Posts by Pinpon

Hi, No doubt—Siquijor. Bohol is very touristy but still worth a visit. Dumaguete isn’t an island—it’s a city, and the city itself is just that. However, there are things to see in the area.

In any case, plan to arrive the day before your international flight and spend the last night in Manila. Just to make sure you’re there for your return flight.

And then, the rice terraces in the north or the abandoned project? I say this because it’ll end up being a lot... Just a reminder, you need to allow a full day for transfers between two places. After that, personally, I’ll let others make their suggestions since I don’t know all the spots.

To explore the rice terraces, you’ve got to get lost in them on foot. The best season is from December to March. Beyond that period, rain and temperature can be a factor, and there’s a risk of having to walk through mud, which isn’t ideal but still doable. Just something to keep in mind.

Hi, Great itinerary, but here are a few things to keep in mind: - April/May falls during school holidays, which means flights and/or boats will fill up faster than usual and may be more expensive. - Note that your 30-day visa starts the day after you arrive, and you must leave by the last day of the visa at the latest. - Visiting the rice terraces at this time isn’t a great idea—it’s not the season (December/February). - Every time you move (by plane, ferry, bus, etc.), budget at least a full day for travel. - Panglao is nice if you explore off the beaten path—like the Chocolate Hills at dawn or in the evening, not in the middle of the day with all the tourists. The dinner cruise on the river is basically the Philippine version of the Seine’s *bateaux-mouches* in Paris. Avoid the tarsier tours run by big-group guides; instead, visit the dedicated reserve (I don’t remember the name). - Siquijor is amazing—it’s magical. I’m not sure if there are direct routes from Siquijor to Apo Island. - I’m not familiar with the Camotes Islands. That’s what I can share based on my experience. Oh, and it’s better to focus on one region rather than trying to do everything in a month—it’s just not possible.

The ticket is proof of your trip and that you’ve paid. You can often book it up to 11 months before departure. The boarding pass is the only document you need to board the plane, which is where its name comes from. This pass can be printed or on your phone if it’s digital. To generate this pass, you can only do so between 72 hours and 1 or 2 hours before departure. The flight ticket alone won’t be valid for boarding. Normally, when filling out the details for the boarding pass—also called check-in—you’ll be asked for your ID details and which document you’ll use (passport or ID card). At boarding, they’ll ask for both of these documents. Be careful: check the legislation of the country you’re visiting regarding which document is required and its validity after your return. Have a great trip! ;-)

True, from everything I’ve read, I’m not keen on visiting the underground river. As for Coron, we’ve already been there. We’re not big on beaches, but we love hikes or other activities as long as they’re off the beaten path and away from tourist traps ;-).

Thanks! If there’s any other info, I’m all ears.

Thanks for the feedback. When I say private van, it’s just because I don’t want to take buses or jeepneys for long transfers between visits. Any accommodation tips for Port Barton and/or Puerto Princesa?

Hi there, We’ve never visited Palawan before. This time, we’d like to spend a few days there. We’ll be there from the evening of October 30th until the early morning of November 5th (our return flight is at 7:20 AM). We’re arriving in Puerto Princesa and leaving from there as well. While ChatGPT gave us an itinerary suggestion, I’d still love to hear other opinions—don’t want to rely on it blindly.

Here’s ChatGPT’s proposal:

Saturday, October 31: Pearl farm + local waterfalls • 9:00 AM: Private car to Brook’s Point pearl farm (1.5–2 hour visit). • 1:00 PM: Local lunch + drive to Nagtabon Falls (1-hour jungle hike). • Overnight in Puerto Princesa. Sunday, November 1: Tabon Caves (Quezon) • 8:00 AM: Private car from PPS to Quezon (3 hours). • 11:00 AM–3:00 PM: Visit Tabon Caves (2–3 hour hike, unique archaeological site). • Return to PPS late afternoon or stay overnight in Quezon if you prefer. Monday, November 2: Puerto Princesa → Port Barton • 8:00 AM: Private car from PPS to Port Barton (3–4 hours). • Afternoon: Stroll around the village, small market, acclimatization. • Overnight in Port Barton. Tuesday, November 3: Private boat from Port Barton • 8:30 AM: Private boat for island hopping (snorkeling at Twin Reef / Fantastic Reef + peaceful Maxima Island). • Return by 4:00 PM. Wednesday, November 4: Hike in Port Barton + return to PPS • Morning: Hike to Pamuayan Falls or local jungle (1–2 hours). • 1:00 PM: Private car from Port Barton to PPS. • Overnight near the airport in PPS. Thursday, November 5: Flight from PPS to Dumaguete • Early morning flight from PPS to Dumaguete (direct or via Cebu, with plenty of buffer time).

