Beach resort

Been to Bali and Thailand several times, looking for somewhere different. Can anyone suggest a beach resort in Philippines? Family group of around 10 people, no teenagers or children and like a relaxing holiday with great beach and pools and prefer to eat out of resort at night. Any suggestions?

Thanks

Kath

Beach resort

sounds like boracay to me. you might want to look into palawan as well but dining choices might be more limited. if budget is not an issue, i%26#39;d recommend el nido resorts.

Beach resort

KatSale

My personal favourite is Alona Beach, Panglao Island which is connected by a causeway and 30 minutes by Taxi (cost P450 or so each way) from Tagbilaran.

To get there fly from Melbourne to Singapore on Singapore Airlines (the overnight 0105 hours flight connects, but if you want a stopover book the popular transit hotel at Chnagi Airport, a destination in itself), then connect to the 0900 or so daily SilkAir flight to Cebu, and then either fly or (more frequently) catch a fast ferry from Cebu Port across the bridge from Mactan Island on which the airport is situated to Tagbilaran City.

The www.singaporeair.com Internet site has fares that in some cases are cheaper than going through travel agents. Make sure you sign up to KrisFlyer frequent flyer program. SQ planes unlike QANTAS and Phil Airlines have good at-seat entertainment.

Take a taxi from airport to Cebu Port by walking outside the terminal and looking for a set of stairs. Insist on the meter being on (most drivers now do this).

There are three competing fast ferry companies: SuperFerry, OceanJet and Weesam Express, with regular departures listed on a website a Filipino gent has established. Fare is reasonable. You can buy tickets at the ferry wharves.

Alona Beach has a good range of acooomdation searchable on TA, and you can take tours for dolphin watching and snorkelling to Balicasag Island (by private %26#39;banca%26#39; - boat seating up to 6) and to Chocolate Hills, Baclayan Church, Loboc River cruise, Hinuntungan Cave and the very cute small tarsiers. Cost of each tour is about P2000 (may have gone up slightly): Loboc River cruise is about P300 per person including a buffet lunch and a soft drink.

If flying ex Manila, Cebu Pacific (newer A320 planes) and Philippine Airlines have about seven departures a day each; if flying ex Cebu, each now has one daily departure (at different times). Domestic fares are generally cheap.

At Alona Beach there are numerous restaurants along the beach, but it%26#39;s probably a quieter atmosphere than Boracay.

The Panglao Island/ Bohol Island tourist attractions are all listed on TA under %26#39;Bohol attractions%26#39;, so search using those parameters.

HI Kate, small world i am from Sale also.

I highly recomend staying at Plantation Bay in Cebu , about 20 minutes from the Cebu Intl. Airport, its very expensive, but even for just a few nights i highly recommend staying there, you will not regret it.

Kate and Kingant

It%26#39;s possible to combine Plantation Bay on Mactan Island, Cebu near its international airport with a stay at Alona Beach.

The cheapest way is to fly to Manila with Singapore Airlines on the 0105 flight ex Melbourne, change in Singapore and arrive Manila at about 1315. Allow at least three hours for a connection (transfer from Terminal 1 to newer Terminal 3) and fly Cebu Pacific to Cebu, then stay at Plantation Bay. This is cheaper than flying direct to Cebu with SIA subsidiary SilkAir, however the latter is quicker.

Then after say three days, take a taxi to Cebu Port and transfer using fast ferries and a taxi from Tagbilaran as per my previous post to get to Alona Beach, Panglao Island.

Then fly Tagbilaran - Manila on Cebu Pacific when you wish to, and maybe stay a night or two in Manila to experience Intramuros, the wonderful Sofitel Phillipine Plaze Hotel or Hyatt Ermita Hotel%26#39;s evening buffets (latter includes unlimited beer and soft drinks and is a bit cheaper, but Phil Plaza one has bigger selection of food).

For a reasonably priced hotel the newish Casa Bocobo Hotel in Ermita looks good though I tend to use Hotel Kimberly. It%26#39;s closer to Robinsons Place Mall but Casa Bocobo is closer to Manila Ocean World aquarium and to Intramuros%26#39;s tourist attractions.

I%26#39;d recommend Boracay as a good all-round destination with something for everyone. As well as beautiful beaches, there are plenty of activities and watersports, as well as a friendly nightlife scene and plenty of decent dining options.

social so po