Where NOT to Stay When in Cebu, Philippines

Advantages: Only a few minutes' drive to Mactan-Cebu International Airport; nice shower; friendly staff.
Disadvantages: Basically a dump; towel problem emblematic of the place, which needs a renovation badly.

...If you ever plan to visit the bustling city and province of Cebu, Philippines, take note: DO NOT even consider the shamefully shabby Days Hotel Cebu for your holiday. Our travel party had expected decent accommodations in this Days Hotel, since Cebu City happens to be one of the larger and exciting cities in the Visayas region of Southern Philippines (a cluster of islands in the center of the archipelago). Well, were we ever so wrong! A Bit About Cebu. Cebu City brims with historical significance. It's the oldest Christian city in the Philippines, established by Spanish colonizer Miguel Lopez de Legaspi in 1571. (The country's oldest avenue is Colon St. in busy downtown Cebu City, named oddly after Christopher Columbus.) Decades before Legaspi's arrival, Portuguese explorer Fernando de Magallanes/Ferdinand Magellan first...

zerbine28 28.02.2006 · Read review
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Review of Days Hotel Cebu

Cebu - the queen of the south

Advantages: Fantasic beaches, friendly people, good food.
Disadvantages: Manana mentality

...I recently got back to the U.K after spending around eighteen months working in Cebu. Like anywhere else in the Philippines, life can be a bit of a hassle for people who live and work there and are used to western - style comforts and western - style pace of life, but it is a brilliant vacation spot. On Mactan Island, just over the bridge from Cebu City proper, there are several beach resort hotels which are world - class (Tambuli and Maribago Blue Water are probably the best). Unfortunately these also carry world - class price tags, but there are a couple of tourist-style hotels, about 10 minutes from the beaches, Bridgeside Hotel & Captain Greggs Inn. These are both run by Australians, and have clean, comfortable accomodation and good western - style food at reasonable prices (around US$20 per night for an aircon room with private...

dave1956 18.07.2000 · Read review
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Review of General : Cebu (The Philippines)

BAGONGBANUA - A jewel in the Cebu Strait

Advantages: Unspoiled island - private property
Disadvantages: None

...14 nautical miles (26 kilometers) south of Cebu City, 13 miles (24 kilometers) across the Cebu Strait east of Carcar Bay and 7 miles (13 kilometers) northwest of Tubigon in Bohol, lies a five-hectare islet - 123° 55' East and 10° 20' North, known to navigators for its light house: Bagonbanua Island. This exceptional islet belongs to the group of 61 islands and islets in front of Bohol's nerthwest and northern coast. Bagongbanua is a private property, not "developed", still unspoiled. On the southeast half of the islet is a village, home to around 80 or 100 families, with a population of 500 to 600. Water is available from a spring, but one has to boil it before drinking. Buko juice - fresh from the numerous coco palms - is an excellent refreshment. Bagongbanua, meaning "new town", is a barangay belonging to the town...

alfredbruckner 29.05.2002 · Read review
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Review of General : Cebu (The Philippines)

OLANGO ISLAND - A Wildlife Sanctuary

Advantages: Near Cebu City and Mactan with its Resorts and Hotels - good connection by commuter ferry transportation
Disadvantages: Overpriced packages offered by some tour operators!

.... Watch your steps so you can avoid sharp corals, shells and sea urchins. Soft drinks or beer can be bought in stores in the barangays. In the sanctuary, rain water is available. If you bring food and water, please bring home all your rubbish and do not leave plastics. They are dangerous to the birds and marine life. More information is available from the DoT - Department of Tourism and the DENR - Department of Environmental and Natural Resources and at the Office of the Lapu Lapu City Mayor. Alfred N. Bruckner A B N C - NEWS & COMMENTARIES Cebu City - Philippines Apropos: "Value for Money" If you arrange your "own" tour! Meaning, it's easy to go there, because of regular ferry trips between Mactan and Olango. Tricyles can be hired in Santa Rosa's ferry port for few Pesos only....

alfredbruckner 29.05.2002 · Read review
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Review of Cebu City (The Philippines)

Shangri-la - a 'Lost Horizon'

Advantages: a lot
Disadvantages: expensive - understandable coz it's the only 5 star hotel in Cebu

......

hyaeth 12.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa, Cebu

THE CITY OF SMILE, BACOLOD CITY PHILIPPINES

Advantages: YOU WILL FEEL RELAX WITH THE NATURE, SEE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Disadvantages: TRAVELLING SO LONG...

