wholesome texture and is very healthy, especially the sauce that comes with it... I can’t say what it is, but it is definitely one of the top 3 most delicious sauces I have ever tasted. .
After dinner, continue driving to the firefly viewing point, which takes about 40 minutes. I would first take a small boat to the middle of the dark lake and wait for the appearance of fireflies. Originally, the weather was not good that day and I had given up hope. But suddenly I saw the twinkling fireflies on a forest, and I was so excited! ! Nature is amazing.
It was already nine o'clock after we returned. After a tiring day of traveling, we came to a set of Filipino-style horse and chicken. It costs 400 pesos (about 50rmb) for 60 minutes. It is super comfortable and cost-effective! Finally, they asked me if I wanted to drink water or tea. The tea was a very special ginger tea, which was quite delicious.
DAY6 Island Hopping / Balicasag Virgin Island Cathedral Island
On the fifth day, we set off from Bohol for the scheduled island hopping one-day trip . We set out to chase dolphins at 6:15, but we were so unlucky. The guide said that we can see wild dolphins at least 20 days a month, but we just didn’t watch... It’s a bit of a pity.
The highlight of the day is still snorkeling. Mint snorkeling is mainly about seeing sea turtles, the Great Fault and various Nemo~The most interesting one is the Great Fault. Here is a 1-meter shoal, and over there is the abyss, which is invisible. end. I think it’s quite shocking.
Virgin Island is a pure white shoal that will be submerged during high tide, making it very suitable for taking pictures. Cathedral Island is a private island, free of charge, and only tourists are allowed on the island. The island is very quiet, there are many pigeons that are not afraid of people, and there are many religious sculptures.
Return to the main island of Bohol at 2pm. Bohol Island is actually very big, but most people choose to live in Panglao. We did not go on an inland trip. If you have enough time, friends who like to see animals and mountain views can also choose an inland day trip.
In the afternoon when we had no other itinerary, we chose to stay at a five-star resort. We booked one night at South Palm Resort in this trip, which is very cost-effective. There are private beaches, two swimming pools, free bicycle rentals, cost-effective restaurants, rich breakfasts, tennis courts, billiards rooms, gyms, etc.
The sunset and sunrise are really beautiful, and the private beach is beautiful and peaceful. The hotel staff will give you a map of the hotel, and the estimated sunrise and sunset times in the past few days, so you can check out the beautiful scenery ~ There will be people singing in the restaurant in the hotel in the evening, although the price is slightly more expensive than outside. , but 80 per capita is already very cost-effective in China.
DAY7/8 Return to Manila GOODBYE Philippines
If you are used to playing Rampage, this travel mode that combines fast and slow travel is quite good . A combination of movement and stillness, running around and resting. After checking out at the hotel, we asked the front desk to call us a tutu to the airport. It took less than 20 minutes to drive there . Bohol's airport is not big, but it is relatively new.
Return to Manila by Cebu Airlines. Here I want to complain about the traffic in Manila . If you want to take a taxi from the airport to the city center, you will really have to pay a lot of money. The taxi price is only 2,000 pesos, which is a money grab. Recommendation: Grab a taxi, or book airport pick-up in advance on domestic platforms (tb/Mafengwo/Ctrip, etc.).
On the last day in the Philippines, why not take a look at their capital? The most prosperous CBD area——Makati . There are many high-rise buildings here, and shopping malls and food are concentrated here. Buying souvenirs and eating local specialties are both good choices. Because the Philippines is a very Westernized Southeast Asian country, There are many cafes and bakeries in the city center, and the prices are very friendly. , let’s eat and drink like crazy.
Accommodation recommendations /
Manila
La Casita Mercedes
Dumaguete
The Bricks Hotel
Siquijor
The Bruce Luxury
Mint
Panglao Regents Park
South Palm
They are all very satisfied, there are no surprises at all, the price/performance ratio is amazing, and the service is also very good! 100 points Amway.
Finally, there is the specific itinerary and expenses (shown in the picture below)
The total cost is 10,000 yuan for two people, 5,000 per person (a total of 7 days, 7 nights, super cost-effective, right?)
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