In the late nineties and early 21st i liked MALAPASCUA ISLAND a lot. It still offers a nice vacation,but due to "overcrowding" with establishments ( IMHO, it may differ ) its not on Top anymore. Always good for a Weekend Trip, if one isn't into "beach" too much and rather likes to 'Party" a little is MOALBOAL, full with anything, which can be advantegous when looking for good food and evening Entertainment Venues. Divers still like it there. New on my list is SIQUIJOR, pleasand and with a Scooter rental combined offers a lot of sightseeing and nice beaches to unwind. Bit difficult to get there, either direct from cebu at very anoying times or via Dumaguete. DUMAGUETE City and Surrounding became a bit disappointing lately for me, the City isn't that charming anymore and too many unkind bitter 'Expats" around. But then again, its IMHO only and the several beach resorts south are still worth a visit. A Day at APO island is a cute experience if one likes walking. BANTAYAN is on my list too, still cheap and some good Places to be and to eat. The pubs focussing on expats have increased significantly, so the former "boredom" is over. TABUELAN is ok for a daytrip, but doesn't offer real "Tourism", rather classic Pinoy Weekend hangout. With all the associated Karaoke and messed up beach. i'll continue in a short while...and with more fine details of course, but others may like to add their experience as well.
Thanks for the ideas, Guenther I have been to all of the places you mentioned except Tabuelan. I met my wife in Malapascua. I hear it is much quieter there these days with the worldwide recession. I would like to find a nice, reasonably priced hotel with a swimming pool geared up for kids within striking distance of Cebu City. Do you know anywhere where we can be based for a couple of weeks and relax with our little ones? I really like the Philippines but find with kids that it is quite stressful always moving about
How about "Quo Vadis" in Moalboal ? Its got a nice pool and is reasonable priced too. The Restaurant ( although not the same owner) is good and its a bit "off the noisy nighlife". http://www.moalboal.com/english/homepage/home.html Ok, moalboal, or at least the 'old" part has no mentionable beach, but this is what popped up first in my mind.
Small Update on Moalboal : I was there for three days during easter, certainly not my first choice, but since it was a "alst minute" i could not book anywhere else and Moalboal had the most chance to find a room on short notice : I stayed at "Pacitas Place", nice roomy aircon Bungalows for Php 1500,-, clean and good quite Garden setting. the Place went way ahead since its first start in 1975 with native straw huts. Nice one. Eating news - tehre is a cute small japanese called "Oishi" right across 'hannahs Place" which offer good Japanese food for 200 to 250 php. The japanese owner, aprently a poorer fella from japan cooks, serves and does all himself. Ambience is somewhat eatery style, with plastic tables and not too clean, but the food is great and cheap. (Authentic too ) When i sat there, there were a few "well off" japanese also going there, so it can't be bad for them either. The "Last Fillign station" has moved from ist "squatter location near to "QuoVadis/Arista" and now co-ops with 'Action Planet" and 'Tipolo Resort". Great move, very nice ambience, good food as always and fantastic service. Also the 'Tipolo Resort" seems to be a great place to stay, i could only have a look,as it was fully booked. The Rest is as usual... drunk (s)expats, Dive enthusiasts, Pinoy families, Moalboal attract everyone... I have not checked on the Northish new resorts as the location was hopelessly fully booked and overcrowdede due to the White sands there. But during Off season worth to check out, although a bit more"classY' and expensive. Apparently there are a few more Resorts open now.
Interesting reading. I only spent 2 x 2 week trips to the Philippines. My wife of course lived there all her life until recently. She has had a good number of trips to Bantayan island and her mom visits Bantayan every year. Her mom was born across the water in San Remigio. Her moms boss has an environmental training school and a house on the island. Malapascua. I believe a thresher shark sanctuary is to be built there. The money is earmarked for it. http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2012/06/10/815578/malapascua-eyed-shark-sanctuary
why on earth have you got Dumaguete on your list if your going to give it a bad name, its the second time you have done this. I have got some very good friends living there. You must have bumped into the wrong crowd, did you know these people, were they not divers from another island, maybe tourist ! There are good and bad folk any where. Please visit their forum and see what they did for the poor children, every xmas http://www.dumagueteinfo.com/board/...egros-oriental-provincial-hospital-11439.html BTW surprised you don't know Rhoody.
My wife was raised just outside Dumaguete and her sister taught in a school there until recently. And coincidentally, the hubby of my wife's friend lived there for may years. He was telling me about how he was involved in fitting electricity into the homes in the hills for folk for the first time, on behalf of the Rotary Club there.
Dumaguete for me it's still a charming place, contary to what gunther says, there are proberly one or two grumpy expats about the place. Seen more in Cebu and Manila. Yes the Rotary club helping the poor, Thursday club also helping out the children. My wife is from Bohol, but even she prefer's Dumaguete. Bohol my second favorite island. not seen enough of Cebu to comment, what i have seen of it i don't like, same as Manila s...hole. Camiguin I liked a lot, plenty to see, lovely beaches and the hot springs.
In support of Guenther, when consideering places to stay, I very much prefer lists that offer strong opinions; people will come along and disagree and then the reader who does not know the place can form his own opinion better. For me, I would describe Barrio Barretto in Subic as "full of unpleasat drunk expats and divers" but Bob Couttie, who is neither drunk notr unpleasant nor a diver (divers are not necessarily bad!!) lived there for many years... The main thing is to have experiences and opinions, as up to date as possible.
Sagbang is the name of the village / town in Negros where my wife spent her early years. Her grandmother still lives there.
Had to google Sagbang, looks like it's up in the mountain's past Valancia. Should be a bit cooler up there.
Free SCUBA lessons in the pool + P500 to participate in a clean-up dive Dumaguete Feb 3rd http://www.muni.com.ph/ai1ec_event/muni-ph-at-sunday-funday/?instance_id#.UPcLAidSgZz