...THE CITY OF SMILE as we commonly call Bacolod City. I wonder why and how did they call it that way. I have traveled to many places in Visayas part of Philippines and i found out that Bacolod was my favorite. From Cebu, you have many ways to get there. I suggest you go by land because along the way you get to see beautiful things.you will pass by Toledo & SAn CArlos City. along the ways you will see nice and pleasing environment.When arrived in Bacolod, the people are not smiling all the time but they are happy persons. You can go to PENSION BACOLOD.most popular pension house, if your on budget or in CHECK IN if you like more comfortable. SAfety First. No problem because the people are very friendly and accomodating but you always have to be careful.. Next would be the food. I recommend SISIG. the best! you can try their native food. Its...

muahri 25.06.2008 · Read review
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Review of General: Negros (The Philippines)

ADVENTURE ISLAND

Advantages: the best vacation you'll ever had, not crowded
Disadvantages: none at all

...watching the sunset facing the beach in the shade of a palm tree. The food is extremely delicious and very affordable. When I say affordable, I really mean affordable. Eat all the seafood you like, crabs, lobster, sea shells, squid, fish and anything that lives underwater, you name it. You can go fishing in one of their fishing spots like Digim, situated in Dapa. Fish it yourself and cook it yourself. You can find locals who can guide you or do things for you easily. The best way to get to Siargao is to go on a ship from Cebu City, Philippines and go on a boat from Surigao Del Norte where Siargao is located. This is also the cheapest way to go. PRICE MATRIX: Fare Price from Cebu to Siargao on ship and boat - $25 - $30 Pansukian Resort per night - $200 - $250 Other Local Resorts per night - $20 - $50 Island Tour on boat...

sheenarobins 09.11.2008 · Read review
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Review of Siargao (Mindanao)

Filipino Paradise

Advantages: Perfect white sandy beaches, good variety of accommodation, restaurants and bars
Disadvantages: A bit over-developed in places

...Boracay is known as The Philippines' most beautiful island and regularly features in top ten lists for 'The best beaches in the world'. Being so highly rated, I decided I had to visit it in June 2008, to decide for myself if it really is that good. Getting there In order to get to Boracay, you have to fly from Manila to either Caticlan or Kalibo. There are many flights every day to both airports with various different airlines. The cheapest offers seem to be with Asian Spirit and Cebu Pacific. I flew with Asian Spirit and the short 1 hour flight was fine with them. From Caticlan, you take one of the many small boats across to Boracay and there is a new jetty on the south of the island now to make things easier (before this was built you had to climb out of the boats directly on to the beaches). If you fly to Kalibo then you...

trev11 30.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of General: Boracay (The Philippines)

Best kept secret in the far east

Advantages: english speaking, very cheap, very friendly, great food
Disadvantages: can be hot, some polution

...What a great place the Phills is, Ive been to well over 50 countries and ive never fallen in love with a place like this, Forget Thailand, the Philippines is 10 times the place. Everyone speaks English,even the newspapers are in english, the food is great and the people so very friendly and helpful. Inexpencive? you have no idea, a taxi in the capital, about £1 anywhere you want to go, a meal for 4 in top quality restauant? about £10 with drinks!! and what restaunts, top quality with food from every corner of the globe, Italian,french,Japanese, chinese, Vietnamise, and, of course, the local food which is always fresh and tasty. The beach resorts are very very good indeed, Boracay and Cebu are lovley but Palawan stands out, A top quality resort with its own beaches, water sports , restarunts and bars should cost about £40 per night...

coppinpr 02.03.2008 · Read review
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Review of General: The Philippines

"When there's a shadow, reach for the sun. "

Advantages: a great introduction to Enya
Disadvantages: none

...the watery depths of an artist, and Paint the Sky? is ideal for that. Fourteen tracks outline the ex-Clannad members career (I told myself I wasn't going to mention her former band, oh well) and two new creations that sound as if they were big hits for her anyway. The album opens, quite rightly, with Orinoco Flow, this is after all where it all began, the one that got the girl noticed and marked her out for great things. An almost pop induced collection of classical cellos, piano and modern keyboards provide a platform for this nautical journey that takes us? From Bissau to Palau - in the shade of Avalon, From Fiji to Tiree and the Isles of Ebony, From Peru to Cebu hear the power of Babylon, From Bali to Cali - far beneath the Coral Sea ?and Orinoco Flow appears to relate to the name of a boat and a long dreamt of journey. Intricate...

steerpyke 19.07.2005 · Read review
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Review of Paint The Sky With Stars (The Best Of Enya) - Enya