Hi! I'll be going to Philppines in Aug 2007 and believe it or not, I have no idea where to go other than 2 very beautiful places I seen in the photos posted into the web.
Can anyone in Philippines gimme some suggestions of how should the itineries be if I were to arrive in Philippines in the noon and will have 4 full days for activities before departing from the country on the 6th day in the noon as well?
There is a place I must go, that is the Taol Volcano. How long do we need to spend there? I want to go to Baguio too as there is this Mines View Park but I assume it is far from Manila, looking at the distance from the map.
Other than that, how should I spend the rest of the days and where do you think I should start the journey and where to stop?
Or, anyone can suggest any cheap ground tour? I am worried because I couldn't find any hotel which I can correspond with them to make some transportation arrangement.
Please, I hope someone out there is generous enough to spend some time to help me out.
Reply to this Koumui,
You haven't given yourself enough time to see the Philippines, unless you want to focus on one place or thing. Most travelers are recommended to go to Boracay Island in the province of Aklan about 1 hours flight south of Manila (http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=boracay&m=text). But I find the place a bit overated and hardly worth the trouble of getting there. To me it's amazing Filipinos consider this place their number 1 tourist destination.
If you want to get a sense of real Filipino beach life mixed with a good selection of restaurants and water activites, you should try Puerto Galera (http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=puerto+galera). It's about a 3 hour trip south of Manila. On the way there you pass Taal volcano and the area called Tagaytay.
I'd spend two nights in Puerto Galera, and on the way back to Manila on the third day, stop for lunch at Sonia's Garden in Tagaytay (http://www.flickr.com/photos/htap28/sets/1296868/), a wonderful organic flower and vegetable farm with lovely grounds and a great lunch consisting of all things grown on site by Sonia.
The last night, I'd spend back in Manila visiting the new entertainment and dining area called Greenbelt 3 in Makati (http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=greenbelt+3&m=text).
You can figure all this stuff out on your own, but if you want a simple, hassle-free trip to Puerto Galera (or PG as we call it), contact Swagman Tours. They are Australian owned and operated and you will not have to figure much out for yourself, and reasonably priced. (http://www.swaggy.com/start.htm).
You don't really have enough time to see Baguio, in Mountain Province, about a 7 hour bus trip north of Manila. And due to deforestation in recent years the place has lost it's charm. Even if you went to Baguio, I would totally give Mine's View a miss. It's nothing but cheap trinket stalls overlooking a gutted out mountain slope that was once a mine.
Hope this helps you make a plan!
Reply to this Decaman,
thats true, Boracay is a bit overrated, reason being that its an island on its own and the white sands and beaches over there, but there are quite a number of interesting places to see in the Philippines
To bask in the sun and enjoy your beach tours - Boracay, Puerto Galera, Palawan
Hiking and moutaineering would have to be Bagiou, Mayon Volcano, Taal Volcano
Tagaytay, Pampamga, Subic Bay are just on the outskirts of Manila
It all depends on you. Bagiou is way up north while the beaches are in the South. Maybe you should contact a tour operator to assist you
Reply to this I would suggest that from Manila, take a BUS (if you're coming from a hotel, take a cab, then ask the cabbie that you're going to BUENDIA. Take a BUS with sign: Batangas Pier via Calabarzon. You can also ride those Batangas Pier via Tanuan and Lipa. But I suggest the former (the via Calabarzon route). That's about 2 hours ride, then from Batangas Pier take a ferry/boat to Puerto Galera white beach (you can later explore the place) get a ticket from BRIAN BOAT. It's best bet!!! 😊 That's about 45 minutes boat ride.
I suggest Two nights in Puerto Galera. After which (on your way back to Manila) take a small trip to tagaytay. Here's how:
1. From Puerto Galera, take the boat. Then off to Batangas Pier, take a bus going to Manila. But tell the driver, to drop you off at TURBINA. From turbina, take a jeep to SANTA ROSA. From Sta. Rosa, there are jeepneys plying to TAGAYTAY! 😊
Enjoy your trip!!! 😊
---my blogsites: callmesophie.multiply.com and pinklife.wordpress.com
Reply to this Can anyone give me an idea as to how I can get a good reliable tour guide in Philippines? I think it is better to have the tour properly arranged and taken care of before we reached cause there will be 2 elders with us. Cannot be too adventurous ;P
Maria, you think you can help me with that?
After so much research, I think I'm interested to visit the Rice Terrace but if I'm not mistaken, it is quite far from Manila. I think we can skip beaches since it is rainy season anyway. We are more interested to look around and get to know Philippines more. What is the difference between Mayon Volcano and Taal Volcano? Should we go to either one only?
What are the places around Manila town we must go?
If I need to at least visit a church, which church is famous for its history or architecture?
Reply to this Koumui! As much as I want to answer to your questions, Im afraid that I might give you inaccurate information, I suggest you visit http://www.wowphilippines.com.ph/ 😊 that's the official tourism site of the Philippines. 😊
Try to YM (yahoo messenger) this ID 'tenglavilla' she's a travel agent of MONEYWISE TRAVEL & TOURS here in the Philippines. I sugest you contact her (she's my college classmate) 😊 I would always ask her for quotations for different trips but my plans wouldnt push through the last minute. She' nice, and shhe can entertain you through YM. 😊
-maria
Reply to this Maria, I managed to send her some messages through YM but I receive no response from her. Is there other way I can contact her? Maybe can ask her to contact me through koumui@yahoo.com cause it is inconvenient for me to log into YM.
Many thanks.
Reply to this hi, i sent you an email! 😊 you can email her at tenglavilla@yahoo.com 😊
Reply to this I've sent her an email about a week ago to the email address you had stated above. There is no response as yet.
Reply to this Can I check with the locals and tourists what are the cheap decent hotels around Manila? I am quite interested in Swagman Hotel cause it also offers a few tour arrangements, kill off the trouble of having to look for guides in Philippines.
The other few that I've checked out are:-
i) Asian Mansion II
ii) Mabuhay Manor
iii) Milennium Plaza
Appreciate your time. Thanks.
Reply to this I'll be there early August for 6 days, however, we will only have 4 full day to visit around.
We are going in a group of 6, 4 yound adults and 2 elders.
Reply to this Do visit www.hoparound.net in order to get a relatively good listing of all the Points of Interest in the Philippines categorized by ACTIVITY as well as by PROVINCE/CITY. The site also gives you direct access to tourism service providers by listing their email or telephone numbers. Hoparound.net is a new tourism portal that allows travellers to directly get in touch with micro tourism service providers for specific locations.
Hope you have a nice time in the Philippines.
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