What do you think? Where can we find trustworthy private drivers without getting ripped off? Any recommendations for typical hotels or guesthouses? Our flights are already booked—arriving in PPS at 6:30 PM and departing at 7:20 AM.

Thanks for your advice!

Hello, The Philippines is a safe country unless you go to parts of Mindanao, which doesn’t seem to be your case. Regarding water, no, it’s not drinkable, but you can find bottled water everywhere. A reusable water bottle will do if you refill it with bottled water—many hotels have water dispensers (5-liter jugs with a pump). As for mosquitoes, well, yes, like in any tropical country, they’re numerous and present. You don’t need to treat your clothes with repellent, but having mosquito repellent is a must, and wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants will do the trick. It’s the same as anywhere else. Finally, about luggage, I’ve never had any problems. This applies to all airports, not just in the Philippines. I don’t know where you found your information, but it’s not very accurate regarding luggage, at least. The hepatitis A vaccine is always a plus but not mandatory. For vaccinations in general, I recommend contacting a travel health clinic—they’ll be better equipped to advise you on vaccines and/or preventive treatments based on your health and destination. Of course, there’s no such thing as zero risk... Have a great trip and enjoy this wonderful country!

Hi there, What I can tell you is that cards are increasingly accepted, but Filipinos still prefer cash. In larger establishments, card payments should be free, but in smaller places, you might have to pay a small percentage extra to cover the commission. For the budget, the current exchange rate is 69 PHP for 1 €. Since I haven’t been back since 2024, I’ll let those living there give you the latest info on the cost of living.

I’ve never taken that shuttle myself, so I can’t really say. The best plan is to take your flight to Manila the afternoon before. Book a hotel in Manila, and you can still visit if you want—Intramuros is worth checking out. The next day, you’ll have your international flight, and you’ll be much more relaxed for your departure since you won’t risk missing it due to a connection delay.

I’d say 3.5 hours to collect your luggage, get to T3, and check in for your flight—1 hour for a domestic flight and 2 hours for an international one—is cutting it too close.

Keep in mind there are often delays, not to mention traffic, since there’s no private road to switch terminals.

That’s just my take, though. From experience, I arrive the day before my international flight if I’m coming in on a domestic one.

Grab works really well—I’ve done it before, and there are cars nearby. If you’d rather take a taxi, no problem, but make sure it’s an official one—they’re yellow.

Hi, How much time do you have? You'll need to take an official airport taxi and go via the Skyway (extra charge on you), but keep in mind there's a lot of traffic. If you don't want a taxi, there's the Grab app, which works really well. It's the local Uber.

I don’t know how to book online. Probably by searching, I guess. We just showed up, planning to arrive at 6 AM, but there’s nothing stopping you from coming even earlier. First come, first served ;-)

That’s a fair point

True, I did it back in 2013 too and it was already a bit of a factory, but nothing like it is now. Given the current situation, personally, I’d say it’s an activity to avoid now.

Hello, The cruise is a nightmare because these are ships with a good thousand people and a buffet on board. Apart from seeing the riverbanks, there’s nothing transcendent about it. Regarding Oslob and the whale sharks, I went back in March 2024. Things have changed drastically, and unfortunately, it’s even more of an industry now. If you’re set on going, here are the two options: - Either book online and reserve a time slot. They’re limited to 200 boats per day. - Or show up without a reservation. There are also 200 boats per day. For info, we arrived at 6 AM. We got ticket number 189 and went out (by boat) around 9 AM. Here’s how it works: you board a boat and head to the start of the chain. The boat is tied to a mooring line. You can get in the water, staying around the boat, and the boat drifts with the current but always stays at the end of that mooring line. Once you reach the end of the chain, everyone gets back on board, and you return to the beach. Duration: 30 minutes.